. . . whose blog is deemed worthy of mention! In writing my previous post, I realized that I gravitate towards the blogs of other women. I couldn't remember ever reading a blog by a guy. But I discovered a male-written blog yesterday! I had actually visited his website before, but had not taken the time to read his blog.
Rick Riordan is an author that I've glommed recently. He is a native San Antonian, so I already feel a certain affinity toward him, and until recently was a middle school teacher, so I definitely admire him! He writes the wonderful Percy Jackson and the Olympians series of books for children. I love these books, and like so many thirteen year olds, I can't wait until his next one comes out! So I was perusing his blog, Myth & Mystery, which has many entries about school visits, book tours and interactions with his fans, but also some really thoughtful entries about writing, teaching, education, children, success and censorship. I especially liked his views on censorship.
I was lucky enough to hear him speak at the Texas Book Festival in Austin last November, and he was so lovely with the kids, who were the majority of the standing room only audience in a gymnasium-sized room. And these kids really knew their stuff-- they knew his books backwards and forwards and were just so excited about reading them. How many kids get excited about reading anything? Especially books about Greek mythology?!
So I am proud to add Mr. Riordan's blog (another one by a writer!) to my growing list of favorites, and pleased to read about a guy's take on the world as well.
Showing posts with label teacher. Show all posts
Showing posts with label teacher. Show all posts
Saturday, January 19, 2008
Tuesday, December 18, 2007
In Remembrance: Paul Epner
It is with the greatest sadness that I resume blogging: I want to write about a lovely, funny, creative person who died suddenly last month. Paul Epner was the father of Thalia's best friend from pre-school, and our friend too. I don't know the details of his death, only that it was sudden and that he left our world far too soon. My heart breaks for his family--his wonderful, gracious wife and his adorable daughter, and his extended family. Especially for his daughter, who is fatherless at the tender age of 6.
Paul was a middle school math teacher for many years, and for that he should have received a medal! I can only imagine how his students must feel, suddenly teacher-less in the middle of the school year. You got the sense that he really connected with the kids, because he wasn't going to talk down to them and they "got" his humor. He also wrote several books for children, which we are proud to own and will always treasure. He was always self-deprecating about his writing, but the books are real gems. Thalia adores them. I am rather partial to Paul's Herbert Hilligan series of books myself. Several of his books taught math to kids in a "fun" way.
Paul was great fun to talk to. You really couldn't have even the shortest conversation with him without laughing. He had a dry humor and an unusual take on the world around him. I'll miss talking to him!
I looked him up on the Internet today, and found his teacher bio on his school's website. It was uniquely "Paul-esque" and made me laugh out loud, of course. Here it is:
Epner, Paul
Mr. Epner's Story
Math Guru for team 6.3
Paul Epner was spawned from loving parents Marcia and Martin Epner on December 21, 1963. Hatched in a hospital in Yonkers, New York, Paul was the cutest and youngest of his 4 siblings. Even as a small child, Paul's proud parents realized he was a "gifted" child. His mom was over protective, while his father felt that the "gifted" label meant that he could put Paul in a box, wrap him up, seal with a bow, and "gift" to someone else. Growing up in a family of "overachievers" it soon become apparent to Paul's family that he had "super powers". He soon began flying at the speed of light, could leap tall buildings and was able to solve math problems in his head. As Paul grew up and became a more "portly" child, he lost his power to fly and leap tall buildings, though he once did leap over a bush and broke his arm, Paul retained his ability to solve math problems in his head. Realizing Paul had superhuman mathematical abilities, he enrolled in an elementary education program at UTSA, and in 1988 received his Bachelor's Degree in Elementary Education. It did take two years extra for Paul to earn his degree, because Paul had a hard time understanding that a Bachelor's Degree referred to something other than his ability to remain single. However, Paul's insistence on carrying a lunchbox to all his college classes did not help Paul to become more attractive to the opposite gender. Only because of his father's large dowery to his future wife, was Paul able to marry and allow his father to get the empty nest he longed for since Paul graduated from college.
If anyone is interested in becoming a member of the Paul Epner fan club, operators are standing by. Due to the high volume of calls and e-mails from Paul's fans, it is sometimes up to 24 hours before he can respond to his adoring fans.
As for how Paul ranks the interest level of his fans, he assesses that 60%of their interest stems from the tests they put Paul through, and 40% of their interest is figured by how they treat him on a daily basis.
At this time Mr. Epner is tied up in a tour of talk shows and appearances throughout the United States, but he does try to make himself available for discussions and conferences from around 10:30-11:30 each day.
