California Vs. Utah...part 2

School in Utah is very different than school in California.  Maybe it's the reading and math material they use, I don't know.

In Calfornia, with the Open Court reading program, the students are tested each week on the story they've been reading to check their comprehension.  This district uses Houghton Mifflin, and they don't have tests.  They're also testing out a new math program that is simply weird.  It requires a lot of blocks and cubes, manipulatives like that, which are great...unless you're a substitute and the teacher didn't leave those for you to use.  Then the math simply turns into an hour of blank faces looking back at you because they don't have any idea what you're trying to teach them!!

I've spent this week in the Kindergarten class that I'm going to be long term subbing for once the teacher goes into labor and I've discovered quite a few differences between Kindergarten in California and Kindergarten in Utah.

In California, Kindergarten is A LOT more structured.  From the first day of school, numbers, shapes, patterns (AB, ABB, AAB, and ABC), months of the year, days of the week, writing their names and letters, sight words, reading, and basic math such as adding single digit numbers are drilled into their brains.  To "pass" Kindergarten and not be retained, the student has to be able to show the teacher they can do these things at the end of the year.

In Utah, Kindergarten feels a little more like preschool.  Patterns aren't drilled into their heads, (they do them in the morning during calendar time) they only have to know the numbers to 20, and so far I haven't seen a lot of math.  They also don't have to know the same amount of letter sounds as the kids in California.  Utah Kindergarteners don't have to know the short sounds that each vowel make....California kids do. 

I'm trying to decide if California tries to teach too much to their Kindergarteners in one year, and if the Utah way is better.  It will be interesting to see how this theory plays out while I'm in their classroom each day.

YouTube Friday

For your viewing pleasure today, I bring you the third installment of Friends bloopers.  Have a great Friday everyone!

Who Sings It Better?

I'm not a real fan of today's "pop" music.  Maybe if I actually took the time to listen to some of it my opinion would change, but people like Lady GaGa creep me out; Justin Bieber is a baby, and all the "pop princesses" from the Disney channel make me want to gag.  Give me The Beatles, or the best music from the 80s and 90s anyday and I'll be happy.   

Our match-up today is a classic example of why great songs should not be covered by other people; especially the "pop princesses" of today.  Time After Time, by Cyndi Lauper, was one of the most popular songs of the 80s.  The multi-colored, oddly cut hair, and kooky video all add to the greatness of this song.

First up, Cyndi Lauper's version.

Next up, a version by Ashley Tisdale.  I don't know if she was a singer first, but I know her as the voice of Candace on the Disney cartoon Phineas and Ferb.  The clip is boring because it's just this picture, but you get the idea.

A question:  why do people continue to make crappy covers of beautiful songs that sound like bad karaoke?  WHY, WHY WHY?!?  Did that version make your ears bleed the way mine did?  I couldn't even finish this version, it's so horrible! 

Well, we know which version I prefer, how about you?

(Later the same day I wrote this post)

Hold the presses everyone...this post isn't finished yet.  I just found a cover of Time After Time that I think I might like better than Cyndi Lauper's version!  I'm not going to tell you who is singing it until after you listen to it:  I don't want to bias anybody's opinion.

Without further ado, here is a third version of Time After Time:

Barry Manilow has redeemed himself from his HORRIBLE cover of Rick Astley's Never Gonna Give You Up and proven to the world that you can cover a popular song, make it sound different, put your own spin on it, and in some cases have it sound better than the original!!  The key change at 3:20 is beautiful!

So, which version do I prefer?  Now this is a tough call.  I think I like Barry's version the best!

Which do you prefer?



January Pictures

January has come and gone.  Here are a few pictures from the first month of the year.

The view from outside our apartment

Daddy being the "bucking bronco" for Brandon!!  Giddee up, horsey!!

The last week at my long term sub job we did a Flat Stanley project that gave me the chance to decorate the wall outside the classroom

The crazy students I taught for six weeks.  Believe it or not, I miss them, and the wonderful school they are at!

Ten On Tuesday

10 Great Television Episodes

Wow, this is a tough one.  There have been SO MANY great television shows.  Notice how it doesn't say "The Best Episodes Ever", it only says "Great" episodes.  I may not like the entire episode, but the clips you're about to see are those that I think are great....and they're not in exact order.

You can disagree with me all you like, leave a comment with your suggestions!

Here we go:

1.  The Cosby Show - Happy Anniversary
This was during the "golden era" of family TV.  The "Happy Anniversary" episode is a classic as the Huxtables sing to their grandparents.

2.  The Golden Girls - One Flew Out Of the Cuckoo's Nest
This is the final scene from this HILARIOUS show.  I LOVE THIS SHOW and no matter how many times I see an episode, I laugh and laugh!  What makes this scene so special is that these four women aren't acting; the tears and emotions are completely real.  Everytime I see this episode, I cry and cry.

3.  The Carol Burnett Show - Went With The Wind
I didn't see Gone With The Wind until recently, but I grew up knowing that this was a spoof of the legendary movie.  Carol Burnett and the other comedians are simply priceless, and this is one of the most famous skits from this show.

4.  NCIS - Requiem
If you follow this show, you know that the wife (Shannon), and young daughter (Kelly) of Gibbs were killed years ago by a drug cartel.  In this episode, Kelly's childhood best friend needs help and comes to Gibbs.  This clip isn't exactly how it played out on TV, but it's wonderful.  Tony jumping in to save their lives, and Gibbs' "dream" of his wife and daughter....the writer's know exactly how to tug at our heart strings with this story line!

5.  Whose Line Is It Anyway - Episode 308
Ryan Stiles (the tall guy in the blue shoes) is a very funny man.  Many of you who know me and read this blog know that I love Whose Line Is It Anyway.  The following clip takes place during a game titled "Party Quirks".  It starts off pretty normally, and then goes crazy when something happens to Ryan.  I bust out laughing each time I see this!

6.  Burn Notice - Lesser Evil
I have two clips for you about one of Michael Westen's rivals, Victor.  Burned by the same people who burned Michael, Victor's family was killed by them and then he was recruited to do their dirty work.  He starts out as a villian, trying to kill Michael multiple times.  By the final episode of the season, he and Michael decide to work together to stop the organization that burned them both.  I love this character because he is witty, smart, and the more we find out about Victor's past (that the bad guys killed his family), the more we see his good side.

7.  Friends - The Last One

Possibly the greatest comedy show ever, I could've just used 10 clips from this show, but that wouldn't have been as much fun!  Like Golden Girls, this final scene always makes me cry because you can tell that the actors are doing everything they can to make it through the scene without breaking into tears.

8.  The Cosby Show - Goodbye Mr. Fish

Another classic clip from the Huxtables; do you know of anyone who would go to such great lengths for their daughter?  Simply hilarious!

9.  Alias - The Telling

Season two was arguably the best season of this show.  The following two clips, from the season finale, were something the viewer had been waiting all season to see.  Sydney is a spy for the CIA, and what she doesn't know is that her friend Francie has been doubled (the real Francie was murdered), and has been secretly wreaking havoc for the CIA.  These two clips are when everything is made known to Sydney, culminating in one of the best TV fights ever.  I apologize for two clips, but I couldn't find what I wanted with just one clip!

10.  Whose Line Is It Anyway - Episode 204

"Three Headed Broadway Star" is the best game on this show; especially when someone screws it up!  In this clip, Wayne, Drew, and Ryan attempt to complete the song after Drew messes up.  If you are ever having a bad day, THIS is the clip to watch....it will make you laugh every time! 

So, what did you think?