My Blog

Just by looking at the book and tape covers and reading the information on the back of them, predict what you think Animal Farm will be about?

Professional Experience

1990 – Present
Patrick Henry Community College
Martinsville, Virginia
Positions Held: Adjunct Faculty Teaching
ENG 04, ENG 137, ENG 138, ENG 111, SPD 110

2004 – Present
Bassett High School
Bassett, Virginia
Positions Held: English Teacher Grade 12; Advanced Composition

1988 – 2004
Fieldale-Collinsville High School
Collinsville, Virginia
Positions Held: English Teacher Grades 9 – 12; Advanced Composition; Study Skills

1987 – 1988
Laurel Park High School
Martinsville, Virginia
Positions Held: English Teacher Grades 9 and 11

1975 – 1987
George Washington Carver High School
Fieldale, Virginia
Positions Held: English Teacher Grades 8 – 11

Education

1977 –1979
Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University
Blacksburg, Virginia
Area of Study: Master of Arts in Education with Emphasis in English Education

1971 – 1975
Averett College (University)
Danville, Virginia
Area of Study: Bachelor of Arts/English Education Major

1971 Graduate of Martinsville High School Martinsville, Virginia

I am constantly continuing Education at University of Virginia, Radford University, and Patrick Henry Community College with an emphasis on technology and adolescent literacy in Education. I am currently teaching English 12 at Bassett High School, and I am teaching freshman composition at Patrick Henry Community College.

This was written by Regina Brett of The Plain Dealer, Cleveland, Ohio, to celebrate growing older. She once wrote the 45 lessons life taught her. It is the most-requested column she has ever written. Her odometer rolls over to 70 in August, so here goes:

1.  Life isn’t fair, but it’s still good.
2.  When in doubt, just take the next small step.
3.  Life is too short to waste time hating anyone.
4.  Don’t take yourself so seriously. No one else does.
5.  Pay off your credit cards every month.
6.  You don’t have to win every argument. Agree to disagree.
7.  Cry with someone. It’s more healing than crying alone.
8.  It’s OK to get angry with God. He can take it.
9.  Save for retirement starting with your first paycheck.
10. When it comes to chocolate, resistance is futile.
11. Make peace with your past so it won’t screw up the present.
12. It’s OK to let your children see you cry
13. Don’t compare your life to others’. You have no idea what their journey is all about.
14. If a relationship has to be a secret, you shouldn’t be in it.
15. Everything can change in the blink of an eye. But don’t worry; God never blinks.
16. Take a deep breath. It calms the mind.
17. Get rid of anything that isn’t useful, beautiful, or joyful.
18. Whatever doesn’t kill you really does make you stronger.
19. It’s never too late to have a happy childhood. But in the second one is up to you and to
      no one else.
20. When it comes to going after what you love in life, don’t take no for an answer.
21. Burn the candles, use the nice sheets, wear the fancy lingerie. Don’t  save it for a 
      special occasion. Today is special.
22. Over prepare, then go with the flow.
23. Be eccentric now. Don’t wait for old age to wear purple.
25. No one is in charge of your happiness, except you.
26. Frame every so-called disaster with these words: ‘In five years, will this matter?’
27. Always choose life.
28. Forgive everyone everything.
29. What other people think of you is none of your business.
30. Time heals almost everything. Give time, time.
31. However good or bad a situation is, it will change.
32. Your job won’t take care of you when you are sick. Your friends will. Stay in touch.
33. Believe in miracles.
34. God loves you because of whom God is, not because of anything you did or didn’t do.
35. Don’t audit life. Show up and make the most of it now.
36. Growing old beats the alternative–dying young.
37. Your children get only one childhood. Make it memorable.
38. All that truly matters in the end is that you loved.
39. Get outside every day. Miracles are waiting everywhere.
40. If we all threw our problems in a pile and saw everyone else’s, we’d  grab ours back.
41. Envy is a waste of time. You already have all you need.
42. The best is yet to come.
43. No matter how you feel, get up, dress up, and show up.
44. Yield when necessary.
45. Life isn’t tied with a bow, but it’s still a gift.

The picture is of some of my high school classmates and me at Mi Ranchito’s Restaurant last summer.  We are so fortunate to be able to go to a restaurant and buy whatever we want.  Not everyone is that fortunate.  There is still hunger and starvation world wide.  I found a very cool site that helps me to feed the hungry as well as it helps me learn new vocabulary.  For each word I get right, the UN World Food Program donates 20 grains of rice to help rid the world of hunger.   When I get a word right, the vocabulary grows harder; but if I am struggling with the words, they get easier.  I hope it isn’t a scam and that this vocabulary game really does provide food for those in need.  Check out this website.  http://www.freerice.com/