Kids really do say the darnedest things.

Oh Bill Cosby.

Alright, so the fourth graders have been working on Geometry, angles, rays, lines, line segments that sort of thing. Today, to get in a little review, I passed out the geoboards and rubber bands. When I was a kids, they were wooden with real nails pounded in, but someone must have decided that that wasn't safe (rightly so I suppose) because now kids have these plastic ones:

Clever right? It's a great way to do review and have kids still using their hands for more than drawing. Tactile learning. Love it.

Moment that Mattered: I passed out everything and had the kids just play around with them for awhile. That's always easier than jumping right into the lesson because all they want to do is play. This way, they get it out of the their system and after about ten minutes we can get down to business.

As I was admiring one kid's creation another boy, Robbie said, "Rubbers, I need more rubbers." I quickly looked up wondering why a kid would be talking about condoms in my class (and for that matter the fourth grade) and saw him searching around his desk and on the floor. I cracked up. Then Fred, (whom I think had the same reaction I did) another fourth grader (with older brothers) said, "Robbie, you mean rubber BANDS." Robbie answered, "I know, that's what I said, I need more rubbers." Hysterical. The best part is that Mr. Rama is his dad! So after school, I went and found him and told him the story and he cracked up too.

Next funny thing. My students were in Performing Arts and I was running around doing stuff. Ms. Tenny stepped out of her classroom to do something, so I stepped in, happy to see my old sixth graders (now seventh graders.) We starting talking about my clases de espanol because they were so excited about it. I told them that I got all A's and that I was really looking forward to class starting again, which was tonight. Lucia said, "Hablame" (Talk to me, I think that's how it's spelled.) So I said, "Sobre que?" (About what?) and she said, "What does that mean!?" It was pretty funny.

However. This class. This professor. Hard. I think I understood about half of what he said. I think I'm in for it.

A+

I got an A+ in Spanish. I've also noticed that I'm more able to speak spanish without having to think carefully about it. It's coming easier. This is good.

I think I finally got some answers on how I'm going to get my bilingual endorsement. It's going to take a few years, but I think it will be worth it. The names of the classes sound really interesting. I think what I will do is take the Spanish class this fall like I planned and take a Spanish class and another class in the spring.

Though, I have all weekend to change my mind!

What I Learned in Summer School

At the beginning of the summer I was so psyched about my summer classes. I got an A in the first one and I took my final in for the second one and I think I got an A in that one too. So, I should be happy right? Well. Yes. I am happy with my grades. I'm not exactly happy with how much espanol aprendio (I've learned.)

About the time I received my A en espanol uno I realized I had stopped focusing on what I was learning and was back to focusing on what grade I ended up with.

Bennington College was my first experience with a grading system that did not focus on an average of all the grades I receivced but rather a demonstation of how I could use what I had learned in the class. This was a whole new world for me after high school where all of your grades were averaged into one score that showed what you knew (and got you into college). I didn't do very well in high school. I didn't do badly, but I didn't do well. Often times it took me longer than my classmates to grasp certain things and so my grades at the beginning of a semester were not as good as my grades at the end. To my high school teachers, it never mattered if at the end I grasped the concept, it only mattered how all of my scores averaged out. I never thought to question this grading system until I entered Bennington. My first year at Bennington, I took a range of classes in different subject areas (as per "The Plan.") I remember two of them distinctly.

One was an environmental chemistry class. During class we learned mathematical ways of solving chemical equations, the ins and outs of running a real experiement (well, to me it was real, my high school didn't really have a lab setting at all, actually, it did, but you had to get the grades to get into one) and how chemistry is used in the environment. I was not good at solving the chemical equations. I was constantly in the professor's office for extra help. I took me a few turns before I felt comfortable in the lab and it took a while to get used to reading the amount that needed to be read and understood before each class. But I had a syllabus and I knew where I needed to be at the end of the course. It wasn't a final written test. As a final project, in pairs we were to come up with, perfom and critique an experiment that included each of the main ideas from the course.

My history class that semester was equally as challenging and equally as creative. It was called: Journey 1: The Year 1000. In this class, we broke up into groups and travelled the world. Our textbooks were novels and ancient atlases. Using our team members we were choose a place in the world to start and travel all over the world, while doing research about how the people from our part of the world traveled, what they wore, what they ate and how they related to other cultures. Each group chose a different place in the world to start and during each class, each group made a presentation on where they had been the last week and what they had learned. Our final project from that term was to take everything we had learned from our own groups and other and turn it into a comparitive paper at least 15 pages long. It was an amazing course. I didn't learn as much in four years in high school as I did in those 16 weeks. I loved that course so much I took Journey 2: The World Between the Wars, a course about what the world was like in between World War I and World War II.

