Hey You Teacher

The Accidental Teacher: Crazy is as Crazy Does: Chapter 3

2015-01-08T09:54:00.003-08:00

When I first started teaching they told us to keep our mouths shut until we got tenure because administration could dismiss us for any reason if they wanted to. So, I tried to just sit in the back of every faculty meeting and mind my own business without saying a word.

Mrs. H. was the union representative and she had her own style. It was rude and caustic, but, it was her style.

Faculty meetings were held three times a month whether we needed them or not. If there was nothing to say, the Principal found something to say. Inspiring? Not usually, but, meet we did. They were supposed to start at 2:10 and end 3:10. Mrs. H. apparently thought it was her job to make sure that no meeting went beyond 3:10. So, at precisely 3:10 she would stand up, take out her abnormally numerous keychain and walk, straight backed, in front of the principal and wave her keys, left to right, up and down, like a marching band leader on the Fourth of July, right out the door.

I feel the need to give you a fuller description of Mrs. H. She was a piece of work. My first taste of her was after walking my class back from recess. We were responsible for one of the bulletin boards on the main hallway walls. The class had written short essays in response to a prompt with a picture of a clown who had fallen and was a bit dirty. One of my students, Q. was one of several African American students. As we were passing the bulletin board Mrs. H. grabs Q. by the arm, out of line and points to his paper and asked him, "Did you write 'He was so black and dirty' because you think being black means your dirty?" Mind you, this was an African American women talking to a fourth grade African American child. It took a few minutes before I could get her to leave him alone and we could get back to class.

A few weeks later I was in my classroom during lunch when the teacher in the next room asked me to come into her room for a moment. Thinking nothing of it, I went over to see what was up. Lo and behold, who was in there? None other than crazy Mrs. H.. "Mr. PT., I noticed that as I was leaving the Faculty Meeting you rolled your eyes at me? What do you have to say about that?" She bluntly blurted out with her hands on her hips, chin taking dead aim at the center of my forehead. I replied, "I rolled my eyes because you're crazy. You're also the rudest, most caustic and prejudiced person I have ever known. And you're one of those crazy people who slap someone in the face and wonder why they slap you back. I just want you to know that if you slap me, be prepared to be slapped back." I turned around and walked back into my room.

My good friend Ms. J.'s take on Ms. H.. "Mrs. H.? Oh, she's crazy! She's the kind of person who would punch you in the nose one day and then buy you an ice cream the next. She's crazy!"

A couple weeks later I was in my room before school preparing for another glorious day of teaching (I really was enjoying it). Over the school intercom I hear, "Mr. PT, if you are on campus, please report to the principal's office." Being a middle child I immediately began to wonder what I did wrong. On my way down to the office I went over in my head all kinds of scenarios. I felt like a little kid again being called to the office, which are a very real group of memories for me.

When I got there I was ushered into the principal's office and seated with a small group of other people. The principal explained that our presence had been requested for this formal meeting concerning Ms. H's actions. My first thought was relief that whatever the issue was it wasn't me. Secondly I was baffled that crazy Ms. H. asked me to be there considering I had told her I thought she was crazy!

The long and the short of it was that some Latino students from Ms. H's class had complained to the principal that she continually called them stupid and telling them they were lazy. The principal went to the class to look into the complaint (which she should do). The principal said she gave Ms. H. the option of waiting in the cafeteria/teach lounge or the main office. Ms. H. told her, "I don't have to put up with this nonsense, I'm going home!" The principal directed her to not leave the campus. Crazy Ms. H. went home (which she shouldn't do).

I sat there and wondered (again) why I was there and why crazy Ms. H. left the campus when she was directed not to. Like the title says, crazy is as crazy does.

Chaper 1 http://heyuteacher.blogspot.com/2012/12/the-accidental-teacher-one-line-three.html

Chapter 2 http://heyuteacher.blogspot.com/2014/07/the-accidental-teacher-bang-their-heads.html

Show Me the What?

