What Do You Mean, Power Team?

Try teaching 110-sixth graders. That's a power team. But, seriously, I enjoyed our assembly intertwining physical strength and moral power. I just wish the sound system was better for that assembly. The messages were powerful. You would have enjoyed the assembly. By the way, I told the kids the picture of the power team included me, eight years ago. It took a few minutes to convince them, but, then, they looked at my belly, my balding head, and the droopy face and called my bluff. I'm tellin', Arnold.

Clubs
I got the nicest group of kids in my club, "Sock Scoop on the Web." Problem is, we have so little time to gather news, write-it up and format it for the website. Oh well, a work in progress. The bugs in this ointment are pretty large.

Dance Tonight
I got my John Travolta shoes, my Vince Gilly cowboy hat, my Kevin Bacon t-shirt and am ready to boogie. We are in the middle school gym from 7 to 9. Parents, pick up your munchkins by 8:45 p.m. One time, Mr. Fausnaught made me stay for the kids that remained. I was here until 10:30.

Cold Becoming Tolerable
Its sad when you can't yell and have to rely on Mrs. Pulizzi and Mrs. Phillips to settle down the hallway. A couple of kids hugged me out of sympathy. Golly, gee. I love this place.

Keep 'em Learnin'
http://www.sungazette.com/page/content.detail/id/516359.html?nav=5011
Have a great weekend, folks.

Achoo!!!!

Yep, got the cold. Not quite certain if I got it from Miss Porter or Mrs. Phillips. But, the good news is, my voice is gone. Lost it completely at 2:56 p.m.

Check out the damage to my daughter's campus at Texas A&M in Galveston: http://www.tamug.edu/ikecampusimages.htm

The resilience of people: http://www.galveston.com/hurricaneikeslideshows/

Hope all had a good day. Have a good night, folks.

You May Need A Steam Cleaner

Today, the cherubs spread three sand samples on a glue-covered sheet of paper and pressed down on the sand until it dried. Of course, you know, there will be some sand grains that insist on dislodging and will end-up on your carpeting. Oh well, all in the name of science.

Tomorrow, we unveil the fourth, mystery sand, and the munchkins will have to identify that sample using only their collected data and sand descriptions. Oh great, more sand on my floor. Hey, I've got tile floors and I think I gathered enough stray sand grains to build a nifty sand castle.

Finishing Schools To Watch documentation
For the last couple of months, I have been compiling documentation touting the virtues of our little school. It's funny, when you spend your existence in a tiny classroom, the world around you goes by without even hinting at its wonders. Well, what I mean is, this place is totally COOL. We have teachers doing the most innovative things with education you can imagine. I have compiled eight pages of facts and features from grade-level to related arts, to field trips and lunch with Mr. Fausnaught.

Have a great night, folks.

The Love Continues

It was a fine day. The kids were geared for an experiment. Most had their homework finished, and I was even flashed a smile or two.

Our librarian, Mrs. Myers, camed to my classroom with even more donation money for the Krysia Relief Fund. I work with some fantastic folks. I put money in Krysia's bank account and my father sent her several hundred dollars. She is doing well in regards to replacing hurricane-destroyed items -- THANKS TO ALL!!!

I'm Ready for Tomorrow
We will paste different sand samples on a "sand card" and compare the granular structure of each sample. Should be fun. However, the kiddoes will be taking the packet home to answer a number of questions that go with their observations. Email if your munchkin finds that assignment difficult.

Have a great night, folks.

The Sands of Time

Today, we learned that sand comes in five sub-categories, and we drew illustrations of each one to show what to look for in sand. Also, we found sand is primarily made of silicon -- silicon dioxide, or SiO2.
Homework, tonight, was to read descriptions of and answer questions about different sand colors in nature.
Tomorrow, we play with sugar.

The Kid Returns To TAMUG on Saturday
First of all, here is a link to my daughter's thank you to the staff of the middle school and high school. https://www.blogger.com/comment.g?blogID=33700064&postID=6606390047699337170
Next, we got word the students will be permitted back on campus on Saturday to gather whatever personal belongings are salvageable. I doubt she will find anything.

Have a great night, folks.

With Tears In My Eyes. . .

It has been a long and difficult week.

My kid is 2,ooo miles away, the victim of Hurricane Ike -- homeless and carless.

Her college campus damaged and inexcessible.

And, through it, she managed to secure a safe place at the home of a friend in Houston. Her life returning to normal with the restoration of power and friends to take her shopping for clothes to replace those she lost. She is set to complete the semester via distance learning and we found, today, the campus may reopen by the end of January.

Then, today, I was called into the office. It appears the middle school and high school teachers took up a collection to help Krysia get through this tragedy.

I LOVE these people. Mr. Fausnaught said we are like a family - we love and we fight, just like any family. Well, here's to you my family -- Thank you, I love you all.

Back to schoolwork
I better get lotsa emails, this weekend, from Sections 62 and 64. You chose not to follow directions for today's experiment and some of you ignored me so much, I was forced to yell at you to get your attention. I know darn well I did get a few to pay attention after my outburst. But, I should not have to do that. So, I wanna hear from you guys so we can finish this project.

