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March 04 I am now a delegate!! I caucused!Well, today I went to my precinct and participated in our caucus. For those of you not in Texas, we have both a primary and a caucus for the presidential election. Anyway, I had never gone to one and was quite excited. It went pretty slow...we got there at 7:15pm and didn't get out until 9:30pm. We had to wait for all people to cast their votes before we could begin. Anyway, the process was for us all to sign in and declare who we were supporting. Based on the number of people supporting each candidate, we were alloted so many delegates. In our precinct, Hillary Clinton received 12 delegates and 12 alternates, and Obama received 6 delegates and 6 alternates. We then got to volunteer to be delegates at the county democratic convention. I signed up to do this. I am pretty excited as I feel like I am really participating. In addition, by participating, my vote will count more than the average person.
I have been realizing this election that I am really interested in politics. I am actually quite facinated and excited by the process. I will let you know how everything goes--The county convention is March 29th. After that, some of the delegates will be allowed to go to the State convention and even the National Convention. This is just nifty to me.
I'll keep you all updated...
Right now I have to get back to the election results on TV---History is being made!! March 03 OMG it's TAKS Week!!!Okay, everyone run for the hills! Hide as the monster better known as Public education rears its ugly head. You know, I was appalled the other day when, on the way home, I heard about all of the large school districts around us talking about their TAKS week celebration. The motivation and fun that schools provide for one stinking test that will take ONE DAY. Special breakfast and lunches and life size TAKS dinosaurs. At some schools they set up freakin' jump tents and booths! All of this for one day. That is right--Reading and Writing are the only subjects tested. They begin at 8:00am and end, well---whenever the hell the students want to be done. Some kids will do well, others will struggle, other will be consumed with anxiety only experienced with these excrutiating exams. Those that can, can --and those that struggle still do.
Now, I am not completely against the TAKS testing--Nor am I necessarily against public education...I am, however, against putting a 3rd grader (that would be 8 years right?) in a desk and telling them--"Here, take this state-mandated test that I have been preparing you for all year, and pass it. Take all day if you need to. You can take breaks, eat a snack at your seat, take a nap, and get up to stretch, but please pass this test. Oh, and you can sit in this desk until 5:00pm today if you need that much time."
Isn't there something wrong with this picture? I personally have a problem with this because I see it as stupid to put all this expectation on one test day and in the meantime waste an entire WEEK of teaching. Hmm...If I get to waste 5 days for TAKS when we are testing one test, can I have another 15 days to waste during the TAKS week in May (we have 3 more tests, you know)? Oh, I forgot--for some schools TAKS testing signifies the end of the school year. "Oh, we took TAKS, the culmination of our year--why don't we sit around and color for the next 4.5 weeks of school?"--I guess that is one of the reasons TAKS takes place so late in the school year this year. Well, that and since school started later, schools had to have the same amount of prep time as they had in order to prepare for TAKS.
Now, I am allowed to TAKS bash, as I am administering a room full of Juniors on Wednesday. Yes, for 2-8 hours, I will be walking around the room while my juniors wonder whether they will graduate high school on time. Juniors have been known to spend the entire day testing---for two reasons. 1) They really want to pass and are overanalyzing the test. Reread, reanswer, rewrite...etc... 2) They just don't want to have to come to my class in the afternoon, because I don't care that it was TAKS day--You are going to LEARN in my classroom. No "freedays" for you fools!!!
March 02 Busy Sunday...Oh, it's not over yet.Well today was too busy for me. I am still not done with everything. I got the bright idea of going grocery shopping for a month and had to plan and accomplish that (well, not quite accomplish---I am still not done shopping). Before that I drove around for over an hour dropping off new Avon brochures to everyone and I went to church. After shopping I cooked dinner, fed the boys, put Christian to sleep, picked up the living room and vaccuumed (spelling?) and gave Nicholas a bath. Needless to say, this is why I will be staying home after the school year ends in May. I am so busy without my fulltime teaching job, that adding that in makes our lives a neverending messy (as in housework) nightmare. Oh, and I forgot that after I got Nicholas to sleep I also made some Avon calls, took and order and researched a necklace that someone was wanting to order (found it
 ). Now Eddie is coming home from studygroup...He called asking if I wanted a sweet treat from Sonic...Probably trying to butter me up for sex.
Gotta love it!
March 01 Lazy Saturday....Oh, yea! It is a lazy Saturday...Let's see...I have slept in until 8:30, sorted and bagged my Avon orders, helped hubby fold clothes, played with Christian and Nicholas a little bit, got a shower...
It has been a great day so far. I have been lazy and happy. Soon we are off to play with some friends, and then maybe ice cream. Big Brother is siked!! Oh, well--better get the diaper bag ready for Baby Boy.
Have a wonderful day!!! February 29 A little about me...Ah, let's see...
