-=> Quoting Ruth Leblanc to Regina Finan <=-
 RF> Good to hear from you again.
 RL> I haven't been doing much replying lately - hence the delay in getting
 RL> back to you. However, I do get around to logging on most days but
 RL> mostly I'm too tired to write back and sometimes I don't even finish
 RL> reading the package.  :(
 Mail here has been running rather poorly.  Seems like every holiday mail
 messes up for about a week.  I have been replying badly myself.  These
 warm days I have been rather busy doing more unpacking and cleaning.  We
 had moved several months ago, but because of the heat problem in this
 house I haven't been able to really do alot.  Of course, now its cold
 again for a day or so and I'm stuck not getting more done.  Maybe thats
 good because I would probably run myself ragged doing more than my body
 can handle.  As it is now I am falling asleep at 10 and waking at 6am or
 earlier.
 RL> I must have about 10 packs - I pick them up at the dollar store. I
 RL> should check my box and see how many I do have, maybe it's about time
 RL> I bought some more.  With current class sizes running up to 36 I'd need
 RL> quite a few packs to accommodate the whole class.
 
 Thats an awful amount of kids to contend with.  
 RL> Do you have any of the card game programs for the computer. I know you
 RL> can get all kinds of solitaire games really cheap.
 
 Yes, Jeremy will sometimes play solitare when I am playing (on his father's
 computer) to try and compete with me.  Unfortunately, its not easy as I win
 most games.  He also plays hearts across the network or plays another one
 against the computer.  I personally like the manual card games, but visual
 is good for him too.
 RL> I would venture to say that just about any card game has learning
 RL> potential. Even a simple snap game is beneficial - for the little ones
 RL> at least. "War" games are the most popular learning tool. Each child
 RL> turns over a card and the first one to come up with the
 RL> sum/difference/product, etc. wins the cards. You can even use the
 RL> cards by yourself. Turn two cards over and use the correct process to
 RL> come up with an answer - saves making up worksheets. 
 I am going to have to try some of this.  I haven't as of yet.
 RL> I've also made up bigger number cards for use in the classroom. Each
 RL> child gets a card and then gets together with another child to create
 RL> a problem. They then find another person and another until they finally
 RL> have got together with each student in the class.  Again, one student
 RL> can do this alone using a pile of number cards - it's just not as much
 RL> fun.
 My kids have met a older friend in the neighborhood (23) who is into art
 and animals (such as snakes and monitors).  I believe he does airbrushing
 for a living.  He wants to teach the kids airbrushing which is fine with
 me if he really wants to try.  He's really quite good at art.  He also
 told the kids if they get gardner snakes or such he will help them to
 take care of them.  Most of the kids in the neighborhood know him.  I
 have to go this week and meet him (to be on the safe side).  My kids don't
 go over his house alone.  I don't go over men's houses alone either so I
 have to get my husband to come also.
 Regina
... All I need is a Wave and a board to surf it on.
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