Divas, Zebra Domes, and Pixie Dust! A Week in an African Paradise! New TR Link Pg.145

[Lynn5700]

OMG the palm tree is so cute!! So are the Daisies!! HAHA! I have never noticed them. Cute.

Sorry you got fussed at for sitting in a face painting chair, that's lame.

Aww yay for going on the teacups!!

 

[KathyRN137]

Hey Jackie!!

Sorry for my recent absence, but I'm all caught up now and have enjoyed every minute!

Kathy

 

[jordanyosh]

I hope that you will consider joining Peep Fest since it will be in June.....you're not retired yet...

 

[punkin413]

When we were finished, the kids and I were off to the Magic Kingdom and straight for Fantasyland. We got there just as the park opened (see, we really should have gone to the Crystal Palace) and had about an hour to kill before we could meet Tinker Bell in Toon Town.

this is so funny to me because when you talked about getting up, going to the mara to get coffee, coming back to the room, reading, getting ready and eating at boma, i'm thinking by that time it's probably at least like 10:30. but no, you still made it to MK just around opening! i guess when you sleep until 9:00 while on vacation (like me) you're not used to getting so much done that early!

There was a little girl sitting on the other side of me (maybe four or five?) who peppered me with questions about the princesses that lived in the castle. She wanted to know who lived there, if you could visit them, if you had to be a princess yourself to visit them. She was just precious, and I enjoyed my chat with her.

this is so cute!

 

[punkin413]

Daisies!

this is so cute! i've only been through minnie's house once and it was so crowded in there that ray and i sort of just rushed through just so we could get out. so i didn't see these.

awesome! i love the designs they picked.

I told the kids when the cups started, that I was going to let them do all the work and sit back and relax. That didn’t last long as I can never resist spinning our teacup as fast as possible.

i love the teacups, too! spinning has never bothered me plus i think i love it so much just because alice is one of my favorites. my dad, who will ride pretty much ANYTHING, won't ride these. i remember as a kid riding with my brother and sister and stepmom and dad standing outside the railing taking pictures of us. he just wouldn't do the spinning!

 

[MeMom]

We did have a good weekend, but it flew by! The same could be said for school -- I was shocked to realize that we are already starting our third full week of school -- it is just flying!

Could you maybe send me your clock? My days are not speeding by.

And we started our lovely Reading testing yesterday. I have nine more days to finish 23 running records, phonemic awareness, and sight words tests - all done one-on-one. What to do with 22 others while you are trying to listen to one read is a struggle!

 

[MEK]

Sorry for seeing your latest update so late. I got busy with LJ and his brother over the weekend and yesterday was a wicked day at work. Last night I finally did get my new car. Same day I got a $25 gift card to use on my next trip at Disney. I'm not quite sure which is more exciting - the car or the gift certificate.

Love you latest update and must wait to get home to see the pics. I bet the face painting is so cute. 75 minutes for fairies......that would be a big NO in my book.

Anxiously awaiting your next update!

 

[addictedtothemouse]

Never one to pass up the chance to browse through a gift shop, we explored County Bounty. This is where I bought my Four Parks, One World CD. Let me just say that I have loved this CD set. It is in our car, and we listen to it all the time -- Grim, Grinning Ghosts, Splash Mountain, It’s a Small World (yes, I love that song), the Enchanted Tiki Room, Spaceship Earth, Soarin’, Impressions de France, the Three Caballeros -- it is all on there and then some!

I went to amazon to see if I could find this cd. They wanted $44.95 for it! Guess I'll just have to go back so I can get it.

 

[PracPerfPatricia]

Hey Jackie,

I can believe there was a 60- 75 minute wait for the fairies- I think it was just about that when we were there...we'd have never made it either... (30 minutes in Kali River Rapids was about our longest-and that was starting to get a little tetchy...(I have to see the fairy movie-it seemed like there were lots of fairy crazed little girls this past week-I wonder if the plan is to spread the crowds between the princesses and the fairies?)

The face painting on Connor and Chelsea is awesome-don't you love having the photos now? (Were they both able to keep it on all day?)

Great details in Minnie's house-I've never noticed the daisies or the "palm" trees-there is so much amazing detailing...I think it's part of the reason everything feels so amazing -and even if you don't specifically notice some of the details-I think you get it on a subconscious level-which is why so many people (myself included) get the warm and fuzzies from Disney...

