School's Out

AHHHH,, finals are long past,,,so glad to have them finished. I guess I could look back to see if I've learned much. Guess I could just go down the list of classes..
Photography...hhmmmmmmmmm this is a repeat class from last year, so basically all the same things were covered.
Geometry...well, I'll admit to learning a great deal in this class, just don't ask me to take the final because it wouldn't show that I learned anything at all.
Yearbook..... I probably learn the most about the extra curricular activities in this class just from watching the seniors; it's party central at one young man's home practically every weekend.
English, have read some books that I somehow missed when I was in high school.
Drama..a fun class to sit back and observe. the students enjoy themselves while working together better than they do in most classes.
World History....I have probably learned the most in this class, I don't remember taking world history before, but I must have. Probably just didn't pay attention. Not sure Grace pays much attention either.
Biology....I never took biology in HS/ crazy how the standards and requirements have changed so much in ummmmm lets just say the past "few" years.  In my opinion this is a tough class and the students are basically teaching themselves most of the concepts. With the teacher reviewing before tests. if they figure out his style then they know  most of what will be on the tests..guess they're learning as much about bio as they are how to work with some boss they'll eventually have.
Sure hope my daughter has learned more academics than I have.
I have probably learned which teachers take themselves too serious, which teachers the kids should take more serious. who's dating whom this month, where the "smoking " area is, & who's house to keep your kids away on Friday night............maybe I am learning more than I realize.

Merry Christmas

Finals

Day two of finals today. At this school students are awarded finals passes for good grades that they earned at the last progress report time. Grace had two passes. I thought the plan was to use one for Geometry and one for History. Today she changed her plan and decided to take the geometry test. I just don't understand why you'd want to take a final in a class that you struggle the most in. I guess she just wanted to have all her finals over early. I'll admit that from the "official scribe" s point of view it is nice.


This is one of the pictures Grace turned in for her photo final they had to take pics of everyday thing from an unusual perspective.

Just have to say something here. Why do students have to put up with teachers' double standards? Seems that they should lead by example. Grace has a teacher that it notorious for handing out detentions to late students. She even seems to relish the act. Yet, today I saw her flying into the parking lot just as the late bell was ringing. Now I know anyone can have a day when they're late. But this is the same teacher that is late for Grace's class about 2 days a week. It's not just a one time thing it's an ongoing pattern. Now to be fair she hasn't given detentions for tardies in this class period, well, how can she if she's the late one how could she know who to give them to? OK I'm done complaining.............2 days till break YES!!!!

projects, panic attacks, and finals

The dreaded geometry project is FINALLY finished. What an ordeal!! Grace and her partner, Kayla, were supposed to make a PowerPoint, ( it had some math program on it that could only be done at school)  last Mon & Tues: and present to the class on Thursday, doesn't sound all that bad except........... both girls were sick Monday, Grace was still sick Tuesday, but we went to school long enough for her to take a couple tests and work on the project.  Grace's doctor thought she should stay home all week. Wednesday the school library was closed so Kayla ran everywhere at school trying to find a computer, finally found one, but didn't have time to finish  AARRGGHH!!!! Grace called the teacher before school Thursday to explain and asked what to do...........the teacher said they would have to present on Monday...dodged that bullet. Kayla worked Thursday and almost finished, just a few minutes in the library on Friday and she'd be done. YES!!You guessed it; foiled again,,, library closed! With all the stress and sickness, these girls were almost having panic attacks. So, today they ditched ( w/ permission) first period to finally get it completed. Presented it 2nd period and whew!!!!! stress relieved............I think this was a lesson on patience::::now on to finals the rest of the week. Then Christmas break. It's too stressful being 15.

Every Inchie

I know I've already posted a blog for today, but this will make up for those days I've been lazy. Just wanted to explain the link I have for  Every Inchie Monday that has been added to my blog. See it there to the right? Well, I belong to an art group, I'm the least artsy one in the group, ( I'm the  more fartsy type)but they've graciously let me join in their fun. The link will explain the Inchie idea, but I'm going to explain a bit myself. Every Monday in 2011 we will do one inch of art, any medium we get the urge to use. I can't wait!! I'm not one that finds time, energy, or talent for large art pieces and being an old high schooler I am forever doodling. I expect many of my inches will be created in class, stay tuned & I may post a few examples.

sickies

Well, I have a daughter that sounds a cross between a torch singer and Bowzer from ShaNaNa.......geesh I'm dating myself w/ that one. She has caught something that has altered her voice, she keeps saying "Oh, Yeah!!!" because she sounds just like the koolaid guy when she says it.
Went to school for a couple of hours, just to take a few tests and work on her geometry project. Seems like 1/2 the student body is coughing. I hate this time of year, when everyone seems to be sick, but they don't change the way they live and share all those germs. I'm not normally a germophob, but living w/ someone w/ weak lungs is turning me into an over cautious mom.
It will be nice to have 2 weeks off for Christmas break without worrying about making up schoolwork. Time to stock up on airborne and hand sanitizer.

Back at It

After a short illness and a week off for Thanksgiving, we're finally back to school. Doesn't look like Grace missed much. Thankfully for her things don't move too fast in most her classes, math is a bit difficult to keep up with, but with an understanding teacher, Grace is doing fine.
She got a packet in English today, it was handed out on a day she was absent. When she opened it she was amazed at the work, hopefully it's considered review because she did all this work in 6th grade. Seems like this class is either very difficult or very easy. Am thinking the easy things must be topics that are required for the grade level, but honestly, I think most 10th grade students know to use "wouldn't" in place of "would not".
The holiday season is definitely upon us, I hear kids talking about what they're getting little brothers, going skiing on the break and I loved this, "My grandma should buy me a car instead of building onto her house"............ahhhh to be a teen, no worries of how to pay those credit cards off come January!!

Thanksgiving

No school this week, makes for a happy Mom and teen. Of course there is homework, math math math always math. Since Grace was sick last week she also has English to make up and a little biology. Need to get it all done soon so we're not working on it Sunday night.
Hope everyone has a nice Thanksgiving.

