Testing at School

We start ITBS testing tomorrow. Standardized testing is such a drag! Yes, I know that it is supposed to be a good way to measure what a child knows. Does it? And does standardized testing determine what a child will become? Absolutely not! What do you think? Could the roughly 5 days we spend doing standardized testing be used for better purposes?

Good Day Overall

Ag day was a success today. The students were very well behaved and the weather was excellent! I guess the only downside to today was that it was turn in day for magazine sales. This is the first class that I have sponsored and my first go-around with magazine sales. It is crazy! Anyway, I have pretty much made it through and the kids were really good about it. My high school buddy arrives tomorrow. Can't wait to see the old dog.

Looking Forward to the Week

I am really looking forward to this week. Tuesday is Ag day at school, which is always fun. On Wednesday my son has a football game and my best friend from high school is coming in from Chicago. He is going to spend Thursday and Friday speaking to our STEM class. On Friday he might stay and go to Homecoming at Culver Stockton College with me. It is my 20th year class reunion. I can't believe it! This week is going to be extremely busy but should be full of fun also.

Teaching?

I am starting to wonder when there is time for teaching? When I started teaching 20 years ago there was one thing that mattered when it came to teaching…how well were you teaching? Class was rarely missed by teachers or students. Today there rarely is a day that isn't affected by teachers, including myself, missing class due to a meeting or an in-service. It is also just as common place for students to miss class due to meetings, early dismissal for games, or a barrage of other things. With the state putting more and more requirements on teachers, students, and schools in general it is amazing to me how the state also wants more out of all of the above with less time in the classroom. To me this makes absolutely no sense whatsoever! Let's get back in the classroom and do what we came here to do!

Doin' it from the iPhone

Hoping this works. It is so easy!

Kitchen Update

We are redoing our kitchen. I am kind of interested in really getting into it. We are at the start of the process. We are painting the cupboards and the walls and getting a new floor. We are doing most of it on our own. Wish us luck and pray for us that it doesn't turn into a "money pit".

Sent from my iPhone

Time To Reflect

I am sitting here watching "Motherhood" which I thought was a comedy.
I guess it is but it sure is making me think. My kids are getting so
big. I don't know where the time has gone. My son just turned 12 and
my daughter is 8. My wife and I have been discussing where to send
our kids to high school which is really making me feel old; which is
fine because I still feel young. My son is acting more and more like
a teenager which is great because that is the age of kid I am used to
dealing with everyday. I am very thankful that he still loves to spend
time with me. My wife and I have to really work at finding a spare
minute together. We are constantly busy, like most people our age.
We were lucky enough to have two dates last week. It was nice to get
reaquainted with each other. As far as how fast our lives are going,
every year seems to faster and faster. I don't see my parents as
often as I should due to our busy lives and I do have concerns about
losing them without being connected. Doesn't everybody? We have just
brought a kitten into the busy Carey household and he has sure brought
a calmness and common interest to the family. I never thought that
my wife would ever want to have a pet let alone become so attached to
him. She sure loves that little guy. Quin, our kitten, is full of
energy and loves attention. Life is good! Enjoy it all!