It hit me. For once in my life, I was going to be graded mostly on what I knew at the end of the course. It wasn't going to matter that on the first problem set of chemical equations I had gotten them all wrong because I could show in my final experiement that I could do them. It wasn't going to matter that our group didn't really get the hang of what we needed to be doing until the third week. I was finally getting ascessed on what I could prove I knew. The rest of my classes at Bennington were set up this way as well. No tests, no finals because at the end of each class the professor said, "Show me what you learned." And we did.

I succeeded in college, a heck of a lot more so than I did in all my years of public schooling. I'm pretty sure that if my school had has a Dean's List I would have been on it every semester. College was where I blossomed. As I was finishing and getting ready to do my year of student teaching, I was a little nervous about getting back into the public school system and being forced to average out each grade that a student received in order to show their parents what they knew.

I'm happy to say that I never had to. Not once have done that. I was lucky enough to do my student teaching at a school that had been chosen as one of the schools to be in a pilot program for standardized report cards. A handful of schools from around the state of Vermont were chosen to take part and report back to the state on how it had gone and decide whether or not it would continue.

Here is the standardized report card grading system in a nutshell, if I haven't described it before, if you already understand it, you may skip to the next paragraph. Each state has a set of standards for each subject that has been agreed on. It is the job of all the teachers in each state to teach those specific standards. If students can perform those particular standards at their grade level, they recieve a 3 on their report card. If they are almost there and perform those particular standards with help, they recieve a 2, if they can not perform those particular standards, they recieve a 1. Students for the first three quarters of the year are aiming for a two or a three. They don't need to be able to perform all of the standards right away because they have the entire year to learn how to do it. The best example is this; a fourth grader is working at memorizing their muliplication tables. They take a quiz once or twice a week in order to gauge how much they know. They fail the first ten because they haven't gotten the hang of it. They take the next ten and know half, the next ten and they know them all. Why should I take all of those grades and average them out to an A, B, C, D or F. The kid got it. At the end, he knows his multiplication tables. I don't care that he failed the first ten times he tried. He got it in the end. He'll get a three because he can perform that skill at grade level.

I had the same fear when I moved to La Pasa, I hated the idea of moving away from my standardized grading system. I needn't have worried. The charter school that hired me also used a standardized grading system. I've been happy ever since. Because everything I teach is directly tied to the state standards and my students have been accessed accordingly, they have a better shot at the state standardized test. I believe my students are far better for it.

This summer was interesting for me. I had to go back to the "normal" grading system. It freaked me out at the beginning. I remember how frightening it was to take that first test (and then I found out that it was the fake one.) I hadn't taken a test in a class since my geometry final in high school. But I got through it all with an A and probably an A in the second class as well. But at the same time, I'm not really sure how much I have actually "learned."

Thank you Bennington for teaching me to question my education.

The Gym

The Boy and I have been going to the gym for the past month, early in the morning and every other day. In that time I have gained and lost 4 pounds three times. That's twelve pounds people! What is the deal!

I got an A in the first Spanish class!

The Boy: Manny you are a Douche-Waffle.

You may remember from last week's post that we didn't make it to the game that Manny Ramirez was playing in near La Pasa because he is on suspension from the MLB for steroids. This was because we were actually holding tickets for the next night. Even though we asked for tickets for last night's game.

We get there the next night and it rains. After covering and uncovering the field a few times we were soaking wet but ready to heckle. Over the loudspeaker came: The L.A. Dodgers have decided that Manny Ramirez will not play due to weather." Oh we were mad. We didn't even stay for the game because we were so wet. The Boy is convinced and he's probably right, that it was Manny that decided not to play as he has done that in the past. I was speaking to one of my father's very best friends about this and he said that he's just done with major league baseball because of all the hype and the steroids. He said that he would rather watch Little League any day. I don't know that I would go that far as the Red Sox are totally awesome (and even better without Manny) but I think he has a point.

Hence the title: Douche - Waffle.

Espanol Uno has been going very well. I've gotten all A's with the exception of one of the compositions because I didn't type it. I received an 88. Not bad. I just had my oral exam today and received a 96. I'm pleased with that. The final is tomorrow. I'm pretty sure I'll pull out a high A. Then Espanol Dos will begin on Monday.

I think I said that I wasn't going to be getting paid as much as I wanted for that creative project that I did for Moonlight Consulting and I didn't. I actually was paid far less than what I thought my work was worth. The project was worthwhile and any extra money is good. I've been working for her for awhile and tax season last year with the addition of the independent work was a bit of a shock, which I explained when coming up with what I thought I should be paid. I received my check in the mail today with a surprise addition an increase for taxes and a note that said on following invoices I was to add in taxes! I was so excited. I started a whole new savings account to keep track of it!

