MR. PRESTON

Friday, Feb10th-Sunday, Feb12th.. Weekend Post: GT Strategy 0-for-1

2012-02-12T21:32:00.000-08:00

CODE IN THE NODE WEEKEND: ick ... if I can walk to my bedroom to crash without stepping on 3 squishy offspring tissues, it will be an accomplishment. Sheesh.

The Friday that was....

4U:

1. Caffeine graph ready to go
2. SMARTangst
3. Caffeine graph a victim
4. We muddle onward through the AROC/IROC transition with espresso examples
5. Students instructed to scribble in the floppy texts in order to achieve understanding
6. Calculus train still waiting to leave the station
7. I give this one a D+. Alert, helpful, accomodating students kept it from an F.
8. Monday is another day.

3E:

1. Calculator skill entry card
2. SKUNK REDUX....GT unsuccessful, but isn't it more of a long-term strategy anyway?
3. Salary problems/examples
4. Students with a wee bit of textbook work on salary problems...handed in.
5. Ring.

Yawn.

Good night now.

Thursday, February 9th, 2012....Ghosts in the (SMART)Machines....

2012-02-09T20:32:00.000-08:00

SMARTangst: No SMARTboards were harmed in the teaching of today's lessons....but boy, was it close. IT, please help.

SHOEHORN: We have some fresh new faces kicking around the math department this semester. We are really pleased with this development! The youngster even got his own desk back. One more body is arriving in 2 weeks time to join the teaching math staff....where we will put him, I don't know. Maybe he'd like a locker.

THE UNPATRIOTS RETURN:

It has been a solid three years since that (in)famous group of grade 12's graced the halls of DSS. For those of you new to this blog site, I once had a class of 12U students who could not maintain silence during the national anthem, casting dishonour on the True North Strong and Free. For this regular showing of disdain, many of these students received their first ever principal directed tongue lashing as well as a loss of key privileges normally afforded to all students.

Sadly, this week, a sibling of one of the original UnPatriots and his cronies are bringing back some bad memories...

Consequences to follow....

SINGING THE PRAISES.....

3U....this class has been a joy to this juncture. Today's lesson took us through calculator skills, paycheque calculations from an annual salary, communication improvement videos and cheap food payoffs

4U...B vs. G is rounding into shape....utter male disregard for decorum during the opening stanzas of our country's NA is leading us to a really nice good vs. evil storyline....we just need JP to return to his 3U "hacking-everyone-off-by-winning-every-class-competition ways" in order to stoke the competitive fires further....AROC meandered slowly into its second day....IROC awaits as the Calculus train begins to roll....

Good night now.

Thursday Links......MEL3E/MCV4U

2012-02-08T21:40:00.000-08:00

Communication problems

Salary 1

Salary 2

Salary 3

OPP

Sunday, February 5th....New Semester's Eve....

2012-02-05T20:03:00.000-08:00

Links for Today:

Deprecation

Monday, January 23rd, 2012....T-Minus 2.....Dusting Off the Playland Tale ....

2012-01-24T03:33:00.000-08:00

TWO:

1. Used to be my favourite number.....Derek Jeter killed it for me
2. It's always a little sad when a semeter comes to an end
3. I only have one day left to get the fruit for JF and BS
4. I have 3 minutes before I have to wake the oldest ....must continue

2P 15 hours ago:

1. Practice on binomial squares and difference of squares pattern
2. 22 separate desks helps with discipline...not so much with collaboration
3. Vertex form - graph - standard form with expansion .... good feedback
4. Back to my worst plastic play tube memory
5. Ring

4U 16 hours ago

1. Summative part 1
2. Ring

Time's up .... must rouse the unrousable ...

Good morning.

Weekend Blog: Fri, January 20th-Sun, January 22nd....T-Minus 3......Reckoning Around the Bend.....

2012-01-23T04:22:00.000-08:00

"WALKING A DOG WITH A PLASTIC BAG AND SPATULA IN YOUR POCKET AND SHIVERING" vs. MATH:

I am too distraught over this for words. There are still a couple of days left for sanity to prevail.

BIG WEEK AHEAD....

Monday

-2P Quadratic Form Conversion as we finish new content for the semester
-4U Summative Day 1
-other: console S & S after the Charger-like epic fail yesterday

Tuesday

-2P Final Quadratic Assessment
-2P Final attempt at reassessing previous skills
-4U Summative Day 2

Wednesday

-2P Final Applied Assessment Prep
-4U Final Exam Prep

Thursday

-2P Final Applied Assessment...bring supplies
-4U Study madly

Friday

-2P Final Marks Entered
-4U EXAM

Friday recollections.....

2P

1. Returned practice work on binomial*binomail and trinomial factoring
2. Assessed both skills one more time
3. Ring

4U

1. Practice, practice, practice.....
2. Set a final few reassessment days
3. Ring

Thursday, January 19th, 2012....T-Minus 4....Cafeteria Games....

2012-01-19T20:55:00.001-08:00

I AM THANKFUL FOR.....good friends at work always willing to lend a hand, whoever decided to mix unbaked cookie dough with ice cream, Alfred Pupunu for catching that touchdown pass from Stan Humphries and giving me one happy Charger memory, the beautiful T for everything, students with the courage to come in for extra help, WR, EHS, LS and NG for putting in an incredibly solid effort each day and let's not forget AOR for leaving us the fridge.

I AM RATHER PUT OUT THAT: people would rather walk an animal through blowing snow carrying a plastic bag and spatula than sit through one of our riveting math classes

2P:

1. Multiplied binomials (mostly everyone)
2. Looked at some examples with negatives (some)
3. Factored trinomials (#1 in reverse)...the usual suspects put forth a solid effort...a few others joined in.....
4. Ring

4U:

1. Vote for dogs
2. Caf
3. Test
4. Ring

Good night now.

Wednesday, January 18th, 2012....T-Minus 5....OK, Thursday is Half Over....this one is really late.....

2012-01-19T09:55:00.000-08:00

(sigh)....I promised to keep the blog up for 40 straight days....this almost shouldn't count....

MATH VERSUS UPDATE: I haven't clicked on the results yet, but after a strong start for math (beating out hockey and little children) I will be quite put out if we lose to DOGS!

2P Memories of Yesterday

1. Vertex form was discussed, graphed and practiced
2. A mathemagician entertained....see the link below and to the right
3. SKILL #1: Multiplying Binomials
4. I really am not giving enough time to those who are putting forth a solid, daily effort
5. Ring.

4U Memories of Yesterday

1. R E V I E W
2. Earthquakes....yes, they might be on the test
3. Mind you, in the end, earthquakes didn't make the cut. Sorry. Please don't be mad. Thirteen questions were plenty.
4. Ring.

Good day.

Tuesday, January 17, 2012....T-Minus 6...Sync Rebellion....

2012-01-18T06:09:00.000-08:00

WELL DONE BB: Rather than indulge in some sleep, I saw Mission Impossible 4 for the second time. Brad Bird (of Pixar fame....i.e. the Incredibles) really hit the bullseye with his first attempt at a live action feature following his amazing animation run

Once upon a time in the land of 4U.....

1. JF sent to sleep with a chunk of time devoted to review
2. Earthquake mathematics briefly introduced
3. Students sent home with earthquake questions

Once upon a time in the land of 2P....

1. Off to the spacious caf for some parabola property evaluation
2. Halfway through we (most of us anyways) return to the classroom for some quadratic modeling
3. SMART SYNCING is met with a mixture of quick connection, grudging acceptance and unfortunately a healthy dose of "can I beat the system".....leading to....
4. Minimal success in leading the CLASS to an understanding of vertex form modeling
5. Argh.
6. Ring.
7. Argh.
8. Drive home.
9. Still frustrated
10. Argh.
11. I hate when a plan doesn't come together.

Tomorrow is another day.

Good night now.

Monday, January 16th, 2012....T-Minus 7...Buckling down....

2012-01-17T05:31:00.000-08:00

MR. CHRISTIE, YOU'RE KILLING ME: Honestly, if the following items disappeared off the planet, my general health would take a major leap forward. These are ranked in descending order of temptation

1. Double Stuf Oreos
2. Oreos
3. Chilled oreos
4. Chocolate covered oreos made by my friends the chocolatiers
5. Double Stuf Fudgeos
6. Golden Oreos
7. Chilled double stuf

In the land of 250.......

4U

1. Smattering of log equations assigned
2. Students worked well and seldom engaged in conversations about the upcoming weekend
3. We filled the boards with solutions
4. Ring.

