2020 - E-Learning - Day 1

2:51 It's almost a wrap for E-Learning Day 1.  What's really been weird is watching the steady stream of cars driving up to the high school gym in drive-thru style while some staff member delivers a big bag of "stuff".  The "stuff" was the content of the student lockers being picked up by a parent or student.  That's one I've never seen before.

I did learn that I may not be able to expect to grade papers during my 10-3 timeframe.  I only was able to score one paper, and I legitimately was in front of my Chromebook pretty much the whole day checking on things and answering emails.  Hopefully, this process will get more streamlined, so there is time for  grading papers.

This was a long day, but an important day.  We are now extended for closure at District 300 along with all other schools until April 30.  With this extension, we might as well just finish the school year online.  It would be more of a hassle to return to school.  If we just plan for the rest of the school year, it will be a simpler process.

I think I have now become addicted on online free slot play.  I'm the same way at the casino, but this method doesn't cost me any money to see how the games work!  I'm now just going to have to manage my time better.


Things for today

• Possible
• stretch and get a work out in (completed before 8 a.m.)
• done
• get outside for a run/walk or maybe a bike ride.
• a.m. walk with Lily and Sophie, and we went to the bank to deposit for teachers' association
• Listen to Google Teacher Tribe Podcast - Google Meet for Remote Teaching
• https://googleteacherpodcast.com/google-meet-for-remote-teaching-gtp112
• Scheduled
• 3:20 p.m. virtual visit with Chase...already canceled it this morning

Things that I NOW think about with the coronavirus. (3/31)

• This evening on my walk, there were two dads and their boys on the softball field, and there were several boys on the football field.  The U.S. is going to be later getting over this than other countries because many people aren't sheltering in place.
• Virginia has extended shelter in place request until June 10.  Nurses and doctors in the hardest hit areas are caring for their colleagues on ventilators.  Yet here, Amber said she saw students walking around together in Andalusia.  I'm not sure the young people are yet getting the message; perhaps it's not close enough to us yet.  There are only 8 reported positive cases in Rock Island so far.
• Illinois Stats
• February 29 was the first reported positive case in Illinois.  It's just been over a month now since the first case.
• March 20, there were 585 reported positive cases.  
• yesterday's update (5:17 p.m.) 5,057 positive cases, 73 deaths, 30,446 tested
• 17% of those tested were positive
• 1% of those testing positive have died
• today's update (3:12 p.m.)  5,994 positive cases, 99 deaths, 35,225 tested
• 17% of those tested were positive
• 1% of those testing positive have died

Things I Could Do or Need to Do In the Future

• Get the lawn tractor ready to go - sharpen the blades.
• pick up my umpiring/officiating pants at Monster Sewing - was scheduled for this past Tuesday.
• Make a guidelines/expectations/tutorial of participating in Google Meets live session.
• Tackle some "someday" topics on my Blogger list.
• Move the picnic table to the pool, move the snowblower to the corner of the garage, and move my bike to the area by the car.
• Figure out if I'm going to get new stickers for the truck.
• Figure out how to get that oil tube piece in the HHR.

Things At/For School

• Continue scoring research papers.
• Post a morning video clip and schedule in Google Classroom for 10 a.m.
• Schedule the first E-Learning assignment in Google Classroom for 9 a.m. March 31.
• March 31 - assignment will be to create a blogger journal site and add and publish a post
• determine who/if you want to share
• must at least share with me by giving me the website address and permission
• complete a google form with last name, first name, class period, and blogger website
• include a YouTube tutorial
• April 1 - Free Read for 20 min. and complete google form survey slip
• April 2 - View presentation(s) of ISAC representative - due Sunday by 4 p.m.
• google form answers
• April 3 - Live GMEET Friday!
• Edit/update English III E-Learning Guidelines
• grading
• units of instruction
• Finish course syllabus

Things For E-Learning

• Read a new book to the students.
• Use Google Meet
• Still could do (encore sessions) training path presenter series from videotaped sessions from past years.
• Still could do short stories unit
• Would need to get novels out to students to complete those units.
• Videotape a lesson and post to classroom.
• Still do journal write (not sure about share) using Blogger
• Still have Free Read Wednesdays (e ticket/slip?)
• Still can update EnvisonMe sites
• I could read a part of a story or a short story from my books on Google Meet

Jay's NEW NORMAL WORK DAY SCHEDULE (in development)
In order to attempt to keep a sense of normalcy, I think I'm going to try to establish a 1:30 dismissal schedule to each day.

Prior to 10:00 a.m.
- wake-up, feed animals, make a cup of coffee, watch the morning news (usually around 6 a.m.)
- stretch and exercise (varies) and clean kitty litter
- weigh myself and enter weight in the Google spreadsheet
- check banking account online and make any changes needed to Google Spreadsheet
- shower, shave, and get dressed for the work day.

2020 - Last Day of Covidcation - Day 10

7:35 a.m. Yesterday afternoon and evening included disappointment, joy, and relaxation.  The disappointment occurred when my son refused the virtual meeting I had scheduled.  The event did cost me $5.00 on my credit card, but that's not important at all.  The struggle is like most of the struggle...the uncertainty.  I don't know how he's doing; I don't know what his life is like; I don't know how he is feeling; I don't know his future.  I know he has a preliminary hearing today at 9:00 a.m. on two charges, and one of those is serious.  He could be angry with me; he could be ashamed; he could be something in between.  Uncertainty is hard.  The joy was visiting with the Harrisons yesterday.  We had supper, and with Brooklyn at age two and Brinley not quite to one, just being around those two makes life a little happier.  Eating supper got hilarious as Brooklyn was busy trying to assist Amber and I, and Brinley was just shoveling her supper in and around her mouth.  Of course the real hoot was when Amber broke out the chocolate cake.  The evening wrapped up back at home with a little James Bond on Netflix.  In a world of uncertainty, knowing that good old 007 would save the world and get the girl was welcomed.

3:33 p.m. Today's e-learning committee meeting went fine.  I still have some worries about grading policies, but I'll do whatever I'm supposed to do.  Kourtney and Tucker were over today, and we all went out for a walk.  Sophie (Karrigan's dog) will be staying with us for the week, so even the dogs went.  I then spent some time trying to get up-and-running with my first day of e-learning "lesson plans".  I think I'm getting a vision of what I'm going to need to do, but it's not going to be simple.  And I really feel blessed to have been part of the Google cohort that started at Rockridge when I first arrived.  If I was still an "old-school" paper and pencil teacher...ugh...I would feel overwhelmed.

Things for today

• Possible
• stretch and get a work out in (completed before 8 a.m.)
• get outside for a run/walk or maybe a bike ride.
• Scheduled
• 10:00 a.m. meeting with administrators and e-learning committee

Things that I NOW think about with the coronavirus. (3/30)

• Last night President Trump extended the social distancing measures for the United States until April 30.  I'm afraid this measure will doom any chance of returning to the classroom this school year, and I'm afraid this will also mean the end of all Spring IHSA sports and activities.
• Illinois Stats
• February 29 was the first reported positive case in Illinois.  It's just been over a month now since the first case.
• March 20, there were 585 reported positive cases.  
• yesterday's update (3:12 p.m.)  4,596 positive cases, 65 deaths, 27,762 tested
• 17% of those tested were positive
• 1% of those testing positive have died
• today's update (5:17 p.m.) 5,057 positive cases, 73 deaths, 30,446 tested
• 17% of those tested were positive
• 1% of those testing positive have died
• 2684 new results, 461 new positives, 8 deaths
• Every 3,000 tests will produce 510 more positive cases (at 17%)

Things I Could Do or Need to Do In the Future

• Get the lawn tractor ready to go - sharpen the blades.
• pick up my umpiring/officiating pants at Monster Sewing - was scheduled for this past Tuesday.
• Make a guidelines/expectations/tutorial of participating in Google Meets live session.
• Tackle some "someday" topics on my Blogger list.
• Move the picnic table to the pool, move the snowblower to the corner of the garage, and move my bike to the area by the car.

Things At/For School

• Continue scoring research papers.
• Post a morning video clip and schedule in Google Classroom for 10 a.m.
• Schedule the first E-Learning assignment in Google Classroom for 9 a.m. March 31.
• March 31 - assignment will be to create a blogger journal site and add and publish a post
• determine who/if you want to share
• must at least share with me by giving me the website address and permission
• complete a google form with last name, first name, class period, and blogger website
• include a YouTube tutorial
• April 1 - Free Read for 20 min. and complete google form survey slip
• April 2 - View presentation(s) of ISAC representative - due Sunday by 4 p.m.
• google form answers
• April 3 - Live GMEET Friday!
• Edit/update English III E-Learning Guidelines
• grading
• units of instruction
• Finish course syllabus

Things For E-Learning

• Read a new book to the students.
• Use Google Meet
• Still could do (encore sessions) training path presenter series from videotaped sessions from past years.
• Still could do short stories unit
• Would need to get novels out to students to complete those units.
• Videotape a lesson and post to classroom.
• Still do journal write (not sure about share) using Blogger
• Still have Free Read Wednesdays (e ticket/slip?)
• Still can update EnvisonMe sites
• I could read a part of a story or a short story from my books on Google Meet

Jay's NEW NORMAL WORK DAY SCHEDULE (in development)
In order to attempt to keep a sense of normalcy, I think I'm going to try to establish a 1:30 dismissal schedule to each day.

