Are You Ready for Weather?

Starting on Monday, December 3rd the 7th grade will begin a 13-week study of Weather and Water and it’s just in time for some interesting weather. 

On Friday, December 21st, fall ends and winter begins. It’s some of the most severe and interesting weather of the whole year and it aligns with our weather unit really well. 

This coming week, I will be mounting a weather station on the roof near our classroom so we can use super-local data in our studies. The weather station will provide temperature, humidity, windspeed, wind direction and rainfall. 

We will be tracking all this data in our science notebooks. Later, we will analyze the data to support our understanding of seasons. 

Now, if we can avoid a ridiculous number of snow days this winter, we’ll be able to make great progress in this unit. I know a lot of student appreciate snow days, but last year we had so many, we were in school until the very end of June - ugh.

Be Prepared

The Bartlett Community Partnership School is not like most other schools. If you’re one of our many students who has been here since kindergarten, then you might not appreciate how different this school is from others.

First off, most schools were not designed by Architectural Mazes Limited, the Bartlett was.

I have advocated for giving new students a bag of bread crumbs so they can find their way back to the door at the end of the day. Seriously, is the front door really on the third floor?  And, how do you explain a “ramp level?”

Second; wear light clothing all year long. There are days when the heat just won’t quit. Between the heating system working with a vengeance, and many of the classrooms getting direct sun all day long, we could probably bake cupcakes in some of the classrooms. And, it’s totally unpredictable. Some days start off nice and comfortable only to turn into scorching hot Sahara-like conditions. You just never know.

Next; Wear heavy clothing on top of your light clothing. I know it’ll feel a little bulky, but it’s totally worth it. That unpredictable thing works both ways - sometimes it feels like you’re sitting inside a pizza oven, and sometimes it’s so cold you kind of expect a penguin to waddle up to you. You just never know, so you have to be prepared for anything. You can always take your hoodie off and stuff it in your locker, but you can’t run home to get it at 10am.

Also, if you plan to wash your hands, and with an average of 1.2 bathroom trips per student per hour, you should be washing your hands multiple times per day, be prepared for either scalding hot steam or ice cubes coming out of the tap. I am exaggerating, but the same folks who designed our random temperature heating system, must have also designed our random temperature plumbing system. You never know what you’re going to get. Some days we have nice, hot water, other days none…no hot water at all. You just never know, so you have to be prepared for anything. 

Finally, be ready for the unexpected. Like days when a water pipe breaks and we don’t have any water. Or the annual mouse infestation that begins as the weather cools. You just never know what’s going to happen next.

Plan ahead.

Be prepared.

Bring anything you could possibly need. 

Don’t be surprised when the unexpected happens, just go with it. 

New, Nearly Unlimited Source of Energy

Physicists are both thrilled and baffled by the report of a new subatomic particle discovery. If the results can be replicated, and some nagging technical problems overcome, this new particle may well end the world’s dependence on fossil fuels and provide a virtually unlimited source of energy for all humanity.

Perhaps the most interesting part is that this discovery does not come from the Fermi National Accelerator Laboratory near Chicago nor the Large Hadron Collider in Europe, it comes from a middle school science project in Lowell, Massachusetts.

The new sub-atomic particle has been dubbed the “Drama-ton.”

The discovery was the result of a middle school science project that asked “Can the Energy Expended in Middle School Drama be Measured?” As it turned out, the answer was a resounding “yes.” 

It was found that middle school drama is such a powerful force, it may one day replace many traditional energy sources. If the drama-tons flowing from a single teenager can be collected, they can provide enough energy to power an entire school.

Researches isolated a middle schooler and told the subject that “people were talking smack” about her. At that point, researchers saw a spike in the production of drama-tons. 

In order to maximize power output, the test subject was provided a cell phone and that’s when things got a little out of control. Drama-ton production went through the roof - to the point where researchers had to throttle data speeds to avoid a complete meltdown of the subject.

“The best part,” said one of the principal researchers,”is that it didn’t even have to be true. The subject just had to believe people were talking behind her back for the drama-tons to flow.”

Researchers envision a day when drama-ton reactors will replace all fossil fuel sources. 

“Think about it; just one teenager can provide enough drama-tons to power an entire school. A virtually unlimited energy source. I can see a day where every neighborhood will be powered by teen angst and melodrama,” said one of the researchers.

