Our class has exceeded 1,000 Golden Tickets.  Golden Tickets are recognitions of positive behavior, given to individual students for showing respect, observing safety, accepting responsibility, or resolving conflict.  On Fridays, students who have received 15, 30, or 45 Golden Tickets may choose to "cash in" their tickets for more tangible rewards.

In addition to the individual rewards, the school is offering a campus-wide recognition on Wednesday, December 18.  On this day, all students who do not receive an office referral are eligible to participate in the reward:  we will watch The Polar Express and will enjoy hot chocolate.

Origins of traditions are often interesting to study.  Since we just experienced 12/12, it might be interesting to look at the Twelve Days of Christmas from a Mathematics perspective.  Without going into much detail, I led the class in a short explanation of the lyrics of this song that many of us find to be strange.

The song, of course, was borne out of the Catholic religion, with parts being foreign to those of us who hold different beliefs, and other parts that are foreign to people who reject Christianity outright.  For the record, as far as I can tell, here is the rundown:

• A Partridge in a Pear Tree - Jesus Christ
• Two Turtle Doves - The Old and New Testaments
• Three French Hens - The three virtues of Faith, Hope and Charity
• Four Calling/Collie Birds - Four gospels, Matthew, Mark, Luke and John
• Five Golden Rings - First five books of the Old Testament (the Pentateuch)
  
• Six Geese-a-Laying - Six days of creation before God's rest on the seventh day
• Seven Swans-a-Swimming - Seven gifts of the Holy Spirit
• Eight Maids-a-Milking - Eight Beatitudes
• Nine Ladies Dancing - Nine fruits of the Holy Spirit
• Ten Lords-a-Leaping - Ten Commandments
• Eleven Pipers Piping - Eleven faithful disciples
• Twelve Drummers Drumming -Twelve points of belief in the "Apostles' Creed"

Many do not realize this song is religious in nature - and as such may not represent each person's views - but when not interpreted symbolically, it's just a fun song to sing about an eccentric "true love" sending way too many over-the-top gifts.

By the way, in 2013, the cost for all of the literal gifts listed in the song has increased by 7.7% (which was already 6% higher than 2011), totaling $27,393.

One website points out, "If you follow the song’s precise instructions, you are technically supposed to buy items consecutively on each of the 12 days."  The assignment students worked on in class was to figure out you are buying a total of 364 items at once - a pear tree for each of the twelve days, for example.  If you follow these rules, the real price of the 12 Days of Christmas rises to $114,651.  The 2013 price of the 12 Days of Christmas is the highest in recorded history.  What costs $107,300 this year cost half as much a decade ago. That means the price of these items has increased nearly 100% since since our current fourth graders were born.

Students are often called upon to read "chorally".
That is, they read together simultaneously as a group.

Repeating this practice assists young readers with reading fluency -
the speed, accuracy, and inflection of  oral reading.

Why not, since it's called "choral" reading anyway, actually read the chorus of a song?

Students are often called upon to read "chorally".
That is, they read together simultaneously as a group.

Repeating this practice assists young readers with reading fluency -
the speed, accuracy, and inflection of  oral reading.

Why not, since it's called "choral" reading anyway, actually read the chorus of a song?

Students are often called upon to read "chorally".
That is, they read together simultaneously as a group.

Repeating this practice assists young readers with reading fluency -
the speed, accuracy, and inflection of  oral reading.

Why not, since it's called "choral" reading anyway, actually read the chorus of a song?

Students are often called upon to read "chorally".
That is, they read together simultaneously as a group.

Repeating this practice assists young readers with reading fluency -
the speed, accuracy, and inflection of  oral reading.

Why not, since it's called "choral" reading anyway, actually read the chorus of a song?

We needed a bulletin board for the hallway.  I brought out some old Christmas cards, saved from years past, from which each student chose one.  Students then proceeded to recreate the cards, as nearly as possible, on a larger piece of paper.  Students had complete freedom in choosing materials and techniques for the task.

Students are often called upon to read "chorally".
That is, they read together simultaneously as a group.

Repeating this practice assists young readers with reading fluency -
the speed, accuracy, and inflection of  oral reading.

Why not, since it's called "choral" reading anyway, actually read the chorus of a song?

I really believe that education is unlike any other profession.  There are similarities to most professions, but this one is different:

• We don't deal with products on an assembly line (contrary to what some authorities would like it to be).
• We don't reject the blemished.
• Failure is based on the performances of others, and failure is never an option.
• We are supervised by bosses at many levels, from the local principal to the federal government, most of whom have no educational experience.
  
• Most of us who stick it out remain in the same positions for the duration of our careers:  start as a classroom teacher and retire from being a classroom teacher.
• "Research" changes with the winds of politics.
• The hours are unlike in other careers.  We actually do work many hours outside of the contracted teaching day, including evenings, weekends, holidays, and summers.

There are other differences between my career choice (for 24 years), but we really should leave some things for another day.  Teachers often leave this profession for other things.  The infographic below explains more.