2nd grade chose shelves to adopt today. They were SOOO cute; very excited. A parent who was volunteering was impressed with their motivation and organization; every child knew what he/she was doing, and was excited about it. They are a wonderful group, mostly boys, only two girls. I love them; they argue about who gets to sit next to me, like I'm a princess or something.

3rd grade is listening to Dadey and Jones' book Vampires don't wear Polka Dots. In both classes I had to read an extra chapter because the students couldn't wait to find out what happened next. I love when I'm reading, using all of my voices and dramatic techniques, and I look up and they're all mesmerized, hanging on every word.

Three of my 8th graders are in now taking an algebra test; of course, they want me to give them the answers. I told them I would, but they would all be wrong! Let's see -- it's been 27 years since I did algebra. I always agree with Fran Leibowitz: "There is no algebra in the real world."

Of course, I've learned far differently as I've continued my studies. In some ways, math can be the key to the secret of the universe. Take the Fibonacci code, for example. It's a secret code consisting of 1,2,3,5,8,13. . . .you just keep adding the two previous numbers to find the next number in the sequence. Cool. But what's even COOLER is the application of the fibonacci sequence; the number of petals on a flower is a fibonacci number. The sides of a chamber in a beehive is a fibonaacci number. It just goes on and on and on.

4th grade listened to another scary Jewish ghost story; we're only 1/2 way finished, so I"m sure they'll be ready to hear the rest next week.