Agenda December 18

1 HW CH5 do all Target Reading and all Marking the Text due Fri. Jan. 8
2 Journal 59   CH5 Pre Reading due today
3 Journal 60  CH5 Vocabulary due Fri. Jan. 8
4 Journal 61 CH5 Constructing Meaning due Fri. Jan. 8

Miniatures Club had a great time building and playing.  Thank you to all how came out to see the hydrogen oxygen reaction.  And remember, when you are doing something dangerous, have an adult do it.  They are expendable.

Have a safe Holiday Break.  Remember Rule 1

Agenda December 17

1 J 56 Lewis Dots
2 WS Lewis Dots due Fri. January 8
3 J57 Types of Chemical Bonds
4 J58 Ionic Bonds

Agenda December 16

1 Journal 55 Reaction Demonstration
2 Journal 56 Lewis Dots
3 WS Lewis Dots due January,

Miniatures Club will also be making terrain and playing Aerodrome on Friday.

Agenda December 15

1 Graphing Data for Half Life of Pennyium Activity and turn it in.
2 Check J53 CH5 Pre Reading
3 J54 Radioactive Demonstration

Agenda December 14

1 Trade and Grade Alien Periodic Table Test
2 Trade and Grade Isotope and Half Life Test
3 J53 CH5 Pre Reading due tomorrow
4 Finish Data collection for Half Life of Pennyium Activity
5 Make Up Test day is Thursday, January 7, 2016

Miniatures Club will have a special chemistry demonstration between 5 and 5:30 PM on Friday.  It is our annual lighting of the balloon.  If you don't come, maybe you will hear it in the neighborhood.

Agenda December 11

1 Test Isotopes and Half Life

I am excited I got picked to do Spartan FM.  My list of music is 1960's TV show themes.  I have offered the staff a $5 Starbucks card for the first email to tell me the theme.  Since none of us look at each others web pages, No one will figure out the answer is here.

Miniatures club will be making rocks from styrofoam and playing Aerodrome.

I am going to another LCPH party tonight.  This time, the department of Pediatrics.  The doctors at Packard are all so warm.  Many of them have children in middle school and it is encouraging to know that they have no idea what to do with them either.

Agenda December 10

1 Test Alien Periodic Table
2 Review for Isotope Half Life Test
3 Isotope Half Life Test tomorrow.
4 Next scheduled Make up test day; Thursday, January, 7 after school

Agenda December 9

1 Activity:  Half Life of Pennyium due Monday, Dec., 14
2 Test tomorrow Periodic Table
3 Test Friday Isotopes and Half Life

Happy Birthday Mr Realini

Agenda December 8

1 Check CH4.3-4.5 Homework, Journal 39 Vocabulary, Journal 40 Constructing Meaning, WS Placing all the Elements, WS Family Ties, WS Organizing the Elements, Mixed up Table.
2 J53 Radioactive Observations
3 J54 Lewis Dots (if time)

Agenda December 7

1 Check WS Placing All Your Elements
2 WS Family Ties use Placing All Your Elements due 12/8
3 WS Organizing the Elements due 12/8
4 WS Mixed Up Table due 12/8
5 Journal Adjustments
6 Test Periodic Table Thursday 12/10

Agenda December 4

1 CFA
1 J49 Radioactive History
2 J50 Half Life
3 J51 Isotopes
4 J52Types of Radioactivity

Agenda December 3

1 J43 Alkaline Earth Metals
2 J44 Transition Metals
3 J45 Lanthanides and Actinides
4 J46 Halogens
5 J47 Noble Gases
6 J48 Semi Metals
7 WS Placing the Elements on the Periodic Table Coloring and questions due Tuesday, Dec 8

Aiming at a test on the periodic table near the end of next week.
Miniatures Club will be making terrain and playing Aerodrome 1.1

Agenda December 2

1 Journal 40 Constructing Meaning Practice
2 Journal 41 Hydrogen
3 Journal 42 Alkali Metals

Agenda December 1

1 HW Directed Reading p   Target Reading p  due Tuesday, 8
2 Marking the Text p          Check today

Agenda November 30

That was a nice weekend.
1 Journal 38 Chapter4.3, 4.4, and 4.5 Pre Reading due today
2 Journal 39 Chapter4.3, 4.4, and 4.5 Vocabulary due Tuesday Dec. 8
3 Journal 40 Chapter4.3, 4.4, and 4.5 Constructing Meaning due Tuesday Dec. 8

Agenda November 24

1 Element Project Day 3 of 3
2 Make up test day coming Dec 3
3 Rally Schedule
4 Remember rule one and see you Monday
HAPPY THANKSGIVING

Aerodrome 1.1 went well with 4 new pilots acquitting themselves admirably.

Agenda November 23

1 Collect Element Project Paper
2 CA Healthy Kids Survey
3 Element Project Day 2.5 (if Time) Poster Prep
Make up Test Day Thurs. Dec 3 after school
Miniatures Club Meets tomorrow.  We will be playing Aerodrome 1.1  Time to smoke all of you HS termites out into the open.  College students welcome too.

Agenda November 20

1 Element Project Day 2 - Last day of in class research.  Printed written paper due first thing on Monday.  Art Project portion can start today though it will be mostly Tuesday.
2 Make Up Test Day is Thursday, Dec. 3 after school.  sign up list on the ventilation hood.
3 Metric Measurement Video group Project due today.
Miniatures Club will be painting today.  We will also be meeting on Tuesday, Nov 24.  We will be introducing Aerodrome 1.1

Agenda November 19

My Anniversary.  32 Years.  We went out to dinner this evening for sushi at Kazoo's with our eldest.
1 Element Project Day 1 of 3
2 Make Up Test Day Thursday, Dec. 3 after school
Miniatures Club tomorrow.  I am working with some students at the High School to bring Aerodrome there.

Agenda November 18

1 Grade Test
2 New Seats
3 Journal 37 Element Project Rough Draft

Agenda November 17

1 Test CH 4.1 and 4.2
2 Healthy Kids Survey form

Agenda November 16

1 Check CH4.1 and 4.2 HW, J33 CH4.1 and 4.2 Vocabulary, J34 CH4.1 and 4.2 Constructing Meaning, WS The Atom, WS Elements and Their Symbols, WS Calculating Protons Neutrons and Electrons, WS Name that Element, WS Meet the Elements, WS Name that Element Only, WS Bohr Model Homework, WS Bohr Model Trading Cards
2 Review WS Bohr Model Homework and WS Bohr Model Trading Cards
3 Test CH 4.1 and 4.2 on Tues. Nov 17
It has come to my attention that some students are using the "Well I was absent when you passed that out" excuse.  This is not a valid excuse in my class.  If students are absent, they should look at this blog to find out what they missed and when they return, they should look on the wall for any posted work and if they cannot find it come and talk to me.  End of trimester after grades are due is too late.  Yes, I know.  How do I get them to look at this blog.  Well, it is posted.