So you're a spinner on the tea cups-me too-it was a battle between me & David (to spin) and Emily and Eric (to not)...it came out even...

Great update...

 

[MEK]

Great pics of the kids. Awesome face painting. Love them! But I will definately remember NEVER to sit in the chair!

 

[Charleston Princess]

OMG the palm tree is so cute!! So are the Daisies!! HAHA! I have never noticed them. Cute.

If my plants looked like that maybe I could keep them alive!

Sorry you got fussed at for sitting in a face painting chair, that's lame.

I thought so, too!

Aww yay for going on the teacups!!

It's not a trip if we don't go for a spin in the teacups!

Hey Jackie!!

Sorry for my recent absence, but I'm all caught up now and have enjoyed every minute!

Kathy

Hi, Kathy! I understand -- the last couple of weeks of summer are sometimes crazy -- so are the first couple of weeks of school!

I hope that you will consider joining Peep Fest since it will be in June.....you're not retired yet...

It's already on my calendar, and my heart is really set on a commemorative t-shirt to mark the event!!!

this is so funny to me because when you talked about getting up, going to the mara to get coffee, coming back to the room, reading, getting ready and eating at boma, i'm thinking by that time it's probably at least like 10:30. but no, you still made it to MK just around opening! i guess when you sleep until 9:00 while on vacation (like me) you're not used to getting so much done that early!

I am like, MeMom, and up before the sun most mornings at Disney. Usually the first couple of weeks of summer I am still on school time, but as the summer goes on, I sleep later and later.

this is so cute!

Thank you!

this is so cute! i've only been through minnie's house once and it was so crowded in there that ray and i sort of just rushed through just so we could get out. so i didn't see these.

As we were nearing the end it was getting more and more crowded -- especially in the kitchen!

awesome! i love the designs they picked.

Thanks! I liked them as well!

i love the teacups, too! spinning has never bothered me plus i think i love it so much just because alice is one of my favorites. my dad, who will ride pretty much ANYTHING, won't ride these. i remember as a kid riding with my brother and sister and stepmom and dad standing outside the railing taking pictures of us. he just wouldn't do the spinning!

I think that is one of the reasons I love the teacups, too -- I am such an Alice fan! That's too funny about your dad. I read about a lot of people who don't like the spinning, but we always get a kick out of it.

Could you maybe send me your clock? My days are not speeding by.

And we started our lovely Reading testing yesterday. I have nine more days to finish 23 running records, phonemic awareness, and sight words tests - all done one-on-one. What to do with 22 others while you are trying to listen to one read is a struggle!

Yick! I feel your pain! Even at the middle school level, it is next to impossible to keep the rest of the class occupied while working with an individual student -- they seem to think it means it is time to talk.

I think I jinxed myself because here I was thinking things had settled down and today I arrive to find out we have to give two different benchmark-type assessments before the end of the week and plug all the data into a spreadsheet! Do you ever feel like you spend so much time testing that you never get a chance to actually teach anything???

Sorry for seeing your latest update so late. I got busy with LJ and his brother over the weekend and yesterday was a wicked day at work. Last night I finally did get my new car. Same day I got a $25 gift card to use on my next trip at Disney. I'm not quite sure which is more exciting - the car or the gift certificate.

You and I are so much alike -- I would be equally excited about the gift certificate! Hurray for the new car though -- I am glad the dealer was able to come through for you!

Love you latest update and must wait to get home to see the pics. I bet the face painting is so cute. 75 minutes for fairies......that would be a big NO in my book.

Anxiously awaiting your next update!

Yep, 75 minutes for the fairies was a no-go in our book!

I am really hoping to update during the week this week -- I am ready to get this show on the road. I see now why last year I had my TR finished before the school year started -- it's so hard now that I am back at work.

I went to amazon to see if I could find this cd. They wanted $44.95 for it! Guess I'll just have to go back so I can get it.

Yikes! That is rather steep! I paid $25 for mine (it is a 2-CD set).

Hey Jackie,

I can believe there was a 60- 75 minute wait for the fairies- I think it was just about that when we were there...we'd have never made it either... (30 minutes in Kali River Rapids was about our longest-and that was starting to get a little tetchy...(I have to see the fairy movie-it seemed like there were lots of fairy crazed little girls this past week-I wonder if the plan is to spread the crowds between the princesses and the fairies?)

