So what's it gonna be. Half full, or half empty.

Happy birthday to me (yesterday). I was going to write a humorous account of all the things my birthday was and wasn't, some parts great, some (not bad but) forgettable, when it occured to me that for 43 - it was a pretty good birthday. So cheers, with my half full birthday glass!

PREVIEW - phase 5 - (not the end project)

Is an Extra Credit Classroom Diorama Next on the Agenda?

So, is this Presidents Day weekend? No.

Is it, Colleen's been given a repreave, and can finish this killer class with style and some semblense of sleep patterns still intact - weekend? No.

It's castle project weekend!

And I'm looking at it, thinking OH, Mrs. G. is going to want to punch me in the face for over involvement! I did so good with Abi's diorama, I thought I could handle it. . . but the castle theme, was just too much for me.

I should have just bought myself one of these to play with later. (NO THIS IS NOT IT!!) But don't worry, there will be pictures to come:

Begining,

phase 1 (Cailtin drew the template, and I cut the box),

phase 2 (where moms influnence takes over),

phase 3 (oh no, dad gets in on the fun),

phase 4 (we let the kids touch some stuff),

phase 5? (I'm trying to back off now, really) - phase 5 Aimee saves the day with WATER PAPER!

CM consultants never die, they just hoard things in their basement. Yeah Aimee!

If Regis would just take their own advice about having Universal Design/"different pathways to learning" in EDFD620 - instead of listening to 4 hours lectures and writting papers.

Maybe I should bring in a diorama of my perfect UbD set up classroom. That would be funny AND keep my hands off Cat's Castle. Why didn't I think of that Friday "/

I think they like it

A - "Now it says 8, 1, 4, and it's blue"

C - "Mine says 8:15 and it's red"

A - "Now it says 8, 1, 5 and it's green"

C - "Mine says 8:16 and it's purple"

A - "Now mines 8, 1, 6 but it's still green"


Who knew when I bought the girls each one of these 7$ alarm clocks they would be SO facinated! (Ours are actually a bubble, couldn't find the picture though) I just went up to check on them, and they are both hugging their silly little alarm clocks. . . 2 days later, and they are still in love.

A - " Mommy! My clock rang and it says 6 o'clock!"

C - "Mine just rang too! And it's 6 o'clock"

A - "Mine is blue"

C - "Mine is red"


How long do you think until they start forgetting to set it? Accidentally unplugging it?

And - I was meme'ed. . . but I have 2 more papers to do, so I'll have to owe you one!

"Ehw - Dorkus Interuptus"

Use of "concrete positive reinforcers" is allowed. . .

I think that means Chocolate! I'm going to make a little sign to take to work tomorrow, to stick up on the cabinet where all of the "concrete positive reinforcers" are kept, and see if I get so much as a quizzical look. A labeling gun would make if funnier, but since no one but me will even bat an eye, I guess it's not worth the bother. (I think it's hysterical, and maybe why I want to be a special ed. teacher. . . why for all the concrete positive reinforcers of course!)

I'm finding that education, as a feild of study, has ALOT of blah blah blah, yadda yadda yadd in it. But, just to prove that there is NO pleasing me, I'll share a ridiculously specific example of an educational concern that was also provided in todays reading. . . wait for it. . . .
" avoid purple dittos." Thank goodness that was passed on so that I don't have to re-invent the wheel!

OK, night night.

Saturday Morning, 6 am sharp

Saturday morning, 6 am sharp - Ab is standing beside me saying "Mom, I want to go play the dogz game on the wii that you play by yourself, and I want you to come with me." Uuunghm...Wah?.. see because I'd stayed up until 2 last night playing that rediculously stupid game trying to find out what happens at the end, I mean, trying to get the game through some levels so the girls would have more fun with it.

OK, I was out of Ugly Betty Episodes, and it was my friday night with actual (stolen) time to myself. Earlier, I'd rented Ugly Betty at lunch and gotten a diet coke and BAG of m&m's, I was on a self indulgent roll, and I wasted it on DOGZ2. But, the chick-lets are currently fighting over who's turn it is, and I'm going to have time to study now. So why was I complaining? Just confessing I guess. . . I'd give dogs 2 of 5 stars for little kids, and 1 of 5 for "E" everyone.

And, by the way, how do you use the warming stone? I'm not stopping until I figure it out!