Math, Class, Rain, MailBox, CORE Academy...

Rain, Rain, Come and Stay!
It has been raining all day- what a blessing! We really need that here. I had to be up EARLY this morning so I could make it to my math endorsement class on time. It is an 80 minute drive to the school where the class is held. Being I had to be there by 8:30am, I had to leave by 7:00am. Not that is a big deal, but it is a lonely drive.

My math class was ok. It wasn't really what I was expecting it to be. We are reading a book about how to help kids "build a system of ten". Basically we are trying to help kids understand place value and allow them to use their own methods to do and understand basic operations in math. (Invented strategies). I have tried to teach in this manner since my Alpine School District days. I want my students to understand what they are doing and never just do it because I said they should. So it was good, but really long, especially since I had the long trip home and everyone else had at most 25 minutes. But that is how life goes.

I am glad to be home. I missed the Priesthood session of conference tonight because I have a headache and don't feel well. Tomorrow is another 2 sessions of conference. I am grateful for that. I need a day to relax. The only stress I truly have for this evening and tomorrow is my Mail Box Assignment. I have 5 pages due. I have a couple sketched out, but I think I may have to start over. We'll see. I will keep you posted on that for sure.

Yesterday I got a letter from the CORE Academy (See past posts for LOTS on this topic) reminding me that I still haven't done my college credit assignment. So that needs to be done in the next month- yucky! Not only that, but the state of Utah, in all their brilliance, when they told the State Office of Education they had to make budget cuts, the State Office of Education cut funding to CORE Academy. So, now we may lose one of the few things the state actually got right in their "quest" to help teachers. Figures, Let's help teachers- okay, take away funding from education and force them to cut funding to programs that have been statically proven to improve student learning. That is 100% political thinking! And we wonder what happened to education.

And, as a grand finale, I have this HILARIOUS e-mail I received today to share with you. I actually found it so disturbing it was funny! Be sure to read the whole things, and truly be thankful like it says! Enjoy.


"When you have an I Hate My Job Day,[even if retired you have those sometimes] try this:

On your way home from work, stop at your pharmacy and go to the
thermometer section and purchase a rectal thermometer made by
Johnson & Johnson. Be very sure you get this brand. When you get home, lock your doors,
draw the curtains and disconnect the phone so you will not be disturbed. Change into very comfortable clothing and sit in your favorite chair.
Open the package and remove the thermometer. Now, carefully place
it on a table or a surface so that it will not become chipped or broken.

Now the fun part begins.

Take out the literature from the box and read it carefully.
You will notice that in small print there is a statement: 'Every Rectal Thermometer made by Johnson & Johnson is personally tested and then sanitized.'

Now, close your eyes and repeat out loud five times,'I am so glad I
do not work in the thermometer quality control department at Johnson & Johnson.'

HAVE A NICE DAY AND REMEMBER, THERE IS ALWAYS SOMEONE
ELSE WITH A JOB THAT IS MORE OF A PAIN IN THE BUTT THAN YOURS = "

Later...