Jobs

Haven't been to school in a week, as Grace has been home sick, but we went back today.
It probably sounds strange, but most of the time I'm forgotten. The kids at school forget I'm there and just carry on as if I'm not one of the adults. I normally don't mind since I'm not on the prowl to "get them in trouble". I ignore most of what I hear. Now don't get me wrong, if I overheard or saw something dangerous or illegal I'd be forced to speak up. For the most part I just blend in. I stay quiet much of the time , I know this will come as a shocker for those of you that know me & my mouth.
Grace has a few classes that are more relaxed, kids have the privilege to come and go more in photography and yearbook than in other classes. Today I overheard a not so quiet conversation at the table I was sitting at. There is a group of 5 or 6 seniors at this table every day and they have some crazy conversations.
Today's topic was all about what jobs they're going to get. I didn't hear any of them mention college, which may explain the intelligence behind the statements I heard. Here are a few:
"I'm never working at fast food, I want to work at a restaurant"

"I'm going to work at the Sports Store, " someone asked her if they were hiring and she said "No, but I'm going to tell them I want a job" Who knew it was that easy? geesh all those people w/out jobs take note!!
"I will only work at a store with variety, so I don't get bored when I'm looking at the stuff"
"I can't believe so and so works at that cheap store at the mall, they don't have anything good."

There were more comments, but seriously after these, it took all I had not to just roll on the floor laughing. They honestly sounded like kindergartners, I'm gonna be a fireman, I'm going to be an astronaut, I'm going to work at the toy store so I can play with the trains.
It's a bit concerning to think that these are seniors. They'll be out on their own before long, praying that they can round up 2 or 3 fast food jobs just to buy gas money to make it to their next job. They were really trying to have such a mature adult conversation. they're in for a rude awakening soon. Hope they realize college, trade school, something after high school is a necessity to get practically any job.

Veteran's Day

No school today or tomorrow, supposedly for Veteran's day. I think we need to teach our kids what Veteran's Day is set aside for. Not just another day off of school. I heard some seniors planning their days off. One asked why they had there was no school and someone at least knew it was for Veteran's Day, but when he told the rest I heard " Well thanks vets now we can have fun."
I just finished a book about what the people in North Korea are enduring and have endured for generations. The  things we take for granted,such as non-governmental books and TV, growing a garden, mail, even putting pictures on the wall, can land a person in N. Korea life imprisonment. They have no real internet there to even read a silly blog such as this; if they'd even consider wasting their few precious minutes of electricity online.
We have our freedoms because of those before us that were willing to fight for them. Regardless of how any of us feel about the current war, we should still honor those fighting, and also those here that protect us.
There probably aren't too many families in this country that doesn't have a vet somewhere in it's history, remember them today. Maybe realizing someone has stood up for you and fought for you comes with age. I just hope those seniors I overheard learn to appreciate more than a couple of days off of school.

Pants

You remember every family get together, there was always at least one old man that all the kids bet on. It wasn't that he was especially talented at something, or that he'd tell the best jokes; ( although he thought he did) it was his pants. You always wondered how he kept those things on, they rode so low beacuse he insisted he could still wear the same size pants he did when he was 18, regardless of his stomach size.
 Well, I think some of today's boys have it figured out. they wear their pants exactly as low as the old men did; there will be no getting used to walking weird to keep them up, they already walk that way. In fact, they can run with their britches riding like that. Ok now, I admit I don't have any young men in my house, is there some secret to the pants that I don't know about? Are there hidden suspenders? These poor kids are going to have some messed up hips and backs if they keep wearing those pants like they do.
Not sure which is worse, the uncle fatty wears his pants so low the crotch is past their knees, or the ever popular Fred Mertz look. ( from an old tv show,  I love Lucy for you poor souls that don't know him). Now Fred wore his pants to cover his tummy, right up to his chest! Now if those ever rode low he would have tripped over the crotch of those things.
Ok, Ok, I have to quit thinking about this. It's crazy!!

Rumors

I was feeling just a bit ornery today, when we went to English there was a girl ( lets call her Mary)waiting for the teacher to let her in and I asked her if she was ready for the test. There was no test. The look on her face was priceless. I had her convinced that they had to finish reading the book they're working on for a test today. After a long minute ( for her) I told her I was just joking. She told me I was mean and we had a good laugh.
Well, here came a group of others from the class and Mary passed on the same news I'd given her, then she told them I'd played a joke on her. This happened a few more times and then.....................
Along comes do-gooder-worries about every grade Mark ( not his real name of course). The class had him so convinced that he dropped everything he had in his hands and insisted that the teacher just couldn't do this, she hadn't told him to read what was he going to do!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Thankfully they let him off the hook before the class started, but I happen to know he got a few texts asking him if he was ready for the test in several other classes.
Guess one needs to be careful with a lil joke. Ha!

Dude?

Not quite sure why I need to know if a diagonal bisects a rhombus, or that I should use the distance formula to determine if a quadrilateral is a rectangle, but I think I'm learning it anyway. Should come in handy if I ever come in contact with a shape with an identity complex.
Speaking of identity,what I'm mostly confused about is when did I become a "dude"?????????????
 Seriously, that's all I hear some days, "Dude, did you know? & Dude, did you see? Last I'd heard females were dudettes. Now I know it could be worse as the other name I hear females called ( even by friends in a nice way) isn't something I'd ever let anyone call me. When I was 15 I'd have flattened anyone that called me one, and I still might at this ripe old age of ..well....um..........lets say over 15. So funny how our slang changes through time. I just have to figure out if when one refers to a "dude" it's the he kind or the she kind. Anyone have the answer?   Geesh before long we'll have to use a formula to figure it out and we'll be able to use all the geometry we're learning.

No Excuses

This is typically the beginning of a rough time of year for Grace, I think it starts with all the dirt in the air from the harvests and then the weather begins to change. She had back surgery 3 years ago and has endured some level of pain most days since. It seems worse some times than others.
 She had stayed home Monday and Tuesday, in bed resting her back. You wouldn't think sitting all day would wear a person out, but some days it's just more than she can put up with. I figure a few days in bed won't hurt her.
She does seem to play catch up a lot of the time at school, but she doesn't use her condition as an excuse to get out of the work. She does throw out the occasional joke about being uniquely abled.  Last week she was calling her biology teacher over to her seat to ask a question, now it's a well known fact that he can get side tracked on the way to helping a student, she jokingly told him "Run! Run for those that can't." He got a kick out of her and reminded her that he can't run either, too much arthritis and he's waiting for a hip replacement.
I'm grateful for understanding teachers and the fact that my daughter doesn't expect to get a free pass on school work. She isn't a perfect angel about it, she complains about the amount of homework like the rest of the students, but she trudges through.

my zombie

For the last day of Red Ribbon Week, the students were supposed to wear costumes to scare drugs away. Grace decided she wanted to be a zombie. She finally decided she was a zombie ballerina that died of a broken heart. Thanks to a friend of hers she had a great zombie costume. The shirt was just amazing. It's 3 dimensional, everyone wanted to touch it, especially the bones.
Just have to say that after doing her makeup and driving to school, Grace wasn't sure she should have wore the costume. ( Not the best picture of Grace, but it shows the shirt well) When we drove up we saw, princesses, fairies, bumble bees, Dorothy from Oz. All sweet costumes. But Grace was an instant hit, some one told her that when she got out of the van he thought she'd really been hurt. Glad she had a great time being a zombie.

