I'm trying to work up the ambition to shovel snow. Shoveling isn't one of my favorite activities, but since i haven't done it in awhile, it isn't so bad. I'm also trying to determine if the snow is heavy or light based on appearance. I could just open my door and touch the snow, but that would be cold and I'm not interested in being cold. At least not yet.
Everytime I shovel snow I am blissfully happy for a few things. 1- that I have a garage so I don't have to clear off my car as well; 2- that I have a flat driveway which doesn't require religious shoveling and ice melt; and 3- that I have two nice neighbors who always take care of my sidewalks with their snowblowers. Sometimes they even take pity on me with heavy snow and snow blow the entire driveway.
Regardless, I'm enjoying the snow today, knowing that it won't be here long (since it's mid February) and that it fell on a Saturday so we didn't get a snow day out of the deal.
Saturday, February 21, 2009
Wednesday, February 18, 2009
you know it's time to clean
... when you can find your contracts and pay schedules for 2004-2005, 2005-2006, 2006-2007, and 2007-2008... but not for 2008-2009.
I know I signed a contract, as I have a job this year.
But I am a bit perplexed where my copies of my paperwork ended up. I blame the whole situation on snow in 2008. While it's hard to place blame on a weather phenomenon, the snow days pushed back negotiations for contracts which pushed back when we received our contracts for 08-09 to early June. So they aren't in the place I expected them to be. But I am confident that I will find them... someday. At this point, I don't really need to find them, but now it is the challenge to locate those papers, a fun little game that will distract me from literature review.
I have found some other important things however. I would like to state for the record that these items were not missing, just underneath other things.
I know I signed a contract, as I have a job this year.
But I am a bit perplexed where my copies of my paperwork ended up. I blame the whole situation on snow in 2008. While it's hard to place blame on a weather phenomenon, the snow days pushed back negotiations for contracts which pushed back when we received our contracts for 08-09 to early June. So they aren't in the place I expected them to be. But I am confident that I will find them... someday. At this point, I don't really need to find them, but now it is the challenge to locate those papers, a fun little game that will distract me from literature review.
I have found some other important things however. I would like to state for the record that these items were not missing, just underneath other things.
- My certificate that states I have completed child abuse training and that I am good until 2012.
- A copy of my current teaching license (along with my other copies of teaching licenses) - which doesn't need to be renewed until 2011.
- A portfolio from my reading practicum class (which I took in 2004, not important, but very funny)
- My NSTA membership card
- My mini screwdriver set
- The cookie paperwork for Girl Scout cookies
Monday, February 16, 2009
happiness is...
a laptop computer battery that lasts longer than 60 minutes. Tonight I was on the couch for 90 minutes and it said I still had 4 hours left. Now that's pretty awesome. Good job new laptop. Glad I sprang for the long lasting battery.
I also decided a background update was in order, so voila! Gotta love the power of the internet. :-)
I also decided a background update was in order, so voila! Gotta love the power of the internet. :-)
Saturday, February 14, 2009
I know you wish you were there.
If you have never been to a middle school dance, sit back, relax, and let me transport you to a world filled with 300+ 12-14 year olds, loud music, snacks and drama galore.
Background information: These students have not had a dance since early December, so the mood was very EXCITED! Add in the full moon this week and constant sugar and hoopla that accompanies valentine's day and you get the picture.
Our dances are held after school. Thank god. They used to be on Friday nights from 7-9:30. Who wants to come to that after a long day at school in the first place. So now, they are much better.
First the dance day starts by collecting admission money during morning homebase.
Then the student govt reps stop by 8th hour to stamp hands of those going to the dance. As the student govt advisor, I collect the money from the admissions from my reps. We set up the concession stand and get anything ready for the dance that's needed.
At 2:30, the kids going home are dismissed. At 2:35 the dance attendees start filtering to the gym with their stamped hands and photo ids.
