You got to warm up a frog slowly,
By Scott
First, put a frog on a bed of wood. Then, get a long, straight, sturdy stick and rub it on the frog. Blow on it. Don’t let it in contact with wind. After five minutes, it should elongate and turn brown. Then it should ignite. A perfect campfire!
Where I am from
By Nisha
I am from the beaches of
Minnesota, swimming in swimming pools, playing with friends and having sleepovers.
I am from the jungles of
India, the Rainforests of Africa, the tiny forests of my house.
I am from Webkinz World, watching TV, the fireworks of 4th of July and waking up after dreams.
I am from Christmas, Easter, Halloween, New Years Eve and Valentine’s Day.
And I am from a leaf of my family tree.
Jerel
Once, there was a frog circus, where frogs were trained to do amazing tricks like jumping in the air, rolling over, and doing flips. People from all over the world came to watch these performers. It was a magnificent sight. Sometimes on special occasions, they would bring in the “Golden Frog”. This was the elite frog. Although he was not really golden, they always showed a bright gold light at him to make him look golden.
On one special occasion, The Golden Frog was brought out to do amazing tricks like it was supposed to. The crowd was pumped up and excited to see the golden legend. They laid the frog on stage without any warm-up. The frog didn’t do anything. The crowd started to chant, “GOLDEN FROG! GOLDEN FROG!” The frog just sat there. When they bribed the frog with some insects, the frog jumped high in the air! The crowd got louder. The frog was about to land…
7/12/2007
Embedded Report
By: Manisha
I did my report on Hieroglyphic Mystery Codes. This is one of the summer classes at
Rainard School. I have important information about this class for you to read.
· What building are they in? Where are they? They are at Rainard School and are in building A.
· What do I see? I see the teacher explaining to the students about dung. Also students are writing.
· What are they doing? They are writing and painting Hieroglyphics.
· What can I hear? I can hear the teacher and students talking. The kids are asking for help on their projects. They are talking about laughing and glitter.
· What do I feel physically? I feel the cool breeze of the A.C.
· What are they using? What materials are they using? They are using information, books, paint, paint brushes, paper, water, markers, spices, glitter, and cups.
This is my embedded report. I hope you found my information that I recorded was interesting.
Thank you!
Where I’m FromBy Jerel
I’m from humid, breezy afternoons in September. I’m from playing baseball with my team.I am from eating warm apple pie with cold ice cream.I am from going to Sea World with my friends in a big charter bus.I am from shooting water from water guns at my friends on a hot, summer day.I am from watching TV while lazily lying on a couch, from playing games on my computer.I am from sliding at an almost 90 degree angle on a water slide at Schlitterbahn,
Galveston. I am from watching bright fireworks rocket up into the black sky, and then exploding like a bomb, shooting sparks everywhere.I am from watching the horrible new about the devastating Hurricane Katrina hitting Louisiana, from watching huge tidal waves hit a beach on TV.I am from blowing the candles on my ice cream birthday cake.
Where are you from?
Nisha
July12, 2007
Hieroglyphics (Embedded Report)
In hieroglyphics, they were making papyrus bookmarks and scrolls with hieroglyphics. Mrs. Wanda put some coffee in a mug and a picture of a priest comes out. I heard people humming and talking. I felt the room is very messy because they were using paint and glitter. I thought they were doing really good.
Jerel
Embedded Reporter
In the cooking class, they were making pizza. They were making the dough, and there were lots of flour everywhere. I could learn lots of pots panging together. Everybody was laughing because somebody was about to sit in a tiny a chair. A kid was telling a joke. Everybody was becoming very distracted.
They became settled eventually when they began talking about yeast. It smelled very good in the kitchen; they were kneading the dough. Everybody started talking again when a teacher walked through.
It was very cozy in the room, and the temperature was just right.
The yeast started to smell like old cereal. The yeast was fermenting. I just learned that beer has yeast.
Overall the class was interesting. I learned a lot of facts personally.