2P

1. 20 minutes to pick up the pieces from the many Thursday and Friday absences
2. Unit 3 exams were returned, discussed....redo was scheduled for Wednesday at lunch
3. Parabola properties were covered and practiced...assessment tomorrow at the start of class

....frankly, since we're removing certain tempting food items from existence, Kraft Caramels can go as well....

I need to go for a run.

Good night now.

WEEKEND BLOG: Fri-Sunday January 15th, 2012....T-Minus Ocho....Il Neige....

2012-01-15T21:16:00.000-08:00

...come back 2P's, come back......

BREAKFAST CEREALS: You know, it is probably very unlikely that I would be foolish enough to sit here and wolf down three Kit Kats while preparing lessons. I do not, however, seem to have any reservations about quickly consuming 2 heaping bowls of breakfast cereal. Even with the "Quaker" guy staring me down from 1.5 feet away, I cannot convince myself that this stuff is good for me. My taste buds are presently in that same happy sugary place they get when consuming a Beaver Tail. Sadly enough, the fresh fruit in the fridge was only 4 short steps away.

299: I never would have believed that Alex Smith could have led his football team to a comeback victory. I also never would have believed that Alex could throw for 300 yards when it mattered. I was half right.

On a snowy Friday in January......

2P's

-stayed away in droves
-ran a SMARTSync test....taught their teacher some stuff
-graphed parabolas given a quadratic equation in standard form
-submitted this work
-ate cheap food
-continued to wait patiently for their tests to be returned....Monday it is

4U's

-braved the storm and the monotone in order to work on some log skills
-played around with the product and quotient log laws
-principal visited....saw nothing exciting....left
-I need a song and dance for Monday
-I'll bring log equations with me ...that'll hold the crowd

Well, the thermometer reads 8.8 at the moment. I love a good coincidence as much as the next guy.

Good night now.

Thursday, January 12th, 2012....T-Minus 9....WR finds a match...

2012-01-13T07:43:00.000-08:00

WOW THIS ONE IS LATE.....

4U RAPID RECAP:

1. Solving exponential equations with the "same base" method
2. Solving exponential equations using logarithms
3. The second log law (with complaints)
4. Ring

2P RAPID RECAP:

1. Introducing THE PARABOLA
2. Did it go in?
3. I have GOT to figure out how to block the internet on these machines
4. Using the step property to graph a parabola
5. Back to the shot attempt
6. Ring.

Good night now.

Wednesday, January 11th, 2012.....T-Minus 10...A Day of (2P) Reckoning....

2012-01-12T06:11:00.000-08:00

Ways to Annoy your Fellow Students

1. Arrive in class where ten bodies are already seated and ask "why is no one here?"
2. Pen tap
3. Ruler tap
4. Ask for a piece of paper every day
5. Arrive late every day and ask for notes
6. Stay home to play video games
7. Hold conversations just loud enough to prevent independent thought

The 4U that was....

1. Testers needed more time...off to Mr. S's crowded room.
2. Completed discussion of exponential/logarithmic relationship
3. LOG LAW#1.....The Power Rule
4. Problem Set from p.129 assigned...met with indifference
5. Ring
6. ....oh yeah...a student arrived to class late and then wondered out loud why "no one" was here

The 2P that was....

1. off to the caf
2. LINEAR EXAM TIME
3. Students who finished early sketched parabolas
4. Sit down please CL
5. Ring

Good night...err...morning now.

Tuesday, January 10th, 2012....T-Minus 11 ...Thank you, thank you, thank you....

2012-01-10T20:13:00.000-08:00

....thank you to CM, BS and IP for their help today. It was much appreciated and a huge help to my 10's.....

4U DAY OF INVERSION

1. I fiddled with the netbook for the first couple of minutes
2. We examined the very real possibility that the inverse of a function may not in fact be a function
3. Students found inverses (for 3 types anyway). Rational functions with variables in the numerator and denominator caused some consternation. TH and RM helped out.
4. We returned (finally) to question #6 on the handout...working out log values graphically by using the corresponding exponential function
5. The bell rang and students headed off to lesser matters....except for the honoured few who stuck around to provide some mathematical assistance.

2P Skill Brush-Up

1. Students put forth an INCREDIBLY solid effort in preparation for tomorrow's exam.
2. Three 12 U students along with myself and MP were able to assist/observe at a table. This was a GREAT help.
3. I empasized the need to look over the x&y-intercept question as it was poorly done earlier.
4. Ring. Good work all.

Good night now.

2P

Monday, January 9th, 2012.....T-Minus 12....This One's for Mr. B......

2012-01-09T14:33:00.000-08:00

SLEEP DEPRIVATION: Hey kids, it is always a good idea to get off the "play video games until 3 am because it's the holidays" train before the last Sunday of the break. Students today could best be described as "bleary-eyed".

THE SALMON IS ALMOST COOKED QUICK SUMMARY....

4U

1. Log review
2. No calculators
3. Frowns
4. Grudging acceptance
5. Multiplying by twos on the fingers
6. ZENN back
7. Reference warning
8. Inverse functions (slowwwwwwwwwwwly)
9. Ring
10. Argh. Timing is off.

2P

1. Substitution method Take II
2. Thanks Mrs. P and Mr. B
3. Kitchen Table Elimination
4. One quick attempt
5. Exam Wednesday
6. Where are you NG
7. Ring.

Food burning.

Yikes.

Good night now.

Friday December 23rd, 2011-Sunday January 8th, 2012.....T-Minus 13 ...Merry Christmas, Happy New Year, Welcome Back, Don't forget your Calculator...

2012-01-06T08:12:00.000-08:00

TRISKAIDEKAPHOBIA: Fear of the number 13. If you have this, get over it. It's just a prime number. You're only scared because it was "the great unknown" just past the edge of your grade 3 times tables. We (math geeks) could have added an extra column to that table. You would have been fine. Today you'd have been terrified of 14 instead.

DEKAPPLAPHOBIA: Fear that your 10 applied class, many of whom began holidays a week early in December will not return with a solid work ethic on January 9th. This fear is gnawing at my innards.

IF YOU WERE WONDERING....

1. No, the woeful bolts will not be participating in tomorrow's NFL Playoff Tournament
2. Yes, the unimaginable happened....they are keeping their coach for another year
3. Yes, it is too late in life for me to switch team allegiances...giving up the sport entirely is the only option

PARENTING UPDATE: The offspring are being supervised by video game systems at the moment while I get some work done. It is also presently 7 degrees and sunny. I think that leaves me at a Level 2 minus on today's assessment.

DECEMBER 23rd UPDATE:

1. Classes combined...we played Jeopardy.
2. Yes, that's right ... the game show from the '90s. We moved on from this
3. Ring

Look forward to seeing everyone back in the New Year.

Thursday, December 22nd....Bear Fat and Cave Walls....

2011-12-23T05:58:00.000-08:00

WELL, I CAN CROSS THAT ONE OFF THE LIST:

After teaching for 18 years at the same school, you begin to think that you have "heard it all". Yesterday, however, a student used the phrase "bear fat and cave walls". Other things that I am still waiting to hear...

1. "...this problem involves fractions, sir? Great! I love fractions"
2. "...wow, sir, the Chargers are MY favourite football team too!"
3. "...good morning sir...what are you and Mr. Shoup doing here so early?"
4. "...I can't remember how to do this one....let me just look in my notes for an example."
5. "....here are your Batman Pez dispensers back. I'm sorry for taking them."

THE LIFE AND TIMES OF 2P:

1. (gone to WhoVille)
2. Ring

THE LIFE AND TIMES OF 4U:

1. Yes, Gene
2. Ring

DINNER UPDATE: I went to the beautiful T's work dinner last night. The Endive Salad was great. The roast beef was great. The dessert was great. Beside the beef were "caramelized mushrooms". Why is this still happening in the new millenium??? Does the "chef curriculum" never get updated at our local culinary institutes???? Why are highly skilled culinary artists still including fungus AS A SIDE DISH??? Stop this insanity.

NO ONE EATS MUSHROOMS ANYMORE !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! STOP SERVING THEM AT RESTAURANTS !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

(justified rant complete)

Good night now.
Merry Christmas Eve Eve.

Wednesday, December 21st...Come Back, Mr. Sun....