Middle school dances bring out the ADHD in all students. It doesn't matter if there is an actual diagnosis or not. There is just too much to see, too much to do, too many friends to run around with, too many boys (or girls) to pester. Unlike the classroom, where wants and desires are essentially squelched, the dance allows for pure freedom. If you're hungry buy a snack. If you are mad at your friends, find new friends. If you want to run down the halls like a madman, try to make sure the teachers aren't watching and go for it. My breakdown of the 2 1/2 hours at a dance for an average kid is like this:
2:35 arrive at dance
2:36 check out the entertainment possibilities in the gyms.
2:37.30 run back to see if friends have arrived (it is essential that ms walk in large groups so teachers can easily spot movement)
2:41 check out snack options
2:41.30 check out money situation
2:42 friends have decided to follow the movements of a group of boys. You become part of this reconicinse mission. Little do you know that the group of boys is also staking out the same group of girls.
2:44 dance gym still has full lights and a dumb song, run down the hallway
2:45 teacher student vball is starting. This looks interesting. Your group decides to sign up a team.
2:50 someone is thirsty. Get a gatorade from the snack bar.
2:51 another friend runs to you and says good songs are playing at the dance. You run to the south gym.
2:52 dancing
2:54 looking for the boys in the dance
2:56 looking for the boys at the dance, but NOT being obvious about it.
2:57 one of the boys looked at your group.
2:58 the entire group runs to the hallway to discuss this look. Was it intentional? What does it mean? You decide you need cookies to explore this matter further.
3:00 cookies at the concession stand.
3:02 the boy group is now in the hall at the concession stand too.
3:04 check out the volleyball game
3:08 back to the dance.
3:12 bathroom break
3:15 your team's turn to play volleyball. you realize the boys are watching them game and it makes you miss the ball. HOW EMBARRASSING!
3:21 defeated, you hear the pizza has arrived and buy a slice.
3:25 back to the dance
3:31 volleyball game, now the boys are playing
3:34 a friend comes back and says a good song is playing at the dance
3:38 back in the South gym, you see the boys running past another group of girls.
3:40 one of your friends starts crying.
3:42 in the bathroom consoling your friend with a broken heart
3:45 back for more gatorade
3:50 time to dance
4:15 the volleyball game is over, now it's just knock out
4:15-4:50 - more dancing, general running about, and mischief making.
In summary:
* 60 minutes dancing or in the dancing gym
* 30 minutes watching/playing volleyball
* 30 minutes eating/drinking
* 15-30 minutes running about, responding to drama, causing drama, etc.
I'm so glad that I'm not 13. But the drama is better than any daytime soap opera.
Background information: These students have not had a dance since early December, so the mood was very EXCITED! Add in the full moon this week and constant sugar and hoopla that accompanies valentine's day and you get the picture.
Our dances are held after school. Thank god. They used to be on Friday nights from 7-9:30. Who wants to come to that after a long day at school in the first place. So now, they are much better.
First the dance day starts by collecting admission money during morning homebase.
Then the student govt reps stop by 8th hour to stamp hands of those going to the dance. As the student govt advisor, I collect the money from the admissions from my reps. We set up the concession stand and get anything ready for the dance that's needed.
At 2:30, the kids going home are dismissed. At 2:35 the dance attendees start filtering to the gym with their stamped hands and photo ids.
Middle school dances bring out the ADHD in all students. It doesn't matter if there is an actual diagnosis or not. There is just too much to see, too much to do, too many friends to run around with, too many boys (or girls) to pester. Unlike the classroom, where wants and desires are essentially squelched, the dance allows for pure freedom. If you're hungry buy a snack. If you are mad at your friends, find new friends. If you want to run down the halls like a madman, try to make sure the teachers aren't watching and go for it. My breakdown of the 2 1/2 hours at a dance for an average kid is like this:
2:35 arrive at dance
2:36 check out the entertainment possibilities in the gyms.
2:37.30 run back to see if friends have arrived (it is essential that ms walk in large groups so teachers can easily spot movement)
2:41 check out snack options
2:41.30 check out money situation
2:42 friends have decided to follow the movements of a group of boys. You become part of this reconicinse mission. Little do you know that the group of boys is also staking out the same group of girls.
2:44 dance gym still has full lights and a dumb song, run down the hallway
2:45 teacher student vball is starting. This looks interesting. Your group decides to sign up a team.
