This year has flown by like a bullet train! Two weeks before the Road Trip and then finals. Wow! This past week I took Monday and Tuesday off to have some dental work done and spend more time with my brand new baby boy! I created another webpage for the first part of the week. I had them write a journal about their short story animation and then work with their group to create group PSAs.
When I got back to school, I spent the second part of the week clearing things up and tying up loose ends. We started by examining question answer relationships and indicators in EOC questions. Then we filled out evaluations and reflections on the contributions made by each group member during the animation projects. I extended the due date for finishing the movies to Tuesday to make sure we get the best possible animations.
We also clarified what needs to be done for the individual PSA planning and then the group PSA. We are shooting for finishing the group PSAs by this Friday. I felt like we had things straightened out and everything should be back on track now! I cannot wait to see the animations and the PSAs!
We finished off last week at MerleFest. As a group we saw Doc Watson and David Holt. It was a great performance! I actually bought an iTunes album, Legacy, that is a similar to the show we saw only longer and with more songs and stories! The weather was awesome and the festival was very impressive! I got several neat souvenirs and a lot of great pictures!
Sunday, April 26, 2009
Wednesday, April 15, 2009
Easter Break & the Week Before....
I had anticipated not being at school the week before Easter, so I created an interactive web page that laid out the two days of instruction. It went like planned, except I was there. I had been rather impatiently awaiting the arrival of my second child. He however was willing to wait. It was interesting using the web page to deliver my instruction. The kids seemed to get a kick out of it too. I mean there I was sitting at the front and they were watching a video of me explaining the day's activities.
We left for break on Thursday, and I chose not to work Friday. My daughter left Thursday with her Mimi and Pappy to go to PA for Easter. They were on standby to get her when we went to the hospital to have the baby. Since the baby didn't seem to want to come, Maggie went off on a grand adventure, and my wife and I were transported back to right before Maggie was born. We were free to go out to eat and linger. We could do a little shopping without Mags asking when we were going home or what she was getting...it was fun. I also got to work in my shop. I made some craft type items to be sold at the school yard sale.
Easter came and went without a baby...but Monday, April 13th a new baby would arrive! Zayden Alexander Miller was born at 11:02. He was a healthy natural born baby weighing in at 9lbs 10oz and 22in long. We got a CECHS visit on Tuesday then it was off for home. Maggie was supposed to come home Monday, but we had to settle for a visit at the hospital and then getting her back yesterday. She got to spend some time fussing over her brother. She's going to be a great big sister. She told her brother yesterday that he was so lucky to have a big sister like her!
I hope everyone had a great Easter and continues to enjoy spring break!
We left for break on Thursday, and I chose not to work Friday. My daughter left Thursday with her Mimi and Pappy to go to PA for Easter. They were on standby to get her when we went to the hospital to have the baby. Since the baby didn't seem to want to come, Maggie went off on a grand adventure, and my wife and I were transported back to right before Maggie was born. We were free to go out to eat and linger. We could do a little shopping without Mags asking when we were going home or what she was getting...it was fun. I also got to work in my shop. I made some craft type items to be sold at the school yard sale.
Easter came and went without a baby...but Monday, April 13th a new baby would arrive! Zayden Alexander Miller was born at 11:02. He was a healthy natural born baby weighing in at 9lbs 10oz and 22in long. We got a CECHS visit on Tuesday then it was off for home. Maggie was supposed to come home Monday, but we had to settle for a visit at the hospital and then getting her back yesterday. She got to spend some time fussing over her brother. She's going to be a great big sister. She told her brother yesterday that he was so lucky to have a big sister like her!
I hope everyone had a great Easter and continues to enjoy spring break!
Sunday, April 5, 2009
Well Prepared! Maybe too Well!
We'll as the arrival of our second child draws near, I've made preparations so that I would be ready to go out at a moments notice. I used a special tool that captures my screen and audio and recorded last weeks directions for assembling our short story animations. And for this week I created an interactive web page in lieu of lesson plans. I hadn't had my hopes up until Stacy, my wife, went to the doctors last week and he said that Zaden would more than likely be here by Saturday. Well, it's Sunday evening, and I have a new prediction. April 20th! Just back from break...I think that's the winning date!