Prior to 10:00 a.m.
- wake-up, feed animals, make a cup of coffee, watch the morning news (usually around 6 a.m.)
- stretch and exercise (varies) and clean kitty litter
- weigh myself and enter weight in the Google spreadsheet
- check banking account online and make any changes needed to Google Spreadsheet
- shower, shave, and get dressed for the work day.

10:00-10:35 - 1st period English III
10:45-11:20 - 2nd period Advanced English III
11:30-12:05 - 3rd period Advanced English III
12:15-12:50- 4th period English III
1:00-1:30 - 5th period PREP
1:40-2:15- 6th period Study Hall
2:25-3:00 7th period English III

AP, Dual Credit, and Advanced Courses

More and more high schools are looking to assist their students by offering these types of courses.  At RHS, we offer advanced courses and dual credit, but we do not offer AP (Advanced Placement).  To be honest, I think the one we don't offer might be the best one to offer, but my only look at Advanced Placement courses are through the lens of my children Carmen and Cole in the courses they took at Sherrard High School.  I don't have any empirical proof, but both seem to have benefited from the courses they completed.  The difference is that with Advance Placement, students have to score well enough on the ending test in order to earn college credit.  I just think it's more challenging.

As I mentioned previously, RHS has a few dual credit courses, but the oversight from our sponsoring community college isn't strong.  So the information I hear from students is a little scary.  These students are earning college credit, but they really aren't receiving a college education.  The other disadvantage with dual credit offerings is that many universities and colleges won't accept them as dual credit.

Finally, we offer advanced courses, but again I think it's a question of oversight.  Students earn enhanced GPA weight in these courses, but I'm not sure there is "advanced" rigor.  I know for certain that English III should not be separated into advanced sections.  Not only is it not necessary, I struggle to teach the "regular" students differently, when I'm trying to get them just as prepared for the SAT and their senior level English course as the "advanced" students.  Do the advanced sections gain more?  Perhaps they do because their aren't the distractions and disruptions that exist in regular sections.  Do the advanced students dig deeper into subject matter?  Perhaps they do because the advanced students tend to value academics more than many "regular" students. 

I have offered my opinion that English I, II, and III should all be mixed, and then students can earn weighted credit by their choice they make as seniors, whether to enroll in dual credit English 101/102 or enroll in the 099.  So far my recommendations to the administration have resulted in any changes.

Principal - Welcome to The Dark Side

I was a principal at a small, rural middle-high school for four years, but that's been now about ten years ago.  I also have been on a school board.  This isn't Jay's time to toot his own horn; this is just sharing how I've been able to view principals from a variety of perspectives - teacher, coach, principal, and school board member.  And right now amidst the Covid 19 pandemic, being a principal is very challenging. 

Being a principal is rewarding, but it's also exhausting, and it's pretty much thankless.  And in most cases, it's "The Dark Side".  No one wants to be around Darth Vader, because Darth Vader has powers and expectations of performance, and he's perfectly willing to give consequences to his workers that don't perform.  Did you ever see Darth Vader on a date?  Did you ever see him smiling with a group of buddies having a favorite adult beverage at the local watering hole.  NO!  Because being Darth Vader isn't fun. 

The last time I was at school this past Monday (and perhaps the last time I'll return to the building for some time), I picked up my copy of Lincoln on Leadership - a book about the leadership qualities that President Lincoln possessed.  And this current school closure situation with the virus has brought to the forefront the leadership qualities needed by a principal in a moment of crisis.

True admission...I wouldn't want to be a principal right now.  While being a teacher isn't exactly easy, being a principal would be stressful.  There is the State Board of Education that has passed down it's expectations of remote learning, so school superintendents now are working with principals to make sure all of those expectations are being met.  The principals, in turn, must communicate and work with those expectations with teachers, who then are suppose to work with students.  Yikes!

But here's the deal...THE WORST THING about being a principal is the responsibility that comes with the job, and it's an isolating factor.  Principals have to hold themselves to a set of higher standards, and those standards are 24/7 all year long.  Do principals make more than teachers?  Yes.  Is the money worth it?  That's a great question that each individual has to make. For me, I never want to be a principal again.  I could, and I would do a good job and try my best.  And there would be times that would be rewarding.  Being being a principal, in my opinion, is a less fun life.  It's less free time; it's more stress; it's dealing with adults (which is much more challenging than dealing with students).

So thank you to all the principals, especially during these difficult times.  May the force be with you.

Parenting Is Sometimes Really, Really Hard

Update on my oldest son...he's in Mercer County Jail after an incident at him mom's house earlier this week.  He's been charged with disorderly conduct and ordered to stay away from his mom and her residence.  He's also been charged with a Class 3 felony for destruction of government property.  The story was posted online on the site of WRMJ.

Of course, this isn't anything any parent wants to occur or ever thinks might happen to his/her child.  Of course, there are times when I don't sleep well or my thoughts cause my heart to sting a little.  On the other hand, I'm not embarrassed, I'm not angry, and I'm trying to figure out how to best demonstrate Grace and the Holy Spirit in this situation.  It's a bit of a balancing act because I cannot enable him; I can't contribute to his problems; but I feel in my heart that he needs to know that he is still loved, and that I still believe in the person he can return to and become.

I have a virtual visitation with him today, and I'm not sure how it's going to go.  I'm hoping for the best.  In some ways what has occurred to Chase may be indeed some divine intervention.  His path was out of control, and I sincerely feared he would not only hurt himself, but here some other innocent person that would be in the wrong place at the wrong time.  Plus, he was pretty much homeless, and I was never sure where he was at or what he was doing.  The uncertainty of whether or not your child is safe and healthy is very, very hard.  With all this in mind, I know incarceration is giving him a roof and meals.  I'm hoping there is also some counseling, but I'm not sure about that.  And I know that at least for the moment he's not a danger to other innocent people.  

I'm not bailing him out; I'm no longer allowing him to have access to my truck; I'm not giving him money; I'm not allowing him to stay at my home for any length of time unless he his clean and sober.

I don't know what the future holds; perhaps I will have a better insight after today's visit.  He has a court date tomorrow.  My hope is that he will be ordered into a drug treatment program, but I don't know how all of that works.  I am prepared to contribute some money towards that, but I won't be able to foot the whole bill.  

So for now, I'm going to do what I have been doing...hoping and praying.  Thanks for listening.

2020 - Covidcation - Day 9

11:00 a.m. - We missed the big storms yesterday, so that's good news.  My efforts at getting the generator ready to go were not necessary, but I'm not disappointed.  I put the generator "to bed" this morning, so it's ready for the next use.  Despite being 11:00 a.m., Amber and I tackled the basement storage area, which was a project that was on "the list" during this shelter-at-home order by the state.  The project included reorganization, throw-away, and items for the next Goodwill shipment.  The reorganization component really helped save some space - there really wasn't too much throw-away and goodwill.  It was nice to see the effort after it was all finished.

I attended this morning's virtual church service that started at 8 a.m.  A message of hope and faith was very helpful.  Pastor Paul and Tami Clarke and Gary Hund were great.  I shared the Facebook Live information on my Facebook page, so I hope others eventually get to view it.  I got a stretch in this morning, but I haven't exercised yet, although the multiple trips up and down the basement stairs could probably count for one exercise session.  The wind is howling outside, and the temp is cold, so their won't be any outdoor exercising today.  I may need to plug in Game 4 of the 1983-84 season and take a walk on the treadmill.

We are going to be checking on the Harrisons later today, so that will be fun!


Things for today

• Possible
• stretch and get a work out in (completed before 8 a.m.)
• Scheduled
• attend virtual RUMC church service at 8:00 a.m.
• Amazing Grace is really something I need right now.
• visit with Chase at 3:25 p.m.
• TOMORROW - 10:00 a.m. meeting with administrators
• Viewed the Sunday episode of Fledge Fitness...really enjoy Edward V.

Things that I NOW think about with the coronavirus. (3/29)

• This morning an interview with a healthcare manager in Seattle said that the spike of the virus in the United States isn't suppose to let up until mid-April.
• Illinois Stats
• today's update (3:12 p.m.)  4,596 positive cases, 65 deaths, 27,762 tested
• 17% of those tested were positive
• 1% of those testing positive have died
• yesterday's update (8:06 p.m. p.m.) 3,491 positive cases, 49 deaths, 25,429 tested
• 14% of those tested were positive
• 1% of those testing positive have died
• March 20, there were 585 reported positive cases.  
• February 29 was the first reported positive case in Illinois.

Things I Could Do or Need to Do In the Future

• Get the lawn tractor ready to go - sharpen the blades.
• pick up my umpiring/officiating pants at Monster Sewing - was scheduled for this past Tuesday.
• Make a guidelines/expectations/tutorial of participating in Google Meets live session.
• Tackle some "someday" topics on my Blogger list.
• Move the picnic table to the pool, move the snowblower to the corner of the garage, and move my bike to the area by the car.

