Web Robin

Sarah vs. ABCs... Hm.

Normally, I wouldn't upload this, but it really makes me laugh. Sarah proves she is not only sharp, but a serious character. I am amused.

For those who speak Spanish (& those who don't speak so much)

I have finally signed up to take more Spanish classes, this time at Portland State University. I was really excited to test into 203, but it was full and I ended up in 201 - thank goodness, because it's actually keeping me plenty busy! Mitchell found this funny music video and I thought it would make y'all laugh too! Don't worry, there's English subtitles :-)
2nd Semester of Spanish, Love song

Graduation Day

Well I think I've finally caught up on my sleep! Now about the other things that kept getting neglected while I've been working on this degree (MA in Counseling Psychology). People keep laughing when, asked about my post-graduation plans, I reply that I can't wait to clean the house...Seriously though, I am thrilled to be done with school and be able to share my joy with you all! Here is a photo of Mitchell and I with Dr. Berman - my professor for Couples Therapy class :-)

College countdown: 16 days left for Molly

Molly is sending out graduation announcements this week.  Since she completes her classes this month --but actually graduates in June-- I thought we should have a little celebration for her. How would the Saturday before Easter work? could anyone come? or would a different weekend be better?

Windy City, Ca

My last quarter as a college student started today. I arrived in Davis after a harrowing drive, hopped on my bike in the pouring rain and proceeded to peddle as fast as I could towards campus. But I didn't get far. The wind was so strong that all the rain was flying into my face, I couldn't see, the hood of my jacket flew over my eyes, my hair was flying in my face and mouth. The wind and rain combo was so cold that my hands were so numb I could barely grip the brakes. By the time I got to class I was a popsicle with soaked feet, and jeans from the knee up.

Davis is completely flat, a bike town, theoretically good for biking. Because it is so flat there is nothing to stop the ridiculous wind, and rain doesn't go anywhere all of campus is a 1/2" deep puddle. I left my bike at my first class and decided to try the campus on foot, my shoes were soaked through, my socks soaked through and this time my jeans were soaked from the ankle up to my knees. The drive home was scary, after a long school day from 10 am to 8pm I made the "white knuckle" drive home. My car weighs all of 2lbs and driving over the causeway (a raised freeway over a protected wetlands,) between Davis and Sac means on a night like today being blown all over the place. What a day. I am so glad that I live in Ca and not in any place that has "real" winters.

How's school?

For many of us, a new year of school has begun.

If you're teaching, how are your classes?

If you're a student, what are you looking forward to?

My online class just started Tuesday. So far only about 2/3 of the 25 students have introduced themselves. Most of them are teachers in the Maryland area, but there is one person who teaches Latin and Spanish in Florida, a 5th-grade teacher in Chicago, an English major who's working as a bio-medical equipment repairer and whose husband is in Iraq, and a China native who's teaching language in mainland China.

Usually as many as 5 people drop out in the first couple of weeks. It will be interesting to see if the non-teachers can stick with a program that's designed for classroom teachers -- although military personnel, especially, are encouraged to sign up as part of their planning for re-entering the civilian work force. (Technology in Education Master's program.)

Corporal Punishment @ School

I was rather surprised to learn that the school district we're zoned for allows for the option of corporal punishment at school. Surprised at first, then oddly pleased. 

Heather met with the parents and kids on their first day to hand out the needed supply lists, orient the kids and parents to the class room, and to distribute a permission slip to each parent asking their permission to use corporal punishment.  One point I find amusing is that the kids had to return the permission slip that showed they could be paddled (only by the principal, and with the option to be called before said punishment was meted out).

So...  What are your thoughts on this?  I didn't think this was still practiced anywhere, but can see where the threat of such punishment might deter bullying, talking back to teachers, etc.  I doubt that this option is implemented very often, as I'm sure that it's the deterrence they're looking for. 

Me, I'd sign the slip, and tell my kids that if the principal had to spank them at school for something they'd done, I'd answer it with more once they got home.

"He that spareth his rod hateth his son:  but he that loveth him chasteneth him betimes."  Proverbs 13:24

State Speific Data Regarding CP in Schools

Señor don Quijote

Throughout junior high and high school I heard of "Don Quixote" by Cervantes, that it was one of the most important novels of all time. All I knew about the big DQ, was that he was a knight, trying to make the world better, the word 'quixotic' refers to him, and that he is somehow associated with windmills. This past quarter in my "golden-age Spanish Literature" class at UCD I have learned (and read) a lot about the literature of that time. Fact: Don Quixote is the best selling book of all time, following the Bible.

ACCEPTED!

http://www.apsu.edu/cogs/

Yay!!!  I just got an e-mail from one of the Graduate Admissions staff letting me know that I've been accepted both to the College of Graduate Studies at Austin Peay and to the Industrial Organizational  Psychology program there.  I'm very excited.

Heather and I have been planning to switch roles of who works and who stays with the kids for a while, and my turn on the stay at home and work on my degree merry go round is coming up this fall.  Heather has already interviewed for a teaching job at a brand new school that is in the final stages of construction within eye-shot of our front door.  We're just waiting to hear back from them.  If that one doesn't work out (I'm pretty sure it will, it's just a matter of the district letting the principal know how many positions he can hire for) there are plenty of opportunities elsewhere in the district and in other close-by districts.  She's just as excited about going back to teaching as I am to be a student again.

-YAY!!!

Intelligence is a Gift

Since this family (and this blog) has a pretty strong emphasis on education, I thought a recent three part series in the Wall Street Journal would be interesting.

Part 1: Half of all children are below average in intelligence
Part 2: Too many Americans are going to college
Part 3: Those with superior intelligence need to learn to be wise.

From the last installment:
Our future depends crucially on how we educate the next generation of people gifted with unusually high intelligence.
...
The problem with the education of the gifted involves not their professional training, but their training as citizens.
...