Teaching Link of the Day:
ASVAB testing
Story problems...chess timers... finding out I score off the charts... I love my job...
Food of the Day:
Fondue, with the homemade bread from the other night.
Show of the Day:
Olympic Games Closing Ceremonies
Teaching Link of the Day
Block Letters and Shading Geometry in 3 dimensions
It all started with Star Wars...
Letters have geometry. They are square and triangular and circular, and drawing block shading makes them prisms. When you do a lesson on art and graphic design, never neglect the technical vocabulary, the science, the math. With young children, you never know if they're interested in the lesson because they will be architects or artists.
Geometric Shapes
Light and Shadow
Perspective and Depth
Angles and Parallelism
Development of the Day
New student: How to beat the ASVAB (Armed services vocational aptitude battery)
Show of the Day
Studio 60
Food of the Day
Bread--in a bread tube.
Teaching Link of the Day:
Using workbooks in a classroom.
One One One One
Pick one, any one. Using a workbook to teach and assess your students is not effective. You become distant from the actual process of teaching reading, pigeon-holed by the idea that you are a speaking version of the teacher--the workbook. You allow the workbook to guide your decisions.
And because of this, students appear to fail. Worse yet, they actually fail.
Food of the Day:
Chicken through a meat grinder makes great salad sandwich options. Mix with nigh on anything you'd put on your chicken and spread it on a sandwich.
P.S. I do not fail to see the irony of the meat grinder juxtoposed by the first few lines of this post on the front page.
Thought of the Day: If you work at home or teach at home it's probably because you like the freedom and flexibility. Don't forget that: if you want to play hooky, for goodness' sake, go skiing! Guilt-free! This is exactly why you have the job you have.
Sometimes, it's good to have that reminder.
Random Fact of the Day:
Dividing by zero is our ace in the hole.
Food of the Day: Girl Scout Cookies are in and I didn't have to sort them. She did a good job of that all on her own, post-its and total due and all. If you ordered cookies, expect them soon!
Show of the Day: I love the episode we watched today: there was no telling who the killer was until very close to the end of the show, no dramatic irony, just worried anticipation that the protagonist would be revealed to be correct, right?
Teaching Link of the Day: Brian P. Cleary
Staggering success in the world of a LD reader with How Much Can a Bare Bear Bear? led to an extensive exploration into the fun world of linguistics for children. Ys,
Reading of the Day:
Parent and Child Rights in Special Education
Appropriately light reading for during lunch between students, right?
Food of the Day:
Baked the Friendship Bread. 6 loaves. Kept one starter unbaked. More bread in 10 days.
Show of the Day:
Even Beer is Art, says I. Drink up.
"American beer and canoes" -Oscar Wilde
Adventure of the Day:
I moved my bedroom bookshelf (courtesy of my friend who moved to Hawaii) to my son's room, I moved my yarn dresser (Yes, I have a whole dresser full of yarn, why do you ask?) and craft stuff from my son's room to my daughter's closet, and the closet shelf to my bedroom. The books from my bedroom are still in my bedroom, and the textbooks/homeschooling/teaching resources from my daughter's closet are in my son's room.
That doesn't make sense, does it. I rotated the vessels in room A, B, and C. I retained the contents in room A and switched the contents of rooms B and C. Vessel A is in room B with contents C. Vessel B is in room C with contents B, and Vessel C is in room A with contents A.
The Point Is! I moved just about 3/4 of all the books I own today, each at least twice. I moved Large Heavy Furniture across my house. I did it by myself. My shoulders are questioning my sanity.
Treat of the Day:
YES, already. Easter Candy before Mardi Gras, perfect.
(If you refrigerate it, the sarcasm--I mean gooey inside-- drips less.)