2011-12-21T21:04:00.000-08:00

DAYLIGHT UPDATE: It doesn't get any darker than this, folks. Sunlight makes a comeback beginning tomorrow. (mind you, the relationship between daylight hours and day of the year is a sinusoidal, giving us the feeling that daylight hours are not increasing at a rapid rate for the next little while)

WOEFUL FOOTBALL TEAM UPDATE: Bolts need a CIN loss and a single NYJ loss in the last two weeks in order to improbably reach the playoffs. They will also need to win two in a row against DET and OAK....oh well, the NBA starts this weekend anyways...who needs football

2P PONDERINGS

1. Review for Unit #3 major assessment
2. This would have been a great day for a full class.
3. I believe that it is time to take that set of wooden rulers and enjoy a big 'ol Christmas bonfire.
4. No more dangling graphite today.
5. Students put forth a fair-middling effort today.
6. Thanks to Mr. B for dropping in to help.
7. Ring

4U PONDERINGS

1. Tests returned
2. Logarithms introduced using the graph of the log base 10 functions
3. Operating with logarithms discussed as well as a review of equation solving skills.
4. Classwork assigned...classwork attempted...refreshing.
5. Ring

Good.
Night.
Now.

Tuesday, December 20th....T-Minus 16.....Trapezoid Infestation....

2011-12-21T06:00:00.000-08:00

PEARLS OF WISDOM GAINED FROM REPEATEDLY MAKING THE SAME MISTAKES:

1. If the beautiful T and the offspring leave you a huge piece of ice cream cake in the fridge for when you get home, you do not have to eat it in a single sitting
2. Do not choose a favourite football team at 10 years of age just because they have a "cool lightning bolt" on the side of their helmet
3. Potato chips = LH . Do not be fooled.
4. Do not go Christmas shopping for your wife accompanied by your male friends.
5. Sleep more than five hours per night in order to allow for coherent conversations the next day.
6. Plan all lessons before midnight. Every "breakthrough" idea arrived at after midnight seems wonderful at the time.
7. In fact don't hand out movie recommendations to your peers after viewing said movie after midnight. Terminator 3 seems like a good movie when viewed from 1-3 AM.
8. When Mom says "eat your green vegetables" in order to maintain a healthy head of hair when you get older, listen to her.
9. Stop complaining. You'll lose the ability to like yourself.
10. Drop the grudges. You'll lose the ability to love others.
11. Be thankful for what you have. You'll see everyone in a different light.

2P GRAND FINALE

1. Patiently waiting.....
2. Still waiting ....
3. Sarcastic "welcome" from MH adds a little sunshine to my day
4. Elimination method (kitchen table framework) is introduced as an alternative to substitution
5. Students make a diligent effort (for the most part). 1/4 of the class takes the easy way out, sadly.
6. Exam for Unit 3 is postponed until after the break due to cinematic conflicts.
7. Impressed with DN, NG, WR, EHS, LS and KB today.
8. Suspended graphite again today.
9. Argh.
10. Ring.

4U State of the Union

1. 121
2. Trapezoids?
3. Just fit. Whew.
4. Simon and Garfunkel...SOS
5. I'm afraid I can't answer that question.
6. Exponential exploration for those who finish early (CD wins)
7. Ring

Monday, December 19th.....T-Minus 17......Substitution Split.....

2011-12-19T21:40:00.000-08:00

Mathematical Terminology/Topics that make Students Groan:

1. Fractions
2. Substitution Method
3. Logarithms
4. Domain and Range
5. The Quadratic Formula
6. Factoring

4U RECOLLECTIONS

1. Double Root Delight
2. Fixing the ZENN
3. Taking up Rational Review problems
4. R i n g

2P RECOLLECTIONS

1. The sub method created a clean split today ... those willing to try and those refusing to even get started.
2. On a happy note, the half that got engaged put forth a significant effort
3. Stay strong class. Now is not the time to throw in the towel.
4. Many seeking assistance during practice time. Thanks to CP today.

Weekend Blog, December 16-18th, 2011....T-Minus 18 ... When the Cat's Away....

2011-12-18T20:42:00.000-08:00

IF YOUR ROGERS BILL WENT UP THIS PAST WEEKEND, THE BLUE JAYS CAN EXPLAIN: Mr. C will understand what makes this photo less than generic...is Mike McCoy the most famous "18" to play for the Blue Jays??....sign Prince already...if Yu is Hideo Nomo for a couple of years, I'll be OK with it...

BRAD BIRD ("The Incredibles") MADE A MOVIE THAT WASN'T A CARTOON: "The Incredibles" is in my top 5. I was quite excited that BB was going to give live-action a try. No reason to temper my excitement apparently.

INSULT TO INJURY: Three weeks after being all but mathematically eliminated from the playoffs, the Woeful Bolts go ahead and do this to the number 1 team in the AFC. Go figure.

4U THOUGHTS IN ABSENTIA:

1. I hope they came.
2. I hope they reviewed.
3. I hope they helped each other.
4. I hope they took advantage of having a knowledgeable supply present.
5. (meeting break)

2P THOUGHTS IN ABSENTIA:

1. Thanks to Mr. G for attacking substitution for us
2. Woe to the pencil tossing students
3. Kudos to those who showed up at lunch to attack some reassessments.
4. (meeting adjourned)

Snack time.

Good night now.

Thursday, December 15th, 2011....T-Minus 19....The Old Man is Snoring....

2011-12-16T04:04:00.000-08:00

I DON'T EVEN LIKE HORSES:

Dick Francis passed away recently. He wrote mystery novels that were centred around the world of horse racing and his general love of horses. My indifference for the equine world kept me away from this series for a number of years.

Mistake.

If you enjoy a clever turn of phrase and well-written dialogue, you should take the plunge. My recommendations....

1. To the Hilt
2. The Sid Halley Trilogy (Odds Against, Whip Hand, Come To Grief)
3. Risk
4. Break In/Bolt
5. Decider

2P Occcurrrences (I'm in a rush....like racccoon, occcurrrences is one of those "double letter or not" words that I'm never 100% sure of ... I'm adding enough c's and r's just to make sure I'm not low ... it's a math blog...get over it Hemingway)

1. Solid participation on the graphing by linear sytems examples
2. Excellent test results...students mostly pleased
3. Slow going on the use of GSP to solve systems
4. Don't let M use the display screen computer again
5. Squeezed in rearrrangement of equations
6. Ring.

4U Occcurrrences:

1. DSO to the masses (well, 4 anyways)
2. Charting the rational world
3. Seeing the alternative C method
4. Practice, practice
5. Ring
6. Disturbing ZENN revelation
7. Argh.

Bye.

Wednesday, December 14th, 2011....T-Minus 20.....H O U S E....

2011-12-14T12:38:00.000-08:00

MEMORIES OF THE 1980's:

1. Along with the Vic-20 we had the Atari 2600 and the Intellivision
2. The Expos were "Canada's Team"
3. Everyone wanted an "Adidas Bag" for school
4. CBC televised baseball and hockey ... once a week.
5. When you wanted to walk while on the phone, it had to be in a circle.

4U RETROSPECT:

1. Nye over Cosby. Travesty.
2. How did Pullman lose his vote?
3. Rational equations taken up. Two of them.
4. Rational inequalities solved using graph and algebraic techniques
5. Two assigned
6. Ring.

2P RETROSPECT:

1. Assessment day.
2. Brief intro to linear systems explained for some "after-test" work
3. Off to Room Palindrome.
4. A reeeeealllllly solid effort by the majority.
5. Very impressed.
6. Ring.
7. Students still writing!
8. Wow.

THINGS FROM THE '80s THAT SHOULD NEVER COME BACK:

1. Hair
2. Beaches (the movie)
3. NBA uniforms, especially the shorts
4. Large sunglasses.
5. Oops.

Good night now.

Good night now.

Tuesday, December 13th....T-Minus 21....A Day of Equation-filled Bliss....

2011-12-13T15:26:00.000-08:00

ODDS AGAINST

*one of my favourite book series with Sid Halley, one-handed detective as Dick Francis' protagonist
*one of the most misused statistical terms
*if we chose a day of the week at random, the odds against Sunday would be 6:1
*useful term for hyperbole as in
"the odds against San Diego making the playoffs are 4000:1"
OR "the odds against MHF4U all showing up punctually are 210:1"
OR "the odds against my family owning a dog are 100 000:1"
OR "the odds against a Pro-Line player coming out ahead in the long run are 25 000:1"

PRO-LINE

*a sports betting "game" open to citizens of Ontario over 18 years of age
*the reason our highways are well-surfaced and free of large pot-holes
*covers the cost of snow-removal in Toronto from Dec-March
*an enjoyable alternative to simply taking your well-earned money and lighting it on fire
*listed in the thesaurus beside "cash cow"

ZENN moments in 4U:

1. Punctual students
2. Smile
3. One-day seating plan leads to minor complaint
4. Instructions given (ZENN assignment)
5. Students straggle in
6. Non-mathematical conversations (loud) ensue
7. Argh.
8. Guttural scream temptation
9. Sarcasm employed instead
10. 60 solid minutes of work ensue.
11. Smile.
12. Ring.

