Sayonara, Week 11! Below are the silver linings and highlights of the week:

1. Pizza Party! I planned a pizza party this week for the 19 gracious, patient students who took the ORCA Assessment with me and allowed me to interview them for my research. I was absolutely FLOORED when I got this letter attached to my stack of pizzas. Have you ever heard of such a kindness? A teacher ‘discount’ exists in my dreams, but NO CHARGE? Unheard of! And every single student who ate the pizza kept asking, “This is really good – where’s it from?” I’ll be a customer of Jackson’s Blue Ribbon Pub for life!

2. The Paper Chain – My book arrived! I am so stinkin’ excited to see my name in print! I worked so very long and hard on this, and it felt like Christmas when the books arrived. The hard copy isn’t available for purchase yet, but you can purchase a digital copy here.

3. Graduate Class – I recently found out I that my graduate class was approved! I am an adjunct professor for Viterbo University in LaCrosse, Wisconsin. I will be teaching a course on Children and Adolescent Literature as part of the Reading Program for obtaining a Reading License. I am very excited for this opportunity! The two required texts will be Readicide by Kelly Gallagher (my favorite teacher author!) and The Book Whisperer by Donalyn Miller. Excellent books!

4. More Puppy Fun – I am still doggy-sitting for my sister, who is off interviewing for dental residency programs. My dog, Rocket (left) and her dog, Tyger (right) get along like peas and carrots. Giving them a bath was just hysterical – they even put on their miserable, pitiful faces just for my amusement.

5. …WHAT?!? There is something so fundamentally wrong with this picture. Halloween and snow – ugh. Is there anything I can say / buy / do to keep the cold, wet, white stuff from off my lawn?!? Silver lining though – it is very pretty, and I enjoy watching my dog ‘rediscover’ snow each winter.

So how was your week? 🙂