Thursday's 13 reasons why I feel old today

1. Not having my Mama Pat to talk to anymore.
2. My daughter is taller than me.
3. I really enjoy sitting around at night watching TV.
4. Star Trek the Next Generation is 20 years old.
5. I am excited by the idea of spending my income tax return money on a new mattress.
6. I am not spending my income tax return money on a cool vacation.
7. I got excited about walking up the stairs at school and not panting at the top.
8. That I feel the need to have an elevator key at school.
9. I can't go to Edgefest to see the Killers because my son and his friends will be there.
10. I can't stand most music playing on the radio.
11. No one knows my name anymore. I am Mom or Ms. 100 Farmers.
12. All the clothes that are now really comfortable have elastic in them.
13. My Dad's beard is white and I'm begining to look like my mother.

Death to TAKS'es!

At the end of the Fall semester last year, I had my students write an anonymous letter to me telling me what they liked, disliked, hated or just wanted to change. Overwhelmingly I heard that they didn't want me to mention the word TAKS again. They were right. I realized that I had begun prefacing many lessons with the admonition that "You will see this on the TAKS exam." What was I teaching them? Information on the test? How to bubble within an oval? I love teaching history because it is about people and the decisions made right or wrong. I hope my kids examine their lives and see themelves in some of these past events. I didn't go to school to learn how to proctor an exam. Who wants to retire with a plaque that reads, "Her students bubbled in the correct answers!!" I love what Alone on a Limb had to say about what we are teaching our kids. Death to TAKS'es!!!!

Ahoy matey

There is a brand spanking new middle school opening here next school year. Applications are now posted on the district website. The kicker is at that they are asking for a written recommendation from your current principal. Besides the fact that it is only February(which is still kinda early for transfer fever), you are only transferring within the district. You are not moving to another town. It also puts you in the spotlight. You are giving away your strategic position. You are announcing to your principal that you are fleeing the ship. That you have seen the iceberg and are already getting ready to launch the lifeboats. While some might say it is a courtesy to let your principal know of your intentions, it has just been my experience that they just don't take it well. Edumacational egos are very fragile and especially so for new principals. You also never know when you're going to have to work with that former principal again. I think that we may have hit the iceberg before Christmas break however. You can feel the ship starting to break in half. Do you think the captain has figured it out and will let us leave yet? We don't even hit the TAKS water until next week. Thar' be rough waters ahead mateys.

Homeboys-Reason #2

1. Do these kids really think I am going to chase them around and around the portables just so I can bring in another disgruntled teenager for skipping? Maybe if there was a candy bar bounty for each one. Seriously dudes, I do the metal detector everyday. You can run but I recognize your faces. Pulling up your hood to disguise yourself? Give me a break. You wear the same green hoodie with "Mexico" emblazoned upon it everyday. Oh and BTW-your friends ratted you out ten minutes ago.
2. You're three inches shorter than my 5 foot 3 inch frame but act like Mini-Me Mike Tysons. You are very busy being BAD. You also cry when your mother gets upset at your parent conferences and carry your little brothers and sisters around very tenderly. I get the macho nod when your friends aren't around.
P.S. : I like you too.