A personalized gift basket of thanks for National Board Certification work...This week ended about the same time as the next one is about to start...but I'm not worried about being tired...because all too soon there will be a new North Carolina Teacher of the Year, and I'll be saying that this year went by too fast!
I started this past week at Gravelly Hill Middle School with a more relaxed National Board candidate-in-waiting. My friend Kelly had mailed her portfolio weeks ago, and we were beginning preparations for her assessment center exercises. But first, she presented me with a huge basket that held gift cards and gifts galore...all of my favorite things! Now you know why Kelly is one of my GHMS BFFs.
On Tuesday, I served on the selection committee for the next Orange County Schools Teacher of the Year. It was a wonderful day, but a difficult one as we selected two finalists for the 2009-2010 Teacher of the Year. Of course, the teachers are some of the best you'll find, and it was an honor to sit and listen to them talk about their teaching. The new OCS TOY won't be named until May...so more on that later.
On Wednesday, I served on another committee. I was part of a group of OCS teachers who participated in the Title II audits. I was so excited to hear all of us sharing positive stories about what's going on in our schools.
Thursday was a day to get prepared for the National Teacher of the Year announcement next week. There were clothes and essentials to gather, and it took me all day to do it. More on those events next week!
I started this past week at Gravelly Hill Middle School with a more relaxed National Board candidate-in-waiting. My friend Kelly had mailed her portfolio weeks ago, and we were beginning preparations for her assessment center exercises. But first, she presented me with a huge basket that held gift cards and gifts galore...all of my favorite things! Now you know why Kelly is one of my GHMS BFFs.
On Tuesday, I served on the selection committee for the next Orange County Schools Teacher of the Year. It was a wonderful day, but a difficult one as we selected two finalists for the 2009-2010 Teacher of the Year. Of course, the teachers are some of the best you'll find, and it was an honor to sit and listen to them talk about their teaching. The new OCS TOY won't be named until May...so more on that later.
On Wednesday, I served on another committee. I was part of a group of OCS teachers who participated in the Title II audits. I was so excited to hear all of us sharing positive stories about what's going on in our schools.
Thursday was a day to get prepared for the National Teacher of the Year announcement next week. There were clothes and essentials to gather, and it took me all day to do it. More on those events next week!
Denmark native Sofus Simenson tells us all about his native country.But Friday I was back on the road - but not far - I drove to Chapel Hill to meet with the Center for International Understanding and a group of participants from across the state. We'll all be going to Copenhagen, Denmark in June! We'll also visit a school and stay with a host family in Odense, the birthplace of Hans Christian Andersen. I grew up listening to my great grandmother telling me the story of "The Little Match Girl" so I'm so excited to learn more about the author in Denmark. I'll also visit Kronborg Castle in Helsinore, the setting for Shakespeare's Hamlet. I can't wait to get to Denmark!
Panel members Jacob, Trina, and Anne talk about life in Denmark.
Saturday morning we ate breakfast in the hotel while watching some hungry ducks beg to come in.
The group met Friday and Saturday and made plans for our lessons we'll teach when we return. I hope my students are ready to learn more about Andersen's fairy tales, Hamlet, and Denmark. It won't be long before I'm back in that school doing what I love best - teaching middle school!
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