A Few of FR's Finest....Every Day....10-16-02

Billie and daisyscarlett

[daisyscarlett]

The Free Republic Forum has approximately 14 "Daily Threads". Today, we are happy to SPOTLIGHT one of them, along with its founder, anniegetyourgun, and its current teacher, RikaStrom.

The mission of the Word for the Day Thread is to raise the level of discourse and expand language abilities. The Rules are simple: Everyone who chooses to post must leave a post using the "word of the day" in a sentence. The sentence must, in some way, relate to the news of the day.

Anniegetyourgun started the Word for the Day thread on 2-10-01. Click here to read that first thread .

Anniegetyourgun called the thread "Word For The Day" because she planned to "teach" a daily class. She developed a Freeper school scenerio-establishing the routine, monitoring responses, setting the rules, "grading" the results, etc. She did "lesson planning" the night before and opened the school house door every morning at 7 am PST. Soon the WFTD thread took on the feel of a cyberclassroom. Since AGYG is not a teacher by profession, this was quite an accomplishment!

Being as Freepers have such creative minds, one thing led to another. They soon had things like "recess" bells, lunchroom time (complete with tuna croquettes), JimRob as principal, and Show and Tell days. They even fancifully created teachers of other classes at FR School. (BTW, ultimately, the Spanish teacher ran off with the German teacher!) They also had running jokes about the school nurse, as many of the guys in the class presumed she was beautiful and were always coming down "ill" for some reason!

There have always been special weeks at WFTD, such as "graduate level" word weeks, a week of some of the latest words added to the English language (neologisms), Spring Break vacation week, etc. One weekend, they had an open house on FR so people could find out more about WFTD – complete with student work being "displayed". During the summer of 2001, there was a "WFTD Summer Camp" at Camp Lotsawords -. lotsafun was had at Camp Lotsawords - including pranks!

In the real world, at least two homeschool mothers on FR have used the WFTD thread for their children everyday.

anniegetyourgun
Freeper since 11-24-00

"In Her Own Words"

"I hate to say it, but it seemed to me that there was a need on FR to perhaps 'upgrade' the language, spelling, grammar, word usage, etc. Rather than insult folks by saying so, I thought I might try a forum that would allow people to expand their vocabulary, explore word origins, and generally try things out."

"The thrill for me was to find so many on FR who are truly gifted writers, people with excellent imaginations, those with incredible senses of humor who were always making me laugh out loud at my desk, even a student who wrote the FR school song."

"I had to stop in May (2001) due to schedule changes and RikaStrom took over. I was so relieved because the 'students' had become so close and I hated to see it die out."

"I had a blast with WFTD. I believe it has contributed to the 'persona' of FR. Why, we've even seen BIG name journalists use the WFTD in an article they wrote within a day or two of it coming up on our thread. Coincidence? U decide!"

Just in case you are wondering, that is not really a photo of anniegetyour gun shown above. Anniegetyourgun says she "actually looks like a cross between Marsha (of Brady Bunch) and Joey Heatherton - if you can imagine them in their mid-forties!"

RikaStrom
Freeper since 11-10-00

RikaStrom's Profile Page leads off with the following:

"I am the current 'teacher' for WFTD, the FReeper school of vocabulary and inventive verbiage. This school was the creation of Anniegetyourgun.

If you have a sense of humor, please come on in. If you are part of the 'short bus' group, you can come in too. My students need targets for their verbal veracity. We thank the talented Registered for our school logo!"

Miss Rika took over posting the WFTD thread during the Spring Break thread in 2001. At the time, "that particular thread was keeping me sane." So she decided that she would step right up and continue to post the thread after it became impossible for Miss Annie to continue. She has been posting the WFTD thread for over a year and a half.

RikaStrom, who is also very active FReeping with the Houston Chapter of FR, recently started a new job and does not have the time luxury that she experienced at her previous position. Student Bella_Bru is now sharing teaching duties with Miss Rika. Mistress Bella does one week, Miss Rika does one week. This new arrangement began around September 10, 2002.

