So-so day at school today. My kids were in charge of the song service for Chapel today and did a great job as usual. I make them do everything by themself - I help them get organized before we go, but once they're up there, they're on their own. I also have always expected my kids to clean the lunch area (where we sit). The pre-k/K teacher's are always doing all the clean up for their area themself. Today though I noticed that one of the K students was "helping" to wipe down the table. I asked Tammy about it, and she told me that J liked to help out like that. That's something I refuse to do - I refuse to clean up after my students in the classroom, and I refuse to clean up after them in the lunchroom. I really hope that whomever takes my job next year will carry on with having the kids do the cleaning of the table area.

I think my 2nd graders are really starting to get the hang of multiplication. Today I gave them a bunch of verbal word problems where they had to use multiplication, and they all were able to figure out what to do! For Science today I filled up one of my dishpans (which usually holds a bunch of books) with soil. Then I had all the kids gather around the kidney table and gave them all a straw. They each got to blow on the soil with their straw and see the effects of "wind" on the earth. Then I also had my spray bottle and I demonstrated what happened when there was a light misting of rain, and then what happens when there's a heavy downpour. They each then got to have a turn with the spray bottle. THIS is the kind of stuff I like doing. They'll remember this much longer than any stupid worksheet (though I DID have them do a worksheet where it showed different before/after pictures and they had to write what they thought had caused the change to take place).

I don't know if this is the right place to ask or not, but I do have a bit of a relationshipesque question. There's this guy who's been writing to me for about a week now - so far every day. He's 10 years older than me, has a teaching degree, but owns/runs a Janitorial company. On his profile it says he's divorced. Well, my one ex-bf who I stay in contact with via IM was also a divorcee', but I didn't find out until nearly three months into our relationship just exactly when his divorce had been finalized (two months before I met him.) If I would've known, I think I would have taken the relationship a LOT slower. So, anyway, recalling that experience, in my last email I asked this person about his divorce. He replied that his wife of 14 years had abandoned him (didn't say when) when a relative of hers had gotten sick and died and her relatives told her to either stay with them or she'd be cut off from the family. He wasn't terribly clear on whether or not the divorce was finalized or not (for reasons of abandoment.) I'm just not really sure where to go with this. In his emails he seems like a good person, and down to earth, but he isn't very chatty about himself. After my last two relationships, I'm feeling really gun shy, and am just not sure what to really thing about this. He does fit my criteria as far as not smoking, not drinking, same faith, and even is a vegetarian (shockers!). I'm also not sure if he's a bit more on the conservative side (as far as our faith goes) than I am.

No Lost tonight (well, a rerun, that doesn't count) so I've spent most of my evening on the net. Tomorrow is our field trip. I really hope it goes well and the kids aren't bored. I've never been to this place, and neither any of the other lower grades teachers, which is a bit scary.

No spending today. Yay! I did receive a package from a home business op I inquired about. I've gotta say that the person is persistant and sure has all the sales tactics down - of course I learned all of them myself when I was in training for my "business" so I just listen with a smirk on my face. I seriously doubt this will be something I try, but who knows, maybe it will be.

Oh! I had a great time at the Coupon Club last night. Scored a lot of great coupons, along with a couple more Morningstar! Also as I was looking through one of the inserts, I was on a page with a coupon for the resturant "Medevil Times" (sp?) and one of the ladies sitting near me told me that I should aplly for a job there - because of my hair (nearly waist length). LOL! It certainly was a novel idea.

Keeping It Frugal in Texas,
Laura