I Am Thankful For. . .

. . . a loving family
. . . my daughter found a terrific boyfriend
. . . my son has found his niche in life
. . . my son got over a very difficult relationship and is dating again
. . . wonderful friends
. . . a loving school family
. . . Mrs. Antonacci, Mrs. Dincher, Mrs. Phillips, Miss Porter, and Mrs. Pulizzi
. . . a job I love
. . . consistently great groups of sixth graders over the last 15 years
. . . my new lease on life -- I feel great
. . . the drive to prove to Mrs. Antonacci, I can dance - just gotta train my crippled leg

Happy Thanksgiving, be careful if you are travelling, good luck if you shop on Black Friday, good luck if you are hunting, enjoy life. Have a great vacation, folks.

Time For Conferences

I'm here 'til 9. Hope my coffee holds out. Actually, I did flee for an hour. Had to get puppy out for a walk - quick quarter-mile. Boy, did she give me a nasty look. I told the pup to blame the parents.

Tomorrow
can't come soon enough. These holiday weeks are getting tougher the older I get. Hey, you try keeping up with a hundred something 12-year-olds.

Have a good night, folks

I Love, My Girls

Whew! That wind and snow is fierce. Dog and I cut the walk down to one-mile. I got the coffee pot a'brewin'.

Today, my classes started building a geological timeline. First, we need to make a 15-foot long timeline and mark-it-off in centimeters. One centimeter equals 10 million years. The Earth is 4.5 billion years old. Quick, how many centimeter marks will we need? Hope you said 450. If not, check your math work.

Anyway, Mrs. Dincher, always the mommy, spent the first class period fussing over the cherubs - rolling-up their timelines to keep them tangle-free, and cleaning-up after the kids. She just kept showing the munchkins what to do and I had to keep yelling at her that this is inquiry-based learning and directions are written-out. That means they learn through self-discovery. I came short of wrapping my arms around her to keep her from doing the work for the students. Yes, I love this woman and she does very well for herself, thank you, ordering me around. She is almost as good as Mrs. Antonacci. In the end, my students in that class completed the timeline format. I will not see them again, until Wednesday and next week, we begin assembling.

My other love is Mrs. Phillips. Her second period class is doing the same project. She, however, took students to the floor to lay-out their timelines and mark the centimeter points. There she was, crawling around on the floor with the kids - guiding, facilitating, advising; not doing the work for them. I did get a picture of her on the floor, but, did not download it yet, for this blog. Mrs. Phillips is well-aware of my teaching style and she does a wonderful job offering support when and where needed. Yes, they completed the assignment in preparation for assembling the timeline. I will not see them again until Wednesday.

In the end, I had a blast, today. My students are terrific and my two girls - Mrs. Dincher and Mrs. Phillips - are a godsend. Even Mr. Fausnaught stopped in to see us having -- dare I say it? FUN!!!!

Student-led Conferences
began today. The afternoon was spent meeting parents as wonderful as their children. Several conferences were enjoyable, others informative, all were interesting. You should have seen my kiddoes take charge of their conferences and lead me and their parents through the conference. I chuckle thinking of the several very nervous children anticipating the meeting of parent and teacher. Hey! sixth graders! Y'all done good. Thanks for your hard work.

PappaZ says this snowy weather will end by midnight. No need to fear a two-hour delay, tomorrow. You know I won't live this down, if I am wrong. Have a great night, folks.

Today's Topic? -- FOOD!!!!!

I know, I should be writing about science, but, you shoulda' seen the food, today. First, I got the left-over turkey, gravy, stuffing lunch from the cafeteria. Yum, but bread expands too quickly and I ended-up tossing more than half the plate of food, away. Then, the Cultures of the World club - our English as a second language kids, cooked up a mess o' vittles fundraiser that made me cry because I can no longer eat foods like corned beef and cabbage, etc. -- Aaarrgghh! Boo-hoo. I did see Mr. Fausnaught smiling as he walked with a bowl of corned beef and cabbage. However, today was club day and the club "There's a Chef in my Soup" featured local chef Paul Mach. What can I say, I sampled the escargot (snail) -- to die for. I never had escargot so perfectly seasoned and so tender. I also got to sample the “Quick Meat and Bread with Vegetables.” Totally, awesome. Chef is a really nice guy. He not only knew some of the Polish dishes I shouted out, but, he knew them by their Polish name.