Teaching Link of the Day: Following Instructions
If you print out the instructions (a copy-and-paste technique) and the illustrated instructions separately, and introduce only the words, the instructions will quickly become difficult to follow. Switch over to only the illustrations and not but one step later are they unintelligible (for someone who does not do origami often). Putting them together, you can match the number of the language instructions with the number on the illustrated instructions, and actually create a cute box. Once the box is finished, discuss what about the instructions made making the box difficult, and what was done with the instructions to make it easier. Make predictions on how instructions should be followed in the future to increase the chances of success.
Part B of exercise: Tricky Instructions (note how number 26 is incorrect: Should read TWO through twenty-five. Number 1 reads: Read all instructions first. That part is already done, and is furthermore the purpose of the exercise.
This Day in History: Edgar Allen Poe publishes "The Raven", 1845
Reading of the Day:
Edgar Allen Poe
 | Once upon a midnight dreary, while I pondered weak and weary, Over many a quaint and curious volume of forgotten lore, While I nodded, nearly napping, suddenly there came a tapping, As of some one gently rapping, rapping at my chamber door. `'Tis some visitor,' I muttered, `tapping at my chamber door - Only this, and nothing more.' Ah, distinctly I remember it was in the bleak December, And each separate dying ember wrought its ghost upon the floor. Eagerly I wished the morrow; - vainly I had sought to borrow From my books surcease of sorrow - sorrow for the lost Lenore - For the rare and radiant maiden whom the angels named Lenore - Nameless here for evermore. And the silken sad uncertain rustling of each purple curtain Thrilled me - filled me with fantastic terrors never felt before; So that now, to still the beating of my heart, I stood repeating `'Tis some visitor entreating entrance at my chamber door - Some late visitor entreating entrance at my chamber door; - This it is, and nothing more,' Presently my soul grew stronger; hesitating then no longer, `Sir,' said I, `or Madam, truly your forgiveness I implore; But the fact is I was napping, and so gently you came rapping, And so faintly you came tapping, tapping at my chamber door, That I scarce was sure I heard you' - here I opened wide the door; - Darkness there, and nothing more. Deep into that darkness peering, long I stood there wondering, fearing, Doubting, dreaming dreams no mortal ever dared to dream before But the silence was unbroken, and the darkness gave no token, And the only word there spoken was the whispered word, `Lenore!' This I whispered, and an echo murmured back the word, `Lenore!' Merely this and nothing more. Back into the chamber turning, all my soul within me burning, Soon again I heard a tapping somewhat louder than before. `Surely,' said I, `surely that is something at my window lattice; Let me see then, what thereat is, and this mystery explore - Let my heart be still a moment and this mystery explore; - 'Tis the wind and nothing more!' Open here I flung the shutter, when, with many a flirt and flutter, In there stepped a stately raven of the saintly days of yore. Not the least obeisance made he; not a minute stopped or stayed he; But, with mien of lord or lady, perched above my chamber door - Perched upon a bust of Pallas just above my chamber door - Perched, and sat, and nothing more. Then this ebony bird beguiling my sad fancy into smiling, By the grave and stern decorum of the countenance it wore, `Though thy crest be shorn and shaven, thou,' I said, `art sure no craven. Ghastly grim and ancient raven wandering from the nightly shore - Tell me what thy lordly name is on the Night's Plutonian shore!' Quoth the raven, `Nevermore.' Much I marvelled this ungainly fowl to hear discourse so plainly, Though its answer little meaning - little relevancy bore; For we cannot help agreeing that no living human being Ever yet was blessed with seeing bird above his chamber door - Bird or beast above the sculptured bust above his chamber door, With such name as `Nevermore.' But the raven, sitting lonely on the placid bust, spoke only, That one word, as if his soul in that one word he did outpour. Nothing further then he uttered - not a feather then he fluttered - Till I scarcely more than muttered `Other friends have flown