Things At/For School

• Continue scoring research papers.
• Schedule the first E-Learning assignment in Google Classroom for 9 a.m. March 31.
• March 31 - assignment will be to create a blogger journal site and add and publish a post
• determine who/if you want to share
• must at least share with me by giving me the website address and permission
• complete a google form with last name, first name, class period, and blogger website
• include a YouTube tutorial
• April 1 - Free Read for 20 min. and complete google form survey slip
• April 2 - View presentation(s) of ISAC representative - due Sunday by 4 p.m.
• google form answers
• April 3 - Live GMEET Friday!
• Edit/update English III E-Learning Guidelines
• grading
• units of instruction
• Pick up the trash around the grounds.
• Finish course syllabus

Things For E-Learning

• Read a new book to the students.
• Use Google Meet
• Still could do (encore sessions) training path presenter series from videotaped sessions from past years.
• Still could do short stories unit
• Would need to get novels out to students to complete those units.
• Videotape a lesson and post to classroom.
• Still do journal write (not sure about share) using Blogger
• Still have Free Read Wednesdays (e ticket/slip?)
• Still can update EnvisonMe sites
• I could read a part of a story or a short story from my books on Google Meet

Jay's NEW NORMAL WORK DAY SCHEDULE (in development)
In order to attempt to keep a sense of normalcy, I think I'm going to try to establish a 1:30 dismissal schedule to each day.

Prior to 8:10 a.m.
- wake-up, feed animals, make a cup of coffee, watch the morning news (usually around 6 a.m.)
- stretch and exercise (varies) and clean kitty litter
- weigh myself and enter weight in the Google spreadsheet
- check banking account online and make any changes needed to Google Spreadsheet
- shower, shave, and get dressed for the work day.

8:10-8:46 - 1st period English III
8:51-9:23 - 2nd period Advanced English III
9:28-10:00 - 3rd period Advanced English III
10:05-10:37 - 4th period English III
10:42-11:14 - 6th period Study Hall
11:19-11:55 - 7th period English III
12:00-12:55- 5th period PREP
1:00-1:30 - C Lunch

2020 - Covidcation - Day 8

8:10 p.m. - Today was productive.  Among the accomplishments I moved my bicycle from downstairs to the garage, so perhaps I can start riding my bike outside with the warmer temperatures.  Tucker and Ava and Kourtney and Patrick came over this morning for breakfast, so we were able to spend some time with them.  I also had another meeting with the e-learning committee, but not much came out of that.  I did look through the report from ISBE that was released late last night, and I really didn't see much that concerned me.  I hope the students appreciate the opportunity that is before them and don't blow it off, receive incompletes, and then have to attend summer school.  I did make an online scheduled appointment to virtually visit with Chase tomorrow.  I hope that goes well; I continue to worry about him, but I also continue to really not have an answer.  I know the answer is only up to him, but it's still hard.

Things for today

• Possible
• stretch and get a work out in (completed before 7 a.m.)
• get another walk - done - took Lily with me.
• Scheduled
• maybe schedule a virtual visit with Chase - done - visit tomorrow at 3:25 p.m.

Things that I NOW think about with the coronavirus. (3/27)

• I would not want to be in New York City right now.
• It's not going to be good when more and more health care workers contract the virus.
• Illinois Stats
• as of Thursday -  2,538 positive cases, 26 deaths, 16,631 tested
• 15% of those tested were positive
• 1% of those testing positive have died
• How many people are positive but asymptomatic?
• How many of those are health care workers?
• How many of those are staying at home?
• yesterday's update (2:48 p.m.) 3,026 positive cases, 34 deaths, 21,542 tested
• 14% of those tested were positive
• 1% of those testing positive have died
• today's update (8:06 p.m. p.m.) 3,491 positive cases, 49 deaths, 25,429 tested
• 14% of those tested were positive
• 1% of those testing positive have died
• March 20, there were 585 reported positive cases.  
• February 29 was the first reported positive case in Illinois.

Things I Could Do or Need to Do In the Future

• Get the lawn tractor ready to go - sharpen the blades.
• pick up my umpiring/officiating pants at Monster Sewing - was scheduled for this past Tuesday.
• Make a guidelines/expectations/tutorial of participating in Google Meets live session.
• Tackle some "someday" topics on my Blogger list.
• Move the picnic table to the pool, move the snowblower to the corner of the garage, and move my bike to the area by the car.

Things At/For School

• Continue scoring research papers.
• Schedule the first E-Learning assignment in Google Classroom for 9 a.m. March 31.
• Pick up the trash around the grounds.
• Finish course syllabus

Things For E-Learning

• Read a new book to the students.
• Use Google Meet
• Still could do (encore sessions) training path presenter series from videotaped sessions from past years.
• Still could do short stories unit
• Would need to get novels out to students to complete those units.
• Videotape a lesson and post to classroom.
• Still do journal write (not sure about share) using Blogger
• Still have Free Read Wednesdays (e ticket/slip?)
• Still can update EnvisonMe sites

Jay's NEW NORMAL WORK DAY SCHEDULE (in development)
In order to attempt to keep a sense of normalcy, I think I'm going to try to establish a 1:30 dismissal schedule to each day.

Prior to 8:10 a.m.
- wake-up, feed animals, make a cup of coffee, watch the morning news (usually around 6 a.m.)
- stretch and exercise (varies) and clean kitty litter
- weigh myself and enter weight in the Google spreadsheet
- check banking account online and make any changes needed to Google Spreadsheet
- shower, shave, and get dressed for the work day.

8:10-8:46 - 1st period English III
8:51-9:23 - 2nd period Advanced English III
9:28-10:00 - 3rd period Advanced English III
10:05-10:37 - 4th period English III
10:42-11:14 - 6th period Study Hall
11:19-11:55 - 7th period English III
12:00-12:55- 5th period PREP
1:00-1:30 - C Lunch

2020 - Covidcation - Day 7

8:07 a.m. - I've entered my votes for the English Academic Award winners, and I've created and submitted my GMEET video clip for the day.  That video clip has been scheduled in Google Classroom along with the recent announcement by the district regarding updated information about E-Learning that is going to start on March 31.  Part of that updated information included "pick-up" of students belongings from their lockers.  Apparently "someone" has been emptying out student lockers and placing the contents in a large bag for pick-up by the student and/or parent.  I'll bet that was/is a fun job.  Not to get to ahead of what's going on, but if students are picking up the contents to their lockers, my guess is that we won't be returning to school by April 7 or after Easter weekend (April 14).  That's just a guess...I really don't have any definitive information.  There is a GMEET staff meeting today at 11 a.m., but it's optional.  I'm going to try to attend, but I also want to get to Aledo today and get gas for the gas can.  Apparently, there are a couple of strong thunderstorm possibility this weekend, so I'd like to be prepared with as much gas as possible for the generator.

2:37 p.m. I was a little late for the EMeet staff meeting, but I was able to catch most of it.  Nothing new was really presented.  I then went for a jog/walk outside.  Weather was a little brisk and dreary, but I got through it and closed the green ring.

Things for today

• Possible
• stretch and get a work out in (completed before 7 a.m.)
• get another walk, jog, bike in later in the day
• Scheduled
• OPTIONAL GoogleMEET at 11:00 a.m. - HS STAFF

Things that I NOW think about with the coronavirus. (3/27)

• I would not want to be in New York City right now.
• It's not going to be good when more and more health care workers contract the virus.
• Illinois Stats
• as of yesterday 2,538 positive cases, 26 deaths, 16,631 tested
• 15% of those tested were positive
• 1% of those testing positive have died
• How many people are positive but asymptomatic?
• How many of those are health care workers?
• How many of those are staying at home?
• today's update (2:48 p.m.) 3,026 positive cases, 34 deaths, 21,542 tested
• 14% of those tested were positive
• 1% of those testing positive have died
• Last Friday (March 20), there were 585 reported positive cases.  February 29 was the first reported positive case in Illinois.

• Things I Could Do or Need to Do In the Future

• Get the lawn tractor ready to go - sharpen the blades.
• pick up my umpiring/officiating pants at Monster Sewing - was scheduled for this past Tuesday.
• Make a guidelines/expectations/tutorial of participating in Google Meets live session.
• Tackle some "someday" topics on my Blogger list.

Things At/For School

• Schedule the first E-Learning assignment in Google Classroom for 9 a.m. March 31.
• Pick up the trash around the grounds.
• Finish course syllabus

Things For E-Learning

• Read a new book to the students.
• Use Google Meet
• Still could do (encore sessions) training path presenter series from videotaped sessions from past years.
• Still could do short stories unit
• Would need to get novels out to students to complete those units.
• Videotape a lesson and post to classroom.
• Still do journal write (not sure about share) using Blogger
• Still have Free Read Wednesdays (e ticket/slip?)
• Still can update EnvisonMe sites

Jay's NEW NORMAL WORK DAY SCHEDULE (in development)
In order to attempt to keep a sense of normalcy, I think I'm going to try to establish a 1:30 dismissal schedule to each day.

Prior to 8:10 a.m.
- wake-up, feed animals, make a cup of coffee, watch the morning news (usually around 6 a.m.)
- stretch and exercise (varies) and clean kitty litter
- weigh myself and enter weight in the Google spreadsheet
- check banking account online and make any changes needed to Google Spreadsheet
- shower, shave, and get dressed for the work day.

8:10-8:46 - 1st period English III
8:51-9:23 - 2nd period Advanced English III
9:28-10:00 - 3rd period Advanced English III
10:05-10:37 - 4th period English III
10:42-11:14 - 6th period Study Hall
11:19-11:55 - 7th period English III
12:00-12:55- 5th period PREP
1:00-1:30 - C Lunch

2020 - Covidcation - Day 6

8:14 a.m. - Yesterday was the first 24-hour period that I didn't travel somewhere in a car.  The weather was a little better, though, so I spend some time outside doing a little spring cleaning.  My neighbor offered the use of the large garbage dumpster he rented, so I had some items in the garage and down in our shed that got tossed in the dumpster.  Upon my last deposit that neighbor and others had a little pow-wow around the dumpster - nothing serious, but it was nice to just talk to the neighbors for a bit.  We did keep our social distancing.  Earlier in the day, we had a visit from Brooklyn, Brinley, and Kenzie; it's always nice to have them visit.  Brinley is just starting to walk, so it's a really fun time with her.