Back to Business
Miss Riggs, a third-year education major at Clarion University, and daughter of our own ESL teacher, played the part of teacher in my classroom, today. She is focused on English and Library Science, but, taught a lesson on the rock cycle. She did very well. Nasty me, I gave her this large lesson plan and we ended-up teaching just a portion of it. You see, I already taught most of that lesson, earlier.
My students were so well behaved for Miss Riggs. I am so proud of them. I hope Miss Riggs asks to come back and teach, again. Getting your feet wet and doing a cannonball into cold water are two different things. The more she gets wet, the more acclimated she will be to getting into the water.

The Malady that ate the Sixth Grade
struck. yesterday, Mrs. Antonacci, Mrs. Pulizzi and Miss Porter were sick -- they were really uncomfortable. Today, I learned that Mrs. Dincher, our aide, became very ill after leaving here for the day. She said she spent Thursday night in a near comatose condition -- not really, but, she did say it sent her to bed. Not sure how Mrs. Phillips, did. She went to a conference, today. Me? Well, I got nailed last weekend after being bitten by some type of creature in Mr. Conoway's room. I spent last weekend with a very uncomfortable rash on my jaw and neck. Similar to the rashes Miss Porter and Mrs. Antonacci suffered. My week has been a gnawing headache just above my eyebrows.

Ready for Conferences
The cherubs should have given you the student-led conference time slip. If you did not get one, better call Mrs. Antonacci on Monday morning.

Well, have a great weekend, folks.

Holy Cabolees!

1. Mrs. Antonacci became ill and left.
2. Miss Porter and Mrs. Pulizzi were ill, but, stayed.
3. We gave 4-sight tests
4. Kids were spread out throughout the building
5. We prepared for student-led conferences.
6. A kid kept a milk bottle in his locker and it soured and popped sending the most obnoxious odor throughout our hallway.
7. Progress reports were printed for the office
8. They served turkey, gravy and stuffing in the cafeteria and I could not tear away for lunch.
Why? Because we had cherubs with no place to go after their lunch, so I opened my room to them during my lunch. That has been my favorite lunch since I was a kid, here - and that was before turkeys were even invented. I missed out on turkey, stuffing and gravy --MAJOR BOO-HOO.
9. Skipped breakfast.
10. Mr. Fausnaught advised us not to eat yellow snow.

I left pooped, yesterday -- came in pooped, today. Am super-pooped, right now. Supper is on my mind, but the dog probably wants her walk. My remaining kid and wife, both, work second shift, today. After walking the dog would I really want to go out to buy supper? Should I make something? Naw, last night, I opened a can of corned beef and sat in front of the tube eating it right out of the can. I hate eating out alone and do not feel like bringing something home.

The day has been one dilemma after another. Worse, yet, the holidays are coming.

Have a safe night, folks. Here's to all the special people in my life -- my family, my school family, and my friends. I proclaim this, the summer of George.

Summation of My Day?

Ugh!
I am pooped!!!
4-sight testing today and tomorrow
progress reports are due
getting ready for student-led parent conferences
assembling lesson plans.

Have a great night, folks. Give your cherubs a bear-hug, tonight.

There Is A Little Known Law. . .

That if snow flurries are present for more than 10 minutes, after 2 p.m. and before 3 p.m., bloggers are not required to post a blog. Heh, heh.

I Meta Mor Phic
and he was boring. Okay, the cherubs were introduced to metamorphic rocks, via Power Rangers. Say, what? Ask your kid.

4-Sight, Tomorrow
I get to do mathematics. My homeroom, tomorrow. Mrs. Pulizzi's homeroom on Thursday.

Have a great night, folks -- think there is enough snow to build a snowman?

