This is really amazing...


Just makes me shake my head. We are in a financial crisis and they do nothing? I don't get it. What a mess.

ride'em cowboy!

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dinner @ zios. highly recommed pep pasta.

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gober bunny

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watchin mon v. aliens... it's Great!

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aidan with his mcdonalds toy: ginormica from monsters v. aliens

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Today was a pretty cool day. My students have been working on their 5th Six Week's Video Project for about 5 weeks. They were itching to present them and to show the class. All were GREAT. It is amazing that they get better and better every year. But, technology and the human mind keeps advancing.

Don't let people convince you that kids get worse and more stupid every year. It is simply not true. I find that each year I teach the students are more engaged, philanthropic and have more of a sense of service to their community. I know people are going to read this and think I am diluted. It is simply my world and my observation and it is true of the students that I am very lucky to have.

Today at the end of one a video about Malaria (it kills a person in Africa every 30 seconds), the kids had a bit of fun:

The two students who were presenting had a message to the kids, donate to Nothingbutnets.net to help send nets to African families. $10 can get a net for a family. It saves lives.

Then they had a slide with a caption: "Because we all know mosquitoes are not as friendly as we think." (yep that's me. the class busted out laughing)

It made my day. I am a lucky teacher.

Six Flags Fiesta Texas is a beautiful park. It's built inside a former quarry and the stone hills around it encircle it and give it a great feel. I told Aidan that Batman's cave is probably inside one of those rocky cliffs. He said, "Yeah Dad... it is," with big wide eyes.


Aidan and Norma riding one ride that I will NOT get on. I hate those chains... I just think they are going to snap at any second. With how much I weigh, it just might!


He's such a handful, in a good way.


What a beautiful day!


Aidan's first roller coaster. He got off and said, "Again! Again! That was AWESOME."

Aidan and I had a great time on the Wiggles World rides.


He was very excited to press the button that raised the plane in the air.


What a ride!


Waving to Mom.


Hello ground dwellers.


Meeting Tweetie was not quite as 'super' as meeting Batman, but it was still nice.

This was definitely the highlight of our trip. Aidan got to meet Batman and he did it within 5 minutes of entering Six Flags Fiesta Texas. Remarkable that Batman was the ONLY super hero we saw all day. Of course, Aidan was wide eyed.


Aidan anxiously waiting to meet his hero: Batman. Batman posed with all the other kids with his hand on his hip while standing.


Batman noticed Aidan's shirt - a Lego Batman shirt. He got down on Aidan's level to get a closer look.



Aidan doesn't give this look very often. Total and absolute awe.



Here it is. Batman wraps his cape around Aidan. Wow. He was excited.


A collage of the moment. Definitely a 'wallpaper' winner. :)

going in to see scooby's mysterious haunted mansion!

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@ 6 flags fiesta texas in san antonio. aidan is having a ball. nice theme park.

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no big boy rides yet. @ 6 flagsfiesta texas

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We had a great time at the zoo yesterday. We drove downtown and took the metro train to the zoo. It was a lot of walking for Aidan, but it was good for him. We got lots of exercise.

The zoo was packed with people and we got there just in time. On our way out there were huge lines. I am so glad we took the train in because traffic would have been a nightmare.

Check out all of the pictures here on Facebook

heading back on the train.

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@ the zoo. we took the metro train in from downtown. aidan loved it.

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I put this together tonight. I'm going to show it as an "ice breaker" or "fresh air" during my 2 day AVID training next month. It was originally an email that was sent to me a bunch of times by teachers a few years ago. I converted it to a power point, but it really works better in a video.

What do you think?


Six Phases of Teaching from fordee on Vimeo.

ice cream & chuckie cheese!

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free ice cream! aidan won.

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havin fun

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We had a really productive and fun day today. Norma went and picked up the rug vac today and got all of our floors cleaned. I met with the two ladies that I will be presenting with in April and we worked on our AVID social studies path training presentation. Aidan had a fun morning at preschool and did his phonics.

Then we had a very fun trip to the park and had dinner. After dinner we went to Sonic for some desert.

