I just cut out 195 pieces for my latest quilt that I am making. I have a "due date" so I can't lolly gag on this project. I have been working diligently while answering academic questions, grading papers, doing laundry, dishes, cooking and watching seasons 3 and 4 of 30 Rock. Last night, I dreamed that Tina Fey, Alec Baldwin, Johnny Depp and I were quilting while watching the Superbowl and writing jokes about the players.
Yes, I know Johnny Depp is not on 30 Rock. He is my best friend. I met him at a circus in a previous dream that I have had and he told me we could be best friends and he and his wife would grill out with Jeff and I.
............now where is the pharmacy number.......I need to refill my meds..........
Friday, February 4, 2011
Tuesday, February 1, 2011
I miss teaching in the City schools....Drop and give me 20!!!
I decided to channel my inner city school teacher......I mean the city school teacher inside me....well actually both....
One of my students can take a 45 minute math lesson and make it 6 hours!!
.....staring.....listening......walking around.....sharpening pencil.....getting paper.....I actually don't know what he does and neither does he!!!
So I make him set a timer. If he doesn't finish, he does a set amount of specific exercises and starts the timer again.
He gets his lessons done on time.....almost every time!
The other issue is careless mistakes! For every problem missed because of careless mistakes....he must do 15 push ups! Any other problems missed....10 sit ups or as many chin ups as he can do!
The careless mistakes are going down and I suspect he will be in better shape for his upcoming "Climb Nashville" with his Scout Troop!!
It is also fun, funny after every time I grade his math instead of grumpy and upsetting!!
This weekend one of my students released some anxiety on his "stupid math book" (his words to be voiced like eeyore)....
This idea was "sparked" by his uncle (the one whose kid has not been born yet)........thanks!
I believe there is more destruction planned....but for now....
here is what happened....
One of my students can take a 45 minute math lesson and make it 6 hours!!
.....staring.....listening......walking around.....sharpening pencil.....getting paper.....I actually don't know what he does and neither does he!!!
So I make him set a timer. If he doesn't finish, he does a set amount of specific exercises and starts the timer again.
He gets his lessons done on time.....almost every time!
The other issue is careless mistakes! For every problem missed because of careless mistakes....he must do 15 push ups! Any other problems missed....10 sit ups or as many chin ups as he can do!
The careless mistakes are going down and I suspect he will be in better shape for his upcoming "Climb Nashville" with his Scout Troop!!
It is also fun, funny after every time I grade his math instead of grumpy and upsetting!!
P.S. A STORY THAT NEVER ENDS
This weekend one of my students released some anxiety on his "stupid math book" (his words to be voiced like eeyore)....
This idea was "sparked" by his uncle (the one whose kid has not been born yet)........thanks!
I believe there is more destruction planned....but for now....
here is what happened....
always be prepared!
no worries! our "school man of fire" was dousing the book with gasoline......well, he has the mustache of a fireman!
We all enjoyed watching the chapter on fractions burn after the Master Archer shot the flaming arrow!! You might want to ask him for the story!!
It was decided to save the rest of the book for further destruction.....
All is safe except maybe the breathable air, plants, water, neighbors, etc.....
Thursday, January 27, 2011
This post is to update my loyal readers. In the post "It doesn't add up", I wrote about my oldest son and the horrendous year of math!
(you need to scroll down and read that post if you missed it)
Jack finished his final.
WAIT!! Let me tell you about this final! I took it myself to make sure the problems were not quirky and the answers were right.
THEN I gave it to my son. About half way through the test he shows me a problem and says "I don't know how to do this. I didn't learn this." I looked at the answers in the back of the book. The answers refer you to the chapter of the book that taught the problem. Several of the answers had 10.2, 11.6, 12.5....and so on.
I flipped through the book so I could show him which chapter introduced the concept.
THE BOOK TEACHES CHAPTERS 1-9...................
I circled the problems that covered what was ACTUALLY in the book and let him finish. I was so frustrated!!
I gave him a placement test the next day. I have picked a curriculum that I wasn't thrilled with because it is so repetitive....it is not fun to teach.
