Random Tid Bits

1. Getting used to this online teaching that happened oh so quickly has been interesting! I've had to change so many things that I do. I sent 2 big emails out to my students. After the 2nd email a student emailed, "Check in number 2". I spent 5 minutes looking at my 2nd email, trying to check what was wrong with it. She was just checking in saying, "I'm here!" Then I spent 5 more minute laughing about it. I needed that laugh.


2. We were at my parent's house last weekend. We were having a conversation about Mica's eyebrows. He's always had a unibrow. I pluck those suckers out of there. Mica was complaining to my Mom about how it hurts. My Mom asked, "Mica why don't you just do it yourself?" Mica said, "Well Grandma I can't see the hairs up on my forehead to pluck them." My Mom said, "Haven't you ever heard of a mirror?" He said, "Oh I didn't think about that." We laughed and laughed. 


3. If you remember Isaak had to switch Math teachers midyear. His first teacher (according to his carpool) didn't know how to teach. She was pushing the students really hard. Mainly because she was a 7th grade teacher, and Isaak is in 6th grade. She got put on Administrative Leave, then later fired.
   
   Isaak loved his new Math teacher. He was all the sudden excited about class. She even sent him this postcard, and his already big eyes lit up!
   
   
   
   
   
   Now that they don't have school Isaak's not only sad about not seeing his friends, but also pretty bummed that he doesn't have Math with Ms. Walton. He said, "Mom I was actually enjoying Math." :(
   
   Did you ever get excited about a certain class in school?


4. I totally dropped the ball with signing the kids up for any camps. Travis signed up for an art residency, where the whole family would be involved. He had to call about it, to see if he got it. Turns out they didn't read anyone's applications, letters, look at their work. She just picked the top two applicants, and gave it to them. :(
   
   I'm thinking it's a blessing I didn't sign the kids up for any camps with all that's going on. They may not of been able to participate anyhow. They I may not of gotten my money back. Maybe everything does happen for a reason. 


5. I was pretty ticked off yesterday. My boss has us still coming in to work, even though we totally could do it at home. They have signs on the doors, "If you're sick, don't come in!" One of my co-workers has been coughing, and snotting. It's not allergies. Then an Adjunct (which I really wish they weren't here!) just got done flying somewhere, and came in. That's totally how this COVID-19 spreads.
   
   The bossman offers suggestions to make this online stuff smoother. The coworker with a cold thinks the bossman is giving him more to do, making his job harder. I'm stuck in the middle of the two fighting.  

Random Tid Bits

1. Isaak switched over to his new Math teacher. It seems like a great fit. His old teacher did end up getting fired. I have no clue what will happen with the rest of that class. He hasn't looked clueless, for a good week. His old teacher taught the kids like they were in 7th grade. She was a 7th grade teacher, for the most part. Isaak has always been pretty good at math. He wasn't ready for an honors course that he didn't sign up for.
   
   
   
   
2. I was worried about Isaak loosing friends, and having a hard time making friends in this new Math class. I guess it's not a big deal. He knows some of the kids. Some kids wanted to sit next to him because they love his drawing skills. His new teacher told Isaak she loves his drawings as well. Confident boosting has helped!


3. I have a few student in my senior class that have jobs. I'm feeling a bit like they have senioritis bad. They are a great class, but done.


4. In all the classes I have there's drama that I'd love to disappear.
   
   One girl complains about her teachers to other teachers. She even complains about her Mom to her teachers. She had my sympathy, but lately I don't know if I can trust anything she says. Her Mom might be a great Mom. The teachers she's complaining about are great teachers.
   
   On Friday she was telling me that some teachers are so subjective in what they like. She was referring to an assignment she has with a different instructor. I said, "With each assignment we have objectives. They are clearly laid out. In the assignment you are showing me, I'm assuming the objective was to use as little points in the paths that you are making as possible. Then it can be a smooth line, and not a big file in size. I'm not the instructor for that class. If you want the exact objectives, refer to the video the instructor left for you on the server. Your teacher has taught here, for years. I know he wants certain things to come out of the assignment. If you don't like what he has to say, duplicate the assignment, create one how you'd like it to be, and the other how he'd like it to be." She walked away. Then started complaining that her computer didn't work.
   
