Things I Love About School

Thirteen Things I Love About School

1. The kids
   
2. Things the kids say


3. The progress they make through the year
   
4. notes from the kids
   
5. 22 little smiles all smiled at the same time
   
6. 22 little smiles aimed at me
   
7. kid drawings
   
8. the way these kiddos are ready to share and try
   
9. the willingness they show to help others
   
10. they way they love to hear stories read to them
    
11. my new bigger room -when I moved to 2nd grade I left the room I had been in for 19 years in first grade and moved to the second grade hall, wow!
    
12. the teachers I work with, they are so great, good teachers and good friends
    
13. our principal, she is awesome, and I don't usually use that word
    
14. the small school setting

Teachers Salarys

I got this in an email from our school district's Finance Director. We all thought it was funny.

If I had my way I'd pay teachers baby-sitting wages.

I'd only pay them for five hours, not lunch or coffee breaks.

That would be $15.00 a day. Each parent should pay $15

a day for these teachers to babysit their child.

Even if they have more than one child, it’s still a lot cheaper than private daycare.

Now, how many children do they teach every day-maybe 20?

That’s $15×20=$300 a day. But remember they only work 180 days a year!

I’m not going to pay them for vacations! $300×180=$54,000.

(Just an inside observation for anyone who doesn't

know it, teachers DON'T get paid vacations. Salarys are

for the days we are in school but

we have it divided into 12 monthly payments.)

(Just a minute, I think my calculator needs new batteries.)

I know you teachers will say-What about those who have

10 years experience and a Master’s Degree? Well, maybe (to be fair)

we could give them the minimum wage.

We could round that off to about $5 an hour, times five hours,

times 20 children. That’s $500 a day times 180 days.

That’s $90,000….HUH?

Wait a minute, let’s get a little perspective here.

Babysitting wages are too good for these teachers.

Has anyone seen a salary schedule around here?”
~Anonymous~

Sky Watch Friday

Skywatch Friday is hosted by Tom at Wiggers World.

Life Happpens!

Life happens, and it doesn't happen conveniently. You can slide along for months, going about your everyday routine with nothing much happening. Wake up, drink your coffee, tend the animals, go to work, come home, do house work, cook dinner, tend to the animals, watch a little TV or read, go to bed.
Then all of a sudden life just starts happening. Here is what is going on around here:

1. I decided to redo the bathroom and it is finished now, but it took about a week, mainly two weekends, fitting it in around the regular life stuff.

2. My niece, who has started her own photography business, is going to teach me about cameras, so I'm in the process of reading up on good cameras and trying to decide what kind to get. She says the Canon Rebel would be good for me since I just want a good "enthusiasts" camera not a professional. Cameras have come a long way and I am still the point and shoot kind of photographer.

3. My sister, her husband and daughter are coming to visit for 4 days from Kansas. I haven't seen them since last summer when she got married and moved back to Kansas.

4. David's daughter is coming in from Seattle, Washington on April 2 to visit us and her grandmother (her mother's mother) for about a week. She is bringing with her her youngest son, 3 year old Ethan. When she leaves she won't be taking Ethan with her, he is to stay with us and his great-grandmother for 3 or 4 months. We're not really sure why she decided to do this or even if she is going to come back to get him. The two older boys are with their father in Seattle (or there abouts,) who isn't Ethan's father, or I suspect he'd be there too.

So. Life. It goes along smoothly for months on end, then WHAM, a whole big bunch of it lands on your door step. Ya gotta love it. It keeps you from becoming stuck in a rut. I think a three year old will do us a lot of good, really get us out of the old rut.

A Book Meme from The Aged Cat

I was tagged by the Aged Cat to do this book meme, which is right up my alley since I love to read. I'm reading a weird book right now, Moving Pictures by Terry Pratchett so it is closest at hand. I've read quite a number of Pratchett's Disc World books and they never fail to make me laugh out loud. I put in a couple of extra sentences, I couldn't help it. The first two sentences were really short anyway.

