Good day all,

I am happily ensconced at school taking the mineral ID course I wanted.  Today was a field trip day.  We journeyed into South Carolina to Chunky Gal Mountain (which really looked like a series of mountains to me) to search for garnets & rubies.  I had some luck with the garnet hunting.  I have 2 particularly nice specimens to work with tomorrow.  On the ruby front none of use scored.  Last class found 2, so just not in our stars I suppose.  I also picked up some other specimens that I liked, but I haven't a clue what they are.  Several of the more experienced folk just smiled at me, but that's what learning is all about.  They only took the course for the field trips.  I, on the other hand, am looking for the know how.  My immediate curiosity is what does garnet grow with.  Lots of quartz, no garnet.  Garnet is found in a very hard dark colored rock.  I am tired and sore and very happy.  I will sleep well tonight.

I am caught up on my reading endoresement class... until Friday when I will be behind again.  I've only finished half of this week's lesson and I have to redo part of it.  I keep making the mistake of framing my answers in my world, the world of middle school.  Instructor wants answers framed in terms of the academic expectation.  So when we talk about the emergent reader, we are talking about Pre-k & kindergarteners, not eigth grade English Language Learners.  Makes me crazy, I have no experience teaching anything below 3rd grade & I only did that for a week to help out a friend.  I have dealt with youngin's one-on-one, but enmass... ouch, that's a whole new world of classroom management.  Grumble, grumble... I wanted to be a happy-go-lucky student this week.

I am off to dinner and an auction.  Maybe I shall pick-up a find. 

be well dear friends