Today, Amber is working at Shivers, so I'm going to make a run at scoring research papers.  I know I haven't really done much with them, and students are probably wondering why.  I just haven't had them on a priority list because if I'm going to have "online hours" starting next week, I really want something to do.  I don't foresee live sessions each class period, nor do I expect to receive a rush of emails from excited, motivated students.

11:41 a.m. - So far I have completed our 2020 census, the Google form questionnaires for the training path presenter series, and I just finished an EMeet session with the English Department about academic award winners.  I think it's time to get off my rear and go for a jog...pavement looks wet, but I don't think it's raining, so I'm going to go outside.


Jay's NEW NORMAL WORK DAY SCHEDULE (in development)
In order to attempt to keep a sense of normalcy, I think I'm going to try to establish a 1:30 dismissal schedule to each day.

Prior to 8:10 a.m.
- wake-up, feed animals, make a cup of coffee, watch the morning news (usually around 6 a.m.)
- stretch and exercise (varies) and clean kitty litter
- weigh myself and enter weight in the Google spreadsheet
- check banking account online and make any changes needed to Google Spreadsheet
- shower, shave, and get dressed for the work day.

8:10-8:46 - 1st period English III
8:51-9:23 - 2nd period Advanced English III
9:28-10:00 - 3rd period Advanced English III
10:05-10:37 - 4th period English III
10:42-11:14 - 6th period Study Hall
11:19-11:55 - 7th period English III
12:00-12:55- 5th period PREP
1:00-1:30 - C Lunch

Things for today

• Possible
• stretch and get a work out in (completed before 7 a.m.)
• get another walk, jog, bike in later in the day
• Scheduled
• GoogleMEET at 11:00 a.m. - English teachers

Things that I NOW think about with the coronavirus. (3/26)

• The best news to watch if you don't want the sensationalism is the local news.
• Based upon what science and health officials seem to be saying, it seems like we are in Week 2 of shelter in place, and are likely looking at least at another seven weeks.  In the epicenter of the outbreak in China, the information I'm seeing is that they went 9 weeks before the virus infections and deaths started decreasing to the point where restrictions on movement were starting to relax.  If the U.S. follows the models of China and other countries, we still haven't seen the worst of the spread.

Things I Could Do or Need to Do In the Future

• Get the lawn tractor ready to go - sharpen the blades.
• pick up my umpiring/officiating pants at Monster Sewing - was scheduled for this past Tuesday.
• Make Google Form of training path presenter series questionnaire to be available to students.
• Make a guidelines/expectations/tutorial of participating in Google Meets live session.
• English Dept. EMeet - 11:00 a.m.
• Tackle some "someday" topics on my Blogger list.

Things At/For School

• Pick up the trash around the grounds.
• Finish course syllabus

Things For E-Learning

• Read a new book to the students.
• Use Google Meet
• Still could do (encore sessions) training path presenter series from videotaped sessions from past years.
• Still could do short stories unit
• Would need to get novels out to students to complete those units.
• Videotape a lesson and post to classroom.
• Still do journal write (not sure about share) using Blogger
• Still have Free Read Wednesdays (e ticket/slip?)
• Still can update EnvisonMe sites

2020 - Covidcation - Day 5

12:23 p.m. - I slept a little better last night, and today we just got to spend some time with Kenzie and her girls Brooklyn and Brinley.  Those little bundles of energy sure are fun to be around...complete with painting a stained glass window - what an adventure that was.

This morning I exercised a little, and then I worked on starting to establish "class guidelines" for beginning e-learning instruction.  We've been approved now to have live sessions with students using Google Meet, so I might play around a little with that today.  I also shared the class guidelines with students and parents and encouraged folks to send me questions they may have.  We also learned today, that the state testing of the SAT will be suspended...so much for the students being ready to go.  Alas, we can only control the things we can control.  Today, I'm hoping the sun comes out...I think I'm going to try to accomplish some work outside because the weather is suppose to turn sunny, and after today, the weather is suppose to turn crappy again until next Monday.  Amber works tonight at Shivers, so I might try to grade some more research papers while she is gone...it will keep me off the television watching news which just seems to get more confusing each day depending upon the channel you watch.


Jay's NEW NORMAL WORK DAY SCHEDULE (in development)
In order to attempt to keep a sense of normalcy, I think I'm going to try to establish a 1:30 dismissal schedule to each day.

Prior to 8:10 a.m.
- wake-up, feed animals, make a cup of coffee, watch the morning news (usually around 6 a.m.)
- stretch and exercise (varies) and clean kitty litter
- weigh myself and enter weight in the Google spreadsheet
- check banking account online and make any changes needed to Google Spreadsheet
- shower, shave, and get dressed for the work day.

8:10-8:46 - 1st period English III
8:51-9:23 - 2nd period Advanced English III
9:28-10:00 - 3rd period Advanced English III
10:05-10:37 - 4th period English III
10:42-11:14 - 6th period Study Hall
11:19-11:55 - 7th period English III
12:00-12:55- 5th period PREP
1:00-1:30 - C Lunch

Things for today

• Possible
• stretch and get a work out in (completed before 7 a.m.)
• get another walk, jog, bike in later in the day

Things that I NOW think about with the coronavirus.

• Will the "worst-case-scenario" projections come true.  
• I now consider all the people I'm coming in contact with, and I fear that the more people I come in contact with is increasing the likelihood that I could contract the virus and either experience symptoms or be a carrier. 
• When someone coughs or sneezes or suggests he/she isn't feeling well, I automatically wonder if they have contracted the virus.

Things I Could Do or Need to Do In the Future

• Get the lawn tractor ready to go - sharpen the blades.
• pick up my umpiring/officiating pants at Monster Sewing - was scheduled for this past Tuesday.
• Make Google Form of training path presenter series questionnaire to be available to students.
• English Dept. EMeet - 11:00 a.m.

Things At/For School

• Pick up the trash around the grounds.
• Finish course syllabus

Things For E-Learning

• Read a new book to the students.
• Use Google Meet
• Still could do (encore sessions) training path presenter series from videotaped sessions from past years.
• Still could do short stories unit
• Would need to get novels out to students to complete those units.
• Videotape a lesson and post to classroom.
• Still do journal write (not sure about share) using Blogger
• Still have Free Read Wednesdays (e ticket/slip?)
• Still can update EnvisonMe sites

2020 - Covidcation - Day 4

8:12 a.m. - I didn't sleep well last night...combination of thinking too much about school/teaching, this virus stuff, and worrying about my oldest son (substance abuse).  The virus stuff is bothering me. I'm not a President Trump "guy", but all of the sudden last night there are hints that he's planning on somehow "opening" the country back up in his words "sooner than later".  And this is a direct contradiction of almost everything else I have heard from the scientists and medical professionals.  From where I'm standing, it's almost like we are leaning more toward the economy than the health of those "vulnerable folks" ....the 20% of us that could really be in trouble if contracting the virus.  I don't know if this is right or wrong, but up until last night, I though our country was going to focus on the healthcare first, and just deal with the economy as best as possible.  Now it seems we are going to deal with the economy first and just deal with the virus as best as possible.  I wonder if I'm in the minority if that seems wrong to me.  Are we going to be okay with sacrificing the 20% so the 80% of us can live more normally?  This shelter in place stuff sucks, and admittedly, I'm starting to run out of "someday" things to complete, but I'm still not prepared to just say "good luck" to the healthcare system and the 20% of patients that are going to get seriously ill and perhaps die.  Right now in Illinois there are almost 10,000 recorded test results, and about 13% of test results have come back positive.  If we relax shelter in place measures, are we saying that we can just live with those statistics as long as the folks who have tested negative or haven't been tested can live more normally?  I don't like the idea of e-learning, but what's teaching going to be like if students continue contracting the virus?  What am I going to be like if I contract the virus?  Does that turn me into an e-learning teacher anyway?

I just don't understand why we can't give the current policies in place the time that the President had initially dedicated.  The plan was to go to 15 days, and the reassess the situation from there.  Why start sending out these mixed messages half-way through the 15 days?  Geez.  Well, with that, I'm late to my morning stretch and exercise routine, so I'm headed downstairs to the workout room.

4:18 p.m. The sun came out, so Amber and I took Lily for a walk around town.  We saw several people out and about, having the same idea we did to enjoy a little sunlight.  The temps are still cool, but definitely better than they have been.  Our EMeet staff meeting went well; I'm under the impression that teachers are staying pretty calm and figuring out how to best provide some type of education to our students while we are in the mode of shelter in place.  We still have a lot of questions and there are still a lot of answers yet to be determined, but we are making progress.  I did manage to score a few research papers today...doing it digitally and getting scores to all the students is going to be a long, slow process, but hopefully it will get faster as I get used to it.  Tomorrow, I'll get more finished and just keep working at it.  I have time, and perhaps having these research paper to grade is a good thing to help me pass time.  (Did I just say having research papers to grade was a good thing?)




Jay's NEW NORMAL WORK DAY SCHEDULE (in development)
In order to attempt to keep a sense of normalcy, I think I'm going to try to establish a 1:30 dismissal schedule to each day.