YES! It is always about me! Never mind the fact that it is good to be repetitive in math.....
As Jack took the placement test (100 questions), I started grading as he went.
1-20.....got all 20....whew! passed 6th grade level!
21-40....got all 20....whew! passed 7th grade level!
41-60...missed one because he had not learned the concept (you can miss up to 4)....whew! passed 8th grade level!
Jack is currently in the 7th grade and prior to taking this placement test, he worried that he would place in 6th grade math. I am sure his anxiety came from the trauma of struggling for a year. He felt that he did not know math and he felt that math was a failing subject for him.
We both became very excited. High-fives, giggling, jumping and clapping began (Jack was happy too...)
61-80.......missed 2 because he had not learned the concept......WHAT?? passed pre-algebra???
81-100......at the end of the test, Jack had been placed in Algebra 1.
I looked up a local private school that I respect and found that 8th graders take Algebra 1.
Jack was happier than I had seen him in a long time!
I was relieved that the year of struggling through "crazy math" had not set us back 2 years!!!
I immediately ordered Algebra 1 and it arrived this afternoon, UPS....
(you need to scroll down and read that post if you missed it)
Jack finished his final.
WAIT!! Let me tell you about this final! I took it myself to make sure the problems were not quirky and the answers were right.
THEN I gave it to my son. About half way through the test he shows me a problem and says "I don't know how to do this. I didn't learn this." I looked at the answers in the back of the book. The answers refer you to the chapter of the book that taught the problem. Several of the answers had 10.2, 11.6, 12.5....and so on.
I flipped through the book so I could show him which chapter introduced the concept.
THE BOOK TEACHES CHAPTERS 1-9...................
I circled the problems that covered what was ACTUALLY in the book and let him finish. I was so frustrated!!
I gave him a placement test the next day. I have picked a curriculum that I wasn't thrilled with because it is so repetitive....it is not fun to teach.
YES! It is always about me! Never mind the fact that it is good to be repetitive in math.....
As Jack took the placement test (100 questions), I started grading as he went.
1-20.....got all 20....whew! passed 6th grade level!
21-40....got all 20....whew! passed 7th grade level!
41-60...missed one because he had not learned the concept (you can miss up to 4)....whew! passed 8th grade level!
Jack is currently in the 7th grade and prior to taking this placement test, he worried that he would place in 6th grade math. I am sure his anxiety came from the trauma of struggling for a year. He felt that he did not know math and he felt that math was a failing subject for him.
We both became very excited. High-fives, giggling, jumping and clapping began (Jack was happy too...)
61-80.......missed 2 because he had not learned the concept......WHAT?? passed pre-algebra???
81-100......at the end of the test, Jack had been placed in Algebra 1.
I looked up a local private school that I respect and found that 8th graders take Algebra 1.
Jack was happier than I had seen him in a long time!
I was relieved that the year of struggling through "crazy math" had not set us back 2 years!!!
I immediately ordered Algebra 1 and it arrived this afternoon, UPS....
Orange and Blue!! HELLO.....sign from God that it is the perfect curriculum!!!
I thumbed through the first few lessons to make sure we ordered the right level........
I started feeling a strange high.....it is an actual textbook that schools use. hard back. place in front to issue it to the students. the smell. the feel. the teaching.
I LOVE IT!!!
Jack........not so excited.......just relieved that he is in Algebra 1......and I think he found Math Esteem (the feeling and knowledge that you are not an idiot, you can do math)
With the way we do school.....it is possible he will start the fall, 8th grade, in Geometry!
Tuesday, January 25, 2011
There is a reason I stay home.....
Setting:
*at church around 11am
*3 bags of books (boys doing school work)
*crazy hair (as usual) because of rainy day
*in a hurry, frazzled, weighed down with heavy bags, short (not able to see anything in front of me)
*unknowingly chomping gum (because that is what I do when I am.....well have gum in my mouth)
Classic MAZ:
The boys and I were leaving the church. All Members of the Memphis Leadership Luncheon were arriving. The boys and I were quite small compared to all the tall men in their navy suits.