   One other girl has gone to administration about me twice. It's over silly things. The first time it was about 3 questions on a 121 question test. This time it was because we were talking about current events in class. The discussion was healthy. We weren't picking sides in our conversation. No one was mad, but apparently her. She wasn't even part of the discussion. Instead of standing up and saying, "Can you guys keep it down.", or "I don't like this conversation." she went to administration to tell them. I've been feeling a bit like I can't say anything. My tongue is tied. If I said I was going to rest room, that might be too much information, for her. I don't know what I'll do in a few weeks when I'm supposed to talk about Health Insurance. How does one talk about that, and not bring up the government? It's in regards to freelancers; getting their own insurance. It comes down to...this is college, not elementary, middle or high school. It's important to have dialogue.
   
   One other girl hates life. She hates her computer. She hates work that's done on the computer. God hates her. I've heard all those things. She's a great illustrator. When it comes to creating things on the computer, she puts her head down, and doesn't even want to try. We put all our videos on a server, for them to watch. It's hard because she hasn't been showing up. She's so negative. I wish I could reach her. I kept her behind last class to show her a demo in baby steps. If she looked at the videos, it would be the same thing. Watch it fast, or watch it slow.
   
   One other girl is always left out. She stays late just so she doesn't have to go home. I want to wrap her up, take her home, and tell her it's all going to be ok.
   
   
   
   
5.  Mica's great. Minus his bus not showing up a lot lately. He just picked out high schools. He was torn between two. 

Random Tid Bits

1. I decided to email Isaak's Councilor at school, in regards to his Math teacher not being there. The change of substitute teachers everyday has been having a toll on him.
   
   She called me back. Of course I was in class, and didn't get the call. We managed to connect a call right before I started afternoon lecture.
   
   She couldn't answer me in regards to when his teacher would be back. She's on Administrative Leave. She of course couldn't tell me what caused the leave. I don't know that it matters. Her suggestion: Let Isaak switch classes.
   
   There are three problems with this: 1. The other classes are full. That's why Isaak's Math teacher had a sixth grade class, when she has always taught seventh grade. 2. The teacher he switches to may be in a different spot in Math. Currently all the substitute teachers are going off his previous teacher's lesson plans. 3. A few of Isaak's friends were in that Math class.
   
   I agreed to talk it over with Isaak. Isaak said really fast that he wanted to switch classes! I brought up all the cons, and he didn't seem to care. He still wanted to switch. 



2. Isaak's councilor also told me that she was so excited Isaak won an award for his Piano class, two quarters ago. She said his face just lit up!
   
   Once a week Isaak goes to Piano lessons. Everything is going well, except that Isaak lost one of his Piano books. We have no clue what happened to it. We're going to check to see if he left it at the house, he takes lessons at before I buy it again.
   
   
   Their dog always lays there, and listens to Isaak pound away on the piano. He probably does that because allergic me doesn't give it any attention. Sorry doggie!
   
   
   
   
   
3. I have a class on Monday and Friday in first year. I hate teaching both those days. One of those days is totally fine. It's just that the students slack in showing up Mondays and Fridays.
   
   
4. I called a student out, for not being in class, and relying on others to help her through things. All handouts, videos of lectures, and PowerPoints are on the server. She'll listen to someone else talk about the assignment wrong, do it wrong, and blame them. Now I'm the bad guy, for calling her out. She's been complaining to other instructors and students about me.
   
   
5. In my other class students were talking about what was on the TV the night before (Trump). I reminded them that there are two sides, but that it was good they were discussing current events. A girl went to administration said they were pissed there was a heated discussion about politics in the classroom. It's not elementary, middle or high school. I was not sharing my opinion(s). Regardless I'm typically in the middle. One person may have over reacted by tearing someone's speech up, one other person runs at the mouth way too much. I am not a happy camper about that. What is something that has upset you lately?