Have a great weekend, folks.

Rock-n-Roll LIVES!!!

The early-morning crew started an experiment modeling the erosion action of a tumbling mountain stream, while the late-morning bunch went outside to gather a thumb-sized rock. The rock will be used to emulate Archimedes thoughts on displacement and finding volume of an irregular object.

The early-morning crew gathered their rocks, last weekend, but, we will not do that displacement activity until we are further into the geology unit.

The Latest Buzz from Texas
My kid is safe, fed and has a roof over her head. She is planning to stay in Houston and finish the semester via distance learning. She will stay with the family that took her in during the evacuation. She is not yet ready to leave Texas until she learns the fate of some very personal items she had to abandon in her haste to leave her college dorm. I feel as though a great weight has been lifted from my shoulders and feel I can finally get some sleep after more than a week of worrying about my baby girl. Please pray for those Texans that were left with nothing in the wake of Hurricane Ike. "Them thar are good people."

Have a great night, folks.

Water, Water Everywhere, and Today Was About Soil and Stone

My morning classes went outside in an effort to drive a 4-inch diameter, 10-inch long PVC pipe into the ground, at least 5-cm. Not an easy challenge, but, necessary to measure the percolation of the ground. Needless to say, very little data was collected as water seeped out from under the driven tube, or, in some cases, the tubes did not go into the ground. So, why did the experiments fail to produce the anticipated results? Ask your kiddo, this was a lesson on deduction.

Have a great night, folks.

Parents: Check Your Kid's Science Notebook

Tomorrow is progress report day. I have hardly any grades and therefore will not be distributing progress reports. However, look for one from Mrs. Pulizzi for language arts, and maybe, even from Miss Porter.

Have a great night, folks.

ROCKet Science?

MMy first two classes were to collect thumb-sized rocks for science. I got slivers of slivers and I got boulders. Wow!

Finish Packets
Sections 63 and 61, probably had homework. They were to complete their project packets if not finished in class.

Lost Everything
My kid lost everything to Ike. Now, she has to go to the main campus with but a couple of change of clothing for thte remainder of the semester. First, her car dies and is junked, now she lost everything to a hurricane. However, she is safe. Please pray for the Texans that also, lost everything.

Have a good night, folks.

Thank God, Ike Was Just Passing Through

My kid made it through Hurricane Ike unscathed. She is staying with a friend. They lost power and the gutters on the house. That's it. Needless to say, it was a sleepless night filled with cellphone text messaging as she rode out the storm.

Thanks to all that sent me email or called with support as I waited out this storm. It ain't easy being a daddy. By the way, the friend's father was stuck in Chicago on business and could not return to Houston because they shut-down the airports yesterday morning. His cellphone buzzed, all night, as well.

Have a great weekend, folks.

I Was Not In School, Today

Schools are closed in Galveston and Houston, Krysia evacuated to Houston and is staying with a friend. They are from Bangladesh. While I spent the last few nights worrying about my baby, she was playing dress-up in a sari. As of 6 p.m. Friday, she was safe and sound.

How was school?
Mrs. BB was in for me, today. Due to the rain, I made a last-minute change to Sectio 63. Instead of performing the percolation test, outside, they did the experiment on rock absorbency.

A neat slideshow of Galveston: http://www.galveston.com/slideshow_ike/frameset.html

Have a great weekend, folks.

Gone to Houston, but, Houston may be gone

The daughter fled Galveston Wednesday night, it is mandatory, today. She is in Houston. However, word has it parts of Houston now have mandatory evacuation. My baby will go home with a friend that lives in Sugarland, on the westside of Houston. Hopefully, she will be safe. Regardless, butterflies are in my stomach and my heart is aching. And, it appears, Mr. Miller's daugther, who lives and works in Sugarland is reporting the potential for danger with the coming hurricane. Please pray for the folks in Texas.

Not here, tomorrow
Mrs. BB is here, tomorrow. Section 62 and 64 are working on lab notebook 3, a rock absorbency project, section 63 is doing lab notebook 1 -- Percolation, and section 61 is working on lab notebook 4 -- Stream action on rocks. It was interesting to watch me set-up three different experiments to be used between 8 and 11 a.m.

Have a safe night, folks.

Switching to PANIC MODE!!

Hurricane Ike has turned and is now aiming at Galveston. The storm hit deep water and escaladed to a Category 2. Expected to be a tight-forming Category 3, tonight. All students on campus have been ordered to evacuate within the hour and not return until next week. My daughter called as she was leaving her class and heading back to the dorm. She has a bag packed and her roommate will drop her off in Houston. The roommate is going home to Dallas, six hours away. My kid is going to stay with a friend and her family and if need be, go with them if Houston is to be evacuated. Yesterday, I was downgraded to concerned daddy status. The level has now gone up to scared silly daddy. I have to wait another hour or so to hear if she made it to Houston okay. Although the storm is not slated to hit for another day or so, college officials are in precautionary status. This is from a school that did not even shut-down when Katrina hit.