Boy, We're All Fired-up, Now

Our brief study of igneous rocks -- means, born of fire -- resulted in learning the definition of extrusive and intrusive rocks, identifying basalt, granite and obsidian rocks, and the definitions of those three rocks. Then, using magnifying glasses, we looked at several rock samples and made comparisons. That's about it, folks. It's Monday, snowy, cold, and we're all still pretty "weekended. "

Have a great night, folks.

I Don't Like Shorter Days

These shorter afternoon daylight hours means I leave school by 3:30 to get home to get the dog for a walk. I hurt my knee, yesterday, in a fall. So, I decided to take dog to Canfield Island, but it was far to muddy. We ended up walking around the school. We strolled through the fields and parking lots and ran into Mr. Conoway as he was leaving the building. Not the most pleasant of walks, but, it gave me a chance to stretch out my sore knee.

Student-Led Conferences
are coming up on Nov. 24 and 25. My social studies class today forged ahead with composing their long-term goals in all their classes. We will share that during conferences with the parents. If you've never been involved in a student-led conference, you're in for a treat. Ya know, I still remember when we introduced that concept. Mr. Fausnaught was a 7th grade teacher and permitted me to sit in on one or two of those conferences. Gee, this is going back to before my current stock of cherubs even started pre-school.

Science Reports Are Completed
and I for one am happy to hang-up my language arts teacher role. I don't know how Mrs. Pulizzi teaches that day-in and day-out. Gimme somethin to blow-up, instead. Science is what rules. Yes, Nancie, I know, my science curriculum, this year, is boring. She keeps reminding me how my kiddoes conducted a leaf-collection project, and, built balloon-powered race cars and launched paper airplanes, a couple of years ago. You did not know, Nancie, that last year, my students took off their sneakers and used an incline to measure the rate of friction on a dry and wet surface at various angles. Or how several centuries ago, we built and launched soda bottle rockets and used protractors to measure the rockets' height.

News of the Daughter,
She is coming home from college on December 17, just in time for daddy's birthday. I really love being a daddy, but, my babies have both grown. Until I become a grandpa, I may have to start a business, "Rent-a-daddy." My best friend is already a grandpa, and a coworker will soon be a grandma. Ya know, my buddy, his wife, and my coworker look great for entering the "grand" stage of life. Me, I looked like a typical grandpa since I turned 21. Kinda says a lot for taking care of your body, throughout your life. No kidding, you gotta see these people. The look like they are in their 20s.

No School, Tomorrow
You lucky stiffs - I gotta work. Dread, dread. Well, the yucky weather, the walk in wet grass and the darkness all around me signals a time for another cup of coffee and maybe some supper. The wife works second shift, so this guy, whose only talent is to burn water, is stuck trying to cook. The cats and dog refuse to share their food with me, anymore, and the cockatiel has never offered to share his birdseed. Maybe a hot meal, tonight - peanut butter on warm toast. Was that the phone? Oh, thought someone was calling to offer me a home-cooked meal. Oh well, the peanut butter, awaits.

Have a great weekend, folks.

Write On!!!!

Intro paragraphs and conclusions are now being incorporated into the final draft of the Conglomerate rock report. Today and tomorrow, we are working in the classroom to complete this project. PARENTS!! The kiddoes do not have homework, tonight. However, you may want to review what has been completed, thus far.

Have a great night, folks.

What Makes Conglomerate Rock So Special?

How can you turn this prompt? How would you use it as part of expressing the main idea of a science report? Well, the cherubs were posed that question today, when asked to compose an introductory paragraph and conclusion for their ongoing science report.

Did I confuse them? Eh?!? I think they know that the introductory paragraph needs to be statement with supporting statements. Oh well, we'll see tomorrow.

By the way, they will be writing their sloppy copy of the report, tomorrow and Thursday.

Mrs. Fry Shared Some Good News
She is feeling on the mend and is itching to someday return to teaching. Mr. Fausnaught came along and was there when she shared the good news with us. Geez, I love these people.

Mrs. Antonacci's Visitor
A combat veteran of World War II. A most appropriate Veterans Day observance. Kudos, Mrs. Antonacci.