Random Tid Bits

1. I was full steam ahead over break. Now I'm just blah feeling. It's like I have no energy for anything. Possibly I need to up that vitamin D. Possibly I need less stress in my life. Possibly it's from switching schedules so much. Possibly it's from Isaak's teacher. I'm not even kidding about that last one.


2. Travis has been working more hours at work. His bosses were out of town all of the kid's break, one girl has been sick a lot, and another girl is pregnant (different appointments). Good for the checkbook, but he was less there for the boys. 


3. I have a sort of friend that's always been a hot head. He's a liberal that's very out spoken.  He reminds me of the character Yosemite Sam, but he'd have a cigarette, and wouldn't ever have a gun.
   
   
   
   
   
   He's a college instructor. He said because of the government shutdown, students wouldn't get their financial aid checks. I check with our financial aid director to see if this was true. It isn't. While things may be slow, it's still going to happen. Anyone new to school may have trouble. Anyone already attending school won't have trouble at all. 


4. Isaak got his first C in a class: Social Studies. I decided to order the book off Amazon. It was $6. It came in on the 2nd. They don't want the books to go home because there aren't a lot of them. It's out of print, so pricey to order in bulk.
   
   I had this wonderful thought that I'd act out his Social Studies. I had a teacher that did that for me, and I got into it! The problem is that the book is just really informative, with highlighted vocabulary words. Not really acting out material. It is what it is.
   
   
   
   
   I started to read to Isaak the first part because she said, "Unit 1", but what I was reading was "Lesson 1". Anyhow I read all of it out load to Isaak, made flashcards all for very little. It's not what he's learning right now, or being tested on. He got an earful from me on that.
   
   Isaak came home on Monday and said, "We're not learning that stuff Mom." He showed me where he was at. I started reading that material. Travis texted to see when his test is over Unit 1, and what pages it's over exactly. She texted back that she didn't know; it depended on the kiddos, and how much the retained. What ever happened to lesson plans?
   
   That night I got a text saying that there would be a test on Friday. He can use notes, but he was at Strings when she had them take notes! FLIP! Talk about random! So Thursday night was our cram study night. 


5. Monday the boys started back up to school. I kept thinking, It's a new semester. Things can turn around for Isaak.
   
   
   Isaak went to watch the National Football Championship game with Travis. They didn't watch it all. Just some. They were out late for a school night. 
   
   
On Tuesday morning I get a text from his teacher saying they had a math Standardize Test that day, and to eat a good breakfast. I was like, We always have a good breakfast! But bloody hell! They just got back from break. They are testing right away! How about send the text the night before to get a good night sleep!

Isaak took the test. 20 questions in, the computer flaked out on him. Then it started him back at question 1 again, but the problems were really hard.

His teacher said she'd take care of it for him. The next day his teacher said she couldn't do anything for him, and will give him a homework pass.

I was at home thinking, He's not going to get into the middle school we want him to be in if he can't finish his test, and gets a C in Social Studies.

I emailed Mr. Principal all these new concerns. 

Part of our 2nd meeting with the teacher and Principal was saying that we'd have more time to help Isaak study, and be informed on when tests would be. He called me back in 2 minutes. He was clear, to the point, and told me that the testing was on each student's individual growth. No other school will see the results. He also looked up if Isaak has results, and he did not. So he will be finishing up the test. I felt better.  

Random Tid Bits

1. Isaak got a gigantic keyboard, a sweet new bigger screened Kindle Fire and more for Christmas. I got the biggest reaction when he opened his Under Armor Boxer Briefs. I think he thought that when he put on his undies he'd look much like the man on the package. Ha! Skinny boy needs to work on those muscles. He actually popped up, and changed into his undies right then and there. No shame.
   
   
   
   
   
2. I watched a documentary last night on a snowstorm that happened in 1949. Boy was that horrible! Livestock and people froze because it happened so fast, and the wind was so bad! They didn't have equipment to predict the storm, or to take care of the snow. It was horrible!
   
   It snowed here. One of my friends said, "The weather man said we were just going to get a dusting." Well compared to the 1949 snowstorm it was a dusting! It was lightening and snowing at the same time.
   
