Earlier this summer, I posted here every day for a month. Then I took a few weeks off blogging with merely occasional posts, although I did write something for the FLGlobal site and another piece that will be coming out soon for the FLN newsletter. Oh yeah, I also have a regular job to start prepping for. Yikes! Actually I never really stopped thinking forward about units and systems and skills for students in 2017-18. Since early-July I have filled about 25 notebook pages with scrawlings, charts, incomplete outlines, and messages to myself. Somewhere in the middle of this I had a mild personal freak-out over turning 40, but I didn't buy a convertible or shave my head or anything like that. So far.
Some visual highlights of my August:
Some visual highlights of my August:
Now I have 7 days before students return on September 5. I hereby commit to writing a blog post for the next 10 days, to document my transition from summer through the first four days of the school year.
Today I spent 5 hours at school. Much of that time was spent chatting with colleagues in the hallways. "How was your summer? ... Yeah, I hope it's a good year too ... Have you heard when the lockers will be delivered?" [The 25-year-old student lockers were removed from hallways in July, but have not been replaced and we don't know why or when!]
Some things I got done today:
Today I spent 5 hours at school. Much of that time was spent chatting with colleagues in the hallways. "How was your summer? ... Yeah, I hope it's a good year too ... Have you heard when the lockers will be delivered?" [The 25-year-old student lockers were removed from hallways in July, but have not been replaced and we don't know why or when!]
Some things I got done today:
- polished, printed, and copied the annual Letter to Parents (including the field trip notice and permission slip for our Sept 20 visit to Sturbridge Village)
- set a digital clock so the kids will sign-out properly at last! (and hung it up)
- cut index cards into the right size for nametag badges to use in the first few days
- tested a lapel microphone on a camera, laptop, and cellphone in hopes that I can record videos in my classroom without the annoying echo -- today's results show that should work pretty well
- went to Staples for a few supplies like a pencil sharpener and hanging-file holder (and of course an iced Dunkin' Donuts coffee!)
- decided NOT to put up more posters on the green bulletin board
- found out that I will host one of the school's laptop carts this year, which means I had to move some furniture near the door to get a good spot
Tomorrow is the official First Day for teachers, which includes a superintendent's message at the southside high school which I NEVER ATTEND because the parking situation sucks and I can think of hundreds of better ways to spend my time. One year I went golfing :) The best/worst part is that his message to teachers gets recorded and then re-played at the school's staff meeting in the afternoon. Why not flip it completely?!?!?!
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