Freedom of Speech
My social studies class debated a 1951 court case which asks if a man's rights were violated after he was arrested for making "un"American speech on the streets of Syracuse. I was dazzled as Sydney and Braxton took opposing sides and presented fantastic arguments. It cost me a bag of candy, but, was well worth it to see this group engaged in this lesson.

It Was A Nice Visit
Michael came down from the 8th grade, today, to help his mom and some of our munchkins with writing their introductory paragraphs. He stopped by my room during lunch and we chatted. It's always nice when Michael visits the sixth grade. Mom got a bit testy with me because science is not as much fun as when I taught her son using my old environment curriculum. Sorry. I am trying to make rocks - FUN! Maybe if I wore my Fred Flintstone outfit?

Have a great night, folks.

Does My Rock Look Too Fat?

The conversations were about comparing one group's homemade conglomerate rock with another group's rock. Today, students were asked to write that comparison in paragraph form. A comparatively simple task, except, I did not tell them the prompt or the main idea.
Tomorrow, we write the project introductory paragraph and conclusion.

Have a great night, folks.

That Was Kinda Cool

A teacher dreams of hearing those words following a lesson. It took a couple of class periods, but, one young man told me that as he left my classroom. He was referring to the lesson, today, in which I had each group member leave their table and create another group with other group's members. There, they discussed their homemade conglomerate rocks and made comparisons and contracts about the rocks, they made. The "uniqueness" of each rock heightened awareness that this type of sedimentary rock is special. I really liked listening to some of the discussions in all my classes.

How About A Roll Call?
If you are reading my blog, please drop me a comment. Mind you, I have to approve your post before I add it to the comments. I am also curious if the blog informs, entertains, or simply annoys you. Heavens, I am quick to criticize other blogs, I read. If I am not your cup of tea, please tell me why. For my loyal fan out there, I wish we were together, right now. I really miss you.

Have a great weekend, folks.

Ouch, Another Writing Assignment

In nature, conglomerate is a sedimentary type of rock found, primarily, where waters run slow or still and sediments are permitted to sink to the bottom.
This type of rock looks like a mixture of sand and different sizes of rounded pebbles. The pebbles are important because they are unique to the stone.
Sand and pebbles collect along sea shores, lake shore, or river banks. They are compacted by the weight of sediments that collect above them and cemented by material dissolved in the water that seeps through them.

Miss Porter is Ill
Talk about the living dead. Whew! Take another day off, kiddo.

Fewer Hugs, Today
I must look bruised. I only got a half-dozen hugs, today. I must feel like a roll of Charmin, big and soft.

Hey! Mike! Let Me Know If The Brother and Sisters Like My Idea from Wally-World.

Have a great night, folks.

Zowie!! Wow!! and, OMIGOSH!

What a great day!!! The majority of munchkins had their agendas signed, and they worked so well on the computers researching and collecting background information on conglomerate rocks. I feel bad, because I wanted to reward my last two classes for making such a wonderful comeback, that I ran out of time, and did not get a chance to pass out a reward. Okay, you know, they will each get an M&M fun pak, first thing, tomorrow. Yay! Sugar in the morning!

I psyched-up the kids telling them their finished reports will be so informative parents will be going to work bragging about their newly-learned knowledge about this sedimentary rock.

I just love when these kids react in an eager manner. God, I wish I could instill a love of learning in them that I did not achieve until I started journalism in college.

I Glanced At My Homeroom Report Cards
Ten kids in my homeroom achieved distinguished honor roll, and one on honor roll. Not bad for a class of 23. Are the grades inflated? I don't know. I do know most of them work very hard in science and I try to encourage that by permitted fixing graded papers and such.

I Am Getting Hugs
I am getting more hugs from kids, this year, than ever. Could it be I am beginning to look more and more like Santa Claus? I get kids passing through the hallways stopping to give me a hug, 7th and 8th and even high schoolers. It feels so good to be loved. When was the last time you gave your kid a hug?