   

   

   Source

3. My sister never believed my green pepper relish tray trick. She specifically told me not to put green peppers on a relish tray, so I made one where that's all I put on it. She said, "I know you're messing with me. Get the real one out here."
   
   I ended up making tasty fajitas with all those peppers the next day. Take that!


4. I have 2 of my classes fully prepared for. I mean everything done! I'm just having a hard time getting into the last one.


5. We've been trying to work with the boys on math. Just to bump them up with things they weren't getting. Mica needs to get the meaning of - show your work! Isaak gets all emotional about things he doesn't get.
   
   Isaak got all good grades except for Social Studies. Imagine that...his core teacher teaches that. He got a C. That's the first for him. I woke up one morning at 5, couldn't go back to sleep, and emailed his teacher asking for the name, edition and chapter of their book. I ordered it on Amazon. It's Mica's favorite subject. I'm going to try to read the book with Mica by acting it out. Sometimes I do think if we didn't work, homeschooling would suit us well. I feel like we're doing a lot of teaching at home. Anyhow I had a teacher when I was Isaak's age that acted out Social Studies. I love it! Sometimes I think different kids need to be taught differently. Isaak's a visual learner like I am.
   
   

Klikko Vehicles - Educational Building Set With Activities to Learn Math Review

Klikko Vehicles is an Educational Building Toy (137 pieces) with Activities to Learn Math / STEM Concepts.

 

It comes the tray and bag (pictured above) to keep the pieces off the floor, although Mica had the pieces everywhere. He puts his building toys all over. That's no fault of the toy.

The boys were off school on Thursday, and I was off work from Strep Throat. We relaxed a lot. Mica (the well one) said, "I'm bored!" I got our Kilkko Vehicles, and put him in charge of building some vehicles. I told him I just needed a few built, but he was all about it. He built 3, and said afterwards, "Wow that bulldozer looks fun to build to."

The ship was his first construction. He had a little trouble with the tips. The pieces are more wobbly than Legos, snap together, and are harder to come apart. I took them apart. I thought at first I'd possibly break them. No chance of that happening. The pieces are sturdy enough to not break!

He built the rocket second. That one was my favorite!

Mica said, "Look Mom with this one it will help Isaak and I with fractions."

The last one he put together was the subway. I thought it was a submarine. I guess it would be played with either way.

Mica said the little yellow piece in the tip was hard to put in. This was Mica's favorite to build. 

With the Subway it helps the child learn multiplication.

This set would make a great gift. Isaak's getting it for his birthday. Mica (age 10) thinks Isaak (age 7) will need a little assistant with an adult or his brother. 

I love that it helps with early engineering/math + promotes patial and fine motor skills. There are 137 colorful geometric pieces that snap together, and pivot

Colors:

• Red
• Yellow
• Blue
• Green 
• Black

Things that can be learned: 

• Multiplication
• Fractions
• Tangram Logic Puzzles
• Area
• Following Instructions

Things that can be built:

• Jeep
• Car
• Rocket
• Ship 
• Bulldozer
• Subway

 I really like this set. It's something a little different. I love that there is learning involved.

What kind of vehicle would you like see added to this set? I think I'd pick a jet. 

Disclaimer: I received one or more of the products mentioned above for free in exchange for a review. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers.

Smarty Pants

Last week Mica forgot his homework for the first time. I was highly annoyed; not because he forgot it, but because he acted like it was no big deal that he forgot it.

He likes to compare himself to other kids in class, which is normal for that age. I don't want to hear about how Joe forgets his homework all the time, and that it's no big deal that he forgot his homework just this once.

When he did his homework the next night it took him more than a few hours to do it. He's learning division, and it's something that is difficult for him. Math has always been his weaker point in school. With reading, history, science, and art he excels. Of course that week they had a sub on Monday and Tuesday. Mica just didn't get what he was doing.

He still uses touch points with math, and hasn't really learned his math facts like he should. I had this problem as well. Travis was one very frustrated parent.