Here are the rules:
1. Pick up the nearest book.
2. Open to page 123
3. Find the fifth sentence.
4. Post the next three sentences.
5. Tag five people and post a comment here once you post it to your blog so I can come see!

Here are sentences 6 - 10 on page 123 of Moving Pictures:

One Spink, two Spinks. Now get on with it. I want those posters all around the city first thing tomorrow. The artist gave Victor an agonized look he was coming to recognize. Everyone around Dibbler wore them after a while.

This was fun and I enjoyed reading others entries. If you would like to do this with us, please do and let me know so I can go read it!

Childrens Books I Love

Children's Books I Love

Dogzilla by Dave Pilkey The kids in my class love this book and they always beg for re-readings. It has a rating of "Too goofy for adults" so what's not to love? It is full of puns that are just, well, goofy! The author used pictures of his own pets for the illustrations.

Kat Kong by Dave Pilkey Ditto above

"There Are Rocks in My Socks," said the Ox to the Fox by Patricia Thomas I use this book to teach rhythm and rhyme. The children love the pictures and the funny story.

If You Give a Mouse a Cookie by Laura Numeroff The kids love this book. I like it a lot and use it for enjoyment as well as predictions. Felicia Bond illustrated it.

The Mitten by Jan Brett Jan Brett is my favorite illustrator of children's books. I have a collection of her books. This one is great for sequencing and I use it for extensions. The kids write what might happen if more animals cam up.


The Wild Christmas Reindeer by Jan Brett Love the illustrations.

The Very Hungry Caterpillar by Eric Carle This is a great story for science and for sequencing. The illustrations are great to discuss the different methods illustrators use to create their pictures. I like anything by Eric Carle - lots of great stories and teaching opportunities.

The Rainbow Fish by Marcus Pfister I use this book to start a discussion on friendship and sharing.

Inch by Inch by Leo Lionni This is a great story and I use it when we are practicing measuring
Leo the Late Bloomer by Leo Lionni This is a wonderful book. We read it and discuss how every one is special in their own right among other things. The kids love Leo and relate to him. Lionni has several other books I really like as well.

The Diary of a Worm by Doreen Cronin This is such a funny book, many re readings are demanded. My kiddos keep a dated diary of school happenings after we read it.

Click, Clack, Moo By Doreen Cronin This is another very funny story by Cronin. Most of the children don't know what a typewriter is! We write letters after reading this a couple of times.

Aunt Flossies's Hats (and Crabcakes Later) by Elizabeth Fitzgerald Howard This is a wonderful, warm family story with great illustrations. We discuss families, extended families and how families are alike and different. Then they write about a fun memory of a time with their family.

The Lorax by Dr. Suess This is a great book for rhyming, as are all of Dr Suess' books. It goes beyond that to environmental issues.

The Butter Battle Book by Dr. Suess Great for discussing how arguments can get out of hand.

The Legend of the Bluebonnet by Tomi de Paola I use this when we teach Texas history (The Texas state flower it the Bluebonnet) along with a couple more books from this wonderful author.

Whistle for Willie by Ezra Jack Keats We discuss setting, the illustrations, how practicing helps you gain skills, etc. this is a lovely warm story.

I could go on and on. There are so many great children's books. I use lots of them in my class to foster love of reading, model fluency, discuss setting and author's purpose, instruct everything from writing to math to science, to use as art instruction, for retelling, etc.

Sky Watch Friday

Sky Watch Friday is being hosted by Tom at Wiggers World.

Overheard at School

Finally!! It is time for us to adopt a new math program!! We've had the same one for 10 years. Over the last few weeks we have been listening to presentations by several publishing houses about their wonderful programs. I really liked the Harcourt Program we saw today, but the presenter tickled me with with his earnestness and enthusiasm. At one point he said, in an attempt to empress us with the web based components of the series,

"The online test, where you can take the test online, is online." Bless his heart.

