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February 27, 2005
Presentation Recap
Well, since Christopher asked for it, here's the recap of my big presentation. He said there had to be a story in there somewhere, but I haven't found one...
Our professor told us (we presented as part of our class grade) to prepare materials for about 20 people per presentation. My partner was very worried about the presentation and decided we would prepare for 30, just to be safe.
Well...Jim (my presentation partner) and I are the first scheduled group. After we set up our room, we went over to the auditorium to hear our professor's keynote speech. We were amazed to find a roomful of people. Certainly more than 20, certainly more than 40. We both did a head count and came up with between 80 & 90 people. So, when the large group split up for the 2 conferences at that time, Jim and I knew we were going to have a huge group. And we did--we had 47 people at our presentation.
Jim and I (though mostly me because I'm the early childhood person) had decided we would do a make-and-take kind of thing where the attendees got to make the things we presented about. We had purchased supplies for 30. We scrimped though (and explained our predicament to the group) and made it through with enough supplies. People were very kind; I guess they decided they wouldn't be so greedy with the free stuff when they discovered we truly didn't have enough.
We had no glitches anywhere in the presentation. PowerPoint was fine, projector worked fine, the room was set up fine, and even the room temperature was adequate. I thought it went great. People had lots of compliments for us (I made sure to direct them to my professor who was deciding our grade for the presentation) and I was even asked by someone from the State Board of Education if I would be interested in presenting this summer. (Who knew the state officials would be there?!?!)
So, like I said, really no story there. I had more middle-aged people than I'd anticipated (I had figured it would be mainly people my age considering the nature of the seminars), and a few that made me think, "They don't look like a preschool teacher at all."
My semi-jokes got the laughter I'd hoped, everyone was considerate after we got started (though I did have to do my "1,2,3, eyes on me" thing to get them quiet), and they all acted like they'd learned something they could take with them.
And that's about it.
I'll post some pictures of my house-sitting experiences later.
Posted by Anna at 05:32 PM | TrackBack
February 26, 2005
Saturday Summary
I'm back in my apartment after dog-sitting since Wednesday.
And my presentation went fabulously.
And now I'm ready for bed.
Posted by Anna at 08:44 PM | Comments (2) | TrackBack
February 25, 2005
Does Anyone Know...
Has anyone ever researched the psychology behind how a dog selects the exact spot to use the bathroom? There's got to be some sort of explanation...
More about house-sitting later.
Posted by Anna at 03:01 PM | Comments (1) | TrackBack
February 22, 2005
Swimmin' Pools and Movie Stars
OK, so maybe "music stars" is more appropriate for Nashville...but either way, I'm livin' large this coming week.
Sometimes I feel like my life in Nashville is an episode of the "Beverly Hillbillies"--I'm a country bumpkin transplanted in the big city. I have to learn how to deal with rush-hour traffic and people who frequent museums and people's general disregard for things like blinkers and offensive gestures. But I'm really going to experience life on the other side of the social fence tomorrow!
I'm taking care of Amber (my boss's pooch) again until Saturday. This time, though, I'm watching Amber and her kitty brother Sterling at my boss's house. Wait, mansion.
This house is frickin' huge!! I counted 6 bathrooms today on the tour. Whew. And get this: my boss pays a housekeeper to clean up!!
And although my boss has a big-screen plasma TV, he doesn't have an internet connection yet. Therefore, my upkeep on the blog may be a little haphazard until Saturday. I'll still have my computer at work and I guess I could probably hook up my laptop to AOL or something while I'm there, but don't plan on it. I'll post your comments as soon as I get to them, but please don't be offended if it takes awhile. After all, I'll be eating in the granite-countertopped, gourmet kitchen and enjoying the 2-story cathedral ceiling and real hardwood floors--who has time for a blog??
So take care while I'm gone. And if you happen to see a rerun of the Clampetts, you can smile and think that, for a few brief days, I'm experiencing life as a millionaire.
Posted by Anna at 08:34 PM | Comments (5) | TrackBack
February 20, 2005
Presentation Butterflies
People who know me well know that public speaking doesn't really bother me. I mean, I was a tour guide (and I've got some stories!) at Meramec Caverns one summer in high school, and I've given various speeches and presentations throughout the years. Up until this point, my most nerve-wracking presentation was to the board of directors at Crawford Electric so I could win their essay contest for a free trip to Washington, D.C. (which I did, by the way).
