1 week down, 35 to go...

I'll begin with the positive. 5th grade is good. Drew has a demanding teacher. He is challenged by different teachers in math and literacy. He has a nice friend in his class. He's planning on playing the French horn in band this year. Rec soccer began this week and he likes it.

Here is your chance to stop reading. After all, you came for a visit. I didn't force this into your inbox.

Only 175 more days of 3rd grade. I would like to tell you about Ellen's class and her schedule and her teacher. But I don't have that information. Here is what I do know.

1. Last Saturday morning, with school less than 48 hours away, we got a call assigning us to a teacher who is new to the district. I've decided that she wasn't hired until Friday or Saturday. So, in her defense, she may be as frustrated as I, but some of this is pretty hard to excuse.

2. I have received NO information from her teacher. No letter of introduction. Did I mention new to district? No schedule, like when to wear sneakers for gym. No teacher contact information, like email and phone number. No note saying "I prefer to cover all this at meet the staff night next week." I've never seen her handwriting, not even correcting papers.

3. No textbooks, despite them cashing my check for $85 book rental. This is a new classroom. One would think that if they just removed 4-5 students from all the other classes (who have textbooks) that those teachers should have extra books. Yet, they had the nerve to send home a PTO fundraiser where the proceeds go toward student rewards.

4. No response to my very polite note offering my volunteering body every week.

5. 5 students new to the school. That's 25%. Seems disproportionately high. This does not include Ellen, who they seem to think is new to the school. Talk about a leftover class.

6. At least 5 boys losing recess time daily. Either they have the dregs of the 3rd grade or there is a problem with the teacher.

7. School-loving Ellen in tears when I picked her up Thursday and not wanting to go on Friday. Thankfully, spending the day with Megan seemed like a more unpleasant prospect.

8. Lots of coloring going on. At least Ellen likes this. But this is 3rd grade. Could you maybe think of something else for those who finish early?

So, I'm plotting my next action carefully. I have all weekend to come up with something. I need to be careful. I'd love to yank her from the class and get her a new teacher but should she end up in third grade hell all year, I don't want the teacher to hate me and take it out on her.

Illinois State Fair

This is it. The reason that you go to the Illinois State Fair. You haven't really attended until you have seen the butter cow. Yes, it is a cow carved in butter. I actually overheard people comparing the accompanying animals to those in the display last year. It must come from upstate. I would have thought a corn husk cow, perhaps.

I was amazed to learn how food is vended these days. If I am going out to eat, I like to sit down and be served and eat food that doesn't come from the freezer at a chain restaurant. So, I've been missing the food on a stick revolution.

Most of the fair is very much like the Jersey shore. Lots of rides, tons of food, and scads of people. It was sorely lacking in animals because we were there on the last day and they had all packed up and headed back to the farm.

As a rule, I hate these events. Where most see fun, I see crowds of disorganized masses with no goal or purpose. But thankfully, at the end of tarmac hell, we encountered an oasis. The Department of Natural Resources stages Conservation World, a fair within the fair. It saved me. We were pleasantly surprised to find ourselves strolling rolling hills and taking a 35 person canoe for a spin. They had exhibits where you could fish, shoot a bow and arrow, and fire a bb gun. We found touch tanks of fish and turtles and a life sized model of a car created from all recycled materials.

Although we perambulated for 5 hours, we didn't see half of what the fair had to offer. We'll return next year, but rest assured I won't forget about Conservation World!

The City Museum

This weekend we experienced a different kind of museum. This is it. It is definitely hands on. And feet and knees and butts and anything else you can think of. It's not quite a children's museum. The exhibits aren't really interactive and I didn't notice any explanation plaques. It's best described as an enormous McDonald's-like playland for all ages. There were caves and tunnels and secret passages everywhere. There was even a slide from the third floor to the ground level. The kids loved the skateless park - old skateboard ramps without any skateboards. But outside... Wow. You would have had to drag me out of there when I was a kid. I took the big two exploring in the recycled labyrinth some 4 stories up. We scaled our way across tunnels made of fencing and could easily see the trees beneath us. I wish that I had a picture of the outside stuff. Check their website. Many parts were too old for the 2 and 5 year olds. But I think some adults were having more fun than their children.


The giant outdoor ball pit. Kickballs.








Drew & Ellen in an airplane. Part of the outside climbing.








Megan and Tim at the skate park.








Oh yeah, there was an aquarium with a stingray touch tank.








If you look closely, you can see all 4 kids aboard the train.

What Is It About Third Grade?

If you have been reading my blog, then you know that I have strong opinions on education. I thought that I had ensured that the school we attend sort of knew about my opinions. I've kept them oblivious to what I perceive as their shortcomings but they are aware that I am a concerned parent. Today I found out that they just don't get it.

Monday I received a call from the elementary school asking if we would be enrolling this year. We were on the moving list, provided by students last year. Students who are under 10 years old. Not the parents of these students who actually have a legal say. I was happily not at home when the call came so I had the benefit of gathering my wits and outlining a conversation before returning their call.

