Tales of the chinchillas

They smell like Vanilla. They roam and chew. They might eat you!

I've got another opportunity to travel to Europe. This second one is more expensive than the first, costing a whapping 3 grand. I am really enjoying my job so far. It is such and incredible contrast from Troy. I enjoy what I'm doing and that makes the days so wonderful. Students are stretching their brains and it is amazing to see them forcing themselves to remember and to think critically about the world around them.

The one thing that does frustrate me is that many students their freshman year skip physical science, and move directly to Biology. That means even if I do an outstanding job with my students, the teachers are still going to have to re-teach significant amounts of information. My students who know it already will be bored!

I must say though, I do miss college. I miss be around hundreds of like minded individuals and I miss growing and stretching MY brain

Thai Coconut Chai and Randomness

I have consumed a large quantity of Ding-Dongs recently, and have been trying to make up for the trash I'm imbibing by drinking tea. Which I'm sure is wholesome until I pour white refined sugar into the cup.

I'm teaching that characteristics of how to tell different minerals apart in Earth and Space Science Class. It is hard to keep a straight face when I'm talking about "Cleavage", "Streak" and "Hardness"

School zaps the creativity out of me. I can't even read something new. I'm re-reading the Harry Potter series. However, to must read "A Brief History of Nearly Everything" by Bill Bryson. Makes my science heart happy.

I'm slowly falling in to love with the indie music scene in the Twin Cities. I think I think I'm going to marry the 9:00 DJ.

Parents: No, I will not move back to Kansas. There are good men here, it just takes a while to find them.

When will Barak Obama fix everything?

Why will Washington University only give tickets to students for the Vice Presidential Debates? That smells.

Give the teachers you know a big hug

Sometimes they need it.
And sometimes the parents are more of a headache than the students!
Some technology that was supposed to work to save time, didn't work and cost more time to fix than time saved. It was some test taking software, and kids were freaking out...the program told them they had failed miserably! After calming them down, I had to grade papers the old fashioned way. It took a long time....
Next on the agenda, explain how hot air balloons work and how to handle a purchase order.

Restless

So you guys have missed out on the exciting parts. Sorry. The transition to the new school has gone well, and I'm in to the swing of things. Long hours creating power points, writing lesson plans, grading papers and watching freshman football games.
It's been rainy and I'm starting to feel restless. That cool wind with a hint of fall gets me thinking introspectively and I'm not sure what to do.
When I'm in the computer room with the chinchillas, the cat will wait outside the door trying to chase the shadows of the girls when they run by.
My Earth and Space Science Class is going well. I do have a few yahoos though. I give them the test before hand, go over it, and I still have a few kiddos who fail! It is sometimes very hard to relate to the kids who just don't care, because I was about the opposite of that as I could be.

Mosquito bites

10 on one hand
itchy itchy itchy