Agenda November 13 - Odd Day

The next Odd Day will occur on January 3, 2105.
1 Return Work
2 J36 Bohr Model Practice on the board looking like test questions
3 Video Bill Nye Atoms and Molecules due today
4 Test Chapter 4.1 and 4.2 on Tuesday Nov 17

Miniatures Club is painting today

Agenda November 12

Yesterday was Veteran's Day.  Thank You.
1 1st Trimester Agenda and Journal Check
2 CFA Atomic Structure
3 Review Bohr Model Homework worksheet with class examples

Agenda November 10

1 WS Calculating Protons/WS      due Mon, Nov 16
2 J35 Bohr Model Practice
3 WS Bohr Model Homework due Mon., Nov. 16  (remember, DO NOT use the short cut method on this assignment)
4 1st Trimester Agenda and Journal check on Thursday, Nov. 12

Agenda November 9

1 CFA Atomic Structure
2 Check Marking the Text CH4.1 and 4.2
3 WS Meet the Elements due Mon. Nov 16
4 WS The Atom/Elements and Their Symbols due Mon. Nov 16

Agenda November 7

1 HW CH4.1 and 4.2

Agenda November 5

1 J32 Finish
2 J33 CH4.1 and 4.2 Vocabulary due Mon Nov 16
3 J34 CH4.1 and 4.2 Constructing Meaning due Mon Nov 16

To all you Drama students performing The Hobbit - Break a Leg.

Agenda November 4

1 Check CH4.1-4.2 Pre Reading
2 J31 History of Atomic Theory
3 J32 Niels Bohr's model of the atom

Last day to turn in make up work is Tuesday, Nov 10
Make up test day is Thursday, Nov 12

Agenda November 3

1 Check CH3 HW packet, Vocabulary, and Constructing Meaning.
2 Return Work
3 Journal 30 CH4.1 - 4.2 Pre Reading due tomorrow

Agenda November 2

I have got to do this in the morning
1 Trade and Grade Chapter 3 Test
2 Check: Bill Nye Phases of Matter; WS States of Matter; WS Gas Laws; Activities (counted as one assignment) Balloon in a Flask/Collapsing Can; WS Claim Evidence Reasoning (CER) for Collapsing Can; Fountain in a Flask; CER for Fountain in a Flask.

Look for CER's to be used as assessments (tests) after labs to get the lab grades back into the subject/standard grade and out of Life Long Learning.

Make up Tests on Thursday, Nov. 13 after school.  STUDY  New policy being considered - only one at a time.  I had a number of students taking 3 tests last make up day.  That is hard for them.

I have received one full copier box full of candy.  Keep it coming

Agenda October 30

One Tardis and one Dalek on campus today.  I liked the error message costume and the facebook costume.  At my daughter's school, someone is going as El Nino.  One boy in class right now has some contacts on that make his eyes look milky.  Unfortunately, they partially obscure his vision, he is trying to take a test and he doesn't have any contact lens solution.
1 Test Chapter 3
2 Too much time on the test to check wotk so all assignments that were due today are now due on Monday.
3 I also talked about "How to be a Hero to a Little Kid on Halloween".
No trick or treaters are due in Santa Rosa tomorrow

Agenda October 29

1 Activity Fountain in a Flask
2 CER Fountain in a Flask

Agenda October 28

1 Claim, Evidence, and Reasoning practice.  This is the future of lab reports at, at least, Fremont HS.  It is not the definitive future lab report.  There will still be HS teachers who ask for the complete report.  This format does encourage more writing.  The consequences of learning a lab report "light" before learning the full format are still unknown.  As a result, I will be covering both.
2 CH3 Constructing Meaning - A chance to go into detail about how to complete these assignments.

Still having some trouble with the airplane picture of SMS
Make up test day tomorrow after school.

Agenda October 27

1 Halloween Candy and the Wider World
2 Activity Balloon in a Flask (finish) and Crushing Cans using the Gas Laws due tomorrow
3 CFA Gas Laws
4 Turn in the State of Matter WS and the Gas Law WS after the test
5 Video Bill Nye Phases of Matter will be offered during lunch on Thursday, Oct. 29
6 Make up / Retake Test day is Thursday, Oct. 29 after school

Agenda October 26

1 CFA States of Matter
2 WS States of Matter
3 Demo: Balloon in a Flask - Gas Laws
4 Demo and Activity - Marshmallows and Boyle's Law
5 NOTE Bill Nye Video on Thursday at lunch if you cannot view it anywhere else.
6 Make Up Test day is Thursday after school.  Be sure to sign up
Still Aiming at CH3 test on Thursday or Friday this week.

Miniatures Club will continue painting this week.  Working on a 4 color painting of "Napoleonic" uniforms for the wars of South American Liberation.
No Miniatures Club Nov. 6.  I will be absent.

Palm desert was really nice.  I visited My Dad and Stepmom and my inlaws came over too.  I got a picture of SMS from the flight back in to SFO.  I shall see if I can post it.

Agenda October 23

1 So we will talk and hopefully finish yesterday's lab
2 Because we need to reset behavior: WS States of Matter
3 WS Gas laws
4 CFA Phases of Matter (if time)
5 CFA Gas Laws (if time)

Agenda October 22

1 Activity Dry Ice and Water Ice Lab
(this lab went poorly)(student behavior was poor too)

Agenda October 21

1 Iodine Sublimation Demonstration
2 Journal 27 States of Matter
3 Journal 28 Boyle's Gas Law (PV at constant T)
4 Journal 29 Charles' Gas Law (VT at constant P)

So all but three students said they have access to the internet at home.  Bill Nye is also supposed to be on Netflix and about half of the students have that.  However, I was unable to find Phases of matter on Netflix so if you find it, let me know.

We have enough Aluminum cans so thank you.

Agenda October 20

A school district official (who was responsible for starting the whole 1-5 grading system and has since retired - how convenient ) said that all the students have access to the internet at home.  I have never tested this so here we go.
1 HW Video Bill Nye Phases of Matter WS due Friday October 30  here is a link that worked today:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=45YNZjYfHb4

2 HW CH3 Directed Reading Packet p49-64 Target Reading Skills on p50, 55, and 60.  Marking the Text on p 49, 54, and 59.  due Friday, October 30
3 Marking the Text p49 due today
Only 6 more Aluminum cans needed

Reminder No Miniatures Club this week.

Agenda October 19

As I recall, there was a rain a day or two after the Loma Prieta Earthquake.  Maybe more than this morning.  Today was not a day to drive on Hwy 17 or the be a deer on Hwy 17 (yuck).
1 Exothermic Endothermic Reactions Quiz
2 Journal 24  CH 3 Pre Reading due today
3 Journal 25 CH3 Vocabulary, due Friday, October 30
4 Journal 26 CH3 Constructing Meaning, due Friday, October 30

Reminder, No Miniatures this week

Agenda October 16

Tomorrow is Loma Prieta Earthquake anniversary day.  Duck and Cover
1 Trade and Grade CH2 Test
2 Finish Exothermic Endothermic reaction Activity
3 Review for Exothermic Endothermic Quiz on Monday
4 Aluminum cans are needed for an activity next week.  Please no beer cans.

Agenda October 15

1 Chapter 2 Test - Standard 3, Structure of Matter and Standard 5, Reactions

Agenda October 14

1 Journal 23 Exothermic and Endothermic
2 Activity Exothermic and Endothermic Reactions
3 Still need Aluminum cans

Cannot find NASCAR game.  Still looking.  If no NASCAR then painting Napoleonic miniatures for Liberator Game.  Probably no Miniatures on Friday, Oct 23.  I have to catch a plane and do not want to miss it.  But that is next week.

