They could have just called it a chemistry experiment.

Not that I would do this, but it wouldn't matter because my car looks like it was burned a long time ago already. Enjoy!

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/education/2002352776_grades30.html

Let's cut some of that cake!

I was invited to a wedding this weekend.  Hopefully no one else got the new couple a set of Starbucks coffee cups.  We're talking venti too--none of that "tall" stuff.  I was a big hit with the wait staff at the reception because I think I was the only guest that they didn't have to approach.  I made the rounds to each and everyone of them.

Plus, there was an open bar!  Not that I'm a big drinker (just a nip to keep warm), but people tend to drink more when the booze is free.  And yes, that means more empty bottles to be refunded for recycling.  So thank you all you Jack Daniels lovers.

I must say that I do miss the weddings from the good ol' days--when they tossed rice.

Mmmm, rice.

A.C.R.O.N.Y.M.

I went to some more professional development this week, but this one was different because it was federally funded. That means I got $300 for attending. In other words--I got to keep my plasma this week! The highlight had to be all the acronyms that were used. I swear we have more of those things than the military. The best one was S.O.L., if you ask me. In academia it stands for "Students Optimizing Learning," but we all know that there is a more popular association with that abbreviation. I couldn't help but to giggle throughout the whole ordeal. The instructor actually said, "S.O.L. is what teaching is all about."

Preach it brother!

Father's Day

What do you get the man that doesn't have everything, but your pockets are bare too? These are the times that I wish that I was that four-year-old again so that I could just give my dad a homemade card for Father's Day. I think he would understand because he was a teacher himself (mom too). I can't tell you how many poems we wrote for each other in lieu of gifts: Valentine's, Christmas, Arbor Day--you name it. It does feel a bit awkward because all this poetry writing is usually reserved for a girl that you've been dating for a few weeks. You know--you pick a single flower from a field, form a heart with her name in it out of marshmallows, write a poem. I hope mom doesn't get jealous.

You say work shopping, I say food shopping

Ah summertime, it's been nice so far. The hot nights are much easier to manage than the cold ones. Still, teachers are never really off. We do have that professional development to do. Luckily the seminar that I am attending this week is at another school in the district, so I had a whole bunch of new pillaging to do. I'll tell you what--teachers are so desperate to get out that last day that they leave all kinds of stuff behind. One man's frayed extension cord is a hobo teacher's new belt!

Even better was one of the activities that we did at this seminar today. We participated in an activity for GT students so that we can have an insight into their world. The task called for a group to get together and build a table out of dry linguini and masking tape that could hold a textbook. You know that I was psyched about that noise. At the end of the day I only had to pretend that I forgot something and ran back into the classroom to pick through the garbage.

Sidenote: I prefer trash cans over dumpsters. Dumpsters have more opportunities, but it's so much more of a physical ordeal.

Now, sure, the adhesive on the tape may be--a little--toxic. But, MSG is in food all the time and that's supposed to be bad for you--right??