Standardized Testing and Butter

Mamacita says:  I want to talk to you all about standardized testing and butter, and then I want you to tell me which is more important. I ran into a former middle school student in a store yesterday. I recognized … Continue reading

“It’s The Equinoctial Storm,” said Ma.

Mamacita says: This year, there was no equinoctial storm.  In fact, this year, we haven’t had enough rain for quite a while, but last year at this time, the rains poured down as though they would never stop. Whenever we … Continue reading

Bread and Butter and Sharp Knives and ISTEP

Mamacita says: I used to cook and make butter with my students.  I am reminded of those days whenever I run into former students from that class. A while back, I ran into one of those former middle school student … Continue reading

Long Winters

Mamacita says: There are two winters that stand out in my mind, both with seemingly never-ending blizzards and subzero temperatures: The winter of 1977 and the winter of 1978. Two winters in a row of deep, deep snow and temps … Continue reading

Food, Clothing, Shelter, and Books.

Mamacita says:   I don’t think it’s a coincidence that the children who grow up in households wherein there are no books are generally the kids who end up in the slow class at school.  There are exceptions, of course, … Continue reading

It’s Christmas Eve, Dick! It’s Christmas Eve, Ebenezer!

Mamacita says: I really don’t know how anyone could ever say it better than Charles Dickens, unless it was Ma Ingalls, who assured Laura and Mary that if everyone wanted everyone else to be happy all the time, then every … Continue reading