Trip to Moab

The rock shop, an arch south of town, and the best cup of java in Moab were some of the highlights of our jog to Utah last Saturday. Jim even found some hot (i.e., radioactive) rocks using his geiger counter.

Punctuation Police

Folks in Moab, Utah (below) seem a bit challenged in the area of using apostrophes, especially when you consider the logistics of some crazy person lowering himself on ropes to paint this sign. Meanwhile, back in Naturita (above), recent Nucla High School graduating classes have participated in a frenzy of quotation mark abuse. As a general rule of thumb, before you risk death by ascending the heights to emblazen a sign or graffiti for all the world to see, please consult Diana Hacker or some other competent editor on the proper use of punctuation!

Mrs. Thiel's Classroom

As a student, I always preferred tables: you can spread out your stuff and do group work readily.



Furthermore, left-handed folks aren't at a dis- advantage, as they are with most desks. The tables are great for my afternoon classes with upperclassmen, who are civilized and responsible. The 8th graders are another story. For example, seating for testing creates an immediate problem. Yet I would like to find a way to make them work.

View from Nucla Junior/Senior High School

My new school sits on a hill above the town of Nucla, Colorado. Population: about 1300. The school has around 150 students in grades 7-12. I teach the Junior High Writing Lab, 8th grade language arts, speech, American literature, and an English Composition class for Mesa State College. This is a lot of preps for a new teacher! I'll be spending my weekend writing syllabuses and course outlines for the comp and speech courses, then write lesson plans for next week. I'm also working on a global plan for the 8th graders. Without question, I have my work cut out for me!

One of my early challenges has been technology. The district has an expert technologist; however, he is being recalled into active military duty in two weeks. Ken assures us that he will be able to solve problems via email and phone from his new post in Virginia, but I imagine the Navy will keep him pretty busy. My classroom computer is finally working, but learning our antiquated grading system will be yet another challenge. Onward!

Dolores River outside of Naturita, Colorado

This section of the road through the top of the canyon is a trifle scary due to the lack of guardrails. But I had to stop and take a picture.

Spontaneous Temporary Waterfall

Heavy rainfall creates lovely temporary waterfalls from the tops of the Dolores River canyon between Gateway and Naturita. I saw three of them during my drive to my new job. It's like a rainbow, a question of being in the right physical place at just the right moment. A long-time resident at the district office told me that sometimes the waterfalls wash boulders down with them. I'm happy that one didn't fall on my car!

On the road to my new home in the Rockies

At left are two views on the road through Gateway, Colorado. These are two separate rock formations. Gateway is yet another Colorado town that has been purchased by rich people who are turning it into a resort. But it's still magnificent. Highway 141 follows the Dolores River for about a hundred miles from Whitewater to Naturita.