To put my chaos in perspective, there are 19 students in my class. Each one needs a lengthy paragraph for each of the following areas of the curriculum that I teach: language arts, mathematics, social studies AND student conduct/behaviours/attitudes. One such paragraph I've copied for you below, so you can get an idea of the task that is ahead of me. If you're doing the math, that's almost 80 paragraphs in total...oh yeah, I also have to give each child letter grades in about 15 areas of math and language arts--these are specific areas of our program, such as "can effectively compute all four operations of mathematics mentally"...
XXX is one of the students who have been in the PYP way of learning for her entire schooling and this definitely is evident in how she conducts herself each day. She is an inquirer: always striving to know more on her own or in a group (such as how to solve an interesting math puzzle). She is a thinker: pushing herself to show others her knowledge and newfound skills (like a new origami sculpture). XXX has a great deal of wonderful talents—in her ability to see things in innovative ways to try systems of solving a challenge that others may have not tried, and she is caring. XXX shows her friends and her teachers that she enjoys their company and wants to engage them in appropriate play or conversations. XXX has done considerable growing up this term and yet her self-confidence is still intact and she attacks most of her day with enthusiasm. XXX’s few struggles each day lie in her work habits. After coaching and direct assistance, she still cannot prioritize her time consistently, nor can she find assignments or important papers because her desk, cubby and backpack are bursting at the seams with unfiled work and miscellaneous memos or notes to herself. XXX will need to adopt a system of keeping herself organized next year with her many courses, subjects, teachers and classrooms, or her marks will suffer. XXX’s affection and lovely smile will be missed in our hallways next year, but I know she’ll give middle school her 100% and I look forward to hearing about the great things she’s up to next year. Best of luck, XXX!
Thursday, 11 June 2009
Sunday, 19 April 2009
The twelve (plus) days of Easter
On the first day of Easter,
the boys and I flew
to lands grey, cold but true
On the second day of Easter,
M sung Brahms great in Perth
dear friends welcomed us
with glad smiles and mirth
On the third day of Easter
it was cold and wet
Grandpa bought a Wii
and our children haven't let up yet
On the fourth day of Easter,
to Toronto we drove
to see old dear friends
our house, our treasure trove
On the fifth day of Easter
Back to B'ville we went
after haircuts and dinners
a concert and sorting
our stuff in a basement
my energies spent
On the sixth day of Easter
formal photos were taken
Great Grandma and all
had a good Friday feast
(a bit too much whiskey
meant to bed did we crawl!)
On the seventh day of Easter
the girls all went shopping
for clothing and dinner and
more booze, some champagne
all the better for popping!
On the eighth day of Easter
M sung for Christ's service
a crisis was averted
for baby's illness
that sent him to the ER
all made us nervous
On the ninth day of Easter
we went up to my lake
to play with a cousin
and catch rays on the dock
it was bug free and peaceful
and long naps did we take
On the tenth day of Easter
Back to Perth did we go
Shevelyn got a visit
lots of laughs and a meal
Return to the cottage,
M & M late that night
saw the stars brightly glow
On the eleventh day of Easter
monopoly was played
but we worked for our supper
wood chopping and raking
firewood for dinner
was a grateful trade
On the twelfth day of Easter
our journey near done
we celebrated our family
with a Rita visit,
another GG chat
and a party for fun.
And on the last day of Easter,
we packed all our bags
how come when you travel
luggage multiplies
but not the moments
nor minutes or days
except in the airport
those hours do drag!
the boys and I flew
to lands grey, cold but true
On the second day of Easter,
M sung Brahms great in Perth
dear friends welcomed us
with glad smiles and mirth
On the third day of Easter
it was cold and wet
Grandpa bought a Wii
and our children haven't let up yet
On the fourth day of Easter,
to Toronto we drove
to see old dear friends
our house, our treasure trove
On the fifth day of Easter
Back to B'ville we went
after haircuts and dinners
a concert and sorting
our stuff in a basement
my energies spent
On the sixth day of Easter
formal photos were taken
Great Grandma and all
had a good Friday feast
(a bit too much whiskey
meant to bed did we crawl!)
On the seventh day of Easter
the girls all went shopping
for clothing and dinner and
more booze, some champagne
all the better for popping!
On the eighth day of Easter
M sung for Christ's service
a crisis was averted
for baby's illness
that sent him to the ER
all made us nervous
On the ninth day of Easter
we went up to my lake
to play with a cousin
and catch rays on the dock
it was bug free and peaceful
and long naps did we take
On the tenth day of Easter
Back to Perth did we go
Shevelyn got a visit
lots of laughs and a meal
Return to the cottage,
M & M late that night
saw the stars brightly glow
On the eleventh day of Easter
monopoly was played
but we worked for our supper
wood chopping and raking
firewood for dinner
was a grateful trade
On the twelfth day of Easter
our journey near done
we celebrated our family
with a Rita visit,
another GG chat
and a party for fun.
And on the last day of Easter,
we packed all our bags
how come when you travel
luggage multiplies
but not the moments
nor minutes or days
except in the airport
those hours do drag!
Sunday, 29 March 2009
It Ain't Rocket Science!
...or maybe it was...?
(for the geeks among my readers, notice M's name of the rocket is ENTERPRISE...)
Younger M and I just spent a weekend with a handful of other St. John's families at Euro Space Centre--what a trip it was! (AND let me leave that sounding as ambiguous as it is intended)!
In a nutshell here were our activities:
so now to the details...
