So, I have just completed my final tutoring session with a particular person who shall remain nameless. This tutor of mine has taught me many things...
1. Wify sells Tom's Shoes.
2. Polichinelles are little clowns, and just one small step in the Nutcracker career ladder.
3. The importance of rubber duckies and Disney Princesses cannot be overemphasized.
4. You can do many amazing things on a graphing calculator. Like figure out what the square root of 16 is. Or 2 + 3.
5. Graphs = good. Fractions = bad.
6. Pi Day is for making pie. (March 14).
7. Latin fusion uses a whole different muscle set than classical ballet, which uses the undermuscles (!).
...and so much more.
So, to my tutor ... Thanks for my lessons, for making me smile, and for sharing your knowledge with me! (Insert a big hug here).
Thursday, October 30, 2008
Tuesday, October 28, 2008
Today is a scary day. When people ask about our kids, we go down the list. Oh, #1 seems to be doing ok. Working. Boyfriend. Just doing her thing. #2 is good - Pre-Vet, doing well at school. #3 is at school, seems to be enjoying it. Contacts us pretty regularly. Seems to be getting some schoolwork done as well. Then we get to #4. Where's she going to school? "Oh (chuckling), we are just focusing on getting through High School right now (more chuckling)."
Last week, that job got complicated. I'm not chuckling any more.
We live in a town with more than it's fair share of Superkids with super opportunities. It keeps them busy, going, in demand, self-assured, their futures look bright, their options - seemingly limitless.
#4 is a Superkid, but not in the same way. She wears her heart on her sleeve. She is a friend to all and a friend for life (a "connector" according to Malcolm Gladwell). She wants to change the world. She questions authority, wonders why things can't change, wonders why people have to live in poverty, would (and does) literally give away all she has to someone who might be in need. She sees a life far, far beyond this town, and with people - different people - all kinds of people - and she sees them... really sees them.
We learned early on she wouldn't be disciplined - taking away any allowance didn't work, because she just gives away the money she has. Grounding? Her response was "I'm really looking forward to getting to spend some extra time with you guys!".
She's athletic and studious. She's not a superstar athlete or student. Her judgement can be poor, and her choices not the best, but she will turn any and every disadvantage into an opportunity. She is well loved. By alot of people. I am reminded of this every day. So even though her path has taken a left turn, and we have some decisions to make, I'm anxious to see what she will do with the opportunities that will come of it.
Last week, that job got complicated. I'm not chuckling any more.
We live in a town with more than it's fair share of Superkids with super opportunities. It keeps them busy, going, in demand, self-assured, their futures look bright, their options - seemingly limitless.
#4 is a Superkid, but not in the same way. She wears her heart on her sleeve. She is a friend to all and a friend for life (a "connector" according to Malcolm Gladwell). She wants to change the world. She questions authority, wonders why things can't change, wonders why people have to live in poverty, would (and does) literally give away all she has to someone who might be in need. She sees a life far, far beyond this town, and with people - different people - all kinds of people - and she sees them... really sees them.
We learned early on she wouldn't be disciplined - taking away any allowance didn't work, because she just gives away the money she has. Grounding? Her response was "I'm really looking forward to getting to spend some extra time with you guys!".
She's athletic and studious. She's not a superstar athlete or student. Her judgement can be poor, and her choices not the best, but she will turn any and every disadvantage into an opportunity. She is well loved. By alot of people. I am reminded of this every day. So even though her path has taken a left turn, and we have some decisions to make, I'm anxious to see what she will do with the opportunities that will come of it.
Sunday, October 26, 2008
Saturday, October 25, 2008
Party Day
Yesterday in SAT prep, it was party day. Last Saturday was the actual PSAT - 2 hours and 30 minutes of inane multiple choice questions under strict no-talk, don't move type conditions - and there was no school on Wednesday and Thursday due to teacher conferences. Needless to say, a party-like atmosphere reigned on Friday regardless of what lessons were planned.
I had told them in advance, that I would bring jeopardy, snacks, and the Wii.
Jeopardy is a power point that someone out there in the world created that can be filled with whatever questions you want to ask. I filled this one with history/grammar/math/literature/bible questions that come from our schools curriculum for grades 1-5. Sort of like Jeopardy meets "Are you smarter than a CDA 5th grader". It was fun hearing the "Oh Oh I remember that"...
Then, on to donuts, chips and salsa, goldfish crackers and mountain dew. (You teens and parents of teens know, this is manna).
Then on to Wii play. No, no Halo. One class played it on the TV, low key, everyone playing or watching contentedly. The other class immediately "pimped" the set up - the Wii got hooked up to the computer projector, and one student's iPod got connected to the speakers. Wii play with a bass thumping techno sound track. Those kids are so smart about some things it scares me.
I had told them in advance, that I would bring jeopardy, snacks, and the Wii.
Jeopardy is a power point that someone out there in the world created that can be filled with whatever questions you want to ask. I filled this one with history/grammar/math/literature/bible questions that come from our schools curriculum for grades 1-5. Sort of like Jeopardy meets "Are you smarter than a CDA 5th grader". It was fun hearing the "Oh Oh I remember that"...
