OK…I’m Old! – School Days #3

 

Last one in this series. I hope you’ve enjoyed the memories…

 

 

This was the first writing paper we had in grade school. It made sure you knew where all the parts of any letter went to make sure you had clear printing. Later on, it was to see if your cursive was up to snuff. I’M LOOKING AT YOU, MRS. BERG! She was a real stickler for penmanship.

 

 

Secret notes!!! So much fun! I preferred the rectangle notes, but the triangle ones were more fun to throw. I wish I had kept some of these. I did show Lia how to fold the rectangle ones when she was little and she was amazed at the cleverness of them.

 

 

EVERYBODY had these, but I don’t know of any who actually used them. They were fun to keep pencils in, but I don’t recall ever using the ruler part. I did think the times table thing was fun.

 

 

The soap granule dispenser was USELESS!!! It was like rubbing hard little cake sprinkles in your hand, trying to work up a lather. Blah!

 

And that’s it. Goodbye elementary/grade school. Not even gonna address the hell years of junior and senior high school.

 

One last time I will mention Mrs. Norma Vanderley, who I adored. First grade teacher at Parkview. Throughout the years I would visit her classroom on Back to School Night and say hello. She came to my wedding.

 

~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~

Random Thought:

Who was the smartest insect at school?

The spelling bee.

 

theend

OK…I’m Old! – School Days #2

 

Some more steps down memory lane…

 

 

The mimeograph machine!!! Remember that wonderful smell? Damp purple ink freshly printed. Nothing like it.

 

 

Mucilage. Terrible stuff. Hated it. You always got too much or too little on whatever you were using it for. Although it was better than that white paste crap.

 

 

Yup. The picture says it all. I don’t remember ever getting to use it myself, but my mom had one at home. Used it all the time. Even cut the side of my left index finger off.

 

 

I had completely forgotten about this! I think we were all given toothbrushes and these pills. Fourth grade. I remember John Dodge was the lucky student who got to chew one of these pills and go around the class room showing his teeth…

 

 

My desk in first grade looked like this. I don’t remember if it was carved on.

 

 

Later on, the desks looked more like this one.

 

Random Thought:

What do teachers eat for a snack?

Academia nuts!

 

OK…I’m Old! – School Days #1

 

Yup, it’s that time of year again… *sigh*

Some of the things from my elementary school days. Mainly 1960-1966.

 

 

I LOVED the school library at any of the elementary schools I attended. I didn’t really start using a card catalog until I was maybe in 5^th or 6^th grade. But I enjoyed looking through the card catalog at either school or the local library. I really miss it.

 

 

When I checked out a book, I liked seeing who had read it before me. I don’t recall ever seeing a name I recognized.

 

 

Blackboards! I was disappointed when they switched to white boards that you’d have to use a marker on. Mrs. Malloy (4^th grade) would draw a birthday cake on the blackboard with all different colors of chalk. Then the class would sing Happy Birthday to the birthday boy or girl.

 

 I loved the pull-down maps! Not only the United States, but a bunch of different countries. The teacher would use the pointer to indicate the area we were studying.

 

 

There was also a blank screen that could be pulled down to watch a film. And I loved informational films, like how crayons were made, or how strawberry jam was made. I remember one about marionettes.

 

 

The screen could also be used when there was something to be shown from the overhead projector. Usually not as much fun as a film. I thought it was magic how you could have a small image that would be big on the screen.

 

Random Thought:

Q: Why was the math book so sad?

A: It was full of problems.

 

More 3D Fun

Since my last post about 3D printing I have come across more fun things to do. Again, I know I will never do this, but if I had access to a printing device I think these would be neat.

 

 

Christmas/Holiday stuff

I saw this deer figure and realized that you could do some cool Christmas things for a little tableau/vignette. And they wouldn’t need to be painted, just all one color. Deer, pine trees, etc. And the same for other holidays.

 

 

Paperclips

I had NO idea this was possible! Super cool!!

 

 

Chess pieces

I do NOT play chess. I know how the different pieces move, but have no head for any kind of strategy. But I would LOVE a cat chess set. Just to display. Maybe just move around a bit to make it look like there’s a game in progress.

 

 

Yarn bowl

I haven’t done any crochet/knit work in quite a while, but this would be neat to have to keep the balls of yarn from traveling. One time I looked up what some of the beautiful wooden bowls cost and decided that I really didn’t need one. This would be awesome.

 

 

Toilet paper holder

What’s not to love about this?!? This would’ve been fun when the kids were little. BTW, did you ever think about how Lego people living in Lego houses live in homes MADE FROM THEIR OWN FLESH?? Ponder THAT one…