Good Time "Off"

Well the extended weekend turned out well despite some rain. I took Monday and did just as I planned: NOTHING. It's been quite a while since I've done so little. Visiting family at the lake and helping our neighbors who've been there since I can remember pack to leave for good was about all I did. I knew that I had Tuesday off to get all my work done.
Work was all I did on Tuesday. Getting caught up in both my classes was high on the list. I did just that and was in good shape for the rest of the week. On Tuesday evening, however, I returned to the lake to see the neighbors off and take one last boat ride around the lake with them. All was good until I was locking up our place after dark, with no lights and missed the last step off the porch. Now, the list of excuses is huge here, but more or less, I'm just an idiot. I turned my ankle pretty good. My school nurse (my usual first stop for the stupid injuries I inflict upon myself) suggested a trip to the doctor, but I chose more ice...
I did little walking on Wednesday to say the least. Fortunately my students are working on their prep for finals and I'm just there for questions. I don't have to move much as they come to me with questions.
Today, my co-teacher in LS science took a look the ankle and a picture. I guess it'll be OK even though it's really big still. This is the first embedded picture I'm attempting. Since it could go wrong, just like so many other things, I thought "why not" right? Here goes. Just remember I usually don't have this "cankle" (as my colleague put it)...OK so maybe a nice lake picture would be better so here's that one instead.
Although for the slightly wrong and twisted I can send the other one too :)

Long Weekend

This Memorial Day weekend as we all pay homage to those that have served and fought for this country, I have worked, trained a new employee and mowed the yard between the rain drops, while reading and working on my classes during the downpours. It's been a full weekend so far. On Monday, I intend to do nothing but relax. I've taken the day off from my second job and will visit with family and friends. All else will have to wait.
Just remember that Monday isn't just an extra day off, it's time to reflect, think and appreciate what others have done and are doing now so that we can continue to do what we do. Thanks to all who are serving and to those that have done so in the past.

Great Find

This week, as I started the process of changing over all my old info into the computer, I thought that there had to be a good way to go about this...and came across something that I hadn't considered. I found an external hard drive to be the slickest darn thing I've used in a LONG time! So far, I've put gigs of stuff on it and am amazed. I'm using an Aluretek with no AC needed. It's pure USB and is tiny. It comes with a little case and a long USB chord. Soon I'll have all my stuff in on the new computer and all my work in one place! Since I've had this, I think I've sold 4 others to people who were just as impressed as I am...nice little unit!
More importantly, I can now load programs on it and use them with any computer and save all of my class work in one place(backing up at home of course) and stop carrying folders around with me.
Even so, I'm a little behind in my classes and will be working to catch up the next couple of days. Not a great way spend the holiday weekend, but it's what I have to do. In a couple of weeks, I'm off for the summer, but start another class.
Sometime soon, things have to slow down! I just hope it's all worth while.

Still Good

All seems to be going pretty well right now. I'm a little bit behind in my classes this week, but should catch up ASAP. I think I'm OK on that front. The classes are a bit different than I expected, but seem to be useful so far.
I brought home over a ton of topsoil today, so that the plants in front of the house will have a nice place to grow...and I did this on one of the hottest days so far. I had 92 degrees on my porch. I guess it's a good way to lose weight? Anyway, I'm done there. I finally removed the old steering box from the Cuda too. The "new" one should be going in tomorrow, but that will depend on how much work I catch up on tonight. It's perfect weather for the car, just haven't gotten the whole thing together lately. Maybe soon.
All fronts are covered for now, with the new computer running great, a portable hard drive on the way, which will allow me to save all my school stuff in one place for a change, and let me finally get all the stuff I need from the old computer. I don't really have any major gripes and am happy to be counting down the days to summer, even though I'll be in classes for most of it. Somehow I'll manage.
Hope all is well where you are!
Good luck.

