End of the School Year Frustrations.....

I know times have changed and I understand that my friends and I were probably “cut of a different cloth” (my BFF was one of 3 valedictorians and I was friends with the others as well)……but seriously – how can you as a student sit through an entire class period and do absolutely NOTHING! I do appreciate that you respect me enough to follow my rules and the school rules (extreme kudos for not sleeping, not texting, not talking and not skipping – I guess you know that I will take the time to write you up and turn it in) but geez…..you’re just sitting. Breathing. No doodling or reading. Nothing. Just there. Using Oxygen. Creating CO2. Blinking. Staring.

How?

I get it some of it. You, the student, know you have failed for the year. No sense in trying now as you have to recover your class credit somewhere else any how (summer school, virtual school, retake it next year, etc.).

I have been places (workshops, meeting, etc.) and been bored to tears but I cannot just sit. I draw, make grocery lists, plan lessons, create birthday party ideas, etc. But to just sit in a high school class is beyond me. I have been teaching long enough to know that most likely as a teacher you are not walking into a classroom of dry sponges eager to absorb any and all new information and practice using it. Especially in difficult content areas (like say….any SCIENCE….where it is just as much about information processing skills like predicting, analyzing and quantifying as it is about knowing basic facts) but I just don’t understand. I can empathize but not comprehend.

(Cue flashback sequence) Back when I was in high school….. I did my work not because I really wanted to learn at that point but because it was what I was supposed to do. I did not have a strict parent nor was I threatened to get good grades. I thought my teachers would think of me poorly if I didn’t do my work. I would have disappointed them or maybe even hurt their feelings. I bet that is why I am taking this so tough. My feelings are hurt.  I also feel helpless. I have tried since day 1 to change some of their minds – motivate them, excite them, interest them and would only get a glimmer every now and then (which is why they are in the position they are in now not passing the course). How can I make it better?

I am really trying to let it go as it is out of my control (choices they made against my advising) but I can’t cop out like that in my mind. I can talk that talk but not walk the walk. I know I can’t change their minds, habits, work ethic now but I am thinking ahead to next year all ready. What can I do differently to promote learning? I want a fool proof (pun possibly intended) way of teaching.

Want some Skinz?

I know I do!

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My girls always wear long sleeved swimsuits at the beach. I like avoiding the whole sunscreen hassle.

Skargyle - Pink/Black Argyle is my favorite with the cute little skull and crossbones.

And if I still haven't convinced you...try ">this blog for winning one!

Dumb dog...

(the one in the picture is NOT ours although I bet I could find a similar picture if I had the time but I need to go bathe some girls and stop enjoying myself blogging...)

We have two actually but this post is solely in reference to the bog one. DH has the theory that she has two brain cells that are arguing over territory in the skull. They rarely work in conjunction. She is a red doberman named Copper (after the hound dog in The Fox and The Hound). She is 10 years old and almost as hyper as the day we bought her. The breeder said she'd calm down in a year or so to be a nice mellow dog - again back to the brain cell theory. She only has two of her canine teeth left as she broke the two upper ones chewing on a cinder block.

Up north every year (usually around 11 pm or after on her last trip outside for the night), she would catch a skunk. She was always an avid cat chaser but one would think that after getting sprayed the first time (and then having to endure the endless tomato juice baths in the driveway...before we splurged on a skunk scent cleanser after realizing this was going to continue to happen) would make one think twice about a chubby, black and white furry creature that seems a tad to easy to catch. The last time she caught a skunk she bit its butt so we got to enjoy that pungent aroma every time she defecated for at least the next two week. What joy! Again....why did she not learn?

Down here in the South she has found a couple new creatures to torment with adverse results to herself.
Frogs and lizards. She catches them and apparently there is a reaction(?) of some sort in her mouth as she spits them right back out then proceeds to smack her jaws together producing a frothy concoction that Hooch (of Turner and Hooch fame) would be envious. I am guessing this is a defense mechanism of such creatures.
Once she has spat them out they usually sit there and smirk (or so I think) at her for a minute before taking their time to move away. Again....why does she not learn?

Can't teach an old dog new tricks, I guess....or any tricks when it comes to skunks, lizards and frogs.

Oh, and while searching for images for the post I ran across this.....

we have one of these that frequents our patio. I think it is eating the dog food.

A Perfect Mother's Day for this year.....

I was mentally making this list before Calen posted a description of her. (Or maybe it is a case of imagery being the greatest form of flattery....). Although I like the jeans skirt concept, I am going for a little more of my own possible reality. (Again think/believe it will happen and it will? Or maybe might?)

Anyhoo....

We as a family of 5 would go to the beach (as we have been at least once a month since moving here) BUT I would do no prepping for it. The nutritious yet fun lunches/snacks would be waiting in the fridge. The towels and sunscreen would already be packed so that everyone is happy with their necessities (no fighting over who gets the princess towel and who has the - let's say - Shrek towel). The sand toys, chairs and boogie board would be already in the car.

Once there I could immerse myself in one of the Twilight books I am now rereading (yeah, I plan to post more about that later....). I would not have to watch the big girls b/c they are perfectly safe (maybe the Daddy-o watching them) but so safe I could take a nap while basking in the sun.

After we've all reached our fill of sand and salt water, we would stop to grab a bite to eat on our way home (Yes, they eat ENORMOUS quantities of food while at the beach. It is really a sight to behold.) Maybe Applebees or the like (not fast food though). That would mean once we get home I would not have to go straight to the kitchen to cook.

After everyone showers, we'd either have a family movie night or a rousing game of Super Mario Party or Mario Kart.

Notice there is no school work in the Sunday scenario. :)

All those thing could possibly happen. Other things I would like to see occur but are far less likely: finding the necklace I lost some time last fall, getting a respectable offer on our house up north, a lavish shopping spree - after winning the lottery of course.

A girl can dream can't she?

For you bacon lovers....

Brandisms

The Middie came up with these two zingers w/i the last 24 hours.

Yesterday we were talking about how her older sister is very tall for her age. Daddy said she is a beanstalk. The Middie said "but she can be a mean-stalk".

This morning as the baby was doddling around in the kitchen I rhetorically asked what she was doing in there. The Middie replies, "Probably something evil that she will get in trouble for later."

Dreamin'......

WHEN (not saying 'if' here b/c I am being optimistic - think it and it will happen kind of action, ya' know?) our house up north sells these are the kind of things I want in a new house....

First, I want each little girl to have a room of their own. I am torn between each having the beauty of something like this....

or the functionality of something like this...

I do know none of them will have something as freaky as this....

This is freaky but I think would be novel not scary...

I want a hall tree/cubby kind of thing.....

Cool shower head I found while looking for other stuff...

Always wanted a faucet like this one (sans Sleeping with the Enemy)...


I have been searching for things for this post for hours now....now I know why I don't usually do these kind of posts. :( Ok, I am tired now....