We all can agree that swans are one of Nature's most graceful, exquisite, elegant creatures. Swimming so willowy and beautifully on the aqua blue water. They seem so serene. However, don't let the beauty and poise of these cocks and hens fool you. They are fearsome birds. These fair-feathered beings are not to be played with, and a lot of the times they attack even without provocation.
I was watching a British documentary about the sometimes aggressive, and downright hostile nature of these birds. It's a particular breed of swan (I can't remember the name) that are the most ferocious.
Of course, they will attack you if they think you are threat such as standing to close to their nesting site. What is ironic is that the people who take care of these birds know about their violent behavior. Swans will violently attack anyone if they get close enough. Like the idiot worker in the documentary who went right up to the nest (which by the way had eggs) just to "make sure everything was all right." I don't know if it was the male or female species that assaulted him.
Also, there's a couple who is suing some zoo or sanctuary because the swans they take care of attacked and killed a man while he was out in his boat. The wife of the dead man states that the people who take care of these birds knew they were dangerous and didn't warn the couple. The swan attacked the boat, tipping it over and the man drowned. Cheers!!
A sweet little boy surprised his grandmother one morning and brought her a cup of coffee. He made it himself and was so proud. He anxiously waited to hear the verdict on the quality of the coffee. The grandmother had never in her life had such a bad cup of coffee, and as she forced down the last sip she noticed three of those little green army guys in the bottom of the cup.
She asked, "Honey, why would three little green army guys be in the bottom of my cup?"
Her grandson replied, "You know grandma, it's like on TV, 'The best part of waking up is soldiers in your cup.'" Cheers!!
Here we go again. POW! ZAP! BOOM! OUCH!
Winter just doesn't seem to want to let loose it's grip. It snowed/sleeted here in Lower Westchester, NY last night. Temps plummeted to below freezing.
I feel sorry for all you budding flowers. But you hang in there - bear down, stand your ground and soon you will grow, flourish and overcome Winter's adversity. Cheers!!
So, when life gives you snow, make cherry snowcones. Enjoy! Cheers!!
Today marks the beginning of New York State's Common Core tests in English Language Arts (ELA) for K-12. These standardized tests are given to assess where on the learning continuum students stand, and to indicate whether or not a child deserves to go to the next grade. They are rigorous, stressful and in many cases may even be well above students' abilities. Many of the students fail due to factors such as lack of parental involvement, abuse and mental health issues.
As an educator, I know the utmost importance of our children learning the skills to succeed in the world. However, it is not only detrimental that children succeed for economical purposes, but it's vital that they succeed on a personal level, too. Education, I believe is more than just textbook knowledge; it is also personal life skills gained in the classroom. A school is more than just a place where reading, math and writing are taught; it is a place where learning and growth are allowed to flourish. As a proponent of Character Education, I feel school is a place where children learn the importance of character. Principles such as respect, fairness, compassion, trust and responsibility develop self-esteem and character in children.
Children learn in various ways, therefore children deserve an equal chance to learn; it is the responsibility of the teacher to meet these myriad learning styles to the best of his or her ability. This is done by presenting the material in a variety of ways, as well as incorporating as many hands-on experience as possible. I believe that students should be shown the relevancy of subject material to life outside of the classroom.
Education is more than just teaching; it is loving, caring, showing, communicating, and growing. By implementing all these aspects into the educational program/curriculum, the teacher can help children use their imaginations, creating dreams and reaching their academic goals. I believe that if this is to occur we can not make testing the only measurement of a child's success. Cheers!!