Prior to 8:10 a.m.
- wake-up, feed animals, make a cup of coffee, watch the morning news (usually around 6 a.m.)
- stretch and exercise (varies) and clean kitty litter
- weigh myself and enter weight in the Google spreadsheet
- check banking account online and make any changes needed to Google Spreadsheet
- shower, shave, and get dressed for the work day.

8:10-8:46 - 1st period English III
8:51-9:23 - 2nd period Advanced English III
9:28-10:00 - 3rd period Advanced English III
10:05-10:37 - 4th period English III
10:42-11:14 - 6th period Study Hall
11:19-11:55 - 7th period English III
12:00-12:55- 5th period PREP
1:00-1:30 - C Lunch

Things for today

• Possible
• stretch and get a work out in (completed before 7 a.m.)
• get another walk, jog, bike in later in the day
• Scheduled
• GoogleMEET at 1:00 p.m. tomorrow March 24th - HS Staff meeting

Things that I NOW think about with the coronavirus.

• Will the "worst-case-scenario" projections come true.  
• I now consider all the people I'm coming in contact with, and I fear that the more people I come in contact with is increasing the likelihood that I could contract the virus and either experience symptoms or be a carrier. 
• When someone coughs or sneezes or suggests he/she isn't feeling well, I automatically wonder if they have contracted the virus.

Things I Could Do or Need to Do In the Future

• Look for Modern Woodmen policy update - Ruth Ahnen
• Get the lawn tractor ready to go - sharpen the blades.
• pick up my umpiring/officiating pants at Monster Sewing - was scheduled for this coming Tuesday.
• Make Google Form of training path presenter series questionnaire to be available to students.

Things At/For School

• Pick up the trash around the grounds.
• Finish course syllabus

Things For E-Learning

• Read a new book to the students.
• Use Google Meet
• Still could do (encore sessions) training path presenter series from videotaped sessions from past years.
• Still could do short stories unit
• Would need to get novels out to students to complete those units.
• Videotape a lesson and post to classroom.
• Still do journal write (not sure about share) using Blogger
• Still have Free Read Wednesdays (e ticket/slip?)
• Still can update EnvisonMe sites

2020 - Covidcation - Day 3

Well, it's back to work after spring break.  And by back to work I mean going to the school building for as long as it takes to get "stuff"and bring back home.  I plan to get textbook (even though students won't have them), video camera and tripod, any facial tissue and hand sanitizer I might have left, and two Chromebooks and chargers.  At least that's what on my list so far.  I'm going to take my backpack and "load up" of those things and anything else that I might need...I may see about grabbing a couple books from the library too.  After today, we are suppose to stay out of the building, and today, we are suppose to practice social distancing.

I woke up at 4:30 today and couldn't get back to sleep.  I watched some news, which pretty much is a repeat of yesterday's news - virus cases on the rise, healthcare system is being stretched too far, President Trump isn't leading the country very well or is doing awesome (depending on which channel of "news" you are watching), and everyone should stay home.

So the 1:30 dismissal schedule won't officially begin until tomorrow.  Today I'm going to focus on getting parent calls finished and maybe trying to grade more research papers.

On another development, my weight is going up.  Not only is no officiating/umpiring taking it's toll, I'm just not as active on a daily basis when "sheltering in place".  I'm good about exercising in the morning, but I really need to get something accomplished in the evening too.  Plus, I'm consuming too many calories for my activity level.  This morning I weighed in at 220, and that's just not acceptable.  The challenge is on!  I need to exercise more and consume fewer calories.

I'm back from school, and that was weird.  I was gathering up belongings and other things I would need for e-learning, and it felt like I was being fired.  I know what it feels like to be fired, and the feeling of being forced out of the building carrying out boxes of belongings is odd.  There was no one around except the school psychologist who was just heading out herself.  We just had a "good morning" to each other, and that was it.  While I was gathering up my stuff, I also throughout some stuff I'm not going to need, so I guess I did a little cleaning too.  Once I returned home, I made my phone calls to parents, most of whom weren't home or weren't answering, so I sent my follow-up email and filled out the spreadsheet.  Before all that, I went ahead and put stuff from school back into respective areas.  One small tote went into the new "office"; another box when downstairs to be sorted later.  I also brought a couple of chromebooks home and was able to get them fired up, so I think from a "readiness" standpoint, I'm all set.  It's now 11:28, which seems close enough to the end of my school day today, especially since I still have more "sorting" to do, which will consist of that last half hour of "work".


Jay's NEW NORMAL WORK DAY SCHEDULE (in development)
In order to attempt to keep a sense of normalcy, I think I'm going to try to establish a 1:30 dismissal schedule to each day.

Prior to 8:10 a.m.
- wake-up, feed animals, make a cup of coffee, watch the morning news (usually around 6 a.m.)
- stretch and exercise (varies) and clean kitty litter
- weigh myself and enter weight in the Google spreadsheet
- check banking account online and make any changes needed to Google Spreadsheet
- shower, shave, and get dressed for the work day.

8:10-8:46 - 1st period English III
8:51-9:23 - 2nd period Advanced English III
9:28-10:00 - 3rd period Advanced English III
10:05-10:37 - 4th period English III
10:42-11:14 - 6th period Study Hall
11:19-11:55 - 7th period English III
12:00-12:55- 5th period PREP
1:00-1:30 - C Lunch

Things for today

• Possible
• stretch and get a work out in (completed before 7 a.m.)
• get another walk, jog, bike in later in the day
• Scheduled
• go to school for "stuff"
• done...picked up stuff and threw some old stuff away in trash/recycle.
• watch the rest of 1983 basketball game versus Geneseo.
• done...we won!  We are 2-0 on the season.

Things that I NOW think about with the coronavirus.

• Will the "worst-case-scenario" projections come true.  
• I now consider all the people I'm coming in contact with, and I fear that the more people I come in contact with is increasing the likelihood that I could contract the virus and either experience symptoms or be a carrier. 
• When someone coughs or sneezes or suggests he/she isn't feeling well, I automatically wonder if they have contracted the virus.

Things I Could Do or Need to Do In the Future

• Call Modern Woodmen - Ruth Ahnen
• I called and left a voice mail...need to call back again.
• She called back and said my policy has a cash value of $5,000.  I said I wanted to get the policy going again.
• Get the lawn tractor ready to go - sharpen the blades.
• Organize my past pics (photo albums)
• I found "the stash"!  There was a tote that I hadn't explored, and it's got more "stuff" in it.  I thing I will work on that today if I can get to it.
• done...last night I got into the tote and went through the pics...a bit bittersweet good memories and heart-tugging memories of life with Sue and the kids as a family.
• pick up my umpiring/officiating pants at Monster Sewing - was scheduled for this coming Tuesday.
• GoogleMEET at 1:00 p.m. tomorrow March 24th - HS Staff meeting
• I finished reading the book I was reading...not sure if I liked it or not, but I did enjoy the different approach to having 10 short stories connected.

Things At/For School

• Pick up the trash around the grounds.
• Finish course syllabus
• Contact assigned list of students from Mrs. Hasson
• done...I only reached someone on three of the calls; everybody else I left a voice mail and sent a follow-up email

Things For E-Learning

• Read a new book to the students.
• Use Google Meet
• Still could do (encore sessions) training path presenter series from videotaped sessions from past years.
• Still could do short stories unit
• Would need to get novels out to students to complete those units.
• Videotape a lesson and post to classroom.
• Still do journal write (not sure about share) using Blogger
• Still have Free Read Wednesdays (e ticket/slip?)
• Still can update EnvisonMe sites

2020 - Covidcation - Day 2

I still haven't gone 24 hours of staying home yet, but Illinois didn't start it's state directed "shelter in place" measure until 5 p.m. last night, so perhaps I'm still okay.  I thought I was going to go 24 hours, but then Amber and I went to her parents' home and played cards for a couple of hours.  Today is Sunday, so maybe today will be the first 24-hour period.

UPDATE...nope...took a little drive out to deliver a few things to Kenzie and Darren...not all bad, though.  Spending some time with Brooklyn and Brinley is always fun; plus, they have a new puppy, so playing with Zoe was fun too.

Jay's NEW NORMAL WORK DAY SCHEDULE (in development)
In order to attempt to keep a sense of normalcy, I think I'm going to try to establish a 1:30 dismissal schedule to each day.

Prior to 8:10 a.m.
- wake-up, feed animals, make a cup of coffee, watch the morning news (usually around 6 a.m.)
- stretch and exercise (varies) and clean kitty litter
- weigh myself and enter weight in the Google spreadsheet
- check banking account online and make any changes needed to Google Spreadsheet
- shower, shave, and get dressed for the work day.

8:10-8:46 - 1st period English III
8:51-9:23 - 2nd period Advanced English III
9:28-10:00 - 3rd period Advanced English III
10:05-10:37 - 4th period English III
10:42-11:14 - 6th period Study Hall
11:19-11:55 - 7th period English III
12:00-12:55- 5th period PREP
1:00-1:30 - C Lunch

Things for today

• Possible
• stretch and get a work out in
• Scheduled
• e-learning GMEET session - done 2:30 p.m.
• after this meeting, I'm not feeling as positive about this e-learning thing...I think it's going to involve a BIG learning curve...I hope people are patient with each other.
• Watched today's episode of Fledge Fitness - Intermittent Fasting
• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=egzLGjuYAtU
• done at 8:45 a.m. today
• Watched Pastor Paul and viewed his message from RUMC.
• https://www.facebook.com/ReynoldsMethodistChurch/videos/233987151091470/
• Watched the 1983-84 Rockets beat Rock Falls 66-56.  I got my fourth foul at the end of the third period, but I reentered with about six minutes left in the fourth period and finished the game!  