before - On the morrow he will leave me, as my hopes have flown before.' Then the bird said, `Nevermore.' Startled at the stillness broken by reply so aptly spoken, `Doubtless,' said I, `what it utters is its only stock and store, Caught from some unhappy master whom unmerciful disaster Followed fast and followed faster till his songs one burden bore - Till the dirges of his hope that melancholy burden bore Of "Never-nevermore."' But the raven still beguiling all my sad soul into smiling, Straight I wheeled a cushioned seat in front of bird and bust and door; Then, upon the velvet sinking, I betook myself to linking Fancy unto fancy, thinking what this ominous bird of yore - What this grim, ungainly, ghastly, gaunt, and ominous bird of yore Meant in croaking `Nevermore.' This I sat engaged in guessing, but no syllable expressing To the fowl whose fiery eyes now burned into my bosom's core; This and more I sat divining, with my head at ease reclining On the cushion's velvet lining that the lamp-light gloated o'er, But whose velvet violet lining with the lamp-light gloating o'er, She shall press, ah, nevermore! Then, methought, the air grew denser, perfumed from an unseen censer Swung by Seraphim whose foot-falls tinkled on the tufted floor. `Wretch,' I cried, `thy God hath lent thee - by these angels he has sent thee Respite - respite and nepenthe from thy memories of Lenore! Quaff, oh quaff this kind nepenthe, and forget this lost Lenore!' Quoth the raven, `Nevermore.' `Prophet!' said I, `thing of evil! - prophet still, if bird or devil! - Whether tempter sent, or whether tempest tossed thee here ashore, Desolate yet all undaunted, on this desert land enchanted - On this home by horror haunted - tell me truly, I implore - Is there - is there balm in Gilead? - tell me - tell me, I implore!' Quoth the raven, `Nevermore.' `Prophet!' said I, `thing of evil! - prophet still, if bird or devil! By that Heaven that bends above us - by that God we both adore - Tell this soul with sorrow laden if, within the distant Aidenn, It shall clasp a sainted maiden whom the angels named Lenore - Clasp a rare and radiant maiden, whom the angels named Lenore?' Quoth the raven, `Nevermore.' `Be that word our sign of parting, bird or fiend!' I shrieked upstarting - `Get thee back into the tempest and the Night's Plutonian shore! Leave no black plume as a token of that lie thy soul hath spoken! Leave my loneliness unbroken! - quit the bust above my door! Take thy beak from out my heart, and take thy form from off my door!' Quoth the raven, `Nevermore.' And the raven, never flitting, still is sitting, still is sitting On the pallid bust of Pallas just above my chamber door; And his eyes have all the seeming of a demon's that is dreaming, And the lamp-light o'er him streaming throws his shadow on the floor; And my soul from out that shadow that lies floating on the floor Shall be lifted - nevermore!
| |
Granny Square of the Day: No-show student, I'm glad I brought a hook and yarn. Larger hook than the first time I used this yarn. I was in the lobby with two women discussing the very disturbing life of one of the students--one's student and the other's stepson. Very disturbing. You can tell by how uneven the stitches are.
New "___Of the Day"
Kid Quote of the Day:
Aunt: "I see you germinated some little beans."
Kid:"Well I didn't mean to do the germ part."
Food of the Day: I really like the Mocha of the brand, so I tried this (see, it says NEW) and it was wonderful. I still like the mocha one better, though.
Teaching Link of the Day: Make a Word Search
It changes the handwriting because it's not about the flow of one letter to another, it's just letters next to each other being letters. It also requires concentration and patience to write other letters in the "blank" spaces. Use a grid, though, because without, lining things up is rather frustrating for a little one.
Food of the Day: Las 2 Margaritas. No pictures. It was gut-stuffingly delicious.
Game of the Day:
3 way Cricket. The one with the fewest closures won because he consistently hit multiples of 20 before someone could close it or catch up in points. Much fun.
Granny Square of the Day: Leftover yarn from a hat I made for my boy. Still had a bit left over after square one so I made another square and made it around to the last bit of string.
This day in History:
Wouldn't it be nice to be the Graphic Designer for the Google logo on holidays? I think that would be an awesome job.
