College Readiness Homework

I'm involved in a program called North Eastern Iowa College Readiness. Personally I think it's lame, but it's my second year in it, and we travel to different college around Eastern Iowa one Saturday out of the month. Tomorrow we are going to Kirkwood, but I practically live on that campus. Got the scholarship and everything at the end of 8th grade but anywhoo.. College Readiness is just a program for lower-income students to get involved with the college environment.
Well our first homework assignment out of the two years that I've been in it, was to come up with a word that describes what we want our life career to be. Last month everyone went around and said what they wanted their dream job to be. My friend Cassidy wants to be a kindergarten teacher, we had CSI's, professional basketball players, photographers, etc. My dream career is to become the Secretary of Education under a Democratic administration. I also want to be a Child Advocacy Lawyer, a supporter and carrier for the Children of Promise. My mom and I are co-trainers for the mentors of this program, [if you look down at another entry I did say this lady was my mom, but she is my mentor, my best friend that I met as a messed up child. She saved me, our job is to teach mentors how to maintain a lasting mentoring relationship. Trust me, it's amazing. This program is to pair mentor's and mentee's with incarcerated parents. I want to help children with the defects of an incarcerated relative, I want to help with teachers pay, and child involvement. I pretty much want to work with children, but personally I don't like the little ones. I want to work with teenagers or pretty much five and up. I'm not big on babies. But all wrapped up I want to be some sort of political aspect within education. Or a Marine Biologist/Special Education Teacher if nothing else works with being a lawyer and all.. well anyway. We had to choose a word to describe our future career. I picked my word forever ago, but forgot about it until today, so I got out my paper and glue and put together my word. The word I chose was 'Others.' I believe that by helping children understand their parents' mistakes that they can learn off of themselves and live a normal life. I believe that children deserve the basic education K-12, and that EVERY CHILD just needs ONE person who will listen to them..

I believe every single one of you should give a hand out and become a Mentor. Every child needs only one person. The feeling you get inside is just remarkable when you can see a frown turn upside down. I guess it's more of a challenge, everyone can donate a can or two, maybe give some clothes to the Starvation Donation, but really. Wouldn't saving the life of just one child change the way you look at the world??. I think it would

Think about the words..lol

RaeAnne

Homemade Paper

Last night I decided to try and make homemade paper. I found a site that gave me all the instructions. All I needed was a nylon screen, white glue, a bathtube, blender, and a LOT of left over paper. I didn't have the screen so I tacked some nylon hose onto an old wooden photo frame. It worked great.
Here are the instructions. I used all types of paper, I didn't want a certain color, but if you do, blend separately the greens, blues, reds, etc.

found it here
http://fun.familyeducation.com/childrens-art-activities/activity/29577.html
Homemade Paper
Age: Elementary and up
Time: An afternoon
Type of activity: Arts and Crafts
Making your own paper is fun, easy, and a great weekend project. Your homemade paper will add a wonderful touch to any card or letter.
Materials needed:
· Scrap paper (Plain, loose-leaf, or even construction paper)
· A blender
· Nylon screening
· Plant and vegetable scraps (for color)
· Staples, tacks, or waterproof glue
· A wooden picture frame (8"x10")
· Stapler
· White glue
· At least two kitchen cloths
· Large wooden or plastic spoon
· A wash basin
· A sponge
What to do:
Step One: To make paper, you must first make a paper mold. To do this, take your wooden frame and staple a nylon screen to it tightly.
Step Two: Tear the scrap paper into small pieces and soak them in hot water for 30 minutes.

Step Three: Fill a blender about three-quarters full with clean water. Take a handful of scraps from your pile and put them into the blender. Close tightly and blend on medium-high for a few seconds, until you can no longer see pieces of the paper.
Step Four: To add color to your paper mixture, add small amounts plant or vegetable scraps (such as orange peels, carrots, or flowers) and blend again. Pieces of foil from leftover holiday paper and colored thread also add a special touch.
Step Five: Fill a basin or bathtub about halfway with warm water. Add a few drops of white glue to the water and mix thoroughly with the large spoon.
Step Six: Pour the pulp into the tub or basin and distribute it evenly throughout the water.
Step Seven: Dip the wooden frame into the water and scoop up some of the pulp. Gently shake the frame back and forth to get an even layer of paper pulp on the screen.
Step Eight: Let the water drain through.
Step Nine: Lay a clean kitchen cloth on a flat table. Lay the screen face down on the cloth.
Step Ten: Lift off the screen carefully. The paper should drop out easily onto the cloth. If it sticks, gently tap the frame.
Step Eleven: Let the paper dry completely. When it is fully dry, pull gently on either side of the cloth to stretch it and carefully peel the paper off.
PS.
That last piece looks different because I flipped it over. In the end you will have one side kind of dull and the other full of scraps.