2014-10-30T22:08:00.001-07:00

There's a buzz word that's been thrown around educational circles for a while like a bowling ball in a game of ping pong. I don't know if I have ever heard a word used with such brutally vague precision.

If you're a teacher you've probably heard it. Your professional development most likely has been sprinkled with it. Your evaluator might have insisted that the lessons you teach have it.

I actually had an administrator who was evaluating me ask me where it was in my lessons. She wasn't being malicious, she was expressing the reality that she was clueless to what it was. A district administrator asked a colleague of mine where it was in her objectives she had posted on her whiteboard.

The word is rigor. Lesson are supposed to have rigor, and students magically transformed by rigor. I have yet to sit in a professional development session where vigor was specifically identified. No one says where it is exactly that you as a teacher apply this all powerful entity called rigor. But, if you don't have it, you can get a below standards evaluation.

This is what I think: rigor, shimgor.

Free Speech and Bathrooms

2014-09-18T21:42:00.000-07:00

I think the purposes of a union is to protect it's member and push for reasonably high wages. I have never been in favor of the political activism insisted on by my union. To assume that all teachers share the same (or should share the same) political views is not just naive but un-American. The following is one person opinion...

http://dailysignal.com/2014/09/17/teachers-hope-erase-union-dues-deny-free-speech/?utm_source=heritagefoundation&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=morningbell&mkt_tok=3RkMMJWWfF9wsRonvKXLZKXonjHpfsX57e8qW6e%2BlMI%2F0ER3fOvrPUfGjI4DT8VgI%2BSLDwEYGJlv6SgFQrLBMa1ozrgOWxU%3D

The Accidental Teacher: Bang Their Heads Together: Chapter 2

2014-07-23T11:14:00.001-07:00

We came in from recess like any other day. As we entered the room Q and M, who were walking on my right and left, just started swinging at each other with everything they had. I yelled, "Stop!" At the same time I tried to push them apart and ended up holding them up on the wall by their necks. They kept trying to hit each other and we're demanding, "Let me down!"

I asked, "Are you going to stop hitting each other?"

Both Q and M sputtered out, "No!"

"Then I'm not letting you down!" I explained. Finally after a few minutes they finally stopped swinging.

I decided that their punishment would be sitting together for a week. At a table that was about four feet wide they must of been six feet apart. I had told them that for the entire week if one got in trouble, they both got in trouble. For the first few days, every time I turned around I heard, "Thump! Thump! Thump! Thump!" When I looked back at them they would be there, sitting still, as far apart as they could be.

About half way through the week after dismissing the kids an older lady (Q's grandmother I believe, she never actually introduced herself.) walked up to me and demanded, "What you doing sittin' two boys together knowing they're just pound each other every time you turn around?"

I told her, "Well, ma'am, I figure I can't bang their heads together, so I might as well let them do it for me."

She leaned back, started to laugh and said, "You're a pretty smart man!" As she walked away laughing, she shook her head saying, "Let them bang their heads together for me. You're a smart man. That's the funniest they I've heard in a long time!"

I never saw her again and Q and M hardly looked at each other for the rest of the year.

That was long ago and a different era in education. That method didn't work for all kids who fought, for example "fightin' friends". Fightin' friends fight, busting each others lips popping each other in the eye, but, in fifteen minutes they're laughing and messing off like nothing happened. But, for Q and M, sitting together taught them to leave each other alone.

My Teacher Tech Opinion on Edmodo

2014-07-15T11:09:00.002-07:00

I have two guidelines when evaluating and using technology: one, does it help students learn and two, does it make the teacher's job easier? If it doesn't do both those things the chances are slim to none that I will use it.

A few years ago I ran across Edmodo, a free application for educators and students. Last year I was able to use it on a limited basis because the classes I taught were already using an online format. But, I did have the students turn in some assignments using Edmodo. This year I taught sixth grade English and Ancient History plus one period of "New Media" that was for eight grade students.

