Absent last Friday

Well, I took last Friday off for a doctor appointment. I really don't like to take days off, mostly because it is a real pain. First, you have to plan for a substitute teacher. Depending on the substitute, you may have to give just busy work. Then when you come back, you have to figure out what the sub did or did not do. If you assigned work to keep students busy, you then have to correct all the work. Most subs do not correct assignments.

I was pretty lucky with my sub. She did everything I asked, and she graded most of the papers that came in. (I didn't even ask her to do that.) One thing that I truly love about this sub is that she really manages a class well. She was a former teacher, and it shows. I've had some subs that when I get back, nothing was done, and my room was a wreck. Not with Friday's sub.

Even though the sub was awesome, I still had some catch-up work to do. She did grade papers, but I had to go through them again. At times I have told students something different than what the answer key has, and I have to give students credit for those answers. Really, I just had to adjust a few grades, which is much easier than grading from scratch (sometimes.)

Well, I was just excited today because I knew my DVD's I had ordered had arrived. I'm teaching Evolution in biology, and due to the timing, most students are not thrilled to be doing book work, so I ordered a set of videos that appear to be quite good. The video set "Evolution" is a PBS work, and I've thought most of the PBS works were quite good. So far, this one is good.

Well, I've caught up on most of Friday's grading, but I'm still behind from prior assignments. I've tried to schedule an easier week, just so I could get caught up with grading before the Christmas Break.

Run Down for the Week

• ESCI - Today: Watched a video on Earthquakes. I really enjoy this video because it shows what happens during an Earthquake. Tomorrow: Video on Tsunami's. We are studying Earthquakes, and Tsunamis are a result of them. Plus, most of the students really are curious about them do to last year's Tsunami. Wednesday: Test over Earthquakes.
• CHEM - Monday through Wednesday: Watching a video on the 100 most influential people of the last 1000 years. I try to get the students to understand that over the last 1000 years many accomplishments were due to scientists and inventors. The only thing that I don't like about the video is that they focus on Western Europe/North America quite a lot. Yes, Europe became a world player, but we are forgetting quite a bit of the rest of the world just by focusing on Europe.
• LSCI - Today: Review Worksheets. Tomorrow: Review for Test. Wednesday: Test over protists and fungi. (Pretty easy week for me, harder for the students.)
• PSCI - Today: Took a test over simple machines. Also assigned chapter 8 vocabulary. Tomorrow: Notes of the 4 states of matter. Wednesday: Students will begin preparing notes and a demonstration over one of the following topics - Charles' Law, Boyles' Law, Archimedes Principle, Pascal's Principle, Bernouli's Principle.
• BIO - Today: Watched the first part of the Evolution video about how Darwin came up with Natural Selection. Tomorrow: Finish Darwin. Wednesday: Watch the video on the Great Transformations life forms have made.
• ADV BIO - Today: Catch-up day. Last week was pretty messed up, and I only had the students occasionally. Today, got everyone caught up on assignments they missed. Tomorrow: Notes on Neurotransmitters. Actually just notes on Dopamine, Norepinephrine (and epinephrine), GABA, Glutamate, and Serotonin. Wednesday: Lab on reaction times.

Well, it's a short week. Only three days of classes. On Thursday, the students will take "fun" workshops part of the morning, and watch a movie before lunch. After lunch, school is dismissed for Christmas Vacation.

Grading Papers

MY FAVORITE HOT PINK PEN IS RUNNING OUT OF INK!!!!!!!!!!!!!

(Now how am I going to grade papers. Perhaps I should start using my special* purple pen.)


*It's just special because it writes in purple.

TV thoughts

Well, tonight is the big night. Yup, the finale of the Amazing Race. Presently, the families are in Absorakee, which is about an hour's drive from where we live now. In fact, my wife has co-workers that live there. Who's going to win tonight? I don't know. I'm rooting for the Linz* family.

The Survivor finale was last Sunday, with Dani beating Steph. I really can't blame the jury for the way they voted, Steph really did cause their demise. However, the person that truly deserved to win came in 3rd. Yup, I think that Rafe should have one. Granted, he didn't win the last immunity challenge. If he had, I don't think there would have been anyway he could have lost. He probably played the best game I've seen from a Survivor contestant in a long time.