LOL

A friend called me the other day during Grace's lunch break, she heard how loud it is at school and told me she didn't envy me one bit. I have found that my car is the best place to spend my lunch when the weather is agreeable. If it's not sweltering or freezing, I lounge in the van with my sandwich and a book. I've been known to take a 10 minute catnap and so far haven't found any pics of me drooling on Grace's facebook page.
I can see the front of the school from my vantage point. There's not usually much to see except a few kids enjoying their lunches and visiting. There is one young lady that spends the entire time alone, at rare times she's on her phone, but she seems to be a loner. I know her from my preschool teaching days. Would love to find her a friend or two to make her high school days more enjoyable.
Today Grace & her friend Kayla came to the van to ask a question and took off to run around. Out of the corner of my eye I could see them using a window for a mirror and acting goofy. I never know what those two are up two. They remind me of my childhood friend and myself, just being goofy girls at that age. I went back to reading my book and just happened to look up in time to see Grace back into a pole. There is a pole  in the middle of the sidewalk next to the building that's placed there,I assume, to keep cars from driving through that area. For some unknown reason Grace was going as fast as she could in reverse, talking like a crazed woman when WHAM!!! she hit the pole. It bounced her head off the headrest and she said it even uncrossed her feet . She wasn't hurt, well, maybe her pride was. I along with her other friends that saw, couldn't help but laugh. I'm not sure what the most humorous site was, Grace bouncing off the pole or her friend Kayla, fall to the sidewalk, rolling and laughing so hard I wouldn't have been surprised if she wet herself. It was one of those "laugh till you cry" moments. I'm glad Grace wasn't hurt, just wish I'd had my camera going, it was definitely a missed You Tube moment.

End of the semester

It's a busy time of the year at school; this is the last week of the semester. Just about every class has at least one test or project due this week. Grace has already taken a math and history test. She has another in each of those classes later  this week. She has a scene to perform  for drama tomorrow, pics to take for photo, and a DNA paper to write for biology. Will see how her grades come out when it's all over.  She's OK right now, sometimes just hearing that it's a "big" test can wig some people out. So thankful she has a couple of more laid back classes to catch up on some study time.
Also, Red Ribbon week, which means more dress up days. I think they have slogans for each day, but I can't remember them. I always think it's hilarious when there is a "hippie" day for an anti-drug campaign. Not sure what the thinking is behind this. Maybe someone wasn't alive to actually know what the hippie era involved. ( I'll try claiming I wasn't around either, wonder if anyone would believe me). But I guess some tye dye and peace signs won't hurt anyone. At least they get the word out to fight drug usage. Guess Nancy's "Just Say 'NO'" slogan doesn't do the job anymore?
Hope the kids find the energy and time for a little studying this week. Is it Christmas vacation yet?

Finally Friday

Finally it's Friday, this week seemed to take forever.  Grace started a unit on  Les Miserables this week, the first few days were lectures on the story, yesterday and today they watched part of the movie. She's really enjoying it. Such a good story.
I just have to say that I don't understand teachers that don't seem to want to give good grades. She actually had a teacher tell the class that they expect too much of themselves, I think a student was disappointed in his "B" grade and wanted to know how to raise it since next week is the last week for the semester. She said when she was a kid hardly anyone got A's  that you can get in a college with a B. It's good enough. Really?? This is a very smart well organized student that takes his grades seriously. They're doing the same work as seniors and they're sophomores. She was so rude about it. He was really trying to improve his grade, not just get away with smoozing her. Out of the entire class only one person got an "A" on their Great Expectations written test. Now, I don't think the teachers should go easy on them, but if a serious student is trying to figure out how to improve then you should give him good advise, not "you expect too much from yourself."  Never could understand why some people feel superior to others because they're in a position of ( albeit small) authority. 
Anyway, tests galore next week. Lets all enjoy our weekend.

Nothing

Some days I just float through school, follow Grace from one class to another. She has finally caught up in her classes. Missed a couple days last week because our old van was broke down and that's our only way to get Grace to school.
As the weather has been changing she is in a great deal of pain most afternoons. She had rods put in her back 3 years ago to help correct a curve that had developed in her back, due to her muscle condition. She had extensive work done to her pelvis at the same time, she seems to have pain in sections of her back and in one hip. On those days she needs to go home early and lay down. So between the van, her pain, and some appointments it seemed she was either missing whole days or afternoons a few days a week for about a month. She's a hard worker at school, gets great grades in most classes and manages to keep up with the kids she started school with.
Was just thinking that she has had some school years when she's missed large sections of school. In 3rd grade she spent almost 11 weeks in the hospital. She was released the day before the last day of school.All the kids told her how lucky she was to miss testing. Funny how at that age they couldn't imagine how rotten being in the hospital is.
So glad she has great friends that have brought her gifts, sent her cards & letters and even traveled the hour and 1/2 to visit her when she's been in the hospital. We've been blessed with some great people in our lives.
I feel like I'm just blabbering on and on tonight.............better go help with homework.  UGGHHH I'm ready for Christmas break to come soon.

Yes, I'm Proud

Do Monday's get longer every week? Or am I just old? Never mind that was a rhetorical question.
I just have to share  and explain my proud mama feeling of the day. Grace and I talked about the unfortunate experience she had last week in drama class. The first thing she did when she got to school this morning was ask if she could talk with the principal. On her own she spoke with her about a solution to the younger kids' staring, pointing, and laughing at her. She asked what she should do to educate them about people with differences. She'd like to go to their school and talk with them and let them ask questions. She is willing to talk with classes individually or the whole lot of them at once. She's waiting to hear what the other school's principal will allow, her principal was very supportive and went to the other administrator today to come up with a time /place for Grace.
I am so proud of her, it's always easy to just feel bad, get mad and complain. Now I admit she did all these things, then  she took it one step further and is taking back some control of the situation, fully knowing that there may still be some people that will still act ugly regardless of her efforts.  Honestly if more people that have been hurt by others could step up like this our world would really be a better place. Good Job Grace!!!

