:: Dillondesk -- the blog of LCD ::

:: Wednesday, November 16, 2005 ::

:: Calvin 6:49 PM [+] ::

We got the FCAT scores back today.

As a school we did great -- 57% of our true juniors who retook the test passed it -- well above the state and district averages of 36 percent.

I had 55% of my true juniors pass it, and those who don't have the credits to be a junior or who are already seniors brought my average down a bit. Only 3 of my 12 seniors passed the test -- some were much closer than they have been, but some will probably never make it. Luckily, several of those are ESE kids and will be able to get a waiver.

Overall I was pleased -- 58% of my kids scored above 295 (passing is 300) -- so that is great. The two kids who moved away who were great kids, Calvin and Jessica, each passed. Jessica is the one who stopped by as she was leaving school and told me I was her favorite teacher at Gaither because I took time and made her feel like a person.

Several of the folds who I REALLY wish had passed didn't, but they were mostly within striking distance.

Several of the ones I did not want to pass because they have terrible attitudes and have not put in the effort and REALLY need the wake up call failed, so I am beginning to have more faith in the test.

I really want my average above 60%, especially considering I have taught many of these kids more than once and will probably have them again in the spring, but oh well.

I got very obsessinve with Excel and I have a great spreadsheet that does everything but cartwheels with the data -- that was fun, too.

Chicken is ready - GTG -- bye.

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:: Tuesday, November 15, 2005 ::

:: Calvin 6:06 PM [+] ::

So...ummmm...yeah.

I drove all the way to Orlando on Sunday and the SAT class is actually THIS week. Absent-minded can be cute, but this is a little freakin' silly.

Luckily, my kids are understanding -- Joe is going to work on Sunday, and I am going up there to see the wee bairn on Saturn's Day for the day.

Tonight I am stuck...I mean joyfully remaining at school to talk to parents who may or may not drop by to see me. I did finish the last three week's worth of an online class in which I am enrolled, so I feel goodly about that. I think i have finished the whole thing, minus like one assignment, which I will save to do until the last minute so I can at least have the illusion that I procrastinated.

I am currently caught up with SAT, my online classes, and grading for day school (almost) so I feel pretty darn good about life at the moment, and I may even watch tv guilt-free tonight (Gilmore Girls is getting better -- we are closer to the end of this whole stupid Rory-not-in-college arc).

I have 49 minutes left here, so I might work on some extra credit PowerPointy stuff.

The writing kids wrote Shakespearean sonnets today -- it is actually kinda fun!

Fill out the chart below with words that relate to the topics in the first line. They should be images or symbols of these terms, for example, "heart" for love" and "winter" for death" -- (yes you can use those)

Love	Death	Beauty	Time

Now, choose seven of those words and put them in this table:

Rhyme	Word 1	Word 2
A	Word 1	Word 2
B	Word 1	Word 2
C	Word 1	Word 2
D	Word 1	Word 2
E	Word 1	Word 2
F	Word 1	Word 2
G	Word 1	Word 2

Now, take a piece of paper and write the words a thte ends of the lines, arranging them like this:

A
B
A
B
C
D
C
D
E
F
E
F
G
G

Now, write enough words in iambic pentameter before the words to make a line of poetry. For instance, is one of your words is "true," the line could read:

"My love can make my motor run, 'tis true"

When you finish, you will have a Shakespearean sonnet of the appropriate theme, rhyme, and meter.

Boo yaa


Have a great night.

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