As for class, we had a weird week. We had adjusted our schedule on Wednesday and Thursday so we could see "My Heart in a Suitcase". The play was rescheduled and off we went Thursday morning to arrive at a quiet and empty civic center. Apparently there was a break down in communication somewhere and while we were informed of the rescheduled date, the play was not rescheduled. So we went back to school and continued on our way!
The first part of the week we focused on getting as many pictures taken as possible. Some groups were finishing boxes and sets. The second part of the week we went over instructions for creating the movies in movie maker. All groups have recorded their audio and most have a good start or are finished working on their pictures. Check out the pictures, and depending on your internet speed, you can play the slide show and get an idea what their movie might look like. You can also listen to their audio on my website. Finished movies will be due the week after spring break. I can't wait to see them!!
Friday was a rough day. We found out that one of our students had lost his father in a car accident Thursday night. It made for an emotional and trying day in our close knit family. We started the day working on an Algebra quiz and short story animations before heading to the theatre to hear a couple Caldwell County Musicians perform.
I can't remember the first performer's name, but he played country and a little bluegrass. He plays regularly at Woodlands Barbecue in Blowing Rock (I want to say Wednesday and Saturday night). He talked a lot about how he learned to play from his father who played more blue grass to his country and southern rock. The last song he performed was about seeing his father in himself more and more everyday. He didn't know it, but that song had a very special meaning to all of us!
The second performance was from "Pop" Ferguson and his son, Clyde Ferguson Jr. They played and taught us about the history of The Blues! The two of them together were funny enough. Mr. Ferguson had to unplug "Pop" a time or two to keep him from playing right over the history lessons. It was a very enjoyable experience. There was a really cool article about "Pop" in the News-Topic not too long ago.
I really enjoyed both performances immensely. From there we went to lunch. The afternoon was tricky. We split the freshmen into two groups. While the first group went up to the third level to work on MAP testing, the other group had a chance to talk to some counselors about how to best handle the loss that occurred Thursday night. We all had a chance to make cards and write letters to show our support. We flipped the groups halfway through the afternoon. As students finished they worked more on their animation and Algebra test.
It was a busy and emotional week! I image this week will continue to be that way!
As for class, we had a weird week. We had adjusted our schedule on Wednesday and Thursday so we could see "My Heart in a Suitcase". The play was rescheduled and off we went Thursday morning to arrive at a quiet and empty civic center. Apparently there was a break down in communication somewhere and while we were informed of the rescheduled date, the play was not rescheduled. So we went back to school and continued on our way!
The first part of the week we focused on getting as many pictures taken as possible. Some groups were finishing boxes and sets. The second part of the week we went over instructions for creating the movies in movie maker. All groups have recorded their audio and most have a good start or are finished working on their pictures. Check out the pictures, and depending on your internet speed, you can play the slide show and get an idea what their movie might look like. You can also listen to their audio on my website. Finished movies will be due the week after spring break. I can't wait to see them!!
Friday was a rough day. We found out that one of our students had lost his father in a car accident Thursday night. It made for an emotional and trying day in our close knit family. We started the day working on an Algebra quiz and short story animations before heading to the theatre to hear a couple Caldwell County Musicians perform.
I can't remember the first performer's name, but he played country and a little bluegrass. He plays regularly at Woodlands Barbecue in Blowing Rock (I want to say Wednesday and Saturday night). He talked a lot about how he learned to play from his father who played more blue grass to his country and southern rock. The last song he performed was about seeing his father in himself more and more everyday. He didn't know it, but that song had a very special meaning to all of us!
The second performance was from "Pop" Ferguson and his son, Clyde Ferguson Jr. They played and taught us about the history of The Blues! The two of them together were funny enough. Mr. Ferguson had to unplug "Pop" a time or two to keep him from playing right over the history lessons. It was a very enjoyable experience. There was a really cool article about "Pop" in the News-Topic not too long ago.
I really enjoyed both performances immensely. From there we went to lunch. The afternoon was tricky. We split the freshmen into two groups. While the first group went up to the third level to work on MAP testing, the other group had a chance to talk to some counselors about how to best handle the loss that occurred Thursday night. We all had a chance to make cards and write letters to show our support. We flipped the groups halfway through the afternoon. As students finished they worked more on their animation and Algebra test.
It was a busy and emotional week! I image this week will continue to be that way!
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