I am so glad it is ISTEP time, whew; I need a little break from 6th grade. I had to down play my excitement though, because my son is not a happy camper right now. I empathize; I have had many years of the ole standardized testing under my belt. It is not fun! My son and I tried to come up with a top ten list of why these types of tests are so awful…and here it is…drum roll please:
10. Don’t like the word TEST!
9. Teachers wig out!
8. The nightmares you have before the test.
7. The nightmares you have during the test.
6. Hates the big stop sign at the bottom of each test.
5. To afraid to look around for fear you will be accused of cheating.
4. The quiet…THE UNBEARABLE QUIET!!
3. You may never want use, look at, or hear about a number- two pencil again (this actually happened to me).
2. The anxiety that comes over you when you feel you can not completely erase a mistake.
1. THE MATH STOR Y PROBLEMS!!!!
Ok, now go sharpen your pencils!
Sunday, February 28, 2010
Sunday, February 21, 2010
6th Grade Revisited - The Nursery Rhyme
“Ring around a rosie a pocket full of posies. Ashes, ashes, we all fall down!”
This is a nursery rhyme I sung many many times as a very small child. This week, my son came home to tell me exactly what this nursery rhyme meant. According to our 6th grade teacher, this is its meaning:
Ring around the rosie – The red pustules a person develops in the beginning stages of the “Bubonic Plague.”
Pocket full of posies – Refers to the flowers placed around the infected person in order protect others from getting infected.
Ashes, ashes – Imitates the sneezing sound which comes from the infected person.
We all fall down – Describing the many who died from the disease.
I am not sure if what the teacher said is true or not, but it has got me wondering. After my son dropped this bombshell on me, I spent the rest of the night questioning all nursing rhymes. Do they all have hidden meanings? Did Humpty Dumpty signify a real person and not just some egg? Who was Miss Muffet’s scary spider…a serial killer perhaps?
Can you picture this? Discovery channel uncovers the mysteries behind all childhood nursery rhymes, with host Geraldo Rivera. I’d watch it!
This is a nursery rhyme I sung many many times as a very small child. This week, my son came home to tell me exactly what this nursery rhyme meant. According to our 6th grade teacher, this is its meaning:
Ring around the rosie – The red pustules a person develops in the beginning stages of the “Bubonic Plague.”
Pocket full of posies – Refers to the flowers placed around the infected person in order protect others from getting infected.
Ashes, ashes – Imitates the sneezing sound which comes from the infected person.
We all fall down – Describing the many who died from the disease.
I am not sure if what the teacher said is true or not, but it has got me wondering. After my son dropped this bombshell on me, I spent the rest of the night questioning all nursing rhymes. Do they all have hidden meanings? Did Humpty Dumpty signify a real person and not just some egg? Who was Miss Muffet’s scary spider…a serial killer perhaps?
Can you picture this? Discovery channel uncovers the mysteries behind all childhood nursery rhymes, with host Geraldo Rivera. I’d watch it!
Sunday, February 14, 2010
6th Grade Revisited - The Vegetable...er Fruit?
Sorry for the respite. I have been working on some articles for publishing! But, I AM BACK!!!
Well I’ve reached the halfway point in my second go-a-round at 6th grade. So far, the second time around is much sweeter than the first. Math still sucks though, I could re-do 6th grade twenty times and still hate math. But oh well, I will continue to trudge through that crazy perpendicular field.
Initially, 6th grade was kind of stressing me out. I was eating a DQ waffle bowl sundae dipped in chocolate (with the caramel and nuts on the side…IT HAS TO BE ON THE SIDE) just about every night. Had to stop though, because of my bum thyroid, Plus I do not want to pass along my horrible stress-related-bad-eating habits to my son.
Our next big project: Choose an unusual vegetable and write an essay about it. I choose the beet, my son picked to write about the eggplant. Turns out vegetables are complicated, mainly because it is hard to determine whether they are actually classified as fruits. The more we studied both these edible plants, the more we kept getting confused. Is it a veggie or a fruit, fruit or a veggie? Something about how the seeds have to have this, and the plant has to flower a certain way…blah, blah, blah…Finally we decided we did not care because they were nasty and we weren’t going to eat them anyway.
Just because we aren't going to eat them doesn't mean you don't have to, I have learned these veggies (or whatever) have wonderful medicinal properties. Here are some recipes:
Beet Salad - http://www.epicurious.com/recipes/food/views/Beet-Salad-238644
Eggplant Parmesan - http://www.epicurious.com/recipes/food/views/Grilled-Eggplant-Parmesan-106955
Well I’ve reached the halfway point in my second go-a-round at 6th grade. So far, the second time around is much sweeter than the first. Math still sucks though, I could re-do 6th grade twenty times and still hate math. But oh well, I will continue to trudge through that crazy perpendicular field.
