Post-Rain

Right when lunch was ending and recess was beginning today, a HUGE rainstorm came through. It poured for nearly 30 - 35 minutes. When my digital photography class began, the rain had just stopped so we ventured outside to catch some post-rain photos. I took my little point-and-shoot outside with me today. It's been a while since I've used this little guy.... I miss my nicer camera. A new one to come soon though.

Air & Space Museum

Last Friday, we took a field trip to the National Air & Space Museum downtown. It was at the peak of the ridiculous heat wave we're just now getting out of. Luckily the Air & Space Museum is always well air-conditioned. But it's also always VERY crowded. Field trips always make me nervous. I'm doing head counts every 10 seconds. The kids had a great time.... until the bus ride home in >100 degree heat. Whew! It was on this field trip that my camera broke. :*( 

One of my little guys "flying" a jet.

Watermelon

Before

After

Self-Reflection

After my students complete or participate in something new, I often ask them to self-reflect on the situation. It could be a field trip, a project or a unit they've finished, or hear a guest speaker. This is often very difficult for my students. They're asked to apply feelings they're having & think beyond the experience itself. As adults, we self-reflect too. It's more automatic for us though. Well, I just returned from the University of Connecticut for a week-long conference called Confratute. Confratute is a combination of 3 words: 

"It's half conference, half institute, & a whole lot of fraternity in the middle." --- Dr. Joe Renzulli 

This week was the most professionally invigorating & personally inspirational experience I've had in a VERY long time. I have been fortunate enough to have the opportunity in the next school year to embark on a new adventure! This conference was all about Gifted Education, Twice-Exceptional (2E) students, & Enrichment. I am so glad I went to the conference. Here are just a few of the highlights:

    

• Well-known keynote speakers everyday, such as, Drs. Yvette Jackson, Sally Reis, Joe Renzulli, Susan Baum, & several others.
• Strands coordinated by the best in the Gifted/2E/Enrichment field
• Phenomenal New England summer weather
• An impressive international presence: some of the people I had the opportunity to meet from across the world were from: Malaysia, Lebanon, Turkey, Canada, Bermuda, South Africa, & other places
• In addition to an international presence, attendees were from all over the United States
• I was the only attendee from D.C.
• Patio parties every evening
• A fun Dr. Seuss banquet on the last night
• Hee-Lair-EE-Us Variety Show
• Being "confrapooped" at the end of the week!!!

People call Confratute "Summer Camp for Teachers" & it truly is like a summer camp experience!

Here I am with Drs. Joe Renzulli & Sally Reis. These two are so famous in their field, incredibly brilliant, & so down-to-earth. I had several great conversations with them throughout the week and I was amazed at how approachable they both were. I'm very happy to be a part of the "UConn Mafia" now! 

Calm after the storm

One day this past week there were some bad storms that came through the area while I was in CT. Afterwards there was a beautiful double rainbow. The picture below doesn't do the rainbow justice. I was able to see the entire rainbow but couldn't capture it in a picture. The way the sunlight was breaking through the clouds was gorgeous, too.

University of Connecticut

I was lucky enough to spend the past week on the University of Connecticut campus for Confratute (more on that later). The campus is beautiful. The weather was a perfect New England summer week. These pictures are just a few from around campus.

Take Me Out to the Ballgame....

The night before driving to Connecticut I went to a Nationals game at Nationals Park. It was a hot, summer night but lots of fun with HD.

Girls' Lunch

The day before I went to Connecticut (more on that in later posts) I had a yummy lunch with a three great friends. We went to Rosa Mexicano. It was delicious and of course fun to catch up with the gals.

I hadn't had a Michelada since I was in Cancun in 2010. So yummy.

Mexico City Street Salad with Barbecued Tuna Loin

Guacamole cart!

Abracadabra

Yesterday we took a field trip to Discovery Theater to see a magic show! The kids really enjoyed it. Here are some of the pictures I got of the magic!

An audience member & Mr. D doing a "time traveling" trick.

Mr. D showed us the secret behind this one!

The old "pull a rabbit out of a hat" trick

All of the kids in the audience got a magic wand at the end of the show. The kids were doing everything BUT using the wand as a magic wand....

Kids Say the Darnedest Things...

Today was the 2nd day of Extended School Year (ESY). I have a great group of kids this summer! They're younger than who I have taught most recently so it's an adjustment, but so far so good! Today a 9-year-old (who is on the Autism spectrum) was on his way to Occupational Therapy. On his way out of the classroom, he looked at his OT and said, "Hold that thought, nature calls, I'll be right back!"

My students say some pretty hilarious things but his seriousness when he said this was just priceless. When I cracked up laughing, he looked back at me and just gave me a super big smile! 

***The picture below has nothing to do with the story I told above but it's a picture of 3 of my students taking pictures of cars. I'm leading a digital photography class and today was the first day. These boys were loving taking pictures of the cars in the parking lot. Imagine when we actually leave the school grounds and go to the zoo, the park, & other places to take pictures!***

Morning Walk

I left Pawleys Island this morning to come back to DC. Before I left, my mom & I took a walk on the beach with her dog Bella, her neighbors & their dogs Laura & Camille. It was a beautiful morning! More sunrise pictures below!

Cannonball Jellyfish

Footprints in the sand

Edisto Sunrise (yes, sunRISE!)

We left Edisto Island today. :*( 

Before packing up and heading out, we decided last night that we'd get up E-A-R-L-Y and head to the beach for sunRISE! So at 5:50 AM, we head out to the beach. It was gorgeous and it felt great! I'm so glad we did that! I had a hard time choosing pictures to share, but here are some!

Sights of Edisto Island

Live oak trees surrounding our townhouse.

Shrimp fettuccine made with "fresh, local shrimp"--- Delish! 

Sunset on the marsh where the shrimp boats come in.

Frogmore stew made with... you guessed it... "fresh, local shrimp"--- Yummy!

Porpoises! 

The view of Edisto Beach from Coot's Lounge.... yes.... you read correctly!

Beach House Names

I love beach house names. They are often so clever. My favorite from this past week while visiting Edisto Island is pictured below. I use this phrase so very often!

I don't know the Casey Family, but thank you for having such a clever house name!