Agenda October 13

1 HW and Vocabulary etc check for Renaissance students
2 Activity Where's the Evidence Day 2

Empty Aluminum Cans needed for an activity next week.
Miniatures Club - aiming at NASCAR game called Race Day
Aiming at CH2 Test on Thursday

Agenda October 9

1 Journal 22 Characteristics of Matter
2 Check CH2 HW, Vocabulary, Constructing Meaning, Marking the Text
# Activity Day 1 Where's the Evidence

Agenda October 8

1 Activity LEGO Models of Elements, Molecules and Compounds due today
2 Journal 21 Law of Conservation of Matter
3 Journal Characteristics of Matter (if time)

Empty (rinsed please) aluminum cans are need for an upcoming activity.
CH2 Test upcoming next week on Thursday or Friday.
No Miniatures Club this week

Agenda October 7

1 Finish Activity Heterogeneous to Homogeneous Mixture
2 J19 Mixtures
3 J20 Compounds
4 J21 Law of Conservation of Matter

Agenda October 6

1 Video Project Metric Measurement guidelines
2 Activity Heterogeneous to Homogeneous Mixtures

Agenda October 5

1 Return Work
2 Density Review and Quiz (CFA)
3 Video Project Metric Measurement due Friday, November 20, 2015

No Miniatures Club this week.
Make up/Retake Test day on Thursday this week after school.
Aiming at CH2 Test Next week (Thur or Fri)

The first aerial combat victory happened today in history during WW1 1914 when a French plane shot down a German plane. 101 years ago.

Agenda October 2

1 Check CH2 Pre Reading
2 HW CH2 Directed Reading Packet - Target Reading p44 and 47 only (not p40) due Friday, Oct 9
3 Marking the Text - Do all three.  due Friday, Oct 9

Miniatures Club will not meet next Friday.  Watch this space for the next game day.  We will be changing to another game.

Agenda October 1

1 Journal 16 Chapter 2 Pre reading (due tomorrow)
2 Journal 17 Chapter 2 Vocabulary (due Fri., Oct 9)
3 Journal 18 Chapter 2 Constructing Meaning (due Fri., Oct 9)

I am out today and hopefully you all were polite to the substitute teacher.  I should be back tomorrow.
Unfortunately, my computer grading program is malfunctioning and I cannot access it.  I cannot add any grades so please be patient while I do the ranting to try to get it fixed.
Miniatures Club will be playing Wooden Warships in the Box Archipelago. 

Agenda September 30

1 Test Chapter 1 Scientific Method (etc)  This is the test that covers everything else in Chapter 1.  Retakes will be Thursday, Oct. 8 after school.  Be sure to sign up as I only have room for 35.

Agenda September 29

1 Finish and turn in graph from J15 Measuring Temperature
2 Finish J15 Measuring Temperature where we meet Gabe and Andy and watch them try to freeze water before refrigerators
3 Review for CH1 Scientific Method Test
Period 2 did not get to do this as we had the annual code red lock down drill.  All the students performed marvelously.  Still, our best option is to run away if it is clear.  All of my classes made it off campus in less than a minute when we practiced the first week of school.

Agenda September 28

1 Trade and Grade Test
2 Finish and turn in graph from J14 Measuring Time
3 Graph Data from J15 Measuring Temperature

Agenda September 25

Watch the Super Moon on Sunday combined with a lunar eclipse.  Next one in 2033.
1 Test CH1 Metric Measurement

Agenda September 24

1 Dry Ice Lab - Measuring Temperature - Journal will be on Monday

Agenda September 23 Autumn

1 Time Graph
2 Fire Safety
3 Density Practice

Agenda September 22

1 Journal 14 Measuring Time
This journal includes an activity measuring the time it takes a ball to roll down a ramp.  This will be a graphing assignment that will be due later this week.

Agenda September 21 Inservice Day

I entered 20 new assignments over the weekend.  Please check your grades online.  I was dismayed to see students missing 10 or more assignments out of those 20 assignments.  Please get these in.

Agenda September 18

Good Job to 5th Period Class for the Fire Drill.
1 Return Work
2 Review Work (Density of a Liquid)
3 Density CFA

Agenda September 17

1 Collect WS Density of a Substance
2 Collect WS Determining Density
3 Activity Density of Regular and Irregular Solids
4 Liquid Density Challenge

Miniatures Club will start to meet on Thursday after school for painting and modeling so Fridays can be exclusively gaming.  We will start with painting figures for a game about the Wars of South American Liberation we will play in the Spring (or earlier).  We will start with the 4 color concept.

Agenda September 16

1 Journal 13 Calculating Density
2 WS Density of a Substance (due tomorrow)
3 WS Determining Density (due tomorrow)

Agenda September 15

1 Journal 12 continued Mass of a Liquid
2 Turn in WS Metric Mania Mass
3 Turn in Measuring Mass Practice
4 Activity Measuring Mass Using a Triple Beam Balance.

I am now aiming at Friday Sept 25 for a test on measurement

Agenda September 14

Whoa.  Just made it.  It was a great weekend.  There was the Robotics Class, a Stanford football game, a wonderful Sunday BBQ followed by dinner at some friends headed to Tanzania to work with missionaries in western Tanzania.
1 Journal 12 Measuring Mass
2 WS Metric Mania due tomorrow
3 WS Measuring Mass Practice due tomorrow

Agenda September 11

If you get the chance to go on the Washington D. C. trip you will visit Newseum, an interactive museum dedicated to the news.  In a place of prominence is one of the radio tours from the top of the World Trade Center.  It was chilling.  None of the children in my classes were alive when September 11th became 9/11.  Lets be vigilante and pray that something like that never enters their lives.

1 Activity Measuring Volume Day 2 Irregular Solids due today
2 Finish Activity Liquid Volumes Using Different Measuring Tools due today
3 WS Measuring Liquid Volume due today
4 WS Volume of Water by Displacement
5 Check HW CH1, Journal 4 CH1 Vocabulary, and Journal 5 CH1 Constructing Meaning
6 J  12 Mass (if time)

Agenda September 10

1 J11 Measuring Volume of Irregular Solids
2 WS Measuring Liquid Volume (due tomorrow)
3 WS Volume by Water Displacement (due tomorrow)
4 Reminder HW Check tomorrow

Agenda September 9

Ok.  I thought I had put this one in.  My mistake.
1 J10 Measuring the volume of liquids
2 Activity:  Day 1 Measuring the Volume of Regular Solids
3 Start Activity: Liquid Volumes Using Different Measuring Tools

Agenda September 8

1 WS Units of Length (turn in tomorrow)
2 J 9  Measuring Volume of Solids
3 J 10  Measuring Volume of Liquids

Agenda September 3 and 4

Friday September 4
1 WS Length Measurement Practice
2 Activity Metric Measurement (length (due today))

Thursday September 3
1 WS Video Bill Nye Measurement
2 WS Length Measurement Practice

Almost hit a pedestrian in the cross walk at Mango and Remington.  At certain times of the day there is a fierce glare that obscures pedestrians.  The fellow had not pushed the walk button which lights the lights in the street.  Please students, push the button.  The lights will not physically stop the cars but it gives them a better chance of seeing you.  Oh, the fellow flipped me off.

