GACE

just wanted to toot my own horn I passed all sections of the GACE test. wowo. yeahyes.

Career Expo

Another week down in the books. Next week is Skills USA / Career Expo. I am really looking forward to this. I have two contestants competing. We will leave Thursday morning and won't return until Friday night. We have our rooms booked at the Marriott. The career expo is one of the highlight trips for me each year. You make so many contacts it's ridicules. Plus I see many of the people I have worked with in the past which is the icing on the cake. I expect my guys to to do well in the competition.

substitute teachers

Until I became a teacher I never really though much about substitute teachers.
Now I have to question myself concerning the qualifications for this job. I have been out of my classroom since last Thursday doing the Habitat Build and every day it seems when I come in at the end of sixth period the room is trashed ,the T.V is on and there must be 40 kids in there 25 of which aren't even mine and she's just sitting there talking to numerous girls who I don't even know. Today I informed them that tomorrow they are to clean my room as I have Mrs. M. Then I left before I completely lost it. Don't think that I did nothing cause I did first I called the main office and informed them as to what was going on and then had security and the SRO sent down there unfortunately I'm sure it was to late and the bell probably rang before they got there. They had work some do it some don't but when there is no control nothing gets done and it takes days back in the groove that i had them in.So this poses the question what does it take just a warm body and a willingness to draw a check without any standards to adhere to? I'd really like to know.

Habitat for Humanity

Well this week we are doing Habitat. It has been good I am taking 9 students this week and for the first time in the four builds I have participated in we are doing things other than framing. We are doing vinyl siding and they also brought in there electrician and some of the students were able to work with them.
It has been a welcome change and a great opportunity to hone some skills that haven't been used in a while. If you don't use it you lose it and it had been a while.

GACTE

GACTE what can I say.110.00 to join or no extended day. because, if you don't join the county won't pay the 250.00 registration fee. I am sorry but I just spent 5000.00 dollars for NTI " money well spent but never the less spent" 125.00 for GACE test , 46.00 for registration for skills state competition 98.00 for a room the room for that night and there is much more. Provisional wages are great yet every time you turn around they are wanting m0re and more.
If they are going to make this a requirement then why not create payment options take it out of our checks payroll deduct build it into the contracts and do a mass membership each year. why does everything have to attack the wallet if you join GAE it is payroll deducted.
We need options.

the final count down

Here we go count down to spring break and boy is it taking its sweet time.I don't know about the rest of you ,but I am so ready scary. The kids are ready to there antsy truly a task to get them to work. However, somehow we do against all odds we do because we are teachers and that's our job.Do any of you just sit and listen to the students conversations you should some time. I'm talking about just listen not participating. It's amazing the info about what goes on ,has gone on ,and what is planned to go on next. you can find out and run blocker for so many of the issues in your schools and they don't even realize how their getting caught. A week ago I took a knife off of a student it looked like a pen until you pull it apart and there was a 31/2'' blade inside that student actually asked if I would give it back to him ''He wasn't the sharpest tool in the shed '' I must say. I guess what I want to say is kids there ruff there bad but they are also their own worst enemy.

what a week

This has been the week from @##$. started off with a phone call on Monday from my "x " that they were pulling the plug on her father who had just suffered a heart attack. My son is (was) extremely close with him so i take off Tuesday and take him to see him before this happens I spend most of Tuesday at the hospital. Wednesday I spend getting things he will need to go to the funeral in Texas clothes ,school work ,etc... . Thursday was really non productive I spent most of it out side hanging up mess on the chain link fences with my students for my AP.Then Friday comes and I take my video to the media center to have it copied to VHS no problem I get home a little while ago put it in the VCR and bam tape is blank.
I can only hope that was the biggie since tomorrow I take the GACE test.I am afraid that after a week like this one I will have to apply Alcohol to the wounds.

Got Skills

The end to a good week . We had region5 competition yesterday. I had students compete in 3 events Masonry, Residential wiring, And Carpentry.We placed in 2 out of 3 of the events Masonry 1st place, and residential wiring 2nd place. I'm very proud of my guys they once again represented our school and my program wonderfully. now we go to state. Also was told that myself and one other instructor have been given county approval to participate in Habitat for Humanity for two weeks back to back next month taking 2-3 students the first week and 10 the second week. Just got to sell it to the school don't think it will be a problem since the county will front the bill for it. Its looking to be an action packed month of April.

rest well desired

This will be very short and sweet. Have done my best this week not to think about school. I will work on lesson plans and homework Sunday and Monday, because with all the pressure and stress have had this year any time off is much deserved and needed.Hope all who had Fall Break are enjoying and relaxing. Got to go cause "it's five O'clock Somewhere".

Another day in "Clayco"

Never boring, we got fellow co-workers being investigated fights irrupting all over school and We've got staff having us redo paperwork because we didn't attach sales tax exempt forms/hotel forms on day trips to other schools for competitions. Give me a break. It must be nice to be able to go through the day with your head buried in the sand, but it's not for us. This week I have broken up fights with the newest of the gangs the white gloves and the black gloves which are now fighting each other for dominance I suppose. I also have been told info about other teachers " friends of mine" and they're afraid of outcomes within the county that they don't even know yet and always followed with don't say anything afterwards. I don't like to be in this situation I have enough stress in my life right now.
I'm so ready for this winter break. Thanks for letting me semi-vent to you'll.
Big Dog

Great Endings

Great week. I don't know about you, but this week ended good. Thursday, 6th period, I caught two guys behind my shop smoking the weed. Friday AM Mrs. M came by, and things went great. Then, to top it all off about 6 o'clock Kevin Ward with CEFGA emailed me that I have been granted Industry Accreditation.

week 1 gerald " bigdog"

I know its late wanted to post anyway. Last week was kind of tiring didn't feel well the first of the week and then forgot about the Tiega conference that I was suppose to go to until my sub showed up. Then there was the small issue about the registration that I was going to have to pay which I didn't have with me and to be honest didn't really want to spend anyway.So I didn't go instead took advantage of the sub and completed and submitted everything they wanted for Industry Accreditation for my program and with in another week or so I should have an accreditted program. What a load off my mind.
Gerald "big dog"

week 2

Sorry for the delay. Had a difficult time figuring this out. This week began uneventful just a average week at the ''Park" preparing for my visit from Mrs. M. Fortunately due to the weather outlook this was rescheduled.Thank God, this morning I got up went to leave for the school there is a flat tire on my car and my spare is flat also. I finally get this temporarily fixed and get to school only 15-20 minutes late. Where I discover the school is short 5 subs one of which is for the automotive Instructor across the hall. Guess who ends up with all of his students, that's right big dog himself 30 to 65 students each period from 1st thur 6th.I was no more than a babysitter today. So i strike the rescheduling of this observation as "Divine intervention".