2011-2012 academic year is in the record book!
Well, not precisely, as I have a bit of grading to finish up and my final grades to upload, but I can wrap that up tomorrow. And yeah, summer school starts next Tuesday, sure. But that's only 16 days, I'll be done done on June 21st. Okay, okay, if you're going to get all technical on my it's not quite wrapped up just yet. But it's mostly in the books.
The end of the year is always filled with students you're sorry to see go and students you hope you never see in your class again, but at least it's incremental enough that you can say "Whew! That part of my life is done!" Since my advocacy graduated last week I won't see most of those kids ever again, which seems strange after seeing them every week for four years--my fourth advo class I've sent off into the big bad world. It's a strange feeling to never graduate yourself.
The 2012-2013 academic year planning starts tomorrow morning. We never stop here LC IB Science central, I tellya.
For tonight, nothing pressing. The rest of the week is booked, though.
Yeah, rambling. It's my blog, so hush.
Showing posts with label Laguna Creek General Science. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Laguna Creek General Science. Show all posts
Monday, May 21, 2012
Wednesday, May 16, 2012
Three More Days
Only three days, graduation to get through, finals to administer and grade, and we're done for the year. Monday afternoon can't come soon enough for this tired teacher!
Tuesday, May 15, 2012
Monday, May 14, 2012
Science Makes Me Happy
The more we know about the universe, the more we realize we don't know. I love it!
These are Hubble photos of bow waves elsewhere in the universe, and there are many such. Evidently we don't have one, and that's rather unexpected. It does make me chuckle that people get worked up over things like this, as if they haven't always been that way and as if there is anything we can do about it. Which they have and we can't, but it's human nature to think the worst of the unknown. But to me, the knowing is worth it. I studied paleoanthropology in college and grad school, and although it wasn't the most useful knowledge in the world, it was dang interesting and I miss being up on all the newest stuff these days. One bad thing about being a teacher, you're not in the thick of things any more, and it's hard to keep up with the ever changing body of knowledge that science produces. I still get a kick out of reading about what is going on in the field I was once immersed in, but now observe much like we observe the bow waves in the photo above--from a great distance.
Now, I've been told that a) because I accept evolution is as close to fact that science ever gets I can't possibly be a Christian, and that b) that because I believe in God I can never be a good scientist. Both of these are wrong, of course. I think Linnaeus had it right: the more you know about nature the more you know God. If you want to know how incredibly amazing God is, learn about how incredibly amazing this universe is. Why? Because He set it in motion 14+ billion years ago and it has been going like gangbusters ever since.
Awesome in every sense of the word.
(Tip o' the ol' Chapeau to Evon at GCP)
The sun and its solar system are moving through the universe significantly more slowly than astronomers had previously believed, too slowly to generate the bow shock wave that researchers had thought preceded it.
These are Hubble photos of bow waves elsewhere in the universe, and there are many such. Evidently we don't have one, and that's rather unexpected. It does make me chuckle that people get worked up over things like this, as if they haven't always been that way and as if there is anything we can do about it. Which they have and we can't, but it's human nature to think the worst of the unknown. But to me, the knowing is worth it. I studied paleoanthropology in college and grad school, and although it wasn't the most useful knowledge in the world, it was dang interesting and I miss being up on all the newest stuff these days. One bad thing about being a teacher, you're not in the thick of things any more, and it's hard to keep up with the ever changing body of knowledge that science produces. I still get a kick out of reading about what is going on in the field I was once immersed in, but now observe much like we observe the bow waves in the photo above--from a great distance.
Now, I've been told that a) because I accept evolution is as close to fact that science ever gets I can't possibly be a Christian, and that b) that because I believe in God I can never be a good scientist. Both of these are wrong, of course. I think Linnaeus had it right: the more you know about nature the more you know God. If you want to know how incredibly amazing God is, learn about how incredibly amazing this universe is. Why? Because He set it in motion 14+ billion years ago and it has been going like gangbusters ever since.
Awesome in every sense of the word.
(Tip o' the ol' Chapeau to Evon at GCP)
Saturday, May 12, 2012
Friday, May 11, 2012
Another Week
It's Friday, thank God. Six more days of school, then a week off, then four weeks of summer school, then I'm off for a month and a half, badly needed.
Exhaustion, thy name is Jenn.
Exhaustion, thy name is Jenn.