Wrong kind of Drama

Grace's drama class had their performance today for another school of younger kids from the community. Grace was the greeter as they entered the theatre. Unfortunately she felt like the opening show/a side show.
Almost every kid that came in stared at her. Some pointed and laughed, some made remarks. I wasn't out there with her to see all of it, but I could see them staring from the doorway. Need less to say, she had a rotten start to her day. I know it's unusual to see someone in a wheelchair, especially a kid, and she understands a short look, but when people point, whisper, and run into things because they are just plain staring it gets hurtful.
Wish people would tell their kids that if they see someone they are curious about they can politely ask them if they can ask why they're in a wheelchair or whatever the "difference" is.
I'm  proud of Grace she didn't want to stay, but she sat by the door and smiled at all 400 of those little boogers as they went by.
On the up side her class did an amazing job performing.

Can't believe it's Wednesday, has been a strange week, have been out of some classes trying to catch up with tests Grace missed in other classes.
Tuesday Grace was out of a couple of classes to watch the other drama class' performance. It was fun to watch another group do the same musical that her class is performing. The highlight of the show was at the end one of the guys tripped on the risers and just went with it. Funny to watch a big burly boy roll down steps and act as if he meant to fall, not trying to, he stole the show.
Grace's class performs 2 times tomorrow and again on Saturday. They have worked hard and will do a great job. I think the next musical will be Willie Wonka, one of my favorites. I'm already singing oompa loompa songs. The lift for the stage is broke so Grace won't perform on stage in this production, she dodged the bullet this time and will be a greeter. But I have visions of an oompa loompa in a wheelchair coming soon. Hope to catch up on the rest of Grace's tests this week. Will be nice to just have a regular week without feeling like we're always one step behind everyone else. Happy Hump Day!!

Too much Scribing

I think I've scribed way too much this last week. I am now having dreams about the industrial revolution and characters from Great Expectations. Of course none of the dreams make any sense which is probably where I associate proofs from geometry. I'm even waking up singing songs from her drama class.
I have no idea what I'm writing for Grace 1/2 the time. Hope she knows what she's saying to me. Last week I was writing angle symbols instead of triangle symbols on her test. I always feel badly when she gets a worse grade because I mess up not her.
 I remember the first year I went to school with Grace was 4th grade. She took a math benchmark test and got a rotten grade. It didn't seem right since she wasn't struggling with the math concepts at the time. Turns out I missed an entire page of the test and therefore wrote wrong answers on 1/2 the test. Had to take the whole thing over. Grace checks now to be sure I'm actually marking the right answers on scan tron sheets. gotta figure one person makes enough stupid type of mistakes you can just imagine when two people have a hand in the work. And I must say that when one is battling raging adolescence hormones and the other faltering menopausal hormones we're in a world of confusion. You'd think between the 2 of us we'd balance things out.

Skinny Jean Workout

I just have one question: Who invented skinny jeans??? Oh my am I glad I wear old granny jeans. I see so many girls constantly pulling the back of their jeans up and their shirts down because of their low rise jeans. They can hardly sit in those tight things.They obviously aren't comfortable at all.
Now, when we went school shopping my daughter wanted more then anything else skinny jeans. I am ashamed to say that I looked at the narrow legs on those things and tried with all  I had to talk her into not getting them. It's not that I don't like the way they look, I really don't have a preference, and I am certainly wishing I could fit into something called skinny. The closest thing I'll ever get to them is enjoying a Skinny Cow ice cream.
Anyway, I was thinking of how I was going to get those things on a kid that can't help dress herself. We finally found a pair that have zippers up the entire side. the zipper opens only about 5 inches from the bottom of the leg, but that's just enough to not break her foot trying to put them on. I try to hold to the idea that Grace has enough things she can't participate in, there are plenty of "teen" things she misses out on, dressing fashionably is something she shouldn't have to miss out on.
So we find ways when we can to let her dress in "regular" clothes. But let me tell you it takes the whole village to dress a disabled kid some mornings. Poor thing gets flopped back and forth, twisted, lifted, laughed at, yelled at, and who knows what else. It's a tough job but between my husband and myself we manage to get those rotten skinny jeans on. Not sure who gets the biggest work out, I just know all 3 of us are tired when we're done. But it usually makes for a happy kid. Some days that's all you want ; a smile on your kid's face.

CRUSHIN?

After reading my blog one day Grace told me that she just loves my view of her high school experiences. Apparently what I see is not what she always sees.True, I have a few ( hush now) years on her, I suppose life experiences have tinted my view on life compared to when I was a mere 15.
I got a taste the other day of how Grace feels. One of her teachers asked me if Grace had a little crush on one of the guys in her class, I almost laughed in her face, because that's just not the case. I tried to explain that they're really good friends and she just likes guys in general. I've been thinking about how the teacher perceived my comments and realized that she just thinks I'm a mom that doesn't want to see my daughter has a crush. Not true, I usually know when she's crushing on someone, she eventually tells me anyway. But to be honest Grace is a flirt ( don't know where she gets that trait), if there's a guy friend around her she'll start talking, and teasing. The closer the friend the more she picks at him.She's always loved boys, always will. 

Raingear or Oscar's poor cousin

It rained in our area this weekend. Although I know we need the rain and it's inevitable that it will rain, I cringe at the thought of a downpour. It's tough enough to stay dry running from class to class on a rainy day, just try it in a wheelchair someday. Doesn't matter what I buy for Grace to wear, there just isn't a good raincoat/poncho or anything that's designed well.  Either they're too big, too hard to put on quickly or just plain won't work when you have to consider that you have to cover the entire chair not just the person in the chair. If you don't get the whole chair/seat then the water just runs down the back into the seat. If you don't cover the front you have wet feet and a joystick that's soaked. The best solution is a hefty bag w/ a neck whole cut in it. But they're not quite long enough and you still need a rain hat of some type. Then there's the ever so important issue of fashion. heaven help us if a 15 year old has to travel as a hefty bag, although she does wear black these days. Wonder how we start a new trend of black plastic couture? There's just not a good solution.
Am wondering what type of inventions are turning in some people's mind. I think the best solution would be some type of bubble. Maybe a version of a hamster ball.  Now that'd be a sight, a giant ball rolling around the school, you know you'd want to kick it like you're tempted to do w/ the little hamsters. She might look like she's in the Popemobile. Geeze lets not give her any ideas of that kind of power. So, if you happen to see a rolling trash bag coming your way watch out it's Grace & she's not gonna be happy!!!

