Humidity, curriculum, and schedules

Hi!
This will be a strange post. I don't have any news really, so this will be full of random thoughts. First thought...it's HOT AND HUMID in South Carolina in the summer! Like you didn't already know that right? But I stepped out of my apartment today and it was so humid that I felt like I was in a clothes dryer or sauna. Amazing! I'm going to need a second job to pay for air conditioning! I think it must be the moisture that makes it so beautiful out here though so who am I to complain when I love the natural surroundings right?

My second thought is that I'm really enjoying the curriculum theory class I'm taking this summer. It's whirlwind fast, but I've learned a lot about trends in what we teach our kids. The first textbook we read (yes, an ENTIRE textbook in a week and a half!) was about curriculum from 1890's to 1950's and it's amazing how little has changed. This era is called the progressive era and the idea is that there were communities of scholars challenging the traditional five subjects curriculum (that traditional curriculum was supported by the humanists...interesting perspective huh?). One group that challenged it advocated for more child-centered instruction instead of subject centered. They were called developmentalists and wanted to use children's interests to decide what to teach. Another group, called social efficiency, was all about putting business practices into education. They suggested that the most cost effective education was one that prepared children for their future occupation. That's where vocational education, driver's ed, etc. first came into schools. The last group was the social meliorists and their focus was on using education to stop inequities and marginalization among American society. Is there one group with whom you agree most? Really an unfair question since I only gave each group one sentence! But what I think is particularly interesting is how long such arguments have gone on and how much of it we see and hear about today. The book also emphasized the role historical events played in the curriculum. For example, after Sputnik, it was back to traditional curriculum because we got behind playing around with other curricula and lost to the Soviets. Or, how, World War I caused many kids to leave school early and so developmentalists were at the forefront because if we taught to the kids' interests, they might stay in school longer. And I'm sure you can imagine that during the Depression, social meliorists seemed the way to go. It's all very interesting I think.

Well, last topic of the day is about scheduling. I'd love to have some Californians come visit South Carolina (and of course visit me!) and I'd love to come out to California sometime this summer. Here's my summer schedule (oops, it wouldn't fit so just email me for details and I'll attach my calendar) if you can fit anything in, let me know. I'm so excited that my cousin Valerie is coming in July and my parents are coming back (I hope!) to help me move. Speaking of which, if anyone here in Clemson knows of local movers that are reliable and inexpensive, PLEASE let me know because I'm looking for movers in July (July 20th ish).

Here's a picture of my ADORABLE cousin Valerie's baby Iris. She's SOOOOO cute that I had to share (Thanks Tiff for sending the pictures to me!). I hope everyone is happy and doing well!

Inside the doors of the new house

Hi!
As you already know, my offer was accepted on the house in Pendleton. Friday was the home inspection and there are a few issues to resolve ( a dead tree, and air conditioning woes) so I'll keep you posted on the progress towards moving into my first home. In the meantime, here are some pictures of the inside. They are small pictures, but can be bigger if double clicked on (remember, I haven't moved in yet so the furniture and decorating are all someone else's). I also wanted to post a wish list so that I could network and if anyone knows anybody who could help, pass along my email address for me...maybe I could trade favors with someone like for tutoring or babysitting (which I LOVE to do) or something like that. The wish list is:

• Trucks and manpower to help move in
• A new washing machine/dryer
• An invisible fence for a dog in the backyard
• Ideas for decorating and landscaping (which I am so excited about doing)
• Someone to make a screened porch with stairs or teach me how to do that
• Prayers and good wishes for it all to go well
• Visits from friends to come see it (and maybe drink wine and play games!)

Thanks again everyone! Here are the pictures:Front room as you walk in the front door

Dining Room


Master Bedroom

Jacuzzi Bath in Master

Backyard

The beauty of nature in Clemson, SC

Hi! One of the things I love most about South Carolina is the natural environment around here. There are trees everywhere and birds singing all the time! In fact, I have some bird feeders on my porch and two doves (among many other adorable little bird species) are here everyday. They are beautiful and I love their cooing.

Today I walked around the South Carolina Botanical Gardens. This state garden is at Clemson University, and it has a Discovery Center, Geology Center, and A LOT of gardens and nature trails. I don't know a whole lot about its history, but there are a lot of beautiful pictures and information at the website and I strongly recommend clicking on that link to see it.The Hosta Garden

So anyway, I went there today to look around. I had imagined a garden like the Portland Rose Garden we used to go to when I was younger. The Rose Garden had clearly defined sidewalks on which you walked around admiring roses with plaques naming each one so you could learn about the varieties of roses. Not so the SC Botanical Garden! While there were plaques around naming a few plants, once you walk a few feet away from the beginning of the trail, you were in wild wilderness land (my name, not the officially endorsed name).The duck pond

You see, my story begins with my ill-fated decision to take a nature hike away from the main paths. Now, in my defense, there were trails, just not as beaten down as the main trails. I suppose I should have consulted a map before beginning the journey but I was certain it would just be a big loop. It was not! Three hot hours later, I was hopelessly lost.

So, I did what any nature lover would do...I took pictures of everything I saw. I figured that if I ever went back, I could use the pictures as a guide. Here are some of my favorites:Tall trees

I wonder why I like this one?

Stream under bridge

Can you find the butterfly?

After a couple of hours of being lost I was getting a little nervous. I sat down to text message a friend of mine that if I wasn't back by the time it was dark, she should send a search party (I was kind of joking). Well, wouldn't you know it, but I sat on a log with hundreds of red ants! Luckily I was wearing pants and sleeves so it wasn't too bad, but in trying to brush them all off me, my camera, and my cell phone, I got millions of tiny little bites all over my hands. The good news is that I discovered I'm not allergic to red ant bites. The bad news is they stung like tiny little bumblebees. You can barely see them now, and I"m totally fine, but for a minute there I got the heebie jeebies! I finally made it out of the "forest of no return." I am thankful for the exercise and the beauty, but next time I'm bringing a map and a friend along just in case!There are two turtles here and they were so cute chasing that lilypad in the middle. They dove under it, poked their heads up, and swam around it!