Wednesday, May 9, 2012
End of the School Year Blues
As a teacher, this is the most frustrating part of the year. For us, last day of school is May 21 (yes, a Monday, don't ask), so we have a week and a half left of term. To illustrate how frustrating the last few weeks are, today durning 3rd period four students from 1st period (an academy class) who are failing came in to beg me to let them make up work so they can pass this required class. We'll do anything they said, anything.
Well, where were you six weeks ago when I warned you that you were failing? Where were you at midterm when you were failing? Where were you when the project was due and you didn't turn it in? Where were you all the times you had homework and didn't turn it in? Where are all those assignments that I planned, copied, taught, collected, and graded, yet you left on the floor?
Teachers bear the brunt of a lot of criticism, especially from conservatives, which is unfortunate. People who are not teachers seem to think that if we did a better job, our students would learn better, but that isn't even close to the truth. We all spend a lot of time improving and refining our lessons to the nth degree. We don't have any choice to buy into the latest acronym that is supposed to improve student achievement and narrow the achievement gap. We spend hours outside our contract time to be there for our students--one year I kept track of all the extra hours and they added up to more than my contracted hours. This is not at all unusual.
And yet at the end of term we get failing students who beg to pass as if it's a gift we just give out at whim instead of something that's earned. It's insane. And it's so very very frustrating. I typically have 40% or more of my science class fail, and it's not because I'm a poor teacher or that I don't care. Maybe I am lucky to work at an amazing school, but I don't know many poor teachers. In our district they don't pass probation. We ALL work hard to teach other people's kids. And we do it with passion and love and dedication, we really do.
So to those who tell us we're doing a crappy job, that the failure of our students is our fault, we have too much time off and get paid too much, I cordially invite them to make a career change and become a teacher. If those people think the educational system needs to change, throwing mud at it from the outside's not going to do it, they need to be in it to make it better. I'm all for home schooling and private and charter and online and vouchers and open enrollment and magnets and whatever options parents want for their children, but let's face it--we'll still need outstanding public schools. So come on down and make it your own, do it right.
Besides, since it's so easy and you get paid so well and get so much vacation, anyone would WANT to be a teacher, right?
Right?
Well, where were you six weeks ago when I warned you that you were failing? Where were you at midterm when you were failing? Where were you when the project was due and you didn't turn it in? Where were you all the times you had homework and didn't turn it in? Where are all those assignments that I planned, copied, taught, collected, and graded, yet you left on the floor?
Teachers bear the brunt of a lot of criticism, especially from conservatives, which is unfortunate. People who are not teachers seem to think that if we did a better job, our students would learn better, but that isn't even close to the truth. We all spend a lot of time improving and refining our lessons to the nth degree. We don't have any choice to buy into the latest acronym that is supposed to improve student achievement and narrow the achievement gap. We spend hours outside our contract time to be there for our students--one year I kept track of all the extra hours and they added up to more than my contracted hours. This is not at all unusual.
And yet at the end of term we get failing students who beg to pass as if it's a gift we just give out at whim instead of something that's earned. It's insane. And it's so very very frustrating. I typically have 40% or more of my science class fail, and it's not because I'm a poor teacher or that I don't care. Maybe I am lucky to work at an amazing school, but I don't know many poor teachers. In our district they don't pass probation. We ALL work hard to teach other people's kids. And we do it with passion and love and dedication, we really do.
So to those who tell us we're doing a crappy job, that the failure of our students is our fault, we have too much time off and get paid too much, I cordially invite them to make a career change and become a teacher. If those people think the educational system needs to change, throwing mud at it from the outside's not going to do it, they need to be in it to make it better. I'm all for home schooling and private and charter and online and vouchers and open enrollment and magnets and whatever options parents want for their children, but let's face it--we'll still need outstanding public schools. So come on down and make it your own, do it right.
Besides, since it's so easy and you get paid so well and get so much vacation, anyone would WANT to be a teacher, right?
Right?
Tuesday, May 8, 2012
Candid Camera
I have a dock in my classroom that both plays music from my iPhone (a necessity for grading, I assure you) and charges it. It's usually tucked away under my desk so it's not easily reachable from student territory, and I usually keep the phone on the dock so it stays charged. Today I was taking photos of the activity we were doing, and the camera was still up when I put the phone in the dock. Inadvertently touched the button, and voila! Here I am, third period, way more tired than I look.
Recorded for posterity, I am. And I'm still amazed how well the phone takes photos. Siri, what can't she do?
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