I haven't seen the fairy movie yet, either, so I need to fix that soon. There was almost no wait for the princesses when we were there -- unfortunately, neither child was keen to go meet them.

The face painting on Connor and Chelsea is awesome-don't you love having the photos now? (Were they both able to keep it on all day?)

Thank you! Yes, it did stay on most of the day -- both kids did wash their faces by early evening though because they said it was very uncomfortable by then.

Great details in Minnie's house-I've never noticed the daisies or the "palm" trees-there is so much amazing detailing...I think it's part of the reason everything feels so amazing -and even if you don't specifically notice some of the details-I think you get it on a subconscious level-which is why so many people (myself included) get the warm and fuzzies from Disney...

I agree! I am still finding little details I never noticed before when we go there.

So you're a spinner on the tea cups-me too-it was a battle between me & David (to spin) and Emily and Eric (to not)...it came out even...

Great update...

Great pics of the kids. Awesome face painting. Love them! But I will definately remember NEVER to sit in the chair!

Please do remember -- I don't want you to get yelled at!

 

[MeMom]

Yick! I feel your pain! Even at the middle school level, it is next to impossible to keep the rest of the class occupied while working with an individual student -- they seem to think it means it is time to talk.

I think I jinxed myself because here I was thinking things had settled down and today I arrive to find out we have to give two different benchmark-type assessments before the end of the week and plug all the data into a spreadsheet! Do you ever feel like you spend so much time testing that you never get a chance to actually teach anything???

We started testing Monday. I have to give 23 students individual tests - running records, which means they could read anywhere from one to maybe four different stories, phonemic awareness, and sight words. When I am over to the side with one student, half of the others are working, and the other half are off-task and getting into some kind of trouble. Two weeks of not teaching at the beginning, another two at Christmas, and another two at the end of the year. Six weeks are spent testing. It's ridiculous! And by all means, we will be putting all kinds of numbers on grid sheets throughout the year, because that's all kids are any more - numbers in boxes. I long for the days when we just taught and kids learned, but I don't think that is ever to exist again.

Numbers in boxes - that's all anybody looks at, and whatever that kid did on that day on that test is what he/she is overall to the 'higher ups' that make all these ridiculous rules. A couple of years ago, I had an A/B student put in a remedial reading program because of the score he got on one test on one day. I had three other C/D students who needed to take his place, but they didn't qualify because they had done better than him on that test. After a couple of months of pleading my case, 'they' gave in and let my A/B guy back in class and gave his spot to one of the others.

I believe in accountability for teachers, and I believe in some forms of data, but when you are listening to a child read and marking every single word with some kind of mark and then getting percentages of self-corrections and diagnosing why he missed the word and then putting numbers in boxes and spending hours doing that instead of actually teaching and working with kids, then I think it has gone way too far off the mark.

There are very few things I dislike in life, and very few things I dislike about teaching, but I detest the testing! I never thought I could dislike being a teacher, but we are not teachers, we are data processors, test administrators, and drill instructors. I used to do all of these cool units, but my tubs sit dusty on shelves and in my attic now, because there is no time for them.

Okay, more than you wanted to hear, but it is so frustrating. They have sucked all the fun out of teaching in our system.

Now somebody hurry up and put a Disney picture up to bring us some happiness!!!!!

 

[Charleston Princess]

We started testing Monday. I have to give 23 students individual tests - running records, which means they could read anywhere from one to maybe four different stories, phonemic awareness, and sight words. When I am over to the side with one student, half of the others are working, and the other half are off-task and getting into some kind of trouble. Two weeks of not teaching at the beginning, another two at Christmas, and another two at the end of the year. Six weeks are spent testing. It's ridiculous! And by all means, we will be putting all kinds of numbers on grid sheets throughout the year, because that's all kids are any more - numbers in boxes. I long for the days when we just taught and kids learned, but I don't think that is ever to exist again.

I am right there with you! Our tests in middle school look a little different, but they are tests, all the same, to see what our students are able to read and comprehend. Yesterday and today I have been filling in all sorts of little boxes with percentages and lexile levels -- I feel like I work in data entry as opposed to education.