Linear Equations and the 2P student:

1. Harried teacher printing/cutting through break
2. Level 1/2 problems attempted
3. Mini-reports distributed
4. 80% of students put forth written practice necessary for success
5. Mr. B arrives....HUGE help.
6. Seeking assistance...motivational speech attempt
7. Solid day.
8. Ring.

RAPTOR WIN TOTAL: I set the over/under at 16.

FOR YOUR INFORMATION: There are 13 983 816 different ways to fill out a Lotto 649 ticket. Just imagine that you are not going to win. It will always be a grain farmer in Saskatchewan or restaurant worker from St. Jerome, PQ instead of you. Buy a friend a coffee instead.

Good night now

Monday, December 12th.....T-Minus 22....dnuoranruT yaD....

2011-12-12T13:40:00.000-08:00

Turnaround Consequences...some expected/some unexpected...

1. Suddenly tardy 4U's
2. Early 4U's complaining about teacher punctuality
3. Less teacher tolerance for non-mathematical conversations started by tardy studennts
4. Four lost students wandering aimlessly in the math hallway
5. Another Chris Paul trade falling through

2P's hit the D:

1. Come back missing P's!!!!!
2. One early complaint derailed Oreo consumption
3. A reasonably strong effort using algebraic fraction tricks.
4. Lab visit just didn't happen today.....equations with fractions stretched on with solid effort by the group
5. Intro to system solving
6. Wednesday's assessment scheduled : equation solving
7. R, shut the door!
8. Ring

4U's hit the C (eventually):

1. tick, tick, tick, ...
2. find the equation of a parabola from three points on the curve
3. ZENN
4. ZENN assignment
5. ZENN assignment due date
6. ZENN assignment due date warning
7. ZENN assignment due date warning repeated
8. Survey time
9. What courses am I taking anyways?
10. Ring.

Feeding time.

Good night now.

Weekend Blog, December 9-11.....T-Minus 23.....Miracle at Mile-High...

2011-12-11T19:37:00.000-08:00

WEEKEND MUSINGS:

1. Why would anyone ever punt to Devin Hester?
2. I'm beginning to think that many people have not seen/heard Bill Cosby in his prime.
3. That's two straight weeks of not watching a single minute of two straight TELEVISED San Diego Charger games. I feel liberated.
4. I went to the home of the original Buffalo Chicken Wing Sunday night. Yum.
5. If you are concerned about preserving sound eating habits, do not bring this into your home.
6. My five year old passport picture makes me sad. I think I would have preferred just going gray.

2P Friday Focus....

1. D'Law practice and D'Law equation solving on an entry card
2. Geography Quiz: Rapper or World Capital ... thank you Mr. Berry
3. Equation Solving with our old friend the fraction...moderately well received.
4. Ring.

4U Friday Focus...

1. Request for "game day" denied. Game faces welcomed instead.
2. Six rational questions. Seventy minutes.
3. Go.
4. They went.
5. Max effort.
6. Hope restored. (teacher perspective)
7. Affection for all things mathematical restored (student perspective...if I'm reading this right, of course)
8. Ring.

NBA UPDATE: The Hornets completed a trade Friday night dealing away their top player, Chris Paul, to the Lakers. They were to receive a bounty in return. Some other team owners whined about the trade so the league vetoed it. What a mess.
The season starts in 2 weeks. The Raptors are without quality...are working on quantity. Sheesh.

Good night now.
Good night now.

Thursday, December 8th, 2011....T-Minus 24.......orm Dance....

2011-12-08T21:42:00.000-08:00

THINGS I'M THANKFUL FOR WITH 24 DAYS TO GO:

1. I work with some really cool people who I am honoured to call friends.
2. My classes are replete with witty, creative students.
3. Freedom in this school to try stuff and fail.
4. The stress-free commute to work in the morning where I might encounter 4 other cars and a tractor on a really busy day.
5. The woeful Bolts will be put out of their misery soon enough.
6. Tim Tebow continues to win games without being able to throw straight.
7. AA did not pony up $240 million for a declining asset in Pujols

THE STORY OF 2P

1. Nice job of jumping right into some written practice by many. I was pleased.
2. Lates. Argh.
3. Distributive law (re?)introduced .... caused some consternation ... will practice further tomorrow.
4. Many students really worked well at D'Law equations ... some checked out fully for the day .... a mix of frustration and encouragement ... a real "Vice Verses" period
5. Two minutes of pleading for those who whittled time away today
6. Ring

THE STORY OF 4U

1. Allowed 15 minutes to progress further on problem set
2. Five minutes pass
3. Regret decision number one.
4. Took up various problems regarding rationsl functions
5. Began "Solving Rational Equations" amid murmurs of discontent
6. Students did not appreciate aesthetic beauty of larger problems involving rational expressions.
7. Students work (reluctantly) on 4 practice problems ... typo in floppy text caught a little late
8. Ring

....zzzzz..........

Good night now.

Wednesday, December 7th, 2011....T-Minus 25...Hope Rises....

2011-12-08T03:26:00.000-08:00

ENCOURAGING SIGNS:

1. Three students in to write makeup assessments at lunch today of their own volition
2. 2P students put solid group effort on eq'n solving
3. Hallway clean at lunch
4. Fifty Percent success rate achieved at Match Game event
5. Jays stay out of ridiculous Pujols talk
6. 4U's remain conscious

FOODS LIABLE TO NEITHER EXCITE NOR UPSET YOU:

1. Raw Carrots
2. Rice Cakes
3. Chickpeas
4. Ham (the Bill Pullman of meats)
5. Spinach Leaves

2P Happenings:

1. Empty spaces
2. Students give a solid effort on equation prep
3. '70s interlude...girls triumph
4. First of 3 Grade 10-centric equations studied
5. Solid effort right to the bell
6. Smile
7. Ring

4U Happenings:

1. Gene, I decided to go with ....
2. Rational Function Summarizing ... again sleep vs. student attention is the order of the day
3. That's twice this week ... I've got to come up with a better way for this topic
4. Solid effort on late-day homework assignment...nary a whine
5. Smile.
6. Ring.

HAIRCUT UPDATE: Zipped home for 4:30 lock shearing....due for a haircut.... insert balding joke here ___________________________. Even neighbours and offspring are cracking wise. Sheesh. Maybe I need to give Emmitt a call.

So long.

Tuesday, December 6th, 2011....T-Minus 26....Diagnostic Flooding....

2011-12-07T05:20:00.000-08:00

RETROACTIVE BLOGGING: I did promise to keep this page up for 40 straight days. Those of you who have deciphered the inaccurate time/date stamp will realize that this is being written up one day late. A woeful effort indeed. In the interest of completionism, however....

RAPTOR SCHEDULE UPDATE: For those of you who enjoy following labor strife, the NBA players and owners finally agreed upon how to split up the revenues from their little multi-billion dollar enterprise. The schedule was released last night...the Raptors begin their season in Lebron-less Cleveland on Boxing Day. I had predicted earlier that the Raps would likely never have a record this season better than 0-0. I may have to revise that as this clash of ineptitude could very well result in a win for the Bargnani-led Raps. A few random NBA notes,

1. Beginning On Dec. 9th, teams can sign players to fill out their rosters. Teams usually have 4 months to build their teams. This year the season starts on Christmas Day. Presently the New Orleans Hornets have FIVE players signed to play.

2. The Raptors best player is Andrea Bargnani. He's a below-average NBA PF/C who is allergic to defensive rotation. Thankfully, fantasy basketball exists.

3. There is no hard salary cap. Teams can spend whatever they like (possible tax penalties).

BLUE JAY UPDATE: Jays traded their top pitching prospect for Sergio Santos of the White Sox. Santos is a converted shortstop who transformed himslef into a closer with a wicked slider. The jury is out.

2P MUSINGS:

1. Punctuality is becoming an issue again. We need to tighten this up.
2. Participation and engagement was appreciated today.
3. Diagnostic efforts were solid. Thanks.
4. Rulers were distributed and collected without incident. Peer monitoring also effective.
5. Ring.