The Boy's parents arrive tomorrow! I really hope that they love what we have done with their future home! It will be so good to see them! It's going to be a busy week!

My Boyfriend is Awesome!

The Boy just bought me a fantastic sushi dinner. This after being turned away from the Manny Ramirez game here near La Pasa (we were going to heckle) because we had tickets for the wrong day...tomorrow. Dinner was complete with large sake and complimentary dessert (because we go there all the time and the waitresses love us!) and since it was raining, he gave me the keys the house and walked to the co-op to buy me my favorite orange dark fairly traded and organic chocolate bar! That my friends...is love.

I got my first B in Espanol. We had to write a short composition about our families and I wrote a great one, except that I didn't type it. So far everything we have turned in can be handwritten, so it never dawned on me that I had to type it. (And so I lost ten points...TEN POINTS...that seems a little excessive to me.) I guess it was written somewhere in the syllabus that it needed to be typed. I ended up with an 88. *sad face* I felt completely tonto!

Today was the first day that it was hard to get up for the gym. After two weeks, I say that's not bad at all. The bed was so warm and comfy...the news was on...I was the perfect temperature. It was REALLY hard to get up. But I did. Worked out. 30 minutes in the zone, gained a half a pound. I'm only one pound away from being where I started. LAME.

La Prueba Segundo

Second Spanish Test: 96

Gym:
In the zone: 28 minutes
Pounds gained: 1/2

La Prueba segundo!

Second Spanish test: I did not do as well as I did on the first. I didn't to badly. But I doubt I'll receive an A.

This morning at the gym:
In the "zone": 28 minutes
Pounds gained: 2

Proposal

Proposal went over alright. I'm not going to get paid as much as I want, but this is ok. I'm still beginning and this economy is not good. I have a great job that I love (even though I don't always write about it in the best light) and this is just something that will give me a little extra. I'm thankful and all that aside I'm really excited about the actual work. I think it will really help students and teachers stay on track with a standards based curriculum.

Professor today putting his head down, shaking it and snorting after I asked two questions: "Ms. Knitter, Ms. Knitter, you always ask the best questions." What is this guy's deal!

Bah! So much to say!

I feel like I haven't written in forever.

Catch up:

I had mi prueba primero de espanol on Friday. On Thursday the professor passed out a "test," had us take it and than admitted that the real test was the next day and that what he passed out was just practice. I was anxious not because I didn't think I would do well but because it had so long since I had taken a "test." At Bennington, we didn't have any of those. So essentially the last time I had taken one was my high school geometry final (which well...let's just say, did not go well.) I was really nervous. So when he passed out the fake test, I paniked big time. The other kids were mad when it was all over, I was thankful because now the "first test" was over and done with and I was much calmer and made fewer mistakes the next day. Over the weekend, I had a nightmare that I had gotten a 58. On Monday, thankfully I learned I had received a 96. I have another test on Friday...so let's see if I can keep it up.

Johanna from Moonlight Consulting called at the end of last week and asked if I wanted to run some parental involvement workshops this fall. Of course I said yes. She usually gives these out of state, but now our state department says that it's something the schools are really going to need and so she is going to fly in the woman that usually gives them out of state in order to train me. So exciting. There are at least four school already set up that want them. Yeeeeahhh!

Then she gave me an even better opportunity. She wants me to do some serious creative work for her. She gave me the assignment and then asked me to write up a proposal. EEEEK. Have never done anything like that before, have no idea what to charge or how long the project is going to take me and I don't want to ask for too much and make her want to give the job to someone else and I don't want to ask for too little and feel like I'm being taken for a ride. I have to send her something by tonight though so I had better "cowboy up" as my Wyoming man likes to say from time to time.

Have been keeping up with the gym in the early morning hours on alternate days. Except for last night, The Boy and I were out late catching up with a friend who was home for a few days after being out of the country for a while. I hope I get to see him again before he goes back next week. So we will gym it up later this afternoon.

Have been knitting like a fiend. Two of my cousins are having babies within the next few weeks, months and so many things need to be knitted. Have a kitchen set to knit for another cousin, a dishcloth and washcloth to finish for my kitchen and felted boxes. Pictures to follow!

I think my professor doesn't like me.

Over the next few days look for posts about my dislike of the setup of the cardio equipment at the gym as it relates to my fear of yoga in high school, my thoughts on Gay Rights, Gay Pride and Gay Marriage, letter grades and why I think my profesor doesn't like me.

First Day of School! First Day of School!

*Said just like Nemo!*

I had so much fun today. I love being a student, it's so much more fun than being the teacher.

The Boy had a symposium starting today at the same time my class started (which means we get to ride to campus together every day this week!)