It started with a very early Saturday morning ride in the teeming rain, sprinkled liberally with sleet, sheering winds and a good dollop of hydroplaning for 1.25 hours down the E411 towards Luxembourg. We didn't experience the hydroplaning ourselves, but the Mini Cooper right in front of us who swerved to take over a BMW was not so lucky. The Audi I was in manouvered gracefully to avoid being part of that tin crunch. Thankfully I wasn't driving: Peter, another parent accompanying his 11 year old volunteered to pick me up from my home and take all four of us. His child (A) is a student of another grade 5 teacher, and very (shall we say carefully...) active...M was a gem dealing with the antics of this only child of a very busy family with privileged status. We got to the location right on time, but the Centre wasn't ready for us...this was the beginning of a host of mis-communications and culture clashes for our (mostly north American and UK) troupe of 7 dads and 2 moms.
As we arrived, we got in, had a cup of coffee and then hunted the building for someone who looked in charge. When we found the individual, she said we had come in the wrong door, and to go out, around the construction site and down the hill to the lower doors. Of course, since it was raining still the adults sent the kids on ahead, and what did my little guy do, but wail about how A was beating him in an unfair race and then because he was doing more whining than navigating, slipped in the puddles and went ass-over-teakettle...right into the soaking wet grass. Not a happy kid! (I'm pretty sure I heard the SH_T!! word...).
We were the same number as they expected, but a few substitutions occurred since the documents had been received by the Centre--namely boy children for girls and dads for moms who had originally signed up. This meant that there were 10 boys overflowing two dorm rooms, 7 dads sharing a 5 bed dorm and one teen girl on her own while the two moms also had a dorm to myself. The hostess was beside herself when after that was dealt with (I volunteered the two women sleep with the 13-year old girl), she asked, "so, where are your sleeping bags?" to our blank stares and sputtering replies. It turns out our information said to bring nothing, and the centre's information had said "nothing will be provided". The joke was on us when with borrowed sheets and with handed-down towels we found there wasn't so much as a soap shard available for a shower in the morning. Five-star accomodations, these were not. If this activity happens again, I'll be sure to let the organizers know what lists of things we should carry to make the comfort of our cushy expatriates predictable (starting with the travelling mini-bar, a soccer ball or frizbee and a score of DVD's).
The day improved from there and we enjoyed engaging with the simulators, exhibits and models for the rest of the morning. Have a look at the video I've provided here of M in the gyroscope that simulates the freefall experienced by the Apollo 11's re-entry, July 1969.
(for the geeks among my readers, notice M's name of the rocket is ENTERPRISE...)
Younger M and I just spent a weekend with a handful of other St. John's families at Euro Space Centre--what a trip it was! (AND let me leave that sounding as ambiguous as it is intended)!
In a nutshell here were our activities:
- human gyroscope participants
- space shuttle simulator pilots and Houston ground crew staff
- moon walkers/flag planters
- satellite technicians in 1/6 gravity
- centrifuge trainees/guinea pigs
- rocket engineers
- rocket pilots and recovery operations technicians
so now to the details...
It started with a very early Saturday morning ride in the teeming rain, sprinkled liberally with sleet, sheering winds and a good dollop of hydroplaning for 1.25 hours down the E411 towards Luxembourg. We didn't experience the hydroplaning ourselves, but the Mini Cooper right in front of us who swerved to take over a BMW was not so lucky. The Audi I was in manouvered gracefully to avoid being part of that tin crunch. Thankfully I wasn't driving: Peter, another parent accompanying his 11 year old volunteered to pick me up from my home and take all four of us. His child (A) is a student of another grade 5 teacher, and very (shall we say carefully...) active...M was a gem dealing with the antics of this only child of a very busy family with privileged status. We got to the location right on time, but the Centre wasn't ready for us...this was the beginning of a host of mis-communications and culture clashes for our (mostly north American and UK) troupe of 7 dads and 2 moms.
As we arrived, we got in, had a cup of coffee and then hunted the building for someone who looked in charge. When we found the individual, she said we had come in the wrong door, and to go out, around the construction site and down the hill to the lower doors. Of course, since it was raining still the adults sent the kids on ahead, and what did my little guy do, but wail about how A was beating him in an unfair race and then because he was doing more whining than navigating, slipped in the puddles and went ass-over-teakettle...right into the soaking wet grass. Not a happy kid! (I'm pretty sure I heard the SH_T!! word...).
We were the same number as they expected, but a few substitutions occurred since the documents had been received by the Centre--namely boy children for girls and dads for moms who had originally signed up. This meant that there were 10 boys overflowing two dorm rooms, 7 dads sharing a 5 bed dorm and one teen girl on her own while the two moms also had a dorm to myself. The hostess was beside herself when after that was dealt with (I volunteered the two women sleep with the 13-year old girl), she asked, "so, where are your sleeping bags?" to our blank stares and sputtering replies. It turns out our information said to bring nothing, and the centre's information had said "nothing will be provided". The joke was on us when with borrowed sheets and with handed-down towels we found there wasn't so much as a soap shard available for a shower in the morning. Five-star accomodations, these were not. If this activity happens again, I'll be sure to let the organizers know what lists of things we should carry to make the comfort of our cushy expatriates predictable (starting with the travelling mini-bar, a soccer ball or frizbee and a score of DVD's).
The day improved from there and we enjoyed engaging with the simulators, exhibits and models for the rest of the morning. Have a look at the video I've provided here of M in the gyroscope that simulates the freefall experienced by the Apollo 11's re-entry, July 1969.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)