Homebound

Looks like we'll be staying home the rest of this week. Our wheelchair van is in need of a new fuel pump. Thankfully my hubby can do the work himself, just waiting on the part.
Working from home is always a whole different animal than working at school is. We never have a schedule, just fall into the work and do all we can till we're ready to kill each other. You wouldn't think it'd make any difference since we're together most of the day at school, but somehow doing it at school in the school environment helps us.
Mostly I think it helps for Grace to have her friends near. She's always up to something with someone. Just sitting here at home with me is never as much fun. But thanks to modern technology she's NEVER too far from a friend with her cell phone. So hard to think back to before the internet. When I was in high school there were phone cars that were as big as an ice chest that actually had a cord attached to it. how funny, a time before the internet, texting, social networking, blogs!! We actually had to stay in the same room as the phone and even talk on the phone. I can still hear my dad complaining about me using the phone. Those teen years meant monopolizing the phone for hours. Times have changed, but theres still school work to do, better get to it.

Twilight Zone?

Don't know if it's the unusual early fall heat wave or just teen hormones, but I've witnessed some strange things this week. It started with a boy dressed in a shirt and tie, bragging to a teacher about his  court ordered ankle bracelet, and the comment that jail wasn't so bad since he could just relax all day.
Sitting in biology Grace and her friends broke into the Barney song, I think the conversation ended with maybe they could ask Blue to use her notebook to figure out how to write an essay on photosynthesis and cellular respiration. Funny how those kid shows never leave you. They probably don't even know who my beloved Mr Rogers or Mr Greenjeans were.
I have to say the top strangeness I saw was in Drama, I was helping Grace with something, when she suddenly is blowing kisses to someone. I was pretty sure who it would be since she and her senior guy friend have been bantering about how gorgeous each other is, sure enough as they're both cracking up she's giving him a kissy face and he's shaking his booty and slapping it. I am wondering if this is what the Twilight Zone feels like???   Nah, just high school kids  gotta love 'em!

Teachers

Just have to say that I think teachers often get a bad wrap. I am sure I've been guilty of complaining too much myself. I am thankful for all the teachers that Grace has. She has severe physical limitations, they all are very understanding and make whatever changes that need to be made so she can do her best work for them. Since she writes very slowly I do most of her physical writing for her, I'm thankful they none of them have ever questioned if the ideas are hers.
Friday she took a geometry ( yay I didn't say geography) test and got a poor grade, it was shocking since she felt like she did well. She usually knows when she's bombed a test. Well, it turns out that the larger printed portions of the test were just the shapes, and graphs, I quickly read the instructions to her and she looked at the large graphs to do the work. Guess I was the one that over looked part of the directions for a portion of the test. Her teacher thought something must have been wrong and after talking w/ her she let her redo that portion of the test. Of course that jumped her grade up 2 letters, and Grace didn't have the stress of having to retake the entire test.
I'm sure I could give examples from most of her teachers, she has some great classmates as well, that think up new ways for her to experience all aspects of classes. Her two biology friends actually have taken a microscope off the table and positioned it in their hands up to her eyes so she can see what they see. Doesn't seem like much to most of us, but that kind of inclusion is what makes her world a little nicer.

Red

I've got some bad news for some of you. I was informed today that my phone is the same color red that "you know old ladies cars are."
Wow, was I shocked that my favorite color was the old lady color and that little red sports cars were old lady cars.
Guess that proves it; as far as teen boys are concerned I'm an old lady, I don't even get the red car, just the phone is enough to qualify me.
Guess I pretty much new I was an oldster a few years ago..............but RED ?  Come on.
Oh well, Have a great weekend!

6 Weeks

Six weeks of school has flown by. The kids have accomplished more than they probably realize. Progress reports will be mailed home any day now. Grades don't have to be a huge surprise anymore, as most school systems have programs that allow parents to check progress online. But for some reason, getting that piece of paper in the mail makes things worse or better depending on your grades.
Grace has done well, not sure I'd do as well if I had to be testsed and graded. I can barely tell you if her math class is geometry or geography so I know that'd be a bust. Guess I've learned some about the French Revolution that I didn't  know before, had never read Great Expectations , so that's something I can add to my list of  "done that, don't know why I bothered". Now don't get me wrong the story itself is intriguing, just not used to reading in that old English/Dickens style. He'd have been a great blogger that man could use way too many words to say somnething as simple as 'he opened the door'. 
As for Biology, theres' no way I could tell you very many parts of an animal cell, ATP, cellular respiration etc. Just glad God knew what he was doing when he designed all this. Not much to learn in yearbook, photography is somewhat of a repeat from last year, and drama is always entertaining, I know most of the songs to Suessical the Musical.
So greatfull nobody gets to take a red pencil to this blog I can just imagine all the mistakes I make. Here's to another 6 weeks, aside from learning who's dating who ( or is it whom?), which substitute the kids love and hate the most we'll see if I learn something academic.

An Old Dog

So, who thinks you can teach an old dog new tricks? I have always been more of an optimist about things, but I just have to explain how frustrated I get with technology. It just makes me feel so stupid, doesn't even have to be a hard concept. Here's my example; while writing an answer for Grace on today's English homework, neither of us knew how to spell "unnecessarily", well being too lazy to get the dictionary she suggested I use the T9 function on my phone. She usually has her phone with her , but for some reason it wasn't with her or she could have done the looking up herself. Well, I tried & tried to get the dangfangled contraption to do what she was telling me to do with it and I just wasn't understanding what to do, i was really getting frustrated. She finally asked for my phone and within 3 seconds had the word!!!! AARRGGGHHHHH  How the heck did she do it? Actually very easily, she showed me step-by-step and it made much more sense. Just not sure I should touch anything computerized or even electronic. This old dog is just a mess.