Your support is always appreciated and Mr. Epner loves to hear from his fans!
If you feel like getting help from your math textbook..... Check out this website and take a good look Tutorials, videos and other cool stuff..... Make math easier and not so tough. Don't be afraid, do it, I say...[website] will make your school day! Mr. Epner is here, he's the coolest of cool...... He will help all his students be successful in school. But you must always remember, put yourself to the test... I will always expect you, to do your absolute best!!!!!
Mr. Epner is here!
Paul once said in an interview: "In this world you've gotta find a passion in life. I love working with kids and I love to write, so I've found a special place." I hope he's found peace and another special place in Heaven.
Saturday, August 26, 2006
Statistics & School Days
I realize that despite my vow to post often, I have not been very prolific with this site! Again, I do *think* about blog-worthy items all the time, but very rarely do they seem to make it online! My last blog was started in July and finally finished and posted in August! Need to try harder to express myself on the page. :)
This week was very exciting and strange at the same time for our family. We became a family with a "school-aged child", namely Thalia, who started Kindergarten on Monday. After fretting and fussing about which school she would attend ever since January, we took the "default" option and sent her to our neighborhood public school, Beard Elementary. I must have toured and contacted about a dozen private schools in town, but in the end, we took the simplest option, which was also the cheapest one! Just a few weeks ago, our school was named 'Exemplary' by the TEA based on Accountability Ratings, and that has gone a long way in reassuring me that my kid is not going to a mediocre, overcrowded school. She is going to an 'exemplary', overcrowded school!!! Certainly, test scores do not present a complete picture of what a school will be like, but as one who works in the K-12 standardized testing industry, I consider them to be very important indicators of school success. At the same time, I was the slightest bit suspicious about the Accountability Ratings this year across the board because in 2005, our district had 0 (as in absolutely none) Exemplary schools, and this year, it has 6. Last year, our neighboring district, with similar socioeconomic levels across the neighborhoods, had 1 Exemplary school; this year, it has 11. Are Texas teachers 'teaching' the Test? And is that a bad thing? Regardless, I find a certain amount of comfort in the numbers.
As for Thalia's non-statistical, real-life experiences in Kinder? She had a GREAT week! She was escorted to school, as were the other 175 Kindergarteners, by her family (me, Dylan and Carys). We all walked to school from her friend Isabella's house located very conveniently across the street from Beard. They were so cute walking with their heads together in conversation, while we parents and siblings followed behind! We dropped the girls off at the Cafeteria, which felt a trifle hot (I learned later in the week that the AC is shut down every weekend). Everyone sits at their assigned classroom tables to read quietly the 3 books they are asked to bring from home. What an excellent idea! Thalia had eagerly picked out 3 favorite books the night before, and it has become part of our night time routine now to choose the next mornings books. We left her reading her book and sitting quietly in her chair, while other kids around her fussed and cried as their parents left them behind. I was really proud of my brave little Kindergartener, especially as she did not even know anyone in her class yet (Isabella was assigned to another homeroom). Mrs. G., her new teacher, greeted us as we arrived and lined them up to take them to their new classroom. The whole deed was done without any tears from me or Thalia, which suprised me greatly! I expected to get at least a little misty-eyed, but I didn't! Thalia most favorite part of her 1st day was going through the cafeteria line at lunch. We "practiced" ordering what she wanted to eat beforehand, based on the online lunch menu, and I explained the options she would have. Getting to choose which fruit or vegetable or milk (strawberry, chocolate or white) she could eat greatly impressed her! She met a girl in her class who "sat next to me at circle time, had her cubby next to mine, and took her nap next to me" but couldn't remember her name! We've since discovered it is Morgan, and Thalia thinks she will be her 'new best friend.' And finally, Thalia was even picked on by a big, bad boy on the 1st day! He grabbed her name tag as her class was walking by in the hallway, and Thalia fell on her bottom and cried. Poor thing! A walk to the drinking fountain with her teacher revived her. What a rite of passage! Thalia finished Week 1 with 5 'Excellents' on her take-home Behavior Chart, so we are definitely off to a great start!