A Little Confusion

Taking two classes at the same time has added a little confusion. Remembering different classmates from different classes is getting tough and the time requirement is already showing itself to an issue. I'm not the most organized of people so I guess it's time to become among the more organized. Today, I worked out a schedule for myself, working on a different class depending upon the night. I hope this will help.
Other than some minor issues, all is going well. the new computer is working great. I've found all the add-ons that I need. I do now see the need for an external hard drive to take between work and home. I think that will consolidate all of my things and make organization at least a little easier.
On another note. I've introduced my very experienced counterpart to PowerPoint. Suddenly he's excited and interested in some of the things I know. Unfortunately, we are to put together a presentation for the students to watch before they become our students next year. Most of what I've learned in my classes flies in the face of what we'll be doing when we present. I have little say and am more of a secretary, taking his notes, than I am part of the process. It's been like this since the beginning of the year...and I see no end until he retires. I have no problem with him other than the lack of listening to most of what I have to say. I guess, I was in kindergarten when her started teaching, so maybe listening to me has some taboo to it? Who knows. I just hope that I get a good partner when the eminent retirement takes place! One more? two more? Should be soon.

Still Plugging Away

This week has been full of good and not so good. After the arrival of the computer, it was time to get things working like I need them to work. Today, I finally managed to get Acrobat Reader to install. I guess it has issues with my OS. A little research worked well and I'm now reading what I need to for my classes. I'm still stuck on figuring out how to watch my intro's to the classes though and working through that now. Other than that the new system is great, but is taking a little getting used to. It's just different enough to make me think about where things are before going to them. I'm sure it will become "natural" in time. I still haven't retrieved anything from the old computer yet. That's a "not so good" thing. I need some of that stuff, but haven't gotten around to slaving the drives(I had two in the old computer) to my new one to transfer the data.
My grade took their field trip on Friday. It was new one for all the teachers to try. Due to expenses, funding cuts, and a lack of fund raising by our students it was scaled back a bit. We were to start the day with an Imax about Everest. In science we reviewed what we had learned about plate tectonics and how the mountain is being formed. Other classes looked into other aspects. When we arrived, were seated and the intro started it was obvious that something wasn't right. We watched a movie on the migration of various creatures throughout the world. While it was a fine movie, it wasn't what was expected at all. It confused all of us. I haven't heard a good explanation yet, but I'm sure something must have happened to the intended movie. Oh well.
The rest of the day went well, with very few problems. It was much closer to home and helped to show kids that there are things nearby that are fun and easily accessible. I gave the digital camera to a student at the start to get some shots that students might like. An hour later I checked in with that student and found only two pictures taken...I quickly found a new photographer and ended up with over 150 pictures! That's what I wanted! Many aren't too good or useful, but most are great. They'll be added to the end of the year slide show. All in all a good but tiring day. The teachers will pass out surveys for the students to determine thoughts about the day and later meet to plan changes for next year and see what really worked well/what we really don't want to happen next year. Hopefully we'll spend most of the time on the positives not the negatives...but I know where we'll end up.
A worker quit where I work my second job. It was sudden and completely unexpected(at least to me). I spent most of today catching up what he hadn't done and am working with my bosses to determine where we go from here. Life is interesting to say the least!
I'll miss the first car show of the season tomorrow due to a leaking and stubborn steering box. It just doesn't want to separate from the rest of the car. Oh well, it's just another day and I'll save money on gas! maybe I'll make the next one. Besides, I have to do two people's jobs tomorrow anyway and really don't have the time to prep the car or drive to the show. It'll all work out I'm sure.

Happy

Today I received my new computer. I'm happy to be current for the first time in a long time. so far it's been fine, after opening the case to solve a grinding noise issue, which turned out to be a wire in the processor cooling fan. Other than that, nothing has been an issue. Right out of the box, it functioned fine, and with most of my bookmarks online now, I'm up and running. I do have to slave a hard drive to take my MP3's, and previous work with me, but that can wait a little while. We'll see how things shake out later on. This should make my current classes at least a little easier and give me access to my camera for digital photos and allow my scanner to work too. All seems right with the world this evening.

Time Gone

Well, my little break is over. I'm not only caught up at work, but a little ahead of the game and can finally see that the top of my desk is black! It's been a while since that color has shown through. I spent most my extra time catching up on things around the house. The yard is all mowed for the first time this year, the car has been washed, the garage cleaned, trimming done....and so much more. I did spend some time shooting, wasting a few hundred rounds at sporting clays and five stand, which is always a good feeling. Yesterday, I changed out the rear differential in the Cuda and should be driving it again tomorrow, after making sure that there are no leaks. The first car show of the season is Sunday. If I can get a steering box changed out before then, I'll make it to that one. If not, there are lots more to attend over the next few months. Nothing big if I miss it.
I've read the syllabus for each of my two new classes, which don't seem to be too bad, but I'm starting to think that two at once might be a little much...then I start a third one four weeks from now. I guess I'll just have to set a timeline and stick to it! Hopefully all will go well. I guess time will tell there.

