Sunday, February 27, 2011
Abby's Modeling Shoot
Abby did a little modeling this weekend. She showed off a bunch of products that are sold on Etsy. Big thanks Tiffani for all the great pics! http://www.tiffanisiebert.com
Thursday, February 17, 2011
Sabbotage
I'd like to share a story about our daycare provider, Leslie. She told me this yesterday and I thought it was hilarious.
Leslie and her family are doing a weight-loss challenge. They all chipped in money and they get point for sticking to their diet and for working out. I'm not sure about the specifics, but it doesn't really matter.
Yesterday, an unexpected package showed up at Leslie's door. She opened it and inside there were TWO full packages of Oreos. But it was not just Oreos. There was also a packet explaining how to completely a study/survey. So, one her children did not just send her junk food, they had actually signed her up for a survey that would send her FOUR GIANT packages of Oreos. That's BRILLIANT and DEVIOUS at the same time.
Tuesday, February 15, 2011
TELPAS for Math
The Texas English Language Proficiency Assessment System or, TELPAS, is, as the name suggests, a set of tests that assess a students proficiency of the english language. I am not involved in much of TELPAS, other than collecting a writing sample. You say "oh that should be easy, I remember writing a bunch of stuff in school"...but did you write that much in Math?
According to state mandate, every LEP student needs 5 grade-able writing samples. And the LEP students can not be singled out in this process. So, each school typically instructs every teacher to collect a writing sample from every student they teach. Again, this may sound easy for English or Social Studies, but is sometimes rather difficult for Math. The other kicker is that the sample should include the vocabulary used in the class. Could you write a full page using math vocabulary, like circumference and trapezoid?
My writing samples have typically been along the lines of:
"Explain the steps to solve the equation 2x-3y=42"
As you might imagine, this prompt is typically met with grumbles and groans and very shoddy work.
So this year, I tried to think out of the box and got together with some of the other math teachers and we tried to come up with more exciting prompts.
ETA: I was just informed that all of my samples were REJECTED and that I would have to redo them, because the below prompts do not show usage of math vocabulary. yippeee :-(
Here were our ideas (some of which were found on the internet and other resources)
1) "Imagine you are a reporter for the Math World News. Write the lead story for the evening news in the city of Arithmetown, where everything that happens involves math."
2) "Imagine you are a Math teacher writing a love letter to your sweetheart for Valentines day"
3) "Give specific directions from your house to school. You cannot list street names or distances in terms of mils or blocks. You can only give directions by counting objects. (Example: Go past two houses with red doors and turn right. Go past four mailboxes that are bricked and turn left). Be creative!"
The kids seemed to really like these story type prompts. This is a sample from one of my kids: (disregard the spelling errors and the slightly inappropriate content)
"Math Love Story
Selena Gomez I think we make the perfect couple. We are congruent and our feelings are proportionate.
You are my 2+2 in a world full of pathegreon theorems. In case you didn't know that equals 4.
When you and I go out red carpet covers the floor.
Me + You= Great if they see me with you I know they'll hate.
Like you I probably wont graduate.
When I'm home alone I think of you and contemplate.
I wanna solve your equation and find your square root.
I'll even write your name on the bottom of my cowboy boot.
Our love will take off faster than the speed of light
The square root of 69 is 8.30 so you know im bright
Our love can be complicated like PI or simple like 1+1=2
Today you look so bored but I know what to do
Our Love's Vertical will be so high it will reach mars
I'll show a a side of me that will make you see stars"
According to state mandate, every LEP student needs 5 grade-able writing samples. And the LEP students can not be singled out in this process. So, each school typically instructs every teacher to collect a writing sample from every student they teach. Again, this may sound easy for English or Social Studies, but is sometimes rather difficult for Math. The other kicker is that the sample should include the vocabulary used in the class. Could you write a full page using math vocabulary, like circumference and trapezoid?
My writing samples have typically been along the lines of:
"Explain the steps to solve the equation 2x-3y=42"
As you might imagine, this prompt is typically met with grumbles and groans and very shoddy work.
So this year, I tried to think out of the box and got together with some of the other math teachers and we tried to come up with more exciting prompts.
ETA: I was just informed that all of my samples were REJECTED and that I would have to redo them, because the below prompts do not show usage of math vocabulary. yippeee :-(
1) "Imagine you are a reporter for the Math World News. Write the lead story for the evening news in the city of Arithmetown, where everything that happens involves math."
2) "Imagine you are a Math teacher writing a love letter to your sweetheart for Valentines day"
3) "Give specific directions from your house to school. You cannot list street names or distances in terms of mils or blocks. You can only give directions by counting objects. (Example: Go past two houses with red doors and turn right. Go past four mailboxes that are bricked and turn left). Be creative!"
The kids seemed to really like these story type prompts. This is a sample from one of my kids: (disregard the spelling errors and the slightly inappropriate content)
"Math Love Story
Selena Gomez I think we make the perfect couple. We are congruent and our feelings are proportionate.
You are my 2+2 in a world full of pathegreon theorems. In case you didn't know that equals 4.
When you and I go out red carpet covers the floor.
Me + You= Great if they see me with you I know they'll hate.
Like you I probably wont graduate.
When I'm home alone I think of you and contemplate.
I wanna solve your equation and find your square root.
I'll even write your name on the bottom of my cowboy boot.
Our love will take off faster than the speed of light
The square root of 69 is 8.30 so you know im bright
Our love can be complicated like PI or simple like 1+1=2
Today you look so bored but I know what to do
Our Love's Vertical will be so high it will reach mars
I'll show a a side of me that will make you see stars"
Monday, February 14, 2011
Tuesday, February 8, 2011
Only in Texas can you go from shorts on Sunday to ice and snow on Tuesday. We had 4 days of ice, and then 6 more inches of snow on Fiday. Here are a few pics from the "snow days".
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| From Snow Feb 2011 |
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| From Snow Feb 2011 |
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| From Snow Feb 2011 |
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| From Snow Feb 2011 |
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| From Snow Feb 2011 |
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| From Snow Feb 2011 |
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| From Snow Feb 2011 |
Wednesday, February 2, 2011
Snow Days != fun
A massive snow/ice storm blew through our area. All of the local school districts have been closed for two days and will be closed again tomorrow. As a kid, I used to pray for snow days. No school...what could be better than that. Now as an adult and a teacher, the snow days are killing me. I am so stir crazy. And I think it's more the fact that I know I shouldn't go anywhere. The roads are all iced over. Everyone else are terrible drivers. It's just not safe to be out. So I'm cooped up in the house with nothing left on the DVR.
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