mikes blog

2010-03-07T20:22:00.000-08:00

First day of school (for me and the kids!)

2009-08-26T22:09:00.000-07:00

So, yesterday was the first day of school. For me, it was my first day with students in my own classroom. For Aubrey, this was her first day in public school, starting the first grade. Michelle started her first day of preschool. My day was pretty good, the students here in Long Creek are all amazingly well behaved, and extreamly easy to manage. Aubrey had an interesting day. She tried to kiss a boy in her class, and alomst had him pinned in a corner with her approaching lips. He was one scared boy, from what her teacher told me. I had a talk with her about kissing boys, and waiting until she is a teenager...or maybe in her 40's... Michelle had a great day in preschool, and I am sure she was the ringleader of anything crazy going on in class. So, here is to a great start to the 09-10 school year!

Elk elk and away

2009-08-21T21:01:00.000-07:00

Took a trip to Baker today, checking out another part of Eastern Oregon. It is a quaint town with a neat downtown atmosphere. On our way back to Long Creek, we saw lots of wildlife, including the herd of elk, in the photo above. This herd was about 10 miles away from our house. About two miles down the road, there were about 100 or so elk in a field eating the alfalfa. If only it was Aug. 28th (first day of bow season), and I had my bow!

you must learn...young grasshopper

2009-08-18T22:02:00.000-07:00

You are ready young grasshopper. Your kung fu skills are maturing young grasshopper. You must now live in the mudroom at the Polk's, young grasshopper. There you will learn the true ways of the kung fu master.

Operation Decoration: Complete

2009-08-14T15:00:00.000-07:00

So, me and the fam have spent all day yesterday and part of the day today rearranging and decorating the classroom. I got a lot of good ideas from friends and also from some an MAT text book (a text book, really?). So, thank you Angie for the Wall of Fame / Wall of Shame idea. I am only going to have five students in class, so I don't think I will need a "Wall of Shame", but I did use the "Wall of Fame" idea for students to put their artwork, photos, poems, etc... I am going to get a retro Mr. T poster that says something cheesy, like "Eat your greens". I need to order that online though. I put up a cool "travel" section in the back of the room, which has postcards from different places like England and Spain. I am going to have to students write a paper about themselves the first week of class, and have the students make Wordles out of them to decorate the walls. School is a startin' soon!

Worlds Ugliest Dog Competition

2009-08-09T09:47:00.000-07:00

So, I have been reading a lot about the World's Ugliest Dog Competition. I have been doing a lot of thinking about this, because, as many of you might already know, I have what might be considered, "The World's Ugliest Dog." So, what is in store for Cookie's future? Ugly pageants, first place blue ribbons, going for the gold. After seeing a picture of the world's ugliest dog, Cookie could win without even losing a tooth (making him more ugly, of course). So, maybe next year Cookie. Maybe next year. Until then, keep being ugly.

Dear Deer, please don't eat my dog.

2009-08-08T20:30:00.000-07:00

Spotted this guy with babies in the yard today, eating crab apples. He looks kind of evil with those beady, glowing eyes. Is there a nuclear plant around that I don't know about, or is he just an alien deer?

Recuerdos de Los Cabos

2009-08-07T14:34:00.000-07:00

Ahora viene la lluvia y me deja pensando de las vacaciones en Los Cabos. Me gustaría estar en la playa, durmiendo bajo del sol, bronceando el piel. Espero el próximo verano para las vacaciones. Los Cabos, Costa Rica y España - ¿Cual será?

El Webcam de Los Cabos

Long Creek

2009-08-06T15:16:00.001-07:00

Made it to Long Creek. After a few crazy hot days, it is now rainy and cool in the Blue Mountains. DSL is now set up, which is impressive for a town of 180 people 40 miles away from the nearest grocery store. Everyone has been nice so far. I went and met up with the principal. He showed me my classroom, and got me setup with my school laptop computer. I told him that I was interested in using technology in my class, and he said he would work on getting me set up with a smart board, power point projector, and document image camera! Lots of benefits teaching in a small school!