Monday, July 25, 2011

Monday, February 21, 2011

Thursday, February 17, 2011

Tuesday, February 15, 2011

The Mountain Goats "No Children"



Recommended by Roomike. Seriously. Claims it's his song of the day. Since I didn't have one I"m using this one. Upon recommendation.

Monday, February 14, 2011

One More Night- Bob Dylan

Girl From The North Country - Johnny Cash

She Talks to Angels - Black Crowes

Sunday, February 13, 2011

Monday, February 07, 2011

Bob Dylan - Knockin' On Heaven's Door



Song of the Day has been moved to the blog.

First Day Back to Work.

Monday, November 08, 2010

Relationships

Apparently my comparison of symbiotic relationship types using the Kardashian clan as example organisms was too abstract for the middle school.

Parasitsim = Kourtney and Scott (one is harmed, one benefits)
Mutualism = Kourtney and Khloe at Dash (both benefit)
Commensalism = Bruce Jenner and/or Rob and the "girls" (one doesn't notice, other benefits)

Ok. I also thought it would be funny to start the lesson reading the learning objective. "Today's lesson is on relationships" then said "... I do wish I had that lesson in 8th grade."

There was that weird class pause thing that doesn't happen that often but happens enough to have a "the thing the teacher just said was weird" vibe.

So I moved onto the regular science bit.

Parasitism = gross tape worms
Mutualism = Flowers and bees
Commensalism = the Barnacle on Whale

"I suppose you could never prove to the mind of the most ingenious mollusk that such a creature as a whale was possible." -- Emerson

Wednesday, October 20, 2010

Long Day

Kids were off the hook today! yelling, fighting, talking, criticizing, interrupting, rude. Never let them see you sweat!!!!

Seriously... "why don't we do labs" "why is this lab boring" "why don't you have kleenex" "why were you just talking about grandmas" "why can't we blow stuff up" "why can't I go to the bathroom". I'm leaving off the question marks because they are said as critical statements, not questions.

But I did, in my calm rant about procedures, get to say "I know you're more than a test score". And I am really behind in my grading.

The rest of the week I am to find out about each kid. And respond to each critical question/statement with a philosophical dichotomy... "Why do you think we don't do labs?" "Why do you think this lab is boring, write a paragraph explaining your evidence" "Why do you think I may be out of kleenex?" "I'm glad you asked that? Who can tell me why I was making a reference to being comfy at grandma's house compared to being in the classroom learning?" "What would happen if we really conducted a lab that blew up? Develop a scientific method inquire about how to blow something up. Can you come to coach class or after school and I will explore that idea with you?" and finally... "why can't I go to the bathroom? If I can't, you can't okay?"

Tuesday, October 12, 2010

I'm quite familiar with the phrase "The Honeymoon is over"

Ended by the GDMFAssess county controlled written "quiz" standardized quiz. Need to work on studying skills. But we don't have time to study in class... what to do. ughhhh

Plus there was a fight during a lab so now we can't do today's lab and I have to make them do book work, but the book says a chapter in one page so I will have to explain it. Perhaps today is read the book out loud day. hmmmm.

The fighters got suspended which is good because it means the administration is supportive.

And alas, like a first year rookie, I am typing out my lesson plans minute by minute for the full 80 minutes. It's helping