2020 - E-Learning - Day 3

1:40 p.m. - This is a late start to the blog today.  Amber and I are helping Kenzie and Darren with daycare of their two little girls, and I now have a better appreciation for what teachers and parents are going through in this shelter-in-place time period - trying to entertain and keep the little ones safe and be available for students is a challenge.  I finally got a chance to stretch and do my 10-minute sit-ups routine, when the two little buggars finally got tired and took a nap.  The staff meeting this morning included one or the other or both at times on my lap while I was listening in.  I also was able to "grade" the first little activity of the e-learning coursework for the English III students.  I'm having students use blogger to create a blog that we are going to use each week for journal write purposes.  Some of the students struggled to get it all figured out, and there are a few yet not completed, but we are getting close.  I'm hoping to get outside and maybe get a walk or jog.  It's chilly and windy and gray today, though, so I might get relegated to the treadmill.

Things for today

• Possible
• get outside for a run/walk or maybe a bike ride.
• get spark plug out of mower and purchase another one
• Write Chase a letter and mail it.
• Get a check to Cole for his birthday.
• Send Carmen and Cole Easter cards and gift certificates.
• Watch Fledge Fitness video from yesterday
• Send Katy a message about disengaged students (shared sheet?)
• Scheduled
• TODAY - 10 a.m. - HS Staff Meeting - Done
• Write recommendation letters for Elizabeth Johnson

Things that I NOW think about with the coronavirus. (4/1)

• I'm VERY fortunate compared to many others.  I can go for walks in my community.  I have an exercise area downstairs.  I have technology that allows me to the internet and to have videochats with my family.  I'm still employed to work from home, and I'm getting paid like normal.  I'm healthy, and so far I don't have any friends or family members ill from the virus.  I'm an empty-nester, so that 

• 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.  

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.
• 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.
• Make a guidelines/expectations/tutorial of participating in Google Meets live session.
• 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.
• Still could do short stories unit
• Would need to get novels out to students to complete those units.
• Still can update EnvisonMe sites
• I could read a part of a story or a short story from my books on Google Meet

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 - E-Learning - Day 4

2:48 p.m.  Today has been a productive day, and it's gone by fast.  Before 10 a.m., I got "morning stuff" done, including a walk with Lily and an attempt to do a kickboxing workout with Amber.  Then I completed the two Google Meet sessions with the English III students and started working on activities/assignments for next week's e-learning schedule.  And now, the "work day" is almost over.  I didn't get to any research papers, but that's okay, I'm still not that concerned that I will have trouble completing that task.  Maybe this weekend will feature more progress on that front.

6:28 p.m. - I went into Monster Sewing to pick up my umpiring and officiating pants.  I'm not kidding; I'm a little spooked being around people.  When I got back in my car, I used hand sanitizer.  When I got home, I washed my hands.  There was still a lot of traffic on the roads, but it's weird seeing some businesses completely dark and closed on a Friday night - Jumers, Ducky's...weird.

Things for today

• Possible
• get outside for a run/walk or maybe a bike ride.
• try Jack's idea of spraying in carburetor with gas
• Send Carmen and Cole Easter cards and gift certificates.
• Scheduled
• TODAY - 10 a.m. - Adv. English III MEET' 11:00 a.m. English III MEET - DONE
• Write recommendation letters for Elizabeth Johnson - DONE
• Write recommendation letter for Kaitlyn Taylor (still waiting response from her)

Things that I NOW think about with the coronavirus. (4/3)

• 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
• 43,656 tested; 7,695 positive; 157 deaths
• 17% of all tests recorded have tested positive
• 2% of all positive cases recorded have died
• TODAY
• 48,048 tested; 8,904 positive; 210 deaths
• 18% of all tests recorded have tested positive
• 2.3% of all positive cases recorded have died
• The numbers are going the wrong way.

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. - DONE!
• 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.
• Finish course syllabus

Things For E-Learning

• Continue The Rest of the Story
• Still could do short stories unit
• Would need to get novels out to students to complete those units.
• Still can update EnvisonMe sites
• I could read a part of a story or a short story from my books on Google Meet

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 - E-Learning - Day 2

8:55 a.m. -   So far this is just a "new normal" day.  I'm really hoping to cut into the number of research papers I can score today.  The Harrison girls are coming over this evening and Amber is working at Shivers today.  Plus, today is a Free Read Wednesday day, so I shouldn't have as many emails to respond to from students.  The U.S. news isn't getting any better.  President Trump is an idiot, but thank goodness he seems to be listening to his advisors.  The shelter in place recommendations are extended to the end of April, but this is not being completed nationally.  So some states really aren't doing anything, which confuses me.  It was almost like at yesterday's press conference, the experts were pleading with all the governors of the states to fall in line, so the U.S. would be unified in the shelter at home measures that are needed.

Things for today

• Possible
• get outside for a run/walk or maybe a bike ride.
• get spark plug out of mower and purchase another one
• Write Chase a letter and mail it.
• Get a check to Cole for his birthday.
• Send Carmen and Cole Easter cards and gift certificates.
• Scheduled
• TOMORROW - 10 a.m. - HS Staff Meeting
• Write recommendation letters for Elizabeth Johnson

Things that I NOW think about with the coronavirus. (4/1)

• I'm VERY fortunate compared to many others.  I can go for walks in my community.  I have an exercise area downstairs.  I have technology that allows me to the internet and to have videochats with my family.  I'm still employed to work from home, and I'm getting paid like normal.  I'm healthy, and so far I don't have any friends or family members ill from the virus.

• 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.
• 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.
• Make a guidelines/expectations/tutorial of participating in Google Meets live session.
• 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.
• Still could do short stories unit
• Would need to get novels out to students to complete those units.
• Still can update EnvisonMe sites
• I could read a part of a story or a short story from my books on Google Meet

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.