Wednesday, April 20, 2011

State Testing

Much to my surprise, today's ASCD daily email included an article from one of my local newspapers: The Harrisburg Patriot-News!  The article discusses the emphasis put on state testing.

I can't remember if I've complained about state testing here yet.  Indiana has moved the multiple choice part of their state test (the ISTEP+) online.  This created a huge mess at my school.  Not only do we have to rearrange the school schedule so the kids can test, but we have to find a working computer for each child AND have a mandatory practice session.  Throw in a IT person who is practically impossible to get in touch with, and you have a recipe for disaster.

I contemplated doing some in class research this year on the effects of taking tests on computers.  Now, I really wish I had, so I could discuss my findings here.  State tests are stressful enough on their own.  Making kids take them on computers is just cruel.  The program seems outdated.  When I took the GRE online it was better than this, and that program was so old it assumed the taker might not know how to use a computer mouse!  If you'd like to experience the ISTEP, click here.  My students are in grade 8, so select 6-8.  Read about the tools, and then click "Start the test" at the top of the page.  This is take you to a log in screen.  Ignore the username and password, and simply click "log in" to begin.  Comment and let me know what you think about the ISTEP Experience!

Job Interviews

This past Monday, I had a job interview at a private school down in Virginia.  My M.A.T. program has done a lot of mock interviews this semester, but I'm always a little surprised at how different private school interviews are.  It's most like applying to college; the interview is a conversation where they are trying to sell their school just as much as you are trying to sell yourself.

I arrived Sunday evening just in time for a cook-off between faculty! There was all kinds of delicious food and I got to meet a lot of the faculty.  The school has a really young, energetic staff and they were really friendly.  Monday, I toured the school and taught 3 classes: Physical science, algebra I and honors physics. The classes went pretty well.  It was really different than my student teaching.  The largest class was 14 (smallest was 7), and the kids were much more into learning.

I had a great experience at the school I visited Monday, and I should hear back by the end of May!  Which brings me to one of my least favorite parts of the job hunt: Thank you notes.  They're awkward. Really awkward.  I never know what to say.  Here is where I put in a shameless plug for Shutterfly.  I ordered blank thank you cards from them last year, and they've been a lifesaver.  Simple and elegant, I pull one out whenever the need arises.  I've used them for thank you notes, birthday cards and even a baby shower!  Sending the thank you notes to this Virginia school will wipe out my stock, so I just ordered more (see below).  Note: I get $10 off my next Shutterfly order for doing this!  Bloggers take advantage!

Stationery Card
View the entire collection of cards.

Tuesday, April 12, 2011

Pearls Before Swine

I absolutely love this comic.  Love, love love.  How funny that they mention blogs shortly after I start mine...

Pearls Before Swine

(I apologize for the poor formatting... I'll try to fix it!)

Friday, April 8, 2011

Knitting Projects

Now that I'm nearing the end of my student teaching, I can ignore the massive projects I need to do and pretend to have time to knit!

I cast on the lovely bamboo yarn for my shirt Saturday, and I'm a few inches into it.

Diamond cross pattern.
A few nights ago, the roommate and I turned the skeins for his hat into balls of yarn.  The kitty really enjoyed this.
Before.
After!
I'm hoping to cast on the hat this weekend.  The temperature is supposed to hit 80ยบ on Sunday so I might not work that day!

Hyperbolic Coral Reef

Over spring break, I went to D.C.  Partially to visit my boyfriend, but partially to see a knit/crocheted coral reef in the Natural History Smithsonian.  I didn't know anything about the project, just that my sister had seen it a few weeks before.  But I wondered why people would spend hours upon hours creating such a thing!  It actually is a quite interesting project, and I invite you to read more later at their website.

My first view of the reef! Delightfully chaotic.
Close up of the main display: Many kinds of coral, starfish, etc.

Two sisters from Queensland, Australia started the project in 2005.  It is based on a special kind of crochet discovered by a mathematician that involves doing variations of a simple pattern in order to produce endless new shapes.
My favorite picture. I love how the jellyfish hangs down.
There were several parts to the display.  One was a bleached reef, and one was a "toxic reef," made from trash.  Both demonstrated the damage being done to coral reefs.
You're not seeing monochromatic pictures! This is the bleached reef.  I loved the silver tubes in the middle.
Another close-up of the bleached reef.
For information on how to make your own coral reefs (i.e. buy their book), click here.
If you'd like to start a satellite reef to the project, look here.
Washed out picture of me in front of the reef.
I'll share the rest of my spring break adventures (and a knitting update) in my next post.