Because we were on the moving list, we hadn't yet been placed in a class. I spoke with the principal who heard me out. I told her why our name was on her list and why we had reconsidered. I asked for a teacher who would give a gentle push and provide a little more. She seemed motivated when I mentioned that we have experienced the gifted program in the intermediate school. Yes, that is all pretty generic. I refrained from bashing any other teachers or academic experiences.

Today is registration day, when we all line up and cough up $85 per kid for a book rental fee, which is yet to be adequately explained to me. At this time, we are informed of our teacher placement. We are in the third grade ghost class. We have been assured that we will have a name by next Monday.

I am pleased that they have opened up another class, meaning that there are 3 fewer students per teacher than there would have been. I also understand that some 22 students need to be in this class. Our second grade teacher told us today that they still may not form that class. It all depends on how many students actually show up and register today. If they discard this class, then the students will all be assigned to an existing teacher. If the class does form, then they need to tell us the name of the new teacher. Either way, I am struggling to understand how they are considering my request.

I suppose it doesn't matter in the long run. Even before we had children, we always assumed that we would be their primary educators. I really think that Andy and I were both near high school before we ever heard anything for the first time in school. And even then, just tell me once. No need to repeat that information. 2 years ago we had a teacher who was young and new to our district. I must say that it was our best year, and it was third grade.

Ethical Quagmire

3 sweaters, 6 shorts, 3 pants, 1 jumper, 11 shirts. Gap, Abercrombie & Fitch, J. Crew, Eddie Bauer, Tommy Hilfiger, Hanna Anderson, Lands' End. Wool, cashmere, linen. How much would you pay for these items?

Let's assume that they are on sale. About $20 per sweater? (If you find J Crew cashmere for $20, please let me know! The cheapest one on their website with long sleeves is $138.) $10 for pants, shorts and shirts? Not bad prices, right? So, that comes to $270.

The Millionaire Next Door would be proud of me. I spent $50.51. (Definitely not the code for the criminally insane, for all you Van Halen fans.) They all came from Goodwill - my new favorite place to shop. 2 shirts still have the original store tags on them. I know that used clothing isn't for everyone. I, however, don't have a problem with it. I've donated MANY things that I've worn once or twice, simply because they don't fit correctly or I was possessed by some spirit when I purchased the item.

Herein lies the dilemma. As my 10 year old posed, "Do you have to be needy to shop there?"

Well, as much as I like the bargain, we are not needy. Maybe that's because I shop for bargains. $138 for a sweater!? You're kidding me, right? NO WAY would I ever pay that, no matter how much I loved it and how perfect it would be for that wedding or office holiday party.

I justify this purchase as follows:
1. Reallocation of the clothing budget to the college savings fund. I have 4 kids who will want to attend, some in the not too distant future.
2. Reallocation to the grocery store. Saving on clothes means that I can buy organic. No bovine growth hormones for my kids!
3. After we're done with these items, they go back to Goodwill.

So, I'll continue to shop there. I will, however, draw an ethical line at creating a business of this. Think of the profits if I now listed these items on E-Bay!

Home grown carrot
Sunset
On stage

Tim is just the right age to enjoy the museum. Shopping. Checking out the coal, although he looks like he's on the mound ready to deliver a fast ball. And he loved the big bubble that we made around him but he made this crazy face every time that it popped.

Big Brother is Alive and Well in IL

What is...
* as tall as a tractor trailer
* as low to the ground as a bus-like motor coach
* as long as a train car
* as wide as a lane on the interstate
* spotlessly clean, pitch black and has large gold lettering
* has no windows but makes you feel like you are being watched
* fear inspiring

Answer: Illinois Emergency Management Agency Mobile Command Center

At least, that is what I think it was. It definitely said "Illinois Emergency Management Agency" on the side. This truck was SCARY. Black, government SUVs look friendly next to the beast we saw. I can't find a picture, not for lack of trying. I suspect that they really don't want the public to know about this machine. They could have probably financed 10 years of the new Illinois free preschool for everyone program instead of making this purchase. (Watch for that as an upcoming entry.) This looks pretty close, though you can't appreciate the mammoth size like you can when you are parked next to it at the gas station. Strange, it would seem they should have a secret gas station.


It could contain a surgical suite for the implantation of internal tracking devices. It may contain a secret interrogation room. Maybe it is a way around outlawed torture chambers. It is no doubt run by big brother. Can you see that it has expanding sides, like a gigantic pop-up camper?

Maybe I just don't get out much, but please, if I am ever in need of emergency relief, someone come rescue me! I'd have to be really desperate before I sought assistance from this city on wheels. And the only way that my kids are allowed there is if I'm dead.

If you don't hear from me soon, come looking for me. They may not like my suppositions. I'm pretty sure I'll be locked in the vehicle. It would undoubtedly show up on aerial surveillance photos.