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