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Eight is Enough
Here is another old television show that I watched in the late seventies and early eighties. It is entitled 'Eight is Enough' that is all about a family of eight children and the ups and downs of living at the time in history of inflation, the Gas Crisis, and various other personal and professional issues that affected us all at this time. The program starred Dick van Patten and Diana Hyland then Betty Buckley and a cast of characters of the children from Grant Goodeve, Willie Ammes, Adam Rich and others. To me this was an updated version of 'The Waltons' where the children all had a particular talent from writing, medicine, business, the arts, etc. I guess that was to be expected for 'Eight is Enough' was produced by the same company as 'The Waltons' for even Will Geer who played Grandpa on 'The Walton's played a character on 'Eight is Enough'. Watching these old or somewhat old and maybe outdated shows are still fun to watch and remember what you were doing at that time in history. By the way I have the Roku channel that allows me to watch some of my old favorite television shows from a bygone era.
By Mark Graham2 years ago in Critique
Second Grade
Who out there remembers Second grade? Second grade was the time that I learned about 'cursive handwriting' and really quite enjoyed it. It was like doing art with words. I do remember I was not really one that was good with doing math skills at the time, but I did learn and remember these skills. This was the decade of the 'New Mathematics' that started when I was in First grade in 1970. The teacher also did more science and social studies and health lessons as well. My second-grade teacher was Miss Latimer and she was young and made learning fun.
By Mark Graham2 years ago in Critique
September
What does the month of September remind you? For me it was always the Back-to-School time of the year. I was the kind of kid that like buying school supplies and still am since I still need these kinds of things as a writer. Nothing like opening a new spiral notebook or composition notebook. Back to the topic this was the time I got to see old school friends again and catch up with what we all did over the summer. There were new books even though they were quite outdated by the time I (we) got to use them. Wish there was 'DonorsChoose.com' back then. This was the early seventies when I went to school. We had books from the 1950's and early 1960's.
By Mark Graham2 years ago in Critique
Family Affair
Hey everyone, I am going to start an on-going new series of critiques on old television shows that I grew up on back in the late sixties and the seventies. The first one is 'Family Affair' starring Brian Keith and Sebastian Cabot who played Mr. Bill Davis and Mr. French. This was the story of a bachelor uncle and his gentlemen's gentleman who was found to take care of his two nieces and a nephew. Many of the situations that being that this program was a situation comedy would cover subjects like how a single 'father' raised children to issues like the one that I just watched dealing with 'latchkey children'.
By Mark Graham2 years ago in Critique
August
The month of August is one where the summer seems to be dwindling away. At times the days and nights seem cooler with bouts of warmer days and nights. The summer picnics seems to be also fewer. The back-to-school sales begin along with various school orientations at different levels of schooling. Again, August is the end of summer vacation.
By Mark Graham2 years ago in Critique
First Grade
So, how many of you remember what first grade was like? First grade is when children become students in more formal education, as in learning to read and write and learn more basic math skills. There is still art, music and physical education activities, but more in line with learning the subject matter not just making crafts, singing songs and moving around. First grade is the very foundation of what is to come.
By Mark Graham2 years ago in Critique
Preschoolers
What is a preschooler? Preschool is somewhat like day care except there is more academic subjects like reading, manuscript writing, math skills along with more experiments in science and social studies with learning safety and even staying healthy by teaching preschoolers' nutrition and other skills with a little more detail than day care. Preschoolers also still do art, music and movement activities related to the academic areas.
By Mark Graham2 years ago in Critique
Kindergarten
Kindergarten is the grade that a long time ago was not really required to send children. I was one student that did not go to Kindergarten. At one time it was only a half day program with two classes a morning and/or an afternoon class. Kindergarten teachers were the first to really get into the serious academics of learning with reading, writing, math skills and even science and social studies/life skills.
By Mark Graham2 years ago in Critique
Day Care
At one time I was a Day Care Assistant Teacher for young toddlers. It was a blast. Day Care is a chance for very young and young children to gain the proper socialization skills needed for when they reach the age of primary schooling. Academics mainly entail letters, number, basic shapes and colors, and maybe learning to read pictures.
By Mark Graham2 years ago in Critique
The Month of July
July the first true month of Summer even though Summer starts on June 21. There is our Fourth of July holiday and on July 1 Canada Day. The first is also my birthday. It is the month of picnics, going to beaches, barbeques, etc. Just a fun month and still show appreciation to all veterans.
By Mark Graham2 years ago in Critique
The Month of June
Ahh, the month of June and all the warm days and nights to follow. It is the month of graduations from all levels from preschool through college and some even from graduate schools. June is also the month that some summer jobs may start. There is the Father's Day holiday in this month.
By Mark Graham2 years ago in Critique
April
April to me is one of months of Spring. It is a month of sun but mainly rain showers or even at times thunderstorms. You remember the old saying "April showers bring May flowers." Depending on where you live some May flowers have already bloomed and hopefully will continue to bloom. There are some years that Easter would fall during this month, but not thi year for Passover is the only religious day for the month and no other holidays.
By Mark Graham2 years ago in Critique