The Leom Sun: My Summer

So what DOES a teacher do during the summer ... ?!

In early June, I brainstormed how to be a better me ... I started the process to return to school to earn a second Master's Degree. I have a Masters Degree in Curriculum and Design. This fall, I am returning to school to begin my studies for a Masters in Literacy. I want to be a more effective Reading Teacher.

I spent time on the road, driving my kids to swim practice, golf, baseball, band, and more ... I am sure my childen appreciated the 6:30 am starts and 11:00 pm endings.

This summer, our niece moved in with us. She graduated from college this spring, and she earned a job in the Cities. While she is looking for a place to live, she came to share in our summer adventures. For most of her life, we have lived over seven hours apart. We LOVE having this time together!

I met my "little" brother several times for supper.

my little brother, Mike, and I

I continued to work on being gracious when I lose at games. We play a lot of games in our family, and my children tell me that I need "more practice playing". I think they just like to win.

We took several road trips. These included opportunities to go tubing, fishing, and more!

I was a proud band parent.

I attended MANY parades (not all).

We attended three weddings.

I sincerely love to read. Rarely a day goes by when I am not reading something. I am also a part of a Book Club, where we meet and discuss books. Here are some of the members of my Book Club.

My husband and I are both teachers at our school. The teachers we work with really are an extension of our family. We enjoy the people we work with, and we look forward to opportunities to spend time together.

members of the fourth grade team and spouses at a comedy show

members of the Milaca High School Math Department celebrate a wedding

We enjoyed a family time on the river tubing.

We spent a day in Duluth.

For the Fourth of July, every year, for the last fourteen years, I spend the day with my grandma.

I am thankful that my children know the experiences of being part of a fourth generation.

We frequented all three local ice cream shops and other favorites ice cream shops on our many road trips.

We went to a St. Cloud Rox Baseball Game with the family. It is still a fun experience when you go to an event with your family, and on a fluke, you run into your best friend!

I caught up with my college friends. We meet for one weekend every summer in July. There are twenty-eight children in the second generation of friends.

I swam for four years in college. It has been many years since my four closest friends from college swimming and I were all in the same space.

We attended a LOT of baseball games to cheer on our favorite household player.

Summer is a time for professional development (teacher workshops). At the College of St. Benedict's in St. Joseph, I spent three days in the following classes of: Fake News, Project Based Learning, Positive Behavior Intervention Strategies, Trauma's Impact in the Classroom, Diversity and Culutre through Graphic Novels.

While I was at St. Ben's, six Milaca teachers were pulled aside and invited to be a part of a state-wide commerical to welcome back students. This is second grade techer, Mrs. Barland on her segment.

I really went to classes. I found "take-aways" and information that I will be able to immediately apply in my classroom and work with students.

After three days at St. Ben's, I traveled to St. Paul for two more days of training on Literacy. I am part of an instructional leadership team in our district, and we are working to take our literacy learning to a new level of effectiveness. I participated in the training. I will finish this book in the next week. Next week, I will have a sixth day of professional development, focused on technology.

Meanwhile, I will also be reading this book for personal professional development this month.

The summer was spent trying to training our dog, Booker. He likes to play. He likes to be scratched. He likes to chew on his feet. He is four pounds, a year old, and he thinks he runs the house.