Happy Birthday to.....ME/xico

September 16th. Mexico's Independence Day. Also my birthday.My first wish for today came from an Alabama friend that sent me a text @ 4:43, nice wake up call . Hubby & Grace had gifts in hand as we all woke up this morning. At school today I got a text wishing me a Happy Birthday and asking me to come out to the parking lot. There were my friends, Aileen, Sharon & Bambi; with cake, gifts and decorated windows on the van. Poor Sharon had to wade through 7 inches of dirt to find the windows ( sorry Sharon, I never wash the car during harvest season). When I stopped for the mail I had a package from the Alabama buddy, & cards from an online art group I'm involved with. My sister brought me goodies when she came over, & my FaceBook page runneth over w/ well wishes. Thanks everyone. All in All a pretty good day. oh yeah.....Happy Birthday Mexico.

old folks

Today was senior citizen day at school, there were some very creative kids, lots of grannies in curlers, nightgowns, slippers, grey hair, even saw a girl with a walker. These two girls are in Grace;s drama class. They had the old person walk down perfect. Grace's school is having their centennial celebration this weekend, should be a fun time for everyone.

Super

      Today was  superhero day, first guy I saw was this brave hero. Any guy wearing a silky pink cape MUST be a tough guy! There were several favorites, they varied from the regular Superman, Spiderman, & Batman to the more imaginary types; there was a super poohbear, a super Fatcat, a super taco, to a very well thought out boyscout ( well, out of all of then they're the true heroes). I of course went as supermom, faster than a speeding snail, more powerful than a .........well, heck I don't know. I'm afraid of tomorrow  it's senior citizen day, I'm afraid I'll get lost in the crowd.

what a bunch of nerds

Finally after a week out of school, we're back at it. Didn't take me long to wonder why so many kids were dressed so badly. Kids really looked ridiculous, and most of them had tape on their glasses: Wait!! these are kids that don't even wear glasses, I saw plenty of pocket protectors, bright suspenders, and yes even a granny fanny pack! It's homecoming week and today was "nerd" day. I couldn't help myself from wondering what someone would think if it was their first day of school here. They'd certainly think they'd fallen into the pit of nerdum.  Tomorrow is Superhero day, now that would be another day to begin attending this school, just the thought of burly football players in superman tights could give anyone nightmares.

sick sick sick

Our long weekend has turned into a long week, turns out Grace has a horrible ear infection/burst ear drum and all. So she's on a mega dose of antibiotics. Thankfully her lungs are nice and clear.
Took her to school for a little while today to take a couple of tests she'd missed and pick up some work she can catch up on. Mostly, in her eyes, to hang out during lunch. She has the best friends and just can't go too many days without them. It takes a special kid to be Grace's friend, not that Grace is hard to be friends with, she's got a very quick wit. It's just that she can't do all the "regular" teen things, she has gotten closer to a friend she made last year and I've noticed things about this gal that others probably would never notice. aside from opening doors, helping her when something falls and yelling at people that stare at Grace. She  actually sits when she carries on a conversation/ which warms my heart;most people don't consider what a person in a chair has to look at if you're standing in front of them when you talk to them. Grace has a fused back and can't look up high very easily, she usually has a nice view of your crotch or stomach, so of course if you're in a line in front of her she knows what kind of undies you're wearing . Now I know how self conscious you'll be next time you're around a person in a wheelchair. It's a whole different world down there in the chair. Weekend is almost here again enjoy!!!

Long weekend

Labor Day weekend was a long one, only fun thing we did was have dinner here with my sister for her birthday.  My daughter was sick all weekend and stayed home from school again today. She had homework in most classes over the long weekend. Had to read about 150 pages of Great Expectations  and  q&a packet to go with it, had a letter to write for history, a cell model to make for biology, and some math. Although she felt horrible she managed to get it all done. Did today's math this evening and worked ahead on the next part of English. It's always hard to miss school and get behind, especially in math class. Over the years she has endured so much with some very long hospital stays, a couple minor surgeries, a major back surgery, and her yearly 3 months of bone pain. We live in an agricultural area, harvest is just starting, keeping her lungs clear of pneumonia is always near the top of my prayer list. People with medical issues work so much harder just to get through their days than the rest of us. I know I'm biased, but would just like to say what a proud mama I am. Grace has managed to maintain a great grade point average and  keep up with her class through all of her trials.

ARRGGGHH!!!

OK just a warning this is going to be a BIG gripe session. I apologize.

If you know us or read this long enough, you know my daughter has some physical limitations. She is very weak and can't hold heavy objects. At the end of last year we requested large print math books for her, since she can't hold the book and her eyesight isn't perfect it's a bit hard to read graphs and smaller text book print. She also has rods in her back and can't bend toward the book to get a better view. Seems like an easy fix, just find a large print book. Seems there aren't any large print geometry books in the edition they're using. The librarian has searched & searched,, she's gotten the publisher to agree to a digital version that can just be enlarged on the computer. Easy enough?  NOPE. She had the higher ups sign the contract & sent it back only to have the people that sent the said contract tell her "oops that version isn't available in digital." Is this crazy or what? My kid can't be the only student that uses the book that might need it large. I'll admit it's not a brand new book, but I do believe it has been printed since the ADA was put in place. Crazy crazy crazy................so far the solution is the publisher has given permission for the book to be copied by the school on the copy machine for her to use..... so her inclusion specialist's assistant will be busily copying graphs/angles/etc for the next few days to make Grace a binder she can use. Thankfully a solution has been found, but it's just crazy the hoops that get jumped through for nothing.   Thanks for letting me vent... I think I'm done now.

Oh the trouble with fashion

So, today in the drama class I noticed how much trouble it is to wear pants. The kids were rehearsing for the musical they're doing this semester. It required a great deal of jumping/dancing/bending/ etc. I think there was more tugging of pants than anything else. If you're a girl the trouble seems to lie in the fact that pants don't cover your backside. It's not easy bending over to dance like an elephant if you're worried about your hind end falling out. They guys might have appreciated the girls' problem more if the weren't tugging on their breeches trying to keep them up, or shall I say keep them on.
 Now I'm a large woman and I must say that these little 100pound guys are wearing pants that would fit me! It's so funny how ridiculous we ( yes, we've all worn something absurd in the name of fashion) are willing to look, just to look like everyone else. Just wondering what do you think the silliest fashion was that  you wore as a teen?

Mr. Niceguy

I just want to take a minute to mention the school's drama teacher. He has the most positive way of handling his class. Even when he's telling them they need to be quiet he does it in the nicest way. It's as if he truly believes what we all know, positive reinforcement works. Just seems so much easier for most of us to be negative, it really is much more work to be sooooooooooo much more encouraging, and positive. Grace's limitations haven't discouraged him at all, he's going to include her as much as she's able. He's going to push her just enough to bring her outside of her comfort zone.
We stayed home today, my girl has some pain issues that spring up now and then. Today was just one of those days. Hope you're all doing well. Thanks for reading!!

