From Pop to the Top - Funtastic Adventures in the Summer Sun!

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That's because you're too busy looking at Chris. :love:
When I have the girls with me, I miss a lot of things because I am focused on them. If you want to see everything, you have to shop alone. ;)

:rotfl: He never wants to go off on his own while we're at Disney! One day I'll hopefully get to shop alone though, even if it's just for 15-20 mins :)

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Clipboard people come today. They're looking to see if we are doing balanced Math properly. Clipboard people should put away their clipboards and come back to the trenches. We're doing all we can in all the different ways we can. Them checking boxes and making notes is not going to change anything we do. If they can stop C from kicking A and keep S from making paper airplanes and keep L from walking circles around the room and keep E from flirting with M while I am teaching Math, then maybe we'll be doing quite well.

Have a good day, all!

The biggest thing with NCLB act is the pressure to have students perform on the standardized tests. There is a lot of stigma attached to not meeting AYP because a subgroup (in our case special ed students) didn't perform as high as they should have!

Thanks, Jackie, for reminding me to answer Cheena's questions. I can think more clearly now. I wanted no part of thinking about school things last night!

Cheena, I agree with Jackie - it's all about the testing. They 'whip' teachers in every way they can to perform better, but we are teaching our brains out as it is. Special Ed students cannot be expected to perform highly on a standardized test, yet their scores count and make us look 'bad'. We have a third of our students who are ELL (English Language Learners), and they have to take the same test as those who have grown up speaking English. If I were to spend next year in Italy and had to take the same test an Italian student did, written in that language, I don't see how anyone could expect me to do anything but guess on most of it, yet my score could make my teacher look like he/she was a poor teacher. The whole thing is written out by people who are not in classrooms seeing the real day to day activity. Until they take off their thousand dollar suits and come and spend the year in our school and prove they can do better, I can't really have much faith in what they think. And I would be willing to bet that not one of them would take that offer to spend the year in my school.

We are given a standards book at the beginning of the year, and those are the things we can and must teach. They are always throwing new programs on us to make things better....supposedly. We test two weeks at the beginning of school, two weeks in the middle (coming up soon), and two weeks at the end. That is one-on-one with each student, so the others are doing busy work and/or doing everything they can behind the teacher's back while we are testing.

I will say this. I like teaching, but I hate the testing. In my opinion, we grew up to be competent, functioning adults the way we were taught in school. The more testing that is being implemented and the more programs they hand us seems to be producing just the opposite. Maybe I see things differently because of the kind of school I am in. Our kids are almost 100% free/reduced lunch, which means their resources at home (books, computers, etc.) and their life experiences, such as travel, are limited. The first year I was at this school, I was reading a book about the Statue of Liberty. Only one kid in the group of about twelve (I was doing Title I small groups) knew what it was. One kid recognized the Statue of Liberty! Anyway, that is what my school is fighting against, and I might feel very differently if I were at a school with a higher socio-economic background.

We have lost excellent teachers to other types of jobs and to early retirement because of the rigors of what they are handing down to us every year. A very high percentage of new teachers leave in the first three years. I like the actual teaching part, but if you were to tell me I could walk out the door and never return, I would gladly do it, and that would be strictly because of the testing and paperwork. I would venture to say there is not a teacher in my building that wouldn't say the same, and most would say it would be strictly because of the testing and paperwork pressures, as well.

I could go on. :upsidedow

I agree with both of you so much. I also did a paper on NCLB, twice actually. I think something that can be highlighted with us DIS friends is the difference in what students know based on where they live. The state of NY is obviously very large...a child in upstate NY has very different background knowlegde than a student from NYC or Long Island. Similar to the situation where only one student in MeMom's group knew what the Statue of Liberty was. Here in NY, 90% of students would know what that was but there are plenty of things down in GA or TN where Jackie and MeMom are that students in NY wouldn't me familiar with. Students are being mass tested on the same information when the background knowlegde is different no matter where you go. Teaching to the test is a huge problem up here. As a budding teacher, it's so sad to see the stiffling of creativity that happens in classrooms while teachers have to drill specific information into the students' head. :sad2:
 
I always love the safari pictures. Does it seem to anyone else that the elephant seems to be photographed from behind a lot?
 