Here are two links to memorable threads suggested by Miss Rika.

Word for the Day Review 4-24-01

Word for the Day Review 6-04-01

THANK YOU, ANNIEGETYOURGUN
THANK YOU, RIKASTROM

YOU ARE TWO OF FR'S FINEST

THIS WEEK'S THREADS

10-14-02 Molly Pitcher

10-15-02 Dutchess

Opinions by our own 'King of Ping' The guy's good, folks!

Thanks, Mixer!

     1) Click on the graphic to open the Calendar.
     2) Once there you can click on any month and even click to the right to go into next year. Once you are in the month that you joined FR you will need to click on the number in the calendar and then an add item screen will come up.
     3) In the next box enter your name in the "Calendar Text" field and then click on submit.
     4) If any of the screens fail to load simply click on refresh in your browser and that will usually fix it.
     5) If all else fails or simply if you want me to do this for you send me an FReepmail and I will gladly do it for you. ~Mixer

[anniegetyourgun]

Oh, LIR, how sweet of you to say that. I've got such a long list of Freepers who consider me an enemy, it's nice to hear from a friendly one from time-to-time!

[ladyinred]

Hey! Why does everybody leave when I show up huh?
I am starting to get a complex!

[JustAmy]

HI Lady
Yes, the roosters woke me this morning and just what is your excuse for being up before morning?



I plan to take I will send the Treats for Troops Goodie Bucket this Friday.
If JustFrank gets out of line, threaten him with the woodshed. That should work.

[LadyX]

The words we use convey who and what we are, certainly, and determine how we are perceived.

It is a pleasure to honor you three in The Spotlight, with your efforts to evoke from us our best!

[Auntbee]

Good morning ladies. Hope you have a great day.

[JustAmy]

"Why does everybody leave when I show up huh? "

Well, I'm somebody and I haven't left but I need to either turn on the heat or go back to bed. It is cold this morning.

[ladyinred]

It is cold isn't it? I have a small heater on by my feet. I did consider lighting the fireplace!
I wonder what I am doing up myself! Must be that age thing! I sure can't blame roosters here in the city!
Mntgrl and I are talking about Halloween costumes on the Friday after the 31st, or maybe even before. Wadda you think?

[JustAmy]

That sounds grate for the Friday after Halloween. I may go as JustFrank! LOL That's should be okay since JustFrank is very patriotic.
I will not be able to make the Rally on the 25th. Another football game.

[VRWCmember]

What a great thread! Thanks for pinging me to it.

[daisyscarlett]

lol...Just love you Houston FReepers...Good morning...

[Bella_Bru]

Did either of you prepare a speech???

[Bella_Bru]

Wow! Thank you! :-)

Please feel free to drop by WFTD any time you wish.

[Flyer]

RikaStrom and AnnieGetYourGun, our very own pair of virtual stentors.

I can't find the words to express my appreciation for all you do. Can I dust the erasers today?

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God Bless America, land of the free, home of the brave. . .

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Belt - As Seen on eBay

 

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[daisyscarlett]

Hi there....actually since I am on the West Coast, I was up late last night not early this a.m. --- in any case, I think we both need coffee....

[daisyscarlett]

Wow...I am impressed with your being a good student at Word for the Day. I confess I have never attended class but have lurked and had a few laughs with you guys...It is always a humbling experience when I visit...

[lodwick]

Patriotic Sunrise

[daisyscarlett]

Morning meekie...good to see you back on schedule after your late start yesterday....

[Gabz]

Congratulations to my all time favorite "Teaches"!!!!!!!!

[anniegetyourgun]

What a spectacular belt! I think the more modern Ms. Rika went to whiteboards in class. She's so high-tech, you know. Me, I was in the dark ages with blackboards and erasers. I used the cleaning threat as after school punishment for bad students. Problem was, I didn't really ever hava any 'bad' students at FR. Well, there was ralph....

[Flyer]

I used the cleaning threat as after school punishment

I must have had clever teachers in my school days. It was considered a privilege and an honor to dust the erasers.