ODD BLOCK PERIOD: Substitute lesson: Scientific American Frontiers video: HYDROGEN HOPES, Textbook Isotope Outline Worksheet and then for Homework: INTRO TO ISOTOPES.
I spent the day at our district office with 4 other colleagues, one from each of the other middle schools, revising our 8th grade unit benchmark tests. A nice day. Got 90% of the task done.
I walked home afterwords. It took me an hour and I maintained a 4.5 mile and hour pace.
Last Saturday my two teams competed and came in 10th and 12 place. I feel like both me and my students let each other down. Most of the students only wanted to do 2 events. In past winning years most did 4 events with some doing 5. I did not push them to do more. That is where I failed them. I need to have another coach next year. Mrs Gaede is happy to help and I will use her more next year. I will field only 1 team. If more kids want to compete then they had better work hard early and show me. THIS IS THE FIRST YEAR I DID NOT TOTALLY ENJOY THE PROCESS. Mediocrity was happening this year and from now on I will fight it to death with my light saber!
Showing posts with label Science Olympiad. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Science Olympiad. Show all posts
Sunday, March 14, 2010
Week 25, Day 5: Even Periods are now the best behaved
Even block period: graded homework, did white powder lab.
My even periods are now calmer and better behaved. My odd periods (except period 1...they are still half asleep) are becoming loud and obnoxious.
Final day to get ready for Science Olympiad. I got here early and let some
teams work on their last minute adjustments for science Olympiad.
To make the day even more hectic...Food fair today. I had half the period in my room having students prepare their Science Olympiad event boxes and half my lunch spent checking the boys bathroom. After school packed up truck with sci oly boxes and went to happy hour with some staff and my wife.
Science Olympiad drains me. I spend almost all non-class time hours coaching Science Olympiad and I get punch from lack of having "down" time.
My even periods are now calmer and better behaved. My odd periods (except period 1...they are still half asleep) are becoming loud and obnoxious.
Final day to get ready for Science Olympiad. I got here early and let some
teams work on their last minute adjustments for science Olympiad.
To make the day even more hectic...Food fair today. I had half the period in my room having students prepare their Science Olympiad event boxes and half my lunch spent checking the boys bathroom. After school packed up truck with sci oly boxes and went to happy hour with some staff and my wife.
Science Olympiad drains me. I spend almost all non-class time hours coaching Science Olympiad and I get punch from lack of having "down" time.
Wednesday, March 3, 2010
Week 25, Day 1: Wow...this was a NICE day.
EVEN BLOCK SCHEDULE: Same lesson as last entry.
This was a really nice day and an easy one. I have the lesson timing down well.
I've often said, "You are a better teacher 8th period than you are 1st".
The only problem is that you may be tired by then!
This is the last week to prepare for the Science Olympiad Competition. As usual the students have not had their building projects completed two weeks ago as they should/
Two teams is too many. Only one team form now on. Next year they have to have the building done by end of January. This has to be a fault of mine because it this the same occurance every year. I have to change how I approach this, but I do not want to be making the projects myself.
richardkinney@cusd.com
This was a really nice day and an easy one. I have the lesson timing down well.
I've often said, "You are a better teacher 8th period than you are 1st".
The only problem is that you may be tired by then!
This is the last week to prepare for the Science Olympiad Competition. As usual the students have not had their building projects completed two weeks ago as they should/
Two teams is too many. Only one team form now on. Next year they have to have the building done by end of January. This has to be a fault of mine because it this the same occurance every year. I have to change how I approach this, but I do not want to be making the projects myself.
richardkinney@cusd.com
Friday, February 5, 2010
Week 21, Day 4: The Best Bill Nye VIdeo, Dumpster Diving and Burning my finger!
ODD BLOCK PERIOD: Begin Buoyancy with the Bill Nye Buoyancy Video, Give and fill-in notes.
The BEST BILL NYE VIDEO is the Buoyancy Video. It is perfect for 8th graders, 8th grade curriculum, and it has HIGH DENSITY info on Buoyancy. Our next lab, The Buoyancy Boat lab, is a simple version of the water displacing boat demo he does near the beginning to illustrate Archimedes principal.