4U Developments:

1. Amidst colleague-offspring's protests, an activity "in the round" was conducted in class covering rational functions.
2. Students remained engaged, putting forth a good effort.
3. Students were required to move from chair to chair in order to complete the activity. Whining was infrequent. We're making progress.
4. Student chose dental work over further mathematical discovery.
5. Summing up
6. Ring

Good night...err..morning now.

Monday, December 5th.....T-Minus 41..err..27........Sorry............

2011-12-05T13:48:00.001-08:00

Three Other Movies I Will Never Watch:

1. The Notebook
2. Titanic
3. Pirates of the Caribbean (number bigger than 2)

My In-Laws are preparing dinner....must type quickly...

2P Sum-Up

1. ASSESSMENT DAY.....lack of preparation for class hurt some students today
2. Results tomorrow
3. Room 121 working like a charm
4. Students need to make punctuality a greater priority
5. Sigh.
6. Ring.

4U Sum-Up

1. Students were patient as I finished up with the P's
2. Comments from part-timers well deserved
3. Made up for lost time by delivering semester's most sleep-inducing lesson
4. Level 2-Minus on lesson delivery today.
5. Students pushed through and worked well even without inspiration.
5. Sigh.
6. Ring.

Offspring bickering. Time to go.

Good night now.

Go (away) Bolts.

WkendBlog...Fri-Sun, December 4th....T-Minus 28....I Will Not be Watching Monday Night....

2011-12-04T20:22:00.000-08:00

Five REASONS I CANNOT WATCH THIS WOEFUL TEAM ANY LONGER:

1. Least prepared Charger Team that I have seen in the last 20 years. That's saying something.
2. Painful lack of creativity in the play calling.
3. Both running backs have fumbling issues.
4. Philip can't seem to throw straight any longer.
5. Other more important areas of my life may improve with increased attention.

I have some educational matters to attend to here, so let's Sally Forth with the recap...

THE DAY THAT WAS IN 2P:

1. Practice on Skill #8: Graphing Using Intercepts
2. Help from Mrs. C was much appreciated
3. "Review in the Round" for linear relations assessment was met with a solid effort by the students. Nicely done.
4. I will be available at lunch tomorrow for assistance.
5. Ring

THE DAY THAT WAS IN 4U:

1. Victory to the Minors, a Ryan and the "ow" buzzer.
2. Rational Functions- Reciprocal Linears examined on the netbooks.
3. Properties briefly summarized.
4. Waning interest.
5. Gentle pleadings for a homework-less weekend
6. Wish granted
7. Ring.

Good night now.

Thursday, December 1st, 2011....T-Minus 29..."Please Hand Me the Primer"....

2011-12-01T14:26:00.000-08:00

SUPPERSPEED BLOGGING:
Thiswillbequickstoveheatingupvegetbalessteaminglunchestomakemustkeeptyping

THE DAY THAT WAS IN 2P MATH:

1. No JJ today. Odd.
2. Students jumped into multi-step equation solving today.
3. Solid overall effort.
4. Numaro interlude. KB, AG, CL rule the day.
5. A helper for future desk cleaning is found.
6. SKILL #8: Graphing a line NOT in y=mx+b form using intercepts is introduced.
7. Trying to teach over murmuring voices is making me a little put out.
8. Participation is frequent and varied, however. The positives outweighed the negative today.
9. Ring (that was the vegetable steamer)
10. Rid ourselves of the negatives tomorrow.
11. I like this class.
12. Ring.

4U FUN WITH THE ALLIGATOR'S MOUTH < < < < < < < < < < < < <

1. Students request assessment postponement.
2. Students receive refusal with grace.
3. Students write assessment.
4. CM breaks stapler.
5. Consequences of 2P paperclip ring felt today.
6. Students make solid effort on rational function preview questions.
7. Ring.

Good night now.

Thursday, November 30th, 2011.T-Minus 30...Youth Movement....

2011-11-30T21:46:00.000-08:00

THE "OCHOS" ARRIVE: Thanks to the grade 8's for their attentiveness and participation during the math session today. Many thanks as well to GT for making all things work.

MUCH-NEEDED HELP: Kudos to Mr. G who has managed to show up to Room 250 at the most opportune times this year, ready to provide assistance. Again today my 10P's reaped the benefits of his early arrival.

MEMORIES OF 2P:

1. Jumped right into equation-finding mode today ... students up for it ... encouraging beginning
2. Students worked really well today on an algebra-intensive skill.
3. As mentioned earlier, Mr G provided a much-appreciated extra pair of hands while students attempted to find the equation of a line algebraically given two points on that line.
4. Unfortunately toward the end of class, certain students raised their voices during non-math conversation so that Mr G and I would not interrupt them as we helped other students with mathematical difficulties.
5. Overall, a solid level 3 class today.

MEMORIES OF 4U:

1. Mr. G ran the show today.
2. Students apparently rebelled against lab use today ... went with netbooks instead.
3. I had a meeting. No time to run out for java. Meeting held anyway.
4. Ring.

....forgot to give the 8's their prizes today ... sorry about that ...

Good night now.

November 29, 2011.....T-Minus 31....Note to Self: Attempt the Questions.....

2011-11-29T15:48:00.000-08:00

....before assigning them ...they told me in Teacher's College (see #15, p50, floppy 4U text)

argh.

Lunch- teacher tardiness, mediocre java, scads of rewriting U's

2P- courteous quiet workers, thanks Mr. Shoup, assessment for Thursday announced, plea to stop leaving crucial notes for teacher-led organization, grump-inducing seat rearrangement, intro to Skill #7: finding the equation of a line given 2 points, ring

4U- thankfully J returned to ask about some homework, beautiful inequality question assigned (#15), oops, how about #16, that's better, radical x-intercepts cause mild discontent, assessment on inequalities Thursday, group activity commenced, ring.

...distracted...I have grade 8's on the brain ... good night now.

November 28th....T-Minus 32. ... Pet Trouble in the Math Department ...

2011-11-28T21:56:00.000-08:00

RANDOM THOUGHTS ON PET OWNERSHIP:

1. The only pets we have entertained at the Preston household are fish and rocks, unless you want to count the stuffed Raptor mascot that my youngest son named Lumber.
2. Many of my friends own dogs. I fail to see the point. Most of their dog stories convince me that I never want to own one.
3. The older offspring used to ask for a dog. I would always tell them, "we had your younger brother instead." The beautiful T asked me to stop saying that fearing that I would cause sibling resentment for all eternity.
4. My Mom let me name our cat when I was 6. I chose "PC".

4U REMINDER: Anyone wishing to attempt the factor theorem assessment, please be in Room 250 at 11:35 sharp.

Memories of 2P

1. Began at bell...SKILL 6: Finding the equation of a line given a slope and a point.
2. Tardiness ensued.
3. Graphical and algebraic techniques were covered for finding this equation.
4. Four practice questions were assigned. This was NOT one of our best days for independent work. 50/50 split on making efficient use of class time.
5. Argh.
6. Please don't think I'm focusing on the negative. I really like this class. I'm setting the bar high. Students have performed well to this juncture. Half the class wasting the last 15 minutes of class seems like a step back at this point.
7. Tomorrow is another day.
8. Ring.

Memories of 4U:

1. Encouraged by my stack of homework papers to look over 5 minutes in ... wait, most of that is my 2P stuff
2. Argh.
3. I fear that this "attempting questions for the very first time one day before the assessment" strategy is not going to play out all that well
4. I would be remiss if I neglected to mention the fine homework efforts by AR, TR and RM
5. Cubic inequalities were the main focus for the day .... chart-based strategy for solving inequalities was covered.
6. Example from class in FACTORED FORM. Example for students to try needed a little factor theorem work. This elicited, not a groan, not a whine ... but instead an "ooh" (disgust implied).
7. Homework questions assigned from floppy text. Excuses flowed.
8. Ring.

"Preston's Cat" if you were wondering.

Good night now.

November 25-27, 2011....Weekend Blog: T-Minus 33......4U's/4HWQ's Mix Badly ...

2011-11-27T14:46:00.000-08:00

MATCH GAME THEME: It took a couple of days to get the theme out of my head after the Wednesday/Thursday class challenges. Unexpectedly, the beautiful T and I also heard the catchy tune early on in Super 8.

