The Netherlands lost...
This was the third time they have made it to the World Cup Final, and they lost again. The other times were in the 1970s.
I know that well over three quarters of the 16 and a half million people who live in the Netherlands watched the semifinal match against Uruguay, so I can only imagine that almost the entire population must have watched the final match.
The game was, as says my family, exciting and boring to watch. It was boring because NO ONE scored a goal until 116 minutes into play, which was well into overtime. But it was exciting and tense because winning meant so much to both of those countries, and neither had one it before.
Well, I guess the Netherlands retains its title of "Best Team Never to Win the World Cup."
Paul, you are one smart octopus.
Monday, July 12, 2010
Sunday, July 11, 2010
Gifted and Talented
Well, Gifted and Talented. Often shortened to GT, it is basically faster-paced classes and working above grade level. At a very early age, tests are administered to students, and those who score at or above a certain level are given the option of attending a GT center.
I have the somewhat unique perspective of being able to view this situation from both sides. When I first took the test, I didn't know that it would determine where I went to school the next year. I didn't know anything about GT. I just knew I was happy with my life and my friends at the elementary school I attended, and I treated it the way I would treat any test: seriously. A few weeks later, two of my best friends approached me on the playground, excitedly shouting that they had "made it" into the GT center school. They asked me if I had, as well. At this point I still had absolutely no idea what they were talking about, and I informed them that I hadn't. They went off to the new school in the fall, and I made new friends, because I am pretty adaptable to change. I did feel a little left behind though.
The next year, I had the option to retake the test, and I did, and again didn't make it. My parents did a parental referral that eventually got me into GT by showing them some of my work. Some parents are the kind who will push and shove until they get what they want for their kid, even if their kid is unwilling -- not so my parents. They really did think it was the right place for me, as did I. I was very excited, and it certainly did end up being where I belonged -- I have had very good grades all my years of school.
I LOVED GT. Sure we had tougher projects, but they involved more creativity too. I wrote a diary on coffee stained paper from the point of view of a young girl in colonial Williamsburg for a Social Studies project -- that option isn't available to every 4th grade student. My only issue with it was standardized testing, but that is an issue everywhere you look these days. It limits teacher's creativity and forces students to simply memorize facts without looking deeper and learning application. And that's the type of learning I prefer: application.
I have the somewhat unique perspective of being able to view this situation from both sides. When I first took the test, I didn't know that it would determine where I went to school the next year. I didn't know anything about GT. I just knew I was happy with my life and my friends at the elementary school I attended, and I treated it the way I would treat any test: seriously. A few weeks later, two of my best friends approached me on the playground, excitedly shouting that they had "made it" into the GT center school. They asked me if I had, as well. At this point I still had absolutely no idea what they were talking about, and I informed them that I hadn't. They went off to the new school in the fall, and I made new friends, because I am pretty adaptable to change. I did feel a little left behind though.
The next year, I had the option to retake the test, and I did, and again didn't make it. My parents did a parental referral that eventually got me into GT by showing them some of my work. Some parents are the kind who will push and shove until they get what they want for their kid, even if their kid is unwilling -- not so my parents. They really did think it was the right place for me, as did I. I was very excited, and it certainly did end up being where I belonged -- I have had very good grades all my years of school.
I LOVED GT. Sure we had tougher projects, but they involved more creativity too. I wrote a diary on coffee stained paper from the point of view of a young girl in colonial Williamsburg for a Social Studies project -- that option isn't available to every 4th grade student. My only issue with it was standardized testing, but that is an issue everywhere you look these days. It limits teacher's creativity and forces students to simply memorize facts without looking deeper and learning application. And that's the type of learning I prefer: application.
Saturday, July 10, 2010
Blogs and World Cup
Well, now all of my friends officialy have blogs. Yay! Usually I'm one of the last to get something techie like a blog, but this time I was the second!
Update on Hayabusa: When they opened the capsule, the scientists found some vaporized materials -- possibly from the asteroid. They are now testing to see if they are from the asteroid.
Well, tomorrow is the World Cup final. My family and I are firmly rooting for the Dutch to win, but according to a certain German octopus, they won't. Apparently an octopus named Paul who lives in a German aquarium has correctly predicted the outcome of all seven of Germany's World Cup games thus far, including its win against Uruguay today. Paul's caretakers place two different food containers in his tank, each with a different country's flag on it, and whichever container he eats from will win. Hopefully he will be wrong tomorrow....GO NETHERLANDS!
Update on Hayabusa: When they opened the capsule, the scientists found some vaporized materials -- possibly from the asteroid. They are now testing to see if they are from the asteroid.
Well, tomorrow is the World Cup final. My family and I are firmly rooting for the Dutch to win, but according to a certain German octopus, they won't. Apparently an octopus named Paul who lives in a German aquarium has correctly predicted the outcome of all seven of Germany's World Cup games thus far, including its win against Uruguay today. Paul's caretakers place two different food containers in his tank, each with a different country's flag on it, and whichever container he eats from will win. Hopefully he will be wrong tomorrow....GO NETHERLANDS!
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