Social Studies Was Fun If You Just Try
I overheard one student from the first marking period respond to a kid in the second marking period, who stated he did not like my social studies class. The first kid said we do fun and neat things in social studies when students take an interest in what is being taught. Hmmm. Food for thought. Is it fun to take a court case about one of the Constitutional Amendments and initiate a debate, or construct a powerpoint presentation on your take on another court ruling? Funny, I never remembered civics as a fun class. Go figure.

Hope You All Voted
My daughter registered but never got her card from Lycoming County, they kept sending her correspondence about correcting her social security number. She did, they didn't. She did not get to vote. The boy and I went together to the polls. I saw several former students voting for the first time. I love America. Good luck, Mr. Obama. I'm gonna miss seeing that pretty Sarah Palin, in the news.

Have a great night, folks

My Blonde Angel

I started by posting a passionately pathetic blog, today. Sort of, feel sorry for Mr. Z, post. I then erased that and substituted a blurb stating I wanted a break from blogging.

I ran into Mrs. Dincher on the way out the door. She said she wanted to read my blog. I explained to her how depressed I felt, today, because students are getting their parents to sign the agenda without verifying work was completed. I told her how discouraged I felt because I wanted parents involved and quite a few are not doing that. Mrs. Dincher gave me a pep talk. Made me feel pretty good that I am working as hard as I can to make these children successful.

Mike, Mrs. Dincher's son, was with her. He was always such a good kid and it reminded me how much I enjoy what I do.

Report Cards, Tomorrow
Oh, oh.

Writing a Science Report
Today, the cherubs wrote a paragraph about the conglomerate experiment. Some figured out our homemade rock is nothing more than concrete. Go figure. I was so dazzled by my first two classes, today. These kids wrote coherent, cohesive, and relevent paragraphs about the experiment. Hey, I gave each one an M&M fun pak. The last two classes were not as eager. Kinda ruined the mood, The last class were so eager to write a paragraph they wrote too much. They discussed computers, internet, etc. No, no, no. The paragraph was only about the hands-on experiment, not the project.

Tomorrow, we do research on the 'puters about conglomerate rocks.

Have a great night, folks, and thanks, Nancie, for the shot in the arm.

The Dog Got Skunked

Sorry, no blog, today. The dog encountered a skunk, last night. The house wreaks, but, the dog is outside and waiting to be doused with hydrogen peroxide, baking soda, and liquid soap. Got my rubber gloves. Out I go.
Have a great night, folks.

I Got My Bag of Goodies!

The 50's for Halloween. Next year, I should dress as the 80s singer, Meatloaf. Could you see me in a tux with frilly shirt? "But, I won't do that!"

My Kids Are All Mixed-Up

We started an examination of conglomerate rock - a hodge-podge of rocks, sand, mud, and silt. I was not there. The sixth grade team was in conferences all morning. We had subs. They lived, so it couldn't have been a bad day.

Have a great night.

That Long Awaited and Dreaded Day, Came. It Wasn't Too Bad

Yes, I gave a test. Not just any test. A 10-question, multiple-choice test on sedimentary rocks. I ended with an open-ended question about why these children feel frost and/or ice wedging is a more common form of erosion. I not only asked for an opinion, but, proof derived from experimentation.

Most of the munchkins gave fantastic answers, others only a half answer and only one that was completely off mark. The stats prove our kids are capable of forming coherent and relevent sentences and paragraphs. So, the next time you read those unflattering stories in the local newspaper, calling attention to low PSSA scores and Adequete Yearly Progress, remember, the kids get one shot at a PSSA test, even if its a bad-hair day. I see real progress, each and every day, and I salute the elementary school teachers for their tireless efforts in creating purses out of sow's ears.

Did Ya Read Mr. Fausnaught's Blog, Today?

He mentioned how lucky I am to be working with so many beautiful women in the sixth grade department. Darn right!!! I adore them, all. They are beautiful, talented, intelligent, caring, understanding - did I mention, beautiful? I did? Well, I should say that, repeatedly, every day, all day. If I had teachers that looked like that when I was in school, I would have stayed after-school, often. Notice the artistry of the photograph, something large and horrendous to off-set the sublime, petite, and beautiful.

Have a great night, folks.