Thalia is not exactly new to the idea of "school", having been in early childhood programs and then pre-school since the age of 15 months, but our entry into public school (REAL school!) has been quite a change for us. For 4 years, "school" started at 9 am, and not necessarily on time! Now, our day begins before the sun rises, and that is a tough one for all of us! Also, I have been used to being on a first-name basis with teachers and staff at the private pre-schools we've attended and walking freely around the building. Not anymore! The level of communication with a public school teacher who is in charge of 22 or more kids at once must necessarily be different from our pre-school teachers (3 per 18 kids). I rely now on emails and hand-written notes passed through my kid's backpack. To walk around my daughter's school, I am first interrogated by the school secretary, and must sign in twice (2 different lists) and surrender my driver's license. I know this is all for security reasons, but still, I miss the intimacy and informality of our previous school!
This week was very exciting and strange at the same time for our family. We became a family with a "school-aged child", namely Thalia, who started Kindergarten on Monday. After fretting and fussing about which school she would attend ever since January, we took the "default" option and sent her to our neighborhood public school, Beard Elementary. I must have toured and contacted about a dozen private schools in town, but in the end, we took the simplest option, which was also the cheapest one! Just a few weeks ago, our school was named 'Exemplary' by the TEA based on Accountability Ratings, and that has gone a long way in reassuring me that my kid is not going to a mediocre, overcrowded school. She is going to an 'exemplary', overcrowded school!!! Certainly, test scores do not present a complete picture of what a school will be like, but as one who works in the K-12 standardized testing industry, I consider them to be very important indicators of school success. At the same time, I was the slightest bit suspicious about the Accountability Ratings this year across the board because in 2005, our district had 0 (as in absolutely none) Exemplary schools, and this year, it has 6. Last year, our neighboring district, with similar socioeconomic levels across the neighborhoods, had 1 Exemplary school; this year, it has 11. Are Texas teachers 'teaching' the Test? And is that a bad thing? Regardless, I find a certain amount of comfort in the numbers.
As for Thalia's non-statistical, real-life experiences in Kinder? She had a GREAT week! She was escorted to school, as were the other 175 Kindergarteners, by her family (me, Dylan and Carys). We all walked to school from her friend Isabella's house located very conveniently across the street from Beard. They were so cute walking with their heads together in conversation, while we parents and siblings followed behind! We dropped the girls off at the Cafeteria, which felt a trifle hot (I learned later in the week that the AC is shut down every weekend). Everyone sits at their assigned classroom tables to read quietly the 3 books they are asked to bring from home. What an excellent idea! Thalia had eagerly picked out 3 favorite books the night before, and it has become part of our night time routine now to choose the next mornings books. We left her reading her book and sitting quietly in her chair, while other kids around her fussed and cried as their parents left them behind. I was really proud of my brave little Kindergartener, especially as she did not even know anyone in her class yet (Isabella was assigned to another homeroom). Mrs. G., her new teacher, greeted us as we arrived and lined them up to take them to their new classroom. The whole deed was done without any tears from me or Thalia, which suprised me greatly! I expected to get at least a little misty-eyed, but I didn't! Thalia most favorite part of her 1st day was going through the cafeteria line at lunch. We "practiced" ordering what she wanted to eat beforehand, based on the online lunch menu, and I explained the options she would have. Getting to choose which fruit or vegetable or milk (strawberry, chocolate or white) she could eat greatly impressed her! She met a girl in her class who "sat next to me at circle time, had her cubby next to mine, and took her nap next to me" but couldn't remember her name! We've since discovered it is Morgan, and Thalia thinks she will be her 'new best friend.' And finally, Thalia was even picked on by a big, bad boy on the 1st day! He grabbed her name tag as her class was walking by in the hallway, and Thalia fell on her bottom and cried. Poor thing! A walk to the drinking fountain with her teacher revived her. What a rite of passage! Thalia finished Week 1 with 5 'Excellents' on her take-home Behavior Chart, so we are definitely off to a great start!
Thalia is not exactly new to the idea of "school", having been in early childhood programs and then pre-school since the age of 15 months, but our entry into public school (REAL school!) has been quite a change for us. For 4 years, "school" started at 9 am, and not necessarily on time! Now, our day begins before the sun rises, and that is a tough one for all of us! Also, I have been used to being on a first-name basis with teachers and staff at the private pre-schools we've attended and walking freely around the building. Not anymore! The level of communication with a public school teacher who is in charge of 22 or more kids at once must necessarily be different from our pre-school teachers (3 per 18 kids). I rely now on emails and hand-written notes passed through my kid's backpack. To walk around my daughter's school, I am first interrogated by the school secretary, and must sign in twice (2 different lists) and surrender my driver's license. I know this is all for security reasons, but still, I miss the intimacy and informality of our previous school!
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