Week 38, Day 2: Little Treasures from our past.

Even Block Schedule: Wild California DVD (see previous post) and students go through their class work data folders.

I had students go through their class work data folders.  This is where I have them store all their class work through out the year.  I encourage them to keep the assignments that show their personality: What Science is to me essay from week 1, Character Counts Shape Project from week 2, Periodic names and Periodic table Square from the Chemistry unit .

My Mother handed me a stack of work I did in middle school when I was in my 30's and they were like little lost treasure.  A direct view of what I was like as a teen, my thoughts, my goofy hand writing, my doodles and writings. I tell my students that they will treasure these in 10 or 20 years and either slip them into your year book or put them under a box in your closet.

I hope this helps.

Love to Teach, and Teach with Passion!

It’s not Magic, It’s Science!

RichardKinney@cusd.com
 
http://qp.clovisusd.k12.ca.us/rey_kinney

Week 28, Day 3: Applying for a 2 week summer jobe with NASA

Odd schedule today. Open House last night. County Science Fair judging this week

Had a headache today, not bad, just there. 

Did some chem bonding notes and Finished Hindenburg video... this took forever to get through. Collected the student periodic tables. they are sooo cute when the use the picture of them as little kids.

Dept meeting this morning,  we gave our wish list of prep period for next year and we found out which of our kids made it to the interview levels of the sci fair.

After school I went to the Science Fair venue after school to pick up the projects that did not advance. Nice to see old friends there(they were doing final judging) and to have a quick dinner with my wife.

I have applied for a 2 week summer job helping pre-service teachers get some experience using NASA website activities in Math and Science.  Location will be at the NASA AMES research facility in the Bay Area near Mountain View at Moffett field.
I have been riding my bike to and from school the past week. This due to no rain and our car needs a head gasket repaired.
Headache gone by end of American Idol...I grade to while listening.

I hope this helps.

Love to Teach, and Teach with Passion!

It’s not Magic, It’s Science!

RichardKinney@cusd.com
 
http://qp.clovisusd.k12.ca.us/rey_kinney

Week 28, Day 2: Open House

Even Block schedule: students preparing for open house.  Same lesson as last post 

I feel like  the hamster in the rolling cage. Going like crazy but I'm not having as 
much fun.

I was rushing to get student periodic table squares up onto The 
Periodic Table of the Students and taking pictures of those kids that did not have the required photo attached.

I did get "off stage" 25 minutes per period during Bill Nye

I was amazed how easy the night went. Parents and students picked up their survey sheets and went through the questions and left me alone for the most part.  Easiest Open House I have ever had.

You can go to my school website an go the the Teachers page to get a copy of each of the documents and a power point.
I hope this helps,
Love to Teach, and Teach with Passion!
It's not Magic, It's Science!
richardkinney@cusd.com
http://qp.clovisusd.k12.ca.us/rey_kinney

Week 25, Day 2: Nuclear "testing schedule" frustration

ODD BLOCK SCHEDULE: Was going to be a lab, instead we began to learn how to use the periodic table.

Weird testing schedule today. I did not see my period 1 at all. I did not know this schedule was so disruptive until the morning.  My fault, but c'mon.  Send me an e-mail saying "HEY, PERIOD ONE WILL BE DESTROYED NEXT WEEK".

The afternoon classes were shorted to the point that the lab I planned was impossible to do and I had to go to plan B...Jump a few days ahead and start work with the periodic table.

Don't you just love it when your lesson plan is blown apart AND a whole class skipped (I guess it depends on what class).

 The whole day was thrown off.  I had a couple of boys, buddies, almost get into a fight! Other teachers said the day was lousy.