Getting ready for school...

If July was the month of travel then August is the month of training.  I spent four days last week in a training called QTEL, Quality Teaching of English Learners.  But, when I turned QTEL into a hashtag on twitter I learned that in the Arab world QTEL stands for something very different. (No I'm not telling. Google it.)
This week many of the PLHS English teachers have been gathering at my house to write benchmark assessments  for next year. Next week I go to several technology trainings and the week after that I am back at school for meetings. Before you know it I'll be meeting my new  students on the first day of school.

I also get to travel...

I've covered a lot of miles this summer. "The Big Trip" began in early July when my youngest son and I drove up to LA. We were in LA for about 20 minutes. The time it took to move our things from my car to my parents' RV. That was the beginning of a trip to Portland. We camped two nights on the way up, spent four nights at my Aunt's house in Portland and camped three nights on the way back down. The return trip included the Oregon coast, absolutely stunning, and we were there on the sunny day. When we got back to LA we spent one night there and then headed to my parents' place in Three Rivers. My husband, Kris, and my older son joined us there. The next day Kris and I left for the coast. (It was 105* in Three Rivers, can you blame us?) We spent one night in San Luis Obisbo, where we saw Inception, and then drove highway 1 up to San Francisco. We spent one night in San Francisco and then drove up to Bodega Bay. We spent two nights at a great hotel about 20 miles north of Bodega Bay right on the ocean. We even took a day trip as far north as Mendocino.
   Today we drove south past San Francisco to Carmel. Tomorrow we drive highway 1 again through Big Sur and then back to Three Rivers. There we will spend a record five nights in one place before we head south again. But we have one more stop to make before returning to San Diego. Yes, Anaheim, our Disneyland tickets will expire soon. Can we do it? Yes, we can!

Summer Update Part II

Well, yeah, I messed with the colors. I thought the blog needed a new look for fall. Most of you have two weeks of summer left. I have only one...sigh. One of my favorite things about September is having my former students stop by and say hi, so please don't be shy. Stick your head in the door or come by at lunch. If you have an extra period and you are interested in being a student assistant I can usually use you. Or if you just need to use a computer I'll try to squeeze you in.

My physical therapist says my shoulder is all better and I can go back to yoga and ride my bike again. My boys and I have enjoyed Balboa park, Legoland and visits to my parents' place up north. Now I need to go write a letter to the rest of the English Department. See y'all on the 8th.