The First Full Week

School was difficult this week, but I also had some fun. The schedule is pretty awful - I need to switch rooms 2-3 times per day. This means setting all of the wiring and everything up for the Macbook and taking it down again. I total this takes about 10 minutes to set up and 5 to take down when done properly...but there usually isn't time to do it properly, and often it doesn't work at all, so I end up rushing around and being stressed out. It took about 4 emails to convince the schedule maker of the problem (I am the one piloting the Macbook) and hopefully now he understands it. Whether or not he will change my schedule is a different story.

Things went pretty well once the lessons were up and running. Some classes are really loud but when we get into the PowerPoints they take notes well. I had to kick out a couple students, and I am sure many more will come - especially in the classes with students I taught last year. I got the short end of the stick and still need to suffer for it, but that is ok.

One of the best things happening is this program called Mathletics. We use it one hour per week for every first year class as a supplement to their Math lessons - Arithmetic. The first two times I tried to introduce it the Internet wasn't working, so that was frustrating, but the third time is the charm. The instructions were clear, kids listened well, it was installed without a problem, and they love it! They get to create a little Avatar, earn points, unlock games, and go though explanations and examples. The best part is the live competition - at the class level or the global level.

There was one girl in particular who has missed the last two years of school due to illness, and is particularly worried about Math. The program has a class competition component, and I was watching her compete and she beat everyone in her group! I told her it sure doesn't look like she missed the last two years of Math, and she couldn't stop smiling. I am happy we have found such a great way to use the Macbooks and to motivate kids to practice their Math skills.

At home, the kitchen sink area got a little bit too much attention. Our new countertop dishwasher is finally working, but it took quite some effort and frustration. To make a long story short, I had to take several trips to the Gamma (a Dutch version of Home Depot), soaked the cabinets, broke a fitting, drilled holes where they shouldn't be drilled, but after a few days the cold water line and the drain are split and we have a working dishwasher. It isn't very powerful as it is a cheap model, but it will save some time.

Thursday and Friday we rested after school, and on Saturday Naomi went to visit her Grandma and Mom because they are not doing so well. I decided to stay home in part because I need to go to camp this week and that will be super draining (although not as bad as PRO's camps). Hopefully it will be a lot of fun too!