:: Dillondesk -- the blog of LCD ::
Weblog for a teacher of English, lover of Peeps, Tori, Ben, the Beatles, TV, movies, and Star Wars.
:: a child of the 80's looks at the world through Smurf-colored glasses -- a blog by calvin dillon :: bloghome
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:: Friday, June 18, 2004 ::
:: Calvin 11:57 PM [+] ::
I have discovered something. It is not wise to cook one's self lunch on Sunday evening and then eat it Friday afternoon. Generic Immodium is expensive at gas stations.
I found out today that I am not the only guy leaving Hungerford this summer. More on this later.
I finally got my goodbye cake today -- I was very pleased -- it was a carrot cake-- I even got a color banner and everything.
I rewired our home computer, and now I have every peripheral working and the speakers, too. It is nice to come home and perfect one little corner of one's hot tiny little quaint summer cottage.
Thanks to the Deerings for their hospitality, and thanks to everyone at Hungerford for making these years of my life so happy.
Five peeps. Bad news from RPC Fu. Crying science teacher Fu. Upset stooooomaaaacccchhh Fu. Blogging on my own computer Fu. Coing back to my sweet baby's arms Fu.
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:: Thursday, June 17, 2004 ::
:: Calvin 11:29 PM [+] ::
Long day -- left early to get to school so the kids could watch the last of the video, then I worked on the computer and then I took the kids to lunch and then I talked to an ex-9th grader of mine who was withdrawing -- pulled out the big guns but she still left and then I yelled at kids from the Boys and Girls CLub who were riding their bikes on our hallways and then I had a little tete-a-tete with their counselors and let them know I was not pleased and then I went ot Panera and taught SAT to ten -- not seven as I was told -- students and then I went to class and then I was mad because I pay that woman $657 to tell me stupid stories and then I had a bad phone call and then I had a good phone call and then I watched tv and then I checked my mail and then I scratched Belgie and then I brushed my teeth and then I blogged and then I went to sleep the night before my last day on campus.
Can you tell I worked with the kids on effective writing skills this week? And then I ...
Six peeps. Dumb phone talker onner person Fu. Understanding talker onner phone person Fu. Thankful that things are better the second time around Fu. Deciding enough is enough already Fu. Plunging a toilet I think I may have helped clog Fu. Vowing to swear off veggie burgers and tater tots Fu. Enough with the too much information Fu.
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:: Wednesday, June 16, 2004 ::
:: Calvin 7:44 PM [+] ::
The Deerings got back last night from Belgium and Paris -- and boy are their arms tired!
Happy birthday to Ryan, who is 14 today. Hmmm, a shaggy teenage boy sitting in front of a tv playing Tony Hawk with multiple phone messgaes from girls waiting for him... eerily familiar.
I am amazed at how quickly the house went from a state of uptight cleanliness (dude, I vaccuumed the wood floor. Twice.) into the quagmire of bags and morass of cast-off clothing that now surrounds me as I type -- Jared truly does wish to become a "professional minimalist" as was stated in his IB memory book.
I really do appreciate their hospitality -- I am listening to Randy Rhoads play "Dee" on the "Tribute" CD while my fan blows its poor little heart out.
Today was the field trip I helped plan and the "dinner and a movie" in ehich the kids watched William Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet (the Leo diCaprio/Claire Danes version) in French with English subtitles, so they would have to read to understand (I am pretty smart sometimes).
I miss my lovely wife, and I hope that the next two days go as fast as these two have gone.
Seven peeps. Rockin' out with Jared's slammin' system Fu. Impressing teenage boys with sound equipment and "Brick House" on my Clie Fu. Flouting copyright law even though I am married to a media specialist Fu. Avoiding work posting to the blog Fu.
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:: Tuesday, June 15, 2004 ::
:: Calvin 3:22 PM [+] ::
Woo hoo! Both of my schools got "B's"!
Here is the INFO.
Winter Park of course got an "A," but I am happier about our kids' progress-- we ALMOST made AYP and Winter Park was nowhere near close.
Oh well, I think it is time to go brave the rain and get ramblin' on.
Six peeps. School grades nonsense Fu. Yummy chicken and yellow rice Fu. NIce visits from Peaches and Nicole Fu. Field trip is over tomorrow Fu. Another strong English cnandidate -- from NC no less-- Fu.
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:: Monday, June 14, 2004 ::
:: Calvin 10:48 PM [+] ::
School grades come out tomorrow...
Part of me really hopes Hungerford receives an "A," and part of me resents that I care about that.
I recently re-read the letter that I wrote to the Sentinel about the FCAT -- the letter that is attibuted to some "C. Calvin Dillon" on Susan O'Hanion's web page. ( I have a "great intro" -- woohooo!)
I am not longer that angry, and I do have a better appreciation for the fact that the test pushes educators to reach kids who fell through the proverbial tracks before, but I just wish that the process were more transparent and we could see test items and have more faith that the kids are being asked questions that really test what they are supposed to know.
In interviewing candidates for Orange County teahcing jobs today, one of my favorite questions I got to ask was "if 80% of your kids failed a test you gave, what would your first step be?" Overwhelmingly, the candidates I rated highly focused their attention on themselves as assessors before blaming the kids. I wish our state would do the same. I know that 80% of the kids don't flunk, but when we are looking at a national law that requires that in five years 100% of the students pass it to make Adequate Yearly Progress, we have a serious problem -- we had the highest pass rate in Orange County for the reading test, and only 72% of ours made it past the test.
Oh well.
Seven peeps. Wearing a shirt and tie and sitting across the table Fu. Eating lunch with the big dogs Fu. Getting to brag about how cool my principal is in front of someone who doesn't appreciate her Fu. Finally hearing a happy congratulations from a senior Fu. My last night alone with my new four-legged girlfriend Fu.
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:: Sunday, June 13, 2004 ::
:: Calvin 10:46 PM [+] ::
Watched "Girl with a Pearl Earring" yesterday. I think Scarlett Johansson looks much better without a lot of goop on her face. What was with the "music video" on the DVD? She looked like Courtney Love impersonating Gwen Stefani.
I thought the film did a great job of paying homage to an artist and a book about a painting -- makes me want to read the novel.
Colin FIrth (Vermeer) was excellent -- so much of the film was communicated (as the director said in the Anatomy of a Scene extra on the DVD) with glances and furtive looks. He is fantastic at making meaning with his eyes.
Johansson was fantastic as well -- she really knows the etymology of the word "demure."
I thought Cillian Murphy did a great job as well as the butcher's son-- he was also in 28 Days Later (which I managed to catch on cable on an evening when flesh eating zombies could grace the small screen - from the same guy who directed Trainspotting -- had the same manic feel to it) and did a good job there too. I see from IMDB that he is going ot play the Scarecrow in "Batman Begins." Kewl.
Well, I am off to bed -- didn't get enough done, but what else is new?
Tomorrow I interview prospective job candidates for the Great Florida Teach-in. It is nice to be on the other side of the table.
Tomorrow is class after that (and turning in some late paperwork to my intern coordinator).
Six peeps. Ten more hours would have been good Fu. Reheated fish does taste good Fu. Long day tomorrow FU.
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