Random Tid Bits

1. Have you ever taken one of those colored personality tests? I'm always pretty even across the board. One color isn't a lot stronger than another. Either I'm confused, or I'm a well rounded person. 


2. I have a first year student that wanted to know how I grade. I'm assuming she wondered why she got a B, and not her usual A that she got in her high school art class. I said, "I grade on the points that I have on the handout, which are also listed on the grade slip. I think about the good and bad examples I showed in class, and think about if you followed some of what I discussed in those pieces. What I've covered in class is pretty important; have you been listening? Finally I grade on what the body of student's work looks like. Then I ask another teacher to see if they agree on what order I have in the line up of grading. There's a lot more to it, than it may seem. Partly it's subjective, but mostly it's about having trained eyes."
   
   She looked at me blankly. I think she wanted her work graded much like a math worksheet would be graded. #3 is wrong, and #4 is right.
   
   Artwork isn't really graded like that. I do write on their grade slip things they can approve upon, and they have a week to get it back to me.


3. I've felt a bit like I've been dragging all week. Isaak got the stomach flu late Saturday night. He was sick all Sunday. I got it Monday at the tail end of work. I felt awful! Travis got it a little after me. I had to tease him because he kept telling Isaak he needed to eat bread when he wasn't feeling well. My mom and I said, "Clear liquids first". When Travis was sick I kept saying, "Eat some bread! How about some pizza?" Mica got it on Tuesday night, but it never amounted to anything. He just slept and slept.


4. I finally went in to get my eyes tested. If you remember I didn't do the best on my driver's test for the vision part. I didn't want to get my eyes tested because I didn't know if it was polyps pushing on my eyes, allergies, or actually my eyes. I finally made it into an eye doctor. My one astigmatism, and other eye that doesn't have one are basically playing tug of war. I actually see pretty well. So I'm getting glasses as soon as they come in.


5. Do you remember the kid that got attacked by a gator on Disney's turf? It happened awhile back. The little boy that died is from here. The parents haven't talked in public until now. What they have done to honor his name is truly wonderful! 

Sick - Sort Of

On Wednesday Isaak woke up feeling sick to his stomach. He looked white! Whiter than his caucasian skin.

Travis stayed home with him because I taught that day. Then he was bouncing off the walls after a 15 minute rest. Travis took him to school at 11 or so. Travis said said to me, "I think Isaak was playing you."

Isaak has never played sick. In fact both boys enjoy school. They don't like to miss because that messes up their perfect record for attendance.

After basketball practice that night Isaak cried in the shower because his stomach hurt again. That's really very unlike him.

I sent him to bed.

That night sucked! Isaak wet the bed because he was sick. Mica doesn't even try to go to the bathroom when he has to throw up. It went all over himself, and his bedding! I said, "Mica you're almost 12! Just try to hit the toilet!"

I decided that they were both staying home on Thursday. It was so back and forth up until that point. All of Thursday they were fine! Too fine to stay home. I had no idea they were going to be like that.

A bucket they never used.

Most of that day I did laundry. A full made bed. I figured I should take a picture, since it's rarely made this nice. The boys got Yellow Submarine bedding for Christmas. 

I also helped Mica study his Spelling Bee words. I'll be happy when his Spelling Bee is over. It's February 9th. Mica thinks more like Travis, and Isaak thinks more like me. Helping Mica study is like helping some other kid that's not mine. Many of the words I have to look up to see if I'm saying them right. Mica spells great, but I start to think...what's the point to learn these words that no one uses? There are lists from 2nd grade to 8th grade. He has to study them all. Anyhow he has most of them down. He at least has a chance to win.

I did make the boys stick with the BRAT diet: Bananas, Rice, Applesauce and Toast. I always add JELLO and probiotics to the mix. Beyond that they were happy, energetic kids. 

We had a silly moment with eyeliner to make bad eyebrows and a few mustaches. 

Then the day was done.

Whenever I've gotten the stomach flu it's a 24 hour thing.

Travis and I never got whatever the boys had. Yay!