Category Archives: Uncategorized

Fleet Feet 26 June 2017

Posted on June 26, 2017 by Sally Gerard

Last week we hiked to Finch Lake up in the Wild Basin entrance to RMNP. Heading up the trail at 7 a.m., it was cool and beautiful. The first part of the trail goes up through tall pines and around … Continue reading →

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged , | Leave a comment

Spread Optimism 21 June 2017

Posted on June 21, 2017 by Sally Gerard

Today is the first day of summer, and it is going to be a hot one! I struggle with heat, anything over 85 if there is no breeze or shade. I don’t like to be hot and I don’t like … Continue reading →

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged | Leave a comment

Hiking Season 19 June 2017

Posted on June 19, 2017 by Sally Gerard

According to the United States Forest Service, it was at the end of the 20th century that hiking became recognized as a form of recreation. This makes sense because we were still a largely rural population before then, so most … Continue reading →

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged | Leave a comment

Hang on to Hope 13 June 2017

Posted on June 13, 2017 by Sally Gerard

Sometimes hope is the only thing you have, and sometimes even holding onto hope seems impossible. I try to hold onto hope for my students. There are those who are so combative that even asking for their work elicits an … Continue reading →

Posted in Uncategorized | Leave a comment

Be a hero 12 June 2017

Posted on June 12, 2017 by Sally Gerard

A hero has courage against all odds to do what is good and right and true. When faced with choices, be your best hero. Choose what brings strength to a relationship and not what brings instant gratification, whether or not … Continue reading →

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged | Leave a comment

Cattle and Teaching 6 June 2017

Posted on June 6, 2017 by Sally Gerard

I ask myself constantly why I can’t manage to bring together my classrooms of students in a caring and respectful community all the time. Certain days, everyone is into what we are doing and certain days they aren’t. I’m not … Continue reading →

Posted in Uncategorized | Leave a comment

Freedom Diary 5 June 2017

Posted on June 5, 2017 by Sally Gerard

Reading the Freedom Writer’s Diary with my remedial English students was such a pleasure because of the perspective they brought to both the discussions and as we wrote our own diary entries. Dear Diary, I don’t know if I’ve ever … Continue reading →

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged | 2 Comments

Reflections 1 June 2017

Posted on June 1, 2017 by Sally Gerard

Brick and mortar school is out for the summer. And I’ve done some reflecting on the year. I learned a lot about finding the line between being too rigid and being too permissive. Sometimes I failed epically and sometimes I … Continue reading →

Posted in Uncategorized | Leave a comment

Endings 25 May 2017

Posted on May 25, 2017 by Sally Gerard

The end of the school year always makes me pause. I’m ready for it, and yet I’m really sorry to see my students leave. As part of their final, I asked them to write some reflections on their year and … Continue reading →

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged | Leave a comment

Transitions 23 May 2017

Posted on May 23, 2017 by Sally Gerard

I harp on my students about using transition words to help their writing to be smooth, and then, once they get it down, I want them to move away from: first, next, finally. It is a difficult concept for most … Continue reading →

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged | Leave a comment