Initially, 6th grade was kind of stressing me out. I was eating a DQ waffle bowl sundae dipped in chocolate (with the caramel and nuts on the side…IT HAS TO BE ON THE SIDE) just about every night. Had to stop though, because of my bum thyroid, Plus I do not want to pass along my horrible stress-related-bad-eating habits to my son.
Our next big project: Choose an unusual vegetable and write an essay about it. I choose the beet, my son picked to write about the eggplant. Turns out vegetables are complicated, mainly because it is hard to determine whether they are actually classified as fruits. The more we studied both these edible plants, the more we kept getting confused. Is it a veggie or a fruit, fruit or a veggie? Something about how the seeds have to have this, and the plant has to flower a certain way…blah, blah, blah…Finally we decided we did not care because they were nasty and we weren’t going to eat them anyway.
Just because we aren't going to eat them doesn't mean you don't have to, I have learned these veggies (or whatever) have wonderful medicinal properties. Here are some recipes:
Beet Salad - http://www.epicurious.com/recipes/food/views/Beet-Salad-238644
Eggplant Parmesan - http://www.epicurious.com/recipes/food/views/Grilled-Eggplant-Parmesan-106955
Sunday, January 17, 2010
6th Grade Revisited - The Earthquake
My son's 6th grade homework that is done over the weekend usually helps me decide what to write about each week. The past couple of weeks we have been studying seismology. I had begun constructing my blog on this topic on Monday, then ironically on Tuesday devastation struck Haiti, so decided I to scrap what I had written. I did not want to make light of earthquakes, as with the case of poverty stricken Haiti, we have seen how ravaging this type natural disaster can be.
My son and I had fun learning the mechanics of earthquakes, i.e., faults, plates, seismic waves, etc., but we soon learned there is nothing fun about its aftermath. I took this moment to explain to my son how fortunate we are, and that giving to individuals in need can be the ultimate learning experience.
For more information about giving to Haiti Earthquake Relief please visit this website:
http://www.whitehouse.gov/haitiearthquake_embed
My son and I had fun learning the mechanics of earthquakes, i.e., faults, plates, seismic waves, etc., but we soon learned there is nothing fun about its aftermath. I took this moment to explain to my son how fortunate we are, and that giving to individuals in need can be the ultimate learning experience.
For more information about giving to Haiti Earthquake Relief please visit this website:
http://www.whitehouse.gov/haitiearthquake_embed
Sunday, January 10, 2010
6th Grade Revisited - Keep It Down
Don’t know about your household, but when the winter weather arrives, it usually brings forth nasty maladies into ours. Our winter break from school was nice – because, well…no homework, but a nasty bugaboo took a stronghold on me and my son. We were lying around convalescing, when a highly intellectual conversation took place about a reputation killer: vomiting in school.
I shared with him, how I would have preferred every hair on my body plucked out one by one with tweezers than to have thrown up in school- ESPECAILLY IN THE 6TH GRADE- The less attention on me the better. Plus, I am a very private person; really don’t want all my peers to know my dietary habits.
My son agreed with me wholeheartedly as we lay still and quiet for a minute no doubt thinking about the scene of blowing chunks in front of others. Our simultaneous shivering sound effects broke the silence:
Son: It is just too disgusting to think about, let’s talk about something else.
Me: OK… (A few minutes of quiet) But isn’t it crazy how no one moved when someone up-chucked in the class room? I don’t know why this sort of incident produced a somber-like atmosphere, but it did. I think maybe it's because everyone is holding their breath trying not to do the same.
Son: I know, and whoever did the up-chucking that day, news would spread so fast around the classroom, that kid was marked until the next person threw up.
Me: The drama behind puking in school was huge. There is the loud disgusting sound, the nasty spew and heaven forbid if chunks came out of the person’s nose. (Laughter)
Son: Oh and what about the annoyed janitor who has to clean it up?
Me: Oh yes, and you know he is thinking ‘I am not getting paid enough for this.’ He comes down to the scene of the crime with that sawdust-type stuff which looks just as nasty as the vomit. Half the class is mesmerized by what the janitor is doing and the other is turning away trying not to vomit themselves. AND WHAT IN THE WORLD IS THAT SAWDUST STUFF THE JANITOR PUTS ON THE PUKE!!??
Son: I bet is it leftover cafeteria food.
Me: Yeah, you’re probably right.
We did not have fevers during this conversation – I am sure of it!!!
I shared with him, how I would have preferred every hair on my body plucked out one by one with tweezers than to have thrown up in school- ESPECAILLY IN THE 6TH GRADE- The less attention on me the better. Plus, I am a very private person; really don’t want all my peers to know my dietary habits.
