Pagne Skirt

The dream is becoming a reality!

Everything is starting to fall into place and I now have my ticket to Africa! I get my first immunizations tomorrow and I really feel the reality of the decision that I have made. I will miss the first ever Christmas morning with my family. I think the kids understand how important this trip is to me so they are being very good about my decision to go. I had an interview with a local newspaper today and my interviewer could not imagine why I had a desire to go to Africa. I hope he understands now after listening to my reasons. I want to be able to share an experience with my students that most of them will probably never experience. I want to help open their eyes to the world around them outside of our rural community. I want them to see that opportunities for adventure await them also. I want them to see that if it is possible for me then it is possible for them as well.

Barry Lane presents,

Test Taking over the Rainbow

Explode a Moment and Spark imagination in Writingw

Barry Lane-Teaching how to explode the moment in teaching writing.

Sounds of Summer

The sounds of summer fade fast into the mist of fall. The sounds of life that I hear now will soon be replaced by the rush of readiness, before the deathly silence of winter. Winter will fall over us like a cloak of darkness. The summer evenings now spent lying in bed listening to the sounds of night creatures will soon give rise to silence which will cause my heart to yearn for them as I await their return with anticipation and awe in the spring. The march of seasons follows the circle of life.

Mother and child

Death of Baby Racoon

Death of Baby Raccoon

If I cover my eyes I will not see it. So small, curled up and resting at the side of the road, probably following its Momma last night in search of food. Probably never seen by the driver late at night, long after dusk when black night hides. Its Mother stops long enough to inhale one last breath of her offspring, then instinctively sensing deaths overtaking, she continues onward into the night. Poor little creature tucks his small head under his paws and gently falls back into Mother Nature’s arms. If I cover my eyes I will not see it still lying by the road day after day as I pass by. Only a shell remains tucked in tight, its spirit has been carried away by the wind.

I saw two hawks as they flew by
across the summer evening sky.

I looked upon them as they flew,
their circular pattern grew and grew.

Into their circle my eyes explored,
the drama before me would unfold.

It seems the sky cracked open wide,
three small souls just slipped inside.

Into the darkness we were thrown,
inside a world we did not own.

Sent upon a journey true,
to build another world in blue.

These three souls entwined, renewed.

Roving Mars collecting important geologic information!

Mars Rover

My 6th grade students have designed and built Mars Rovers which they will attempt to rove the surface of Mars with!

MARE Program

The Atlantic Ocean in August at the MARE teacher program as part of the Jacque Cousteau Marine Reasearch Center!

Headed to Africa!

I have started my adventure to Africa. I have made appointments to start being filled with immunizations, yellow fever, typhoid, Hep. A, Hep. B as well as updating Tetanus, polio and measles. I have yet to purchase my ticket, but I am watching prices daily through Kayak.com. So far the cheapest flight that I have found is $1548.00. That is a lot of money and with the cost of the shots it will be an expensive 10 days...but so worth it! I will be going to visit with my classroom match through the Peace Corps. Marie Steiner is stationed in Western Senegal in a small village as a health clinic worker. I will get to see, feel, taste and breathe the experience she has been sharing with our classroom for the past year and a half. I hope to do some filming that I can convert to use in my classroom like a virtual field trip for my 6th grade students. The skirt I am wearing in the picture was made from fabric from the wife of the village chief as a gift brought back to me by Marie when she was home on a break in June. This is my small way to help promote the Peace Corps message to my students and hope some of them will feel the desire to serve humanity in the future!