Great safari photos MeMom! Glad to see you made it over the rickety bridge and came back safe and sound. ;)
 
Teaching to the test is a huge problem up here. As a budding teacher, it's so sad to see the stiffling of creativity that happens in classrooms while teachers have to drill specific information into the students' head. :sad2:

I have many units and tubs that have been retired. We just teach from the book now, for the most part, and make it fun when we get the chance.



I always love the safari pictures. Does it seem to anyone else that the elephant seems to be photographed from behind a lot?

You are right - we have many elephant bum pictures!
If I put pictures up tonight, you get okapi bum instead. :laughing:



Great safari photos MeMom! Glad to see you made it over the rickety bridge and came back safe and sound. ;)

That rickety bridge has not kept us from forging on through the rest of Animal Kingdom yet. :)

I am hoping to put up some more Animal Kingdom tonight. Do you know how much I am missing seeing that awesome AK Christmas tree this year? :sad1:
 

So funny you went to Jill's last weekend so she could clean and purge. My parents were here this past weekend and that's what Ryan and I spent all Saturday doing!

I loved the safari pictures! I am hoping that this time the lion comes out and visits!
 
Well MeMom, I finally finished reading everything from the beginning to the end and it took me a whole 3 days! Let me just say, Brooklyn and Bella are ADORABLE!!!! I love all of your shopping pictures, I'm a major shopper myself! I am definitely going to have to stop by target this week and pic up some of the mickey Christmas merchandise!! I am going to start my trip report from April next week! I wouldn't have waited as long if I could've gotten the pictures, but they're on my mom's laptop and she's back in Michigan and i'm in Missouri, but I'm going back for Thanksgiving next week so I will have the 5,000+ pics I took plus the 100+ videos!
 
Cute, cute Target Disney stuff!!! I may have to wander over to my Target to see if any of it can "find" me ;)
Great safari photos....cute little baby giraffe :goodvibes
Hope you were able to see the baby gorilla! I was thrilled to watch her (or is it a him...I can't remember) walking/stumbling around. I was able to watch her for at least a half an hour on the hillside :)

Tracy
 
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So funny you went to Jill's last weekend so she could clean and purge. My parents were here this past weekend and that's what Ryan and I spent all Saturday doing!

I loved the safari pictures! I am hoping that this time the lion comes out and visits!

Just think, someday you can go to your kids' houses to babysit while they clean, too. :goodvibes

I hope the lion is up, too. It's exciting to see. Wigd said when they took the special tour the guide told them they put out two different brother/sister pairs, so there are two big lions, even though we always talk about 'THE lion', as if there was only one.



Well MeMom, I finally finished reading everything from the beginning to the end and it took me a whole 3 days! Let me just say, Brooklyn and Bella are ADORABLE!!!! I love all of your shopping pictures, I'm a major shopper myself! I am definitely going to have to stop by target this week and pic up some of the mickey Christmas merchandise!! I am going to start my trip report from April next week! I wouldn't have waited as long if I could've gotten the pictures, but they're on my mom's laptop and she's back in Michigan and i'm in Missouri, but I'm going back for Thanksgiving next week so I will have the 5,000+ pics I took plus the 100+ videos!

We're always way behind on trip reports, too, so I wouldn't worry about it at all. Hope you find the Mickey stuff. :thumbsup2



Cute, cute Target Disney stuff!!! I may have to wander over to my Target to see if any of it can "find" me ;)
Great safari photos....cute little baby giraffe :goodvibes
Hope you were able to see the baby gorilla! I was thrilled to watch her (or is it a him...I can't remember) walking/stumbling around. I was able to watch her for at least a half an hour on the hillside :)

Tracy

It's a she. We did get to see her in October. In the summer, she was down by the cave entrance with her mom, but they were out of sight. It's so cool to see a little thing that you know is going to grow into a big huge thing!





No luck on the closest Target, may have to check out the other one though.

