New Camera

It's been a long time since I had photos to post. My old camera did'nt work unless plugged in and then the cord got misplaced. I finally ordered a new camera last week and received it yesterday. Now I can return to posting pictures on a regular basis.

A Tisket, A Taks Test

Something is wrong with our education system in the state of Texas. All the creativity, individuality and inspiration have been removed. The curriculum is based on TAKS- Texas Assessment of Knowledge and Skills. It is a test given every Spring to the students. It can determine if they get promoted to the next grade. Schools are judged and receive funding based on the schools performance as a whole. All they care about are test scores. So they teach to the test. It's boring. It's stressful. It's not how students should be taught. Abate makes mostly A's and some B's in his classwork and homework. Chapter tests are usually right up there too. But give him a Benchmark exam (a practice TAKS) and he will score maybe a 50%. For Fantu it's pretty much the same. So what happens when they can't pass the Benchmark Exam? They get pulled out of another class and placed in a classroom that teaches TAKS. Okay so one class of science teaching to TAKS isn't enough - now Abate has to take two? He was removed from ESL (English as a Second Language) to be placed into this course. If we hadn't insisted that he be removed from ESL they were going to take him out of Athletics - right in the middle of track season, I don't think so! Fantu unfortunately had to give up Athletics as her only other option was Choir - they wouldn't let her drop that as she is one of the stronger singers and UIL was just around the corner. She is now in a TAKS Math class. What gets me is that they honestly expect these two kids that have only been living in the USA for 21 months to pass these insane tests? Do they really expect most kids to excel in school when it is so focused on testing? Abate and Fantu really like school. They shudder whenever the topic of home schooling comes up, they worry that I'll want to take them down that road. I really don't want to home school. I know I'm not disciplined enough to do it well. I did think though of opting the kids out of the TAKS test. In Texas that really isn't an viable option. I'd just have to keep them home from school on testing day. I would then be required to meet with school officials to argue as to why my child should still be promoted even though they didn't take the test. This is something I will have to do if they fail it. Abate opted to go ahead and take the test and hope that he can pass. It seems insane to me that a child who is repeatedly on the honor roll might not get promoted to the 9th grade because of one test is an totally unjust system. Why would a child even bother to do their best all year when they know they will test poorly and get held back. I know I'd have just blown the whole thing off. It's no wonder Texas has one of the highest dropout rates. Do the schools even care when these kids disappear from the classroom? After all they will just bring the schools test ranking down. Fantu isn't required to pass this year to get promoted but it will impact what courses she can take next year. From the looks of her schedule now she won't be having any fun at school as it will be totally academics focused. Will getting to High School be any better? No. They have tests to pass in order to graduate. ACT's, SAT's, it never stops. They both took ACT Prep exams already this year. Really was this necessary? Kids that under perform on the test at this stage of their educational career are only going to get discouraged. How do you battle the low self-esteem that this can create? So far Abate and Fantu have let these test scores roll off them like water off a duck's back. For them they still place a high value on the grades they make on their report cards. If the system doesn't change soon though we will have to face the reality that these test are the all important final hurdle that must be conquered.

No.1, No.1, No.1

Yesterday (Thursday) we had a hat-trick! First Fantu and the G'ville JH Advanced Girls Choir took first place at the UIL Choir competition. I heard them sing a few weeks ago and they were really good - so I was very excited for them. Yesterday was also track meet day and Abate did it again with a 1st in the 2400 meter and a 1st in the 1600 meter. He is 3 for 3 now with wins in the 2400m.
No one is prouder than I am of these two terrific kids! No 1.

Did you get the license plate of that truck?

For the past two mornings I have awakened feeling like I have been hit by a truck. I stumble out of bed barely able to walk. Muscles so tense they feel like rocks, my back in spasms. I guess all the setting up and then packing up the garage sale, plus a bit of gardening was just a bit too much for this aging body. I felt pretty good while at work today but then the long drive home gave the muscles a chance to seize up again so I was barely able to walk into the house. I just hope I can move tomorrow.
Our garage sale was a success. We sold quite a bit of stuff - but we had it all priced so cheap it wasn't much cash in our pocket. We will manage to get some new summer clothes for the kids out of the proceeds. We are planning to hit Target on Saturday.
We also got a number of new plants into the pots, window boxes and ground on Sat. After 7 years of wanting to plant pink Oleanders along the back fence I finally found some affordable ones and Alan voluntarily planted them. I also replaced my dead pots of rosemary with some brilliant Hibiscus - the first bloom opened today. Coleus, and petunias in the window boxes and a few other flowers into some pots on the porch. It is really looking like spring has arrived!
The kids both have a busy week. On Thursday Abate has his track meet and Fantu has the UIL Choir and sightreading contest. Wishing them luck knowing they will both do an outstanding job.
Well Abate is begging to get on the laptop to practice for his upcoming TAKS test so I had better wrap this up.
Keep you eyes peeled for that truck that seems to drive over me every night, I'd like to get his license number and turn him in.