Agenda September 2

1 WS Metric Mania Conversion due today
2 J8 Length (if time)
3 WS Length Measurement Practice (if time)

Agenda September 1

1 Video Veratasium The Roundest Object
 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZMByI4s-D-Y
2 J7 Metric System Conversion

Agenda August 31

Oops.  I forget to get it in some days. 
1 J6 How to Mark a Text
2 HW CH1 Directed Reading p11-37 Target Reading on p 12, 20, 26, 30, and 35 due Fri., Sept., 11

Agenda August 28

1 Journal 3 CH1 Pre Reading due today
2 Journal 4 CH1 Vocabulary due Friday, Sept. 11
3 Journal 5 CH1 Constructing Meaning due Friday, Sept. 11

Miniatures Club - Wooden Warships today

Agenda August 27

1 Journal 2 Pre Reading Instructions
2 Journal 3 Chapter 1 Pre Reading (due tomorrow)

Agenda August 26

1 Collect Depth and Pressure Graph
2 Journal 1 10,000 Hours
3 Journal 2 How to do Chapter Pre Reading

The fire drill went pretty well today.  I will expect improvement from my students next month period 2.

Agenda August 25

1 Trade and Grade Diagnostic Pre Test
2 Review Predator Prey Graph
3 Activity Depth and Pressure Graph (due tomorrow)

Agenda August 24

1 Collect Procedures Quiz
2 8th Grade Diagnostic Pre Test
Miniatures Club on Friday will be Wooden Warships.  Sweep the floor and start shooting.  No planes this time.

Agenda August 21

1 Collect Signed Rules
2 Collect Predator Prey Graph
3 Trade and Grade Procedures Quiz
4 Procedures Quiz Repair due Mon., Aug. 24
5 Have a Science Journal by Mon., Aug. 24
Miniatures Club 3:15 to 3:30  Justin should come.  Mario should come too.

Agenda August 20

1 Code Blue and Red Practice
2 Activity Predator Prey Graph (due Fri., Aug 21)
Miniatures Club Meeting tomorrow (Fri) after school 3:15-3:30  We may stay longer to talk about things so if you are an emeritus member, please come by.  Except Matt because you have a job and David because you are in Kentucky (unless you are not yet in Kentucky).

Agenda August 19

Oops.  Starting off behind.  Here is yesterday's agenda.
1 Daily Agenda
2 Rules (signed due Friday)
3 Procedures
4 Procedures Quiz (due Friday)

End of Summer 2015

3 Warm Things that Happened to Me at the End of Summer
On Monday, August 10, I went to swim laps at Fremont High School.  The Sunnyvale Sunn Swim Team was practicing and 5 swimmers (students) recognized me and I was greeted with a lot of warm "Hi Mr. Roberts".
On Tuesday, August 11, a former student stopped by school (yes I was here) and dropped off a bag of 20 rocks she found.  They are all from her trip to Easter Island this summer.  It was heart warming to realize she had though of me during her vacation.
On Wednesday, August 12, a different former student had his Eagle Scout Honor Court.  During the ceremony, he gave out one award to the adult who had mentored him the most in his life so far.  He picked me.  I was very red so I must have been warm.  I am greatly honored by this.  It will remain a highlight of my career.

Summer 2015 Half Way

Well, summer is half over.  Or, more optimistically, we still have half a summer to go.  Either way, don't let anyone tell you that summer is 3 months long. 
Kauai and my dad both went well.  Thanks to a generous donation from Pete at the South Bay Game Club, we can start a new period in the Miniatures Club.  The South American Wars of Liberation.
4th of July went well.  Here is my attempt of attaching a video:

Thanks to future freshman Ben and son-in-law Michael, we have a new way to distinguish counters for DBA that is much easier.
I am looking forward to 2 weeks at the Farm

Kauai 2

My dad came through faster and easier than the doctor expected.  Now, on to recovery.
Today was Waimea Canyon.  We also made it to sunset on Ke'e beach.  This is the absolute extent of driving on the island.  Tomorrow we hang out by the ocean and buy souvenirs.

Kauai 1

 Hanapeepee - The town made famous by Lilo and Stitch and home to the first Lampert's Ice Cream in Hawaii.  Its pronounced Hana-pay-pay.

 Water falls into the ocean.

 One of the last pictures from my (not quite) water proof camera.
I am most fortunate enough to be typing this on the island of Kauai.  I have been plenty busy buying armies for DBA next year and also preparing for a new area of focus for the Miniatures Club, The Wars of South American Liberation.
Here in Kauai, there are lots of chickens and a rooster lives outside our house and crows every time he gets back up on top of a particular bush.  There are many other birds with delightful songs.  So far, it mostly rains at night.  We have been snorkeling along the Na Pali coast, visited a botanical gardens encompassing all of Hawaiian history and oh by the way is also a miniature golf course.  It was started by the fellow who started E Trade just before he retired and encompasses plans for an area to bring life, interest, and jobs to an area of Kauai.  I have discovered Lampert's Ice Cream and a particular flavor which sadly, does not seem to be available anywhere but here.  It is called Nene Tracks after the state bird (which is a very distant (mitochondrial distant) relative of the Canadian Goose).  I will keep looking.  We have sat on the beach for sunset and hung out as a family.  Tomorrow is Waimea Canyon which, while only a small distance from here, entails a trip around the island.  The island that has an average speed limit of 35.  Heck even Hwy 17 is 50.  I shall have to post some pictures.
in the mean time, my father is having open heart, aortic valve replacement this morning at 5:30 AM so any prayers would be appreciated.

 The whole family in a boat in a cave with a waterfall.  This is the last 30' of a 3000 ft drop.

Agenda June 10

1 Period 1, 2, and 3 then promotion practice
Last Day for 6th and 7th graders
See you in August

Agenda June 9

8th Grade Great America

Agenda Monday June 8

1 Video Toothpaste
2 Video Tough Roads

Agenda June 5

1 Video Teens Talk AIDS
2 Video Molly and Mack What Teens Wants to Know about Sex
3 Video Toothpaste
Miniatures meet in the woodshop until 4:30

Agenda June 4

1 Video Teens Talk AIDS
2 Video Molly and Mack: What Teens Want to Know About Sex

Teacher Triathlon Today.  I have a special Thank You to my team mates Mr. Garrett Cotteropolis, Forensics teacher from Greece and Ms Trina Mac Chou from Royal Acting Academy in Edinburgh, Scotland.  We beat the ringers from college  and came in behind the PE department though they used an 8th grader. (he he he).

Miniatures will meet in the woodshop until 4:30.  I am hoping to get some club help today loading my car.

Agenda June 3

1 Triathlon P3 and 4
2 Finish Video Abstinence and Laughing and Living with AIDS and HIV

No Miniatures Club this week.  We may have a game day on Monday, June 15.  Stay tuned.

Agenda June 2

1 Video Laughing and Living with AIDS in HIV.  This is a presentation that was done for a high school audience that was none with humor to help get the message across.  I wish we could get one done more recently.  This one was done in the late 90's.