I agree that KS has to be the first stop in AK! Great pics!

And here is a link to my tr, hope to see you over there!
http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=2598368

Thanks for letting me know. I will be there.

We have several Targets around here, but when I am on my way home from school, I just don't want to stop and go in anywhere. I'm done, especially on tutoring days.


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After the safari, we did a little walking.

Hello there!

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Such a welcoming face, right?

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Okapi bum.

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I taught Bella to say okapi, only she says o-poppy. :laughing:

Brooklynn learns more and more every time we go to Animal Kingdom.

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I didn't know about the two lions.
Ahhh...Gorillas!

Thanks so much for the offer, you are so sweet. :hug:

I ended up going to Target today.
It was my day off and I decided to clean the house another day....:laughing:
And it was a gorgeous day for a drive.

I got the red bowl plus alot more. :banana:

I couldn't resist, everything looked so cute. I could have bought it all if my budget allowed.

I got the tray, chip n' dip, bowl, 4 glasses, 6 assorted plates, 4 bowls and the cup (you don't like with the water trapped inside)
They didn't have any of the cups with the mickey head topper that you got.

I'm a very happy girl to have found what I did.
I had the salt & pepper shakers in my cart but put them back.

I had to go to 2 different Walgreens, but found the Mickey snowman cookie cutter set.
I picked up a cute Disney kid's Christmas cupcake kit aswell.
You should pick one up for the girls, it could be a fun.

I stopped in to Cracker Barrel to see what they had for Christmas.
I could have spent a fortune in there. I love the smell of all the candles!
I'm deffinitely going back to pick up a few things I saw, and enjoy a meal too. ;)

You were right, we will all have the same Christmas table this year.
Thank you so much for sharing the holiday treasures...I would have never known about them if it weren't for you. :goodvibes

I hope your day wasn't terrible, with all those clipboards around.
I so admire all of you teachers, it is a very difficult job you have.
It really is too bad you have so much pressure with all of the testing. :grouphug:
 
Peek a boo!

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I'm done.

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Where to now?

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Animal watching makes one hawngry!

I don't think this made the alphabet game, did it?

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Where did we get a morning munchie?










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Things you can get there.

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Things we did get there.

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Where did we go from there?

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To see Rafiki and friends at Planet Watch/Conservation Station.

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Brooklynn pointing out a Hidden Mickey.

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I think this place is most interesting.

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I thought about doing this with my class, but it was a little bit expensive.

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One of these days, I can see myself following along with this, and then if it is really cool, I can continue to do it with future classes. Has anyone every participated to be able to give insight?

My students would love this place.

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This day's activities.

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Out in the lobby, a CM was sharing this guy with kids.

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I would have been very happy sitting in and listening to this group.

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Great Updates Memom! Love all of the pictures.

Like many other have said...I Love the Mickey head ice cream bar necklaces. I think my DD might love those...Do you remember what store you saw them in? We have friends going in mid Dec and I would maybe able to get her to pick those up for me. That would be an awesome stocking stuffer.

Great pics of the animals and those yummy pastries. :thumbsup2

As for the Target goodies...they are so cute. I am heading near a Target on Friday, on my day off to do a little shopping. Hoping they have some left.... ;)

I have a friend to add to your list of those needing prayers and healing.
A good friend was just diagnosed with an aggressive form of breast cancer this week. She is in her mid 40's, a single mom raising 2 great kids. It breaks my heart to think of the road before her, but she has a great attitude and I am expecting her to get through it but you can never have too many encouraging words, prayers or friends to help you out. BTW...Her name is Denise. :goodvibes

Have a wonderful day y'all.
 
great update's MeMom!! Love the pics of the meerkats, they're one of my favorite animals! When I went to RPW in April I saw a lion getting something done, although I can't remember what! Love the picture of Brooklyn pointing out the hidden Mickey!
 
I love how much kids can learn at AK and they don't even know they are! :laughing:

That's so neat you saw the CM's having a meeting. Whenever I'm there, there's nothing exciting going on.
 
The Adopt-A-Nest looks really cool. :thumbsup2 Hopefully you can do that with your class in the near future. I think they would really enjoy that!
 
