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Slacker!

I'm such a slacker! I didn't post before the Road Trip because I was out of town. Then I just forgot to since! I'm rushed for time, and I have a semi awake baby in my lap, so I will try to update soon...but in the meantime. I've uploaded all of the video footage from the Road Trip. I'm working on a DVD. Oh and we were 100% proficient on the English I EOC.

It's been an Outstanding Year!

In case I don't update any time soon:

Freshmen, best of luck in all you do! You guys were amazing to teach.

ENJOY YOUR SUMMER!

Wrapping Up Loose Ends...

Everything seems to be coming to a close, together...at the same time. We've got a week and then it's road trip time, then EOCs, and then last couple of days and the year wraps up. So I guess it's good that everything has been coming to a close!

We've had multiple projects going on at the same time. All of which were in different stages. About five weeks ago we launched a cross grade level Book Club. Each group has been working on wikis for their book that need to be finished before the road trip.

We were also working on creating short story animations in my class, which I've posted on my youtube account. And as a cross curricular project, students created PSAs (public service announcements) in science, social studies, and English class, which are also posted on my youtube account.

We started this past week by writing a journal about the Group PSAs. Then we spent the rest of class playing literary baseball with the classroom responders. The game reviews grammar, editing, and literary elements that could show up on the English I EOC.

The second part of the week we looked at an editing selection included with the sample test items from the state. We focused not on answering the questions as much as how to approach the different types of questions. The rest of the class was open for students to work on wikis, animations, or PSAs.

Friday, we started with a trip to B104 where we presented short story animations and PSAs. Students wrote about whether or not each video was effective. Then we returned to a regular Wednesday third period. We missed that class Wednesday due to the early release. then it was down to the cafeteria with the sophomores where a quintet from the North Carolina Symphony played and talked to us about music!

Where did it go?

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!

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!

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!

Light at the End of the Tunnel

I finally saw the light at the end of the tunnel this past week for my National Boards. I successfully finished and shipped my portfolio on Wednesday (it was ready to ship Tuesday), and now all I have to do is take the assessment portion. It was quite a relief to finally mail the portfolio. It had to be post marked by March 31st. I managed to ship mine a week early and right on time according to my schedule. It was a grueling process, but not many things worth doing are easy.

It did seem like a long week and there are two reasons for that really. The first was that we had student led conferences on Monday and Tuesday. I was at school both days by 7:30, which isn't unusual for me. Monday I was on my way home close to five. Tuesday, however, was a late night, and I didn't head home until after six. Nevertheless, I felt the conferences went really well. I felt better prepared, the parents seemed better prepared, and as a rule the students were better prepared.

The second reason this has been a long week has everything to do with me being a control freak with a need to be busy. I regularly over plan for the time I have because I want to know what we'll be doing every minute of class. When I'm out, I tend to leave very detailed plans complete with a time line. But this past week has been out of my hands more or less.

We began the first part of the week with a journal about the CECHS Book Club. I wanted them to tell me about their book, as well as, how they felt collaborating online and with the juniors. (On a side note, I've added video tutorials to help groups with their wiki.) So far about half of the groups have created their wikis. Of those, several have been very active and have a great start on the project.

After the journal, it was time to work. The second part of the week, I made some announcements, and it was right back to work. The light at the end of our animation tunnel is growing brighter. Most groups have their audio recorded; I'll try to post them this week on the podcast page of my website. I did post pictures from one group that is a little ahead. The sets and characters are coming together, and I'm excited to film this week.

Of course, my wife is convinced that the our baby will be arriving this week. I doubt it only because I am completely prepared for him to show up this week. I've prerecorded lessons for this week, just in case we do have the baby, and I'm out when it's time to put our movies together. That way someone will only have to push play and pause and we can still finish our short story animations this week.

Time will tell, but the house is filling with baby stuff, and he'll be arriving soon that's for sure!! And we will be finishing our short story animations this week, so I'm looking forward to a fun and exciting week either way!