In the shower..and I read somewhere that the warm water on the skin actually helps stimulate the thought process!

I did not go to Woodstock, I was in Spain studying to become a Spanish teacher. If I had been here, I would not have gone anyway..that was "not my scene’. Little did I realize in 1969, that 6 years later I would be teaching in the county where it took place! I have lived just a few miles from the site since 1975! I used to tell my students "en 1969 yo fui a espana, los astronautas fueron a la luna y el resto del mundo fue a Woodstock" (in 1969 I went to spain, the astronauts went to the moon and everyone else went to Woodstock!) But I have been to the Woodstock museum there, it carries me back to that time. We were all filled with a sense of righting wrongs, establishing social justice..and we did a lot. And I still have that sense..and will fight for a cause i believe in!

thank you for this information! I read it in English..I have the Spanish version but have not read it. I will look for the "Angel’s Game /Juego del Angel" The funny thing was seeing a poster for it in German when we were in Germany in 2007!

Ah, the first two sound good…you may also like "The Shadow of the Wind" by Carlos Ruiz Zafón, it was a bestseller in Europe and "Our Lady of the Lost and Found" by Diane Schoemperlen ("A Novel of Mary, Faith, and Friendship") My most recent favorite is "The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society " by Mary Ann Shaffer (Author), Annie Barrows (Author) It is set in post WW2 England, written entirely in the form of letters, correspondence between the characters.

As for your last book, I will only say, like the problem of "sexting", there are a lot of young girls who WON’T do that

my 2 cents…as both a teacher and a parent..I hear you..my own children had their share of not-so-great teachers

I was always an advocate for the child..do not confuse the union with the administration:the union is basically protection for the teachers against unfair labor practices, the administration would be the ones to make policies like the one you mention: we will not move a student

as for vouchers: I feel for the 2 who must return to the less-than-perfect public school, but what about the other kids who were already there? Why are they any less important than the 2 girls  who were in Malia and Sascha’s school?

here is what I never understood about vouchers: if the public school was bad, why not take the $$$ and fix it for EVERYONE?

after 33 yrs as a teacher…I do not believe "unions are more important than children" , it is not the way it was…I was just subbing today..I have taken a young (angry) girl under my wing to mentor….we have found something in common: we both like Obama…I gave her a copy of his last address and this 12 yr old assures me she is going to take it home and read it!!

but the truth about sharon Stone, and others with the resources:yes, they can buy more!!

yes, I know she sells books…but not to me also there are people who listen to Rush Limbaugh not me waste of my time..they do not offer anything constructive

thanks!!!

funny..I sit here eating my oatmeal, raisins and WALNUTS….as I read this…(it has become my breakfast of choice since a weight loss program a few years ago..lost 30 lbs..knew it was good for my cholesterol, an inherited problem, found my cravings decreased..learned it regulated insulin…I now believe it is the BEST breakfast: economical, good-for-you) You see the damage a teacher can do..it is so tricky..we are,after all, only human,too…but I think we should subscribe to the doctor’s oath ..”first do no harm…”. The majority of teachers are good,caring people. but my children and I have all encountered bad ones..the trick is to work around them, get past them..(it was a poor HS teacher who was the catalyst in my switiching careers..from math to language) I am technically retired after 33 years of teaching full time..I still do subbing, tutoring, classes for teachers…when I started teacher pay was very low, I was part of the fight in the 70’s to increase the pay in our state…now it is time to do it again. by the end of my career I was paid pretty well. Although I am certified to teach N-12 (nursery school thorough HS…and the HS certification is in Spanish) ,I mainly taught HS Spanish. It has become a valuable skill. currently I am tutoring a man from another country in English, to improve his language skills for his job. Last week I also read bilingual poems to a Pre-k class. that was pretty sweet! I do courses on “Spanish for Educators” in our county and also have done workshops for school nurses and school secretaries. they are all “needs-based” courses. Since elementary school I have communicated with people in other countries, starting with a cousin in England. It really broadened my horizons. as for your grandchild..he/she needs to be taught a simple,quiet response…perhaps with some humor..like “I am what I am, and that’s all that I am” (who said that? Popeye? LOL) There are some things that are out of our control….or..”ok…I’ll go back and pick different parents..ha ha” good luck and God bless

again, not surprisingly, I am in agreement with you what is the quote? “if you are not part of the solution ,you are part of the problem?” or something like that…I ,too,am tired of the negativism…and I am not so naive to think there is a miraculous solution to all the problems that face us…it will be long and hard work.. I am thinking of a poster I used to have….picture of some cute ducks..it said “Lead, follow or get out of the way” ! LOL

no he may not but it means for the rest of us that he is not part of the solution May He bless you too!!

you are welcome,dear! there are some who would deny truth. there are some who just don’t know….they do not have a broad perspective. I was just thinking this morning about the African-American students who did not strive for good grades because it was “acting white” I however could tell them “what about the good students in Africa? when I was in high school I had a penpal in Nigeria..a good student, soccer player…Joseph Chukuma Ikwegbu….what about him?” Like the white “Christians” who were racist…do they think Jesus was Caucasian? we are all only human

I am sorry your grandchild encounters such ignorance, from peers and teachers I taught for over 35 years..one thing I told students is with DNA that can now trace ALL humans back to one woman in Africa. One kid asked, joking, “does that mean we are all black?” I said “yes, some of us are just lighter than others” There is no such thing as “traitor of race” feel sorry for such stupid people

Diana very well said I had already decided pretty much the same..I feel sorry for them I also wondered what positive things they might be doing, if any last week I tutored people in Spanish and English, read bilingual poems to a pre k class and enjoy the happiness emanating from DC!

very sad..then… I feel sorry for the likes of the Duck

if you really, sincerely are having a problem doing business, I suggest you contact your elected officials and explain them. You can also, politely, write to your new President perhaps he can help you