Forbes Forum

CATSUP!

There was a family of tomatoes crossing a field, but one of the smaller ones kept falling behind. Finally, the big leader went to the straggler and just stomped on him and said "now, catch up!"

It has been weeks since we posted so now it is time to "catch up"! School has started and that is always hectic, even though we spent a fair amount of time trying to prepare for the year ahead of time. Cheryl has 23 Second graders, a fairly large class, but there does not seem to be any academic or discipline problems among them--and that is a big blessing! Dan has over 50 students with 21 in his largest class, and 10 in his smallest. He also has a "readings in history class" that never meets together, as it is an independent study class requiring reading and reports.

One of our bigger changes has been our computers. We now have a newer version of windows, so it takes a bit more time to do things (especially Powerpoint for Dan). We are also on a school-wide grade, attendance,etc. program, so doing grades, keeping records, etc. is different and not like the way we used to do things. Elementary teachers have been especially stretched. We all agree, however, that when it is time to do grades, it will be MUCH nicer!

A new "perq" for teachers is free access to RosettaStone for learning a language. Dan decided to try Mandarin Chinese, and he has completed a couple of units. Part of it teaches him how to pronounce the new alphabetical system words--which was the reason he took it, but part is also trying to teach him simplified Chinese Characters, and he is having real trouble with that!

A week after starting his Chinese study, he got an email from a man at Baptist Mid-Missions whom he had written to a couple of years ago about teaching in China (short term). Over the last two days, Dan has received an invitation to go to China this summer for a month to teach History. What do you think--should he start making plans to go? Let us know.