ABC Wednesday H

H is for Hero

We did a HEROS unit at school. The heros we studied included such people as Sojourner Truth, Paur Revere, Dr. Mae Jemis, Sally Ride, Benjamin Franklin, George Washington, Abraham Lincoln, Harriet Tubman, Amelia Earhart, Fredrick Douglas.........



As we studied each person we talked about the qualities they possesed that made them a hero.
The qualities we used were linked to ingredients in a hero sandwich, hoping to help them remember and try to emulate these qualities. The Rolls stood for Ristaker and Responsible. Lettuce for Loyal, Tomato for Thinker, Cheese for Courageous, Salamni for Solver (of problems), Ham for Honest.

Using these qualities we then discussed everyday heros, heros in our lives, and how anyone can be a hero.

See more participants of ABC Wednesday here.

You Cheer Me Up Award

This is such a cool award! I love Lucy. Lots of thanks to Elaine over at Napaboaniya for it. She has a very cool blog, so go visit!



I'd like to pass this award on to Mercedes, Gina, Paulie, Edmund Bear, The Aged Cat, and Susan

Weekend Snapshot

Visit more Weekend Snapshot participants here.

It snowed here on Friday. Enlarged you can see the sky is full of snowflakes.
Pretty amazing here, in March!


Snow on the azalia bushes.

Scrumptious Sunday - Easy Key Lime Pie

Visit Mercedes Rocks for more about Scrumptious Sunday.

Join us for for some yummy fun.

Easy Key Lime Pie

4 egg yolks

1C lime juice (fresh if you have it)

3 (14 oz) cans of sweetened condensed milk

2 large deep graham cracked pie shells

Combine the egg yolks, lime juice and condensed milk and mix well. Pour into the pie shells and bake at 350* for 15 minutes. Chill.

These are fast, yummy, and simple for dessert. I bake two at a time and send leftovers home with company so I don't eat it all. Serve with a cold glass of sweet milk. Nothing could be better.

Snow!

It snowed here yesterday! Here in east Texas. It was snowing when I looked out the window a little before 7:00 am and kept on snowing till after 9:30. I was a "little under the weather" so was at home. I napped a lot so don't know exactly when it stopped. It was completely gone by 1.

My father, who is 83, said that when he was a kid here it used to snow 3 or 4 times in the winter with enough snow to play in, make snowmen, have snowball fights, do all the things kids love to do with snow. I found that interesting as we rarely get snow now and when we do it doesn't stick. This snow was very wet so wasn't good snowball snow.


It piled up on the grass and on the vehicles. As you can see it didn't stick on the pavement.
It piled up on this little garden toad. He sure looks cold.

Rusty saw snow for the first time. He sniffed and sniffed. Then he bounced around and played some. Finally, his feet got cold and he ran to the house to get in.

Sky Watch Friday

This week Sky Watch Friday is being hosted by Tom at Welcome to Wigglers World.

Sunset

Sunrise

A List of Funny Movies I've Enjoyed

A List of Funny Movies I've Enjoyed

1. Big Trouble staring Tim Allen from the Dave Barry novel. Loved the book. Loved the movie.


2. My Big Fat Greek Wedding - the differences between these two families, the two cultures, makes this a wonderful, funny movie. Go rent it today.


3. Monty Python and the Holy Grail - my sister and I try to watch this every year. It has even been made into a Broadway play called "Spamalot."


4. A Christmas Story - "You'll shoot your eye out!" I watch it every Christmas, but have yet to read the book. I have to do that.


5. Dracula, Dead and Loving It staring Leslie Nielson. Imaginative remake of the old Nosferatu movie which was the first screen adaptation of Bram Stoker's Dracula.


6. Young Frankenstein - not only is this a hysterical movie it,also, is a Broadway musical. "Walk this way!" "No! THIS way."