In a related matter, General Electric has announced it is shuttering many of its’ power generation facilities and are opening a string of middle schools across the country.

“This is revolutionary! A clean, renewable energy source for all of us. We just need a handful of teenagers to power huge sections of the country. Amazing,” said a GE spokesperson.

Don’t Get Stuck on an Escalator

Remember that video I showed you way back in the beginning of the school year?  The one with two people who get stuck on an escalator? Remember? They need help to get off the broken escalator?

Here’s the clip if you need to see it again.

I showed that to you because it’s time to get off the escalator. It’s time you begin solving some of your own problems. It’s time for you to take action and not just sit at your desk helplessly. 

You can solve many of the problems you face. Maybe not the biggest ones, but you can solve the ones that come up the most frequently.

Every day I see students stuck on an escalator. Here are a few examples:

“I don’t have a pencil.” 
  In the science lab, I always have freshly sharpened pencils for you to borrow. Get up and go get one. (Please put it back at the end of class.)

“I didn’t get the hand-out.” 
  I bet if your raised your hand, your teacher, or the student passing them out, would be happy to give you one.

“I don’t have the homework” or “I lost my homework” or “I wasn’t here and missed the homework” or “You never gave me one.”
          In the science lab, I have a large bin labeled “Missing Something?” In that bin, you will find two weeks of hand-outs, homework and other papers we have used organized by grade and day. Go get what you need. You don’t even need to ask, just take the initiative to go get what you need.

“I don’t know what we’re doing.”
  Clearly, you have missed some instructions. Instead of sitting and doing nothing, raise your hand, ask the teacher. Take action to solve your problem.

Getting stuck on an escalator seems ridiculous but it’s a metaphor for problems you have the power to solve. You just need to try. Take action. Take the initiative and do something. 

Sitting and waiting like a helpless waif is not how to solve problems. We all have problems and most of the time, they don’t just go away. In fact, if you just sit helplessly and hope a problem goes away, it usually gets bigger. 

“I don’t have the worksheet,” becomes “I missed the work,”  and spirals into “I didn’t learn that,” which grows into “I bombed my quiz,” which leads to “I got a poor grade on my report card.” 

All this can be avoided by solving the easy problem instead of hoping it goes away.  Raise your hand, get the worksheet, solve the simple problem.

How do you get off a broken escalator?  You were shouting it at the screen as the video played….”Walk off!” 

Take initiative. 

You can solve many of your own problems. 

You have the power…use it. 

How to Do Rocket Science or Brain Surgery

I want to make sure we’re all on the same page regarding study guides.

We do a lot of work in our science notebooks. We have all the vocabulary, lab results, notes and other resources packed into that little composition notebook. 

Except under rare circumstances, I don’t allow you to take your science notebooks out of the classroom. (Let’s face it - many middle-schoolers are not great at hanging on to things and our science notebooks are extremely important.)

Because you can’t take your science notebook home, and that’s where all your notes are, I create study guides before any quiz or test. 

I usually give you one class to complete the study guide. 

This is where it’s critical that you use your time wisely. Forty-five minutes is plenty of time to complete a ten-question study guide, but I often see scholars who are chatting with friends, goofing around or doing other things instead of completing the study guide. This is not their best use of time.

Now, we come to the most important part of the whole study-guide process. You need to bring the study guide home and….(you won’t believe what’s next)….STUDY.

Completing the study guide and leaving it behind in class, or in your locker, or never taking it out of your homework folder at home is not very helpful. The whole point is to get ready for the assessment.

The final step is to turn-in the study guide before the assessment. This year, I’ve been adding up to ten points to the assessment score if the student completes and turns in the study guide. 

As it turns out, the students who scored the lowest on the most recent quiz, did not turn in a completed study guide. I believe there is a simple cause-and-effect thing going on here: 

Do the study guide + studying = a better quiz score. 

Don’t do the study guide + not studying = a poor quiz score.

Folks, this is not rocket science or brain surgery. Do your work. Study for assessments. Turn-in your completed work. If you can master these simple steps, perhaps one day you will be doing rocket science or brain surgery.

Science Humor

I like to laugh.

I enjoy making others laugh. 

I also enjoy science, so when I can combine the two…watch out!

