THURSDAY MORNING

[Nasoosie]

GOOD MORNING TO US ALL!

Very much warmer here today at 18 degrees. I heard on the news that at least one of the Leonid meteors made a huge streak and light across the sky in the Utah area....did anyone of us see it out there? I sure would have loved to have spotted that!

Two more days this week, then two next week, and it'll be turkey feast day vacation from school. I guess my daughter and her live-in guy, Joe, will meet me in Chazy to have a turkey dinner with her grandmother and great aunt. I'm not sure what I will contribute to the feast, but maybe blueberry crisp and whipped cream, as I have plenty of my wild blueberries frozen. What are the rest of you doing to celebrate being thankful? I am beginning to be thankful for every day that brings me closer to getting free of my job. But the financial difficulties of retiring still haunt me and are constantly on my mind, so there are many mixed emotions. Every night I dream about my future home in a tent under an overpass somewhere, surrounded by others who have not enough money to do anything but try to stay dry and warm!

I need to find an old painting shirt this morning to wear when making our balsam wreaths to sell in our 'mockup' store. I learned yesterday in the Life Science class that 5 of my kids attend that not one of them can multiply or divide. We were making a graph of the results of the number of drops of water we could get to stay on the surface of a penny. We were to find the average of 8 tries. Impossible for every one of them with no calculator. Some could add the column of 8 up, (with many errors) but not one could find the average. Another bunch of kids in there from other, more capable classes, could not divide, either. Multiplication and division skills are now a thing of the past, along with spelling, reading, writing, a basic knowledge of geography, and the most basic facts of U.S. history. The education system of our country is shameful. What are we thinking? I truly don't think it's because our population has dumbed down over the decades. Although, if we are not to remember important facts and ideas now, we must at least know how to find the answers on the internet. NOT! Most of our students do not know how to find legitimate facts about anything on the internet, either.

Another horror I discovered yesterday is a result of a study unit of careers, home budgeting, and living management. All of the kids I had with sheets to fill in were looking up info on the internet to find entry salaries, median salaries, advanced salaries, education requirements, job locations, and what the jobs entailed. Sadly, all were looking up jobs like doctor, lawyer, cop, FBI, chef, teacher, and on and on. Not one of these kids will be getting a high school diploma. What the heck is this teaching those kids? That they are all failures, always will be, that they will never achieve success at anything, and that the world is against them??? What on earth is a fact sheet designed for kids hoping to get at least a high school diploma doing in the hands of my kids who are all on IEPs? (Independent Educational Programs) And I am helpless to do anything about it, as I am not the teacher.

Coffee time, then a hot bath to sooth me down a bit before I hit the floors running again. Hope you are all doing something way more rewarding than bucking a system that seems to be fostering hopelessness in our children. Am hoping to read some happiness on here, and sorry to not be able to contribute to that at this point. I love reading about your adventures in the more real world!

[carold]

Soos, as a former LD teacher of 28 years I can understand your frustration at the system and not just for the kids in "special" programs. It is definitely hard not have SOME control over what you see going on. I probably could write a long treatise on this topic (as well as some great stories), but I learned over the years to hold close the small (and sometimes large) gains made and the warmth when one of the students took a step forward and had a big smile on their face, or a parent that actually appreciated what we were accomplishing. I have come across many of my students over the years, and am always surprised at how they remember and appreciated what we did together. Sometimes it just takes a little shift in attitude that makes all the difference.

We're having a small GTG for Thanksgiving here in Sun n Fun. Will be getting with the GK's for Christmas. The weather here is great. Enjoy the day. carold

[Nasoosie]

Thanks for the reminder, Carol. I really need to keep a lookout for the little positive steps.

I would love to have a Christmas party for my kids, as I am sure most will not be celebrating much of anything with families. We could exchange gifts (set prices) using some of the money we make from selling the wreaths we make. It would make me happy to know that each kid got at least one thoughtful gift this holiday season.

In spite of my frustration and dislike for my position, I realize it's because I really do care what happens to these kids, and I can see goodness in even the most badly behaved. I guess it's the lack of power, total lack of recognition of my opinions, such total feelings of helplessness that are driving me bonkers.

I must, I must, I must watch for any positives!

[Liz]

Thought we could use a laugh this morning. Have a good one!

[asirimarco]

Good Morning All - we are between Odessa and Midland, TX in an RV park. I updated my blog last night about our fun leaving yesterday a.m. Talk about dumb. Dah.
Still making good time - now The Driver wants to be in Tucson tomorrow - don't think so - famous last words. There sure is a lot of Texas -
Well he is about ready to take off. Try to update more later.
Soos - what about living in Mexico. My cousin lives there on 900 US a month and is haveing a good life. Who knows maybe we'll be there too.

