Kontan’s Place

1. Welcome to my new spot on the web.
2. It is the source of most of my stress.
3. I broke my blog.
4. Still haven’t learned how to use FTP.
5. Still haven’t heard from blogger concerning possible ways to fix my broken blog…so I moved it here. More appropriate title and works out anyway.
6. My students are driving me nuts.
7. I think it’s an early sugar high.
8. Or the fact that one of our teachers had to dress like a bunny today because he “won” in the breast cancer awareness fundraiser.
9. It was fun for all.
10. The teacher who was actually in first wrote a check so she wouldn’t have to wear the suit today. At least the money goes to a good cause. But, I think the teachers enjoy it more than the students. We campaign with our students (for another of course) and try to influence the decision with donations of our own.
11. NCLB needs to die. The paperwork is unbelievable. Should I teach? or comparatively graph each students progress to that of the class? Hmmmm.
12. Scroll down and take a look at what has taken nest in my backyard. Ew. You know, they’re cute one at a time. In bunches of 100 they’re just icky. Still gives me the geebies.
13. We will have to endure Industry Education day tomorrow. Five funfilled hours of guest lecture from the community development foundation telling us what businesses in the area are needing to see from their future employees. Then a luncheon. At least we get lunch and some type of little hapy gift out of it. We used to visit various factories and businesses. Not tremendously exciting, but it beats sitting in an auditorium for several hours. On the upside…no students. Of course this raises a new issue…what to do with our personal children…I would like to wish Jem good luck tomorrow as he attempts to work while his girls are hanging out at the office for Daddy day. Smile!

Thanks for reading…if I’m in your regular blogroll, please update the link. Thanks for stopping by…say hi to Mr. Linky and leave your link. Comments are great too. I’ll be by to visit you soon!

View More Thursday Thirteen Participants

not by desire…no choice. I had to pack up and move. I actually thought everything was gone. Have you ever experienced this panic? I know, panic is a strong word, but that is what it is. I have come to enjoy my spot on the www. When my spot disappeared…due to the mistakes of self…there is great tribulation in my personal blogosphere. I do this for my own personal amusement. For the past few days, I have not been amused. I’ve been frustrated. I was attempting to learn FTP and for some blonde moment reason I decided to use Kontan Jou as an experiment. Lesson learned. My learning by trial and error, more error than trial, did not work. Now I do have a blog published at www.kontansplace.com but it is not what I was looking for. Think I’ll punt that idea until I figure out more about ftp. ARGH!!!! Can’t believe I had to move. Kontansplace is more fitting anyway. Thanks for taking the time to surf across the web to my new spot. If I am privilaged enough to be on your blogroll please update and I am so so so sorry for the inconvenience.

Can’t believe I broke my blog…but on a more disgusting note…scroll down and look what’s living in my backyard…

btw, I would like to know if you found me so if you don’t mind…leave a quick comment.

Welcome to spring. It’s officially warm these days. I cut the grass for the first time of the season yesterday. I love spring! It is so so so nice out! We’ve been playing ball and enjoying the sunshine lately. Softball has started and I’m thrilled to be playing again. Know what I’m not thrilled with though?

First thing, obviously I like butterflies. Symbol of life, freedom, and such happy creatures. Butterflies start out as caterpillars. No problem. Creepy crawly, but still not so bad.

however…

100’s of them are just creepy!

This was…probably still is…living in a tree in my back yard. I’m pretty creeped out here. I can handle critters and such. But that’s a lot of creepy crawly creatures. O-M-G!

Just a few pics from our trip…

Guess where we spent Wednesday! Here are thirteen things about our trip…

13. Huntsville Space and Rocket Center!

12. Field trip for my oldest.

11. Chaperoned and took youngest for fun.

10. Houston…We have a problem. Bus drivers didn’t know where they were going. Should have clued in when I asked which way they were going and they told me, not familiar I must have made a confused face because they asked me if I knew a different way to go. I told them yes and showed them in the atlas. It looked more four lane than their original plan, so they went with it…sort of. Instead of taking the direct route I described they decided to extend our adventure through a few more cities, miss the interstate, backtrack, and then finally…we arrive.

9. I had my oldest, youngest, and two boys to keep track of. The boys turned out to be really sweet kids who helped keep track of the youngest. They did everything I asked of them and were entertaining to watch as well. Loved their excitement at seeing all there was to see.

8. Lots of exhibits and attractions. Wish we had more time available.

7. Saw the Moon landing IMAX first. The boys had never seen an IMAX so it was really a lot of fun to watch their reaction.

6. Enjoyed an hour or so of rides.

5. Could not BELIEVE my nine year old was brave enough to ride the space shot. If you’ve been to an amusement park you’ve seen it. Shoots you up in the air 140 feet in 2.5 seconds, feels like a rocket launch at 4 Gs. EEEEEEK!

4. They also insisted on the Mars rover simulation and the gravitron style ride call G-force. I did the Mars deal, but I really don’t do spinning rides. Besides, youngest was an inch too short. Lucky me.