On the Home Front
My cherubs organized their science notebooks, today. Those binders and agendas are to go home every night. Parents; if you take something out of your kid's binder, please replace it immediately. They are being graded for keeping the notebooks organized.

That's about it for me, right now. I am monitoring the hurricane and fielding calls from family that have heard about the change in Ike. Wish my kid well, folks.

I Got Wet

LOL. I needed to be in by 6 this morning to get ready for today's experiment. Needless to say, I got soaked. Afterall, it is so un-cool for a guy to sport an umbrella. Actually, my umbrella is somewhere in the garage and my car was parked in the driveway. Then, when I left about 3:45, it rained again, and, I got wet. If rain is good for growing gardens, lawns, etc., I oughtta have a great crop of hair, shortly.

Welcome Miss Porter
Did y'all say howdy to Nicole Porter? She's our sub for Mrs. Fry. Nice young lady, about my son's age -- did I just admit my age? Oops. Well, Miss Porter has a blog on her website. Click the link to see her blog. http://www.ltsd.k12.pa.us/510720829145125787/Blog/browse.asp?A=398&BMDRN=2000&BCOB=0&C=52585. I hope your kids like Miss Porter. She is a very friendly girl - ahem - woman.

Did You Link to Stormpulse.com?
I have been following Hurricane Ike and it looks like it will miss Galveston. Whew. worried daddywatch has been downgraded to daddyconcern.

Leah Writes for Sun-Gazette
My former student Leah wrote an article for the S-G in Monday's paper in the education section. Here is that link: http://www.sungazette.com/page/content.detail/id/515314.html?nav=5005 I am so proud of her.

Gavin's Mom's Idea
I had problems with the tin can experiment. Gavin's mom suggested PVC pipe. So, I bought a five-foot section and Mr. Wheeland cut it down to six 10-inch long sections. Thanks, Mr. Wheeland.

Science Notebook
My students will be organizing their science notebooks, tomorrow. I have an index for the munchkins to follow. If I hand it out, it goes in the notebook. Parents, please ensure your kiddoes are keeping their notebooks up-to-date. Also, I make them record the objective and homework assignment, each day, in the agenda. Please make certain there is such an entry for every science class. They get a test grade for the agenda.

Have a great night, folks.

Sixth Graders are like Grown Men?

My headline refers to sixth graders refusing to ask for directions. They are in too much of a hurry to play with water and soil, without regards to measuring volumes. I'm going to play GPS and guide them tomorrow to their destination of finding the solution. Ask your kiddo how the porosity experiment went, today?

Back on Hurricane Watch
The daughter is in Hurricane Ike's sights. Needless to say, I will be worried about her safety and the hurricane is not due to make landfall in Texas until Saturday. Wanna see a great website for hurricanes? Click the link: http://www.stormpulse.com/

Have a great night, folks.

Porosity Experiment Begins

Sorry, I had no time to take photographs of my munchkins measuring sand, silt and gravel to determine the porosity of each material. Mr. Fausnaught, however, was in and took several snapshots. I think they are on his blog, today. http://mrfausnaught.blogspot.com/

The cherubs did choose their clubs, today, during BASE. Current plans are to implement clubtime on Fridays. It should be fun.

Sixth grade parents: Did y'all get my practice email? I made a mass-mailing account that only shows the students' names, but, not their email addresses. Send me an email, even if it is just to say, hello.

Have a great weekend, folks.

New BASE schedule

Poor Mrs. Beard had 36 kids in her pre-BASE SSR class. I opted to switch to the first lunch and take half her kids. To do that, I had to move 4 or 5 kids from my SSR to Mrs. Pulizzi's room. That way, I had lunch from 11:10 to 11:40, while the other sixth grade teachers continue with second lunch, from 11:25 to 11:55. So, I get half of Mrs. Beard's kids from 11:40 to 11:55 and then switch some kids around for my regular BASE class from 11:55 to 12:25.
If you think that is confusing, you should see our class rosters for BASE!

Change in plans
For several weeks I have been trying to find a way to cut-out both ends of tin cans for an experiment. Today's cans have a curved bottom that does not allow can openers to work. Must be a safety thing. Well, I give up. Despite buying hammers and 2x4s, I have to shelf this project. Instead, I am moving to the next lesson - porosity. It is Geology Lab Notebook 2 on my website.

Have a great night, folks.

Mining For Chips

Digging into the ground and environmental consequences makes for a tasty experiment as my sixth graders "mined" for chocolate chips in a chocolate chip cookie. After the experiment, they ate the left-over cookie. Can you believe what stores charge for 105 chocolate chip cookies? So much for my gasoline allowance for the week.

Have a good night, folks.

Naw, They Aren't Pooped

Hee hee, nasty Pappa Z. The cherubs spent science examining a sample of soil. After touching and sniffing it, I explained how cow manure changes to soil after the manure has dried and the odor-causing bacteria are killed off. So, I 'posed, "Did I give you soil or manure?"

It was a great lesson on how to conduct a viable science experiment.

By the way, only one kid asked to wash his hands after the experiment. Looks like we'll have to do the super virus experiment, next week.

Have a great night, folks.