Here are some of my favorite sciencey jokes:

I was reading a book on helium. I couldn’t put it down.

A frog telephones the Psychic Hotline. His Personal Psychic Advisor tells him, “You are going to meet a beautiful young girl who will want to know everything about you.”

The frog is thrilled! “This is great! Will I meet her at a party?”

“No,” says his advisor, “in her biology class.”

One tectonic plate bumped into another and said, “Sorry, my fault.”

Q: What do you do with a sick chemist?

A: If you can’t helium, and you can’t curium, then you might as well barium.

Biology is the only science in which multiplication is the same thing as division.

See if you can figure out the answers to these science riddles. Ask me in class if you need help:

What is a tornado’s favorite game to play?

What did the limestone say to the Geologist?

How do trees get on the internet?

What kind of hair do oceans have?

What’s worse than finding a worm in your apple?

Recycling vs. Trash vs. Window Dressing

Let’s begin with some vocabulary:

Recycling: converting waste into reusable material.

Trash: discarded matter; refuse.

Window Dressing: an adroit but superficial or actually misleading presentation of something, designed to create a favorable impression. (It’s nice to think we’re saving the planet, but it’s more important to actually help save it than just to feel good about it.)

In my classroom, I have two trash cans and a large recycling bin. You can help save Earth by getting the right thing into the right container.

Here’s what goes in the recycling bin: Paper, cardboard, plastic bottles, glass (gently, please), and aluminum cans. That’s it! Nothing else!. No used tissues, food, food wrappers/containers, or anything with food reside on it or in it. 

Here’s what goes in the trash can: Everything else. Including, but not limited too: used tissues, food, food wrappers/containers, anything with food reside on it or in it. 

When in doubt, put it in the trash can.

Our 5th graders go around the whole school and collect the recycling. Lets make sure it’s not a gross or dangerous experience for them. They are doing the hard work to help save the planet. They should never have to deal with old, smelly milk spilling out of a recycling bin or someone’s used tissues.

If we’re going to do something, let’s do it right and make a real difference.

A few years ago, I was doing a summer program in a local town. Each day, the custodian would come around with a big rolling bin. He’d pick up the trash can and empty it’s contents into the larger bin. Then, he’d pick up the recycling bin and dump that into the large rolling bin as well. When I asked him about this, he said, “Yeah, we’re not set up for recycling, but it makes everyone feel good if it looks like we are.” 

That, my friends, is an example of window dressing. You can feel good about making even a small difference in the health of our planet but how good can you feel pretending to make a difference?

Let’s recycle properly. Let’s not make it gross and let’s actually help save the planet. Then, we’ll really have something to feel good about. 

FAQ - Frequently Asked Questions

Q: When you have students collect the “Do Now,” why do you have them put the papers on your chair?

A: I do that so I have to deal with them as soon as class is over. If I had our scholars put them on my desk, it’s possible I could overlook them for a few hours or days. Putting them on my chair brings them to my attention immediately.

Q: Why don’t you use turn-in bins?

A: Since I teach two grades and four science classes, staying organized is critical. I have found that using turn-in bins becomes very messy. Students put the wrong papers in the wrong bin and it makes grading much more difficult.

Q: Why so much homework?

A: You must be an eighth grader. I give a lot more homework to the eighth grade than the seventh grade. There are several reasons. First, we have a lot to cover and can not get it all done in our 50-minute classes. I tend to give a lot of readings for homework and those are intended to prepare you for the next day’s classwork. Second, your middle school teachers have to get you ready for high school. You will be expected to do even more homework in high school. We are trying to get you used to spending time on academics even when you are not in school and help you develop good habits - like doing your homework.

Q: What’s with the “Mr. McKellar is Currently Reading” signs in the window?

A: I think reading is critically important to learning. Not everything you need to know can be summarized in a 3-minute Youtube video. By sharing what’s on my reading list, I hope to encourage others to read more. 

I read a lot. I usually have a book I’m really reading and an audiobook that I’m listening to in the car. I enjoy reading. I’m curious about a lot of things and reading is how I learn about them. For example, I visited Cuba this past summer and became interested in the history of that island nation. So, I am listening to a book about the history of Cuba. I also love reading fiction. I love how fiction can make you feel for a character, like he or she is a real person. Fiction can touch your emotions in a very special way.