Numbers in boxes - that's all anybody looks at, and whatever that kid did on that day on that test is what he/she is overall to the 'higher ups' that make all these ridiculous rules. A couple of years ago, I had an A/B student put in a remedial reading program because of the score he got on one test on one day. I had three other C/D students who needed to take his place, but they didn't qualify because they had done better than him on that test. After a couple of months of pleading my case, 'they' gave in and let my A/B guy back in class and gave his spot to one of the others.

So frustrating!

I believe in accountability for teachers, and I believe in some forms of data, but when you are listening to a child read and marking every single word with some kind of mark and then getting percentages of self-corrections and diagnosing why he missed the word and then putting numbers in boxes and spending hours doing that instead of actually teaching and working with kids, then I think it has gone way too far off the mark.

I agree -- there must be a better way than what we are doing now!

There are very few things I dislike in life, and very few things I dislike about teaching, but I detest the testing! I never thought I could dislike being a teacher, but we are not teachers, we are data processors, test administrators, and drill instructors. I used to do all of these cool units, but my tubs sit dusty on shelves and in my attic now, because there is no time for them.

Okay, more than you wanted to hear, but it is so frustrating. They have sucked all the fun out of teaching in our system.

Unfortunately it is a problem all over the country. I have been looking longingly at my fun units sitting all forlorn in the corner of my room .

Now somebody hurry up and put a Disney picture up to bring us some happiness!!!!!

Here's a coming attraction from the next update!

 

[DreaGirl]

LOVED your update! They look so cute with their faces painted. How long does it stay on?

I am shocked about the Fairies at 10! I'm so nervous that we aren't going to get there in time I'm not even mentioning it to DD until we are firmly in line.

My least favorite part of teaching testing/paperwork.

 

[Charleston Princess]

LOVED your update! They look so cute with their faces painted. How long does it stay on?

I am shocked about the Fairies at 10! I'm so nervous that we aren't going to get there in time I'm not even mentioning it to DD until we are firmly in line.

My least favorite part of teaching testing/paperwork.

Thank you! That's a good plan with DD -- that way there won't be any horrible disappointments!

I think the paperwork and record keeping gets worse every year!

 

[MagicShell]

I love Chelsea and Connor's face painting. My daughter REALLY wanted to get her face painted on our trip a couple years ago, but I was too cheap to let her. I told her I wasn't paying that much money for something that will wash off in a few hours. I should have considered the fact that I could have taken pictures of it that I will have forever. When we go in Oct./Nov. I will have to make up for that. Your pictures of their face painting are great.

 

[purplepeg]

oh my word what a great update! Love the face painting! i was wondering where his glasses had gone! I can't believe how many timesI have been in Minnie's house and NEVER noticed the palm tree or the Daisy's. I obviously have to tune in better to the surroundings Too bad about the fairies but I completely understand.
We bought the same cd but haven't listened to it yet, I think I'll get it out for my errands I need to do now.

 

[MeMom]

Here's a coming attraction from the next update!

Thank heaven! I was about to jump, and those cute faces saved me! Looking forward to the next update.

Disney CD's are awesome souvenirs! Jill and I listen to ours in our cars pretty much daily. Brooklynn knows the words to just about everything, so it's very familiar when she is in the parks.

 

[wigdoutdismom]

Thank heaven! I was about to jump, and those cute faces saved me! Looking forward to the next update.

Disney CD's are awesome souvenirs! Jill and I listen to ours in our cars pretty much daily. Brooklynn knows the words to just ahttp://www.wdwinfo.com/images/smilies/rotfl.gifbout everything, so it's very familiar when she is in the parks.

Yes, that picture came just in time! Our testing window has opened and our palm pilots are readied for the dibels testing! I start tomorrow....

Last night I played SpectroMagic in the car, Baylor started to roll his eyes in his very cool way to our exchange student then before I had a chance to get after him, he was swaying and singing along to the music. The Disney spirit had taken over!

 

[MeMom]

Yes, that picture came just in time! Our testing window has opened and our palm pilots are readied for the dibels testing! I start tomorrow....

Last night I played SpectroMagic in the car, Baylor started to roll his eyes in his very cool way to our exchange student then before I had a chance to get after him, he was swaying and singing along to the music. The Disney spirit had taken over!

Aaah, DIBELS!

Does your FES have a name, or like That 70's Show, do you just call him FES?