5 minutes?

Today Grace's English teacher had a conversation with her about 5 minutes. It sums up to this:::::   There are about 9 months of school, 5 days a week. if you waste 5 minutes a day in a class, by the end of the school year you've wasted over 3 hours. She was amazed at how much time just 5 minutes would add up to, I think it used up some of that time just explaining it all to her.
Mondays are always the hardest day around here, seems like since school started I've tried & tried but to no avail, my house is just a mess. I always think I'll catch up on the weekend, but I never do. I never know how I should manage the days. Aside from being at school all day, driving to and from is about an 8 hour day. Helping w/ homework is at least another hour. Then there's laundry/cooking/bathing. Thankfully my hubby helps with all those things, but he works his 8 hours also. I suppose I spend too much time in the evening on the computer.  When you have someone completely dependent on you there's no "go to bed" you're the person that has to help the disabled person  get in bed. There's no "get in the car" for school, because you're the one operating the lift & getting the chair anchored. Mondays are just hard, I suppose they are for everyone, just getting back in the "week"  routine.
I wonder if I could capture those 3 hours that get wasted in class........hhmmmmm that's a thought.

Air?

Thankfully today was cooler than the previous 2 days. The hot classroom  still has a broken air conditioner, but it was full of fans today. I was wondering why I don't remember hot days as a kid..............Now I haven't checked the record books but, there had to have been a few hot days way back then. I can't even say if my elementary school had AC, I don't think it did as I remember the doors being open a lot of the time. We also NEVER went back to school in the August heat, it was well after Labor day when school started. We got out of school in June, might have been hot then. Wonder how the teachers could stand it. Especially those classes that drive an adult crazy anyway. I always seemed to be in the rowdy class, don't suppose I was part of the "rowdy" problem do you? I'm sure if we'd had air we would have been the "good" kids. Looking for  some cool days to come..............

HOT!!!!!!!!

All I can say today is when it's 107 out & we have a classroom 2 times during the day without a working air conditioner it's just TOO hot to learn anything or to blog. I'm going to crawl in the fridge for a few. Be back tomorrow. Stay Cool!!!!

work hard?

Don't just assume that a kid that gets good grades ,"comes by it easily." Recently I heard a comment about a kid that gets A's & B's. The person said that those grades come easily to them.
That's not necessarily the case. As with any occupation ( must say that school is harder than any job I ever had) there are things people do more easily than others. Everyone has strengths and weaknesses, but just assuming that a kid with good grades learns easily is implying that they don't work hard for those grades. The same can be said of those kids that don't get the best grades, it doesn't mean they didn't study or that they never work hard at school.
I am the first to think students need to work as hard as they can to get the best grade they can get. I think every kid that works to their highest potential should be praised for their effort. I guess none of us really know who works hard at school and who doesn't, but I do know that the grades aren't always the best indicator of  their "hard work".

Testing Day

Today was the day for English vocab testing. It was the first one & the teacher gave plenty of time to learn the 20 words,but she also threw in a pop quiz ion the book they're reading. Tomorrow is a geometry ( yes I had to stop & think: is it  geometry/geography & thanks to my sister geology) well, I'm talking about the math class. Wednesday is a biology test & who knows what might get thrown in for Thursday or Friday.
I'm curious, which days are better to take a test, although it is nice to have them spaced out instead of all on one day, it seems crazy to have them on Monday. I guess the thinking behind this is that the students have ALL weekend to study.  Stop!!!  my side is hurting, Really? At my house it's Friday right after school or Sunday before bed, there's no all weekend studying. I guess Friday is a good day because as my daughter tends to think, the students have all week to go over/learn the info in class. Then Friday comes you take the tests and go home for that NON-STUDYING weekend. Now I also think about the teachers that have 250 tests to grade over their NON -WORKING weekends, because you always have those eager kids that want to know how they aced the tests. I guess there isn't any good day, someone always ends up forgetting about the test, panics during tests, has too much studying to do, or too much correcting to do.
I think maybe we should just do away with tests/grades/school/work................................. guess I'm dreaming again. Happy Monday!

Gryke

Learned a new word today. I was reading a book that had a word I'd never run across before. I was pretty sure of what it meant because of the way it was used. I love words, I admit I don't know near enough of them or the proper way to use them, but I still enjoy a new word now & then. Now this word was one I'd never run across, the two dictionaries I looked at didn't have the word in it. I could just hear my 6th grade teacher, Mr Phillips, telling me to "look it up in the dictionary". I finally went where any highschool student goes -------to the English teacher! She looked online for me and solved my dilema.........YAY. Not too sure I'll have a chance to use this word, unless a nasty game of scrabble comes my way. I'd love one by the way! So here's the word of the day for me. Happy Weekend !!!!!
World English Dictionary


gryke (ɡraɪk)
— n
a solution fissure, a vertical crack about 0.5 m wide formed by the dissolving of limestone by water, that divides an exposed limestone surface into sections or clints

what's your name?

My daughter noticed yesterday that most of her teachers don't call their students by their name. I hadn't noticed, probably because I don't need to be called on and because since Grace is the only kid in a wheelchair at the school, the teachers always know her name.But I payed closer attention today, I can see some of the teachers are learning names, but more teachers than not are just pointing at students when they call on them, even if they have assigned seats and a seating chart to refer to. I know they have many students, but it's a small community at this high school. I remember back to my pre school teaching days, there was always at least one "invisible" child in every class. You know, the one that is very shy, and quiet. I always made it a point to try to draw them into the activities and help them feel comfortable. It seemed they were usually very intelligent, and loads of fun. just wondering how many teachers are missing out on getting to know those "invisible" high school students that they influence every day.

where's my abacus

Learned a couple things today...........I now know where the "unofficial" smoking section is at school. No I didn't witness the smoking, just heard about it.
I also learned how to use a calculator! Yes, a calculator, honestly I thought I knew how to use one before, but the sweet math teacher informed me I was hitting the wrong key. She must think I'm either daft or am so old that I learned to cipher on the original abacus or I counted knuckle bones on our cave floor. Truth is I should have had reading glasses on so I could see which key i was hitting. So with my  red face I  thanked the teacher for her help. As soon I got home I  packed the glasses for tomorrow. Guess my pride got to me. 

oh my ears

When I was in high school things were soooooo different. Some things were worse, we actually had a student smoking section!! Yes, I know I'm old. But I must say we weren't allowed to curse in school. That's not to say we didn't curse, I was probably the queen mother of foul language, but I had the respect (or was it fear?) not to use it where the adults could hear me. I was thinking to myself today that a young lady I've known from school for many years had gotten so pretty the last couple of years..........then she opened her mouth and dropped an "f" bomb......she's not as pretty as I'd thought. Must say I'm glad there's not a student smoking section any more,,,,,,,,,just a swearing section & it sounds like it's the entire school.

