May 2016

Conversations from the Future

By Tammy Drennan

Two women meet at a playground, where their children are swinging and playing ball. The women are sitting on a bench watching. Eventually, they begin to talk.

Are you interested in trivial things?

LOL! Well if you are a homeschooling mom of a curious 8 and 10 year old boys, you probably are. My boys ask me TONS of questions about all kinds of  things that make me think, "What?! Where did that come from?!!"

(Thinking Out Loud - what's on my mind today!)

Two Christmases ago, the Hubbie bought me a set of Circulon Professional Premier Non Stick cookware. It came with 3 sizes of frying pans, and four sizes of pots with accompanying glass lids.

I was beyond thrilled. At the time, I had a much worn out set of WearEver pans – the non-stick coating on the pots we used most frequently had blistered and peeled so much, it was gross just looking at the pots. Much less using them. And trying to clean them was impossible without removing or damaging the materials more.

It's really raining in Houston today. Our backyard is flooded and tomorrow the whole place will be ' Resort D' Skeeters'. It'll be miserable here. Not that it hasn't been pretty bad with the flies. I'm not sure what's going on with the flies.

On crummy days like these I try to find fun and interesting things for my kids to do- besides their regular school work and regular chores and regular leisure activities. Why? Because pretty soon, I'll hear, "MOOOOMM!!! I'm bored!"  

Thinking out loud.

You can donate your art supplies!

I wish I had known about this when my kids were little. We struggled with leftover paints, playdough, markers, crayons and pencils. Many were still very useful, but needed a home. And all the really cool wooden toys they had. Oh what a creative mind could have done with some of them!!

By Amy Wallace
Novel in a Year, Intermediate Composition, English III, and Critiquing With Class Instructor

Mark Twain said, "The difference between the almost right word and the right word is ... the difference between the lightning bug and the lightning." Writing well is more than finding the right word. Writing well involves the whole student. Whether your student loathes or loves writing, there are key strategies to helping students fully engage and move from writing fear to writing fun.

We solemnly commemorate this day and reflect of the cost of the freedoms we currently enjoy. 

All gave some. Some gave ALL. 

Thank you.