This past year the students were promised iPads at our school. The teachers were given (lent) one and had a two day training before the beginning of the year, so I was looking forward to trying some new apps and lessons. Edmodo was the app I used the most and has fulfilled my two guidelines. The students can access Edmodo with ease and check their work without problems. I don't know if Edmodo itself helps students learn but, it does help students interface with several different applications, turn in work, take quizzes, tests and polls.

As far as making my life as a teacher easier I have to give Edmodo a big thumbs up. I have used polls to check for understanding, the assignment function to create assignments and turn in assignments, and I have given quizzes of all kinds. I will probably write a few more posts about Edmodo and my positive experiences with it, so I will just leave you with this: If you are not on using Edmodo, give it a try at https://www.edmodo.com .

If you have used Edmodo and have an opinion please share it in the comment section.

Open Wide, It's the Common Core

2014-05-22T19:56:00.001-07:00

I have been in education for twenty five years and I've seen programs and mandates come and go. Goals 2000, No Child Left Behind and now the Common Core are the last three. The more more I come in contact with the Common Core, the less I like it.

The Common Core is the current administrations educational initiative that demonstrates both the ineptitude of the federal government and the manipulation of those who wish to "change America".

I was just involved with the online "Smarter Balanced" testing. We were the test group to help iron out the kinks. If it wasn't for the fact that our school is blessed with some great problem solvers we'd still be trying to access the test online. When something gets shoved down my throat I generally don't like the taste and I can definitely say I can see a myriad of problems on the horizon.

The idea of a centralized federal department of education, the U.S. Department of Education has got to be one of the biggest scams and waste of money every perpetrated on the American public. Just the fact that taxpayers send money to the federal government is a loss of money. It's a loss because some bureaucrat must be payed and the office they sit in must be rented. That much will NEVER see a student, a school or a teacher.

Let's not even mention the ridiculous idea that said bureaucrat then decides who should receive how much of the tax they paid back into their local school system. It's like a bully who takes someones lunch and then teases them by holding it up and making them jump for it. Does the phrase "redistribution of wealth" ring a bell to anyone?

I read this article by a fellow teacher who was part of the so called teacher input group. Give it a read and share any experiences you might have had.

http://www.theblaze.com/blog/2014/05/22/a-scathing-interview-with-a-5th-grade-teacher-who-was-in-the-room-when-common-core-was-being-created/

IS THAT WHERE YOU WANT YOUR MONEY TO GO?

2013-05-12T09:04:00.000-07:00

I have always been against the idea that my union dues go to causes that I fundamentally disagree with. If anyone wants to make a donation to any of those causes, more power to them. Just not with my money, my union dues. Because of the spiteful and brutal manner that they routinely and smugly operate with I am hesitant to go through the process (I attempted it once).

Neil McCabe wrote a pretty good article on this. Give it a read and tell me what you think. http://townhall.com/columnists/neilmccabe/2013/05/12/chalkboard-rebellion-in-the-golden-state-n1591943/page/full

Have a great day!

PTVoice

Common Core or just another con?

2013-03-19T00:02:00.000-07:00

Common Core standards. Another "gift" from the federal government. As an educator anytime someone out of the classroom comes up with an idea, I get nervous. The further they are away from the actual classroom with real live students the more dangerous the directive. Common Core Standards fits right in with all the other "great ideas" from those who don't know or should know better. Rachel Alexander has written a great peace entitled

"Common Core: What's Hidden Behind the Language".

"Conservatives are in an uproar over Common Core, an educational curriculum being forced upon the states by the Obama administration, which is scheduled to be mostly implemented this year in the 46 states that have adopted it. Common Core eliminates local control over K-12 curriculum in math and English, instead imposing a one-size-fits-all, top-down curriculum that will also apply to private schools and homeschoolers.

