It's been a few hectic days. I was out sick on Tuesday. We didn't have school on Monday. I had planned a test for the kids this week but left it at home when I finally got to work on Wednesday. They were not disappointed.

Wakana has a great way to get her students' attention. Quite some time ago she made up credit slips, bits of construction paper with a stamp. Each one is worth one point on the final grade. You give them out for good academic behavior and take them away for poor classroom behavior. I started doing this yesterday. The kids fall all over themselves to answer questions. Before I might ask a question and get a few dispirited hand and a cacophony of voices shouting out wrong answers. Yesterday and today there were hands enthusiastically waved and nobody giving away an answer that might earn them a point. Quite a difference.

Big news on the island. Home Depot just opened their latest store out by the airport. People keep saying it's the largest in the world though I have trouble believing that. They say the same thing about our KMart but it isn't any bigger than any other I've been in.

Next week (11/20)is Wakana's birthday. I've been trying to figure out what to give her. Every time I try to probe for an idea she refuses to be helpful. When I make a suggestion she just turns the conversation away. Sigh, she can be so difficult.