I love the puzzle idea for the plane ride. This sounds like it's going to be a great surprise.
And congrats on saving some money on the HRH rooms. It may not seem like much, but every little bit sure does help.
Every little bit does! We'll just keep whittling away if we can! We did decide last night that we will use our give a day vouchers for DCA instead of the fast passes. I'd like the fastpasses so am a little sad but I can't argue with saving $216. It does of course officially kabosh my hopes of DL. However I may upgrade them to 1 day hoppers so we can at least peek in!
Looks like some of my fav's will be closed though for refurb but I'm not positive. (TSI and the Matterhorn!). It will depend on park hours and all that.
I have a lot of catching up to do.
I read quickly about the school drama
Hi!
I will be very glad when it's over and can only hope it goes well. Interviews don't start until next week, I hope the caliber of candidates is good, and as importantly, whomever they choose can handle the PITA parents in there!
Thankfully he does have a different teacher for math (his teacher from last year) so there is consistency there.
So, I was drawn like a moth to a flame over the whole teacher situation for a couple of reasons -- I am a teacher of gifted students (we're still calling them that in Georgia
), a parent of gifted students, and a Southerner
. I do have to agree with you that parents of hi-cap students can be the WORST helicopters in the parenting skies, but I also have to say that I have been very fortunate that most of my parents are the sweetest, most supportive parents I have ever dealt with in education (I have been teaching for ten years and teaching gifted exclusively for four years). Those that "try" to tell me how to teach or question my teaching methods usually get their ears filled with all the research behind why I do what I do and my credentials.
In Georgia, it is a requirement for teachers of gifted students to have a gifted endorsement on their teaching certificates. As for people looking down on Southerners because of their accent, I won't go there this morning except to say that as long as said Southerner isn't using "ain't" or not making their subjects and verbs agree, there shouldn't be any assumptions made about their intelligence.
Sorry to hear about all of the drama though -- that makes it so hard on the students when there isn't stability
.
On to happier news, I am just tickled that you are using the puzzle idea!!! I can't wait to see how they turn out! I also love that Jordan has been roped in as the "friend."
Well, to be fair, I am making an assumption on the accent. But having lived here most of my life it is not out of the realm of possibility that the combination of no gifted background and short time (relatively) teaching and the accent didn't add up well for some. He did have gifted students in his classes before mind you, however they were pulled out for their gifted programs so I think some saw that as not having relevant experience and went in for the kill.
Personally, I am a huge sucker for a southern accent!
At any rate, I love the fact Georgia requires a gifted endorsement. We were spoiled last year, our previous teacher has been teaching gifted for 20 or more years and actually travels all over the country teaching other teachers on how to teach gifted students (which sounds awkward but my coffee deprived brain can't think of a better way to say it!). She is absolutely amazing. We expected to have her again and Eric's 2 best friends still do but due to the large number of kids that came into the program this year they needed to add another class and Eric was moved to the 3/4 split instead of remaining in the 2/3.
I do think that the combination of the principal and his previous teacher stating so vocally that they were looking for someone with a background in it, and then not choosing one, set the poor guy up to an extent. From day one he was grilled, the poor guy started on curriculum night and was practically attacked by some. It was horrible, like watching a train wreck. He hadn't even seen the curriculum yet to be able to speak to it. He made some remarks that night that didn't sit well with some such as he wasn't big on homework and "aren't all kids gifted?" when questioned about his experience.
At any rate, who really knows what happened, it just saddens me all around and I do think we lost a teacher that could have been very very special. He did some truly wonderful things with the kids while he was here. Different, but memorable. Was it as strictly academic focused as some might of wanted? No. But it made my child think, and feel, and really unleashed his writing in an amazing way. He will be missed.
The majority of the parents are amazing and a more supportive group of their kids, you will not find. It is an interesting change to witness, where in the "regular" classroom you have some very involved, some not at all and some downright neglectful to go to 100% over involved! Most in very very good ways.
It is sad when a vocal minority ruins it for everyone else. I am thankful to have one good friend of my own who is a parent in the class, it helps keep us both sane during all of this. She actually thinks he was asked to leave but who knows. It doesn't much matter, none of it speaks well, either of his character (in standing up for himself), or of our principal's (in caving to certain parents), and of some of the parents (who may now feel like they "won").
ICK!
Then again, maybe there really is a family illness in Alabama. We are focusing on the positive, the time Eric had with him was a gift and he can take away some wonderful things from it. We are learning that sometimes special people are only in your life for a short time and so we need to treasure each moment.
I bow down to you
for being a teacher and putting up with parents!
Enough of that!
I'm excited about the puzzle. And making the little journal/workbooks. Shutterfly's one is too big for the tray but there are quite a few puzzle makers out there apparently so it should be a lot of fun!
Of course I'm eroding some of the savings of our give a day ticket vouchers with my reveal expenses
but that's ok. It will be fun!
So at least we can claim number 2 and first in New England!
Boston! Need to get back there one of these days.
Hoping not to offend. Just making observations.