Actually, I have to start over. I need to preface this post be stating that I, Ms. Knitter, do not do directions well. Sometimes, even after going a place a few times I still have a hard time. (For instance, my mother still has to draw me a map so that I can get to the dentist's office back home.) This has been well documented by both The Boy and my family. In fact, the first conversation The Boy and my dad had (for which I was 2000 miles away, another great story) involved my dad saying that one of the reasons he was "reluctant" for Mum and I to drive to New Mexico was "Well, I don't know if you've noticed, but that girl doesn't have much sense of direction." The Boy said, "Yeah, I might have noticed that." The understatement of the year.

The UNM campus doesn't make this particular trait of mine any easier to deal with. All the buildings look the same. Same pueblo style outside, same height for the most part, same brown wooden accents, etc. On top of all that, for the most part, you can't see outside of campus from the inside of campus, which doesn't make much sense. What I mean is that I can't tell which way is North, South, East and West. (Which took me about eight months to get a handle on anyway.) All of this is really to say that I was really glad that The Boy could ride to campus with me because that meant that I had a dinaymite (is that really the correct spelling for that word...spell check seems to think so) escort to the first class and I wouldn't be late because I ended up getting lost.

According to my schedule my class started at nine. Being a true northeasterner, I was there promptly at 8:45. The Boy got me to my class and we peeked in. There was only one other person, a girl, sitting inside. The Boy looked at me and smirked, "Only you and another Non-Trad (non-traditional) would get here early." Then he smiled, walked away and I was on my own. I walked in, eyes searching for what I thought would be the only left hand little chair-desk in the world (my college had one...for the whole school...in the science building) However, I found a plethera of them in this classroom. (To which The Boy replied later; "That's because UNM is ADA compliant." Stinker!) I picked one second row back right in front of the teacher's desk. (Yes, I'm a nerd, I asked a lot of questions too.)

I made friends with the girl inside and then with the boy that walked in after me, who informed the two of us that class didn't in fact start until 9:20. We had a good time laughing and joking with each other until more kids walked in and to continue talking and laugh just seemed odd. So everything got quiet until the teacher walked in and began. I was relieved the moment I heard him hablando espanol porque a veces it's hard for me to understand people I don't know very well. I enjoyed class and by the end had homework, a lab to go at 1:00 and a placement test to take. So I ran home for lunch because after gym early in the morning, the bike ride, the brain work and the forgotten apple, I was hombre!

Ran home for a quick lunch and reading of the blogs I follow (eeeeala...def. a nerd) and then back to school. To a building that could have been located in Munich for all I knew. I had gotten spotty directions from fellow classmates and was just hoping to wing it. HA. There was no winging. Actually, there was parking the bike way farther away then need be, walking around campus in circles trying to get my bearings and then going to the two places that I knew for a point of reference and starting over. Finally found the place.

Only my friend from class and one other person showed up for the lab session. I took the placement test afterwards. I scored at a 301, which for my other Bennington friends means that technically I should really be taking Espanol Tres. That is so totally not true. (Which is exactly what I said to the proctor btw.) My reading skills are really high, because I spend a lot of time reading it at school. However, this does not mean that I can speak and write it as well as I can read it.

Came home, sat down with my homework right away. I'm so into this. I can't wait to be fluent.

Still love going to the gym in the mornings.

Outfits, Knitting, Classes, Oh My!

I have been spending time a lot of my online time here at Polyvore. Not really sure how these designers get all these pictures in there just so, but it's fun to look and sometimes they have really pretty vintage stuff that makes me salivate a little. I thought it would be fun to post what I wore for that presentation that I gave all by myself on Wednesday. Here it is!

The Boy bought me the skirt at Savers, the shoes are from my first college graduation, the two tops are from Target...I layer more and more these days...it works. The purse is from the fantastic trip to Japan that I went on last year. I felt very professional looking while still feeling young and sheek (my favorite spelling of chic!)

Have been knitting with my free time. I've decided that the house needs more useful handknits and so have been working on wipers, (washcloths for the kitchen) dishcloths and nesting boxes for all the remotes and keys and other stuff that seems to acculumate between the kitchen and living room (really all one room as urban living dictates.) Here is my color scheme and what I have so far:

Not sure if you can tell, but the dishcloth has a wooden heart shaped button at the top there, so that you fold around the handle to the oven so that the cloth hangs. The wiper didn't come out perfectly...but we'll let that go for now. The Boy didn't think the colors would compliment the kitchen/living room but I think it works. My goal with the colors was really to get a little bit of the northeast color scheme into our southwestern home. I think he'll come around.

My Espanol 1 classe starts tomorrow! So gym, home to shower, quick breckyfast, gather things and off to class I go! I'm very excited and will probably wear above outfit without the little black cardigan. I have a bright orange binder with looseleaf and my books all ready to go. So ready to be on the other side of the desk!