Apparently a lot of people these days don't know how to spell very well. I'm no spelling bee champion, but I can spell most commonly used words. I spend a fair amount of time participating in some online groups, and there are some words that get misspelled over and over again. It's probably just the teacher in me, but it really bugs me. The world already thinks Americans are dumb. We could really improve our reputation if adults (many of them college graduates!) would spell correctly.

I'm not going to correct anyone's spelling on these message boards - don't want to be THAT guy - but I needed to vent, and since I haven't really blogged here in more than year, I figured this was a good place. Just for the record, it's definItely, not definAtely.

Phew. I fele bettur.

http://baby.thefriedmans.net

No, not that way.  

On March 8th, I got my official email stating that I was now in proud possession of a California Preliminary Level I Education Specialist Instruction Credential, valid dating back to December 20, 2005 through January 1, 2011.  You can even look me up on the state's website.

Cool.  Now our fearless President and his trusty Congress can pass whatever brilliant educational laws they please; I will still be able to get a job, at least in the state of California.  At least until 2011.

The other day it occurred to me that my job requires a different outlook on life than other people's jobs.

I was out at P.E. with my students, and one of the kids had a tantrum of sorts because she didn't like being told she could not play catcher in our kickball game.  She ran to the sidelines and refused to rejoin the game.  This is not the first time something like this has happened with her, and I decided that this time when the power struggle ensued, I was going to win.  I insisted that she go back and play; she had to get in line to kick the ball at least once.

Needless to say, this did not go over well with her.  She intermittently screamed, cried, swore at me, and made threats, but I held fast to my demand that she kick the ball at least once.  P.E. was over; the other kids had already lined up and gone back to the classroom with my aide.  Ultimately in a burst of final rage, she screamed "Fine!" and ran over to the plate so I could pitch her the ball.  Yelling at the top of her lungs, she kicked the ball (I think she was actually trying to kick it at me, but this is a small kid, and it barely made it back to my feet).

So what was my reaction to the crying, screaming, swearing, and threatening when all was said and done?  I praised her for following a teacher direction she didn't want to follow for the first time since she had been in my class, possibly for the first time in her several years at our school.  I also gave her a pencil from the pocket of prizes in my apron. 

Totally different outlook on life.  But at least it was a cool pencil.

Lauren: hey jude
Mel: take sad song and make it better?
Mel: i gtg though
Lauren: :-)
Mel: we are gonna go shopping
Mel: LOVE YOU!!!!!!!!
Lauren: I'm glad you know enough about pop culture to recognize that
Mel: YOU ARE COMING SOON!
Lauren: OOOOOOH are you going to buy me presents?
Lauren: I like chunky sweaters
Lauren: I am coming in 1 2 3 4 5, 5 days
Mel: no I was not
Mel: I got youa dn lex a gift already
Lauren: on the 5th day I will be there
Mel: and its really pretty
Lauren: Is it heavy?
Mel: sorta
Lauren: Is it a horse?
Mel: duh
Lauren: horses are pretty, and they're heavy
Mel: so is YOUR MOM!
Mel: except not at all
Mel: and shes my mom
Lauren: don't tell my mom she's heavy, or she'll cry
Mel: damn that whole sister relation thing
Lauren: I don't know about your mom
Mel: shes not heavy
Lauren: You're adopted
Lauren: Speechless?
Mel: yeah thats why I look exactly like you dork
Lauren: I'm adopted too
Mel: whoi's mymommy then?
Lauren: Mom and Dad kept a birthing wench in the basement
Mel: hahaha
Lauren: After you were born, they chopped her up and fed her to Max
Mel: eww sto
Mel: stop
Mel: i gtg love you
Lauren: The truth hurts
Mel: o
Lauren: ok bye bye
Lauren: have fun buying me stuff
Mel: i got you your gift already
Lauren: say hi to my horse for me

I never have to take another class at CSU-Dominguez Hills again!  As of Thursday at around 7:45 pm, I officially finished all of the coursework required to obtain my California Level I Special Education (Mild/Moderate) teaching credential AND my Masters Degree in Special Education - Mild/Moderate Disabilities.  Although I'm not 100% through with the school yet - there's still paperwork to be filed and the Masters' exam in April - I never have to sit through another 3 hour torture session again.

 I feel great.

The odd part is that I have been taking classes nonstop for the last two and half years.  My life has been characterized by working full time and taking 4 classes.  I haven't had my evenings to myself on a regular basis in a long time.  What will I do with all of that free time?  Hone my TV watching skills?  Take up birdwatching?  Experiment with my home grown nuclear reactor?  Finally finish my intergalaxy telephone?

 Maybe I'll start writing this blog again...

 

Word of the Day:

Dear Continental, Delta, Southwest, American, and every other stupid commercial airline,

I am writing this letter to inform you that you suck.  Because you repeatedly jack up your prices around the holidays, you are making it impossible for me to see my family during my winter break.  While I'm no economic genius, I understand the basic concepts of capitalism and supply and demand.  I also understand that you take advantage of people like me, who can only take vacations during the holiday breaks, because that's when the schools are closed.  Flight prices magically go up between $100 and $300 from normally overpriced airfare if I want to fly during the only time when most children and teachers have time off.  I've been really excited about having some time off and seeing my family.  Thanks a bunch for ruining the only thing I was looking forward to during the break.  I'm sure I'll have a wonderful time sitting on the couch by myself while everyone else I know (including Lex) is still at work or is away visiting their families.  While we're at it, give a big high five to your friends the cruise lines, resort hotels, Disneys Land and World, and the rest of your evil little club.  In conclusion, you are a bunch of capitalistic jerks, so [insert your swear word of choice here] you.

Best wishes in this holiday season,

Lauren

 

Word of the Day:

frantic (adj) - very excited with worry or fear

And I have the web link to prove it:

 www.grab.com/awesome/Lauren
 

You can be awesome, too, and you can tell your friends how awesome they are!  Go for it.  Spread some of the awesomeness around!

 

Word of the Day:

destitute (adj) - without food, shelter, or money
 

Good news for pork lovers:

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/science/nature/4386510.stm#startcontent

 

Word of the (many) Day(s) ago:

digress (verb) - to get off the subject, especially when speaking or writing

Hi.  You many not remember me.  My name is Lauren.  I used to have a blog around here, but some time during the last two weeks I fell off the face of the earth.

Actually, I didn't fall off the face of the earth (although the two earthquakes we had last weekend made me seriously think I was going to).  It's just that during the last two weeks I finally felt the effects of being seriously over-committed.  Apparently, working as a full-time teacher, taking four graduate classes, attending physical therapy three times a week, attending regular therapy once a week, and being married with a dog doesn't leave you a lot of time for blogging.  Who woulda thunk it?

 

Word of the Day:

harass (verb) - to bother repeatedly