7. Caddyshack staring Chevy Chase and Bill Murry.


8. The Gods Must Be Crazy There are some very funny parts in this movie.


9. Strange Brew The Adventures of Bob and Doug McKenzie


10. Miss Congeniality


11. Evolution - David Duchovney, the critics only give it a C+ but I thought it was funny.


12. Arsenic and Old Lace -Cary Grant


13. Airplane - "I am serious, and don't call me Shirley." I use this line. My friends have picked it up and use it too. I have it as a ring tone. The movie may be too silly for normal people, my husband hates it. No one has ever accused me of being normal.

Things I Love About My Pets - A List

Things I Love About My Pets - A List

1. Rusty is sooo happy to see me come home after work. It makes me warm inside to see his little wagging tail (such as it) and know he is truly happy to see me.

2. I love it when Jenny, my old white cat, sits in my lap and purrs. Or when she crawls up on my side when I'm sleeping and purrs. Of course she wakes me up a little, but, well, she's purring.....

3. Bob is sweet when he sits on the arm of the couch by me. He is not a lap cat but likes to be near.

4. When Dallas comes in he always wants pats before he goes to check the cat food bowl.

5. Rusty loves to play tug of war and it is fun to watch his simple joy in this game.

6. I like the way Dallas talks. He is a very vocal cat and lets you know what he wants. He says, very loudly "CHOOOOOOOOWWWWW" when he is hungry. He says "OOOOOOUUUUT" when he wants out. If I'm not quick enough he says, even louder, "OOOOOOUT NOOOOOOOOOW." If he wants pats he walks down the hall calling "MEEEEEEow."

7. Rusty makes me laugh when he jumps in my lap with his Nylabone and shoves it in my hand for me to hold while he chews it.

8. It is funny to watch Rusty snuffle Dallas' face. Dallas puts up with it and has never swatted Rusty.

9. They are so much comfort and company.

10. Bear and Rusty love their treats so. Rusty is fairly easy to teach tricks to due in part to his love of treats. It is fun to have Rusty practice his tricks.

11. Rusty sleeps on my lap when we are watching TV. If Jenny isn't already there. Then, if he really wants on my lap he sits on the ottoman and whines till she is so irritated she leaves.

12. I love the way Rusty twists his head back and forth when I am talking to him.

13. All of these things make for a fairly entertaining day.

The Bird Nest Cafe, Better Known as Wanda's

Weekend Snapshot

This is Wanda. She is sweet and warm and everything you would expect out of the owner of a small southern cafe. Wanda was a waitress for years at another local cafe. When it closed down she opened her own cafe and named it "The Bird Nest Cafe." Most of the people we know who go there call it "Wanda's."

David and I enjoy going there on Saturday mornings for breakfast and on Sunday afternoons for the plate lunch special. Talk about your down home southern cooking. We had the pork chops yesterday. Wanda told us they were"as tender as a mother's love." That's pretty dog gone tender. We thoroughly enjoyed them (fried of course) along with the green beans, real mashed potatoes with cream gravy and peanut butter cake. YUMMY! I had coffee and David had sweet tea.

I am a member of NaBloPoMo '08.

Scrumptious Sunday - Chicken

This is the first week for Scrumptious Sunday over at Mercedes Rocks. Please go there to read about it and to participate!

The theme for Scrumptious Sunday this week is chicken! Right up my alley, we eat lots of chicken here.

Frozen Chicken in a Crock Pot

This recipe is easy and perfect when you don't want to mess with thawing anything!It's very tasty too.

Place 8 to 10 (depending on size) boneless, skinless, frozen chicken thighs in the crock pot. If you prefer, use chicken breast halves.

In a bowl mix one family size can of cream of chicken soup, one package of fresh sliced mushrooms (or canned sliced mushrooms,) and salt & pepper to taste.

Pour the soup mixture over the chicken. Cover and cook on low for 10 hours.

When it is done it should look like this.

Cook up a nice batch of brown rice.

Serve with steamed vegetables and a side salad if desired.

I am a member of NaBloPoMo '08