LH>         We take students, middle school and high school, to Europe o
LH> cultural tours most every summer.  It is a unique experience and tha
LH> how we get to travel almost everywhere we wish to see or go.  Our
 
Lori,
 
  That sounds like a great opportunity.  We've really enjoyed our time 
spent overseas, and I know the girls appreciate the "luxuries" of home 
a heck of a lot more as well.
 
LH>         My husband loves hearing about other men in teaching.  He fe
LH> very much in the minority in his field.  He teaches math and has mos
 
  Yes, one of those silly gender stereotypes I guess...if you're happy 
doing what your doing...then go for it.  
 
LH> grade scores.  Their problems deal mainly with difficulties getting
LH> along socially - communicating.
 
  Hehehe--normal for middle-school aged kids!  
 
LH> much is going on now that is bound to be change for the better at le
LH> in public school teaching.  Your field is bound to see improvement
LH> within the next few years as a result.  SPEECH is back as a requirem
LH> now in lower grades.  WOW!  Never though I'd see it back again, but
LH> they,
LH> whoever they are, have found students lacking in oral skills.  Must 
 
  That's good, it makes me sick to see 10 and 12 year olds who are 
afraid to speak in front of others, whether it is to read aloud, sing 
in music, or just present an idea.  Personally I think kids need to be 
encouraged to do many of those things so they are comfortable speaking 
in front of others.  Our youngest (1st grade) reads all her readers 
aloud to each family member, it gives her practice reading (min 5 times 
for each book) and it encourages her to read aloud to different people. 
She's always putting on "shows" for the family where reads poems, sings 
or tells stories.  It's quite a to-do, she seats everyone individually 
and naturally she receives kudos and applause at the appropriate time. 
As I may have mentioned in my last post, I've had adult learners drop 
from my class when they found the 12-15 min presentation requirement in 
the syllabus...so many people are too afraid of public speaking (for a 
host of reasons I am sure)
 
LH> TV.  We also have seen a comeback in phonics.  This time maybe this 
LH> be tempered with a liberal sprinkling of creativity and not overphon
LH> the little ones to death once again.
 
  You may have been following it here, there was a rather involved 
discussion of phonics in this echo not too long ago.
 
LH>         Have you dug out of your 8 feet of snow yet?  YUK!  From an 
LH> Michigander, no thanks.  We get just enough in the mountains to remi
LH> us it is winter.  Then about the time we're sick of it and the skis,
LH> warmer, gentler spring is upon us.  We have become good southerners 
LH> the past 25 years.
 
  Ugh, I really do love ND, but the winters are tough.  We've had 47" 
of snow to date and about 25" or so of that is still on the ground.  
Our xmas was the coldest on record...-30F ambient temp with windchills 
somewhere around -60F or so.  (when it gets that cold a few degrees 
just don't matter much)  Today we approached zero and there was little 
to no wind, gosh I was able to shovel without a coat on! imagine when 
you start to think of zero as a warm day.  :)  Oh well.
 
  Have a happy and safe new year!
 
TTYL,
 
  Dale
--- TriDog 10.0
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