But now, I've got my first "professional" presentation to make. When the Nashville Area Association for the Education of Young Children (a branch of the NAEYC, which teachers recognize as a major organization) approached my professor about presenting at their February Training Day, Tisha decided to let her students present instead. She's still giving the keynote speech, but the breakout sessions are our responsibilites as students. Therefore, next Saturday, I am giving my first "real" presentation to a group of educators. You can see the page here. It was supposed to have our names on it (and I was a smidgen disappointed that it didn't), but it just has our presentation titles. I'm doing the one on anecdotal records. Anyway, the tummy butterflies are out already. It's not the speaking aspect I'm worried about...it's the possibility that something will go wrong: my PowerPoint presentation won't load or the overhead projector bulb blows or I'll lose my voice and not even be able to squeak or the group of teachers already know more about anecdotal records than me and I look like a fool. Plus, knowing that this presentation makes up 40% of my semester grade doesn't make me feel any better because I can't anticipate all the problems like I can in a term paper or something.
I keep telling myself that it'll all be OK, but I don't think the "butterflies of the unknown" will disappear until this time next week. I'll keep you posted.
Posted by Anna at 01:17 PM | Comments (2) | TrackBack
February 19, 2005
Spam and Eggs
I got my first spam comment today. *sigh*
And in a side note, I'm having a hankering for scrambled eggs. Must have an omelet NOW...
Posted by Anna at 08:34 PM | Comments (5) | TrackBack
February 18, 2005
Hiccups
OK, so I've had the hiccups for an estimated *hic* 39 minutes now. I've documented 33 of *hic* them based on my computer's clock, but the remaining 6 are an educated guess *hic*. I got the hiccups while I was looking for a parking *hic* spot anywhere near campus, and I know that it *hic* takes around 6 minutes to circle through all the close parking *hic* lots before I give up and drive to the "last resort" lot.
*hic* My hiccups have evolved from the minor internal bubble to the explosive and rather obtrusive *hic* eruptions that get looks from anyone near. I've already been *hic* laughed at by the special ed *hic* professors here in the office where I work because they've become so loud, *hic* and the hiccups don't seem to be lessening *hic*.
Sheesh. It could be a long day. *hic*
Posted by Anna at 11:06 AM | Comments (3) | TrackBack
February 17, 2005
Odd Holiday #6--Because I Have Nothing Else to Post
Today was my day at the elementary school, and I always have interesting stories to tell. But today I've got nothin'--a lot of the kids were gone and I was just so bloomin' tired I didn't really listen for interesting quotes or watch for funny happenings.
So, since I have nothing better to post, I will merely mention today's weird holiday: "Who Shall I Be? Day."
I don't know much about it. I just know that it's a holiday to define and celebrate one's identity.
Great. That whole identity thing again. Some of us are still struggling with that...
And that's about it. Tonight is the premiere of the new season of Survivor, and then another episode of The Apprentice.
If I honestly had nothing else to do, I might feel guilty for watching these when there are no doubt better shows I could be watching. But since I've had a busy week (but when am I NOT busy??), I think I deserve a night of reality TV. Don'tcha think?
Posted by Anna at 06:18 PM | Comments (4) | TrackBack
February 16, 2005
Kid Rock Saga Continued
OK, so the Kid Rock saga (see previous entry) continues. I heard more of the story just a bit ago on the 9:00 news. It seems that after Kid Rock assaulted the cabaret DJ, he went to a bar across town. When he discovered that the police were looking for him, he sneaked out of the bar and went to an friend’s apartment a few streets away from my campus. Well…in an attempt to dodge the police (somehow they knew where he was hiding), he revved his car at a stoplight on the campus (the campus stretches over a major street). A Vanderbilt police officer pulled him over, spoke with him, asked him for an autograph, and let him go even though he should’ve given Kid Rock a sobriety test and a citation. The cop lost his job today for giving “preferential treatment.” There’s a moral in this story somewhere, but I’m not sure where. Maybe it’s not to abandon your job duties even if you’re starstruck, or maybe it’s not to act like a fool in front of a cop, or maybe it’s not to try to outrun the police, or maybe it’s to keep your hands to yourself and refrain from beating up a DJ, or maybe it’s to stay out of cabarets in the first place. I don’t know…maybe it’s all four. Good ol’ Kid Rock. The news showed a clip of Kid Rock singing at the funeral (it was yesterday before all this happened), and I just found it very disturbing that he was singing, “I Saw the Light” at a funeral and yet has many songs with explicit lyrics and a few with obscenities in the titles themselves. Does anyone else think that’s a pretty obvious double standard?
