The Jensen Connection.com
April 2002
Hello!
I tell you! Rach needs to get better at writing these newsletters,
‘cause I never have anything to say when I write them!
Things are peachy hear in Utah. Rach will be going off track next
week. She is looking forward to that. It will be nice for me, ‘cause
then she could watch Natalie and I can prepare for the upcoming
finals. With the Olympics messing up our schedule, finals get over
the day before commencement. Its kinda crazy to think that I’ll
go in and take a test at 7:00pm on Thursday, then I’ll meet
the next morning for commencement at 8:00am. With that little of
time between finals and graduation, how do they know that we are
actually able to graduate? Kinda weird. I’m going to wear
my cap and gown into the final on that last day. Think of it as
motivation…I dunno.
The day after commencement we are heading off to GA. Rach will
be off track, and I’ll be just about to start work. We figured
it would be the perfect time to take a vacation as I will not have
officially started, and therefore not officially be a responsible
man yet. Unfortunately I will have to take on that role when we
get back.
Natalie is getting into a nice schedule when she sleeps. She usually
goes to sleep about 8:00. She has also started taking naps about
the same time in the day. She is getting good. The only problem
is that she is also starting to fight sleep. She puts up a BIG fight
for about 10 min. or so before she nods off. Crazy kid.
My brother Todd will be getting off of his mission pretty soon
(June 6th). We were pleasantly surprised to find out that his mission
president has allowed the missionaries to email home once a month.
We (my folks) will ultimately only get to email him twice though
as he is getting home soon.
Ok- this is Rachel writing now. Work has been really busy lately-
it is getting close to the end of the year (7 weeks left now!) and
CRT tests are going to be here before we know it. As a faculty we
are trying so hard to improve our end of the year tests by focusing
on the MOST essential concepts only (reading and math). We can include
other subjects as well, as long as they are integrated in with reading
and math. (Of course, Dave tells me to just give the kids the answer
key, and then they’ll do much better. Ha, ha, ha.) There is
an additional assessment this year specifically for reading called
the DRA test. I have to read with each child individually to assess
their reading and comprehension level. It is extremely hard to find
time to work with individual students, because the rest of the class
needs to be able to work independently for such a long time! But
somehow we’ll get it done.
I am on a mailing list for an educational site called “Marco
Polo,” where we can ask questions and respond to each other’s
concerns. One question that got asked recently is how to have time
for planning. It seems like we have so little in the elementary
grades! At least here in this district. I know that in Georgia there
are music, PE, and art teachers that take each class once or twice
a week so that teachers can use that time to plan. I have to teach
all of those subjects myself! So not only do I not have that extra
planning time, there are also more subjects to plan! I think it’s
nuts. There is such a long list of things that I need to get done,
and I am only paid to be there till 4:05. If I stay past then (most
everyone does), they are donated hours. But if I don’t spend
those extra hours outside the workday, I would be even more behind!
I am wondering if any of you know what your kids’ teachers
do. There has got to be some creative way to fit everything in.
Let me know if anyone finds anything out!
I am continuing to teach skin care classes for Mary Kay (I have
recently read that some use the name for this basics class: MK 101
J), as well as give parties for makeovers and pedicures, etc. I
really enjoy it. Especially when you can help someone try different
shades until they find ones that they really like! Hey Ashley- at
school are you learning about skin care and cosmetics, too, or just
focusing on hair? I would love to hear about it. I want to learn
to be a cosmetologist someday, as well as get my hair license. I
think that would be so fun to be an expert in those areas, not just
specifically about Mary Kay products, but for any brand, and for
skin and hair in general.
Well, back to Davie to finish up, since I need to get ready for
church. Love you all, and can’t wait to hear from you!
I think this is the first time Rachel has ever let me have the
final word… (J/K)
That’s about all from here. I’ve been reading Lord
of The Rings. They are great. They are so complex it takes a ton
of time to get all of the intricate details of the story. I just
purchased The Silmarillian. I don’t know if anyone is into
Tolkien, but It explains a lot about the hobbit and lord of the
rings. Fun fun fun
See ya
Dave and Rach
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