Another spring-like day - the week has just been perfect.  So, you know what that means, right?  Yep, the temps that have been in the mid 70's all week are dropping 10 degrees and the rain will come for the weekend!

Today, had me up VERY early, as I didn't feel like working last night (instead, we watched "Fried Green Tomatoes", as Linda had never seen it.  Great movie!).

Sophie and the rest of her 2nd grade class are doing a presentation on States this afternoon, that I need to leave the office early for.  She picked the state of Florida.  She actually did research online, printed out many facts and pictures and drew some sketches of things like the state butterfly (who knew?!) and the state flag.  She turned in the big poster board yesterday and each child is speaking on their state for the parents today.  It should be cute. 

As shy as she is, she has no fear of getting up to do these presentations.  In fact, she looks forward to them.  My stomach turns just thinking of her getting up, as the thought, even today, of getting up and speaking in front of people scares the crap out of me.  Perhaps if I'd been given the opportunity to do presentations as early as 2nd grade and had positive experiences with it, it would have helped.  Let me share some of my presentation memories.

My first presentation was in 5th grade.  I did a presentation on ferns.  Seemed no big deal.  I labeled all the parts of a type of fern and mislabeled the name of the fern as "Fiddlesticks" instead of Fiddlehead.  The other kids didn't notice.  But after I was finished talking, the teacher pointed it out in front of the class while I as still standing up there and I can still hear the laughter and remember the mortification of that moment.  Horrific. 

Then in 6th grade, after all the prodding from my parents to participate in class and ask questions to show the teacher that I was interested, etc..., I finally raise my hand to ask a question.  My heart was racing, I was SO nervous.  I don't even know what it was that I asked, but the teacher just looked at me and then said, "That's a ridiculous question." 

I rarely spoke in class again.  So I relive these moments when I hear of kids having to do reports/presentations in front of a class.  Kids today are being given great opportunities and as far as I can see, the teachers are being supportive and encouraging no matter how the kids do.

I'm sure that Sophie will be fine.

Tonight, we have been invited to dinner at a couple's home from the Temple.  The wife is the head of our Temple Sisterhood and a runner, who did her first marathon in January.  I'm sure that there will be talk of some running dates for the upcoming months between her & Linda.  Her husband is a quiet man who we don't really know that well, but we look forward to changing that tonight.

Tomorrow, aside from the weekly cleaning and morning services, Linda will be preparing a special treat for a special couple who are coming over for dinner on Sunday.  Well, a very early dinner, as we all have to get to bowling at 6!  (We are defending our tie for 1st place and there's only 2 weeks left to the season!)  We're really looking forward to having them over, as they haven't seen our new place yet!

Saturday night, Sophie is singing with other kids from her school for a benefit for Leukemia, at the Middle School in town.  She's very excited about it, though we just found out about it this past week.  Seems that it wasn't that publicized and not a lot of information was sent home about it.  (You'd think with all the papers and e-mails from school, that we DO get telling us of things that we really don't care about, this would be something that would have been shared somewhere.)

Sunday morning, I'll be going to a Judaism class at the Temple on meditation and it's role in Judaism.  Linda is going for a training bike ride - only 2 more weeks before her big ride (120+ miles over 2 days!).

Anyway, it's another full weekend.

Shabbat Shalom.

Comments

[Tina-cious.com]

Your teacher did NOT say "that's a ridiculous question". What an a$$hole!!! Unreal.

Good luck Sophie! :)

Woohoo! Special treat!

The rock and pool, is nice and cool, so juicy sweet. Our only wish, to catch a fish, so juicy sweet!

Oh, sorry, had a Lord of the Rings moment.

See ya Sunday! :)

[Sheila]

Sounds like a great weekend! I wish we would have a 10 degree drop in temp. Our air conditioner is out and it is warmish in the house to say the least. Isn't it great that Sophie has the confidence to stand and speak in front of the class. I would rather do almost anything than speak in front of a group.

[cruisin-mom]

Hi Val...just caught up on your last 3 posts...sounds like it's been a lovely week for you. Loved your stories about standing up in class.
I too, always found it terrifying as a kid to stand up and speak. That all changed when I hit around 30 and decided to make that all change. Now, you can't shut me up!

[Maria]

Isn't it just amazing the power that teachers hold? I remember one teacher looking at a paper that I handed in, (I had not realized that we were not supposed to write on the paper give to us, but were to have copied our answers on a different paper) and telling her student teaching assistant, "Well, lookee here, another idiot has done it on the paper given..." They both laughed and shook their heads. Did they not realize that I was a fourth grader? That I could hear?

Liv is very calm about her presentations too. But, her school environment is very close knit, very safe. She goes to a very small, very sequestered private school.

[SassyFemme]

I feel like such a weekend slug compared to all that you guys do.

It's so great that Sophie isn't scared of doing presentations! Hearing what your old teachers did makes me so glad that most people like that are out of the profession now.

[greymatters]

Good luck, Sophie! Good luck to Linda on the training/bike ride!

And there are some people on the planet who have no business calling themselves "teachers" ... bleech.

[naomi]

up here they get the kids up and doing presentations as soon as they can read. they do them at least weekly. it's the same now that he's in high school. not one of his classmates have any fear of speaking in front of groups of people.