Social Skill Extraordinaire

I was watching Bizarre Foods with Andrew Zimmern. I decided he has the BEST social skills I have ever seen!

I work with kids that have autism... Most of the kids I work with don't have social skills at all.

It is interesting to see how he can interact with all the different cultures around the country and around the world! I guess he may offend people that the Travel Channel does not air, but I am still amazed!

I could not do this job! He is amazing to try everything. I went to a Chinese Wedding, and believe you me... I did not try the sea cucumber.

Free Digital Scrapbook Stuff

I found this blog that has tons for free digitial scrappbooking stuff.


http://www.rebeccasscrapbookingsilliness.blogspot.com/


They're cutesy.

Charter Schools

I work at a charter school. Until recently I did not realize we are the "enemy" of the public school system. They say we take away their funding. We say we are giving parents a choice.

The way I see it, the public school system (well, maybe just in Utah, I don't know about other places) is broken. One size DOES NOT fit all. And people are too stubborn to do anything about it. The public school system did not work for my sister. If given a choice, I think my mom would have looked into different options because the high school in my neighborhood and a mentality that did not groove with my sister.

Come to think of it, the public school system didn't really work for me either. I was in the gifted and talented classes from 1st grade through 9th grade, minus 4th and 5th grade. That is a whole lot of time. I didn't have my associate's degree when I graduated from high school. It wasn't because I wasn't smart enough or not willing to work to get it. It is because I didn't know I could. I didn't know I could. Where was my high school counselor? I wasn't popular. I wasn't an athlete. I didn't have a 4.0. But given the opportunity to go to a school like UCAS I would have had my associate's degree.

Besides that, the kids that go to my school are usually a public school teacher's worst nightmare. With a classroom of 35 students, how are you supposed to help your one student with autism get through his meltdown? It's not the teacher's fault. They have 34 other students. Most of the kids that go to our school were in a public school, and they were not successful in that setting. We help the kids be successful.

The whole point of a charter school is to give parents the option to give their kids a place where they will be more successful than in a public school classroom with 35 students. Your kid is great at science? Well, look at this school that will teach him more about the things he already loves! You're daughter wants to learn how to use multi-media? Here's a charter school that will give her a head start to the classes she will be taking in college.

Our Trip to San Francisco

We just got back from San Francisco! We had a lot of fun learning how to use public transit in a big city!

This is Fisherman's Wharf. We saw this Coca-Cola "Photo Spot" so decided it must be worth it!

Golden Gate Park I don't know anything about

football

Contemporary Jewish Turtle & Coy @ GGP Califonia Academy of Science

Museum



Alcatraz... but we didn't make it out to the actual island.

National Conference on Volunteering and Service

I'm getting a new position at work. I'm going to be the volunteer coordinator! I'm really excited, but I'm also I a little nervous.

Because I'm getting this position, I was able to go to the National Conference on Volunteer and Service. It was FANTASTIC! I learned some really great information and I got to hear lots of famous people speak!



Nancy Pelosi didn't really say anything all the important. She is from California (which is where the conference was held) and she just introduced the next speaker. It was cool to hear the story of when she was elected to be Speaker of the House, she asked all the children to come to the front and she passed around her gavel.





Govenor Schwartinegger married Maria Schriver. Maria's family was very into service. California is the first state to have someone be elected into the cabinet who's job is to deal with service. It's really cool!








Please go to Serve.gov. The "United We Serve" initiative is going to be huge! To see more stuff about it, you can also look it up on You Tube! Here is a link that talks about Michelle Obama building a playground with Maria Shriver





Bon Jovi is really into serve. He bought the Philadelphia Soul (arena football) because he thinks everyone has soul. He has done a ton with his team and service.

Please check out Serve.gov.

Best Job Ever!!

I know. I know. You've heard it a million time! I have the best job ever!

Right now, we are having summer camp. Last year we had 9 kids everyday. This year... it is 19 kids!

Today we went to Wheeler Farm. We have these "jade" t-shirts that have a puzzle piece on it. Our guide asked me "What is that puzzle for?" So I told him our camp is for kids with high-functioning Autism and Asperger's Syndrome.

He says "I have autism, too!"

It was so great! He was a fantastic guide and he totally just "rolled" with our kids. He didn't get frustrated with the tangents, the weird noises, the growling, the wacking, or anything! He would even talk about the stuff the kids wanted to for a minute or two, then get back to what he was saying.

His story was so interesting. He told me that in the 80's, doctors told his parents it was their fault for his problems. In high school he got diagnosed with autism in high school.

Logan and I told him he should come visit our school. He said he would be honored. I want all our kids to meet this guy. He was great!

Books

I just read The Hunger Games, by Suzanne Collins...

Can I just say, WOW!

I wish my brain could think of plots like that! I recommend it! Now I just have to wait until the next book comes out!

This book basically saved me yesterday while I was sick (I read most of it in one day!)

It's about this girl that lives in a country that formed in North America after the U.S. was destroyed. I'm not going to give anything away... JUST GO READ IT!