Web 2.0 (This is for CSIS.. the rest of the world can just skip it)

Web 2.0 is all about the idea that originally the internet was used by people but controlled by companies and web-experts, then with the introduction of message boards, social networks and (drum roll please) BLOGGING, the internet became more shall we say.. democratic-"by the people, for the people". Which is great, I think its awesome the internet allows people a forum to get their ideas out and connect with the world. For example the sites such as the dietcokediet.com started as blogs, they are people writing to help out their friends and neighbors in cyberspace. So now a YouTube video link about Web 2.0

Bad Night

For those of you who haven't heard, on Saturday evening Brian and I were walking Bella and she got hit by a truck. We rushed her to the vet, but as he started to look her over we realized that there was nothing we could do, her back right leg was completely shattered and would need to be amputated. Her lungs had blood in them, and when she breathed it sounded as if air was going where it shouldn't. The vet gave her a 30% chance to live, if he could get her stabilized and to St. George, the odds of her surviving the trip were worse. Also, the cost (with not payment plans available) was creeping towards the $3,000 mark. Brian and I decided that it would be best to put her down, and not make her continue to suffer.
We have only been able to find 1 picture of her. If anyone has any from Christmas or anything like that we would love a copy.

Interviewing is stupid!

I am not a good "butt-kisser", I am not a good here is the "right" answer for an interview person. Because I think interviewing, as with all other shmoozing (spelling?!?!?!) is STUPID. If you really want to get to know someone, maybe you shouldn't try to trick them, that is how I feel about questions such as, "What is your weakness?" Really? Lets hire someone based on how well they LIE! That is what we are asking, don't really admit you are human and sometimes screw up, and have weaknesses but make one up so it can sound like a strength.Im pretty sure an interviewer doesn't want to hear that I accidentally threw away the 3rd graders ungraded pre-test for Spelling and so canceled the final spelling test this week. Because, I struggle with staying organized. In the education world, they always ask, "What is your favorite (strongest) grade to work with? This again is a trap rather than admitting and saying I love ___ grade because. Oh no that's not okay because then you aren't flexible. So you have to Miss America it. "Oh i love every grade, they all are fun and unique..." If you say, "I really HATE kindergarten.." That is the WRONG answer. How can there be a WRONG answer when you are asking for an opinion... don't we teach kids an opinion can't be wrong?. Do people who are interviewing actually expect you off the top of your head to be able to give EXAMPLES of something. When they ask, give us an example of a time you were proactive, what did you do? Why? How did it work? And I'm supposed to just PULL something out of my butt? You want to know what happens 99% of the time.. people MAKE stuff up. Again with the LIES. Having done 2 Target interviews which are all "give me an example of a time"questions. Let me tell you, "This one time at Odyssey.... BS, BS, BS. I usually don't completely make up a story but I do combine them and like I can remember details. But we have not yet come to by LEAST favorite, biggest pet peeve question. What unique qualities can you bring to this job?... Well since
A) I don't know the people who work for you all that well, how am I supposed to know if it is a unique quality?
B) The shear fact that I am ME. Its not 1 quality that makes a person unique, it is their life experiences and their personality. No matter who you hire you're getting someone unique.
C) I have no idea what the hell would be the "right answer"
I am going to babble out some B.S. that isn't really a unique quality.
When I am a principal and get to interview people, I am going to take them to lunch. We are just going to talk, no trick questions, no 1 person vs. 6. Then I am going to actually watch them teach. Watch them interact with students. Seriously, I challenge any principal, teacher, person in this world to come watch me teach, and then to just sit down and talk with me about teaching what happened that day, what I did etc; Get me started on education, behavior management whatever, in an actually conversation (not a LIE) and not hire me. Seriously, that sounds terrible, I know I haven't been teaching for 30 years or whatever, and have a lot to learn but I feel like I can hold my own with any other teacher...BUT instead they'd rather have me BS my way through an interview.
The End

Just kidding: I'd like to pass a note on to a certain parent who sits on a certain board of directors at a certain charter school.
I understand that you have an inferiority complex because you run and are "the boss" of people who have more experience than you in the education world, I know that a part of you knows this and in order to make yourself secure and validated you want to hire someone who LOVES parents and their input. However, asking the same question twice is stupid. Asking, "Give us an example of how you deal with parents." and "How do involve parents in the classroom. Is the SAME question.