Superficially, it sounds good. It creates universal standards that supposedly educate all children for college. But along with the universal standards come a myriad of problems, which the administrators of Common Core are disingenuously denying. The American Principles Project released an analysis last year of Common Core, exposing the duplicitous language. Common Core describes itself as “internationally benchmarked,” “robust,” “aligned with college and work expectations,” “rigorous,” and “evidence-based.” None of this is true."

http://townhall.com/columnists/rachelalexander/2013/03/18/common-core-whats-hidden-behind-the-language-n1537017?utm_source=thdaily&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=nl

The more I read about it the less I like them. What's the old saying, "Beware of Greeks bearing gifts"? How about beware of your federal government taking over your state and local governments choice to teach your students as best as you see fit.

OK my fellow educators, do you know what the common core standards really are

WE NEED AN ALTERNATE UNIVERSITY SYSTEM

2013-01-07T22:45:00.000-08:00

I am deeply concerned about the state of our American educational system. I have been in education of over 23 years now and I have seen quite of few exceptional educators teaching in some very difficult situations. I have one son who is now part of the working class. One son who is putting himself through college. A daughter in middle school and a son in elementary school. Education is all around me.

What is raising the warning flag for me is the Department of Education and it's current influence. I believe it is a financially silly practice to send money to the federal government to have them redistribute it where they see fit. To do so assures that a certain percentage of local tax dollars will never see a school or a classroom because it will be used to finance the people who redistribute it. That is just a plain waste of taxpayer money.

Candice Lanier in her article Government Information Documents Replace Traditional Curriculum as Feds Seize More Control of Schools (http://redpillreport.net/2012/12/17/government-information-documents-replace-traditional-curriculum-as-feds-seize-more-control-of-schools/) describes how teachers are having to sacrifice some classic texts for what I can only describe as government propaganda. The race to the top has turned out to be trap. It is not about teaching to standards and test score which has been a source of discontent for many educators for the last decade, it is about teaching a very narrow indoctrination. That is where I am afraid this government is now headed.

Now I am going to get down to my real concern. This is not about Democrats opposed to Republicans, this is about the American ideals opposed to socialist ideals. It is no secret that most universities are run by left leaning (to say the least) elitists. They use revisionist history to rewrite history to suit their political agenda. They have swallowed the media by training journalist to be liberal propagandists. High school teachers feel the need to push their opinions on children with brutal force. I know. I fought it even 30 years ago. Now it is only worse.

In Los Angeles they are naming Elementary schools schools of social justice! Are you kidding me? Social justice!? I taught through the whole multicultural charade. What it produced was culturally aware illiterates who could not think by themselves but were easily manipulated by emotional pleas. You know, "the rich people don't pay their fair share!" "Those tea party people are bigots!"It is just like being on a schoolyard when some manipulative punk plays a sucker with the old "Did you here what he/she said about your mama?" maneuver. It was very successful politically. The last two elections demonstrate this to the tee.

I have come to the place where I think our educational system is hopeless. I don't think that the universities can be won back over. I believe a new group of universities need to be formed. I think they need to be financed by the business community. I believe that they must be cost effective. Meaning affordable and well run. America needs places of higher education where the constitution is taught with respect and an understanding that it is no simple compilation of ideas. There must be an alternative to the current university system because if we don't be just be another socialist state.

The Accidental Teacher: One line, three days and welcome to the program!: Chapter 1

2012-12-04T20:43:00.002-08:00

The line was long. Not around the corner long. More like around the corner and out into the parking lot long. I had just received my CBEST results and the two week long strike finally ended so I went down to The District to apply to be a substitute. That would allow me more time to volunteer at my church. I figured I would be done by lunch.

After three hours in line and just getting a view of the front door, I was seriously thinking about coming back another day. But, by that time it had become more of a quest than just applying for a job. So I hung in there. We hadn’t quite reached the state of delirium yet so no one was really in a talking mood.

