Today I figured out a few of the last things I needed for remote teaching after spring break. That being said, it may be difficult making sure everyone's technology works. What if one student can't hear? Will the two students that are having problems getting excel to work reliably on their computer figure it out before class? (I gave them several options, but still...) What will happen that I'm just not expecting?
I also decided to forgo trying to teach Microsoft Access completely and will expand on Excel instead.
We've also been getting a lot of emails about COVID-19, as I'm sure anyone who is reading this has also experienced. Some of them are useful, like church, school, and the karate dojang. However, I do not need to know that my banks and PetSmart are using through cleaning procedures. I really just expect that. I only really need to know if it isn't business as mostly normal and even then, I don't really need to know but would understand the email.
Thursday, March 12, 2020
Wednesday: COVID-19
Well, it was a day surprisingly full of COVID-19 talk.
*I went to my karate lesson. We talked about it there and how it would affect the school.
*I sent a bunch of emails about computers/excel.
*I went to pick up Joshua and the ladies at the front desk were talking about how they can't get any hand sanitizer.
*I got an email from Hope College announcing that classes are canceled tomorrow and will be on-line for the three weeks after Spring Break.
*I dealt with the help session that was supposed to happen tonight (and did, for half the normal time).
*I tried to figure out what my plan is for tomorrow to optimize class planning and the fact that Isaac only has a half day of school. I have a rough outline, but it's still rather up in the air. I was really hoping for one more class period to try out a few more things on Google Meet, but I guess I'll just wing it when students come back. I think I've figured out my problem, but it was only a problem when there were a bunch of people in the meeting and that's rather hard to replicate.
*I went to my karate lesson. We talked about it there and how it would affect the school.
*I sent a bunch of emails about computers/excel.
*I went to pick up Joshua and the ladies at the front desk were talking about how they can't get any hand sanitizer.
*I got an email from Hope College announcing that classes are canceled tomorrow and will be on-line for the three weeks after Spring Break.
*I dealt with the help session that was supposed to happen tonight (and did, for half the normal time).
*I tried to figure out what my plan is for tomorrow to optimize class planning and the fact that Isaac only has a half day of school. I have a rough outline, but it's still rather up in the air. I was really hoping for one more class period to try out a few more things on Google Meet, but I guess I'll just wing it when students come back. I think I've figured out my problem, but it was only a problem when there were a bunch of people in the meeting and that's rather hard to replicate.
Tuesday, March 10, 2020
Tuesday: crow bar, conferences
Yesterday Ben was trying to show Joshua what a [Lego] crow bar was.
Ben: what does this part kind of look like?
Joshua: a crow
Ben: What does this part look like?
Joshua: a bar
Ben: if you put them together, what do you get?
Joshua: a crar.
**********************************************
We had Isaac's parent-teacher conferences today. Mostly good things, as expected. He's at a level N in reading, which is where he's supposed to be the beginning of third grade...so he's pretty normal with that. Math is still going well. He talks and interacts with other students well, but hasn't really made any 'always' friends. While we wish that was a little different, he does play with other students at recess sometimes. The biggest issue he has is writing. If he has plenty of time he does fine, but sometimes he needs to get his thoughts down on paper faster. There could be lots of reasons for this, but no matter what the reason he needs to do a better job.
Ben: what does this part kind of look like?
Joshua: a crow
Ben: What does this part look like?
Joshua: a bar
Ben: if you put them together, what do you get?
Joshua: a crar.
**********************************************
We had Isaac's parent-teacher conferences today. Mostly good things, as expected. He's at a level N in reading, which is where he's supposed to be the beginning of third grade...so he's pretty normal with that. Math is still going well. He talks and interacts with other students well, but hasn't really made any 'always' friends. While we wish that was a little different, he does play with other students at recess sometimes. The biggest issue he has is writing. If he has plenty of time he does fine, but sometimes he needs to get his thoughts down on paper faster. There could be lots of reasons for this, but no matter what the reason he needs to do a better job.
Monday, March 9, 2020
Monday: award
At karate today Isaac and I formally promoted to green stripe after practice. We've been working on green stripe stuff for the last week, but it was still nice.
Then, they called Joshua up! I was surprised, but Joshua was especially surprised. They gave him a medal for being a great sideline person and being very respectful while Isaac and I are working. He really didn't seem to have any idea what was going on, because he kept facing the wrong way. However, he was super proud of his medal.
(And he really does do a great job while we're at karate. He does periodically call me over if he needs help, but it only happens once in a while and he knows how to do it safely. He brings a Lego set on Mondays and gets screen time on Thursdays and is able to spend the 45 minutes by himself.)
Then, they called Joshua up! I was surprised, but Joshua was especially surprised. They gave him a medal for being a great sideline person and being very respectful while Isaac and I are working. He really didn't seem to have any idea what was going on, because he kept facing the wrong way. However, he was super proud of his medal.
(And he really does do a great job while we're at karate. He does periodically call me over if he needs help, but it only happens once in a while and he knows how to do it safely. He brings a Lego set on Mondays and gets screen time on Thursdays and is able to spend the 45 minutes by himself.)
Sunday, March 8, 2020
Sunday: clean up
We told the boys we were going to clean up the basement this weekend.
So they cleaned up all the Legos during their rest time! I was quite surprised as they (especially Isaac) hadn't taken that kind of initiative before. There was still quite a bit of other stuff that we all cleaned up together, but they had done a good chunk of it.
We gave them extra screen time as a (one-time) reward.
So they cleaned up all the Legos during their rest time! I was quite surprised as they (especially Isaac) hadn't taken that kind of initiative before. There was still quite a bit of other stuff that we all cleaned up together, but they had done a good chunk of it.
We gave them extra screen time as a (one-time) reward.
Friday, March 6, 2020
Friday: early
I had to get up early for the second day in a row, so needless to say I was exhausted before nap time. Joshua had an early (ish) lunch and we started screen time/rest time a bit early so I could take a nap. I had thoughts of getting up earlier than normal, but just couldn't do it.
Joshua handled the day fine though, so he must have had enough interaction with people. He made an awesome castle during his extended rest time.
Isaac had his well-child check up today. It was pretty normal...about 50% for height, a low percentile for weight, but following his normal curves. It was a rather pointless check-up, but I suppose still important.
Joshua handled the day fine though, so he must have had enough interaction with people. He made an awesome castle during his extended rest time.
Isaac had his well-child check up today. It was pretty normal...about 50% for height, a low percentile for weight, but following his normal curves. It was a rather pointless check-up, but I suppose still important.
Thursday, March 5, 2020
Thursday: compliment
I was handed a surprising compliment today..."Using Google Meet in the classroom was one of the best ideas [the department] has had in 10 years."
Is it that amazing? I'm not really sure. However, I was troubleshooting my excel problem a few days ago and didn't use it for a class and it was terrible. The students in the corners were craning their heads all around and it felt so much slower and more interrupted.
Is it that amazing? I'm not really sure. However, I was troubleshooting my excel problem a few days ago and didn't use it for a class and it was terrible. The students in the corners were craning their heads all around and it felt so much slower and more interrupted.
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