September Musings...

I really had no idea how much time I would be spending on my homework!

So now September is gone and I still have been bad about posting. The school year is going well. My students and I are having fun together, which is important.

My class is going well too. I was worried that I wouldn't really care for the material. I thought it was going to be very dry. I got an A on my first project. I had to create a timeline of reading instruction and reading research for the United States.

My mother admitted to me last week that she didn't know how to sound out words. She said her father was always telling her to sound it out, but she didn't know how. Now, for some of you....that may raise some eyebrows.....BUT I was able to tell my mother what I learned. If you were taught to read on the Dick and Jane books, you weren't taught to sound out words. You were taught the "Look-Say" method. You recognized that r-u-n spelled run, but you didn't have to break down the sounds. My mother felt a little better.

Another thing I really enjoyed reading about was the Schema Theory. This theory says that if you are reading about something you have no background knowledge on, you won't understand it, even if you can technically read all the words. I love this example from Richard C. Anderson: The notes were sour because the seam split. Okay, I could read all the words, but I had no clue what they were talking about. Until I read the clue: bagpipes. Now I understood the sentence. Schema Theory says there's more to reading than just reading words, you have to connect what you are reading with your own experiences and knowledge.

So I've enjoyed learning new things, but I do miss reading for pleasure. I have 4-5 chapters to read a week, plus I have to post something on the discussion board, and respond to two other comments. And now I'll have to pick 3 researchers and write a research paper comparing the three. I plan on using Mr. Anderson for one of them. But I don't have a lot of time for goofing off.

I still make it for my sewing group once a week. Although, I mostly seem to sit around and chit chat. However, I was able to finish my niece's qespeq for her birthday:

I hope she likes it. It will be very long on her but warm. The ladies were so proud of me for finishing it.

Speaking of my niece, I should share the news she found most entertaining: I ate moose nose. In case you are wondering what she did: don't worry, they cleaned out the boogers! I was told moose nose was very tasty. I was also told I didn't have to eat it, but I thought, "Why not?" It tasted like regular meat to me. So yes, the former vegetarian ate moose nose. And you could tell it was moose nose. It looks like this only cut up (and one side still has the hair):

I also grilled myself some moose steaks for the first time ever! They turned out yummy! I am very lucky to have friends who were thoughtful enough to share their meat with me. I am very well cared for here!

Last week, I went for a walk and this day, I brought my camera. I wanted to take pictures of the fall colors. Being from the Bay Area, I've never seen the seasons change until I moved up here. I'm told Alaska has nothing on the fall colors of New England, but I still think it's pretty:

Four days after these pic were taken, a strong wind came through and blew most of the leaves off the trees.

But the day before the trees lost their leaves, I was invited to go to Bethel by boat. I had homework to do, but I thought, "Just get in the boat!!" And I was glad I did. I was able to do some shopping. And I brought my camera that day too.

The next development is kind of funny. First, let me show you a picture of Dakota a couple of months ago.....back in mid July:

Now, in August, I noticed Dakota's winter coat was starting to come in. And I was surprised. It was only August. So I mentioned to a few people that I thought it meant we were due for a hard winter. Everyone just smirked at me. What did I know?

So imagine everyone's shock yesterday, when they opened their doors and saw snow on the ground. Dakota's coat meant winter was coming early. So I was off, but I knew something was up. Nature always knows! (The snow was melted by the afternoon, but I'm sure more is coming!!)

Don't believe me? Well, here's Dakota today....and he's not fat. It's fur!

So that about sums up September....hopefully, I'll be better about posting in October!

And November brings something to look forward too....my mother is coming up to Alaska to visit me in Anchorage. I'm not going to visit this holiday season (I'm saving my $$ for a longer visit this summer) so she's going to spend a weekend with me. I'm really looking forward to it. My neighbors have agreed to watch Dakota, so he'll be staying behind. But I know he's in good hands.

I leave you now, with a picture of Dakota and me. I am sporting my Thunderbolt headband my friend made me (our school mascot). Enjoy!!