This past week was my (Tim) first full week back at work with students. Consequently, it was Kaitlyn’s first full week at home watching Kaylee. For me, school was difficult. The normal problems occurred (things not happening when they were suppose to, extra duty for testing, etc.), however, it was hard because it meant I had to leave the rest of his family at home. I’ve been spoiled. I had the opportunity to stay home with Kaitlyn and Kaylee for the first entire month of Kaylee’s life. I had nothing more important (for the most part) than being with them. It was hard, because I wanted to stay home still. Sometimes a job is a real downer.
This week at school was the mid-year district writing assessment. It is a mandatory writing test that all students 6-12 must take. They are given two days to write a story. The first day is a first draft day, followed by a the final draft day. Each day students are given 60-90 minutes to write their stories. As you might imagine, it’s not very well liked by students. Our students don’t love to write. For whatever reason, it’s a real challenge for them. This year, I gave my exam to middle school students. The students in my class took it pretty well, only a few complainers. However, students who miss either days have to make it up the following days. So, in reality, our two day assessment was really four days. During the makeup days my room was used for students who completed their writing assessment in the time allotted. This meant that I had some students for two periods straight, and some students not at all. It was stressful trying to figure out was to do in class. I tried to hold class as normal (or at least somewhat normal) and teach with both classes present. We’re learning about the history of the Hebrews in my Ancient World History class, so we were making foldables with facts about the various Hebrew leaders with construction paper. This worked for a while, but kids will be kids and their attention span only lasted so long. Luckily, they all have computers and were ecstatic to have some “free” time to play games. I was just happy for peace and quite! :)
This week at school was the mid-year district writing assessment. It is a mandatory writing test that all students 6-12 must take. They are given two days to write a story. The first day is a first draft day, followed by a the final draft day. Each day students are given 60-90 minutes to write their stories. As you might imagine, it’s not very well liked by students. Our students don’t love to write. For whatever reason, it’s a real challenge for them. This year, I gave my exam to middle school students. The students in my class took it pretty well, only a few complainers. However, students who miss either days have to make it up the following days. So, in reality, our two day assessment was really four days. During the makeup days my room was used for students who completed their writing assessment in the time allotted. This meant that I had some students for two periods straight, and some students not at all. It was stressful trying to figure out was to do in class. I tried to hold class as normal (or at least somewhat normal) and teach with both classes present. We’re learning about the history of the Hebrews in my Ancient World History class, so we were making foldables with facts about the various Hebrew leaders with construction paper. This worked for a while, but kids will be kids and their attention span only lasted so long. Luckily, they all have computers and were ecstatic to have some “free” time to play games. I was just happy for peace and quite! :)
Tim created this logo for a grad school
This week I started rolling out Google Apps for Education into one of my classes. For those who don’t know what that is, Google provides all of its services (Gmail, Calender, Docs, etc.) for schools to use for free and in a protected environment locked down to the school or district level (kind of like an online Microsoft Office with collaboration features). This allows students to ability to have and use email and online services without fear of internet predators. I am testing it out for our district, which is planning on rolling it out to all teachers next school year. So, to prepare, I made a classroom website that has a calendar page on it that students can subscribe to with their accounts that lists all the activities and assignments done in class that day. There is also a page where students can find all the assignments done in class with a link to download to their computer or to work on it online. In one of my classes, I even started adding their daily quiz to the website that they take also. All in all, it’s pretty sweet. I can hand out assignments, which students can complete and share back with me to be graded. I’m excited to use it and tell everyone about it. Although, if you spoke with any of the staff in my school they’d tell you that I always say, “You know...that would be much easier if done in Google Apps.” I think they are sick of hearing me preach the Google word, but I like it.
Kaitlyn loves this book
Kaitlyn would like it be publicly known and listed on the internet that she has ran or walked on our treadmill 5 days this past week. Now that she is at home more, she feels that there is more time for her to do that. Kaitlyn is also heavily invested in a book called Boys Life, written by Robert McCammon. It’s essentially about transitioning from boyhood to adulthood. It’s the book that her book club decided to read. Kaitlyn says that it’s, “very well written and I love it!”.
This week I start up classes for my Spring 2013 semester at Boise State University Masters program. I am taking two classes that are a little nerdier than last semester. I’m taking Intro to Network Administration and Managing Technology Integration in Schools. Both are classes that are in an area that I am not super familiar. At the end of the semester, however, I will be certified in Network Administration, which will be helpful when I apply for jobs.
This week I start up classes for my Spring 2013 semester at Boise State University Masters program. I am taking two classes that are a little nerdier than last semester. I’m taking Intro to Network Administration and Managing Technology Integration in Schools. Both are classes that are in an area that I am not super familiar. At the end of the semester, however, I will be certified in Network Administration, which will be helpful when I apply for jobs.
Tummy Time
We took Kaylee to her first doctors appointment this past week. The nurse practitioner (no doctor in the village) took all the usual measurements and readings and decided that she is super healthy and wonderful (her words, not mine). She weighed in at 11lbs 1oz and was 22 inches long. She was 6 weeks and 1 day old. One thing that was part of the check up was for her to get immunizations. Boy let me tell you….I’ve never experienced anything so heart wrenching as a baby immunization. Just to describe the scene, Kaitlyn held down her head and stomach, another nurse held both legs, and two other nurses each grabbed 1 needle and stabbed it into one of her legs at the count down from three. Let me tell you what, Kaylee lit up like a Christmas tree that changes colors. Pink to red to purple with the loudest scream I’ve ever heard from her. I don’t think Kaitlyn nor I want to be there for the next set of immunizations (at 4 months). She settled down after a few minutes, but boy were we not ready for that. She spent the next day dealing with the aftermath by having a little fever for about 12 hours. Other than that, she did well.