Teaching Link of the Day: The Vase has Two Faces
Draw a Vase with Two Faces. It's fun and weird, and deceptively simple. It's also cool to see what the imagination of a kid will produce with this exercise.
Thought of the Day: Twitter is worth it even if you only follow Weird Al. I promise. It's a moment of hilarious sunshine every once in a while.
Food of the Day: Orange Juice. 9 oranges = 24oz juice.
Granny Square of the Day: 
You know those jokes about grandmas who knit on and on forever? I just couldn't stop with this square. The yarn was so nice to work with and it looked so good. I finally did a chain around the edge to end the endless rounds of granny square stitches.
Teaching Link of the Day: Sight Word Bingo meets Othello
This game was so FUN! And not exactly easy, even for Teacher against Strategician 7-year-old. The 5-year-old enjoyed it thoroughly, and he can't even name the sounds of all his letters yet.
Granny Square of the Day:
Today's Granny Square represents a day. After several complements in the short span of an afternoon on my totebag made of knitted plastic grocery sacks, I decided plastic was my material today. I started this morning and stripped some newspaper sacks for the center. The next round--of grocery sacks-- I completed this afternoon, interrupted by a quick shopping trip for birthday gifts of the cake variety. The last round--trash bag-- I finished late tonight. The border green was the packing pillows from a birthday gift. I had exactly enough to go around in a chain, though I was tired and the chain is uneven.
So this was my day. I got up, read part of the paper, got some groceries, went to a birthday party, and came home to polish off the evening chores.
Game of the Day:
Password
Food of the Day:
kaluskis, koluskies, koluskys, I have no idea and I can't spell it to google it but it was delicious!
Movie of the Day: Aang: The Last Airbender
I am infatuated with this show, if I am infatuated with any show. This movie is coming out, and I am Totally and Entirely Thrilled. I thought it was coming, and then Cameron's Avatar came out and I thought we had been mistaken, but no! here it is! We are all going, both families, to the theater when it comes out.
Game of the Day:
Treasure Hunt!
and
Bomb the Ship!
and
Guess Who?,the Pirate Edition.
Food of the Day:
Dirt Cake with a Treasure Map. Thank you! It was so good, and everyone loved it.
This Day in History:
Thomas Paine published (anonymously) Common Sense.
It would do us a little good to review it.
Adventure of the Day:
The children's first train ride, 4-hour round-trip (not counting for delays), to Glenwood Springs and back. The boy's birthday gift.
The first time I'd been on a train since Montreal in High School. The first time my husband's been on a train since Alaska when he was the same age.
Food of the Day:
If the vending machine doesn't have what you want, you can push the...Cow return? and get fresh beef.
Thought of the Day:
Light has Fangs.
It strings out from the edges of a form and it suggests glinting cones.
Light has Fangs.
Teaching Link of the Day:
Water Flow of Ice Covered Rivers
and yes, I really do ask these kinds of questions while roaming the earth enjoying it. I can't stop at "awesome," I have to define it.
(This wasn't exactly the answer I was looking for as this is not the kind of river, but Google is not forthcoming with the mind-reading.)
Word of the Day:
Statedly : At stated times; regularly.
This was our return-trip train-car number, interestingly, our departing-trip train-car number was 611. This is the secret-window in the access for changing this number, which is in the accessible restrooms.
Game of the Day:
How Fast Does the Train Go?
70 before stopping before Glenwood Springs
45 through DeBeque (DuhBeck) Canyon
80 through the town of Palisade
Family Development of the Day: My son is 5 today! I have no more babies. They have grown up.
Game of the Day:
The boy opened eight dinosaurs' resting places, carefully removed them from where they've fossilized all these years, and meticulously shoved the pieces together, following slot by slot, number by number. He and I made a Triceratops (it looks just like the one here! The joy of models.) and a Plesiosaurus, which happens to be one of my student's favorite creature.
Food of the Day:
Junct'n Square Pizza re: Spaghetti and Meatballs
Television of the Day:
Avatar: The Last Airbender
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