After school today I worked with my Sceince "Olympiaders". Erin learned how to solder wires for use in a conductivity tester, she was so happy with her new skill and she may be better than me at it. She burned my finger with the iron as I reach for it and she was trying to be helpful and hand it to me. Everybody laughed at the light color burned area on my right index finger...even I laughed-it was minor and totally an accident.
The boys were excited because they got to go dumpster diving again looking for cardboard to make a custom box for JUNKYARD CHALLENGE.
A very fun afternoon. One that makes teaching a joy.
The BEST BILL NYE VIDEO is the Buoyancy Video. It is perfect for 8th graders, 8th grade curriculum, and it has HIGH DENSITY info on Buoyancy. Our next lab, The Buoyancy Boat lab, is a simple version of the water displacing boat demo he does near the beginning to illustrate Archimedes principal.
After school today I worked with my Sceince "Olympiaders". Erin learned how to solder wires for use in a conductivity tester, she was so happy with her new skill and she may be better than me at it. She burned my finger with the iron as I reach for it and she was trying to be helpful and hand it to me. Everybody laughed at the light color burned area on my right index finger...even I laughed-it was minor and totally an accident.
The boys were excited because they got to go dumpster diving again looking for cardboard to make a custom box for JUNKYARD CHALLENGE.
A very fun afternoon. One that makes teaching a joy.
Sunday, January 10, 2010
Week 17, Day 3: Stressing and coaching Science Olympiad and lack of time.
Even Block: Same lesson as yesterday( astronomy notes and video clips).
I am feeling some stress. I should be finishing a unit that I have not even started yet (density and buoyancy). I need to get some small items(paper work for science olympiad fees and team shirt fees) taken care of to relieve some stress. I need to get a forensic lab unit set up for Honors Science, I need to be a better coach for two of the Science Olympiad teams.
I thnks a lot of my stress is Science Olympiad. It takes about 50% of my prep time and services only 7% of my kids. Often I have no down-time for grading or prep because I have the Science Olympiad students in my class much of the time getting ready for compitition. When they leave I need to get away from school and go home. I love working woth the team but it is a time drain...as it is for any coach.The older I get the harder it gets to bring work home.
My #1 priority for my Science Olympiad teams are to HAVE FUN. I think they are.
I am feeling some stress. I should be finishing a unit that I have not even started yet (density and buoyancy). I need to get some small items(paper work for science olympiad fees and team shirt fees) taken care of to relieve some stress. I need to get a forensic lab unit set up for Honors Science, I need to be a better coach for two of the Science Olympiad teams.
I thnks a lot of my stress is Science Olympiad. It takes about 50% of my prep time and services only 7% of my kids. Often I have no down-time for grading or prep because I have the Science Olympiad students in my class much of the time getting ready for compitition. When they leave I need to get away from school and go home. I love working woth the team but it is a time drain...as it is for any coach.The older I get the harder it gets to bring work home.
My #1 priority for my Science Olympiad teams are to HAVE FUN. I think they are.
Wednesday, December 9, 2009
Week 15, Day 2: So much for planning
Here is a photo of a student's foldable notes that they took home and re-did. looks nice
Today's Best Practice: Make your quizes have 2 versons and make them on ONE sheet of paper, that way you have only one sheet to run off and not two.
This was not a real fun day. I went for the ellipse kit lab only to find it gone. I gave the string to a colleague and either did not get it back OR I did not put it away so I could not start the lab. Also I spent so much time going over the homework that we would not have time for the lab anyway.
I have spent a lot of time at lunchs and after school being there for the Science Olympiad team members. A few kids and ALL of my time. I feel rushed and behind in planning, grading, and creating new stuff.
I did make a new solar system vocab quiz that I am proud of...ahhh...got AM duty this week CCCOOOOOLLLD so I gotta get their early to run off the quiz.
Hope this helps,
Love to Teach and Teach with Passion
Remember...It's not Magic, It's Science
http://qp.clovisusd.k12.ca.us/rey_kinney
richardkinney@cusd.com
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