SUPER 8 REVIEW: Enjoyed by both male and female adult members of the Preston household. This is a rarity. I felt like I was watching an '80s style summer blockbuster. Witty at times. Clever enough. Stuff blows up. 7.5/10

MFM2P:

1. We spent a little time practicing the 2 techniques of linear graphing.
2. We then reinforced the reading of m and b off of a linear relation.
3. Match Game
4. Ring

MHF4U:

1. Solving inequalities introduced
2. GOAL: Solving ineq. using algebraic techniques
3. Techniques for solving linear inequalities
4. Techniques for solving quadratic inequalities
5. Assigned (to much spoken grief) .... Solve (x-6)(x-2)>0 along with p50 #'s 2d, 4cd
6. Ring.

CHARGER UPDATE: Currently leading the Broncos 13-7 heading toward the 4th quarter. Yes, I'm tired of this underachieving team. Yes, I am halfway hoping that they will be leading by 6 with two minutes left so that I can experience Tebow time once again.

Go (away) Bolts.

See you tomorrow.

Wednesday, November 23rd, 2011.....T-Minus 34....Hide the Rulers, Here Come the 2P Males....

2011-11-23T20:08:00.001-08:00

Type I's and all readers interested in healthy living, keep these out of your house at all times.

BLACK FRIDAY MOVES TO THE GREAT WHITE NORTH: My first Black Friday flyer arrived tonight. The idea of turning our Canadian retail outlets into quivering, stressed-out masses of humanity during the last weekend of November was bound to win us Canucks over eventually. A hearty welcome to this little slice of Americana.

FUN WITH 2P:

1. There is pain in the retelling .....
2. ....but hopefully in the end, healing.
3. Entry Card Time: determining the equation of a line from a graph
4. Skill #4b) Graphing a y=mx+b line by calculating the y-values for 3 points
5. WARNING, WARNING ... Do NOT hand out rulers, I repeat, do NOT hand out rulers
6. Teacher ignores inner voice (point 5)
7. Rulers handed out
8. Four practice problems attempted by many
9. Remainder of class engages in ruler-fuelled anarchy
10. Ring.
11. Thankfully.

4U PEACE AND (BOREDOM-INDUCED) QUIET

1. Students jumped right into some equation/inequality solving
2. Ill-advised decision to have students read a quick inequality tutorial off coolmath.com ... reactions ranged from begrudging acceptance to distant unfocussed stares
3. Sorry.
4. Interval notations reviewed for the remaining conscious.
5. Solving f(x)=0, f(x)>0, and f(x)<0 using a graph.
6. Eight minutes left, how about this?
7. Tie game at 3:08 ... to be settled tomorrow ... class with a cliffhanger ... enough to bring D back tomorrow?
8. Stay tuned.
9. Ring

Enjoy your holiday tomorrow, American student.

Good night now.

Tuesday, November 22nd, 2011....T-Minus 35...Werther's or Kraft....It's Closer than Pepsi vs. Coke ...

2011-11-22T11:15:00.000-08:00

PSYCHOLOGICAL PLOYS: I think this descending arithmetic sequence is going to keep me on the blogging train. I'm not going to want to break the chain.

2P and y=mx+b

1. Thanks to the student who was willing to come in early for a little review.
2. We began with a brief graph-equation connection.
3. We spent about 15 minutes on the first "short-cut" technique involved in making the equation-to-graph conversion
4. Students put forth a solid effort on 9 practice problems
5. DIAGNOSTIC
6. I love this class.
6. Ring

MHF4U

1. Teacher's children abusing cell phone rules will be prosecuted to the full extent of the law.
2. Road trip to 121 for assessment of learning with room to breathe
3. My old room ... I enjoyed teaching down here ... except that period of time where we needed new limestone in the chemical tanks and it was vile if you got within 5 feet of the business storage room door.
4. Oh wait ... D just arrived
5. Sorry, got distracted there .... anyways ... students worked on the solving of equations and inequalities after completing the factor theorem assessment today
6. A student just dropped a pencil sharpener on the floor leading to some raucous laughter as well as criticism from one of the part-time students. The nerve.
7. Ring

Seattle's Best, just $1 for a limited time ... where are you number 5???

Christmas Blend???

It's tea time. Must go.

Monday, November 21st, 2011.....T-Minus 36....There are So Many Things that I Should Be Doing That do Not Involve Watching Videos of a Talking Shell..

2011-11-21T22:20:00.000-08:00

Thank you veterans. That was quite amusing.

FRUITLESS BLOGGING: What is the point of a homework blog being written in the wee hours of the morning? Well, we had a few internet related technical difficulties chez Preston earlier tonight, rendering early blogging impossible. So for the sake of continuity, tonight's brief entry exists.

2P's and y=mx+b

1. Thanks to Mrs. P and Mr. G, the "MOST IMPORTANT LESSON OF THE YEAR" was a success.
2. Kudos for the diligent effort and attention given in class today folks.
3. Students (hopefully) learned how to create the "name" or equation of a line, given a graph of the line.
4. JJ pointed out a few potential sources of confusion regarding this topic that I had not considered. Well played.
5. Ring.

MHF4U Review (half?) Day

1. Assessment tomorrow regarding RT, FT and solving Polynomial Equations
2. We reviewed today with the help of Mr. G
3. I looked for a wayward student with no success.
4. A few knowledge gaps were filled in today. I hope a diligent effort in class was followed up with a significant preparatory effort this evening.
5. Ring.
6. Yawn.

Good night now.

The Weekend Blog, Nov 18th-20th....T-Minus 37 ... Quintic Factoring Leads to Mathematical Bliss ...

2011-11-20T19:34:00.000-08:00

CHARGERS 20, BEARS 31: There are a LOT of English Pre. League fans around the world. It must be an intriguing sport to follow. Anything must be better than punishing myself with this bumbling team week after week.

argh.

AGING UPDATE: I'm sitting down to work here ready to do some lessons ... with a snack of spinach leaves and water. Yippee. Like the horrific yellow fruit, this really better be worth it.

4U ASSESSMENT TOPICS FOR TUESDAY

1. Division results statements (p.31 #1a,2a)
2. Statement and application of the remainder theorem (p.32 #7,8)
3. Remainder "k" problems (p32-33 #9,11,17,18,20)
4. Statement and application of the factor theorem (p.34 top, p36 #8-12)
5. Solving polynomial equations in fully-factored form (p38 #1), partially factored form (p.38 #3) and non-factored (p.38 #7,9)

2P Fallout:

1. Students worked through a reinforcement of their slope-finding skills. I really think we made some progress here.
2. Bundle of lates today was disappointing and distracting.
3. y=mx+b efforts in the second half of the class yielded very little ... GSP visuals accessed but not extraordinarily helpful....one of those days
4. If at first you don't succeed ...
5. Students were friendly regardless
6. Until Monday then...

4U:

1. HJ visited
2. Quintic entertainment commenced
3. The tardies arrived
4. Quintic games continued
5. Rational roots ??? Please no, sir.
6. Inequalities introduced to little fanfare ...
7. Ring.

Thursday, November 17th.....T-Minus 38 ... Rraf returns...

2011-11-17T14:44:00.000-08:00

In eight minutes, I need to make the rice ... supperblogging will be hasty tonight.

SEATING PLAN UPDATE:

1. 2P class reacted maturely with only a couple of requests for immediate movement.
2. 4U class reacted
3. 4U class proceeded to sigh/groan at any sudden movement or topic change for the remaining 74 minutes.
4. 2U wins. I bake tonight.

DECIDEDLY POOR TASTING FRUIT UPDATE: As my quartet of faithful readers are aware, I have been attempting to keep a two year old promise to my wife and Mother, making sure to consume one horribly tasting banana per day. Apparently they are good for your health....the Buckley's of fruit. Last Friday, I bought some at Sobey's on the way to work and due to the fruitfly infestation on the second floor, tossed them in the math department fridge.

Kids, don't leave bananas in the fridge.

MFM2P (Skill 3-Linear Relations: Finding the equation of a line)

1. Seating Plan. Went well.
2. Cartesian Practice. Three Minutes.
3. Slope from a Picture. MH demonstrates.
4. Slope from a formula. JJ derives. Students struggle through. More practice needed.
5. Creating the "name" of a line from a common property. Shaky, but progress.
6. Ring.

MHF4U

1. Seating Plan. No comment.
2. Factoring by Grouping. Floppy text lets me down on 5c. Note to self....always check the whole question set before assigning.
3. D arrives. Golf clapping ensues.
4. Intermittent sighing.
5. Previous weeks topics summarized. So much sighing I can feel a gentle breeze.
6. Solving equations in factored form tackled
7. Solving equations in non-factored form tackled.
8. Murmurs of discontent.
9. Ring

Rice is now late.....not a vegetable in sight. Level 2 parenting continues.