2:50 someone is thirsty. Get a gatorade from the snack bar.
2:51 another friend runs to you and says good songs are playing at the dance. You run to the south gym.
2:52 dancing
2:54 looking for the boys in the dance
2:56 looking for the boys at the dance, but NOT being obvious about it.
2:57 one of the boys looked at your group.
2:58 the entire group runs to the hallway to discuss this look. Was it intentional? What does it mean? You decide you need cookies to explore this matter further.
3:00 cookies at the concession stand.
3:02 the boy group is now in the hall at the concession stand too.
3:04 check out the volleyball game
3:08 back to the dance.
3:12 bathroom break
3:15 your team's turn to play volleyball. you realize the boys are watching them game and it makes you miss the ball. HOW EMBARRASSING!
3:21 defeated, you hear the pizza has arrived and buy a slice.
3:25 back to the dance
3:31 volleyball game, now the boys are playing
3:34 a friend comes back and says a good song is playing at the dance
3:38 back in the South gym, you see the boys running past another group of girls.
3:40 one of your friends starts crying.
3:42 in the bathroom consoling your friend with a broken heart
3:45 back for more gatorade
3:50 time to dance
4:15 the volleyball game is over, now it's just knock out
4:15-4:50 - more dancing, general running about, and mischief making.
In summary:
* 60 minutes dancing or in the dancing gym
* 30 minutes watching/playing volleyball
* 30 minutes eating/drinking
* 15-30 minutes running about, responding to drama, causing drama, etc.
I'm so glad that I'm not 13. But the drama is better than any daytime soap opera.
Saturday, February 07, 2009
toy
So I've officially upgraded the ipod nano 3g for an ipod touch.Let's start by saying that I didn't upgrade because I ran out of space on my old ipod. This was a fully researched impulse buy, beginning with my seventh graders.
So last night I enjoyed testing out the features of the touch. It's been fun seeing what this little piece of technology can do with wifi access. Although the iphone would also be cool: 1- I don't care that my phone/ipod are separate; 2- I don't want to pay extra for internet access; 3- enough places have wifi that I don't really think it's a huge deal.
Anyway... i'm enjoying my new toy. :-)
And the ISL passed on Tuesday - so yea. There will still be cuts in the DCSD but definitely not as deep as they could have possibly been. :-)
Monday, February 02, 2009
Why voting is important
It's the eve of a big election in Dubuque.
Nope, it's not president, representative, or for any elected office.
As a teacher, I think we a collective group want the best for our students. I find myself lucky to be surrounded by excellent teachers. We care about our students. We work tirelessly to see that they succeed. We give up our weekends to plan engaging lessons. We give up time with family and friends to grade those papers. We earn every second of our summer by putting in hours beyond our contractual obligations. We live for the moment when our students see success, not necessarily with good grades, but by becoming good people.
Tuesday, Feb. 3rd is election day in Dubuque. The Dubuque Community School District will be voting to reauthorize the its Instructional Support Levy and increase its spending authority from 5% to 10%. This will not increase property taxes in anyway. Instead, it allows the district to spend more money from its multiple accounts. Simply put, this levy will allow the school district to borrow money from its savings account to cover expenses in its checking account.
Sadly, there are people who don't feel that this is a wise investment. They look back to the good old days when they were students. When schools survived with less and made do.
At my school, our building budgets have ranged in prior years from $60-80,000 per year. This comes from money allotted from the district. This money on the building level pays for things like toner and paper for the copy machine, a modest amount of supplies for each classroom (paper, pencils, etc), and equipment/supplies like basketballs for gym, new books for the library, and consumable supplies for science labs. This year, our school's allotment was $38,000. Next year, our projected allotment is $33,000. A far cry from $60,000. However, reinstating the Instructional Support Levy will allow for the district to start increasing building allotments.
I am very lucky to teach with small classes, ranging in size from 15-24. With small class sizes, I get to know my students and I have observed incredible growth from each and every one of them over the course of the school year. Without support of the Instructional Support Levy, teaching positions will be cut. How big do you want your classes to be? Do you want your 1st grader in a class of 30?
