Subbing throught the grades

What I have learned the last few weeks as I subbed throughout the school:

6th: Out of control! These kids don't shut up. Ever. Or think. No I'm not going to tell you the answer to the problem, use the brain God gave you and figure it out.

5th: Love them. Miss them. Not out of control yet. Still listen to their teacher. Love the curriculum.

4th: Miss you! Even excited to return to my kiddos!

3rd: Little loves aren't very good about being quiet either. They are in for a shock next year. What? I have to line up when the bell rings? I have to be quiet in line and in the hall? I have to raise my hand and not just yell out whatever I want in class? But they sent me home with several pictures and compliments!

2nd: So enthusiastic for school! Actually cheered when I told them it was time for math. Cheered more when I told them the problems might be tough but I thought they'd be smart enought to figure them out. Love it!

1st: Didn't sub for them this time but they had me exhausted by lunch time the last time I tried it.

K: Haven't taught yet but I remember how dirty I would get when I volunteered in the preschool. Love walking by and hearing your songs!

There is definitly a reason why we all teach the ages we do!

The Adoration of Jenna Fox

Since I didn't fall asleep until sometime after 3 this morning, my grand plan of going snowboarding got derailed. After napping most of the morning I started reading The Adoration of Jenna Fox. I can't tell you much about the plot because the whole story is about Jenna learning about herself. She wakes up from a year long coma and can't remember who she is but does remember things she might know from text books.

Up until the last two chapters I really liked the book. The format and writing style were a little different from what I usually enjoy but the plot was interesting and I obviously didn't put it down all afternoon. But here's my complaint: the last two chapters completely went against the Jenna that was revealed throughout the book. The author completely destroyed the story for me by having Jenna act in a completly un-Jenna way.

Now it gets even more interesting. There is an interview in the back of the book with the author. The interviewer asks the author if she ever had a different ending. The author replies she did! She was originally going to end the book a little earlier but while running on her treadmill one day a new ending popped into her head and she had to go write it all down. Uh, hon, stay off the treadmill. Your brain was obviously a bit oxygen deprived because your new ending took away from the rest of your great book and betrayed your main character.

Oh, and who wants to start a book club so I don't have to type out my book reviews?

Catching Fire Sequel

Coming August 24!

Spoilers! If you haven't read Hunger Games and Catching Fire, don't read this post.

I love these books. Like, super-duper love them. I just re-read Jessica's copies that were being passed around all the teachers and they were even better the second time. Since the next book, Mockingjay, is coming out in only six monthes I thought I'd tell you what I want to happen in it.

Okay, here come the spoilers...don't say I didn't warn you.

As some of you know, I am Team Gale all the way. I LOVED the end of CF when he greeted Katniss in the ship with the words, "There is no District 12." He needed to be the one to share that with her. I'm guessing the action will pick up from there but I've been wrong before. I thought CF would have more to do with K and P's visits to the different districts.

My hope for Mockingjay is that we get to see some things from G's point of view. I'd love some flashbacks of him watching the games with K's family. What were his thoughts about what she went through and how K and P got along? What part did he play in the rebellion? How did he manage to get out? I have so many questions.

My prediction for the book is that not all of the main three characters (K, G, and P) are going to make it out alive. Obviously, death comes often in these books and I don't think Collins will take the easy route of a perfectly happy ending. While many people see K ending up with one of the boys, I'm going out on a limb and saying SHE will be the one who dies in the end. I do think she'll make some sort of sacrifice to save either one of the boys or her sister.

Other questions:

Why does President Snow smell like blood? Oh, my gosh he is so stinking evil!

Did K's dress designer survive his beating?

Background info on anyone or everyone (I think K and G's dads were killed because they were starting a little uprising of their own!)

So in case you can't tell, this is my all time favorite series (sorry Harry!) and I can't wait until August 24. Any thoughts from you?

Voice of Reason: The Mormon Wedding Post

Voice of Reason: The Mormon Wedding Post

If you have ever attended a Utah wedding, you must read this. So true. Please don't hate me if your wedding resembled any of these.

They can't add!!!!!!!!!!

This is why teachers' salaries should not be based on their students' test scores.

1/2 - 1/4 does not equal 3/4!!!!!!!!!!! It would if the sign was a + but it is a -. From this I have learned one third of my class will be unable to read a pregnancy test.

The perimeter of an object is found by adding up all the sides. (so far so good) But 6+5+4 does not equal 14!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! If I am responsible for teaching fourth graders to ADD I quit! They get how to do perimeter (what I teach) but can't add so their answer is wrong! AAAAHHHHH!!!!

Oh, but we have all seen Avatar (except the teacher) and have ipods and cell phones. At least I think I have them convinced Martin Luther King did not free the slaves, although one of my boys keeps calling MLK a negro.

Thank goodness I'm going off track in two weeks!

Sperm please!

Yes, you read that right. According to this lovely article, now that I am over thirty I have less than 12% of my eggs left. If I don't have a baby by 35, almost all my little ovums will be gone. Frack! Not my fault the stupid dad for my little one hasn't shown his face yet. Like I need something else to make me feel like an old spinster. Thank you Mother Nature!

Good for me!

Went to the doctor for a check up today. In the last year I have lost 12 pounds. Yeah me! Laying off the cheese sure seemed to help. Now if I can just get motivated to exercise I will be cute and tiny like Anne!