By the way, I've gotten 99 comments on the blog in a little over a month. It's time to break into the triple digits. Who's gonna be the one to turn the commentometer to 100 comments??
Posted by Anna at 10:15 PM | Comments (6) | TrackBack
Grits Sandwiches for Breakfast
I'm not sure it made national news (though I think it did because it was in the national news section of Nashville's paper), but our favorite retro rapper, Kid Rock, was arrested early this morning just down the street from me. You can read a "Genuine Article" here.
Just a couple of things I need to know:
1. Why was Kid Rock at the cabaret anyway?
2. What is Kid Rock doing in Nashville at all? I realize Nashy is the home of country music and Christian music, but somehow rap doesn't fit into the picture. **update--I actually read the article I linked to more closely and got my question answered, but it just raised another question: Kid Rock's actually in town to sing at Merle Kilgore's funeral. Kilgore is a country singer...And knowing that bit of info makes me wonder why anyone would request for Kid Rock to sing at their funeral!)** And I don't wanna "Cramp Ya Style," Kid Rock, but "New York's Not Ya Home" and neither is Nashville.
3. Why is the cabaret in this story just a few steps down from a rescue mission? Just what those homeless men trying to better themselves need--an opportunity to visit a strip joint while they are receiving help from a Christian organization.
I go by this particular cabaret (and three other "gentlemen's clubs") every day on my way to school--it's between the public housing projects and the First Baptist Church. I would never even consider going inside one, but I also didn't realize famous people went there either. If I would've known Kid Rock was gonna be there and assault someone, I might have hovered across the street to see it in person...
And I'm very sorry if you actually caught the Kid Rock references in the post title and body. I couldn't help myself. I remember Kid Rock in his early days, when rap first came out. Don't get me wrong--they're not fond memories. But they're memories. *sigh* Makes me feel old.
Posted by Anna at 12:11 PM | Comments (1) | TrackBack
February 14, 2005
Overheard Around Campus
If you haven't played the nifty Name Game over at WIT?!, be sure and check it out. It's very interesting! I'm linking to Christopher's blog and then you can link it to Jen's if you want.
I heard some interesting things around campus today regarding the Valentine's Day festivities. Here are just a few of my favorites:
1. I don't think that safe sex thing applies on Valentine's Day. At least not in my bed. (overheard outside library)
2. Your boyfriend got you flowers, but all I got was this lousy insulated cup holder! What the &*%@ am I supposed to do with this? (overheard over lunch break)
3. It's just gonna be me and Antiques Roadshow tonight. (fellow classmate)
4. No, sweetie, we can't go out tonight because I've got homework. Now if you'd asked me sooner like a real gentleman...(in the hallway where I work. She was on the cell phone, by the way)
5. Hey, is that chocolate creme-filled or raspberry-filled? (tonight at the occasional grad student pizza and beer fellowship. Yes, it's sponsored by the school.)
6. You know, I really don't like pork that much because it's from a pig, but what the *%$^$. Hand me a slice of pepperoni! (same fellowship)
7. Yeah, usually I nibble off the bottom of the chocolate to see what flavor it is and then I put it back if I don't like it (professors leaving a faculty meeting.)
Sheesh. We're all so involved in academia here... *rolling eyes*
Posted by Anna at 08:02 PM | Comments (1) | TrackBack
February 13, 2005
My First PhotoQuest!
OK, so I've been intrigued by the PhotoQuest that I've read about on Flip's blog. So now that I have a computer, a digital camera, AND a blog, I figured it's time to join in the fun. I think I got my photo files reduced so hopefully it won't take incredibly long to load...but I make no guarantees.
The first assigned photo was a shot of where my videos and DVDs go. So...