We've made strides to offer all-day, every-day kindergarten in Dubuque. To lose it, would be a tragedy.
Yes, this instructional support levy will allow for funding:
* all-day, every-day kindergarten
* small class sizes at elementary schools
* school building budgets
* equipment for classrooms/labs
* buses, copy machines, etc.
All without increasing your property taxes!
Please vote YES on Tuesday, Feb. 3rd. Polls are open from 12-8.
Nope, it's not president, representative, or for any elected office.
As a teacher, I think we a collective group want the best for our students. I find myself lucky to be surrounded by excellent teachers. We care about our students. We work tirelessly to see that they succeed. We give up our weekends to plan engaging lessons. We give up time with family and friends to grade those papers. We earn every second of our summer by putting in hours beyond our contractual obligations. We live for the moment when our students see success, not necessarily with good grades, but by becoming good people.
Tuesday, Feb. 3rd is election day in Dubuque. The Dubuque Community School District will be voting to reauthorize the its Instructional Support Levy and increase its spending authority from 5% to 10%. This will not increase property taxes in anyway. Instead, it allows the district to spend more money from its multiple accounts. Simply put, this levy will allow the school district to borrow money from its savings account to cover expenses in its checking account.
Sadly, there are people who don't feel that this is a wise investment. They look back to the good old days when they were students. When schools survived with less and made do.
At my school, our building budgets have ranged in prior years from $60-80,000 per year. This comes from money allotted from the district. This money on the building level pays for things like toner and paper for the copy machine, a modest amount of supplies for each classroom (paper, pencils, etc), and equipment/supplies like basketballs for gym, new books for the library, and consumable supplies for science labs. This year, our school's allotment was $38,000. Next year, our projected allotment is $33,000. A far cry from $60,000. However, reinstating the Instructional Support Levy will allow for the district to start increasing building allotments.
I am very lucky to teach with small classes, ranging in size from 15-24. With small class sizes, I get to know my students and I have observed incredible growth from each and every one of them over the course of the school year. Without support of the Instructional Support Levy, teaching positions will be cut. How big do you want your classes to be? Do you want your 1st grader in a class of 30?
We've made strides to offer all-day, every-day kindergarten in Dubuque. To lose it, would be a tragedy.
Yes, this instructional support levy will allow for funding:
* all-day, every-day kindergarten
* small class sizes at elementary schools
* school building budgets
* equipment for classrooms/labs
* buses, copy machines, etc.
All without increasing your property taxes!
Please vote YES on Tuesday, Feb. 3rd. Polls are open from 12-8.
Sunday, January 25, 2009
cold fingers
I think the biggest reason I dislike winter is cold fingers and toes. It's probably because I have poor circulation. I don't know if it is genetic, but my mom and grandma both have cold fingers too, so I'd guess it would have to be.
My vacay from grad school has come to an end, and my class has started again. Foundations of Action Research. I really should be reading articles for a review, but I am not motivated to do so - and since the paper isn't due until Feb 1st, there really is no pressing need.
My replacement laptop has arrived. And it did have some little quirky moments, but seems to be settling in for the long haul. I hope that we will be good friends and won't delete work, etc. The old laptop was successfully sent back, and all the files were deleted. It was pretty easy, which leads me to believe that I'm only just a few clicks away from wiping out all my data. Today I finally decided that the laptop would be ok, and I successfully transferred my files from the old laptop to the new laptop. :-)
My vacay from grad school has come to an end, and my class has started again. Foundations of Action Research. I really should be reading articles for a review, but I am not motivated to do so - and since the paper isn't due until Feb 1st, there really is no pressing need.
My replacement laptop has arrived. And it did have some little quirky moments, but seems to be settling in for the long haul. I hope that we will be good friends and won't delete work, etc. The old laptop was successfully sent back, and all the files were deleted. It was pretty easy, which leads me to believe that I'm only just a few clicks away from wiping out all my data. Today I finally decided that the laptop would be ok, and I successfully transferred my files from the old laptop to the new laptop. :-)
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