Thanks for the pictures this morning. I love Rafiki's Planet watch, they always have animals to pet and learn more about. Several times we have timed it when an animal is with the Vet. Which has been interesting. Plus I love the train ride over and seeing the back stage area.

I would like to do one of the Animal Kingdom backstage tours one year. Then maybe I could be one of those people taking notes.
 
This meerkat looks like he just got out of the shower!

I thought he looked a little fluffy, too. :laughing:



Great Updates Memom! Love all of the pictures.

Like many other have said...I Love the Mickey head ice cream bar necklaces. I think my DD might love those...Do you remember what store you saw them in? We have friends going in mid Dec and I would maybe able to get her to pick those up for me. That would be an awesome stocking stuffer.

Great pics of the animals and those yummy pastries.

As for the Target goodies...they are so cute. I am heading near a Target on Friday, on my day off to do a little shopping. Hoping they have some left....

I have a friend to add to your list of those needing prayers and healing.
A good friend was just diagnosed with an aggressive form of breast cancer this week. She is in her mid 40's, a single mom raising 2 great kids. It breaks my heart to think of the road before her, but she has a great attitude and I am expecting her to get through it but you can never have too many encouraging words, prayers or friends to help you out. BTW...Her name is Denise.

Have a wonderful day y'all.

I don't really remember what store those were in, but I'm guessing The Emporium might have most everything that is in all the other parks. Maybe jillyb or anyone who is going soon could get you the SKU number and price so you could order them from Disney Merchandising.

Consider your friends added to the list of people who need positive thoughts and prayers.



Great picture!!!

Thanks for the stroll in AK and at Rafiki's this morning!

You are welcome. A stroll through AK would have been so much better than the day I had.



great update's MeMom!! Love the pics of the meerkats, they're one of my favorite animals! When I went to RPW in April I saw a lion getting something done, although I can't remember what! Love the picture of Brooklyn pointing out the hidden Mickey!

That's cool. I've seen a tiger have a procedure, but not a lion.

My poor Brookie is hurting tonight. She had shots yesterday, and her leg is really sore. Jill's going to out her to bed right after supper with a warm compress, some Motrin, and a Disney movie. Hopefully, she will feel better in the morning.





I love how much kids can learn at AK and they don't even know they are!

That's so neat you saw the CM's having a meeting. Whenever I'm there, there's nothing exciting going on.

I love that she is able to see all these animals and things from different cultures through our Disney trips. :)



The Adopt-A-Nest looks really cool. Hopefully you can do that with your class in the near future. I think they would really enjoy that!

I do, too. I just didn't have the money to spend on it at the time. We get two hundred for the classroom for the year, but I have spent well over that already.



Thanks for the pictures this morning. I love Rafiki's Planet watch, they always have animals to pet and learn more about. Several times we have timed it when an animal is with the Vet. Which has been interesting. Plus I love the train ride over and seeing the back stage area.

I would like to do one of the Animal Kingdom backstage tours one year. Then maybe I could be one of those people taking notes.

Me, too! :cool1:


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This morning's procedure was checking the foot of a spoonbill.

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I think it had a prior injury and this was a re-check.

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Without googling, can you name the two parts of a turtle's shell?

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Rafiki's is a good place to see....


Rafiki.

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My sweet girl and her friends.

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What will Bella do?

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:laughing:
 
Asking for prayers from all my Dis friends. Brooklynn's best friend Carter went to the doctor Monday for a cough. His mom thought he was coming down with a cold. While there the doctor said he thought he heard a murmur and set up an appointment with the cardiologist. That appointment was today and I just got off the phone with his mom. It doesn't look good. He has multiple holes in his heart and his right aorta should be shaped like a banana, it looks like a cantaloupe because his heart is so over worked right now. They are going to see a specialist at Vanderbilt and try a less invasive procedure but the reality is that more than likely he will have to have open heart surgery at the age of four. Please pray for his parents and his sweet twin sister. Pray that the cardiologist here is wrong and that the less invasive procedure works.
 
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