Just before lunchtime I made it to the front. No one had been able to confirm for me that this was actually the line to apply to become a substitute. When I asked the lady a the first desk, she said, “No, this is the line to apply for the District Internship Program. Next week is for substitutes.” I almost screamed. But, the nice lady asked to see my paperwork. She suggested I apply for the program. If they hired me I could teach with an emergency credential and then take the NTE (National Teachers Exam). Plus, I would get full benefits right away. I figured I had stood in line for three plus hours already, so why not spend a few more minutes filling out the rest of the paper work. God works in mysterious ways.

Three day later I stepped out of the building a District Intern. One week of training and two weeks later I was teaching my very first class.

The Natives Are Getting Restless

2012-11-08T22:16:00.000-08:00

So, today we had the beloved grade level teams meetings. I have this theory that the farther someone gets from the classroom the less they want to do. Which means that when a directive is given to teachers the result is that there is more for the classroom teacher to do and less for anyone else outside the classroom.

This leads me back to todays' meeting. The purpose was to come up with a plan as a team to deal with student's who are behavior problems. That's sounds great except if you can't even send a student out of class to take a few minutes to calm down or get themselves together what can you do? For resources we were given our wits and prayer. Well, not prayer because you're not allowed to pray in schools these days.

One of the questions on the worksheet asked what the "Trigger" for the students behavior was. The idea being that if the teacher can avoid the trigger, the negative behavior should be at least minimized. The problem is that the trigger for some of these kids is simply being instructed, asked or told what to do. I like to use what I call the drive by instructions because it is not confrontational and sort of disarms the student. But, if a student is agitated or just not in the mood, it is shall we say problematic.

My fellow teachers are getting agitated. The difference is that it may be getting easier to remove a teacher from the classroom than a student.

Election Day

2012-11-06T06:23:00.001-08:00

I can't believe I slept as well as I did last night! I am pretty nervous about the elections today. I think Romney's going to win, but, I live in a state that was "bright" enough to re-elect Jerry "tax you" Brown. I work with a bunch of people who believe what they are told without checking in on the reality they live in!

Follow the link for the rest...http://thussaithme.blogspot.com/2012/11/ptvoice-on-election-day.html

The Right or Privilege of Instructional Time

2012-10-24T20:14:00.001-07:00

If you're a teacher you know this no-win scenario all too well. If you're a parent, it's what you can't image a school would allow to be inflicted upon students in their care, specifically your child. It is the latest policy of a district in a death spiral. No student should be denied instructional time.

The theory is that no student should be denied access to instruction. Therefore disruptive students can not be sent out of classrooms. This of course includes student's with physical disabilities. Students with cognitive disabilities have a right to mainstream classrooms too. Now, the kicker, students with behavior issues, no matter how severe, have a right to access all instructional time. The result of these policies is that all children, no matter what their issues may be are placed into a room together.

The reality is that some students learn best in different environments and some students flat out refuse to learn. Student's with disabilities are now being thrown into larger classrooms even if that means that they receive less actual access to the curriculum in a mainstream classroom. All in the name of "least restrictive environment". When least restrictive makes learning least effective, it's just another dumb idea that no one has the guts to say, "Hey, boss, I don't think that's going to work." The real problems start when entire classrooms are held captive to the clowns, the terrorists and the thieves that populate classrooms and teachers are left without recourse to defend their teaching time or the students they sincerely want to teach. My fellow teachers and I were actually told that we can not send a student out of the class unless, according the the California Education Code, it is a suspendable offense! The reality is no one leaves the room unless they are going to be suspended!

Do students who are obstinate have a right to learn when they feel like it and act however they want to without repercussions? I don't think they have a right to make other students endure their clowning, terrorizing and stealing behavior. If a student refuses to learn and chooses to talk and play around teachers and teachers are left without any real recourse and the result is that the rest of the students suffer the real loss of instructional time. These students are a cancer and in my view thieves who are taught to disregard others and rewarded for their selfish behavior by not being punished quickly and with brutal severity. Their parents should be punished too. But, I find that the blockhead doesn't usually fall far from the cliff, so trying to deal with them and their child is like beating your head between two brick walls.

