Today the weather maker that has been trudging across the southern USA has impacted our Southwest Virginia region. As of 12pm today, we are sitting at 8 inches on the ground and it’s still coming down!!!
So I started thinking about snow and my students. This past week my students have been crazy and silly to put it mildly. Basically, any time you pair 8th graders with the possibility of snow and the craziness of the days between Thanksgiving and Winter/Christmas Break, you get a lethal dose of CRAZY. As long as you know it’s coming, you, as the teacher, can work with it. Thus, the Joy of Snow – knowing that your students will be a little crazy – AND the Art of Snow – knowing that your students are a little crazy how can you propel that into learning – COMBINE make the fun of taking it slower and enjoying their energy!!!
I’m hoping they are enjoying the quiet and peace of snow as well as some time to relax. Although if it’s like my own children, one has been on Fortnite with buddies and the oldest (16) and the youngest (8) have been out shoveling and playing (laying) in the snow. Snow also brings wonder that often we miss when the world has more color. My 8 year old (and the cats) have been mesmerized by the male cardinal, the wrens, the nuthatches, the sparrows, and the chickadees that are flocking to the bird feeders right now. Those birds have been around all winter, but they jump out against the white snow today.
Snow has always mesmerized me (probably since we aren’t in it for months on end) thus, I took today to practice the Art of Snow. In 6 days I leave for Antarctica full of snow and ice. The snow offered me the opportunity to practice my photography against a white background. Photographing snow takes some thought and skill with your camera settings, otherwise you end up with a bland white landscape with no details. Thanks to some wonderful new friends, I’ve been learning to adjust the settings to compensate for the bright white. However, I’ve not actually been able to practice what I’ve been taught. Today changed all of that and here are some of my attempts.
Greenery with snow 
Nuthatch 
Nandino bush 
Gum Tree leaves against the snow 
Chickadee landing with wings in motion
Today, I also tried out my camera covers for inclement weather. My brother recommended plastic bags that I cut. But the price on these couldn’t be beat! I love the drawstring ability. You have to work with it when you have a lens shield, but otherwise, the bag was great!
Amazon – https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000PTFDYO/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o02_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1
What are your favorite thoughts and photos of snow?
If you are a teacher, how do you adjust for your students when snow is approaching?
Intersecting Paths 
When I taught at James Madison Middle School, I hung posters that said, “Let it snow!” They were so effective that one principal forbade me from hanging them. The kids seemed to settle just a bit because we were doing something about the situation.
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That’s awesome Chris!!! But I’d agree on the effectiveness for the students. I use Kevin Myatt’s posts to help them learn to “read” the weather for the possibilities. That way they understand what could happen – snow or nothing. It helps settle them that way! That being said, our division has cancelled for tomorrow!!!
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Even Roanoke City has cancelled for tomorrow! I still love hibernating on a snow day, even in retirement.
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