Please note this is where my DVDs should go. Unfortunately, most of my DVDs were on the floor when I took the first picture:
The second assigned photo was a shot of a bookshelf. I chose the bookshelves that hold most of my children's books. The books are usually crammed onto the shelves instead of sliding over, but I've got about 50 of them scattered all over my apartment because I'm using them in my Advanced Children's Literature class:
The third photo was one of bread, preferably the bread I eat for breakfast. I ate the last of the bread before I took the picture and before I had new camera batteries, so I went to the store and bought more bread and more batteries. The problem is, the person who loaded my bags at the grocery store seemed to think that my loaf of bread would make the perfect cushion for a sack of apples...which mashed the bread. Therefore, this picture is what it looked like when it made it home:
The fourth picture was to be of an emergency exit. I have two for you; one is the traditional emergency exit, and the other is a sign on the door leading to the stairs. I'll tell you why I included that one in a second:
The second photo always makes me smile. The sign says "in case of fire, do not use elevators, use stairs." There are no elevators in my building, nor are there elevators in any of the buildings in my entire complex. Makes no sense to me why there would be a warning about elevators if there isn't any chance one would escape in an elevator anyway...
The final photo for February was to be one of a hobby. I had a problem choosing, because to me "hobby" implies something that one enjoys doing and spends time doing. I like sleeping, but I don't have much time for it. On the other hand, I spend a great deal of time reading textbooks, but I don't particularly enjoy that. But since I wasn't sure I could take a photo of my textbooks for copyright reasons, I just took a picture of my bed because it's what I would like to do...
And that's it. This was fun. I'm glad I got to join in! :)
Posted by Anna at 06:06 PM | Comments (5) | TrackBack
Odd Holidays #5--I Am, Thank You
Today is "Satisfied Staying Single" Day. I guess it's sort of an anti-Valentines thing...or else it's actually supposed to be sarcastic and poking fun at single people. Either way, I am satisfied staying single, thank you very much.
This cartoon isn't REALLY the way I feel, but I think it kind of fits with my lifestyle in grad school:
Posted by Anna at 04:53 PM | TrackBack
February 10, 2005
Braxton's Beetle
I was sifting through photographs of my former students today, selecting my favorites to hang in my cubicle at work. I came across a picture of Braxton, a little guy I had my first year. He was quite obviously special ed, though nobody could figure out exactly what was causing the problems. As I looked at the picture of him beaming at our Valentine's Day party, a story floated back up into my mind and I just had to laugh. And, of course, turn it into a post. I think I posted it on WIT?! after it happened, but I can't seem to locate it in the archives. Therefore, here it is again for you, pasted in from an email I sent to one of my undergraduate education professors:
You know I'm all about hands-on, realistic experiences in my classroom. Last week, though, I had one of those "teacher nightmare" experiences that makes me question my philosophy on tangible science. Last week was Insect Week. I had set up a science center with magnifying glasses and a jar full of various bugs (my aide and I had a great time capturing all those critters during our lunch breaks the previous week). I had given the kids paper and crayons and told
them that they were scientists and had to either draw pictures or "write" about what they saw at the science center. I had supervised the center carefully...until my Jessica's glasses broke in an unrelated incident and I had to fix them. So I turned my back for a split second to rescrew her glasses. When I turn back around, I see
that one of my kids has unscrewed the lid to my jar and bugs are running frantically around the table. Kids are squealing and running away...except for Braxton. Before I could race the 20 feet across the classroom to gather my bugs back into the jar, Braxton had eaten all my bugs except for the black beetle. It was time to use something that I'd not yet utilized as a teacher: the commanding voice. "Put the beetle down NOW!" I said in my best teacher voice separating each word with a staccato emphasis. I even pointed at him, something I knew I wasn't supposed to do. As it would inevitably happen to a first year teacher, Braxton popped the beetle into his mouth and chomped it. Along with the satisfying crunch of the defenseless beetle's exoskeleton, it squirted greenish juice all over our classroom table. I reached him at that exact moment but knew fighting him was futile. He smiled at me with a mouth full of various beetle parts and juice running down his chin. I wasn't quite sure what the protocol was for intentional insect ingestion, so I gave him a cup of water, wiped off his chin, and said something under my breath about "this kid is going to kill me yet." I vowed I would only tell his mother if she came to me first. Luckily, Braxton doesn't talk much, so I doubt she'll know what he's saying even if he DOES tell her.