All the Memphis Leadership people were crowded in the hall and we could not cut through them to get to the door to our parking lot.
Me:
Viewing the sea of tall, well dressed men, I made a quick decision that I was not about to walk around the church in the pouring rain. I tried to politely move through the crowd but they did not seem to hear or see me. The heat of being bundled up for the outside, the weight of the books and the frustration of not being able to move forward.......I involuntarily yelled out in a sassy voice "EEEXCUSE ME!"
The tall man stepped out of the way and cut his eyes at me. I am sure I had an "annoyed" face as I looked at him. As I passed, in those seconds, I realized I had just yelled at my preacher, Sandy Willson.
Embarrassed by this, I pushed on through the crowd......trying to flee EVEN QUICKER!!
more tall men.....more ignoring......frustration mounting...
I got to the door, struggled to open it....I was staring face to face at several men....
Not learning a lesson from the few seconds before, I said.....sarcastically....."come on in" and I held the door open wide (trying not to drop my heavy bags of books).
I looked right into the eyes of Mark Luttrell, the mayor of Shelby County. His entourage looked slightly amused. They waited for Mr. Luttrell to pass through the door that I was holding and then they took the door and said "after you" and let me leave the building.
I got in my car, looked at the jackass in the mirrior and caught myself chomping my gum!!
OH NO! This is what the Leaders Of Memphis saw as they were about to eat a special luncheon at my church:
*at church around 11am
*3 bags of books (boys doing school work)
*crazy hair (as usual) because of rainy day
*in a hurry, frazzled, weighed down with heavy bags, short (not able to see anything in front of me)
*unknowingly chomping gum (because that is what I do when I am.....well have gum in my mouth)
Classic MAZ:
The boys and I were leaving the church. All Members of the Memphis Leadership Luncheon were arriving. The boys and I were quite small compared to all the tall men in their navy suits.
All the Memphis Leadership people were crowded in the hall and we could not cut through them to get to the door to our parking lot.
Me:
Viewing the sea of tall, well dressed men, I made a quick decision that I was not about to walk around the church in the pouring rain. I tried to politely move through the crowd but they did not seem to hear or see me. The heat of being bundled up for the outside, the weight of the books and the frustration of not being able to move forward.......I involuntarily yelled out in a sassy voice "EEEXCUSE ME!"
The tall man stepped out of the way and cut his eyes at me. I am sure I had an "annoyed" face as I looked at him. As I passed, in those seconds, I realized I had just yelled at my preacher, Sandy Willson.
Embarrassed by this, I pushed on through the crowd......trying to flee EVEN QUICKER!!
more tall men.....more ignoring......frustration mounting...
I got to the door, struggled to open it....I was staring face to face at several men....
Not learning a lesson from the few seconds before, I said.....sarcastically....."come on in" and I held the door open wide (trying not to drop my heavy bags of books).
I looked right into the eyes of Mark Luttrell, the mayor of Shelby County. His entourage looked slightly amused. They waited for Mr. Luttrell to pass through the door that I was holding and then they took the door and said "after you" and let me leave the building.
I got in my car, looked at the jackass in the mirrior and caught myself chomping my gum!!
OH NO! This is what the Leaders Of Memphis saw as they were about to eat a special luncheon at my church:
I might as well be the POSTER for what they were about to discuss and pray for!!!
Wednesday, January 19, 2011
It doesn't add up!
My oldest has been struggling through the first level of a particular Math curriculum (middle school level). My math abilities, without Teacher's Edition, stops about 6th grade so I was excited to have this book with a professor on DVD.
This son hates math and I thought that was the trouble.
THEN I started noticing that the book had mistakes! I thought....everyone is human....even the authors of this book...........and pressed on (well, made HIM press on!)
THEN the dvd that contains the professor....broke......YIKES!
I was forced to pay MORE attention to the content of this book so that I could TEACH what the book was leaving out......
I noticed MORE areas that were "just not good" for students.... ESPECIALLY non-math students.
THEN my husband (graphic designer) was helping one night and exclaimed "this book is crap!".....or something like that...
He showed me how the graphs and other "models"or "graphics" were confusing and poorly done!!