Agenda June 1

1 Promotion Name Papers
2 Video Abstinence: The Right Choice
3 Questions

Agenda May 29

1 Guest Speaker Day 4 Answering Anonymous Questions
2 Turn in textbooks to the library

Agenda May 28

1 Guest Speaker Day 3 Birth Control and Healthy Relationships
2 Turn in Textbooks to library

Agenda May 27

1 Guest Speaker Day 2 STD's
2 Last Day to Turn in Textbooks.  Everything else goes straight to the library.

These next 2 weeks will really fly.  Make certain you check your grades tomorrow as I will be updating through out the day.

Agenda May 26

1 Guest Speaker Day 1 Parts is Parts and intro to STD's
2 Turn in Textbooks today.
3 No one leaves during the presentation

Went on a food tour of Sonoma.  The plaza there is where California started and at 8 acres, the largest of its type in the state.  We went to a number of restaurants and food shops.  My favorite was the chocolate shop.  Big surprise right?

Agenda May 22

1 Check T3 Agenda and Journal
Agenda 3/2/15 - 5/22/15
Journal 82 to 117
Tomorrow is my eldest daughter's birthday!

Agenda May 21

1 Day 4 Water Bottle Rocket Launching
2 Remember Agenda and Journal Check on Friday

Miniatures Club is an open game day with the Battle of the Atlantic and a Fantasy Role Playing game on the agenda

Agenda May 20

1 Day 3 Water Bottle Rocket Nose Cone and Decoration
2 Trimester 3 Agenda and Journal Check Friday, May 22
3 Make up Tests continue today at lunch
4 Promotion Speech Tryouts today after school
5 I am posting Citizenship grades this week but they can change.

Agenda May 19

1 Day 2 Water Bottle Rocket Strapping, Fins, and Nosecone
2 Trimester 3 Agenda and Journal Check on Friday, May 22
3 Make up tests continue on Wednesday

Agenda May 18

1 Day 1 Water Bottle Rocket Project

A great time for a graduation.  My daughter is officially done.  Next up is son in law on June 13

Agenda May 15

1 Test Chapter 12 through 15

Agenda May 14

1 Check Homework, Vocabulary, and Constructing Meaning for Chapters 12 through 15
2 Check all six Bill Nye Video worksheets
3 Check Astronomy Activities
4 Test CH12 - 15 on Friday

I still do not have enough 2 liter bottles to do the rocket activity for all classes.  Please send/bring them in.
No Miniatures Club this week.  I am going south for my daughter's graduation from graduate school.

Agenda May 13

1 Trade and Grade Astronomy Activities
2 Test CH12 - 15 on Friday.  Make ups will be Monday

Agenda May 12 51215-a palindrome

1 STAR Test day .  There is some discussion about where and when the scores for this test are posted.  We cannot find last year's scores.  Anyone out there get them last year?
2 CH12 to 15 test will be Friday this week.  Look up the CA Standard for Astronomy in your Science Textbook.  The test was generated from those 5 standards.
3 2L bottles are due in by Wednesday for the Water Bottle Rocket Project.We have 8 total.  We need 80.
Here is a link to the teacher's website we use to construct the rockets.
http://tclauset.org/21_BtlRockets/BTL.html

Agenda May 11

Happy Belated Mother's Day to all the moms of my students
1 STAR Test day 1.  Yes, it is finally here.  Everything on the test, I have covered.  I have covered way more than the test covers but that is because we are getting students ready to move on to high school not just finish middle school.  But enough.
2 CH12 to 15 test will be either Thursday or Friday this week.
3 2L bottles are due in by Wednesday for the Water Bottle Rocket Project.

Agenda May 7 and 8

1 Review Force and Motion and Investigation and Space
2 Activity: How do Astronomers Measure Distances to Stars?
3 Activity: The Expanding Universe Model
4 Activity: How is a Star's Color Related to its Temperature
5 WS Classifying Galaxies
6 Bring in 2L bottles by next Wed., May 13
I have recovered from yesterday's food hangover and my daughter made it safely to Southern California to take her last final in her masters program.

Agenda May 6

1 Review Motion and Forces
2 Check CH12, 13, 14, and 14 Pre Reading
3 Return Work
4 Request for 2L bottles for Water Bottle Rocket Project.  I need 2 per group by next Wednesday, May 13.
Thank you to all of you who donated to the Teacher Appreciation Brunch.  I, once again, managed to achieve a "food coma" and slept it off during my prep.  How many waffles was that?

Agenda May 4 and 5

Happy Star Wars Day and Happy Cinco de Mayo
1 Activity Model of Planets' Orbit due today
2 Activity Planet Speed Around the Sun
3 Check Pre Reading if time
4 Return Work if time
5 Finish Video if time
Bring colored writing tools for activity on Thursday/Friday

Agenda May 1

1 Activity Angle of the Sun's Rays
2 Check Pre Reading moved to Wednesday next week
Next week is block schedule except for Wednesday.

Good day on the race track.  Shaylin won at Daytona

Agenda April 30

1 Review Chemical Reactions
2 WS Video Exploring our Solar System
3 Check All HW, Vocabulary, and Constructing Meaning now due May 13, Wednesday
4 Check remaining Pre Reading tomorrow

Bring Colored Pencils etc next week.
Miniatures Club will be learning Race Day tomorrow

Agenda April 29

1 Review Things to put on the Periodic Table I gave you
2 WS Video Sun, Moon and Earth
3 WS Video Exploring our Solar System

Agenda April 27-28

1 Review Structure of Matter
2 The 6 Bill Nye Videos (Sun, Moon, Planets, Comets and Meteors, Seasons, and Outer Space) due Wed., May 13
3 Video Clip - Phases of the Moon
4 Activity - Phases of the Moon
5 Review Periodic Table
6 WS Video National Geographic Sun, Earth, and Moon

Today is a Period 1,3,5 Day.  Today's Agenda is the same for tomorrow.  Write in your journal on the day you have the class and on the day you did not have this class, write Block Schedule.

Agenda April 24

1 Review
2 J111 CH14 Pre Reading check today
3 J112 CH14 Vocabulary due  Mon. May, 4th (Star Wars Day)
4 J113 CH14 Constructing Meaning due Mon. May 4th
5 J111 CH15 Pre Reading check today
6 J112 CH15 Vocabulary due  Mon. May, 4th (Star Wars Day)
7 J113 CH15 Constructing Meaning due Mon. May 4th 8 HW Directed Reading CH12 - 15.  No Target Reading.  Still do all Marking the Text  Due Wed. May 13

Miniatures Club will be playing a variant of DBA today where you can build your own army with a point system.

Agenda April 23

Ok.  Take a breath and hold it.  We will come out on the other side on May 12.
1 Review KHDBDCM
2 J105 CH12 Pre Reading check 4/24
3 J106 CH12 Vocabulary due Fri May 1
4 J107 CH12 Constructing Meaning due Fri May 1
5 J108 CH13 Pre Reading check 4/24
6 J109 CH13 Vocabulary due Fri May 1
7 J110 CH13 Constructing Meaning due Fri May 1

Agenda April 22

1 Test(s) CH11.  Ok it is one test but 2 different standards so I divided it up into 2 tests.
P3 and P4 need to get work returned.
I am going through the video projects that have had some troubles but this will take awhile.
Miniatures Club - DBA if Ben brings back the materials
I am going to the Butter and Egg Parade (hopefully) on Saturday in Petaluma.  See you there.