Last night we watched "How I met your mother." I think it was a repeat, however, we had not seen it. I just loved it. Personally, I would much rather go to a Wine and Cheese party than some dumb old night club. I really don't get clubs. I would much rather spend time with the company of a few close friends than with a bunch of strangers.

Vikings News: Some columnists are suggesting we trade Culpepper. I know Brad Johnson has basically saved the team (well not really), but can the Vikings afford it. As far as the team being saved, the offense has been just average (granted, BJ isn't turning the ball over like DC was), but the defense and special teams have picked up their game play considerably. My only fear is that Zigy is going to actually think that Tice can coach and keep him around for another year. So, should I be hoping the Vikings stink the last few games so Tice gets canned, or do I hope the Vikings can win their last games, and possibly make the playoffs. Oh the dilemma?

Twins News: Jacque Jones turned down the Twins offer for arbitration. That means that Jacque will probably not be in a Twin's uniform next year. I've read that he's had multi-year offers from several team, including KC. Umm... Jacque, why the heck would you want to play for KC. Also, the Dodgers have expressed interest, and I can see him playing in LA. Since he grew up in San Diego, LA would be close to home. As for the Twins, this probably means that Lew Ford will get to be an everyday outfielder. Although, I've read from a few insiders that Cuddyer might be our everyday Right Fielder. O.k., I like Cuddyer, but he's no Lew Ford.

Oh well, enough ranting. Time to take some advil. I've been having horrible back pains the last few days. Probably should go to the doctor, but won't. As long as I don't wake up with any NEW pain, I'm doing ok.


*EDIT: Ok, so I wrote Linz, but I meant Bransen family. I really don't like them Linz's

Check Out

I can't believe it. The student that gives me the most headaches, and is probably the biggest problem in ANY of my classes has officially checked out the school. That means I don't have to deal with him, his antics, or his attitude the rest of the year. This really does make my day.

I know I shouldn't feel this way, but there is little we could do to help. We have tried numerous strategies to help him, but nothing works.

Last Week

Last week was the longest week I've had in a long time. I had 3 meetings with parents, 1 during my 15 minute lunch. The meetings were with seniors that are on the verge of not graduating this year. Hopefully these seniors can get their act together so that they CAN graduate.

Also, I had to put off biology lab because my supplies still haven't showed up. Because of that, we ended up reviewing chapter material and taking a test. Today (Monday,) the supplies aren't here, so I'm postponing the lab until after the Christmas Break. Until then, we will be starting the Chapter on Evolution (and no, I'm NOT going to be teaching Intelligent Design.) I've ordered a few videos for the evolution unit that I hope will be useful and entertaining.

Last Friday, the Class of 2009 began their class fundraisier. They've decided to raffle off an IPod. We are selling 1 ticket for $2, 5 tickets for $5, and 15 tickets for $10. If you want to help my class, and have the chance to win an IPod, send some money my way and I will enter you in the raffle. The bad part about the raffle is that I had to stay late after school. In fact, I didn't leave school until almost 6 pm on Friday.

But wait, we also sold tickets on Saturday's Game as well. I also had to take entry tickets for the game. As a result, I was at the school on Saturday from 1:15 until almost 6 pm again.

As a result of the fundraising and long week last week, it seems like I never left school.

Well here is what is planned for today.

• ESCI - Had to figure out how to spend our winnings on the Door Decorating Contest. We are going with Ice Cream. After, they spent time doing vocabulary for the Earth Quake Chapter.
• CHEM - Flame Tests today!!!!
• LSCI - The students presented their own power point presentations on their assigned sections. Today we finished up Protist Classification, Plant Like Protists, and Protozoans.
• PSCI - They finished their lab on single fixed pulleys and block and tackles. I've been quite impressed with how well they understand the material. I rarely have to explain them how to do something twice.
• BIO - Started the chapter on evolution. Just vocabulary today.
• ADV BIO - We are going to have notes on Action Potentials and Synaptic Transmission today. Should be our last full day of notes.

Hopefully I'll be able to post tomorrow to fill you in on biology and the other classes.

Door Decorations - High School

Last Thursday, the student council sponsered a Christmas door decorating contest for each class. (Yes, we had a Christmas Door Decorating Contest, not a Holiday Door Decorating Contest.) Because I'm the Class of 2009's advisor, my door was decorated by the freshmen. We took the last 2 periods of the day. I must say, that of all the high school classes, only the freshmen work together and remained on task. Read below for the winning door.