Travis decided to have a conversation with Mica's teacher. His teacher said, "Everyone knows Mica is one of the top ones in class, but he doesn't ask questions when he doesn't get things." Travis said, "That's Mica. He thinks he knows everything, and is too proud to admit he doesn't know something." He told her that Mica still uses touch points to do his math. She said, "You mean to tell me that he doesn't do his flashcards every night after his homework?" Travis said, "He's supposed to be doing those every night, isn't he?!"

Travis confronted Mica about his flashcards. Mica said, "I figured I'm one of the best in the class. I really didn't NEED to do those flashcards." Cocky! I hate that his class has labeled him as a smart kid. Whenever we see the Special Smarty Pants Teacher she says, "Your boys are so smart. I just LOVE working with them!" That doesn't help with Mica's cockiness! Isaak's smart, yet humble. Mica's smart and cocky!

I always tell Mica that I went to a Special Smarty Pants Teacher to; only mine was to get extra help to try and get smarter. Yep I was in the dummy classes. I begged to move up to be with my friends that were smarter than me. I did not test well at all, I always did my homework, which put me grade wise in the A and B range.

We've told Mica time and time again that we all have our strengths and our faults. I explained that everyone gets things at different times. I've also told him that in the future girls do not like guys that think they are better than everyone else. 

Mica's been doing flashcards on multiplication and division, Isaak's been doing flashcards on addition and subtraction everyday since Travis talked to Mica's teacher.

Mica had his first coding class at the library. I asked him how it went. He said, "Well I coded some Minecraft, but I thought I was going to code a website." It was one of those moments where if I was drinking water I would have choked from laughing so hard. He was there for one hour!

I'm happy that Mica is confident. I don't have to worry about building him up. I'm glad he's excelling in school. I often wish he was more humble though.

WW: Math {Linky}

The older one is teaching the younger one how to carry. Isaak hasn't learned how to carry in school just yet. He now knows how.

 

Math Night

Last night Mica's school had a math night event.

It started with pizza in the gym. I chopped up celery and clementines to take with. Then they had salad to boot. It was mostly iceberg lettuce. I've gotten in the habit of taking extra veggies and fruit when we go to school events and sometimes even out to eat. Isaak ate all his pizza, which he usually doesn't.

Everyone working at the event had a number on their shirt. If Mica asked them what their number meant, he got both an explanation of the number and a slip of paper. He then could write his name on the slip and turn it into a table full of prizes. He was pretty shy about asking anyone about their number at first. I had to push him a little. He's no where near as shy as I was at that age!

After that we had some choices to make. Many rooms were filled with different activities. Mica chose art first. Isaak really got into a tub of mosaic wooden shapes. The art teacher printed out coloring sheets, laminated them and the kids could fill them with mosaic patterns. They looked like this:

Source

 Melissa and Doug makes a fancier one like this:

Source

It's a birthday idea for Isaak. I never know if I should go for the cheaper item (since he had fun with it anyhow), or go more expensive? Melissa and Doug's version is around $30 as to where the other generic one is $10.

We had a good talk with Mica's art teacher. She seems VERY NICE!!! As Daddy says, "Not teachery!" To him some teachers seem stuck up, like they know more then most. They have a high pitch, looking down at you kind of voice. Luckily Mica's teachers seem down to earth and not "teachery!"

Mica drew a picture of Batman and Spider-man, while Isaak did his mosaic.

Next we went into the Science room. They had bins of colored marshmallows and tooth picks. The whole idea was to put 3D shapes together. Mica build a 3D triangle and then a bridge that went from one desk to another. Isaak sat around talking about how he wanted to eat the marshmallows. We kept telling him, "NO!" because people's hands were touching them all evening.

Next we went to the food room. In there they got to count how many teaspoons of dried rice and sugar filled up a cup. Isaak really loved that! Then they got to measure different things to make a trail mix to take home. Both boys LOVED that. One thing our boys do well is EAT!

They called Mica's name off 3 times to win things on the intercom. That was fun for him! I know he picked a checkerboard, Toy Story card games and I can't remember the other thing. Mica was so excited he was running around telling everyone, "I won three things!" Daddy got after him because it's bragging. I know that wasn't his intent. He was really just excited. It appears as bragging to others.

It was a fun night.