7/9/2007
Once there was a really strange frog. He liked the warm water instead of the cold water. One day he was basking in the sun. He said, “What a beautiful day for a swim in the pond.” The pond was always warm so he jumped right in! Splash! The water was a freezing cold!!! “O no whatever shall I do?” he cried helplessly. There was a child there and he saw that the frog was shivering. He felt bad for the frog. He carefully picked up the frog and gently warmed it up. “You got to warm a frog early,” he said to himself. He started to laugh and the frog started to croak and giggle too. It was a happy day for them both, because the frog had been saved by a jolly old boy. The boy had fun saving the frog. The boy ran to his house and put the frog in his own warm pond.
Where I’m from?By: Rishabh
I’m from Sea World with all the sea creatures, Disney World, Schlitterbahn with all my family to have water fun, India to visit the rest of my family, Canada, with snow fun, Dubai to see fascinating things, and
Texas where my home is. I’m from yummy pizzas, cakes, pasta, and cookies. I come from a religious Indian family and we live in
Katy, Texas. I’m from sports that include Tennis, Soccer, and Tae kwon-Do. I’m from delicious fast food places including Subway, Taco Bell, Taco Cabana, Pizza Hut, Palio’s, and the cold Smoothie Factory.
Incitement 2007
Originally uploaded by afrench2.
Please Welcome!
I’ve been teaching a Writer’s Workshop and I wanted to introduce my new contributors to the site. I have eight creative writers who have posted some of their fantastic work on the Incitement 2007 page.
Take some time to read enjoy their writing by clicking on the Incitement 2007 link in the Categories (right sidebar). Then make a few comments (good and constructive). Let them know they have an audience!
Thanks
While Dave and I were in France visiting Amber in April, I purchased three black and white prints of children in the streets of Paris. One is of a small boy happily carrying a fresh baked baguette, one is of a line of children crossing a busy Paris street holding onto the coat tails, dresses or shirts of the child in front of them, and the last is a girl peering over a wire fence at a fork in a canal system. All the pictures were taken in 1956, 1952 and 1972. One of the artists caught the eye of Roxane’s mother, Josslyn.
In broken English or through translation provided by Amber, Josslyn told me that the one photographer, Doisneau was a popular favorite of hers. Turns out, he was also quite prolific. Amber arrived back in the States just before our sailing trip bearing gifts for all of us from the Lalandes (Roxane’s parents). My gift was a very thick, small book filled with black and white photographs taken by Doisneau. During my down times, I picked up the book and thumbed through it. Every time I do, I see something different. There are so many layers to Robert Doisneau’s work. For a taste of it, try this website or come visit me in Magnolia to look through my book! http://www.staleywise.com/collection/doisneau/doisneau.html
Yesterday was an interesting day, now that I look back on it. It was pretty much a normal day until I made the daily trip to the post office box where I found an invitation to a wedding. You know how sometimes companies create a junk mailing that tries to imitate a fancy event. That’s what I thought this was because I didn’t know of anyone getting married.
I had no idea what is was for…it took reading all the way down to the young man’s name when I realized it was an actual wedding announcement for a young man whom we’ve known since living in Mandeville. We were neighbors from about the time he was 5-6 until he was a senior in college. The interesting thing about him is that he is highly gifted. As a boy, he was intense. My son played with him from time to time and always came away stressed but happy. What is so rewarding about receiving this invitation is the young man that he’s turned into. He had a little sister born when he was in high school. The affect on his emotional and social growth was phenomenal. He’s going to make an excellent husband and father.
When you are a parent of a gifted child, all you can think about is getting through each day doing the best that you can to meet their academic, social and emotional needs. I never thought about having young adults, meeting that special someone getting married, securing a job. Gifted children do grow into gifted adults.