Here is the Senior's Door.

A Gingerbread House for the Juniors!

A fireplace for the Sophomores.

And a Christmas Tree for the Freshmen.

Here's a better shot of the tree and presents. Obviously we won!!!!! (Yup the freshmen beat the Seniors.)

Door Decorations - Middle School

Here are the middle school doors for the door decorating contest.

Here is the 8th Grade Door.

7th Grades Door. They won the middle school door competition. Their theme, Rednek Krismas.

Door Decorations - Upper Elementary

Here are the entries for the Door Decorating contest for the Upper Elementary. Winning Door was the the 6th Grade.

Bottom part of the 6th Grade's Door

Here's the Top Half of the 6th Grade Door

Here's the Fifth Grade's Door.

Here's the 4th Grade's Door.

Door Decorations - Lower Elementary

Lower Elementary got in the spirit also. Check out their doors. Winning door was 2nd grade.



As you view the pictures, doors are 3rd grade, 1st Grade, Kindergarten, 2nd Grade.

Comments on Survivor, The Apprentice, and Sports

Wow, what a night on TV last night.

Lets start with Survivor
Judd is a sore loser. Boy he was sure upset when getting voted out of the tribe. He claimed everybody lied to him and he never lied, playing the game on the straight and narrow. WHATEVER DUDE! Never lied. Ha! Let's see, the hidden immunity idol is on the ground (not!). He even got caught lying. And come on, I don't think any player can win survivor without some backstabbing and lying. And with his ass getting voted off, now everyone can see what a sore loser he is.

The Apprentice
Randall has it in the bag now. The only way Randall won't become the next apprentice is if some emergency happens in his family and he can't compete in the final task. After the entire losing team got fired yesterday, I can't see how Randall won't win. The other contestant (name escapes me) hasn't shown me that she can compete with Randall. Granted, Randall has been my pick all the way to win, and my sentimental favorite.

Twins
Well, the off season is starting to look interesting. Just today, the Twins traded for Luis Castillo from the Marlins, in exchange for two minor league pitchers, Travis Bowyer and Scott Tyler. I really don't know how good Castillo will be, but he was a solid (very solid) player for the Marlins. The problem is, I just don't follow NL teams so I can't determine how good he will be. And with rumors circulating about trying to acquire Mueller or Garciapara, I'm afraid that the Twins will let Jacque Jones go. If he does, let's hope he goes to his home town, so I can suggest a player for my mother to root for. And if the Twins manage to get Garciapara, you know I'm going to try to see a series this year. We really do need offensive help, and the twins have plenty of good young pitchers in the minors, so expect more deals made.

The one player I really would not want on the team is Piazza. I know he can hit, but really, getting just a DH. I think the Twins would be better off trying to get a good offensive player that can DH or play a position in the infield other than catcher. We've got a great catcher!

T-Wolves
How are these guys in First place in the Northwest? The Northwest must really be crappy these days. Hopefully the rumors of KG being traded to Detroit are totally bogus. Although, if it does happen, perhaps I'll be a detroit fan. When I first started paying attention to basketball, Detroit was my team. Thomas, Dumars, Sallie(sp?), Lambier (sp?), Rodman (when he wasn't a freak, just a little odd). Man I loved Rodman's game. Defense and Rebounds. In fact, Ben Wallace kind of reminds of the type of game I liked. Now with Detroit's new head coach (Yeah! Flip is coaching again), and the possibility of KG joining the team, I'd be crazy not to root for my old team.

Vikes
Still suck. But are getting better. Brad Johnson is making the respectable, just like the first time he was a back-up/starter for the Vikings. Hopefully Ziggy fires Tice (actually, does not offer him a new contract, as Tice's contract expires at the end of the season). I think Tice might be the worst head coach in the League. For now, I'm going to watch Payton and the Colts try to go undefeated (won't happen), and win the Superbowl (could happen, but something tells me it might not.) And if Payton doesn't win the Superbowl, at least he will still have the funniest commercials on TV (Can you sign this for my little bro? He's a huge fan of yours. De-Caf!) I just love those commercials. (And if you didn't know he was a profootballer, you might actually think Payton was one of those nerdy, fantasy football fans, like me.)