Oh education...

With all the talk about budget cuts in education there are constantly articles written about teachers and education. Some articles can really get me going, especially if they mention Tony Bennett and/or Mitch Daniels. I get so frustrated when I think that he won the election 2 years ago just because he was republican. I wish people had become educated on who they were voting for, because to me, the superintendent of education is a very important role. How Tony Bennett became a superintendent of an entire school district first is beyond me.

What really gets me going though is when I start reading comments. I hardly ever read more than 5 because by that time I am so fired up that I start thinking up harsh retorts to give these unknown, and most likely ignorant, people. I don't see how people can think they know everything about education and teaching or how they can try to lump all children into one category.

One such article claimed that "25% of third graders cannot read" and they go on to say that they cannot read on grade level material. The latter statement contradicts the former. Yes, there are a lot of children that cannot read on grade level but they can read. Those that cannot or are behind come from many different groups: non English-speaking children and special education children.

Instead of taking money away from high-need schools (which are usually urban schools) and giving it to schools in high-socioeconomic areas, give funding to schools that need it most (while they must also show how they are going to use the money). That way money will be going to help the schools with children who are struggling.


Just my two cents.

Where's my busy bee?

These last few weeks we have been extra busy. First, we sold the house that Clint had been working on...finally! So...we decided with the extra money that we were going to do a few things that had been on our to-do list.First we paid off Clint's truck! Woo Hoo! We own it for real now!

We had a fence company come and give us an estimate and we will have a fence within the next two weeks (hopefully less!). This is one reason why we want a fence (in addition to her running away, we she did twice this weekend!):


Zoe keeps asking when it will come!


We also decided that is was time to get rid of Clint's ginormous box tv and update to 2010 and we got a flat screen. This was actually a lot more labor-intensive than we thought. First we went to get a tv stand at Target and the one we wanted was discontinued and out everywhere, even though it was on display. Then we went to Best Buy and ordered the tv we had looked at the night before. They didn't have any in stock because it is being discontinued, but Lafayette Square had one. So we had to get it Saturday morning. We went to Walmart to get a tv stand and had to wait FO EV ERRRR for someone to help after asking someone. Then they couldnt figure out what model it was. Finally, a WOMAN came and helped us and told us they only had the one on display because they were out. OF COURSE! But we got the display because it was put together and $70 off! It then took forever to get it all together. But it is lovely:


Finally...yesterday my mother and I worked on getting Clint's new Lawn Care business together. Check out the website here. It is still being worked on but the basics are there. Tomorrow he is going to get a lawn mower and trailer. Over spring break I am going to pass out the door hanger flyers we order.

Zoe loves the monkey!

Two years ago at Dales' family Christmas someone bought several flying monkeys. We took one home and Zoe really liked it. She had it for quite a while until she completely demoished it like everything else in our house. Well, Lindsay found one at Half Price Books one day. Zoe was in heaven! The 2nd monkey didn't last as long because Zoe had grown up and learned to destroy things in mere days. I went to HPB yesterday and saw the flying monkey! I decided to get one.
Here is the real thing:


Zoe was in love again! Here is a pic with her monkey:


Her is a video (kind of hard to see because it was dark):

bOO

So I was really hyped up about the Grammys this year for some reason. Usually I don't make an advanced plan to watch some awards shows but I did this year. Now I remember why I don't. I was really disappointed in the first three performances:

1. Lady GaGa's opening act was bleh. I especially did not like the guy that was announcing during the singing ?? although I did enjoy the Elton John collaboration.
2. Beyonce's performance had to be great I had though. "Boy" was that a letdown...love the pun! Of her last five songs or so "If I Were a Boy" is the only one I really dislike. So of course that is what she sang...not to mention the most random mashup of Alanis. wtf? Not to mention that she totally almost fell down the stairs! bahaha
   
3. Pink and her strappy outfit spinning uncontrollably and then dipped in some water. I get that she was trying to be artsy or something? but the outfit was so hideous that's all I could think of. I actually liked the song though and I thought she was really pretty from the neck up and ankles down (the shoes).

Thankfully, the B.E.P. got me back into the mood! Although Fergie's visor was ridiculous, I thought they were really good!Other thoughts:

1. The Green Day things was meh. I am not really a big fan of them but it was ok.
2. Taylor Swift is so goofy when she collaborates with these 80's singers/bands. She is over the top with head-bobbin! I am tired of hearing her teeny bop songs too.
3. I really like Jamie Foxx's song "Blame It" and I loved TPain as the orchestra leader, but the performance by Foxx was :P he was so lip synching it was ridiculous!
4. The MJ song was kind of cool...I totally wish Lindsay and I would have grabbed the 3d glasses we tried on at Target a few hours earlier! I also really like Carrie Underwood.
5. Lady Antebellum was good...but their style is nothing crazy or different, which is kind of why I like them.
6. I liked the May J Blige song with the opera guy even though I kind of don't like her anymore because of how she was on American Idol...kind of rude and mean.
7. I am glad that the opening host wasn't on much because he was annoying and not funny.

I stopped watching about 10 but the rest is on DVR so I may finish it later this week.

Obsessed

So I started working towards my master's degree this semester. One assignment was to start a blog related to technology. I was a little upset that they weren't asking us to make a blog for a classroom because I didn't want to have to manage 2 blogs...but I started a new one anyways. Then I started another new one for my students to write on...so I have kind of gone blog crazy.

In addition to becoming obsessed with all sorts of blogs, I have now spent way to much time browsing blog backgrounds. I have found way too many that I like that I can hardly decide on one. So you can expect for this background to be changed sometime.

I have recently also become obsessed with this clip from Madagascar:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UERE19S1pFE
I thought I could post the video...but I guess not :(

In other news...I'm going to watch the Grammy's tonight...if Taylor Swift starts winning every award then I may not watch it all, because I am a little sick of her and her "ohmygoshIcan'tbelievethisishappening" acceptance speeches. I do hope the Lady Antebellum wins their awards! Lindsay knows how much I have become obsessed with them!

The House is Complete!

Well, the fixer house actually was finished right before the new year, but I haven't blogged since then.

We have decided that we are going to try to sell it. It would be really crappy if we rented it out and the renter wrecked the house. They spent way to much time and money for it to get damaged. If you know of anyone that needs a renovated home for cheap, pass it on! Here is the flyer.

Vacation!

I am so glad it is winter break! This semester at school has been really good but I was in need of a break! So far it has been relatively relaxing! Amy and George came up to visit Sunday and we had dinner and went to Christmas at the Zoo! It was really cold but we had a good time!

The rest of this week is pretty eventful. Christmas Eve we go to Clint's aunt's house. Christmas my whole family comes to our house. Saturday we visit my grandma's house and finally on Sunday we go to Clint's parent's. I can't wait to play some games!

Next week I will relax some more of course...but then I am having lunch with the girls from school and will have to actually start thinking about school...because I don't have anything ready for when they come back!

We are also going to have people over for New Years Eve...hope that will be fun!

Merry Christmas!