Category: family fun

First day working with a class of kindergarteners and 1st graders and I am doing one-on-one assessments of reading sight words, knowledge of numerals, shapes, colors. I am struck by the poise and confidence of some of the students who can write their answers without hesitation, by the ones who misspell a word and catch their error when they read it back to themselves (those silent terminal e’s that lengthen vowel sounds are tricky). At the same time, there are some who grope for their answers with some uncertainty, as if they are unfamiliar. What makes the difference in these examples?

Preparation at home, conscious or otherwise, that demonstrates commitment to their child’s education is part of it. Perhaps some parents think the bulk of their work is done when their child walks in those schoolhouse doors. Sadly, that’s when the work really starts, when the teachers and librarians and other kids expand their exposure to all kinds of new knowledge in a new environment, purpose-built for learning. Teachers can only do so much with 20+ children and can use the support that a dedicated one-on-one parent/child relationship provides.

Children are in school 6 hours or so per day out of the 24. Consider than in those 6 school hours, children will eat lunch, have recess, engage in some other enrichment (music, art, health & fitness). That might leave only 4 hours or less of classroom time. They are capable of learning every minute they’re awake. So what happens in the 18 hours they’re not in school is at least as important as those focused and planned hours. Every child should have a family structure that treats learning as a lifelong activity and knowledge as a tool for understanding the world and one’s place in it. Too often we blame the schools for the failings of the larger society, for it’s inability or unwillingness to value each person within its care. Both society and the schools are ours to make to our requirements.

The annotated original

Originally uploaded by Eira M..

I have a few more functions like this I could come up with.

if laundry_is_overflowing {
empty_it_into_basket();
take_clothes_to_washing_machine();
run_washing_machine(clothes);
}

if finished_with_book {
shelve(book);
}

if only the processing units involved were as easily directed . . .

Pilots often refer to the rain shadow that we see over the Olympic Peninsula as “the big blue hole.

But I had no idea it got that big. No wonder it’s #%%^^&*& hot.

[P]ublishers say they print garbage so that real literature, which seldom makes any money, can find its way into print. True, to a point. But some of them print garbage so they can buy more garbage.

There was a time when I wanted to be like Sting, the singer, belting out, “Roxanne …” I guess that’s why we have karaoke, for fantasy night. If only there was such a thing for failed plumbers, politicians or celebrities who think they can write.

[From Guest Columnist – Typing Without a Clue – Op-Ed – NYTimes.com]

A thought experiment that occurred to me this morning.

What if some member of the chamber of people’s deputies decided not to take his seat in Washington, instead taking his oath in his state capitol or home district, and managed his constituents business from there? Yes, it’s kind of a whizzy sci-fi idea where someone replaces human interaction or proximity with tech.

Flaws:

• legislating is about deals and favors: hard to consummate those without personal contact
• proximity still matters: why else are cities growing and why are the most powerful/influential cities so large (London, New York, Tokyo, 10 million people or more with millions more in the surrounding region)
• can you really serve your constituents while remaining at home

Part of the idea for this came from conversations earlier in the week, where it was mentioned that no one gets rich in public service. The best you can hope for is, as a congress member, to take home your campaign war chest when you retire (I think they should be required to donate it to the treasury). Where they make money is in graft and other corruption that only comes from them all being in one place where the money flows so easily.

Hmm. It sounded a lot more interesting this morning.

Update: it’s gone. Kinda sad to search for this post and find mentions of when I got and enjoyed it. Ah, well, the new owner looks like he’ll enjoy it. That’s good.

Looks like I may as well sell my road bike.

It hasn’t been ridden in I don’t know how long and has more sawdust on it than road grime. It’s not like l am going to ride it. I have my Diamondback hybrid (as if I ride it either) and I am more likely to take it out than a dropped-bar road bike.

So off to Craigslist, I guess. Something about selling it bothers me, though. Perhaps the persistent sense of regret at not riding it more (or at all). At least I hope that’s all it is.

Done.