An education is not a right, it is a privilege and as soon as you call it a right you start down the slippery slow of valuing the rights of an individual over the rights not of the group but every other individual. That of course is lunacy. Trying to teach in a classroom where the right of a child to act out as they please is more valued than the right to learn without being harassed is stupid beyond belief. Yet, it is happening in classrooms everyday.

Open Letter to Teachers

2012-10-02T22:26:00.003-07:00

Just an open letter to my teacher colleagues. Just what has Jerry Brown done for you? How is furlough days and less doing us a favor?

How about asking what the great Barrack Obama has done for you? O sure he threw some money at education to "save jobs", but it didn't stop kids from leaving the state, thus the district and of course your school. Less students = less teachers.

So, my question is: What has either Democrat done for education, really?

A leader or a louse?

2012-09-25T20:32:00.001-07:00

Today I had the joy of sitting through a Professional Development designed to help teachers. I was reminded of a present my wife and I received for our wedding. The givers had forgotten to take their names still on it. The classic re-gifting. Well, the more that things change, the more they stay the same.

I could take the repackaging of some old ideas. What I found really hard to take was the five minute video pep talk from the District Superintendent. First of all the cold forced smile. Never trust someone who smiles too much. How do you respect someone who admittedly falsified information on their resume? How can you listen to someone who is threatening to cut your pay via furlough days by another 20 days?

The nerve to mention that older teachers might have lost their fire and that some re-do of old ideas on a "guide" would help. Cutting pay takes away desire. Adding layers of administrative fat on the district level while siphoning funds from schools sites by reducing staff (clerical, teaching, administrative and maintenance) and then suggesting that teachers take a pay cut is diabolical. But, with a School Board with more a severe shortage on personal integrity but obviously not on calorie intake, what do I expect.

I don't even think I can string together a coherent string of thoughts to express the disdain, contempt and anger I have towards the nepotistic self absorbed fools that choose leaders like drunk monkeys throwing darts.

Can anyone make sense of the state of education? Tell me what you think.

Just Set the Bar Lower

2011-10-27T06:21:00.000-07:00

Last week, my school, like all the others in the great state of California, participated in the Great Shake disaster drill. All went well. The administrator over the drill announced that it was highly successful. Really?

Two thoughts. One: AW Tozer said that the worst form of deception is self-deception. True indeed. Two: If you set the bar low enough, anyone can jump over it.

Here's the deal: I was over said event at one time and I, like all of us participating who have been involved as members in different capacities, realize that a lot of details were completely glossed over and ignored. For example, several members were new to our school or to being an emergency team member. They were supposed to practice going to assigned areas and check rooms to see if they were clear or some one needed assistance. No, all we did was sign in at the "command post" and call it even.

I have been in education 22 years and been at several schools and an evaluation sheet is filled out by every teacher and staff member after every drill. Not this one. The administrator in charge ipso facto declared the drill highly successful. Heaven help us all in the case of a real emergency.

Little Help Please

2011-04-30T12:48:00.001-07:00

I taught an intervention class this morning. It's amazing how much some students are NOT understanding in their regular classes.

Off the Hook

2011-04-14T14:34:00.001-07:00

It's spring time baby and the kids have gone wild! Love, inhalants and just plain foolishness are the order of the day. It's a good thing "the district" is cutting deans and counselors.

The Dumpster

2011-03-19T09:26:00.001-07:00

We all have worked with at least one. You know, the administrator who fancies themselves as a very affective delagator. I work with a friend who truely believes he is a great, not good, a great delegater. He dumps without explanation, warning, or discernable reason.

Sometimes, because of the ability and competance of those he dumps on, myself, the coordinators and counselors, things work out. If we don't understand his signals...he discribes us as incompetent.
Frankly, he's great with numbers but awful with people.