After the initial shock wore off, I decided to have a sense of humor about the whole experience. Since unscrewing a 3 inch lid is on
Braxton's IEP, I went ahead and marked it to show progress. So I
accomplished something!! Tomorrow is the beginning of Fish Week. We are having goldfish in the Science Center...
And that's my flashback to my first year of teaching. There are a few other things I learned that year:
--Preschool boys not entirely potty-trained should not wear boxers, no matter how cute they are when covered with little yellow ducks.
--Aforementioned preschool boys should avoid the boxers especially on days after the boy eats a combination of corn and raisins.
--Kids who can't say their "c" sounds can really sound funny. Particularly when reciting the line from Little Miss Muffet where she eats her curds and whey.
--The child who loves Little Miss Muffet and also loves to perform should be discouraged from shouting that line at the top of his lungs at the parent program. The audience of parents all gasped when Benjamin screamed "eating her turds away."
--Going to the circus is entirely too over-stimulating for preschoolers. I had told this to my administrators, but they won and therefore I had to deal with 20 overstimulated special ed kids at a circus.
--The circus does, however, get the kids' attention when the big barrel comes out for the elephant to pee in during intermission. All the kids really liked that part. Matter of fact, in our "memory book" about the circus, most of the kids drew pictures of the elephant peeing.
--The skinny Crayola markers can go quite a distance up a child's nose. So can fingers, drinking straws, the long skinny pasta, and the narrow generic-brand Lincoln Logs.
--There is apparently something very satisfying about peeing at the top of the slide and watching it roll down. The satisfaction is doubled if the slide is a curly slide.
Posted by Anna at 04:50 PM | Comments (6) | TrackBack
February 09, 2005
Hearing the Voice of Truth
The semester always starts getting hectic after the first month, when all those assignments start piling up. I'm always amazed at how songs can speak to me. This song, for instance, is one I have on CD and enjoy...but today it really reminded me of an important lesson. God's got it all under control, even the giants. Here are some words of encouragement from Casting Crowns:
Oh what I would do to have
The kind of faith it takes to climb out of this boat I'm in
On to the crashing waves
To step out of my comfort zone
Into the realm of the unknown where Jesus is
And He's holding out His hand
But the waves are calling out my name and they laugh at me
Reminding me of all the times I've tried before and failed
The waves they keep on telling me
Time and time again, "Boy, You'll never win!"
"You'll never win!"
But the Voice of Truth tells me a different story
The Voice of Truth says, "Do not be afraid!"
And the Voice of Truth says, "This is for My glory"
Out of all the voices calling out to me
I will choose to listen and believe the Voice of Truth
Oh what I would do to have
The kind of strength it takes to stand before a giant
With just a sling and a stone
Surrounded by the sound of a thousand warriors
Shaking in their armor
Wishing they'd have had the strength to stand
But the giant's calling out my name and he laughs at me
Reminding me of all the times I've tried before and failed
The giant keeps on telling me
Time and time again, "Boy, You'll never win!"
"You'll never win!"
But the Voice of Truth tells me a different story
The Voice of Truth says, "Do not be afraid!"
And the Voice of Truth says, "This is for My glory"
Out of all the voices calling out to me
I will choose to listen and believe the Voice of Truth
But the stone was just the right size
To put the giant on the ground
And the waves aren't looking so high
From on top of them lookin' down
I will soar with the wings of eagles
When I stop and listen to the sound of Jesus
Singing over me
And the Voice of Truth tells me a different story
The Voice of Truth says, "Do not be afraid!"
The Voice of Truth says, "This is for My glory"
Out of all the voices calling out to me,
I must choose to listen and believe the
Voice of Truth.
Posted by Anna at 05:06 PM | Comments (1) | TrackBack
February 08, 2005
What IS It About Me?
I know I've said over on Christopher's blog that kids tend to do weird things around me. First there was Mercedes, the little girl I met doing my very first practicum in undergrad school. Mercedes LOVED me and usually got so excited to see me that she would lose all bladder control and occasionally bowel control. Then there was Jaron, the little guy who seems to develop a great deal of gas in my presence. Then there's the little man (about 2) across the hall who speaks no English but for some reason feels obligated to give me things. The times I've seen him, I've ended up with his pacifier, his box of juice, and his Beanie Baby (all of which I've returned, just so you know I'm not stealing from a toddler). Now there's a kid at the Bellevue Mall who doesn't even know me...and yet I engender loss of his stomach control. I was in a half-price book store this afternoon and the kiddo pukes right in front of me and it splatters on my shoe.