Good night now.

Wednesday, November 16th, 2011....T-Minus 39......2P Gets a Standing Plan...(4U needs a seating plan)...

2011-11-16T14:10:00.000-08:00

If this post is coherent with SuperSmashBros blaring in the background, I will be pleasantly surprised....yes, I know, I'm not that far away from "would you kids get off my lawn!!".......aging is overrated....

DONUT UPDATE: I'll stop short of slander by framing this in the positive. Dunnville Tim Horton's owners take note....your donuts have at least TWICE the sprinkles/glaze/filling of your counterparts to the East of Dunnville. Keep it up.

MFM2P:

1. Kids found their place on the plane. I hope it helped
2. We looked at slope on the CARTesian Plane and tried to overcome the flood of numbers presented in a typical problem.
3. Most students worked well. A large part of me wishes that I had not handed out rulers.
4. Absences abounded. I am concerned.
5. Links to a nice Cartesian Plane tutorial are found in the 2P link box to the right.

MHF4U:

1. We solved cubic and quartic equations with GSP (not the fighter).
2. General solving of polynomial equations was discussed.
3. Some more students arrived. I lost my bonus.
4. Noisy kids in the hallway came to visit.
5. R answered a question. Classmates talked louder so their conversation would not be interrupted. Note to self: seating plan required.
6. One homework question taken up.
7. Ring.

Bada bing badda .... I forget the rest....must go now.

November 15th, 2011.....T-Minus 40.....R, don't touch the string....

2011-11-15T20:57:00.000-08:00

40 Days to Go.

Finishing Strong.

Do what is right, not what is easy.

Arrive on time, ready.

THE BEING STRONG MONOLOGUE

2P students sat patiently, some amusing themselves with word games while I monologued on being strong as we headed into the final 40. I will be blogging each day as we work together to fight the afternoon lull. Come along.

MFM2P

1. Students received their marks today.
2. List or no list, RW pulled one of my slope strings off. I seethed.
3. Amid sporadic protests, the 2P's measured 10 slopes. I forgot the J.
4. Monologuing
5. Ring.

MHF4U

1. Students worked (choose the appropriate adverb)

RELUCTANTLY
EFFICIENTLY (veterans)
SLOWLY
AMIDST CONVERSATION
WORRIEDLY
WHINING (2 questions per page!!!)

2. Quartic factoring at the tableau ensued
3. Students griped over chalky hands
4. Ring.

CHARGER UPDATE: Norv better be installing the 2-step drop passing system against the Monsters of the Midway this weekend. This is going to get ugly in Chi-town. The beautiful T is wondering why I don't finally just choose another team.

IN A RELATED STORY, two of my colleagues are long-suffering 49er fans. This year they are 8-1, leading the non-Cheesehead NFL. So far the two S's are containing their excitement, secretly fearing the carriage-to-pumpkin transformation back to 8-8. I am cheering for this, in the same way that one cheers for lightning to hit a tree. (also in the same way that one cheers for their own team to win their division at 6-10, just for the mathematical improbability of it all)

SLEEP IS VALUABLE...good night now.

November 1st, 2011...."He Dropped the Ball....I Can't Believe It...." (MNF Announcer)

2011-11-01T19:50:00.000-07:00

I can.

BACK TO BLOGGING: It is November, the best teaching month of the school year. I will attempt to get back to some daily ramblings/updates/class summaries.

MFM2P....Volume in the Round....

1. Numaro win for double J.
2. Volume matching as we circle the room....measurement coming to a close.
3. Many students are improving marks ... next three days are crucial for measurement unit.
4. Ring.

MHF4U:

1. Bounces and drags with f(x) were the order of the day.
2. Two perfect tests returned...exciting!
3. Trig Assessment #1 Redux tomorrow at lunch.

Fearless Predicitons:

1. Median DSS Student Height peaks tomorrow.
2. Alex Smith does not throw for over 200 yards again this year.
3. Chargers outgain two other teams by 200 yards this year....and lose.
4. I give up football by 2013 and take up the EPL.
5. MFM2P achieves 100% punctuality thrice this month.

Good night now.

October 24th, 2011.....Wee Hours Posting....

2011-10-24T02:37:00.000-07:00

The Ruler Game

CHARGER UPDATE: "My" football team (for as long as that lasts....I've just about sworn off this sport) played my youngest offsprings team yesterday. It did not end well. The usually unflappable Phil Rivers imploded in the 4th quarter, walking off the Jets new monstrosity of a football stadium a shell of his former self. At least things are back to normal in Chargerland.

49er UPDATE: Mr. Shoup and the youngster (and an English teacher who will remain unnamed in this math post) are 49er fans. They've been bad for a solid decade. This year they are 5-1. I await the team-wide implosion.

Thursday, October 21, 2011....Fromage...

2011-10-20T21:19:00.000-07:00

BASKETBALL UPDATE:

1. Clean sweep of Hagersville was completed tod...err...yesterday.
2. Excellent D, ladies
3. CSS comes to DSS searching for their own sweep next Thursday

CHEESE UPDATE:

1. The offspring thought melting cheese for mathematics was a worthy pursuit.
2. I'm never running that experiment myself.

THE LINKS:

High pressure cylinders

4U Update....SINUSOIDAL ASSESSMENT TOMORROW (today, actually)

October 20th.....Today's Links....

2011-10-18T06:11:00.000-07:00

Math out and about

Cylinder SA

http://www.blogger.comhttp://www.blogger.com/img/blank.gif/img/blank.gif
Microwave (Bayer)

Just the facts

Wednesday, September 28th, 2011.....Ghosts in the (Room246) Machines......

2011-09-28T11:40:00.000-07:00

Technology Update......

1. Power to 246 is intermittently present and intermittenly frustrating
2. SMARTboards are a boon to the classroom .... kudos to PK
3. Wirele..ss a..cc...e...ss..... we're getting there. Thanks to RW for all the hard work.
4. Student netbooks ... almost there

Fruit Update.....

No bananas in the house for the past three days...nary a blueberry as well...replaced in diet by frosted breakfast cereals.... I feel like Morgan Spurlock

ClassUpdate....
MHF4U ... mostly punctual ... significant java presence ... generally positive attitude toward trigonometric overdose ... excessive sighing leading to negative teacher self-image ...OHIP table on left side of the room gradually infecting others "Outbreak" style (student council president rather put out) ... homework/classwork effort spotty ... generally well-groomed ...

MFM2P ... lots of participation ... classwork habits generally impressive ... similar triangle results pending ... punctuality an issue ... high hopes for the endgame (70% class average???)...

MAT2L ... appreciate the participation ... exceptional daily effort by KM and DZ ... enjoy discussions/willingness to share opinions ... maddening punctuality issues ... being held back by attendance/lateness issues .... we could be doing so much more .... teaching a number of students for the very first time...rapport (slowly) developing ... class begins at 12:30....please come

Monday, September 26th....More Fans Please, it's Tropical in Here....

2011-09-26T19:11:00.000-07:00

.....and nary a breeze....

SLEEPY CAVEAT: I realize that it has been a while since last blog ... I am quite sleepy however, and genuinely concerned about the wisdom of writing things that come to mind in this dream-like state....I'll just summarizzzzzzzzz...zzzzzz...e

MAT2L:

1. Finding the percent of a number ... SMART practice
2. Applications with percent problems
3. Skunk redux .... not quite there ...

MHF4U:

****some useful links on the side****

1. Double angle formulae
2. Diagnostic to let me know where we are....
3. Review problems presented

MFM2P:

1. Objective was to solve for a missing side in a right angled triangle
2. Practiced labelling sides on the SMART board
3. Reviewed the Pythagorean Theorem
4. Discussed the concepts of chivalry and its near-death
5. R i n g

Wednesday, September 14th, 2011....Heel-Toe....

2011-09-14T20:58:00.000-07:00

....wow, this is late tonight....but for the sake of completionism....

MFM2P:

1. Thank you Mr. Shoup
2. Locking in those proportion solving skills
3. Similar Triangles...solving for sides...
4. Ring.

MHF4U:

1. Finished the trip through the trig solving gauntlet
2. Connections made to trig graphs
3. Heel-toeing a radian out in the hallway

MAT2L:

1. Completed the introductory pay work sheets
2. Numaro battle ensued
3. MONSTER site introduced.

I'm sleepy.

Good night now.

Tuesday, September 13th, 2011......SIR, I thought we were going to watch a VIDEO!!....