Things that I NOW think about with the coronavirus.

• Will the "worst-case-scenario" projections come true.  
• I now consider all the people I'm coming in contact with, and I fear that the more people I come in contact with is increasing the likelihood that I could contract the virus and either experience symptoms or be a carrier. 

Things I Could Do or Need to Do In the Future

• Call Modern Woodmen - Ruth Ahnen
• Get the lawn tractor ready to go - sharpen the blades.
• Organize my past pics (photo albums)
• I did organize my storage totes...probably could throw a lot of it away in a dumpster, but I'm not ready to do that yet. 
• I think I need to look at the top shelf and make sure there isn't anything that's mine up there...maybe I can tackle that tomorrow.  I thought there was a box of pics someplace - pics that Sue had forwarded to me. 
• pick up my umpiring/officiating pants at Monster Sewing - was scheduled for this coming Tuesday.

Things At/For School

• Pick up the trash around the grounds.
• Finish course syllabus
• Contact learning lab students

Things For E-Learning

• Read a new book to the students.
• Use Google Meet
• Still could do (encore sessions) training path presenter series from videotaped sessions from past years.
• Still could do short stories unit
• Would need to get novels out to students to complete those units.
• Videotape a lesson and post to classroom.
• Still do journal write (not sure about share) using Blogger
• Still have Free Read Wednesdays (e ticket/slip?)
• Still can update EnvisonMe sites

2020 - Covidcation - Day 1

Spring Break, according to my principles, is over.  Covidcation again according to my principles, begins today.  So even though the calendar says Saturday, March 21, I'm calling it 2020 - Covidcation - Day 1.  I didn't make up that term on my own; I heard something similar from a Sherrard student when I was observing a Google Meet session between a teacher and group of students last week.

In order to attempt to keep a sense of normalcy, I think I'm going to try to establish a 1:30 dismissal schedule to each day.

8:10-8:46 - 1st period English III
8:51-9:23 - 2nd period Advanced English III
9:28-10:00 - 3rd period Advanced English III
10:05-10:37 - 4th period English III
10:42-11:14 - 6th period Study Hall
11:19-11:55 - 7th period English III
12:00-12:55- 5th period PREP
1:00-1:30 - C Lunch

In all honesty, I've selected this schedule a little selfishly.  Because I have 5th period free, my "work day" with students essentially ends at noon, but these are strange time, so I'm going to give myself that flexibility to make my day.  Once RHS starts our online learning protocol, we have been instructed to be "available" until 1:00 p.m., so this schedule can meet that requirement.  My plan is to grade research papers according to the assigned class period each day until I'm finished scoring those.  I don't know how many days that will take, but I'll post my accomplishments.  This self-imposed schedule may actually start Tuesday because Monday I need to get over to school to pick up some items - video recorder, textbook, any tissues I have left over, any hand sanitizer that is left, and anything else I may think I need.  I do think I'm going to "copy-and-paste" my menu items from the previous day to continue to give myself ideas of things to do after my "work day".  Even though it's Saturday, I'm going to keep that going.

So prior to 8:10 a.m.
- wake-up, feed animals, make a cup of coffee, watch the morning news (usually around 6 a.m.)
- stretch and exercise (varies) and clean kitty litter
- weigh myself and enter weight in the Google spreadsheet
- check banking account online and make any changes needed to Google Spreadsheet
- shower, shave, and get dressed for the work day.

Things possible today

• stretch and get a work out in
• Accomplished before 9 a.m.
• listen to a podcast or two or three - Google Tribe, Sober Guy, nutrition guys
• Maybe today....Google Tribe might be able to help me learn more about Google Meet
• The Google Tribe episode didn't provide much...this guy did
• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EHXBgYoSV3A

Things that I NOW think about with the coronavirus.

• Will the "worst-case-scenario" projections come true.  Right now the percentage of cases that test positive ranges daily from 12-14%.  Roughly 2-4% of all cases become severe.  When you start plugging in the numbers, it gets scary.  Earlier today, Illinois had only tested about 3,000 people.

Things I Could Do or Need to Do In the Future

• Polish my dress shoes and umpiring shoes.
• done (11:54 a.m.)
• also ended up cleaning the clog drain in my bathroom, not an awful job, but also not much fun, so it was good to finish
• Get the lawn tractor ready to go - sharpen the blades.
• Organize my past pics (photo albums)
• 2 p.m. tomorrow - e-learning GMEET session
• pick up my umpiring/officiating pants at Monster Sewing - was scheduled for this coming Tuesday.

Things At/For School

• Pick up the trash around the grounds.
• Finish course syllabus
• Contact learning lab students

Things For E-Learning

• Read a new book to the students.
• Use Google Meet
• Still could do (encore sessions) training path presenter series from videotaped sessions from past years.
• Still could do short stories unit
• Would need to get novels out to students to complete those units.
• Videotape a lesson and post to classroom.
• Still do journal write (not sure about share) using Blogger
• Still have Free Read Wednesdays (e ticket/slip?)
• Still can update EnvisonMe sites

2020 Day 5 Spring Break

Today marked another significant event in the coronavirus event.  Illinois is now under order to "shelter in place" until April 7.  While it sounds more menacing, it isn't much different than the previous requests by the governor.  Today, I could have gone to Turning Pointe and worked out; tomorrow, I can't, because it's considered a "non-essential" business.  I can still go to the grocery store or the pharmacy or the gas station.  I can still check on family members or other that may need assistance.  I can still order a pizza and pick it up at the drive thru.  Heck, I can even still take Lily for a walk or go for a run outside.  The change is that non-essential businesses now just cannot be open.  I guess the world became just a little smaller.  And one of those businesses is the school setting.  So now, all school buildings are closed until April 7.  The latest day we now may be returning to school is April 8, but I doubt that we go back school at all for the remainder of the year.

We did have our first e-learning committee meeting, and Tami Clarke and I completed the high school section of the e-learning plan that will be submitted to the ROE for approval.  We teachers aren't starting e-learning until the first of March, so we really do have some time to work on our e-curriculum and learn some additional tools we can use to make this work.  A lot of my time may be spent assisting other teachers, as I'm pretty comfortable with Google Classroom and many of the G-Suite resources.  I'm still learning Google Meet, but I'm a lot farther today than I was a couple of days ago.

I don't think that I have yet spent an entire 24-hour period at home, but that may be occurring tomorrow.  Let's see if I feel a bit stir crazy after tomorrow.  And this week was our Spring Break...ugh.  I think I can definitely say this was the craziest Spring Break week ever.

Things from today

• stretch and get a work out in
• I did that and did a CardioFix workout.  This is the first one of these since the weekend, and my butt muscles hurt a lot.  I'm hoping tomorrow will be better.
• watch a movie - I think I might watch that foreign film that won all those academy awards - Parasite?
• I did this last night...I wasn't impressed at all.  I find my self wondering how that won the best picture of the Academy Awards.
• listen to a podcast or two or three - Google Tribe, Sober Guy, nutrition guys
• Maybe tomorrow....Google Tribe might be able to help me learn more about Google Meet
• Sit in on Meet session with Mrs. Crippen and her students at Sherrard
• I accomplished this yesterday...then found out today that we aren't suppose to go live with online meetings with students...geez.

Things that I NOW think about with the coronavirus.

• Will the "worst-case-scenario" projections come true.  Right now the percentage of cases that test positive ranges daily from 12-14%.  Roughly 2-4% of all cases become severe.  When you start plugging in the numbers, it gets scary.  Earlier today, Illinois had only tested about 3,000 people.

Things I Could Do In the Future

• Polish my dress shoes and umpiring shoes.
• Get the lawn tractor ready to go - sharpen the blades.
• Organize my past pics (photo albums)

Things At School

• Pick up the trash around the grounds.
• Finish course syllabus

Things For E-Learning

• Read a new book to the students.
• Use Google Meet
• Still could do (encore sessions) training path presenter series from videotaped sessions from past years.
• Still could do short stories unit
• Would need to get novels out to students to complete those units.
• Videotape a lesson and post to classroom.
• Still do journal write (not sure about share) using Blogger
• Still have Free Read Wednesdays (e ticket/slip?)
• Still can update EnvisonMe sites

2020 Day 4 Spring Break

The latest news in the world and the country is scary.  China reported it's first ever decline of cases, but Italy is in a tragic conditions with hundreds of people dying daily now.  Their healthcare system is basically failing, and the scenario just seems like something out of a movie.  In the U.S., New York is now the major hot spot.  The government has ordered naval hospitals to each coast, but those may not be up and fully operational for weeks.  While the message is to stay home, small businesses are practically pleading with people to patron their establishments through drive thru or take out means.  I know that this is important for their business, but when the national message is to stay home, businesses asking for people to go out of their homes seems wrong.  Amber and I did go to HyVee yesterday, and it didn't seem abandoned...there were employees stocking shelves and some items were very depleted and other items - most notably toilet paper - were sold out.  Yesterday the main universities in Iowa canceled graduation ceremonies, which is another indication just how long this thing might continue.  I fully expect Illinois to follow suit, and soon Illinois will be extending the K-12 closures to at least mid-April.  I also expect the IHSA to soon cancel the spring sports and activity seasons, which will be a bummer.