Spring Back, Fall Forward

A cake when it is cooked completely will spring back when pressed lightly with your finger. Me I often trip over my own feet and fall forward. So it's no wonder I can't get the clocks set correctly when daylight savings time begins.
It was another busy weekend. cleaning out the garage, going through boxes and bags of things stored and tossed aside. Pulling things out of the storage shed, trying to decide what we really need and what we don't. This is the longest I've lived in one house in my entire adult life. It is becoming cluttered. Add to that the fact that the addition of two kids ( a teen and a pre-teen)who are now thoroughly settled here and outgrowing everything monthly we have a lot of stuff in this tiny house. So next weekend weather permitting we are having a garage sale! Clothes, toys, household items, probably a bit of junk - but I guess that depends on the eyes it is being seen through will all be for sale. Abate and Fantu are excited. They get to keep the money from any of their toys that sell. All the other stuff that sells the money goes into a shopping fund for new summer clothes ( check back next year we will probably be selling them then - if not next month). So the boxes are full, the bags are bursting and it all sits ready to go.
Abate was a great help cleaning and organizing everything - he was bribed by his Dad with a game of golf if he helped. He was so good he even washed my car before we called it a day. Oh and he got his golf game and just barely lost to his Dad.
So Sunday night is here, Alan and Abate are both asleep and Fantu and I are both online. Back to work tomorrow, It's going to be a busy week, well to be honest the next 2 months are going to be busy.
Oh but don't worry about the clocks and if I'll get up on time for work , Alan changed them not me.

My Battery is Low

Wednesday evening and I'm feeling it. It's been a busy week at work followed by busy evenings. No track meets this week, but the practices still go on. Last night it was a bit mad as Fantu had to rush home from track practice and get ready for her choir concert and dash back up to the school. I had time then to run a few errands before returning for the concert and afterwards finish dinner, help on a project for Abate, try to watch Glee (thank God for DVR's) and then get everyone to bed. Tonight seemed hectic, but other than Mom's taxi service running around it was just homework, dinner, and Fantu and her friend Katie acting crazy. Those two are practically inseparable lately. Katie is such a lovely girl and I'm so glad Fantu finally has a "BFF".
Abate has also asked me to add that he is bored so he therefore loves to pester me.
Well my battery is nearly gone on my laptop so I guess I had better post before it goes.

Golden Boy

Another big win for Abate. 1st place in the 2400. He won by nearly a full lap over the nearest competitor. Way to go Abate!

28 Days Later....

And another month has passed. Abate didn't believe me when I commented that it was already March. No Mom yesterday was only the 28th of February we still have a few more days until March. Hmmm no Feb is a short month, never bothered with the whys, just that it's always been short - even in leap year it's still only has 29. You'd think January could let it have it's 31st day.
I'm just glad March is here and with it Spring seems to be making an appearance. A bit of green grass starting to poke up through the carpet of brown. There are a few trees in town already blooming, but sadly mine haven't yet. There are buds on my Bradford Pear that await the heat and will pop like corn bursting out any day. It's always my first to bloom and leaf.
I have quite a few dead plants to replace this winter. It was a cold one and some things didn't do too well, even my holly shrub is looking a bit damaged. It should recover though as they are quite hardy.
Abate and I got out this past weekend and cleaned out the garden and got it ready to plant. I guess a trip to the local feed and plant store are on the agenda this weekend. I'm looking forward to digging in the dirt.
Abate has a track meet tomorrow. The pressure is on for him to perform well. Alan is going to it to watch him run. Fantu didn't make the cut for the team this week, she has been feeling bad - allergies are causing bad headaches and a sore throat. Abate is having a bit of trouble with it too, but nothing will keep him from that meet. After his performance last week he's all set to bring home the gold at every meet this season.
March should be a fun month, Kids have Spring Break in a few weeks, not sure what to do to keep them busy that week. They have several track meets and the high school soccer season wraps up. Abate has been practicing with the high school girls for the past month. They are threatening to put a wig on him and some falsies and have him play in their games. He'd probably do it too! Anything to play a game.
So March has 31 days. Maybe I can get more accomplished this month then.