A Little Time Off

This past week, I've spent time away from the computer and doing other things. Having a little time between classes was nice. Time for other parts of life. Taking care of the house, trying to get the yard under control and cleaning everything that piles up when you work on a project. It was a good week, but it's just about over. I start two classes on Monday and expect to have little time to do much at all. I've started reading my text that was listed, so that should help get me on the right track. All is pretty good. Nothing too major, just the normal issues that happen with kids nearing the end of a school year, colleagues talking about shake-ups in the coming year, transfers etc. Nothing that major. My position will change a little and I'll lose the LS end of things, but I guess I should expect new things from the administration each year. I'm not too worried about that though, the big change was the curriculum this year, which was rough to say the least.
On the bright side though, I've finally found a computer and should be up to date by the middle of next week. That will be nice, being current for the first time in what seems like forever. I figured that it was about time, considering the tech oriented classes that I've been taking and the fact that I couldn't run a program for my last class due to the antiquity of my current system. It will be sad to see it go. With the way prices are going, it will most likely be the last one that gets built here. It's like reloading shells. If you ignore what you're worth for an hour of work, you just about break even. So this time, I'm getting a warranty, customer service and a complete set up sent to my door. No fooling around, putting one together. I did spend a ton of time checking out different places and specing out what I need though and did request help from a good friend...which drove up the cost of what I "need", but I hope this new one lasts for the next ten years!
Well, I'm off to grade tests so I can show my students their updated grades tomorrow. That will be the end of the evening for me.
Good luck this week.

Another Class Down

Today I submitted my last assignment and reviews for my latest class. All is done. It's a good feeling too! I had my paper pretty well done on Tuesday, but continued to revise until today. Being ahead of things takes a lot of pressure off too. Probably the hardest part was watching two movies in a week. I hadn't watched an entire movie in such a long time. Setting aside two hours for each movie was rough, but I learned that it's OK to set aside time for such things.
This latest class was a really good one for me, and not just from a "what I learned" perspective. The ideas and concepts changed the way I look at some things (including myself) and will alter the way I go about some of my teaching. All in all a fulfilling experience. I hope to continue to progress and get better at what I do.
With that done, I now look to the garage. I just brought home another big block and started to strip it down to see what I need to do with it. That was a good feeling too...oil, grease and the obligatory bleeding knuckles. Tomorrow, I'll set the Barracuda out on it's first venture outside the garage, as the forecast looks great. We've had heavy rains, so the salt will be gone from the roads, temps should be around 70 or so, making it a perfect time to get out. After it's initial start up this season, I have found leaks and adjustments to make, nothing major, but how can a transmission line just decide to leak when it's done nothing for a few months? Ah the joys of the old ones.
So I guess it's two weeks before the start of my next class and two weeks to figure out how I'm going to pay for it.....Until Monday, that doesn't matter. Time for ME.

Better

The weather has broken! It's just over 50 today, in the sun, and there are patches of blue sky passing by. It's a nice change. Somehow that just makes a person feel sooo much better. Maybe after I get done with my latest class I'll have some time to get the car going and start driving it for the season. Right now, I have to get some things done in class, so the car and fishing will have to wait. I can live with that. Living just over a hundred yards from fishing that others drive miles for is great. I know that I can go soon and will do so.

Still falling

Today is the 16th and it's still snowing. I've lost count of the number of days of snow in a row...or just decided that it was too depressing. It's been coming down pretty hard all day...fluctuating from a really wet snow to little ice pellets. Temps are hovering around freezing, but the roads have been fine and throughout this latest little storm, the worst has been north and east of me here. Just a couple of minutes away it's a bit nastier. The traditional lake effect areas are not faring so well.
At least the thought of spring and the promise of some good weather is still out there! Just like last week, the local meteorologists are predicting a "nice" weekend. I hope they're right this time, although for me it will most likely be a weekend of work as I near the end of my latest class which has really pushed me on more than one front. The stuff I'm learning is useful though and should make me better at my job.

The Snow continues

It's snowed for 8 days straight now. No serious amounts remain, but it just keeps snowing. Thirty minutes north of here and there are anywhere from 6-8 inches on the ground. Spring is still not really here I guess. At least the poor weather is keeping me indoors and working on my class...and getting things done for my job. I have tons of time in research, learning a new program and getting my assignments done. It is much easier to sit in front of a computer when it's nasty out! I have no idea how those of you in the nicer climates get anything done at all!