Agenda April 21

1 Check CH11 Homework, Vocabulary, Constructing Meaning
2 Check Bill Nye Video WS for Pressure, Flight and Buoyancy
3 Return Work
4 CH11 Review

Agenda April 20

1 Activity Bernoulli Day
2 Lots of stuff due tomorrow (CH 11 HW, Vocab, Cons Mean, WS for videos on Pressure, Flight and Buoyancy)
3 CH11 Test on Wednesday

We had some bad news about the passing of Cathy Ericcson today.  She was one of our special ed teachers who worked primarily with 6th graders.  She was a wonderful gracious Christian lady and she will be missed.

Spring Break 2015

Just got back from Palm Desert (via Palm Springs) to celebrate my dad's 80th birthday.  Saw lots of family, old friends, and my elementary school best friend, (now a well to do realtor in the LA area).

31 assignments were entered into the system.  Some assignments were left at school because they were turned in late so have not yet been processed.  You now must be patient if an assignment was turned in late.

I managed to power through all the video projects and they should be online in Power School by Tuesday.  Some of them are hilarious and all showed a lot of effort.  Ask your friends or children to show them to you.  Many are on Youtube.

Agenda April 10

1 J104 Pascal's Principle
2 Activity Sink and Spill
3 HW WS Video Bill Nye Buoyancy due Tues. April 21
4 HW WS Video Bill Nye Flight due Tues. April 21

Agenda April 9

1 Activity Fountain in a Flask (yes we have done this before)
2 J103 Bernoulli's Principle

Miniatures Club will be Early Indian Armies.  Lots of Elephants

Agenda April 8

1 WS Video Bill Nye Pressure due 4/12
2 J102 Pressure

Thanks to all who came out last night.  I was reminded to encourage you to sign up for the PTSA Golf Tournament.  https://store.cloud501.com/store/smsgolf

Also, Stanford is having an open house at the Astro Physics lab on Saturday.
 https://news.slac.stanford.edu/announcement/kipac-invites-public-third-annual-open-house

Agenda April 7

1 J99 CH11 Pre Reading due today
2 CH11 Marking the Text due today
3 HW CH11 Directed Reading Packet p189-203.  All Target Reading due Tuesday, April 21
4 J100 CH11 Vocabulary due Tuesday, April 21
5 J101 CH11 Constructing Meaning  due Tuesday, April 21

Miniatures Club members will be playing Ancients at Open House tonight.

Agenda April 6

1 Check HW CH10, J95 CH10 Vocabulary, and J96 CH10 Constructing Meaning
2 Check WS Disney Video Friction and Trajectory
3 Check WS Newton's 2d Law Problems
4 Check WS Gravity and Friction Review
5 Return Work
6 CH 10 Retake test on Thursday

Agenda April 3 (or March 34)

1 Test CH10
2 All the work that was due today is being moved to Monday to insure students have enough time to finish the test today.

Agenda April 2

1 Activity Motion Stations

Agenda March 32

Yes, I know I did this last year but most of the "audience" are new this year.
1 WS Video Disney Imagineering Trajectory due Fri. April 3
2 WS Newton's Second Law Problems due Fri. April 3
3 WS Friction and Gravity Review  due Fri. April 3

Miniatures Club - DBA 3 reboot.  Going back to the beginning to get the basics down so we can grow from there.  The teacher part of me needs to rein in the gamer part of me.  We have room for a few more and Friday would be a good time to start.  If you are a former player, you may remember this game.

Agenda March 31

1 Activity Newton's 2nd Law Lab with Hot Wheels
Whew caught back up

Agenda March 30

1 Activity Mass Weight Gravity and Friction Stations
2 Video Disney Imagineering Friction

Agenda March 27

1 Activity Mass Weight Gravity and Friction Stations

Agenda March 26

1 WS Video Disney Imagineering Newton's Three Laws
2 WS Video Disney Imagineering Gravity

Miniatures Club - We will be playing with Book One (very ancient) armies.

Agenda March 25

1 J95 CH10 Vocabulary due Fri April 3
2 J96 CH10 Constructing Meaning due Fri April 3
3 J97 Friction
4 J98 Gravity
Finish checking CH10 Marking the Text
Test CH10 Fri April 3
Video projects due Fri April 10
I have over 10 assignments to enter into the computer but the district is behind at printing report cards so when that happens and I get the ok, I can proceed.

Miniatures Club will be learning De Bellis Antiquitatus.  Thanks for the help from Kevin and Ben.  It took me two days to make the combat results table and it may still need some tweaking.

Agenda March 24

1 Video Veratasium Newton's Three Incorrect Laws of Motion
2 J94  CH10 Pre Reading due today
3 HW CH10 Directed Reading p 177-188  Do ALL Target Reading Due Fri. April 3
4 CH10 Marking the Text check today and tomorrow

Agenda March 23

1 Collect any Acceleration Labs still out there.
2 Collect WS Velocity/Acceleration
3 Collect WS Video Disney Energy
4 Collect WS Video Eureka
5 Test CH9 Motion

Video Project.  One weekend gone.  One weekend left.  Plan your time accordingly.

Agenda March 20

Spring!
1 Finish Acceleration Lab due Monday
2 Check HW Directed Reading CH 9, J 85 CH9 Vocabulary, and J86 CH9 Constructing Meaning
3 WS Velocity/Acceleration Worksheet due Monday
4 Collect WS from Disney Video Energy and Eureka Video on Monday
5 Test on Monday 3/23

Miniatures - Last day of Aerodrome with Aerodrome 3 using sub orbital aircraft since I do not have enough MiGs and Sabres.  Next week will be DBA so look it up.

http://fanaticus.org/DBA/index.html

http://www.wadbag.com/DBAGuide/

Agenda March 19

1 Video Imagineering: Energy
2 Video project questions answered

Miniatures Club Aerodrome 3.0 with suborbital aircraft tomorrow.

Agenda March 18

1 Video Bill Nye Motion
2 Video Project information (if time)

We will finish the Acceleration with Galileo's Marbles tomorrow.

Agenda March 17

1 Activity Acceleration with Galileo's Marbles
2 Still aiming at test on Monday or Tuesday

District visit went well and I got the additional news that the county signed off on the remodel permit so the remodel is officially done.

Agenda March 16

1 Return Work
2 J93 Acceleration
3 Video Eureka Series - Speed, Acceleration part 1 and part 2
Bring in a timer tomorrow for the lab
CH9 Test either Mon., March 23 or Tues., March 24

Agenda March 13

1 Activity Galileo's Marbles Lab  We are measuring distance and time to determine speed.

I also found Sector 33 in the iTunes store and it is free for those who are interested.

I ran into 2 former students (not literally) at the pool this morning.  Both are doing well at age 25.  One is an electrical engineer and the other is a physiologist as I recall.  They both laughed about their middle school experiences.  They are proof that kids can make it through middle school.

I was saddened to learn of the passing of my favorite author, Terry Pratchett.  I must find a 3/8ths gripley.

