Get SEATed

I have been swamped lately.  For the last two or three weeks, it seems as if things have been going nonstop.  Tutoring, prom, end of the six weeks (today), state testing (starting tomorrow), etc, etc, etc.  It seems as if there’s always something to do. 

In the time since my last post – which produced the best discussion of any of my posts to date – I have been meaning to sit down and write my next entry.  Of course, something always comes up.  Procrastination is a bad habit of mine and I tend to just keep putting things off until the next day.  As I’m sure you know, that can be a vicious cycle because there’s always a next day. 

For my fellow procrastinators out there, take a moment to think about why it is that we do this.  Doesn’t it actually make life harder because you end up having everything pile up at one time?  I’ve written before about how I let papers pile up rather than grading them sooner.  It would make sense to do a little at a time.  Usually, I just can’t seem to shake putting things off. 

This month was something of an exception though.  As part of the tutoring service that I work for, I have to complete assessments of other tutors’ work.  Most months, I let those assessments build up until the end of the month and then I have to complete 6 or 7 each day for the last few days of the month.  At about 40 minutes a pop, it can get rather exhausting.  For March, I made myself stick to a steady pace.  Each day, I completed a couple of assessments and today (the last day of the month), I only had one left to do.  I must say that this method was so much better.  I did not have the pressure of completing so much work at the last minute. 

Let me challenge you for the month of April.  If there is something that you normally put off doing, try completing it on more regular basis.  It might be hard to stick with a schedule, but don’t just say that you’ll do it tomorrow.  I think that at the end of the month, you’ll be a lot more relaxed. 

Thanks to Betty for letting me know that I should get back to posting more often and stop procrastinating. 

Last night, I was reading a news article about a teacher placing advertisements on class tests, handouts, etc. 

A few months ago, I remember reading about the same thing happening somewhere else.  At the time, I didn’t pay much attention to it because I figured it was just an isolated incident.  Now I see that it’s not as isolated as I thought.

In these times of lower budgets and cutbacks, is there any harm in having a kid-friendly, relatively small advertisement on a handout or test paper?  The argument is there that it could be distracting to the student trying to take that test, but couldn’t that be said about any number of things in a classroom setting? 

I would think that it could lead to some great discussions, especially in an economics class.  Too many of the students that I teach everyday have no concept of what it takes to run a business, create (and pay for) a yearbook, etc.  As far as I’m concerned, I see more positives than negatives on this issue.

What are your thoughts on this topic?  Is it something you do or have tried in the past?  Is it something your school or district would allow?

Tonight, perhaps about the time you head off to sleep, NASA will be launching the Kepler spacecraft into orbit.

In a time when things look bleak here in the United States, we send up a new, powerful telescope to search for signs of other Earth-like planets in hopes of finding exoplanets filled with water and, possibly, life.

In my post Little Green Men, I wrote about the possibilities of life existing outside of our planet.  This Kepler mission is going to shed a lot more light on the number of exoplanets that are out there and bring our understanding of them to greater heights. 

As stated in the article, we’re not sending Kepler up there to find aliens.  We just want to find where they live.  I find this whole topic fascinating.  As a science fiction fan, I dream of the possibilities (and probabilities) of alien species roaming the galaxy.  In the not too distant future, I hope to see science fiction turning into science fact. 

The more technological advances that we achieve, the farther out in the universe we’ll be able to see.  The farther we can see, the more we can learn.  Isn’t that what science is all about?

So as you drift off to sleep tonight, let the thoughts of strange, alien planets fill your dreams. 

Let’s hope this launch fairs better than NASA’s last one that ended up in the ocean. 

I’ve been looking for a new set of websites to peruse for science, education, and technology news.  One of the first things that I look for is the layout.  I want something that I can look at quickly and pick out the newest information. 

One such site that I’ve come across is Technology & Learning.  It includes a ticker section of current news.  There are also sections for tips, blogs, and forums.  All of these sections include the latest postings so that you can catch up quickly since your last visit. 

The “Put to the Test” section gives several reviews of various products that could be used in the classroom.  Reviews are added every couple of weeks or so. 

If you already know about and use this site, feel free to share your thoughts on some of the best features it has to offer for those looking to incorporate more technology into their classroom. 

If you have never come across this site, I hope that this quick review is something you’ll find useful.  Let us know what you find on this Technology & Learning site. 

I never really enjoy grading a stack of papers.  I think I put it off for so long because I hate sacrificing a perfectly good red ink pen in the neverending battle of good versus evil. 

In any given stack of papers, I do have a few that are perfect.  Those are the hero papers.  They are filled with complete, correct answers.  They are peace loving and would never dream of drawing first blood.  My red ink pen doesn’t have much to worry about with those.  

Unfortunately, they are too few and far between.  The villain papers make up the majority of the stacks.  They are always looking for a fight and aren’t afraid to show off their battle scars, dripping with the life essence of my red ink pen.

I give them back to the students, but do they care about the hardships that their lack of effort have put upon my red ink pen?  No.  They look at the gory mess that has befallen their paper with no more than a passing glance.  Apathy rules the day. 

After a two hour grading battle, for which my red ink pen has only sporadically trained, it lays down on the desk completely exhausted and drained.  It did not ask for this abuse, nor is it deserved.  I wish the students would realize that they’re not only hurting themselves, but my red ink pen as well, when they don’t do a good job with their work. 

How can I get it through to them that their futures, and the life of my red ink pen, are hanging in the balance?  I don’t want to have to show them the remains of an empty, lifeless red ink pen, but it may come down to that.  They need something to shock them into reality when the threat of failing the class for the year is not enough. 

I dream of the day when the bloody battles will end and peace will reign through the classwork, once and for all.

I had to have a “sit down” meeting with my yearbook staff this morning.  In most cases, when we have this kind of meeting, it’s just to discuss a big decision and I want to get input from everyone. 

Today, that was not the case. 

Here’s the situation…we need another $5k – $6k to pay off the books when they come in at the beginning of September.  Most of my staff is made up of seniors.  My seniors have about two months before they’re done.  Once they’re gone, I won’t have much of a staff left for the year.

Panic mode is starting to set in.  Not for them, mind you, but for me.  As adviser, it’s my responsibility to make sure that everything runs as smooth as possible.  Right now, the ride is a bit bumpy.

Back to this morning’s meeting.  I had to let them know that the procrastination that they’ve become famous for has to end.  They need to get out there and sell some business ads.  They have to get word out to the students about how great the book will be and get the books sold.  They have to get rid of the excuses about why they haven’t done this or haven’t done that. 

After telling them that they either get it in gear or we won’t have money to pay for this book, I think they realize I wasn’t playing around.  For the next two months, I’m going to have to be on their backs making sure that everything falls into place. 

Don’t get me wrong, I greatly enjoy working with this group.  We have a good time and they produce great work.  I’ll just be glad when I see the day our yearbook account has a 5 with a few zeroes behind it.