What's in a name?

What’s in a name? The answer to that question is simple. There is a lot in a name. This thought came to me last month, as our church was Christmas caroling at a local nursing home. Tami observed and noted the “old fashioned” names of the residents. We discussed how you really don’t see these names much anymore and how they will likely die out in a generation or two. You know what kind of names I’m referring to. The names of your grandparents or names you might see in a history book. This whole discussion got me to thinking about the names of my many students over the last 27 years. With very few exceptions, I have never taught students named Margaret, Delores, Elmer, George, etc… This also led to further thought about the names of the students I’ve taught in my career. I came to the following conclusion: There are basically three categories of names. Old fashioned names, retro names, and modern names. Old-fashioned names are the aforementioned monikers that are not in use anymore, and are quickly dying out. Retro names belong to people between the ages of 30 and 50. These are names that are common among today’s adults excluding the elderly. These names are well known, but there aren’t many millennials running around with these names. In other words, retro names belong to the people I grew up with. Greg, Tom, Dave, Susan, Tracy, Lori, etc… Modern names belong to the kids of today, and generally belong to the students I’ve taught (and currently teach). Just for fun I’ve compiled a lengthy list of each kind of name. Obviously I couldn’t think of every name ever given, but it’s not bad considering it came from my brain and I didn’t look anything up.

Old-Fashioned names-
Ruth, Margaret, Irene, Madge, Charlene, Eustace, Charlotte, Frank, Harold, Ines, Walter, Abraham, Solomon, Isaac, Hank, Leon, Jacob, Mary, James, Charles, Noel, Phillip, Victor, Noelle, William, Thomas, Abigail, Chester, Elmer, George, Louis, Ferdinand, Delores, Doris, Elizabeth, Florence, Beatrice, Yvonne, Christian, Asa, Ralph, Peter, Richard, Jeanette, Leonard, Sheldon, Catherine, Virginia, Howard, Jesse, Naomi, Esther, Louise, Gabriel, Nellie, Leona, Wilbur, Albert, Sam, Violet, Rose, Clara, Joan, Martin, May, Augustus, Edward, Virgil, Beverly, Nora, Eugene, Sarah, Rosemary, Elanor, Lawrence, Edsel, Lenora, Carl, Melvin, Carol, Betty, Gus, Edwin, Marge, Eileen, Pearl, Francis, Ruby, Alice, Ethel, Agnes, Joseph, Lucille, Luanne, Fred, Edmund, Lucy, Francine, Helen, Victoria, Cora, Arthur, Edgar, Harvey, Hiram, Maxwell, Oliver, Stanley, Rosa, Theodore, Vincent, Wyatt, Marilyn, Amelia, Dorothy, Edith, Evelyn, Gayle, Harriet, Iris, June, Lillian, Mabel, Ulysses

Retro Names-
Jason, Tina, Linda, Rick, Amy, Jerry, Steve, Cindy, Laura, Pam, Mike, David, Tom, Ken, Stephanie, Paul, Kyle, Colleen, Maureen, Lori, Kevin, Greg, Keith, Melissa, Jeff, Susan, Trent, Wendy, Chris, Gary, Brian, Kim, Sherry, Tim, Cheryl, Jim, Robert, Tracy, Kelly, Debbie, Chuck, Carrie, Tony, Ann, Tammy, Mark, John, Billy, Jay, Eric, Dan, Sandy, Don, Shawn, Marty, Julie, Karen, Jessica, Jane, Todd, Scott, Michelle, Brandon, Lisa, Debbie, Donna, Terry, Terri, Doug, Kristi, Dennis, Joe, Ray, Katie, Becky, Alicia, Barry, Elaine, Barb, Denise, Rhonda, Molly, Carly, Vicky

Modern Names-
Brandon, Justin, Jared, Ashley, Madison, Heather, Tiffany, Amber, Conner, Sophie, Ethan, Cameron, Aubrey, Savannah, Sierra, Autumn, Logan, Carson, Jeremy, Lauren, Chelsea, Wesley, Garrett, Alex, Elliott, Kierstyn, Meredith, Mia, Preston, Ashton, Thackston, Reese, Sasha, Turner, Zoey, Riley, Brandy, Kaitlyn, Chloe, Skyler, Kai, Miranda, Lexie, Paxton, Wilson, Carter, Keira, Quinn, Tiana, Addison, Berkley, Tyson, Jade, Bradley, Calyn, Terrence, Jamaal, Maddox, Zane, Alexis, Dexter, Zander, Hunter, Jayden, Sage, Dax, Ebony, Allie, Blake, Chase, Colby, Cade, Dalton, Jamison, Bryce, Kelsey, Cassidy, Mason, Paige, Reid, Tyler, Westin, Tristan, Austin, Jackson