It was a GORGEOUS day. 75 degrees and sunny. Perfect. After 4 days of rain it was sorely needed. Spring Break has officially begun.

see all the pictures from today here

I put this together for a training that we are doing in April. It's a bit of "Fresh Air" or an Ice breaker between parts of our training. It is called "What Do Teachers Make?" I adapted it from an email that made the rounds a few years ago. What do you think?

What Do Teachers Make

Note: I had no idea when I created this that it was an original poem created by Taylor Mali. He has a great story about it here: What Teachers Make - "Inspired Email Spam" versions
Original Poem here: What Teachers Make by Taylor Mali

Thanks to MsTeacher for pointing this out! Check out her awesome blog here

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Aidan began phonics training at preschool this month. He loves it. It is time that he is pulled out of his regular preschool class to be one-on-one with another teacher to learn. He gets to be with Ms. Meredith, who was his first teacher at preschool. He loves her. He is getting a lot better. We are still working with him on holding his pens, but frankly he does a better job than some of my sophomores!

He was writing a quick note to Pappy for sending us Pittsburgh Steeler Super Bowl Champ t'shirts.

We have been cleaning like crazy the past couple of days. I guess you could call it "Spring Cleaning." It is spring break and we are cleaning. It is also pretty gloomy outside. The past four days have been dreary. Cold, rainy and crappy. Monday is supposed to be much nicer.

Our plans this week are:
Monday - I'm working with two other teachers on getting a 2 day AVID training organized. I have no idea how long that will take - probably much of the day.
Tuesday - Norma is going across town for a haircut and Aidan and I are going to Chuck E. Cheeses!
Wednesday - Houston Zoo!
Thursday-Friday-Saturday - We are going to San Antonio to see Uncle George and Aunt Marla. In the plans are a trip to Six Flags Fiesta Texas. We have never gone. Should be fun for Aidan.
Sunday - prepare for the next day of work! :(

I shouldn't complain. I'm glad to be off work.

Happy Birthday Mom!

Wow, it is amazing how quickly this year has flown by. We are just one day away from Spring Break. It will be wonderful to have 9 consecutive days to recharge my batteries. Norma and I really need it.

This morning I conducted a 2 hour AVID tutor training at school. It was a lot of work, but it went off well. Tutors from around the district were there. Such wonderful kids. All of them have college credit and come in to tutor our AVID kids twice a week.

On Monday (first day of spring break), I'll actually be working. Me and two other teachers will be preparing our two day AVID Social Studies training. It is going to stink to have to work, but I will be so happy when everything is ready.

We have been trying hard to plan things to do for Spring Break. We might go out to San Antonio to see Uncle George and Aunt Marla. We are definitely going to the Houston Zoo, but we have to see what the weather is like. Aidan and I are definitely going to play a lot of video games! So whatever we do... we'll have fun.

@ karate. aidan is in the middle.

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hope u guys are doing well.

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U2 has been on Letterman each day this week and they have been incredible. You can watch all of their live performances here: U2 On Letterman, March 2009

U2 was fantastic and I love the new album. Thursday night's guest was Jon Stewart. As always he was incredible.

Part I.


Part II.

I have been working on the AVID district website all night. I am beat. Time to head to bed.

What do you think of it? Humble ISD AVID Website

Why do I have to tune into Comedy Central to know the truth?

@ the park.

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luck of the irish. we did buy this one... one buck.

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easter bonnet! in target. (we didn't buy it)

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The Texans had a nice weekend. Pulled in two players that are need positions - DE and Backup QB. After trading away Sage Rosenfels for a 4th rounder to the Vikes, the Texans signed Dan Orlovsky from Detroit today. He is 6'5" 230 lbs and played a lot last year for the crappy Lions. I'd have rather seen them bring in a kid with upside than some vet with no legs left.

But, the big news of the weekend is Antonio Smith. The defensive end from the Super Bowl Cards is quite a player. It's going to be great seeing him come off the edge opposite Mario Williams.

I've read two draft experts claim that the Texans would draft a DE or a QB in the first round this year. Obviously that has changed. I would love to see them get a great corner or safety. We'll see. The draft is only a month and a 1/2 away.