My son agreed with me wholeheartedly as we lay still and quiet for a minute no doubt thinking about the scene of blowing chunks in front of others. Our simultaneous shivering sound effects broke the silence:
Son: It is just too disgusting to think about, let’s talk about something else.
Me: OK… (A few minutes of quiet) But isn’t it crazy how no one moved when someone up-chucked in the class room? I don’t know why this sort of incident produced a somber-like atmosphere, but it did. I think maybe it's because everyone is holding their breath trying not to do the same.
Son: I know, and whoever did the up-chucking that day, news would spread so fast around the classroom, that kid was marked until the next person threw up.
Me: The drama behind puking in school was huge. There is the loud disgusting sound, the nasty spew and heaven forbid if chunks came out of the person’s nose. (Laughter)
Son: Oh and what about the annoyed janitor who has to clean it up?
Me: Oh yes, and you know he is thinking ‘I am not getting paid enough for this.’ He comes down to the scene of the crime with that sawdust-type stuff which looks just as nasty as the vomit. Half the class is mesmerized by what the janitor is doing and the other is turning away trying not to vomit themselves. AND WHAT IN THE WORLD IS THAT SAWDUST STUFF THE JANITOR PUTS ON THE PUKE!!??
Son: I bet is it leftover cafeteria food.
Me: Yeah, you’re probably right.
We did not have fevers during this conversation – I am sure of it!!!
Monday, December 21, 2009
6th Grade Revisited
6th Grade Revisited is off for the holidays! Everyone have a wonderful Christmas and a happy New Year!!!
Sunday, December 13, 2009
6th Grade Revisited - The Sucker Punch!!
I had no idea when I began writing 6th grade revisited that my son would soon face his very own 6th grade bully. It happened this week during recess. Ah, recess where kids should have fun, run wild with reckless abandon. It should never be a combat zone. However on this day it was, just like it was for me so many times when I was in 6th grade. Except my son did something that I never did: he spoke up.
You know, I am not quite sure I want to call this person who sucker punched my son a bully – defined by Webster as someone who torments, intimidates or frightens. My son was not scared. This kid was being extremely aggressive on the playground with others knocking and pushing them around. When suddenly my son stepped in the child’s path and said, “Hey look we are not afraid of you.” That is when his face met the attacker’s fist. He and a group of kids immediately took this situation to a teacher, who swiftly escalated it to the principal. The call to our house from the principal was complimentary towards my son. He made it abundantly clear my son was not in any trouble, plus he was impressed by his calm demeanor finding his story credible. After interviewing several other witnesses including the playground punk, the principal made a suspension. I have a pleased little boy walking around the house feeling like a hero, hoping he will have a black eye before the weekend. He believes girls are more receptive to a battered and bruised hero than one who appears unscathed.
In 1982, tattle-telling was taboo, with no inclination there would be repercussions should you go to a teacher. I applaud my son’s school system, empowering young children to speak out. Not only do they encourage open communication, but they also make it very clear there is zero-tolerance for violent behavior in school.
It was an exciting day for my little 6th grader, an upsetting day for grandma (she wants to hunt the little brat down.) Hubby was proud and as for me…I could not help but marvel at the irony…his first adversarial peer in the 6th grade. Begs the question, will there be a 6th Grade Revisited Part Deux??...STAY TUNED!
You know, I am not quite sure I want to call this person who sucker punched my son a bully – defined by Webster as someone who torments, intimidates or frightens. My son was not scared. This kid was being extremely aggressive on the playground with others knocking and pushing them around. When suddenly my son stepped in the child’s path and said, “Hey look we are not afraid of you.” That is when his face met the attacker’s fist. He and a group of kids immediately took this situation to a teacher, who swiftly escalated it to the principal. The call to our house from the principal was complimentary towards my son. He made it abundantly clear my son was not in any trouble, plus he was impressed by his calm demeanor finding his story credible. After interviewing several other witnesses including the playground punk, the principal made a suspension. I have a pleased little boy walking around the house feeling like a hero, hoping he will have a black eye before the weekend. He believes girls are more receptive to a battered and bruised hero than one who appears unscathed.
In 1982, tattle-telling was taboo, with no inclination there would be repercussions should you go to a teacher. I applaud my son’s school system, empowering young children to speak out. Not only do they encourage open communication, but they also make it very clear there is zero-tolerance for violent behavior in school.
It was an exciting day for my little 6th grader, an upsetting day for grandma (she wants to hunt the little brat down.) Hubby was proud and as for me…I could not help but marvel at the irony…his first adversarial peer in the 6th grade. Begs the question, will there be a 6th Grade Revisited Part Deux??...STAY TUNED!
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