I try to keep the news at a distance, mainly watching in the morning and the evening.  So far, there have been no confirmed cases in Rock Island or Mercer Counties, which is good news, but it's only a matter of time.  What is really alarming is how few tests have been completed.  In Illinois, the statistics I'm seeing on the Department of Health show that not even 3,000 people have been tested.  I just don't see how that is possible.  Other hospitals in other areas are attempting to make their own medical masks out of materials purchased from home improvement stores, and a call was made by the vice-president to have construction companies donate masks to hospitals.  Respirators are also in the news.  The automobile manufacturers have stopped production and their are some stories indicating that these plants will be restructure to make mass quantities of these respirator machines.

We are babysitting today...Tucker, Brooklyn, and Brinley will all be here.  I honestly worry about all the different people we have been in contact with and then the kids coming over.  I'm trying to set that worry aside, though, and hope for the best.  I question myself and wonder when will someone I know or some family member be the first person I know to contract the illness?  In the meantime, I just try to continue to establish a new normal...get up, have some coffee, watch some news, get some exercise in, and then complete some tasks that I have only lists - either home, school, or otherwise.

Tomorrow I have a Google Meet session with other teachers from Rockridge.  We are going to start discussing an e-learning plan, which is something we need to do for our students.  I'm not sure I want to get involved, but I also feel like I have a duty to contribute whatever I can.

Things I could do today...from yesterday

• stretch and get a work out in
• watch a movie - I think I might watch that foreign film that won all those academy awards - Parasite?
• listen to a podcast or two or three - Google Tribe, Sober Guy, nutrition guys
• Sit in on Meet session with Mrs. Crippen and her students at Sherrard

Things that I think about with the coronavirus.

• Why is it a good idea for restaurants to stay open and offer drive thru service?  Are there people making food and then distributing it to other people.  What if the food service workers making the food are asymptomatic but have the virus?
• With all the money that the government is using to prop up the economy, how does the economy eventually rebound?  After the virus subsides, to prices jump to help businesses cover loans and losses?
• Will this thing just have to "run its course" until people build up immunity?  Today I voted and ran a couple of errands, and I didn't really feel any difference in today than other days.  People were out and about, the polling place for today's primary vote wore no special equipment, nor was any offered at the polling place.  People were in Walgreens, even if there was no toilet paper left.
• The government recommendations change daily, which only leads me to think that new information each day indicates that the situation is going to be worse than the previous days' recommendations, or the previous day's recommendations aren't working.  Why aren't we just sitting on recommendations at least for a few days to see what happens?
• I've attempted to limit my contact with other people.  I foresee a time when everyday people may have to be trained to be "helpers"...maybe delivery drivers..maybe health aides...maybe who knows what else?  Should I volunteer to be a helper, or should I just work to try to stay home?

Things I Could Do In the Future

• Polish my dress shoes and umpiring shoes.
• Get the lawn tractor ready to go - sharpen the blades.
• Organize my past pics (photo albums)

Things At School

• Pick up the trash around the grounds.
• Finish course syllabus

Things For E-Learning

• Read a new book to the students.
• Use Google Meet
• Still could do (encore sessions) training path presenter series from videotaped sessions from past years.
• Still could do short stories unit
• Would need to get novels out to students to complete those units.
• Videotape a lesson and post to classroom.
• Still do journal write (not sure about share) using Blogger
• Still have Free Read Wednesdays (e ticket/slip?)
• Still can update EnvisonMe sites

2020 Day 3 Spring Break

Things I could do today...from yesterday

• stretch and get a work out in
• watch a movie - I think I might watch that foreign film that won all those academy awards - Parasite?
• visit my parents to check in on them
• listen to a podcast or two or three - Google Tribe, Sober Guy, nutrition guys
• Learn more about Google Hangouts...I think I may be able to use this to "hold class" online, but I need to get permission from RR300 to enable it for me and my students.  I've been wanting to explore this for awhile, and I have a lot more time on my hands right now to be able to learn about it.

Things that I think about with the coronavirus.

• Why is it a good idea for restaurants to stay open and offer drive thru service?  Are there people making food and then distributing it to other people.  What if the food service workers making the food are asymptomatic but have the virus?
• With all the money that the government is using to prop up the economy, how does the economy eventually rebound?  After the virus subsides, to prices jump to help businesses cover loans and losses?
• Will this thing just have to "run its course" until people build up immunity?  Today I voted and ran a couple of errands, and I didn't really feel any difference in today than other days.  People were out and about, the polling place for today's primary vote wore no special equipment, nor was any offered at the polling place.  People were in Walgreens, even if there was no toilet paper left.
• The government recommendations change daily, which only leads me to think that new information each day indicates that the situation is going to be worse than the previous days' recommendations, or the previous day's recommendations aren't working.  Why aren't we just sitting on recommendations at least for a few days to see what happens?
• I've attempted to limit my contact with other people.  I foresee a time when everyday people may have to be trained to be "helpers"...maybe delivery drivers..maybe health aides...maybe who knows what else?  Should I volunteer to be a helper, or should I just work to try to stay home?

Things I Could Do In the Future

• Polish my dress shoes and umpiring shoes.
• Get the lawn tractor ready to go - sharpen the blades.

Things At School

• Pick up the trash around the grounds.
• Finish course syllabus

Things For E-Learning

• Read a new book to the students.
• Use Zoom or Google Chat to have "chat classrooms."
• Still could do (encore sessions) training path presenter series from videotaped sessions from past years.
• Still could do short stories unit
• Would need to get novels out to students to complete those units.
• Videotape a lesson and post to classroom.
• Still do journal write (not sure about share) using Blogger
• Still have Free Read Wednesdays (e ticket/slip?)
• Still can update EnvisonMe sites

2020 Day 2 of Spring Break

Things I could do today...from yesterday

• stretch and get a work out in...make sure to close green ring, but I need to incorporate a couple of exercise sessions in
• walked 30 min AND walked Lily in the evening
• take Sophie and Lily for a walk
• Sophie left, but I did take Lily...very nice evening for a walk
• watch basketball - not live basketball, but the DVD's I have of my old high school games
• I did this last night.
• watch a movie - I think I might watch that foreign film that won all those academy awards - Parasite?
• try to reach out to Chase, Carmen, and Cole and see how they are doing
• I spoke with Chase, which didn't go well.  I did talk with Carmen and Cole
• visit my parents to check in on them and take some strawberries to them
• figure out a quick way to digitally score the research papers I need to work on, and then score the research papers - about 80 of them
• I think I have a solution; now I just need to grade some papers...maybe tomorrow
• read a book (I finished my previous book, last night, and it was really good.)
• I started to read another book, and I think I'm going to like it.
• listen to a podcast or two or three - Google Tribe, Sober Guy, nutrition guys
• take a shower, shave, and get dressed...another advice tip this morning was to try to avoid just staying in pajamas and laying around all day
• done

Things I need to do today or things I got done that were unplanned.

• vote in the primary - done
• see if I can take my pants in to Monster to have them hemmed - done; pick up next Tuesday
• mail the envelope - done
• picked up my prescription for eye drops
• dog sit Kya and Thor 

Things that I think about with the coronavirus.

• Why is it a good idea for restaurants to stay open and offer drive thru service?  Are there people making food and then distributing it to other people.  What if the food service workers making the food are asymptomatic but have the virus?
• With all the money that the government is using to prop up the economy, how does the economy eventually rebound?  After the virus subsides, to prices jump to help businesses cover loans and losses?
• Will this thing just have to "run its course" until people build up immunity?  Today I voted and ran a couple of errands, and I didn't really feel any difference in today than other days.  People were out and about, the polling place for today's primary vote wore no special equipment, nor was any offered at the polling place.  People were in Walgreens, even if there was no toilet paper left.
• The government recommendations change daily, which only leads me to think that new information each day indicates that the situation is going to be worse than the previous days' recommendations, or the previous day's recommendations aren't working.  Why aren't we just sitting on recommendations at least for a few days to see what happens?
• I've attempted to limit my contact with other people.  I foresee a time when everyday people may have to be trained to be "helpers"...maybe delivery drivers..maybe health aides...maybe who knows what else?  Should I volunteer to be a helper, or should I just work to try to stay home?

Things I Could Do In the Future

• Polish my dress shoes and umpiring shoes.
• Get the lawn tractor ready to go - sharpen the blades.

Things At School

• Pick up the trash around the grounds.
• Finish course syllabus

Things For E-Learning

• Read a new book to the students.
• Use Zoom or Google Chat to have "chat classrooms."
• Still could do (encore sessions) training path presenter series from videotaped sessions from past years.
• Still could do short stories unit
• Would need to get novels out to students to complete those units.
• Videotape a lesson and post to classroom.

2020 Day 1 of Spring Break

For Rockridge, we are on Spring Break.  For other schools, they are suppose to be returning from Spring Break, but many are now closed because of the closing of schools due to the Coronavirus pandemic.  In fact, just last night Iowa recommended closing schools for four weeks, and New York City is closing some school until the end of April.  One thing the additional time does is give me time to write in this Blog more often.  So I told Alexa to play some Christmas music at volume five and here I am.  So far, Amber and Karrigan have headed off to Missouri to spend time with Amber's friend up in Rochester, as her friend is receiving medical treatments (not related to Coronavirus).