Q: I’m interested in doing Current Events but really, really hate speaking in front of the class. What should I do?

A: I get it. I do not care for public speaking either. The most terrifying part of the year for me is at the end of the school year when I have to present the eighth grade science student award in front of the whole school, and a ton of parents. It takes just thirty seconds to say what I need to say, but those thirty seconds just kill me. As for Current Events, we can share the presentation. I’ll present for you the first couple of times, then you can tell everyone the name of the article, while I explain it and so on. Over time, you’ll become more comfortable speaking in front of your classmates. It is an important skill to develop and you can do that by practicing - like presenting your current event.

Episode VI – Return of the Science Teacher

Welcome to or welcome back to my blog. I write this for and to you, my students. 

This is my forum to write about my life as a teacher, a student and a person. Sometimes, I write to amuse. Sometimes, I write to inform. And, sometimes, I write to help my students put things into perspective.

For some of you, the thought of voluntarily writing an essay - without it being required for a grade - makes no sense. For others, who enjoy expressing themselves with the written word, well… you get it. 

I enjoy writing. For as torturous as the process can be sometimes, I get a lot of satisfaction out of it. I have done a lot of writing in my life for fun and profit. I’ve written for newspapers, magazines and…this is the coolest thing ever…seen my work referenced in a NASA book.

I usually post on Sunday mornings - and no, not at 3:15 a.m. (the posting time is listed as Pacific Standard Time). I will post a link on google classroom, so you’ll get an email notification when there’s something new to read.

I hope you will find them interesting but you’ll all be the judge of that. Please read, share, comment, and disagree with my thoughts and feelings.

Bonus School

Well, here we are. 

Bonus school, extra innings, overtime. Call it what you will but now we pay the price for all those snow days. 

With no snow days, the last day of school would have been Tuesday the 12th. Of course, we missed nine days this year so our actual last day is June 26th. 

Ugh.

Back in January I blogged about the “Revenge of the Snow Day” and I wrote: 

“Think back to the last days of our last school year at the Bartlett Community Hotbox. Windows designed to keep kids from accidentally falling out but also accidentally keep fresh air from coming in. Fans just blowing stale, clammy air around. Classrooms so hot you feel like you’re actually melting. Sweating so bad you feel like you need a shower and it’s not even nine o’clock, yet.”

Monday, temperatures are forecast to be in the high 90’s and that means by the end of the day, inside the school, we may exceed 100 degrees. And, of course, the way the school is

built - that heat will stick around even after it cools down outside on Tuesday. It’s going to be so hot the school department is considering giving us another day off (Thankfully, we would not be asked to make this one up).

All-in-all, I’d rather be in school when it’s miserably cold outside, and be out of school when it’s miserable hot inside. 

But that’s just me. 

My Walk-a-thon Experience

It seems about ten percent of the the 7th and 8th grade opted to stay home rather than participate in our annual fundraising walk-a-thon, 

Really? 

What’s with that?

Anyway, I thought I would share my experience for those who missed out on the event. 

Friday was a perfect late spring day - clear skies, comfortable temperatures with very low humidity (7th grade - remember, that’s a vocabulary word). The route is from the end of the driveway, over a canal, into a park, through part of Umass-Lowell, then back across the athletic fields to the school. 

It’s a one mile walk - not exactly a grueling event. I mean, we’re not running a marathon, or scaling El Capitan here, right?

I was at the front of the 8th grade section. Here’s the transcript of what I said during the walk-a-thon:

“Please, go slower, do not run ahead.”

“Wait, you are going too fast.”

Please, slow down.”

“Wait.”

“Stop.”

“Please, stay on the walkway.”

“Please, put the stick down.”

“Put the stick DOWN!”

“DROP THAT STICK, RIGHT THIS SECOND!”

“Please stay on the sidewalk.”

“Please stay on the path.”

“STAY OUT OF THE STREET!”

“Please do not touch the garbage cans.”

“Please do not touch other people's property.”

“Please, do not run ahead.”

“Please, wait for the group to catch up.”

“Wait for the group to catch up.”

“STOP! Wait for the group to catch up.”

“Please do not throw rocks.”

“I’m sorry, we’re out of ice pops.”

<sigh>