As you read through the three categories of names, you can almost feel time shifting. With very few exceptions, there is very little crossover. Some names have withstood the test of time. Names like Michael, Emily, Emma, etc… But for the most part names come and names go. I don’t believe I will ever teach another Margaret, Ralph, Dennis or Susan. My classes will be filled with Ashleys, Logans, Hunters, Austins, and Sierras.

Names are funny. We never really give them much thought. However, when you look at them in the categories I’ve created, they really do tell a story.

What’s in a name? Everything!

Girl Scout Cookies

It's Girl Scout Cookie season. I've always heard the secret ingredient in all Girl Scout Cookies is crack cocaine. How else could they be so addictive? How else could innocent little girls sell millions of boxes of overpriced cookies every year? Why do you think people buy boxes of cookies by the dozen and freeze them to make them last longer? There really can be only one explanation... DRUGS! Those tasty little buggers are laced with addictive substances!

Pictured below you will see some photos that will cause you to crave Girl Scout Cookies. Proceed with caution! Also pictured below is the ever helpful chart showing Girl Scout Cookie and wine pairings. This chart has been proven to be particularly helpful to mothers of young children cooped up in the house during the winter months. It has been said that this chart has been responsible for saving the lives of countless toddlers who want to watch the same video for the billionth time as well as smart mouthed teenagers.

My personal favorite is Samoas. What's not to love about a cookie covered in caramel, chocolate and toasted coconut? The overall favorite of the American people is Thin Mints. They are not my favorite, but are apparently the best seller by a wide margin.

Yep!

Who could disagree?

I love signs!

I love signs. Especially when they contain typos or are just plain funny:

I'm jealous!

Grandma is getting to spend the day with sweet little Asher. I don't mind telling you how jealous I am! You may notice that grandma is spoiling him rotten. He never gets anything sugary at home. Lucky Charms! Are you kidding me? He loves them!

The perfect storm

As a teacher, I have learned there are many factors that influence student behavior. Students bouncing off the walls could be caused by too much sugar, excitement about Christmas, warm weather, snow, and many other factors. Today it looks like we might have the perfect storm. A confluence of events that every teacher dreads. Pray for the teachers today. We need it!

Teaching in the 21st century

I don't teach math, and there is a really good reason for that. It is not my strength. I know how to do math, but my brain is just not wired for the analytical side of things. Take a look at the photo below. I wish it was a joke... I really do. I only post it because it is funny in a sad, sad way. There is a complete lack of basic skills and knowledge with today's students. There is such an emphasis on higher order thinking skills, that teaching the basics has been abandoned. I contend that a student cannot employ higher level thinking skills without a grasp of basic knowledge (multiplication facts, for example). You would be shocked at the number of 4th, 5th, and even 6th graders who could NOT immediately say that 7x6=42. I am not exaggerating, and I am not joking. You would also be shocked that these same students have extreme difficulty adding and having to carry a number from the next column, or subtracting when borrowing is required. If these basic skills are not in place, higher level thinking cannot occur. I don't think educators at the state and national boards of education understand this. There is a reason test scores are down nationally, and it has everything to do with students trying to do higher level math without the solid foundation of basic knowledge. For example, students have no idea how to do long division because they do not have the foundation skills of multiplication, addition, and subtraction in place. I know this seems like common sense, but it's entirely true. Please do not take this as some sort of rant. It's not. I am just reporting what I observe in the classroom on a daily basis. You be the judge.

Winter Fun

There were patches of black ice as I drove to work this morning. Yet another reason to love this complete wonderfulness we call winter. There are people who like the snow, and always exclaim, "It's so pretty!". I say these are the same people who never have to shovel the driveway. Never once have I been shoveling my driveway while marveling at the beauty of the snow at the same time.

Farewell

Tonight in Chicago, Obama will give his farewell speech. 10 more days and then it's goodbye!

Horse Cramps

A few weeks ago, Sveta reported she had horse cramps. Horse cramps? I wasn't sure what those are. After some questioning, it was determined that she had a Charley Horse. You never know what kids are going to say! I sure do hate those horse cramps! They hurt!