Teaching the Grandson

Having grandchildren is the greatest ever experience. Tonight we went our for Jane's birthday dinner. My mom and dad, our son John and his wife Kia was there along with the grandson. Papa has to teach him all the wrong things. I showed him how to hang his spoon of his nose. He did it after the 2nd try.

New Color

We know many of our friends like the new fiesta and get excited about the new colors. But for us they could make it in any color they want. Heavens how many colors or dishes does one need. If they would make something we could use like the bakers or cannisters then fine as we have purchased them and they do a great job. HLC must hope the people buying this stuff will not get tired of it. Personally the square stuff if a waste as the bowls do not stack and the only part of them that is squareish is the bottoms. I know squareish is not a word. From some of the posts I have read about the new fiesta the posters should be saying, "Hello, my name is _______ and I have an addiction."

Andy and Jane

Dr Visit

Well there is some much going on with my back I don't know where to start. Probably the worst is there is slippage of about 8mm between the S1 and L1 disc. The doctor told me it is not if I have surgery but when. There is about a 30 day lead time to get it done. I still want to see the Doctor at Washington University Medical Center in St. Louis. This happens April 1st. I am thinking of putting this off until the middle of August as we have a long trip planned for the first part of August and then there is the Fiesta Conference. I know I shouldn't put it off that long but Jane has been looking forward to the trip. She tells me that it doesn't matter but I know she is just making me good. So I have to be a very good boy and not do something to cause any more problems with the discs.

Will keep everyone posted as to what St. Loius tells me. If you are a praying person say a prayer for me.

Thanks
Andy

health and a call for help

Well yesterday I got to see the report of the MRI from the neurosurgen. Basically I have stenosis which is where the bone around the spine shrinks and squeezes the spinal cord. I see a that Dr. on Tuesday and then from there to Barnes in St. Louis to see a specialists for a second opinion. The pain here lately has not been that bad. Getting out of bed is hard as it seems that is when I have the most pain. My primary care Dr. and the sports Medicine Dr. Tell me that I should put off surgery as long as possible. If I am not in sevre pain and don't have any weakness I should hold off. I will have to see what the two neurosurgens have to say. From there we will make a decession. If there is nothing else to be done but surgery then Jane and I will miss this year's conference.

When we go to the conference this year I will need help in getting things out of the van as I can not lift heavy items and heavens tubs of fiesta are not light. Any takers out there that might be going to the conference? I would then need some help in getting back to the van the stuff that does not sell. I am sure I could buy you a drink or two for helping Jane and I out.

We will have some good deals on items we are taking to this year's conference.

Thanks
Andy and Jane

boring

My blog must be very boring as no one comments anymore. ISAT testing will be over this week. Actually this week is makeups, but many of my students were gone last week so this week I am scrambling around getting students out of different classes to do the testing.

Not too much longer and we will be heading to Pittsburgh. We are still planning on attending.
Will not be there for the mixer as we will be coming in late on Thursday. We are setting up at the show and sale but not sure on how much stuff we will have. We will have some good deals as we are clearing out the inventory. Be sure to save your money as you can pick up the good deals.

Kind of like a fire sale.

Andy

Auction

It looks like we are looking towards the end of May for the antique shop auction. The person we want to use has an auction planned for the first weekend in May. Will post pictures and other news as it comes along.

Andy and Jane

rambling

Today I really don't have much to blog about. The big push for the big state test at school is causing many of us to panic. I am not just talking about teachers here. The students are also beginning to look stressed. There is so much push to do well on the test that is about all that is being talked about by teachers and administration. Yesterday I received my NEA magazine and there was an article about some school districts that were doing any with recess times in the lower grades as the district felt that this time could be put to better use to work on test prep. I think holding schools accountable is fine but at what costs. Several months ago this same publication wrote an article on a district that decided to change the local test to measure student growth. The students were doing well on the test but the administration decided to change the test. On the new test the students did terrible but on the other test they did great. Is it right to teach to one test? I personally think not as there are other things in education that are more important.

To get students pumped up we give away I-Pods and $100.00 gift cards. This seems to be a good idea but then again I wonder if it is effective.

Then you come to the students I work with. They have a hard time doing well on the tests. Many of them have difficulties with reading but we expect them to read the test on their own. No Child Left Behind says all schools will have 100% of the students meeting standards by 2012. What about the student that comes to school not feeling well that day or his or her dog died the night before. I am sure they will feel like doing their best on the test. I amazes me that people say it was something good from the Bush administration. When he was governor of Texas their education system was one of the worst in the Union. I would like to hear what others have to say about NCLB or the testing your student takes in school.

Then again there is talk about tieing teacher pay to how well your students do on the test. Not every class is the same and from year to year each is different. The of course there are students that really don't care about the tests as they do not get a grade on it.