Testing, Again

My students took the Reading portion of the NWEA test today. They took it in the Fall and now this test will show if they have learned anything. I am pleased to report that of the 18 tested today, all but one went up in scores. We must be doing something right. Several of my fourth grade students tested at the tenth grade level. They were presented questions about material I have not covered this year, nor will I ever cover. I don't teach the tenth grade. One girl seemed frustrated at not knowing the answer, but was not upset with me. Please don't let the state department find out or we will be seeing tenth grade material on the ISTEP+ test!

Stump the Teacher Day

One of my students tried to stump me on a question. He asked what glass is made of. When I answered sand, he said, "Crap." Quickly I answered, "No, just sand." He didn't get it for a minute, but then grinned and said, "Then it would be yellow glass, and we wouldn't want that." Meanwhile the rest of the class is oblivious to what was said. That's what makes it so much fun this year, having a student who gets my quick-wit and returns it as well.

Announcement

He asked. She answered. It's official!

Fun with the Girls

I had a great day yesterday! I took my sister, sister-in-law, and granddaughter out to eat at a quaint restaurant, then on to look at flowers in bloom in local garden stores. We talked, laughed, and shared the day away. And with Toots along, there was never a dull moment. Toots sat in the back with my sister and had a playful rough housing (like she has with her dad) while on the way to the eatery. My sis aimed to please and did not realize where the play was headed. Toots pinched my sister's cheek as if she were her daddy. I had to put a stop to it only to have Toots give me some excuse about how my sister liked it. Ha! Don't think that rosie cheek is from make-up. Just hope the cheek doesn't bruise. Maybe Sis should have turned the other cheek so she would have a matching pair.

This Doesn't Look Like Alaska

Can't believe it is Wednesday already of my vacation. This time last year, I was in Alaska. Seems like I haven't really done anything but sit and eat. I have papers to grade and lessons to look over, but not yet. I don't think I will forget what they are if I wait another day or two. There are several things I should do today such as visiting certain people, cleaning up my house, sorting and pitching old papers, etc. But it seems I never get around to doing that either. Toots spent the night with me again. We stayed up till 10:00 last night, so she was more ready to go to bed and go to sleep. I sneaked out of the room at 5:00, but I didn't hear that little voice calling after me. So she must still be sleeping or my wishful thinking. Perhaps I will be allowed to drink a cup of coffee before she appears.

Lesson Learned and Applied

While watching the season finale of The Secret Life of an American Teen or whatever the long title was, my granddaughter made an observation about the character Tom Bowman. She said he sounds just like a friend of ours and also a girl at her daycare. Luke Zimmerman, the actor, has Down Syndrome. Just like our friend and just like the little girl at the daycare. When Toots first met our friend, G, we were riding to the airport together. When he talked, she couldn't understand him. I overheard her say, "If you are going to talk in that whiny voice, then I can't understand a word you are saying." This phrase is used often at her daycare with her as well as others. G wasn't whiny, but she couldn't understand him. After I reprimanded her, she tried to listen more carefully and was soon able to understand him. They became fast friends before the trip ended. Kudos to the show for including real-life characters in their show. For a child as young as 4 can relate fiction to life.

It's Still Dark Outside!

Have you ever heard of those kids who are extremely active in the day and don't require much sleep at night? Let's just say my granddaughter spent the night with me, it's 5:00 am, and she's up!

It's a Small World

My husband is on another short-term mission trip, this time to Louisiana and Mississippi. (I could have gone with him since this is my spring break from school, but I needed the chance to rest.) He and a small group have returned to the site where we helped build houses for hurricane Katrina victims last July. The group visited New Orleans yesterday afternoon to get a few hours of sightseeing before their work begins in earnest today. The group watched a 45-minute street performance by a tumbling/gymnastic group that had been on America's Got Talent last year. Hubby was feeling pretty good about the fact that he knew of the group and the rest of the story. When the performance ended and the group was walking away, hubby heard someone call his name. He turned to discover our niece and her two daughters who had also watched the performance. The three of them are also there to build houses for the hurricane victims but at another city. What a small world!

Granddaugher's Request

Just called my daughter's house to tell her about an email. Toots, my granddaughter, answered and immediately asked if I were calling to ask if someone could come spend the night with me. Pretty cute. I didn't answer that question, but how could I turn that request down?

Dangerous Pet on School Bus

As we were dismissing students to walk or ride home in cars, the principal came out to question the Kindergarten teacher about a student and a pet. Seems the bus driver radioed a panicked call saying the girl had a hamster on the bus and that was NOT allowed. The teacher calmly explained to the principal that the girl did indeed have a hamster in a cage. She brought it for show and tell. She sat it on the floor, pushed the button and activated the cute little hamster. She further explained that it was a toy. By the time the principal returned to the radio, the bus driver had called to disregard the call about a live hamster. He found out that it was a toy. Because the radio is used by all of the corporation and people at home with that frequency tuned in, the jokes and jabs started immediately. One was heard to say you have to be very careful with those dangerous hamsters. The bus driver will probably go to his grave with the "hamster" call sign.

The Shack

I read a good book this week called The Shack. If you know anything about me, you know that I am not a reader. So to read a book in a week is something big. The book puts a whole new perspective on God, and on how we relate to Him. There were parts of the book that I didn't quite agree with, but for the most part, the book caused me to think in a new way. I don't want to give the storyline away, but trust me, you will be intrigued.

Listening to that Little Voice

I picked up my granddaughter one evening this week. She was glad to see me like in olden days. On the way to my house where she would play on her jungle gym, she told me that if she behaves, she will get to have her ears peered. I explained that it was pierced, but of course she was right. I reminded her that she had an X drawn on her sign-out sheet and that would count against her. Matter of factly, she said we just wouldn't tell her mom. Later in the evening, I brought up the X again and reminded her that Jesus didn't want her to behave badly. She told me to wait a minute cause Jesus was talking to her in her head. Then she replied that Jesus told her not to tell her mommy and that Mimi was to lie. Whoa! First of all, I hope no voice is talking to her. Secondly, if a voice is talking, it is not Jesus. We are hoping it is just her vivid imagination. And we all know how vivid that can be. BTW, I told mommy to ask about her behavior that day. At least Toots fessed up then.

ISTEP++++

Well, we are almost finished with ISTEP+ testing. This new test is unbelievable. The math problems would stump most adults, let alone 9 to 12 year old students. I read in the Indy newspaper about the stress students are experiencing across the state. Some students have stressed so much that they closed the test booklet and did not work the test. Others have literally pulled out their hair. The article said that the state may have to change its way of grading the test. Students may get more points than the students thought. So we are to tell our students not to worry about it. That's like trying to get the spilled red Kool-aid separated out of the swimming pool. I'm sure my students will feel so relieved to know that NO problems worked will equal a better score than we originally thought. The newspaper gave a few examples of the problems given to fourth graders. The directions state, "Use words, numbers or symbols to explain why Elaine is NOT correct. Be sure to indicate the areas to support your answer." Then the answer states, "Elaine is not correct because mopping floor B twice is less area than floors A and C combined." Where are the numbers? Where is the proof? How did the answer show proof? You can bet that the state's answer key for the test just given will not be so lenient. My math is pretty good when I say the state has wasted $29,000,000 and excused themselves in the process.

Movie Night

Hubby and I watched The Dark Knight on DVD last night. It was very entertaining, but I have questions. Wish my son were here to ask him, but I know not to do that while the movie is playing. Perhaps I will have the opportunity to do that. We also watched the flick The Guardian. The titles of both movies came from the very last scene of the movie. Is that how many are named and I just didn't realize it?