3. I insisted the kids look around the museum and tried to tell them as much as I remembered about things I recognized. I really didn’t want this trip to be all about an IMAX and rides. Whenever we went in school there was a guided tour. Little surprised it wasn’t available for us.

2. Got the boys back on the bus at the appropriate time and then took the girls around for a few things they wanted to do.

1. After seeing a few more exhibits, repeating the Mars rover, and making our way to the car we stopped and did the Mars climbing wall. Yes, I participated as well. A lot harder than it looks. Rather embarrassing to get stuck with no holds to advance your climb only to looks over….and up… to see your five year old making it to the top. The kids were really impressive with their climbing. I would love to do it again. Well, without an audience.

Great trip, tons of fun, and we’re even considering Space Camp for future adventures. Make sure you leave a link to your T13 and leave a thought. Thanks for stopping by!

View More Thursday Thirteen Participants

“Take me out to the ball game, Take me out with the crowd. Buy me some peanuts and Cracker Jack, goin after the prize boy you’d better get back…cause it’s mine! I love cracker jack.

ok ok ok, cheesy I know.

Time for softball!!! WOOHOO!!! I haven’t been able to play the last few years because my life has been consumed by grad school, but I’m really excited to get the opportunity this year! YEA! It’s so much fun and such a stress reliever. Jem was fine with me playing, he just made me promise not to fall out on the field. See, ever since passing out on a mountain in Haiti I have this issue with heat exhaustion. I doubt Haiti has anything to do with it, but the point is if I get too hot, I’m going down. Almost passed out on the field last time I played. Made it off and went out when I got to coach in the dugout. Oh yeah, that was fun. It isn’t a total out, just a not really with it kind of deal. Yes, I drink water. I try to stay hydrated. All heat issues aside, I know to be careful, I just want to enjoy playing ball.

Tomorrow is the 5th of April. It is the day we are supposed to find out who is or is not accepted to the workshop in Lowell, Mass. I figured we would have heard something by today if we were accepted. I still hope, but not too much. I look at it this way…if it happens great. It will be an exciting learning experience. If it doesn’t, oh well, that’s one week I don’t have to pay a sitter and I can plan vacation then. Either way it works out.

I’m still holding out a little hope. Would love to go.

A beautiful plantation home in Natchez, MS. Longwood Plantation was the elaborate dream of Haller and Julia Nutt. They are also associated with Winter Quarters where they rode out part of the Civil War until it was unsafe to remain. My students watched a video about Longwood today. I do not often show videos but Longwood is a strong representation of the impact of the Civil War on the plantation South.

Haller and Julia were sympathizers. They owned slaves, but they did not believe secession was the answer for the South. In an attempt to preserve his holdings Dr. Haller Nutt made a deal with the Union that he would treat Union soldiers when they were in the area if they would not destroy his homes and farm land. He treated many, but by war’s end the deal was broken by the Union. Haller also did not survive the war. Julia was forced to maintain her home and her family alone.

Longwood was their dream.

You walk in to the ground floor, the basement, of Longwood and you are awed by the beauty of it’s furnishings. They had such grand plans for their home! During the war they lived in the basement, all 10 Thousand square feet! After you tour the basement you walk upstairs. Oh what could the upstairs hold you wonder? As you look up there is shock at the sites to behold. Dust. Scaffolding. Paint cans. Tools. The upper portions of Longwood remain unfinished. It is unbelievable. When the war erupted the northern laborers dropped their tools and returned home. A roofer remained behind to seal the top. It is because of this that the Longwood we know today even exists.

In essence, the Longwood we see today is exactly as it was in the 1860s. I use the video of Longwood to introduce Reconstruction to my students. Southern planters were devastated by the war. Their livelihood had been destroyed, as was their way of life. I am not advocating slavery, not by any stretch. But it was a period of our nation’s history and I have a responsibility to teach all sides of it. Longwood is an excellent example of the rebuilding of the South. It represents an end of an era. It is simplistic, catching the attention of students, and making them think.

If you ever have the opportunity to swing through Natchez, MS, make a stop at Longwood. You will not be disappointed.

Today has been absolutely nonstop. I have always said that it takes total community support for successful schools and I am thankful to say that is what we have in this area. I got to school around 7:30 this morning and got home around 7:45 this evening. My students watched a video about Longwood Plantation and I completed paperwork. After school I had a workshop concerning using a state database of information. AMAZING! We have access to SO much! It’s called Magnolia and we are able to access numerous encyclopedias, journals, abstracts, and an enormous amount of information. After the workshop I made a mad dash to get my girls something to eat then we headed back to campus for an education rally. It is an attempt to boost community support for public schools and our district. Amazing turnout. I’m really happy to be where I am. I feel really good about my district, my community, and the support for the public school system. A lot of negative is said about public schools in MS, but guys, there are districts that are leading the pack in this nation and I think you will be hearing great things from mine in the years to come. We have several Blue Ribbon schools, Milken award winning teachers, the highest per capita of National Board Certified, our sports programs are doing great. I am proud to be a part of my school and my district.