Unfortunately, my son is now at the very end of this book/level.....too late.....a horrible torture he had to endure for this level of math!!
He was able to learn but it took long, horrendous days, anxiety,tears, struggles.... JUST PLAIN OLD ridiculous stress that should not have been........this is very bad for learning math!!
I am still making him take the Final Exam for this book. In order to make sure that there aren't any mistakes.....
I TOOK THE FINAL!!!
My son asked if his brother was going to have to do this book. I told him "no". I was finding a new curriculum.
My oldest gave me a look that I thought meant "why doesn't my little brother have to go through a year of torture?"
When I responded to this, my oldest said "no! I was wondering if I could have this book to do whatever I want to it..."
YES, YES!!! Get all that built up stress, anxiety and frustration out!!!
I am allowing him to destroy this book however he wants!!!
I will have the EMT, police and fire dept. on standby.....and I will take pictures to share with my readers!!
Will he use the shop tools?
p.s.
this is just our experience and my opinions.....others have had success with this math curriculum......
This son hates math and I thought that was the trouble.
THEN I started noticing that the book had mistakes! I thought....everyone is human....even the authors of this book...........and pressed on (well, made HIM press on!)
THEN the dvd that contains the professor....broke......YIKES!
I was forced to pay MORE attention to the content of this book so that I could TEACH what the book was leaving out......
I noticed MORE areas that were "just not good" for students.... ESPECIALLY non-math students.
THEN my husband (graphic designer) was helping one night and exclaimed "this book is crap!".....or something like that...
He showed me how the graphs and other "models"or "graphics" were confusing and poorly done!!
Unfortunately, my son is now at the very end of this book/level.....too late.....a horrible torture he had to endure for this level of math!!
He was able to learn but it took long, horrendous days, anxiety,tears, struggles.... JUST PLAIN OLD ridiculous stress that should not have been........this is very bad for learning math!!
I am still making him take the Final Exam for this book. In order to make sure that there aren't any mistakes.....
I TOOK THE FINAL!!!
My son asked if his brother was going to have to do this book. I told him "no". I was finding a new curriculum.
My oldest gave me a look that I thought meant "why doesn't my little brother have to go through a year of torture?"
When I responded to this, my oldest said "no! I was wondering if I could have this book to do whatever I want to it..."
YES, YES!!! Get all that built up stress, anxiety and frustration out!!!
I am allowing him to destroy this book however he wants!!!
I will have the EMT, police and fire dept. on standby.....and I will take pictures to share with my readers!!
Will he use the shop tools?
Will he blow it up?
Will he use it for target practice?
this is just our experience and my opinions.....others have had success with this math curriculum......
Thursday, January 13, 2011
An adventure ends..........
I recently posted about sitting with Jeff's grandmother while she was in the hospital......
We got a call while Max was in surgery this Wednesday. Mama Jean would not be with us much longer. She passed away before Max's surgery was over. We had just seen her at Christmas time and she did not even recognize us. She wasn't able to speak to us or even keep her eyes open for more than a few seconds. This surprisingly upset me. Mama Jean was like a grandmother to me! I was surprised at my reaction to seeing this strong, outspoken woman in this weak state. I had to leave the room. I cried uncontrollably.
I have known Mama Jean for about 19 years. She had her moments. I was always on pins and needles when out in public with her. She had loud opinions about strangers and she would blurt it out for everyone to hear. BUT she would be talking to me as if I agreed!!
Mama Jean played basketball for her school, she played tennis well into her 60s, she loved Tiger basketball, college football, pro basketball, she did not like silly movies but loved action movies!! She taught Jeff how to cuss....always denied it but always brought up the "cuss word story".
She had a crazy sense of humor!
I had some fun times with her!! She was sarcastic and stubborn...........hmmmmmm......a lot like me!! She would pick on me and I would pick right back! I was not afraid to tell her what I thought about her opinions!! I confronted her on several things she would blurt out. That was met with "ignoring" but later an evil grin!! I knew she liked me because she would tell me! AND I am POSITIVE that she would have told me if she did NOT like me. Everyone in hearing distance knew what or who she liked and didn't like!! She adored my two boys and they were very close to her.