2011-09-13T12:16:00.000-07:00

...sigh...

BLUEBERRY EXPERIMENT: I have decided to counter lack of sleep this week with an overdose of "powerfood" consumption. Two 7AM practices added to latenight football watching stupidity this week is presently leading to excessive sleepiness. Thankfully, the beautiful Tamara and I accidentally purchased multiple blueberry pints on sale at different times on the weekend. Apparently, if you eat enough blueberries(I know mom, and bananas) you cannot possibly die, get sick or feel tired. I'll let you know how this goes, quartet of faithful readers.

7:00 AM BASKETBALLL

1. See students run
2. See students shoot
3. See students run
4. See students slide (step)
5. See students yawn
6. See students run
7. Everyone works hard
8. Coach pleased
9. Tweet

8:40 AM

1. Hear Jr's complain about basketball running
2. Hear Jr's complain about basketball running
3. Fake sympathy
4. Ring.

The DAY THAT WAS IN 250....

MFM2P:

1. Skunk redux made a comeback (SMARTdice and all)
2. Similarity diagnostic followed
3. Solving proportions was introduced and briefly practiced
4. Ring

MHF4U

1. Two digit problem antics
2. MADDENING TEN MINUTES SPENT ATTEMPTING TO SHOW YOUTUBE TUTORIAL VIDEO AND FAILING....STUDENTS YAWNING/SIGHING/STARING LONGINGLY OUT OF WINDOW TO BREAK THE MONOTONY
3. Serenity now.
4. The problem with degrees
5. Solving equations involving trigonometry

MAT2L:

1. Reorganization with limited numbers.....come back 2L's!!!!
2. Off to spend some time with Robert Abbott
3. $$$ and Pay Diagnostic part 2
4. Ring

Monday, September 12th, 2011.....STREAMING (me, anyways)....

2011-09-12T14:26:00.000-07:00

SUPPERBLOG1: The first homeblog of the schoolyear...4 minutes on the timer, fish in the oven...one unhappy anti-poisson child soon to arrive at the supper table....better make this quick

CHARGER UPDATE: The Chargers attempted to give yesterday's game away to the inferior-talented Vikings and failed.

CHARGERS 24 VIKINGS 17

MFM2P:

1. Took two tries to complete online attendance
2. Took up a similar triangle question with the crew
3. Took a few minutes to examine nested similar triangles
4. Took a field trip to find 2 textbooks....success!!!
5. Ring

MHF4U:

1. Took waaaaaaaaay too long to work through two sinusoidal examples.
2. Took waaaaaaaaay too long to find out that student netbooks were not wireless ready.
3. Took waaaaaaaaay too long to get to the computer lab.
4. Taken aback to find out that siblings existed at DSS who actually want to sit near each other
5. Ring

MAT2L

1. Took a few minutes to SMARTboard a few hourly pay examples
2. Took 10 to practice some hourly pay skills

(interlude.....checked fish)

3. Took students to the lab to find jobs/salaries at torontojobshop.ca
4. Ring

Must start rice.

NFL Prediction of the night......

OFFSPRINGS BELOVED DOLPHINS 21 NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS 17

Good night now.

Monday, September 12th, 2011.....Lundi links

2011-09-12T09:28:00.001-07:00

for the 2L's....

salary link

http://www.blogger.com/img/blank.gif
torontojobshop

Friday, September 9th, 2011 .... WIRED ,,,,

2011-09-10T19:14:00.000-07:00

Yep, back to the cable. Mr. W is working it though .... matter of time.

(Not so) SMART Update of the day:

For those who don't know, the new math classrooms contain a SMARTboard. It seems that it will be an ongoing process for the teacher in 250 to meet the lofty standards of the "SMART"board name. Today, I couldn't remember how to rotate the virtual protractor. As always, a helpful student solved the problem. Sheesh. No bloated ego problems this year.

POTASSIUM Update: Though it is the world's worst tasting fruit, I will be upping my daily banana intake by one in order to fire a few more neutrons as to avoid further technological embarrassment.

CHARGER UPDATE: First game tomorrow ... what is left to be done???? ... after last year's amazing statistical feat of finishing the season ranked 1st in offense and 1st in defense and yet STILL MISSING THE PLAYOFFS everything else will seem anticlimactic ...

The day that was Friday......

MFM2P:

1. This has been a rather pleasant group to this point. I have been very pleased with the participation and attitude.
2. We covered properties of similar triangles today, detailing the listing of equal angles and the statement of proportionality for the sides.
3. Students worked on a couple of examples. One was taken up in class. One was collected for diagnostic purposes.
4. Ring.

MHF4U:

1. Transformation face ... enough said.
2. I suppose I could have talked about my technological difficulties during the presentation.... don't dwell on the negative my grandpappy used to say.

LUNCH....former student dropped by ...the one whose legacy sat suspended on the 250 light fixture for a couple of years ... another casualty of the reno .... nice to see you EW

MAT2L (sadly, the "L" is a very appropriate letter considering the number of times I've had to mark it on the attendance sheet already)

Please come on time. We miss you. I obtained an extra fan.

1. We drew some pictures with a little math/logic application
2. We took up the "money skills diagnostic" together...focusing on the problems that gave everyone the most trouble.
3. A search of the (online) want-ads at tornontojobshop.ca ended the class
4. Ring.

TOMORROW'S FEARLESS PREDICTION:

Vikings 31 Chargers 30

September 8th, 2011....We've Gone Wi...re..l..es.....s

2011-09-08T11:50:00.000-07:00

almost

LOST ITEM UPDATE: Here is the list of math department items that mysteriously disappeared in the move last year:

1. Three large, heavy math department hole punches
2. One handy rolling cart
3. Mr. Shoup's Semester 1, 2011 popcorn supply
4. Four insulin vials
5. Two large cardboard dice
6. Mr. Spence
(UPDATE....found in the gym 12:20 pm...apparently staying for a while)
7. A body to go with a Garfield avaiator helmet Pez head
8. A memory stick or 3.

Other than that we're doing OK.....

MFM2P:

1. We took up the Numaro Challenge and handed out some cheap "food"
2. Discussions began on the Assessments OF Learning for the course.
3. The powers that be held an assembly during mathematics class
4. Frank Francisco blew a save
5. We picked up on the discussion upon returning
6. Ring.

MHF4U:

1. Quick food challenge....it's a theme today
2. PW for the win
3. Looooooooong rational expression practice questions taken up
4. Sining and cosining finished the day, internet issues and all.....
5. Ring

MAT2L:

1. A trickling in occurred b/w 12:32 and 12:48
2. I was rather put out
3. Courtyard discussions followed
4. Numaro challenge takeup followed...good job KB
5. "job diagnostic" was written by all
6. Time relationships were discussed followed by discussions on planetary mechanics and the power of gravity.
7. Thanks for a good day 2L's
8. Ring.

I'm going to have to make a special stop for the potassium today...must run..

Good night now

Tuesday, Septe....errr...Thursday, September 8th....I'm Two Blogging Days Behind Already...Welcome Back...

2011-09-07T21:56:00.000-07:00

Actually three....it's 1 in the morning

HELLO AGAIN DSS STUDENTS: We are back in business...back in Room 250 with a fresh coat of paint, new furniture, one new Angry Birds poster courtesy of my offspring and scads of students that I have not taught to this point. I'm excited. The first two days have gone swimmingly. Thanks for being attentive 2L,2P and forgiving after I lost the locker list (2P's) and started the year with rational expressions and factoring review (4U)

PST UPDATE: For three years running, the time of the blog post shown at the bottom of each entry has been set on Tacoma/Seattle time. I'll get on that.

POTASSIUM UPDATE: For those of you faithful readers who have been wondering if I kept my promise to both my Mom and the Beautiful T, the answer is yes. I'm still eating a banana per day. They still taste decidedly below average. If apples just contained a little bit of the magic "K", that stupid, mushy yellow fruit wouldn't make it in the front door.

CHARGER UPDATE: Everyone's favourite statistically improbable NFL Team is back in business ladies and gentlemen. Ranked 1st in offence AND 1st in defence at the end of 2010, the Bolts managed to MISS THE PLAYOFFS. Encore, anyone???

MFM2P, MAT2L, MHF4U: Students, as always you will have a box on the side full of relevant dates and information. The forbidden food and link lists remain and will be updated as needed.

COLOUR SCHEME: We'll start with some school spirit....if I can find a gold in the Template Designer.....boy I'm sleepy.

Good night now.