Then, on to donuts, chips and salsa, goldfish crackers and mountain dew. (You teens and parents of teens know, this is manna).
Then on to Wii play. No, no Halo. One class played it on the TV, low key, everyone playing or watching contentedly. The other class immediately "pimped" the set up - the Wii got hooked up to the computer projector, and one student's iPod got connected to the speakers. Wii play with a bass thumping techno sound track. Those kids are so smart about some things it scares me.
Tuesday, October 21, 2008
Thoughts for the day...
Someone suggested to me today that a certain democratic presidential candidate was really a socialist - even a borderline fascist.
Among all of the comments, criticisms and ridiculous accusations I hear about a certain democratic presidential candidate and his party predecessor, this one made me pause just based on world ideology. Does socialism lead to fascism? I thought socialism was a liberal, global economic system that emphasized allegiance among members of the same socio-economic group rather than among members of the same nationalistic identity (Marx's International Socialism, later adopted by Lenin and corrupted by Stalin), and fascism was a conservative hyper-nationalistic militaristic form of government (Hitler, Mussolini)... or something like that... putting them at opposite ends of two different (but related) spectra.
So,
the idea that this candidate is a closet fascist will get filed along with the notion that all of our current economic problems are directly the fault of the last democratic president.s
Ok. i'm feeling buried by school. prepping for my classes, helping #1 son, a bit of tutoring...and I don't do nearly as much as others at our school. so, i'm wondering - do i bury myself so that i don't have to deal with other stuff?
having said that, i am glad we have chosen this path, no matter how much I gripe about the 4th gr. work load. #1 is happy, and my students are wonderful - as is the faculty and administration.
tomorrow and thursday are "off" days - teacher conferences both days, so no classes. Tomorrow, it's a trip to K. Kastle with #1's class. Grandma J. is coming this way too, so we are excited about that! It will be a great day, rain or shine.
I am tired of food and all the emotions that go along with it.
how did the pilgrims survive that first year? they got off that boat with next to nothing, in November, in Massachusetts...
tomorrow needs to include long-overdue haircut for #1 son.
it's wasp season... current body count : approx. 10 (this doesn't include the ones roasted alive in the fireplace).
my pinkie still hurts from my clodhopper face plant during my morning walk in the dark last week.
I have no books on my nightstand. the two that are there, i started and have chosen not to read. So, that leaves a pile of NYT crossword puzzles. Maybe I'll go find one to do.
Among all of the comments, criticisms and ridiculous accusations I hear about a certain democratic presidential candidate and his party predecessor, this one made me pause just based on world ideology. Does socialism lead to fascism? I thought socialism was a liberal, global economic system that emphasized allegiance among members of the same socio-economic group rather than among members of the same nationalistic identity (Marx's International Socialism, later adopted by Lenin and corrupted by Stalin), and fascism was a conservative hyper-nationalistic militaristic form of government (Hitler, Mussolini)... or something like that... putting them at opposite ends of two different (but related) spectra.
So,
the idea that this candidate is a closet fascist will get filed along with the notion that all of our current economic problems are directly the fault of the last democratic president.s
Ok. i'm feeling buried by school. prepping for my classes, helping #1 son, a bit of tutoring...and I don't do nearly as much as others at our school. so, i'm wondering - do i bury myself so that i don't have to deal with other stuff?
having said that, i am glad we have chosen this path, no matter how much I gripe about the 4th gr. work load. #1 is happy, and my students are wonderful - as is the faculty and administration.
tomorrow and thursday are "off" days - teacher conferences both days, so no classes. Tomorrow, it's a trip to K. Kastle with #1's class. Grandma J. is coming this way too, so we are excited about that! It will be a great day, rain or shine.
I am tired of food and all the emotions that go along with it.
how did the pilgrims survive that first year? they got off that boat with next to nothing, in November, in Massachusetts...
tomorrow needs to include long-overdue haircut for #1 son.
it's wasp season... current body count : approx. 10 (this doesn't include the ones roasted alive in the fireplace).
my pinkie still hurts from my clodhopper face plant during my morning walk in the dark last week.
I have no books on my nightstand. the two that are there, i started and have chosen not to read. So, that leaves a pile of NYT crossword puzzles. Maybe I'll go find one to do.
Monday, October 20, 2008
Sunday, October 19, 2008
Idealism of Youth - Part 2
DD #4 is participating in Guluwalk again this year. She walked last year as well. Last spring, I went with her to Invisible Children's Displace Me in Austin, TX. We have told her that when she graduates from high school, we will send her to Africa for some time to do volunteer work. Cross Cultural Solutions is one organization we are considering. To friends and family who have already sponsored her walk this year, many thanks - for the financial support, and for encouraging her in her love and desire to help people in Africa. If you are reading this, and want more information (come walk on October 25!) visit the Gulu Walk website. If you are reading this and would like to support daughter #4 on her walk, visit her sponsor page.
Displace Me - April, 2007
Displace me, Cardboard Village 2007.
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