Chris Wondra . com

School teacher, dad, homeowner turns superhero but has to learn his powers along the way

Chris Wondra . com header image 4

Entries from January 2007

Gift-Card-onomics

January 20th, 2007 · 4 Comments

This column first appeared in print on January 31, 2007 in that day’s issue of the Inter-County Leader.
I’m so bad at giving presents that my wife has taken to buying, wrapping, and then happily opening her own gifts so our children will think I actually got her something. As a grown man, part of […]

[Read more →]

Tags: Learning · Humor · Money · Marriage

Tonight’s Top News Story: Wondra’s an Idiot

January 19th, 2007 · 6 Comments

Ok.
Ever do something you knew was stupid, and a complete waste of time, but you just couldn’t help yourself?
Yeah, me too.
Share This

[Read more →]

Tags: Uncategorized · Humor

An “A” For Effort

January 19th, 2007 · 12 Comments

A Figure of Speech is a literary device used to create a special effect or feeling by making some type of interesting or creative comparison.
What follows are some samples of real students’ attempts at this. Each definitely create a special “effect or feeling”–though I don’t think it’s what the writer was shooting for.
These were not […]

[Read more →]

Tags: Learning · Writing · Humor · Teaching

Killing Your Children

January 13th, 2007 · 6 Comments

Writing can be a bitch of a thing to do sometimes.
Currently I’m working on a column (I’m sure I’ll post it here soon enough so I won’t spoil the surprise), but I’m having a heck of a time with it.
It’s a good topic– interesting, relevant, and I anticipated having a bit of fun with it. […]

[Read more →]

Tags: Learning · Writing · Humor · Teaching

Teacher Tools: Visual Literacy

January 12th, 2007 · 1 Comment

I’m putting on my academic “teacher” hat now so if that sort of thing bores you, consider yourself warned.
Shoo. Scram. Get lost.
Share This

[Read more →]

Tags: Uncategorized · Learning · Teaching

New Words for 2007

January 11th, 2007 · 2 Comments

From the guide to excellent blogging:
Rule #24–Never recycle a forwarded email.  It’s tacky.
So sue me. It’s not like I’ve been Mister Postalot lately and I could actually relate to a quite a few of these. Plus I think they’re funny and haven’t seen them anywhere else yet.
And #8 sounded suspiciously familiar.
Share […]

[Read more →]

Tags: Uncategorized · Learning · Humor

3 Quick Friday Observations

January 5th, 2007 · No Comments

1) I hardly ever watch the news anymore (or tv at all for that matter), but my head was all gunked up last night and I didn’t have any energy so I plunked down and caught almost all of Katie Couric’s CBS (or is it ABC–shows my ignorance) newscast.
I noticed a couple of things–above and […]

[Read more →]

Tags: Uncategorized · Learning

Our Geothermal Dream Come True

January 4th, 2007 · 1 Comment

Part of me still has a hard time believing we really have it.
It’s something I had dreamed about for years. From the start, I found the concept and technology fascinating. And oh, the money you can save!
For a confessed energy geek, everything about a geoexchange heat pump seemed really really cool.
Share This

[Read more →]

Tags: Learning · Energy · Money · Home Improvement · Around the house

Bad Dreams

January 3rd, 2007 · 4 Comments

Rough night last night. Just couldn’t sleep.
But still, probably better than my daughter’s.
A snippet from our drive to school this morning:
Me: So . . . bad dreams last night, huh?
Her: Yeah.
Me: So what were they?
Her: I put my scarf down the toilet.
In her quest to retrieve it, terrifying […]

[Read more →]

Tags: Humor · Children · Parenting

My New Year’s Revolution

January 2nd, 2007 · 2 Comments

“Dad?” She asked, leaning on the kitchen counter, watching me take plates out of the dishwasher.
“Yeah?”
“Do you know about new year revolutions?”
“Yep,” I said.
I knew what she meant.
I wanted to hear what she had to say.
Share This

[Read more →]

Tags: Learning · Children · Money · Marriage · Parenting