Bless the responsible teachers for doing what they can.

Anyway, what would be a reasonable price for a used Wii console? And used games? I tried to look at ebay and saw a HUGE range of prices. I'm clueless.

Emmett bought a Wii with money he made from umpiring. He paid about $200. He got the Lego Star Wars game for Wii (he'd already had it for the computer and DS) and loves it. We also do the Wii Bowling fairly often.

We're looking forward to the Harry Potter Legos for Wii what with all the wandwaving etc.

One of the interesting things in the Freakanomics books was that having books in the house was a good indicator of how educated and successful the kid would be. But you didn't have to actually read them to the kid, or have regular story time or anything like that. There just needed to be books in the house for the statistical correlation. I'm not sure why. Maybe just that knowledge is valued and available.

A lot of the stuff Kat is talking about we try and begin to address with our preschool story times at the library. Free.

And watching a kid go from no english - to singing in english and even telling stories -- amazing. no guarantee of success, but one more push in the right direction.

Before I started doing story time I had no idea the difference it could make .

A lot of the stuff Kat is talking about we try and begin to address with our preschool story times at the library. Free.

LOVE storytime and at our public library, they have a great senior/preschool program where seniors read to kids. And, yes, kids make HUGE strides. But again, storytime is once or twice a week. What are the kids doing the other 166 hours?

The truth is, I find most of my students totally amazing because they are resilient and smart and motivated. Many overcome some overwhelming obstacles just to be in a seat. They all overcome some level of peer indifference to education. So they amaze me.

And then I despair because (many started college this week or last) I realize I taught them the same stuff I was teaching to the 7th and 8th graders I had who ended up at USC on a full ride. So those 7/8th graders had so many more years to practice than the seniors who have been dumped into college without enough time to master the skills they should have mastered 5 years before.

The upside of my day? Noah had a blast at the San Diego Zoo. We've been reading Not the Hippopotamus and we got to see Hippos at the zoo (along with polar bears, the new elephant exhibit which kind of rocks, koalas who were actually awake, lions (and the backstage area of the lion enclosure), monkeys, apes, and, his favorite flamingos! The zoo exhausts me. I'm glad we have a membership because it means we can go back.

Part of what I do with my story time is a craft - which can be as simple as a coloring page. yes is creative, but it is fun, yes it also it is something that goes home with them . And then they tell dad, or grandma, or big brother about a story. or sing them a song. It works. Still not enough, but it is amazng how a little effort can make a difference. and I try to get the moms to be invovled. so now two people are singing 5 little monkeys ...

best thing about zoo memberships - some days you can just go watch the gorillas.

Maybe just that knowledge is valued and available.

Also that books are pretty. And to be coveted.

I'm glad we have a membership because it means we can go back.

Absolutely! That membership was one of my best purchases.

They still send me something every so often asking if I want to renew. I'd like to. Even though I live in OREGON now.

I wonder if my parents are paying them for the guilt trip.

best thing about zoo memberships - some days you can just go watch the gorillas.

And the otters. Bad days can be cheered up immensely with some otter watching.

And the otters. Bad days can be cheered up immensely with some otter watching.

This is very true, and is why I wish we had a zoo membership. Hmm, maybe once Pete is done with the current art deadline, I will suggest a zoo trip. Otters!