OK, a little to soon

Well, I guess I jinxed the good weather thing. We now have over 4 inches of snow and it's well below 30 degrees. Oops.
Our spring/Easter break starts today and it doesn't look too good for those traveling. I guess I'm lucky, staying near home, just working on my class and watching it snow. This is a short break, only two days. We go back on Monday to begin our final 43 days.
There is sooo much left to do in the year, and we just added a pilot of the state science test to contend with. That should shake up our department! I'm in good shape as far as position in the curriculum map and hope to have a successful end of the year.

Spring has Sprung

Spring is here, at least for now, in NW PA. All the snow is gone, except for the piles left over from parking lot piles. The grass is already plotting against me...it's going to win this year. The cold days have given way to temps in the 60's to 70's, which is pretty good around here. The days have exceeded the 12 hour mark and are getting longer each passing day(hours of daylight, not the never-ending hours of work). My sporting clays winter league has officially ended. Even though I didn't get the chance to finish, I'm still happy with my performance. All the signs point toward summer. I've even had my students complain that my room was too hot! All the signs are there. Even so, my Barracuda still sits in the garage, awaiting several more big rains. It has never seen snow, except through the garage window, and has never experienced the rust inducing effects of salt, so it sits awaiting the rains which will wash the salt from the roads. Between the salt and the rubble on the roads, there isn't much room for a classic out there yet. Even so, I've seen several people out there, whether they don't understand or don't care I can't be sure.
Even my deer herd has diminished. The ones that remain are eating more than ever, but still looking pretty thin. I can clearly see ribs. I awake to a combination of bird songs and peepers, which isn't bad at all. Buds are coming out on some selected trees, which means it can't be far from being decent out. The only question that remains is how long before we are reminded that we live a bit too far north to get comfortable yet.
Opening day of trout season here is a big deal, coming in the middle of April. The number of bone-chilling, snowy starts to the season are countless. I avoid opening day, preferring to start several weeks later, after the bulk of the people have done their fishing for the year. There is just something about fishing shoulder to shoulder with others that ruins the spirit of the sport for me.
With the approach of warm weather comes the idea that school is nearly over and I need to solidify my summer employment. I work a second job throughout the year, but seek another during the summer months. I painted last year, just one person's camp, but it kept me busy. This year, I'm thinking that I'll get back into the oil business and work for a small independent producer. I went in once before on my own, lost two trucks, fired three people and just barely broke even. I learned a lot from that experience. I'd like to learn more. This time as an employee that will still be taking classes and will not have the potential losses hanging over my head. I'm looking at being on the leases and doing the grunt work which I haven't done for a while. Somehow, after a LONG year of school, this seems like a pretty good option. Heck, I dug out septics with a friend to earn money before(when the sites were too tight for back hoes), how could this possibly be worse than that? At least this time, with my experience, I have an idea of what I'm in for.
Maybe someday, I'll not have the need to work in the summers, but that doesn't appear too likely. I'll be a long time paying off my classes that I must take to keep teaching, taxes will continue to rise, the house will continue to need repairs gas will keep getting more expensive etc. It's a never ending battle I guess. So for now, I'll just look forward to summer, classes and dealing with "adults". I'm enjoying my class right now and have already implemented some of what I've learned. I look forward to new ideas in this class and the ones that will follow this summer. All is well. Sure there are negatives, but I don't see them right now. :)

A Total Wipe Out

Something really interesting happened today. Numerous teachers came to me to see what I know about the Public folder on our network(the only place that one teacher can share files on our network). It seems that just about all things were deleted by our "technology coordinator". No warning, no email, just a request to make sure that what we had there was needed. This came Friday afternoon....on Monday night, all was gone. I had a bunch of pictures there, which I had there so the yearbook team could use them(I take a ton of pictures in a normal school year). I always have a back up though. Unfortunately, many who team teach share their info here and don't back it up...their out of luck now. I'd hate to try to count the man hours that have been lost! It's too bad the coordinator is basically just a repairman, and not someone that advocates for the use of technology! How many opportunities are missed daily because of frustration and lack of access?

