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Merry Christmas!!

Sorry that I haven't updated this blog in 2 weeks. This time of year is crazy busy for teachers. Plus, my daughter is now on the high school swim team and they have had 2 home meets. I've been to both and did the calculations for the diving portion of the meet for one of the meets. One of the divers is superb. He will be going to nationals to compete in diving.

Anyway, for all of you out there in the blogosphere (that would would be my only 2 readers ) I want to wish you a Merry Christmas. I know that you've got so much to celebrate this year. God Bless You and Your Family.

Me at 1.

I got a camera for my birthday and I was just playing around. My mom sent me this picture years ago. It's the only picture of me when I was a baby.
Today is My Birthday!!!

That's right. Today's my birthday. As we were discussing today in the teacher's room, I'm 35 and holding!!! Hey it runs in the family. My dad was 39 and holding for at least 38 years! It was a great day. My students wished me a happy birthday. Then, I was invited to my 7th graders music class, where the music teacher and the kids did the happy birthday dance for me. I was touched. Tonight, I have to go back to school. Tonight, the high school science department chair will be discussing placement to the 8th grade parents. My husband has to go to a swim team banquet. But, I will celebrate later this month. I plan to eat Chinese food (my favorite food). And later this month, I will buy myself something that I like.

Oh, and I forgot to mention that friends took me out for Thai food last night.....yummy. And my darling sweet mom sent money. I feel lucky and blessed. So, for my birthday, I wish all of you (Will, Marline, and Baby Rebecca) a happy, happy day!!

Apollo 13

Every school year, around this time of year, I show my students Apollo 13. This movie is probably one of the best movies ever made. My students learn so much from this movie: a. the importance of never giving up, b. the importance of working as a team, c. the importance of thinking outside the box, d. the importance of taking an academic risk.....this list could go on and on. They have such serious and thoughtful questions after viewing this movie. One of my students is so obsessed with this movie, she has collected all of the Apollo mission patches and shared them with her classmates.

So, I would like to thank Ron Howard for taking the risk of making this movie classic. Next year, I plan to write a unit that uses Apollo 13 to teach students about the space program, 3 stage rocket launches, and the importance of what is means to be a member of a team.