The Union, Me and Jerry Brown

2010-10-25T06:28:00.000-07:00

Image via Wikipedia

During elections I can always count on my union to send out their totally biased and frighteningly unconcerned with balance voters guide. In the past I have found it to be very helpful, if not disappointing. After I have studied up, to the best of my abilities, trying to see who is actually who and what they really stand for or against, I look to my unions voter guide to help make any final choices.

This voting season has proved to me again that although I can think of maybe two times I have agreed on a political candidate or issue with my union, the guide does provide me with a useful service. If I am not sure if a candidate is a nut, I check my unions voter guide. If he or she is recommended by my union I know for sure I should not, under any circumstances vote for said candidate. This season my union is backing (surprise!) Jerry Brown because they fear Meg Whitman will "ruin education." Yet, the teacher's union will turn a blind eye to the state of affairs that J Brown left the Oakland school district in . Not only did he create a $100 million deficit, push the district to the edge of bankruptcy, he is also a huge proponent of charter schools. I know charter schools are a wonderful fad and a tiny minority have been successful, but, on the whole they are not more successful than normal public schools even with the ability to cherry pick high achieving students and jettison those who prove to be "challenging." Charter schools do not need to operate under union control or rules. Charter schools are not a pro-union alternative. But, my union will back J Brown because he is a Democrat.

So, I call on my fellow educators to look beyond themselves, and not just let Jerry Brown and the Democrats fear you into voting submission. Why vote for someone who will tell you he will protect you and yet, toss you out in favor of the latest politically correct educational fad?

So long, and thanks for all the fish!

2010-08-19T22:58:00.000-07:00

Cover via Amazon

It's all over including the shooting. The online teaching experience was something I am glad I said I did, but I am not sure I will do again. It was new. It was different. It was grading, grading, and more grading.

I am sure the kinks will get worked out and the process will be refined. Students will learn and teachers will teach.

My greater concern now is to rest a few days before I hit the trail again. My beloved district is under fire, well, actually the teachers (me too) are under fire. Public comparisons of teacher effectiveness are being made at the LA Times. Check out some of my thoughts on this at http://www.thussaithme.blogspot.com.

For now, good night and good luck.

TGIF for Friday the 13th

2010-08-13T14:05:00.000-07:00

Image via Wikipedia

TGIF because I have a job.
TGIF because I have a great wife and wonderful children to go home to today!
TGIF because I have learned to teach an online class.

Happy TGIF to you all!

Stardate: August 10, 2010

2010-08-10T18:28:00.000-07:00

Image by ~Xu via Flickr

How late is too late? The struggle for teachers is always how much time do you allow a student to complete assignments. Especially for summer High School summer school classes which I have been informed are "all about credit recovery." Even though I was given a standard grading rating system directly onto my online home page I am directed to score papers rather generously. Whatever, I'll adjust, I'll adapt. Hopefully the students are learning something. At the very least they are learning if they don't do it no one will do the work for them.

Stardate: August 6, 2010 TGIF!

2010-08-06T15:52:00.000-07:00

The grading is endless in the Moodleverse...but,
Thank God it's Friday!
I get to take my kids shopping.
Because yesterday was payday and I want to buy new shoes :)

Question: If there is global warming why is cold in SoCal?

Stardate; August 4, 2010

2010-08-04T18:44:00.000-07:00

Image via Wikipedia

What did I do today? It feels like nothing. I did have actual live contact with two of my students. I answered everybody else's phone calls (that's what I get for nabbing the big desk by the window). Then there was the paper work, attendance for an online class?

One of my fellow teachers busted a student, mom actually, for plagiarism. Mom, was doing all the work and thought her only mistake was not using quotes on everything. That's why I say that the blockhead doesn't fall far from the cliff. Crocodile tears flowed and another one bites the dust.

I apparently have the most students at our site for an English class. No wonder I'm taking longer than everyone else!

That's all folks.