Accomplishments today include

1. accompanied Amber to Dollar General for some grocery...she needed to pick up diapers for Kourtney, and we also picked up some little thing for us.  I also picked up the ingredients for an awesome bowl of macaroni and cheese wonderfulness tonight.  I'm going to include tuna fish and peas and mushrooms, and it's going to be great!  My mom use to make that all the time, but Amber doesn't like "chunks", so this will be just for me.  I contemplated Chicago style pizza, but I decided I don't want to drive into Moline.  Amber's friend picked me up a pint of vanilla ice cream, so I can make myself a strawberry shake with supper too, since we recently got some strawberries.
2. took out the trash and recycle
3. agreed to dog sit Kya and Thor tomorrow for Kourtney.  So beginning around 1:30 tomorrow, this house will be a zoo....literally.
4. watched the news and received an update on corona virus information - one bit of news was to limit watching the coverage, so I'm currently following those guidelines by shutting off the television and listening to Christmas music while I type away here
5. I weighed myself (not good, but not too bad either) and updated my online spreadsheet of my checking account - also not good, but not too bad either)

Things I could do today...

• stretch and get a work out in...make sure to close green ring, but I need to incorporate a couple of exercise sessions in
• 10:51 - green ring closed...30 min. treadmill walk!
• take Sophie and Lily for a walk
• watch basketball - not live basketball, but the DVD's I have of my old high school games
• watch a movie - I think I might watch that foreign film that won all those academy awards - Parasite?
• try to reach out to Chase, Carmen, and Cole and see how they are doing
• visit my parents to check in on them and take some strawberries to them
• I visited with them, and they had a couple friends there.  Of course, one of them had just returned from Europe a few days ago.  Geez.
• figure out a quick way to digitally score the research papers I need to work on, and then score the research papers - about 80 of them
• run the shark around the house to vacuum
• While the main hallway doesn't look like it now, I did accomplish this - upstairs and downstairs.
• read a book (I finished my previous book, last night, and it was really good.)
• listen to a podcast or two or three - Google Tribe, Sober Guy, nutrition guys
• take a shower, shave, and get dressed...another advice tip this morning was to try to avoid just staying in pajamas and laying around all day
• I haven't done this yet - 7:51 p.m....I think I will shower before I go to ged.
• take a nap - I think it's going to be okay to do this but just keep it moderate.  I did wake up at 4:30 a.m. today, and I couldn't get back to sleep.  
• OKAY...maybe I didn't accomplish everything, but I did accomplish some things not on the list!
• I weeded my paperwork file tote, which was an all-day job, including three garbage sacks full of shredded documents.  That job has been on the "someday list" for a long, long time.
• I found the title to the HHR; more importantly, I found the title to the Dodge truck!  I wasn't sure where either was at, but it's amazing what can be found sticking misplaced in a different file folder.
• I found what just may be a long lost insurance certificate that is still active.  I need to check on that tomorrow.
• I organized my file folder that includes the Northwestern Mutual stuff - two life insurance policies and an annuity.
• I organized my file folder for my Modern Woodman stuff, including me, Carmen, and Chase.
• I added to the "divorce folder", but that's a good thing.  If I keep that awful memory in one file folder, it's just easier on my brain.
• I found the plastic replacement ear plug covers to my ear buds.  I thought those were someplace, but I didn't realize they were in my cabinet next to my bed.  You may think this is some trivial thing, but comfort for the ears when listening to music or a podcast is very nice.

Later today, I will update this to see what I might have accomplished.

It's A Different World At Least For A Couple of Weeks

No sports, no umpiring, no schools, no casinos...and that's just what I know of now.  I'm not sure if Turning Pointe is going to stay open, and it seems like other closures occur on an hourly basis.  The coronavirus is gaining ground on shutting down "normal life".  Here are some things I do know.

I'm gaining weight.  After basketball season, I knew I would gain weight.  My plan was to give my knees and legs a break, so I was not going to have as much cardio work.  I also planned to increase strength training, which would hopefully help me gain some muscle weight, which I planned later would help me work on another weight loss period when softball umpiring arrived.  Because softball umpiring is canceled for at least the next two weeks, I'm not going to get that cardio vascular from that activity.  So I'm going to need to find an alternate activity...I'm thinking about adding some 21-day fix videos that I can do in the basement at home.  Plus, I think today, I'm going to go purchase a new pair of running shoes.  I tried to jog around town a couple of days ago on worn out shoes, and my knees paid the price.  So I think between trying to get more jogging in and adding at least a daily cardio video work out and trying to lift a little with the limited free weights I have, I can try to complete and alternative workout schedule.  That will help, but I'm also going to count my calories.  I haven't been doing this, but I need to do this now to better monitor my food intake.  I don't enjoy this step, but it's necessary.

No sports viewing.  THIS IS A BIG ONE.  This week the NCAA and all professional sports suspended or cancelled their seasons.  UGH.  I am really going to miss March Madness.  I think I'm going to consciously watch a movie now and then just to help that frustration.  Last night I watched A Beautiful Day In the Neighborhood, and it was amazing.  I cried.  I've always had a belief that angels exist among us, but it occurred to me that even angels have to consistently work at being who they are.  I hope someone considers me an angel for them.

No casinos.  This one might not necessarily be a bad thing.  Amber and I played slots at Rudy's last night, and I only lost $20.  Apparently, Illinois casinos will be closing after this weekend, and that might be a blessing in disguise.  Last year with all the snow days, Amber and I were frequent guests at Jumer's.  Losing money at the casino and not officiating because of canceled basketball games was not a good combination.  I can see the same thing unfolding now.  On the other hand, Iowa hasn't said anything about closing casinos yet, and Illinois hasn't said anything about closing down bars yet.  For the time being then, slot machines are still accessible.

Speaking of money...good news and bad news.  The bad news is that I just spent almost $600 on new uniforms for the upcoming softball and eventual volleyball and basketball seasons.  I also spent over $2,000 on repairs to my HHR to be ready for the miles...oops.  It's not like I won't eventually still need those things, but having the cash to get through this coronavirus shut down might become necessary.  I'm guessing all the stimulus dollars President Trump is throwing at us isn't necessarily going to reach my bank account.  The good news is that I didn't follow through with a plan to pay off my credit card.  I know that may actually sound like bad news, but holding off on that allows me to have some available cash flow dollars to get through this period.

I've got a couple of books to read, and I have some research papers to read and score.  At least, for now, I won't be bored, or at least I don't have to be.  I'm not suggesting that scoring research papers is going to be at the top of my list to spring out of bed and start my day with, but having some extra time to complete that task is welcomed.  Plus, if I can get the papers scored, and can then release those scores and students could "ideally" have an opportunity to revise their work.

I would also like to maybe visit with Carmen and Cole.  They had their original spring break last week, and I didn't get a chance to see them.  I also will visit with Mom and Dad and check on them.  I'm thinking maybe a poker party with the boys might be a good idea too.

Day one of Spring Break and Coronavirus Break is off and running.

The Struggle Is Real

     As I age, students "perspective" on education seems to be wearing me down.  It seems as though many students (and perhaps their parents) view their high school education as an inconvenience.  Their education is something that is an obstacle to doing all the other more important parts of their lives - extra-curricular activities, their part-time jobs, their social lives, their favorite TicToc celebrities, their video games, etc...  There just isn't time or interest to fit their education into their lives.
     We have been working on a research paper for about a week.  Students legitimately should be completed with a rough draft by tonight.  And since yesterday, I'm including a private comment in their Google Classroom account to record what has been accomplished so far.  A couple of students already have their rough drafts completed, so now I can review their work and offer suggestions to help them improve their work.  More importantly, I can review their work and warn them of potential plagiarism violations.
     Today, my first period students were required to complete the Illinois Science Assessment, so they weren't in class.  Keep in mind, I've been telling the students that this requirement was going to be occurring today for over a week.  They were going to miss first period English III today, but that wasn't going to change the due date of the research paper - it's still due on Friday.
     While the students were completing the science assessment, I checked over the first period research paper, and since first period yesterday, many students had not even revisited their research papers at all.  So in their private comments, I supplied a message - something like, "draft only partially completed".  I had one student reply to my comment with the following statement. 

how do you expect me to have a draft done when i’m not in class?

     And therein is the struggle.  Apparently this student thinks that the only time to complete any work on this research paper is when she's in class.  And if class isn't held, then there isn't any other opportunity to work on the paper.  So in her world, English III only exists from 8:10 a.m. - 9:05 a.m. on days when she is present on scheduled days at school.  There isn't even an iota of a thought of, "Hey, I don't have first period tomorrow, so in order to keep pace with what I need to complete for the research paper to be done by Friday, I need to spend some time OUTSIDE OF CLASS on the research paper to be up-to-speed.
     And this "perspective" exists in a world where it's NEVER BEEN SIMPLER to complete a research paper in the history of mankind, even for the most reluctant student.  There are works cited generators, sample MLA papers, YouTube videos, Google Docs, real-time comments from teachers, access to frequently asked questions, a Google Classroom designed specifically for students to help each other with sources, and on and on and on.  The only thing that is really needed is for students to be willing to spend time with the assignment.
     And there's the struggle...time is a rare commodity because education seems to get to be a lower and lower priority.  Education is just too inconvenient anymore. The only time students can fit in an opportunity to work on an assignment is the designated class period that they are forced to attend.  Anything more expected than that is just unreasonable and ridiculous.  When I retire, I won't miss this struggle.  I won't miss the real struggle of how a high school education is so inconvenient these days.