Agenda March 12

1 Inquiry Speed and Distance
We are using a NASA program called SmartSkies Sector 33.
This link will give you the basics and send you to where you can get this for yourself.

 http://www.nasa.gov/topics/aeronautics/features/sector33.html#.VQG7rOGo080

Agenda March 12

1 J88 Relative Motion and Reference Point
2 J89 Distance and Displacement
3 J90 Speed and Velocity
4 J91 Speed Graph
We still need a Journal on Acceleration

Agenda March 10

Wow have I fallen off the track.  Here comes 2 days worth of agendas.
1 J87 Inquiry - Motion (using Thomas the Tank Engine and a cool Youtube video.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AKhvqO5UBsA

Agenda March 9

1 Check J84 CH9 Pre Reading
2 HW CH9 Directed Reading p155 - 170 Target Reading on p160, 164, and 168. due
3 J85 CH9 Vocabulary due
4 J86 CH9 Constructing Meaning due

Agenda March 6

1 Retake Test as needed
2 New Seat
3 J84 CH9 Pre Reading due Monday, March 9

Saturday was the Flee Market at Game Kastle near SJ Airport.  I found some things I didn't know I wanted and couldn't live without.  Got some good deals.

Agenda March 5

1 Test Chapter 8

Agenda March 4

1 Check HW CH8 and J78 CH8 Vocabulary and J79 CH8 Constructing Meaning
2 Trimester 2 Agenda and Journal check
3 Spartan Spirit Tickets

Agenda March 3

1 Activity The Last Meal Lab due today
Agenda, Journal, HW, Vocabulary, and Constructing Meaning due tomorrow.

Agenda March 2

1 Worksheet Video Modern Marvels Carbon due today
2 Agenda and Journal check on Wednesday.
3 HW packet, vocabulary, constructing meaning due Wednesday
4 Aiming at Thursday for CH8 Test

Well I found another way to hurt my arm.  We found a Disc Golf course near out house in Santa Rosa.  Besides up and down there are enough trees and rocks to make this an idyllic location rural yet close to urban.  Found a nice restaurant in Downtown Santa Rosa called Flavors.

Agenda February 27

1 Activity Day 2 How Many Molecules? due today
Aiming at Thursday, March 5 for CH8 Test

Agenda February 26

1 J82 Polymers (continued)
2 J83 Organic Chemistry
3 Activity Day 1 How many Molecules?

Agenda February 25

1 J 80 Properties of Carbon
2 J 81 Carbon Compounds\
3 J 82 Polymers
4 J 83 Organic Chemistry (if time)

Agenda February 24

1 Check J77 CH8 Pre Reading
2 J 78 CH8 Vocabulary due Wed., March 4
3 J 79 CH8 Constructing Meaning due Wed., March 4
4 HW CH8 Directed Reading p137 - 153.  Do Target Reading p138, 141, 146, and 150 (that is all of them).  Marking the Text for all sections.  due Wed., March 4
5 CH8 Marking the Text p137 of the HW above. due today.

Wednesday, March 4 will be Agenda and Journal Check for Trimester 2.  Make certain you are up to date with both of those and that you have them on Wednesday.

No Miniatures Club this week.  I have to get to the Farm before dark to do some mapping.

Agenda February 23

1 Return Work
2 Check Grades using iPads (It turns out many students do not have usernames or passwords)
3 Make up missing tests for a number of students
4 J 77 CH 8 Pre Reading due Tuesday, Feb. 24
 For my Birthday, My daughter and son-in-law took me skeet shooting.  While skeet (flying clay disks) do not fear me as such, they are keeping an eye on me.  I had a great time hanging out with my family.

 

I also played boche ball at Mr. Realini's house.

Agenda February 13

1 Video Modern Marvels Acids

I am recommending/requiring a number of my students to sign up for the Harker Math Competition.  No 8th graders had signed up and we have lots of high performing math students.  The competition is on March 1 and students and parents can contact Ms Austin and Ms Leknes about details

Miniatures Club - We will be playing some board games this week and learning about painting miniatures.

Vacation next week.  I will be visiting Santa Rosa to see my wildflowers.  Remember that the yearbook is looking for pictures from your vacation.

Agenda February 12

1 Test Acids and Bases

We had a nice meeting with the Fremont HS Biology teachers yesterday.  I appreciate their move to grading rubrics since I know those are difficult.  I was sorry to see them drop the standard lab report format.  Their reasoning related to the AP Biology Test questions and what that test looks for.  I think that being able to describe how to do an experiment has other applications in life such as cooking, raising children, and asking for a raise.
Today the FHS and HHS counselors met with 8th graders which threw off the morning schedule.  Tomorrow there is a drama assembly for 8th graders which also throws off the schedule.  Students will need to make their own arrangements to make up today's test.
Yesterday was my wife's birthday.  We went to Scratch in Mountain View.  Castro St is really a jumpin' place mid week.

Agenda February 11

1 Activity Acid Base Lab Day 2
2 J76 Acid Base Comparison (continued)

Agenda February 10

1 Return Work
2 Check CH 7 Homework, J71 Vocabulary, and J72 Constructing Meaning
3 Activity Day 1 Acid Base Lab
4 J76 Comparing Acids and Bases

Agenda February 9

1 Activity Alien Juice Bar Computer Lab (While this is finishable in class, some may not.  You would need to do it at home and bring it back tomorrow.)
2 Check HW, Vocabulary and Constructing Meaning CH 7 if time.
3 Return work if time.

Agenda February 6

1 Test Solutions
2 Check HW CH7, J71 CH7 Vocab, and J72 CH7 Constructing Meaning (if time)
make up Test for Solutions will be Thurs., Feb, 12

Miniatures today is supposed to be about Aerodrome with mountains however, we will be free form due to the rain expected today.  Likewise, next Friday, Feb. 13 we may be doing some board gaming or wood working due to impending vacation.  I would like to do a couple of weeks of Aerodrome 2 using the Battle of Britain boardgame as a scenario generator.  However, I would also like to paint miniatures.  We shall see so stay tuned.

Agenda February 5

1 Activity Solubility Lab Day 2
2 J73 Corrections to interpretation of Tyndall Effect
3 Solution Test tomorrow
4 Acid/Base Test Thursday, Feb. 12

Agenda February 4

1 Activity Solution, Suspension, Colloid Lab Trade and Grade
2 J75 Solubility Lab Day 1 Instructions and Data Table

Agenda February 3

1 Activity Solution, Suspension, Colloid Lab worksheet due today
2 Make up tests today

Agenda February 2

1 Check Chapter 7 Marking the Text
2 J73 Types of Solutions
3 J74 Solubility and Temperature

Agenda January 30

1 Check J70 CH7 Pre Reading
2 J71 CH7 Vocabulary due Friday, Feb 6
3 J72 CH7 Constructing Meaning due Friday, Feb 6
4 HW CH7 Directed Reading p123 - 136; Target Reading on p124 and 134;  due Friday, Feb 6
5 Marking the Text CH7 all sections.  Check section 1 on Monday, Feb. 2

Agenda January 29

1 Trade and Grade Chapter 6 Test
2 Mg + O2 => MgO
3 Al + HCl => AlCl3 + H2
4 H2 + O2 => H2O
All done as demo's
5 J70 CH7 Pre Reading check tomorrow

Agenda January 28

1 Chapter 6 Test

Agenda January 27

1 Activity Single Replacement.  Zinc + HCl => Zinc Chloride + Hydrogen gas
2 CH 6 Test tomorrow.

Agenda January 26

My Birthday!
Additionally this was an inservice day so I hope you enjoyed the day.  On Friday after 5PM, we set of 2 synthesis reactions.  Both were Hydrogen plus Oxygen yields water.  And this time, we had the Oxygen in the balloon with the Hydrogen.  Instead a "woomf" it was more of a "crack".  We are still working on the triggering mechanism.
My Family took me out for sushi and chocolate malts.