I have "walked" with her at many family adventures because she "acted" like she could not keep up.....but turn your back..... and she could quickly be somewhere she should not be!!
Early in our dating years (Jeff and I), I roomed with MJ at some family adventures.......I got the scoop on the family!
I did not like her dog and she used to torture me by telling me she was going to give me the dog when she died. That dog passed years ago.........WHEW!!!
When Jeff's youngest brother got married, Mama Jean and I showed up to the wedding with the same skirt!!! We giggled, talked with our eyes and mouthed words during the ceremony, like little kids. We did that on many family adventures.
After seeing her at Christmas, I began to pray that the Lord would take her soon. She was a strong, fighting woman and was miserable with her latest medical issues. She even said she was "done". She was ready to go!
Our family times will definitely be different with her gone.
She did things that would irritate me and even make me mad but I can honestly say.....I enjoyed her, I loved her......I will miss her!
P.S. I just went to the obituary online to see how to spell her maiden name.........it says "the family respects her wishes by not mentioning the date of her birth". This makes me laugh out loud!! She never wanted anyone to know her age. BUT I KNOW because she showed me her gun permit one day (yes! she carried a gun!) and it had her birth year! I am glad I looked at the obituary because I had to delete her birthday off my post!! HAHAHAHAHAHA.....she makes me laugh!!
Jean Thompson Cloar
born (she took it to the grave!)
died January 12, 2011
Wednesday, January 5, 2011
Biggest Loser Toilet
After a 3 month REST and "loss-of-strength-palooza", I started my Biggest Loser workout DVD again. Squats and lunges have created a problem....
I have realized that a person drops a couple of feet from standing position to sitting on a toilet. Getting back up to a standing position is near impossible!!!
So, I think Jillian (biggest loser trainer) should invent a toilet for us "big loser wannabes".
It would work like those recliners they advertise for the old people. It raises up so you can back into it and then lowers. When you are ready to get up, it raises you back to standing position!!
I KNOW! you are thinking.....get in shape and then it won't be a problem.....
Well, some of us don't have time to wait to get in shape!! I went to the bathroom at the church tonight and feared that I would have to sit there until the next morning!! I usually hover but fell into sitting all the way down. Then when I was ready to stand up........I couldn't!!! I had to brace my hands on the stall walls and use my arm strength to stand. Are you thinking "what is wrong? you got up!".......Well, it wasn't a silent struggle!! I huffed and puffed and groaned.......TO STAND.....but I fear the one other lady in the restroom might have thought I was doing something else. I heard a hurried flush, rip open door, quick wash and then fleeing the restroom.
I promise to not blog about my weight loss this time around....but I need to lose my holiday 5 and then my goal is to lose the other 15 that I did not lose this summer!! I hope I get the use of my thigh muscles back REAL soon before I get a nickname at church.........
I have realized that a person drops a couple of feet from standing position to sitting on a toilet. Getting back up to a standing position is near impossible!!!
So, I think Jillian (biggest loser trainer) should invent a toilet for us "big loser wannabes".
It would work like those recliners they advertise for the old people. It raises up so you can back into it and then lowers. When you are ready to get up, it raises you back to standing position!!
I KNOW! you are thinking.....get in shape and then it won't be a problem.....
Well, some of us don't have time to wait to get in shape!! I went to the bathroom at the church tonight and feared that I would have to sit there until the next morning!! I usually hover but fell into sitting all the way down. Then when I was ready to stand up........I couldn't!!! I had to brace my hands on the stall walls and use my arm strength to stand. Are you thinking "what is wrong? you got up!".......Well, it wasn't a silent struggle!! I huffed and puffed and groaned.......TO STAND.....but I fear the one other lady in the restroom might have thought I was doing something else. I heard a hurried flush, rip open door, quick wash and then fleeing the restroom.
I promise to not blog about my weight loss this time around....but I need to lose my holiday 5 and then my goal is to lose the other 15 that I did not lose this summer!! I hope I get the use of my thigh muscles back REAL soon before I get a nickname at church.........
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