November 15th: Today I Am Thankful For Math

 I have a secret that I have not told too many people in recent years. For a long time I didn't really understand math. I haven't had to teach it much the last fifteen years, so perhaps I got a bit rusty at understanding it also. I can balance my checkbook, I can tell you a discount if it is 50%, and I know the difference between the commutative and associative properties.
This school year I decided to relearn math.  I realized I remembered and knew more than I thought. I also realized that the students I am helping had many misconceptions about math that got in the way of learning. We undid some of those misconceptions together. I also found out that it can be fun. I just finished a math inservice today and feel like I can move into some harder material now. I am thankful that I am slowly overcoming my math phobia and feeling good about numbers! Does this mean algebra might make sense to me?

November 14th: I Am Thankful for Sleep

"Think what a better world it would be if we all, the whole world, had cookies and milk about three o'clock every afternoon and then lay down on our blankets for a nap. " Barbara Jordan
I am thankful for sleep. I am thankful for the time I have on a week-end to indulge in a nap if I want or need one. There is nothing more comforting than curling up with a dog, a cat, and a warm bed on a Sunday afternoon after attempting to read a book for about two minutes. 
 I am also thankful I no longer experience chronic insomnia. I realize problems of the world can be solved while laying awake at night, but I would rather be rested. Besides, I could never remember what solutions I ever came up after I finally achieved those three hours of sleep on a Sunday night.
I know my week gets off to a much better start when I am well rested. Even though it is a busy one coming up, I know I am ready for the week because I squeezed in that very important sleep today. I didn't even splurge on the cookies and milk first.

November 13: Today I Am Thankful For Libraries

"Libraries are reservoirs of strength, grace and wit, reminders of order, calm and continuity, lakes of mental energy, neither warm nor cold, light nor dark.... In any library in the world, I am at home, unselfconscious, still and absorbed. " ~Germaine Greer

From the time I was six years old and acquired my first library card at the Kellogg Public Library until today I have always been thankful for public libraries. I checked out three books a week every week during my childhood it seems. I don't know if that is exactly accurate, but I read many, many, many books. I have continued with my passion for reading and have also continued with my loyality to the public library. I love to browse the shelves, but now I love even more jumping on the website and requesting books from libaries all over the county. I know what books are available to read, I just don't know when I will get to read them.

Public libraries also provide magazines, newspapers, movies, books on tape, and free information any citizen can carry out the door. I feel like Germaine Greer.... I am at home in the public library.

November 12th: Today I Am Thankful for My Sister

Today I will be spending my day working side by side with my sister on some projects at her house. It is always fun when we have a day we can spend together. It doesn't matter if we are working or playing, it is always a barrel of laughs! I am thankful for my sister because she inspires me with her talents. Her good heart and thoughtful deeds also make me thankful I am her sister. Not only do I get to spend the day with her, but also get to watch her perform in a new show at the 6th St. Theater in Wallace, Idaho this evening. From sunrise to sunset it will be a treat.

November 11th: I Am Thankful for Veterans

This is a follow-up from yesterday's post. The second part of our Veteran's Day assembly yesterday at school was to dedicate the Honor Wall in our cafeteria. Many people have been working on making this Honor Wall possible. It is a long wall that includes all the veterans that attended our school or lived in our community of Inchelium.

I was particularly struck by the number of young men that served in Viet Nam from this small community. The ceremony opened with drumming, then an elder gave a moving talk about what our veterans have sacrificed. Many of the veterans were there in attendance.

November 10th: Today I Am Thankful for Patriotism

 I got to sing "The Star Spangled Banner", see lots of red, white, and blue, hear children singing "You're a Grand Old Flag", and honor our veterans today at school. I feel a sense of patriotism when school employee veterans bring in the flag, when a local veteran that is 94 gets up to speak about World War 2, and when we play a slideshow of all the veterans in our community.

 A group of young students handed out roses to all the veterans. A few got to keep one for themselves.

 I felt proud to wear the red, white, and blue today.