Later, when I got online for my email we received another wedding announcement. I know I have never received two announcements in one day. We had just seen this couple, sailing for ten days with them and 13 of our other friends. Our history with Sabrina started when we agreed to host a German student for an entire school year. She was 16 at the time. Sweet, curious, independent, flexible and very willing to share her culture with us and to partake in our culture. She eventually became the big sister for both my own two children and nearly an adopted daughter for us. We are super excited for her and Michael!
To round out the day, we had supper and drinks with several more friends. One young man, around 22 years of age, came with a friend. After our introduction, I learned that he had been in the Marines and had been married and divorced once already. During the discussion, I remembered that in a few days, Dave and I will be celebrating 25 years of being married to each other. I even mentioned how my grandparents had been together for over 70 years now during our conversations. All the day’s events caused me to reflect on the broader aspect of how and why some humans of the past select one individual to live with for a great length of time and how that way of thinking may be changing with the present culture in our world. Information, technology, scientific discoveries, increased population will affect our relationships with one another. It will be a challenge for our children to live with the same expectations that we had in our generation. But hopefully, the notion of caring deeply for another will remain foundational. I wish the best to every young couple out there thinking of making a lifetime commitment. It will take work, patience, cooperation and knowing that the ‘grass is greener’ right where you are!
I spotted this link while visiting my friend’s website (Nancy) and thought I would try it out. I can see where this can become a very useful site for educators. Off the top of my head, a teacher could use it to give instructions on a particularly confusing homework assignment or give verbal directions for a classroom project. Thanks to Nancy to bringing it to my attention. There’s a great big world out there on the internet!
How to Make a Banner Voice Thread
http://voicethread.com/view.php?b=2593
Since I have been having such a hard time finding the ‘perfect’ job here in the Houston area, I’ve started to kick around the idea of going back to college for a Ph.D. in gifted education studies of some sort. I could begin to develop some ties with the academic area, strengthen and deepen my research skills and knowledge of the gifted and have a flexible schedule. The bad side would be the lack of any major income, tons of bookwork and some travel. Any suggestions, info about pursuing this level of degree. How much work would a Ph.D. be?
This entry is in response to Texas Association for the Gifted and Talented’s quest to support the gifted homeschooling parent. Thanks to Tracy Weinberg, Deputy Director of TAGT for asking what their organization could do to improve the academic situation of the gifted child in Texas.
“I have only been in the state of Texas and a member of the TAGT association for one year. So my suggestions come from that viewpoint.
First, I would find an accurate number of families who educated their gifted children in settings other than the public school systems. I would survey them to see the specific reasons (academically and socially) for their choice. I would also have them build the ideal educational environment (no limits on resources) for their child. This would force the parents to begin thinking about objectives or goals to meeting their child’s academic needs, rather than wallowing in the present lack of services.
I liked the commitment that Tempo stated in the last issue (Spring 2007) about providing a parent’s perspective in future publications. The article entitled, “A Parent’s Perspective….Enrichment Opportunities” is a good start but more articles that specifically address the issues that the gifted parent deals with are necessary. To find that out, you would need to survey those parents to see just what caused them to move their child out of the public school system. Specifically.
I like how you phrased “we need parents of gifted students to politely and persuasively demand….” That is so critical. In St. Tammany Parish were I raised my two gifted children then taught there for 3 years, parents played a critical role in improving the education for their gifted children. We volunteered in schools alongside our teachers and administrators to improve the environment for all children, not just our own gifted child. In the process, everyone benefited. The gifted program has been in existence for over 15 years, today it is strong but it must be protected from budget cuts on a constant basis.
Teachers are also critical to the process of change. Teachers of the gifted are extremely busy working to provide the best academic challenges for the unique population. If I were working full time, I wouldn’t have time to write this email….
I think the grand majority of Texas parents of the gifted just aren’t aware of the successful programs out there. When I came here I truly thought that all school districts provided the type of program that St. Tammany Parish did. Perhaps more case scenarios are necessary for both the parent and the principals.”