Agenda January 23

1 Decomposition and Catalyst Lab
2 Hydrogen plus Oxygen demo.

After school we lit off two balloons at 5PM.  They were a mixture of hydrogen and oxygen.  I am certain folks took pictures.  Did you hear the bang?  No police came by this year.

Agenda January 22

1 Video Bill Nye Chemical Reactions
2 Hearing tests in the hearing test truck

Agenda January 21

1 Activity Silver Nitrate and Sodium Phosphate Chemical Reaction due today.
2 Return Work

I fear I am having a relapse.  No fever but congestion.

Agenda January 20

Happy Birthday to Mrs. Messner.
1 Turn in any out standing miniposters
2 Turn in the following worksheets:
WS Reactions; WS Types of Chemical Reactions; WS Classifying Chemical Reactions

CH6 Test looks like it will be next Tuesday or Wednesday.
Hearing Testing is on Thursday during Science which breaks up the day.

Santa Rosa looks nice.  Some wildflowers are blooming which isn't so good for winter.  Finishes are coming along.
I forgot,  I was never called in for jury duty.  The kept me in the wind until Friday at 11AM but at least I don't have that hanging over my head.
As a result, I am finally taking medications and have reduced my symptoms by a great deal.

MLK day January 19

Several times today I thought it was Saturday.  I was saddened to hear that the last Freedom Train in the US was not going to run next year.  I was a little proud that it was the train from San Jose to Sacramento.
The Christmas Lights are down and the trees are sprayed.  Now we need rain.

Agenda January 16

Last year January 16 was quite warm and dry.  This year, we have the dry but not as warm though it is supposed to get to 70 later today.
1 Check CH6 HW, J63 Vocabulary, and J64 Constructing Meaning
2 Video Chemical reactions from Ted Ed
3 Activity Chemical Reaction Miniposter using Paper and Ted Ed info
4 WS Chemical Reactions use Journal 69 to help  check on Tuesday
5 WS Types of Chemical Reactions  check on Tuesday
6 WS Classifying Chemical Reactions  check on Tuesday

Lab Safety.  In the upcoming labs, safety is the first concern.  Additionally, the labs increase in danger.  Because of this, class safety behavior in the early labs will determine whether the class gets to do the later labs or if I do them as demonstrations.

Thanks to all the teachers who showed up at the School Board meeting to show support for our bargaining team.

Agenda January 15

1 Trade and Grade Test
2 Journal 69 Types of Chemical Reactions
3 Make up test day on Thursday Jan 22
4 HW, Vocab, Constructing Meaning CH6 due tomorrow

Agenda January 14

1 Test Balancing Equations
2 Turn in the 2 worksheets about balancing equations since I gave you an extra day to do them and answered all the questions you asked.
Miniatures Club-Aerodrome Tournament.  Since I am not getting a very good response from the 8th graders, I will probably open up to applicants from the 7th grade.  Now is the time to think of your squadron tactics.
Still no jury duty for which I am grateful.  I have the whole cold except for the fever for which I am also grateful as it allows me to be here.

Agenda January 13

1 Balancing Equation Practice Test
2 Review Worksheets from yesterday
3 Balancing Equation Test tomorrow

Agenda January 12

1 J68 Balanced Equations using Beads
2 WS Balancing Act/Balancing Act Practice
3 WS Balanced Equations/Balancing Equations
All Worksheets checked tomorrow and turned in with the test on Wednesday
4 Balancing Equation Test tomorrow

Agenda January 9

1 J 65 Law of Conservation of Matter
2 J66 Characteristics of Matter (review)
3 J 67 What Happens During Chemical Reactions (white boards)
4 J68 Balancing Equations (if time)

Agenda January 8

1 Marking the Text CH 6 due today
2 HW CH 6 Directed Reading p105-122 No Target Reading Skills due Fri., Jan 16
Make Up Test today

Agenda January 7

1 J63 CH6 Vocabulary due Fri. Jan. 16
2 J64 CH6 Constructing Meaning due Fri. Jan. 16
3 Pass Out White Boards
4 Make up Test on Thursday Lunch from 12:40 to 1 PM or after school.

I am working on a, sort of, Aerodrome tournament for Saturday, January 31 at the South Bay Game Club meeting in Saratoga.  I was thinking about a 1PM start time to avoid the food issue.
Gaming Location 10 AM to 5 PM. Fellowship Hall - Prince of Peace Lutheran Church (12770 Saratoga Ave., Saratoga, CA)
Former students are encouraged to attend and either compete for the honor of their alma mater or to blast those up start whipper snappers into oblivion.  Please email me if you fall into the emeritus category so I can make certain you have a plane.  Remember, It is age and treachery versus youth and skill and you fall into the first category now.

Agenda January 6

1 Z Resolutions
2 J62 CH6 Pre Reading due today

Many students did not resolve their z's.  They will need to do this now on their own time such as before school, brunch, the beginning of lunch and possibly after school though appointments may interfere with that one.

Agenda January 5

1 Trade and Grade CH 5 Test
2 Turn in Activity Drops on a Penny
3 Progress Report - Lets get this done before the last minute.  Tomorrow is a day to bring in any Z's.
4 Test retake on Thursday, January 8

Vacation Grade Update

I have caught up with my grading and data entry (well, almost with the data entry)
I am distressed by all the Z's on the grade sheets.  To that end, Tuesday after break will be about filling in all the gaps.  I will be printing out a list of assignments for all students (if the school printer can handle it) to give to students tomorrow.  If a student was absent, or testing, or sick just for a bit, or left it at home, or on vacation early, or job shadowing or saving the free world from the diabolical scheming of a master super villain,  they can bring in that work on Tuesday.  I do not want anyone to come to me in the last week of the trimester saying, "What can I do to improve my grade?" 

Agenda December 19

1 Test CH 5
I am out today getting ready for my daughter's wedding.
Some things I have learned this year.
Just because you are 56 doesn't mean you still won't do stupid things.
Just because you have snow skied for 48 years doesn't you won't do something stupid.
Frozen Terrain Park features have a lower frictional coefficient than snow. 
Still, If your children want to do something and include you, do it.
Sweet Potato Fries are like eating a Taco Salad.  They SOUND like they are good for you and you get credit as if they are.
Prickly Pear (the tunas) taste a bit like passion fruit.  But don't bite down on the seeds.
Putting earrings and stockings on your wife because of her broken arm earn you "husband of the year points" which I have now used up.
Some rides at Disneyland change for Christmas making the lines a bit more bearable.
Exercising as a way to lose weight only works if you cut out dessert before bedtime. [Note: Some things I learned this year, I didn't like]
The word "fun" when used in the area of remodeling is just a short word for "expensive" as in, "This counter top would be fun."
Septic tanks, Flooring, Wiring, Woodpeckers, Tile, and Stacked Stone are all choices.
Bamboo board is expensive but antibacterial.
Practicing a wedding speech is best with notes and even though you practiced, still use the notes.
The father of your new son-in-law is your "bro".  Interestingly enough, so is the mother.
Croquet is fun on a golf course at night.
Traditions can change as long as you are the one to change them.