Do I really scare kids that much?? Do I somehow exude an aura of meanness or cruelty? I just don't understand because all of the above kids seem to like me. Mercedes adored me, Jaron always hugs me when he sees me (perhaps why he then feels the need to fart), the toddler across the hall always grins at me, and the kid today was playing peek-a-boo around the bookshelves with me. I just don't understand how my very presences causes unfortunate side effects among children!!
Posted by Anna at 05:58 PM | Comments (1) | TrackBack
You GOTTA See This
OK, so I've got a video clip you just HAVE to see. This video stumped an entire grad class of masters and PhD students...plus the professor. By the way, you have to have Java Applet on your computer. I can't give you a link because I don't know how to get it; maybe someone can suggest a link for me. And the file is pretty big--7 Mbs--but I think it is well worth it.
Please read ALL of the instructions on this page before you see the video clip. It is important that you know exactly what I want you to do or you will get too confused.
This video will test your powers of observation. In this clip, there are two groups of children passing balls around, the kids in the white shirts and the kids in the black shirts. Your job is to count how many times the kids in the white shirts pass the ball. It gets very confusing, so just paying attention to the white shirts will be a little easier. You can count however you need to: tally marks, counting on fingers, saying the number aloud, however works for you. The key is that you may only watch the video once.
Now, watch the video and pay very close attention to the kids in the white shirts. When you've got an answer, click on to the extended entry to find out if you're right. Ready?
Did you get an answer??
OK, now I want you to watch the video again. This time, don't pay any particular attention to the group of kids in white. Just watch the video of the whole group and see if you find something a little different. UPDATE: Flip helped me realize that you have to drag the little rewind button back to the beginning. It doesn't automatically replay. Just advising you.
Did you see anything interesting?
Posted by Anna at 08:20 AM | Comments (3) | TrackBack
February 07, 2005
Physical Therapy Follow-Up
Travis/Thomas/Timothy is no longer my student PT. There's a story there, but I only know what I overheard the real physical therapist saying on the phone while my neighbor and I were racing on exercise bikes. She complained because he just wasn't personable and that he didn't know what he was doing...and he complained because he felt Julie was working him too hard. Don't know where he is now, but he's not at the Vanderbilt Orthopedic, Joint, and Arthritis Center anymore. I guess that means he won't ask me out again.
Too bad. PTs usually make decent money...
Posted by Anna at 02:09 PM | Comments (1) | TrackBack
February 06, 2005
Blech
Ever have one of those days where you feel like this?
By the way, this is the cover of one of my picture books by Patricia McLaughlin, who later wrote "Sarah, Plain and Tall."
My throat is scratchy, my eyes are itchy, and I can only breathe through one nostril.
Too bad I still have about 300 pages to read for class tomorrow...
Posted by Anna at 11:16 AM | Comments (4) | TrackBack
February 05, 2005
Odd Holidays #4--Give My Regards to Broadway...or Lebanon, Pennsylvania
Today is national "Move Hollywood and Broadway to Lebanon, Pennsylvania" Day.
That's all I think I need to say about that.
Posted by Anna at 06:00 AM | Comments (3) | TrackBack
February 03, 2005
Wanted: Advice
OK, teachers and those who just like to offer advice...
Spiders. Snakes. Heights. Public speaking. They're all common phobias. But I worked with a girl today with a phobia I'd never even considered: headphones. I work in her kindergarten class part of my day, and her teacher cannot get the girl to go near the computer or tape player because the girl is very afraid of the headphones. Her teacher is out of ideas and wondered if I could get the girl to be comfortable, or at least not have a meltdown when the teacher shows something to the class on the computer. She will not go within a 6 foot radius (I watched her today come near the teacher at the computer and noticed where her boundary was) of a computer or tape player, and I'm pretty sure it's the headphones.
Today I took the girl over to the listening center. She was petrified and I had to carry her over to the center even though she was screaming. I don't know if that's really what I should've done, but that's what the behavior consultant would do at the school where I taught last year. I finally convinced her that we would just read a book together and not use the tape player.