You would think that with a state as big as Texas, and a community as expansive as Houston and my ability to be dual located at any one time would give me a big enough net to find the perfect job — but it doesn’t. I’ve joined a number of listservs in and outside of Texas for both the gifted teacher and the homeschooling parent of the gifted child and have come to determine that if you have lived all your life in Texas you are quite happy with what they have to offer for your gifted child (maybe not entirely true for the profoundly gifted.) If you have experienced some of the other educational situations outside of the state, you’re not. My options are still quite limited. I have my application in for a GT Specialist with an ISD nearby, have interviewed for a gifted teaching position in a different ISD, and have substituted at a small private school designed to teach the gifted population that may or may not have a teaching position open in the fall. None of these situations come close to the all day, all subjects fully supported program for 4th-6th graders team taught with another qualified gifted teacher that I had in Louisiana in a public school. Last year about this time before our move, I warned my former principal about the bad news. She and the entire staff at the school would have to move to Houston. I said this in a jokingly and complimentary way. Little did I know…..
I had an interesting thing happen on my way to Baton Rouge to help my son pick out a new apartment for the fall semester at LSU. I left Houston around 11 am and had to make two stops during the four+ hour drive. The first stop went off without a hitch. I’m still left wondering when will gas stations create a pump handle that does not require one to use two hands to keep that costly gas pouring into a gas tank. It had been lightly raining for most of the trip but the last 20 minutes was a solid downpour and I needed another stretch break.
The second stop at a Shell convenience store found me following a skink (or lizard, for all ya’ll not from the south) down the potato chip aisle in the convenience store. Mind you, he was dressed for the occasion, dressed to match the motled brown and gray tile beautifully. I happened to look up at the cashier and said, “Did you know you have a skink running down your potato chip aisle?” She thought I said ‘a snake’ and ran completely around the checkout counter, all the while saying, “if there is a snake in this store, I’m leaving.” Now, I’m a very soft spoken person so I could understand her confusion, so I was nice enough to say in my most effective teacher-voice, “no a lizard.” She calmed right down and laughed at the confusion. I poured my self a cup of hot coffee, looking for the well-dressed patron but he had scurried away somewhere. As I approached to pay for my beverage, I noticed a local policeman chatting with the cashier. It’s a good thing I didn’t take advantage of my accidental diversion….
100_0226
Originally uploaded by afrench2.
While I am on the subject of being proud….my sister sent me this photo of Dwight and his co-workers on the USS Truman. Dwight’s been with this ship for a number of years now and is a more senior guy. I believe that his current 3 week tour (May 2007) is one of several short cruises he’s made. He’s also had several 3 month cruises over the past years. He looks too happy to consider retiring from the Navy but that may be his plan in the near future.
At the same time, being a Navy wife and mom is not an easy thing to do. Kudos to my sister (who is ten years younger than me). She’s really grown and matured over the past years! She and Dwight have three great kids, one will graduate high school next year.
Say what you want about the government that leads this country, but you have only to say “Thanks” to the men and women who work daily to preserve our and others freedoms!
Dwight is sitting to the right of the picture. If you click on the picture, it will direct you to my Flickr account where you can wave your mouse pointer over the crew to locate exactly which one he is. A note will pop up when you are correct.
I want to announce to the whole world that I’m proud of my grandparents! They are celebrating their 70th year together as husband and wife on May 10th. My grandpa was 22 when he married my grandma of 18 in dusty Kansas in 1937. They have been directly responsible for the lives of three children, eight grandchildren and oodles of great grand children. My grandpa has a great sense of humor and my grandma can discuss baseball and politics with the best of them. If you think times are rough for relationships now, try living through the Dust Bowl or working in the lead mines in Colorado while supporting a young family (with orange crates for furniture). They’ve come a long way and planned well for their later years. Picture Caption: That’s me in my daddy’s arms.
Last night, during a pretty busy storm, I got to thinking about what the ideal gifted school would look like. I’m sure there are schools out there that do some or all of this or have found that one or two of the ideas just simply don’t work in real life. In any case, these are just my ‘mind munchings’ on the matter (in no particular order).