Keys

Today was my first day as a long-term sub in the 3rd grade. Stacia (the 3rd grade teacher) had her baby lasy night! Today I was on my own. It wasn't bad at all, it helps that I have been in there for six weeks and basically on my own. But it is nice to not have to run plans or what I think we should do by another teacher. Also, I have my own keys to the school and classroom, and today when the office buzzed our room they asked for Mrs. Harris not Mrs. Leugers. Overall, though the day was pretty typical. Not fist fits, or parts grabbing. Just talkative 3rd graders as alway. Oh I guess on weird thing is that it snowed toay. Really hard. The class has indoor recess for lunch. Whew, its a good thing they get an hour of PE on Monday afternooons to give them a break. Stqacia was really great and got a lot of the year all ready to go, All I have to do is pull out the files and teach the lessons. I am very excited though to be on my own and to get PAID for teaching. WAHOO. And because I am nerdy I lock the classroom door a ton, 1)because it makes me feel cool, to have keys and 2) there is a cleptomanica in the 4th grade... literally its part of her IEP/health plam. Hopefully the rest of the year goes smoothly!

Things I Secretly Love...

We all have those things that it seems like EVERYONE around us hates or maybe we say we hate ... but we secretly love them. I have decided to confess to those secret loves.
1: The Disney Channel-, yes this includes Hannah Montana and therefore Miley Cyrus.
2: Trashy magazines- Cosmo, People, US, you name it I love it.
3: Being sick- I know this one is weird, but every once in a while it is nice to have a day to moan and groan and watch seasons of The Office. Not a fake sick day, a real one. (And not in a creepy, psychological disorder. Just once a year)
4: Grading papers- Gives me something to do while I watch TV, which in turns keeps me awake during said TV. And I just think its fun.
5: Cleaning- I am not good at maintaining clean and organized but I love to get clean and organized. I love waking up on a Saturday after not doing any cleaning ALL week and spending all day cleaning up.
6: Speaking in Sacrament Meeting- I don't know why but I love writing talks, I love giving talks.

That's it for this addition of Confessions of a Mouse.

Some Days...

Some days I miss my cute, non-attitude giving, 1st graders. One of these days happened last Thursday when during our prep hour the office buzzes the room to tell the teacher and I that 3 students are being sent back from Music... Sigh. I go to meet these students coming back from Music. 3 boys were being brought back by a very upset, very angry, very frazzled music teacher. The only words out of her mouth were, "I don't know what has gotten in to your class today, I wish I could send them all back." I told her, "I'll come get them." Apparently in 20 min of a 30 min music class NOTHING had been able to happen because students were talking, calling out, arguing, rolling their eyes, throwing things, etc. I tried VERY hard to not yell, or scream. I told them to get out their notebooks, and write an apology letter to our dear music teacher. I did not want to hear about how they did nothing, EVERYONE was writing a letter. Or else they would not be going home (there were 10 min of school left). Needless to say we made the next day of school very painful for 30 3rd graders.
Another one of these days happened yesterday. The class was in Centers, I had just finished with a reading group and a girl comes up to me and says, "Mrs. Harris, Frank (name has been changed) is rolling on the ground holding his privates... He agonized and hunched over when he walked for the next 30 min moaning and groaning, he told me he hadn't been kicked or hit, but this had happened on Saturday. 10 min before lunch recess (after telling him he would have to go lay down during recess if he wasn't better), he is better, walking, smiling. He goes to recess, then lunch. As the class comes back from lunch, Frank is missing. I am told he is in the lunch room crying. APPARENTLY, he wasn't faking, a janitor had to carrying him to the office, and once laid down and stretched out it wasn't his privates that hurt but his lower abdomen. His mom cam and got him. He was not in school today... we are worried it is his appendix. OOPS!

How to Guarantee Craziness in a Classroom

If you have ever thought, "Hey I think it would be really fun to make 30 3rd grades have a crazy, bouncy, non-productive day", the following steps will make your dream come true.

1: Drastically change the weather. Pick a day where it starts out with snow and cold (perhaps it snowed that very morning) and by 10:15 it is pushing 50 degrees with promises to reach 65.
2: The day will need to be either the day before a "holiday" or the day of. (Really anything the kids are looking forward too will work)
3: Have a fire drill
4: Have a girl punch a boy twice in the nose, causing him to gush blood.
5: As the story of the punch comes out, it must involve 5-6 students "playing" (i.e. holding said girl down and rolling a giant snow ball over her).
6: Said girl must decide she doesn't want to "play" only after the snowball has been rolled on her.
7: When said boy is punched the first time he must retaliate by pushing said girl.
8: Said girl then punches said boy for the second time causing a bloody nose.
9: Have a spelling pre-test, and a math test back to back.
10: As the adult, insure that you start the day with little patience and tired (i.e. a headache, and 4-5 hours of sleep, after working until 12:30 the night before.)

You now have a way to cause craziness! It has already been through a trial run so I guarantee 100% success.