Tony David Potter

Jud, son!

Sun, 22 Nov 2009 02:51:31 GMT

Six Thirty on the cold Helotes plains, five brown hoodies conspire on the asphalt. A long truck ride, a cool brown-grey edifice, and an empty cafetorium awaited.

Congrats to the team which took fourth overall (with a dominating showing from a full-strength Jay Science Academy and a visit from defending champs Edinburg North.

Congrats to Becky, who in her first contest took 4th place Number Sense, 2nd place Calculator Applications, and 7th place Mathematics.

Congrats to Joshua, who after trials with a calculator still eeked out a 10th place Calculator Applications to go with his 8th place Number Sense, 9th place Mathematics, and 10th place Science.

Congrats to Destiny, who got 4th in Calculator Applications and 4th in Science.

Congrats to Jaaron, who got 8th in Calculator Applications (after getting there late,) 6th in Mathematics, and 10th in Computer Science. Perhaps someday he'll take the course.

Congrats to Yun, who got 1st in Calculator Applications, 4th in Number Sense, 4th in Mathematics, and 2nd in Science, and took Top Bio.

Congrats to Jenny, who got 10th in Number Sense, 4th in Calculator, 3rd in Mathematics, and 1st in Science.

Congrats to Michael, who got 7th in Mathematics and 7th in Computer Science.

Congrats to John, who got 8th in Calculator Applications, and 6th in Computer Science.

Congrats to Devin, who got 10th in Calculator Applications.

Congrats to all Panthers, present and past. You are fondly remembered.

~MP

Getting Ready for Judson

Sat, 21 Nov 2009 01:49:50 GMT

Fond remembrances of caravaning to Judson (and the bloated doughnut!)

(from 2004)
how do you only take SIX (six, six, 6, 6, six!) people to a math and science contest and take sweeps? yah, we got first not our best outing, pretty crappy indeed, but, we got 1st ns team 1st calc team 2nd math team 2nd sci team 1st cs team top sweeps team. woo hoo! props to : stephanie who got sixth place in number sense (first blood in math, yay!) justin who filled in in the pinch, got numerous awards. oliver who dominated, got like twenty-seven first place trophies (j/k) only three first, and third in science. elias who took top cs (as if there was a doubt) and only left six blank in the second column on ns. (good considering he started on the back heh.) guy who took home an award in every contest (and beat his ns score in calculator, wtf?) random who anchored the team providing valuable sweepstakes points to edge out madison slops to people who can't drive people who can't read a map people who can't set an alarm people who can't reach the last doughnut! LOL! people who can't go to contests the saturday before x-giving. and since when does six (6, 6, six, six, SIX!) people take out schools like marshall and madison and medina valley (killer m's, eh?) a win's a win but it'll take a bit more to take the gold at bridgeport. bring your thinking cap (and your visa card, because o'connor may take sweepstakes, but they don't take american express. :)

So, we're off to Judson tomorrow. Again, we're caravaning. And again we'll have fun.

Happy XGiving to all.

<3, MP

For those about to grade...

Fri, 13 Nov 2009 02:31:18 GMT

The end of the six-weeks is a stressful time for teachers. Students are only interested in what they can do to get points added to their grade, at a time where their grade is relatively set in stone.

Most of my geometry students want an assignment that (1.) can raise their average by five or six points, and (2.) be done during a passing period without interfering with their "hang out" time with friends.

Sadly, this can't be done. First, because they often have four, five, ten or twenty missing assignments (and why would they be interested in doing "extra" work when they couldn't be bothered to do the "regular" work?) Second, because major grades really need to cover at least a weeks worth of work (otherwise it really shouldn't be worth that much a percentage of the course average.) Third, because why would I want to give myself extra work (coming up with a worthwhile assessment that covers a comprehensive slice of the material, typing it up into an easily interpretable assignment, disseminating it to all of my classes, picking it up, and then grading a new assessment.)

All because turning in the homework (that we go over in class most of the time) was too strenuous an activity for you.

Now is the season of students complaining about teachers. Complaints abound, about how few grades a teacher has in their gradebook, about how many major assignments they still have left to put in, about how they have them graded, and just won't put them into the gradebook.

So, some insight. Not an excuse, but just letting you know.

First, very few teachers just teach the ritzy classes. Most of us teach a high-level prep and (for sake of equity and department harmony) a low-level prep. I, for example, teach Calculus BC and Geometry Regular.

Second, having this mix means we have to adapt to a wide range of student. From the truly exceptional to the truly exceptional. And only teachers can really understand the nuance of the previous sentence.

I have to come up with assignments that challenge the best and brightest in my class, while still being appropriate for the lowest of the low in each class. I have to modify all my assignments for students whose IEP or IAP (more education buzzwords the intrepid that don't know will have to look up) and it's not considered a modification in the 504 or SE world if it's a modification for everyone. I have about 25 of these such students. That means 25 specialized assignments and 25 special rubrics to grade these.

I'm also a math teacher, meaning I give two assignments a day (a warmup activity that counts as a grade, and a homework assignment that counts as a grade.) Throw in quizzes, tests, and other activities, and I push my assignment count to near sixty. (And, yes, the first year with the new gradebook I ran into the fifty assignment barrier because "no teacher would put more than fifty assignments into the gradebook.")

Put into that parent conferences (because I suck as a teacher, and parents have a need to tell me this, otherwise their little darling that's never earned a grade below 96 in hisorher life wouldn't be making an 83 in my class, and I'm the reason heorshe won't get into Harfurd), mandatory faculty meetings, department meetings, level meetings, and my time to grade is severly curtailed. Many assignments don't get graded until they "have to" be graded. Either because I really really really really have to get assignments back before a test, or I really really really have to get assignments graded before the end of the six weeks.

