Nezzy-Love Likes

If you read Half-Past Kissin' Time, you may know Nezzy, of Cow Patty Surprise. Nezzy's famous, not only for her entertaining writing style, but for the warmth of her heart; a visit to your blog from Nezzy is good for a smile. I learned tonight that Nezzy's in the top five of a 40+ weekly writing contest and needs Facebook Likes on her post. If you're on Facebook and would love to make a sweet lady's day, please visit her post, Walk Like a Man, and give the girl some love. The contest ends Sunday at noon. Thanks!

The Benefits of Gambling?

My dad struggled with addiction all his life; he was a workaholic, an alcoholic, and (after quitting alcohol), a gambler. For all of his failings, he really loved my mom and was thinking of her when he humbled himself enough to tell us that he was facing serious consequences for gambling, which included potentially losing the house they'd lived in for more than 30 years. Fortunately, given that there are nine of us siblings, we were able to help repair things with the IRS, and they were able to keep the house. Months later, Dad discovered he had acute myeloid leukemia and passed away five days later. When the casino sent a big bouquet of flowers to the funeral home, some of us were really ticked off; it was a reminder of the pain our family had suffered.

Today I learned that a local tribe wants to open a new casino with 3100 slot machines and the rest of what goes along with them. Projected revenue from this casino would be $454,052,349.  Seriously?! What good could possibly come that would outweigh the societal cost of such an operation? Our governor shared this information in an email, and I appreciate it. Although I don't really want to read political stuff, I'm usually glad when I do take the time to find out what's going on these days. 

How about you? Do you keep up with what's going on in your state? Do you have any thoughts/opinions on the presence of casinos in your part of the world?

Friday Fragments: Episode #274

Welcome! I'm still getting dressed, but make yourself at home; 

link up and come back later to find out what's happening in my neck of the woods.

[To learn the ins and outs of Friday Fragments, please click here.]

I'm trying to figure out what to do with Milo and Steve next week, when Mr.4444 and I will be gone from 6:30am to 7:30pm. Days like those, it's inconvenient to have dogs, but I wouldn't give them up for anything.

***

Sometimes I think Google has planted a chip in my brain; 

some of the email ads I get make me turn and look behind me to see who's spying on me. 

Yes, I'm aware that my web browsing is tracked, but sometimes, it seems beyond that.

***

At our Halloween party, our friend Casi (of Casi Lea Photography) set up a "photo booth."

The photos turned out beautifully; 

I've already ordered a Snapfish poster collage of them and can't wait to see it.

***

I've got to redo my header, now that my hair is much darker.  One of these days...

***

Grades are due tomorrow, so that's it for me!

Link up your own fragments below 

and make some new friends!

How Tests Test

I'm gonna go out on a limb and tell you that of all the weeks of school, of all the days special ed teachers suffer through (last day before Christmas break, last week of school, etc.) the weeks of state testing are the absolute WORST!

First, we don't get to choose the dates; this year, we're testing the day before (and after) Halloween, no matter what. Clearly, test organizers are heartless, maniacal sadists. I guess I should be grateful that all four days don't fall into a single week; we are testing again this week.

Second, we're testing brains (typical learners, as well as those with special needs) which have barely unfurled from a summer's worth of shriveling! Want to know what sixth graders know? Why not ask them in June, not November!

In particular, my students with special needs face questions that make them feel worthless, and there's nothing I can do (legally) to make it any easier. Calculators are not allowed on most parts of the math test, even if the student relies on them on a typical day, and very few of my students know their multiplication tables; it's really tough to watch a student "multiply" like this:

  8
  8
  8
  8
  8
  8
  8
+8

The testing schedules throw our entire days off; there is nothing "normal" about a testing days. Afternoon classes take place in the morning, morning classes take place after lunch. Even with printed copies of the altered schedules, my poor students and I don't know whether we're coming or going. This is especially hard on students with autism (and teachers who were up until 2:30am last Saturday). Students whose schedules are off get a little rowdy or crabby or confused or all of the above.

On testing days, a special ed teacher might get lunch, but the rest of the day is shot; students with special needs often require triple the time other students need to take the test, and that assumes that the student is cooperative, well-rested, there on the day of testing, and medicated, when necessary. I had one student take more than three class periods to finish one part of the reading test this year, because the kid could not maintain focus for more than 30 seconds, it seemed. Regular ed teachers do get a break when students are actually testing, but special ed teachers, who have to read tests to students, do not (except for the reading test, of course).

Of all the weeks in the year to send your child's teacher a thank you note, testing week is the one I recommend choosing. Especially when, like this week, testing also coincides with quarterly grades and report cards!

And you thought Halloween was scary.

Wednesday Hodgepodge

Joyce, from This Side of the Pond, is kind enough to host this weekly meme, 

which asks questions and allows bloggers to share what's on their minds.

1. My sister is celebrating a birthday today. Happy Birthday little sis! What's one way you're like your siblings?  If you don't have siblings how are you like your lifelong best friend or cousin?

I resemble all of my siblings in that I am hard-working and devoted.

2.  What's the first thing that comes to mind when you think of yourself at age eighteen? 

I was the first one of my nine siblings not to move out immediately upon the clock ticking midnight of my 18th birthday. (I made it another eight months before leaving for college across the state.) 

3. Sculptor-actor-painter-dancer...if you could excel in one of these arts, which would you choose and why?

I would like to excel as a painter, as I appreciate naturescapes. However, I'm not interested enough to work at it.

4. What's a scent that takes you back in time, and where does it take you?

The scent of canned roses (air freshener) takes me back to my grandma's bathroom, sadly; I never grew to appreciate the scent, as it was always associated with, well, bathroom smells.

5. November is for Peanut Butter Lovers (National Peanut Butter Lovers Month).  Are you a lover or a hater?  What's your favorite dish/recipe that calls for peanut butter? 

I like natural peanut butter these days, on my toast in the morning. I am also a fan of peanut butter M&Ms.

6. What do people thank you personally for most often?

People often thank me for being thoughtful; I enjoy doing nice things for others. I especially enjoy the old fashioned custom of bringing a meal to someone new to the neighborhood or suffering a loss; people appreciate that so much, and it's an easy thing to do.

7. What event this year are you most thankful for?

This year, I'm most thankful that my kids are doing well in college and have kept in touch. That, and the fact that Mr.4444 and I have settled into empty nesthood without too much drama.

8.  Insert your own random thought here.

I can't tell you how happy I am that state testing ends today!!

Visit This Side of the Pond to link up and make some new friends! :)