1. I am messy
2. I have a BS in Mathematics
3. I sell Avon
4. My second son was 9lbs., 11oz. (almost 1.5 lbs heavier than the first!)
5. If I ever have another kid, I will insist on being induced at least 1 week early.
6. I love blue coconut snow cones.
7. I eat noodles and eggs with sugar on it (yum!)
8. I love to sleep in.
9. The last movie I saw was Gone Baby Gone.
10. I have a bad memory...I remember that I liked the movie, but I cannot remember what it was about.
11. You don't ever want me to remember anything for you.
12. I got a math degree so I wouldn't have to remember things (I had to learn it all and can pick it up with a moment's notice)
13. I married my highschool sweetheart.
14. I dated one of his best friends in high school.
15. I was in the "pit" in highschool band--
16. I had to memorize my music because I couldn't read music.
17. I love sheridan's chocolate custard, frozen.
18. My color of choice changes everyday.
19. My biological grandmother was Korean.
20. My adopted grandmother was German.
Tell me something about you... February 27 He's eating his veggies!!...and other things!...Has hell frozen over???? My 3 year old son has eaten everyday for the last week without complaining once about the food he has had to eat.
....is it possible he is plotting against me?? For the last 2 1/2 years I have been trying to convince the boy that he should eat his veggies...
... and now, all of a sudden he loves to eat?
He has to be plotting against me!!!  I votedWell, No loose chads this election--At least not in Texas. Oh, my could you even imagine?
 I have never felt so wooed in my life.  It seems like every candidate or their husband or their daughter or someone, is coming to my town. If this is representative of other areas of Texas, I am wowed. I never would have imagined that our votes would be so important to this election. I feel important--which, as a democrat in Texas--is not something that I often feel. In the past I believe we have been the minority--Republicans usually call the shots in our state. We'll see if that still is true this year. Anyway, I feel like I did my part--which, let's face it--Is a wonderful privilidge to have in our country. Democrat or Republican, I am grateful to be American. No matter what the outcome of the election in November--I am american, my husband is American and my kids are American. I am appreciative and proud.Now, if you haven't yet---Exercise your right to VOTE!!!  February 26 drugs...53% of my students???So, you will imagine my surprise and shock when I found out via a student of mine that she knows at least 18 of my 34 students does "at least" marijuana (did I even spell that right?) I am a little naive, I think. I myself have never tried anything but a cigarette (ugh!), so to think that 53% of my students "inhale" is insane to me. I think back to when I was in school and even then I could not have named more than a few people who did drugs. I am sure it went on--just not with anyone I knew. Then, the kicker---I am told that some of these students will get high and come take the TAKS test!! Now, it is not bad enough that some people out there want us to be held accountable for our students' TAKS scores--Now I have to worry about whether someone wants me to get paid even if Little Johnny decided to smoke some reefer this morning???
Oh, brother....I need a drink!  February 24 No Child Left Behind StinksYou will imagine my surprise when my Superintendent/Principal informs me that according to No Child Left Behind only 1% of students in each grade are supposed to take the TAKS Alt exam. Now let me clarify something:
TAKS Alt--state test for students who have MR
TAKS Modified--State test for students who are not MR; 3 multiple choices instead of 4 and some definitions provided.
TAKS Accomodated--State test for students who have not previously taken TAKS, but have passed the SDAA exam (the test given before these new ones took over).
So, in order to take TAKS ALt, you must be MR=mentally retarded and very low functioning. Now, we have 34 students in our high school--Yes, I said 34. It is possible to have 5 students in one grade level. 1% of 5 =.05. So, 5 hundredths of a student can take TAKs ALt
Now, since we can obviously only let one student take TAKS Alt, and there are two low functioning MR students in one grade, I guess we have to either take a hit by the state and not leave the child behind (allow them both to take TAKS ALt) or go along with what the state wants and leave the child behind by requiring them to take a test that will be impossible to take.
Now, similarly only 1% can take TAKS Modified too.
I ask you, lawmakers of No CHild Left Behind...What the HELL were you thinking? Making a student who has never had a math class in the high school level pass a grade level TAKS test is INSANE--never mind the impact of Leaving the Child Behind!!
I was so mad after speaking to my superintendent.
I say scrap this entire nonsense! Get rid of NO CHILD LEFT BEHIND! No amount of funding in the world could alleviate the consequences of this crap!!---Now with this all said---I am going to bed. Sweet dreams! Mommy!!!Nothing drives me crazy more than finally getting to sit down and take a break after getting the children to sleep than,
Big Brother: "Mommy!!"
Me: (getting up with a sigh) "What do you need? You are supposed to be quiet and asleep."
Big Brother: "I want the door open."
Me: "Fine, but if you call me again I will come close the door, okay?"
Big Brother: "okay, goodnight."
I walk back to the couch, get online, and once again...
Big Brother: "Mommy!!"
Me: (not bothering to get up this time) "What?"
Big Brother: "I want to sing a lullaby."
Me: "Then sing yourself to sleep!"
Big Brother: "No, I want you to sing a lullaby to me."
Me: "Go to bed. I have already read 2 books to you. I am closing the door now. Go to sleep."
I love 3 year olds...  Before and AfterLast week, we decided that Baby Boy needed a haircut. It was his second time to go, so we weren't too sentimental about it. We cut his hair really short because he has two really bad and opposing callicks on the back of his scalp. The result is that his hair stands straight up in the back.
Here is his before shot:
And, what he now looks like:
Too cute, huh?
Talking about babyboy walks with walkerEnjoy!!! Baby boy is getting bigger!! Quote babyboy walks with walker Oh, Shit!!! (Warning--you may laugh really loud--don't wake up the baby!) Enjoy! Oh, and don't drink anything while watching--as you may cough it up and it could come out your nose!! |
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