[Sparkle]

Soos, there isn't a bridge with your name on it (but just in case, I recommend a refrigerator box to live in. Very solidly built and will withstand some rains) I got that advice from some alcoholic friends. Seriously Soos, as long as you have an RV you will not be homeless. Start thinking about where you would like to be, mountains, lakes, beach, East, West? There are lots of Workamping jobs, free sites and pay. This is your thinking time, use it.

[mitch5252]

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And Soos, I told Vickie if the time ever comes, she and I can use The Blue Marlin as a home base (sorta centrally located in the U.S.) and travel out of here. Join us! We can call it The Bag Lady Farm.




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[Forestgal]

Good morning all.

Here I sit in my classroom, ready to greet 37 fifth graders -- 27 of whom are reading at a third grade level or lower. Soos, I hear you, and it's hard. I try to take one day at a time, and look at each kid and how they're gifted as a person. Might not be in academics, but there's usually something inside them that will shine if I'm willing to work hard enough to find it.

Mitch, I've always wanted to find a big patch of land somewhere that I could put electricity on and some sort of sewer "thingy" and then have any and all like-minded women join me. We'd start a little commune and just tell the rest of the world to leave us alone. Still sounds good ...

Okay, gotta figure out what to do during science today. We're studying the human body & its major systems. The kids love it, and I enjoy watching them figure out that all the miraculous things are going on inside of them. One little girl said that she didn't know there was so much "stuff" inside her! Felt like I'd earned my paycheck that day.

Pray for our educational system, friends. It's a scary thing right now ...

Laura -- and Jed

[Echo]

GOOD MORNING SISTAHS!!!!

Kind of a gloomy day here today. Sky is all over cast, there was a very super fine mist coming down and the temp is rather cool in the low 60's. Not sure what we will do today? David is working and Jenny is going to the bank for David then meeting him for lunch. (interruption again)

Geeze I have just spent the past 45 minutes looking thru a mountain of mail here on the table and cleaning the thing off looking for a bank statement for David. Did not find one but the table looks better that's for sure. Guess I had better post this thing so that the good morning will still be under the time limit!!!

Hope ya'll have a great and safe day.

Love to all

PS Thought I would come back and edit this thing as I was just looking at the weather. It is only 49f right now. The high for today is suppose to me in the low 60's.

[dayspring39]

Good Morning from the rainy spot on the map called Normal... another blah day but it will be sunny tomorrow and part of Sat so will take my daughter up on getting the final things in the MH... she and her husband John will be in FL for the thanksgiving week... they work so hard and this is not spurts and jerks it is all of the time... ah I remember those days well...

I can understand how you feel Soos... what a challenge but you can only do what you can do... set a goal to impact one child at a time... it has to be so discouraging with your position and not being the teacher... I trust you will have a good day...

It is so hard to sit by and see things happen that we cannot control…

No matter where your feet take you this day may you enjoy the view…
Kathleen

[Excel]

Thank you dayspring...I just HAD to copy that & share it with my friends...I don't know what this world is coming to either & it's scarey...but we must do our share to change it each & every day in whatever big or small way we can....or it will never get better...
God Bless you that are teachers...without you there would be no change.....

[OutandAbout]

Soos, I'm sorry you do not look forward to your job. I'm not a teacher, but I've been there and it is not a good thing to have your mind set on looking forward to weekends and vacation days. A friend, who is a teacher, has expressed your exact feelings about teaching and what the students are not learning. It is no wonder the US has fallen in education levels compared to the rest of the world. I know I wouldn't recognize some of the text book content these days compared to the ones we used. What are the kids being taught?

It's another mild, sunny day here. I'm enjoying it now, before the cold sets in. I've been following Liz's lead and de-cluttering. I've started in the garage, this could take awhile, and will then tackle the house room by room, separating what I don't want into piles for donating and the dump.

That's it from here. Take care and safe travels. Linda

[mitch5252]

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Although incorrectly attributed to Billy Graham, it's an interesting story, nonetheless...

http://www.snopes.com/politics/soapbox/prayernation.asp


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[dayspring39]

Thank you Mitch... I deleted that part from my post...
Kathleen

[mitch5252]

Thank you Mitch... I deleted that part from my post...
Kathleen

Oh, I wish you hadn't deleted it. It's a great prayer, just given by Reverend Joe Wright instead of Reverend Billy Graham.

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