Wednesday, July 18, 2012

Schools Out for Summer!




I stepped out of school and into a busy fun filled summer! 

On June 7th I began a twelve day Walking Tour of Italy’s Amalfi Coast with friends. We visited Naples, Sorrento and Rome. It was a physically challenging trip with gorgeous views of breathtaking scenery from mountain tops and cliffs.  Now, I can’t wait to make an Italian style pizza!

After a 24 hour trip home from Italy it was onto a restful fun filled week at an Alabama beach house with our entire family.  We enjoyed walking the beach, hunting for shells, capturing wildlife pictures, bike riding, water boarding and kayaking, taking naps and eating many leisurely meals around the table.

There’s just something romantic about a summer wedding! In June we were fortunate to be “guests of the groom” for a gorgeous wedding in traditional New Orleans style at the Sacred Heart chapel with the reception at Antoine’s.  How neat it was to see the street cars whizzing by and to hear the musical sounds of the quarter!

What fun it was to be a part of the monthly “Simply Salad” luncheon at my church, Eastern Shore Baptist!  I was asked to informally speak on how I use my unicycle as a teaching tool in the classroom and I seemed to thrill them by spinning around the room as a grand finale.  

I just returned from the Southern Regional Education Board’s (SREB) national conference in New Orleans, Louisiana were I was a featured presenter.  I gleaned many novel ideas to take back to my classroom and thoroughly enjoyed presenting my literacy plans which requires using graphic organizers to help visually outline ideas before embarking on a writing assignment. I also spoke on sharing talents with students to open the doors of communication. I rode my unicycle for the audience as well as informing them of how unicycles can be incorporated in school physical education programs to promote excitement in exercise.  New Orleans in July is one of the hottest places on the planet but it was a fun filled week where we enjoyed fabulous food and entertainment.  I did carve out time to have dinner with my dear New Orleans friends where conversation was never lacking.

For the next few weeks of summer I plan to take it easy and relax at home and I pray that you can do the same!