I'm not sure if getting her to the table is progress. But I even got her to (tentatively) brush the headphone cord off her book where it was covering the picture. But then I moved the headphones so they wouldn't creep over on the book again and she had another meltdown.
In a class of kindergartners, it's just not feasible to let the computer or tape player go without headphones.
*scratching head* It's not that she's terrified of headphones or tape players or computers. I'm sure she'll get over that eventually. My dilemma is what I do with her to help her get over it, or at least so she can function in her kindergarten class.
So???
Posted by Anna at 03:44 PM | Comments (2) | TrackBack
February 02, 2005
Don't Strain Your Brain, But...
I'm certainly not one to post lots of thought-provoking questions; personally, I think too much at school and I'm not interested in thinking much when I'm blogging. There is an ethical issue floating around my campus, though, and it is very hotly debated. I'm curious about what you think.
In the early 1930s, a group of women called the Daughters of the Confederacy (which was, as you can guess, an organization of women whose fathers/relatives fought in the U.S. Civil War on the Confederate side.) donated a great deal of money to Vanderbilt to build a dorm in memory of the men who had died fighting for the southern states. The dorm was named, appropriately, Confederate Memorial Hall. Since Vanderbilt is no longer only a "southern" university, many people became offended by this homage to a group that supported (or at least didn't ban) slavery and oppression.
Vanderbilt, then, decided to remove the name "Confederate" from the official name. This was met with a vocal group of Daughters of the Confederacy. But the main issue now is that the D.O.C. organization is suing the university for the cost of the building.
Supporters of the university say that having a building with a clear dedication to a topic like the confederate states is offensive to minority groups and is essentially encouraging minority students to attend elsewhere.
The supporters of the D.O.C. take the position, however, that a contract is a contract and that the school has no legal right to remove the name from the dormitory, or, as it is now, somehow remove the words "Confederate Memorial" that are engraved into the building which is a historical landmark as it is.
So I'm curious. What do you think? Do you think it's unfair? (You don't have to post a reply if you don't feel comfortable; I just want you to think.)
I'm kind of on the fence. While I certainly don't approve of slavery or any of the issues associated with it, I've not met a minority student on campus who is offended by it. At least, not until yesterday when I visited with a professor who is very vocal and offended by it.
Just curious. Something to think about.
The dorm in question. Please note that the photo was not taken where you can see the "Confederate Memorial" etched in the stone at the top of the columns.
Posted by Anna at 08:04 PM | Comments (4) | TrackBack
February 01, 2005
Oh, Give Me A Home Where the Buffaloes Roam...
I found this story rather humorous. Maybe because it sounds like something that could've happened in Missouri with a cow...
RAPID CITY, S.D. (AP) -- A buffalo that escaped from an auction ended up in a dressing room at the Rushmore Plaza Civic Center where it spent a couple of hours staring into a mirror.The buffalo jumped over a steel panel during the Black Hills Stock Show & Rodeo on Sunday morning, went down an alley and got into the dressing room reserved for visiting sports teams, said Brian Maliske, the civic center's general manager.
"The door happened to be unlocked and he pushed the door open and went in," Maliske said.
The crew conducting the Black Hills Classic Buffalo Sale decided to keep the animal locked in the dressing room for the rest of the auction. During its two hour stay, it reportedly became fascinated with the image it saw in a big mirror.
Once the sale ended, a rodeo crew member coaxed the buffalo out of the dressing room and back into captivity.The animal never got into a public area, Maliske said.
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They're really not particularly attractive animals, I don't think.
And while I'm on the topic of buffaloes, does anyone know the story behind why a buffalo is a sign of blessing? One of my students in Belarus gave me a ceramic figure (it took our entire group of teachers to figure out what it was, though) and said it meant "blessing." Since my students spoke very limited English, I assume he had consulted his dictionary. Another student more proficient in English told us that the buffalo is a symbol of good luck, peace, and blessings. Any ideas or suggestions? If I knew the history, I would be a little more willing to display my buffalo. As it is right now, the figure is rather hideous and I'm embarrassed to put it out without being able to explain its meaning.
Information from: Rapid City Journal, http://www.rapidcityjournal.com
Posted by Anna at 07:02 AM | Comments (3) | TrackBack