Good Stuff

The new class is giving me some much needed excitement. I' m putting new things to use already and designing things to help my students. I feels good to see what's out there, although sometimes it does make me feel like such a rube! The network at home and work has been shaky and pretty slow, but other than that little time consuming frustration, all it well on the research front. I'm putting in time searching, reading and digesting ideas. It's just too bad I haven't taken the time to do this more on my own, without needing to do it for a class!
In my school, we are approaching our exploratory. This is where the teachers all teach the kids some hobby or activity that is an alternative to hanging out on the streets/drugs etc. I've started taking my equipment in to teach my guitar exploratory, which always gets comments and interesting reactions from the kids. To think that a teacher plays guitar doesn't seem to normal to them. I guess that there will always be a stereotype! I'm proud to fall outside the norm and just continue to be me as best I can. Tomorrow another guitar goes in...the older ones don't take to traveling too well and take some time for the tuning to settle down so they go in a week or two early. It also gives me a chance to play a little before and after school. I'm a bit out of practice!

A Decent Day

As I look back at the events of today, I see that there are many things to gripe about. Today, we proctored long tests for the state, sat through a couple of hours of learning about special education titles and had no time for much of anything. At first thought, this was a horrible way to spend a day...then I start thinking about some of the other jobs I've done and all seems fine. Today was a decent day. I think I need to look at the positive side more often...been too negative lately. Time for a change. This should make the days go better and open up some new opportunities. Through the course of the after work afternoon, I have caught up in my class, found 3 pretty good web pages to use in my class...still need to find some more, but all in all not too bad from a progress standpoint. Keep pluggin' away!

Home Today....

Today, I am home working on my latest class in the UF series, trying to become a better teacher. I can do this today because I'm slightly wounded. I'm learning that I'm not as young as I used to be and not as durable. I have a leg that's swollen like a grotesque balloon, due to my leg's untimely contact with the knee of another during a basketball game. I guess the x-rays say I'm OK and will return to work on Monday.
I have created a second blog to keep the classwork separated from some of my usual ramblings and to try to organize my ever growing online bank of information. If you are interested in the idea of instructional computing and my ideas/quest for knowledge, check it out at http://hoppysinstructionalcomputing.blogspot.com/
I look forward to refining my blog and have seen some pretty impressive ones out there. I'm still a work in progress.
Thanks for keeping up with the posts :)

A "New" Beginning

The school year is nearing the half way point. I've given taken the recommendations of my superiors and tried them so far. I've been incredibly unhappy and dissatisfied with my job and the issues I'd been having with students. I told my principal that this could be my last year. I gave myself 5 years to determine whether I liked this position or not, so it was time to decide. After all, an unhappy teacher really doesn't make life that fun for the students.

Instead, I decided to buck the system and go back to what I do best: TEACH. For those who haven't seen the previous posts, I was asked to be more like another, much more experienced E/S Sci teacher. In doing so, I became what I would call the "worksheet king". Students came in, worked on assignments, turned them in and I corrected them...I didn't really teach much. This drove me absolutely nuts and created more discipline issues than ever before. I gave this up and started doing my own thing again. All is well again. I'm happy. Students are more responsive. Grades are improving. Discipline issues have fallen. I don't mind getting up to go to work. It's all become worthwhile again. I did keep the curriculum timing adjustments and am working on the same material at the same time as my counterpart, but I'm doing it my way!
I'm just sorry that I stuck with a bum steer for soooo long. I know that there is a fine line between being the 'sage on the stage', and allowing students to discover things, but I believe that giving students worksheets and having them work is far worse than actually teaching them. Allowing them to be confused for a little while before helping them makes them think and use what they’ve learned. Regurgitation of facts isn’t really that useful in the world, unless you’re Cliff Clavin(sp?). Keeping the students involved seems to make the discipline issues go away. Class is fun again. I'm happy again. All is right with the world.

I like to think that the students are learning more and have more of a tendency to become involved in some science field when they enjoy what they’re learning. I do agree that being an entertainer over being a teacher isn’t right either. At any rate, I’m happy to back to being me and actually enjoying my position.

I’m just finishing putting the finishing touches on my latest newsletter which is sent out to parents. Students earn bonus points if they read through it with their parents and get them to sign that they have read it. I know that some just sign, but the comments I get from many parents show that they are actually reading it. This issue deals with the natural resources unit that was cut from my curriculum this year. Hopefully it will make some difference in the student or parent behavior when it comes to our little oblate spheroid and the limited resources it contains.