Tests

It's only day five and Grace already had a test, she's studying now for another test tomorrow, she has 2 more on Friday. I think I'm learning that our kids are under more pressure than most people realize. They always have multiple tests every week, papers due, projects for classes, sports/drama/band practices and all the other pressures of high school. They worry about how they dress, hair looks, zits; if they drive the right cars, wear the right clothes, have the newest phone, listen to the right music,  talk to the right people.
 They do all this and have jobs at home and away from home . plus probably the biggest stressor they put up with us : their parents who are trying to keep our own lives in balance.We probably all know teens with other worries as well, ill family members, drug/alcohol abuse/ money problems you know the list can go on forever.
I have had people tell me I must be crazy to be surrounded by teens all day. Well, yes I am a bit out there at times, but I also get to see the best side of our kids, they honestly have times when they're helping each other, looking for ways to be their best  and mostly I think you'd be proud to see just how hard they work at pleasing all the adults they have to deal with every day. They have more bosses than I've ever had at a job, and they still manage to enjoy the ride their on. Remember them in your prayers.

week one

Well, I made it through the first week, actually just 4 days, but it felt like more. The classes seem OK to me, some will be a challenge for Grace, but a challenge isn't always bad.
I'm just wondering is there a special rule for math teachers that the rest of the world doesn't have to follow? maybe  A SPECIAL HELL JUST FOR THEM? I don't know that very many of Grace's past teachers haven't given homework every day of the week. & I don't mean just a few problems, it's as though they believe they have to go to math teacher hell if they don't assign 30-50 problems every night. Kind of crazy if you ask me. I think you either get it or not. how does doing the same type of problem wrong 10 times  help you get it right? & if you get them right then a few should be enough. ok I can climb off my soapbox now. No homework tonight we'll hold off till later in the weekend...............thanks for joining me this week. Will be learning more next week I'm sure.

Geo...........what???

So, yesterday I asked which class I would have the most trouble with........looks like I subconsciously answered that question when I listed the class Grace has an geography. Nope!! It's geometry. Who's the smart one now??

How Stupid Am I Really??

Today in a couple of classes there were tests/surveys...........whatever you want to call them. They sure looked like multiple choice tests to me, they were given to show the teachers just what the students don't know. I'm assuming ( yes I know one should never assume) they are to help the teacher meet the classes needs.
As I read the questions in the World History class I realized I know next to nothing. My daughter did better than I could have, she's either listened & learned in Middle school or a darn good guesser. Now I know there are different history books and that books give different info, but honestly I don't know who Russia's first,sencond, last imperial rulers were.............maybe I just don't really care? I grew up during the cold war, just knew someone had his finger on that button that would end the world once and for all.
Somehow sitting in these classes makes me wonder why I never had these classes in high school. And how is it that 14 & 15 year olds know so much.
Just occured to me that I should let you guess as to which class I'll learn the most in this school year. Here's the schedule what do you think?
Remember, Grace doesn't have P.E.  I'd probably fail that class!!!!!!

Photography
Geography
Yearbook
10 English ( advanced)
Drama
World History
Biology

I Love Teens

Well, made it through the first day. I must say I really do love this age,not mine the kids. There were so many emotions running through those bodies today. the scared freshmen, with the wild eyed, deer in the headlights, I don't know where I'm going look. The Sophomores, so happy to see their friends, feeling like old hands at this high school business. the juniors, they know it's a serious year coming up, but they also know most of the staff/teachers now and are allowed some perks ( classes) that underclassmen aren't, and the seniors, so close to full adulthood, some understand the huge responsibilities ahead of them, they're either working extra hard or playing even harder their last year.
I have to admit though that my feet are killing me and the day did seem to drag on & on & on.........looks like a good year ahead of us.
Now I have to share the lamest/original "I'm late to class" story I've ever heard. It was the last class of the day, about 15 minutes into the class a girl walks in and the teacher made a comment about being late so she fessed up.............."I thought school was over and walked home, then I looked at my schedule and realized I had one more class and walked back."        LOL  gotta give her credit for either being very creative or brave enough to tell a truthful "I'm goofy" story.

Last Supper

Well, school starts in the morning, I had great plans to be ready this year HA! My house is a mess, I don't have my clothes ready to wear. Grace has been ready for a week, she has enough clothes ready for weeks. My hubby is working on laundry  THANK YOU. As I made dinner, my daughter asked if I was making her favorite dish, well No I hadn't planned on it. Apparently since the dinner before kindergarten I've always made her macaroni. Heaven forbid I ruin her sophomore year, so the spoiled kid got her macaroni. Not sure if she's just a good con artist or I'm a sap...............those that know us please don't answer that one.
I do have tomorrow's dinner ready, about the only thing I know I've learned about being my age and going through the first day of school is I will be exhausted when we get home. I'm gonna need a long nap. Hope there's no homework.........ya hear that teachers??? NO HOMEWORK PLEASE!!!!!!!!!!!! 

SAY A PRAYER FOR ME  as the fun begins :)

Here we Go

Well, here we go, the 2010-11 school year starts Tuesday. I think we're ready enough to start. I should explain why I'm starting this crazy blog. I started attending school with my daughter (Grace) when she was in the 4th grade. It wasn't exactly what we wanted, but I have definitely been blessed through the years. She has had understanding, loving teachers that have taught both of us life lessons and become lifetime friends. I was a preschool teacher for about 16 years when circumstances required I quit to care for Grace. We had homeschooled 2nd grade and found it just wasn't the best environment for us. Grace is an only child and VERY social. She definitely needed to be in school.
Grace will be a sophomore this year and when she got her class schedule I realized that I have never had any of the classes she's taking ( I must have been educated in a cave). Now I have always learned "something" every year I've accompanied her to school, but this year I expect to learn more than I ever have. So my plan is to share what I learn. Hope this is a fun year.