I'm at the latter stage now.

And I'm one of the teachers with a "cushy" schedule. I only teach five classes, about 120 students. Many teachers at school teach 6 classes and nigh on 200 students.

So, for those about to grade, I salute you.
~MP

A place long not visited.

Sat, 07 Nov 2009 23:17:34 GMT

The last time I went to Garner Middle School, I was in eighth grade, and I played basketball.

I was not the bastion of health and vigor you see before you now. I was a gangly kid, six feet, but perhaps 150 lbs. Ungainly in my size thirteen feet. And I wanted to belong on a team.

I wasn't a student at Garner, mind you. Garner is in the `09'er territory, the established riche of North East siders. Whereas I came from lowly Chester W. Nimitz middle school, a more urban (and urbane) part of the district, long forgotten, lying deep inside the loop (back when "the loop" meant 410.)

And I was in the third platoon of posts. Meaning I was the Jack Haley of Nimitz Basketball, only seeing play when the game was no longer in doubt. Either I would play when we were so far ahead I could do no harm, or so far behind that I wouldn't hinder more.

And so, Saturday, I returned to the place, my only basketball game I played. It was January of 1987. I would break my arm the following weekend and drop off basketball. I doubt my coach remembers my name. I certainly don't remember his.

Today was a better day.

Congratulations to Destiny M., who won 8th place Calculator Applications, and 10th place mathematics.

Congratulations to Devin S., who got 3rd place Computer Science

Congratulations to Jaaron B., who won 3rd place Number Sense, 3rd place Mathematics, and (wait for it) 4th place Science.

Congratulations to Jenny Q., wh owon 6th place Number Sense, 6th place Calculator Applications, and 9th place Science

Congratulations to John S., who won 9th place Number Sense and 10th place Science.

Congratulations to Joshua C., who won 9th place Mathematics.

Congratulations to Matt F., who got 10th place Calculator Applications

Congratulations to Michael D., who got 9th place Number Sense, 4th place Mathematics, 9th place Science, and 5th place Computer Science.

Congratulations to Yun L., who got 1st place Number Sense, 3rd place Calculator Applications, 1st place Mathematics, and 1st place Science.

Congratulations to O'Connor HS, who got 1st place Number Sense, 2nd place Calculator Applications, 2nd place Mathematics, 3rd place Science, and 3rd place Sweepstakes.

Congratulations to all who worked hard to make this weekend's meet a success.

Thanks to all who made my trip back to Garner a happy one.

~MP

Direct Deposit

Wed, 05 Aug 2009 03:14:45 GMT

This sounds like spam, but it's not. Skip if you get to overwhelmed. I'm not naming names.

I love my secret internet back account.

I set this up about five years ago. It was a deal -- I got twenty-five dollars after twenty-five dollars were left in my account after three months. I checked up on it - it was a legit bank (Dutch, getting a foothold here in the US,) and I decided to go forth.

From my site, I set up payments from my different accounts (Google advertisements, Amazon commissions, CafePress commissions, etc.) and the money just gets deposited there, silently earning interest (and certainly better than I get at a brick and mortar bank.)

And I forget about it. Until I need money. Then I remember it and check it out. Yes! Google deposited $110. Forgotten again until, cool! Amazon for $56. Cafepress for $71.

It's kinda like a magickal piggy bank. Waiting to be cracked, and cracked again, and always swelling up with money.

They still have the aforementioned deal, but its a bit steeper - you have to deposit $250 for three months, but you get $25 after that period (and I get $10 for referring you. Coolio!)

Well, I just cracked it again. Swell, baby. Swell.

~MP

I have nothing new to add.

Mon, 03 Aug 2009 03:56:29 GMT

PREP ended this past weekend. I had to sit in for an ill friend, but everything went well. Dinner at El Chap, ate too much, and have been catching up on sleep since then.

This is my one full week off. I've had to work at least one day a week since Christmas Break. On the 11th and 12th I have Prep days (not to be confused with PREP) and on the 12th (AM) I get issued my district mandated laptop. Teachers start back on the 17th, and the kids return on the 24th.

I got my schedule for next year. 2nd and 3rd Calculus, 5th, 7th, and 8th Geometry. I like the break there. Hopefully I won't have really horrible 7th and 8th periods -- this past year eighth was rather unimposing.

I'm still astonished as to how much Miguel picks up. We watched Ace Ventura: Pet Detective on cable (they mixed out the curse words) and I thought, animals and stuff, it'd be okay. About an hour afterwards, he asks "Can I see the zoo movie where the man takes the girls clothes off again?" He's of course, referring to this scene. I had to explain that to my wife.

The last of my seniors will be moving along to their colleges, and the young math/sci team will embark on their journey. Things should be fun. It's always fun to learn new things.

Tomorrow we'll take Miguel to the park. He's gotten a bit of cabin fever this weekend, so some outside time will do him good. Probably do me some good as well. Tuesday is the Open House at Kuentz Elementary (the school in front of O'Connor.) Hopefully I can make myself memorable to the principal so when we come asking if Miguel can transfer there when he starts Kindergarten it'll work well.

Other than that, same old same old.
~MP

Father's Day

Sun, 21 Jun 2009 02:52:48 GMT

Sunday will be my fourth Father's Day.

Sadly, my real father chooses to not be in my life. I've called several times over the past five years, left messages, left instant messages on his account, e-mails, but no response. He's never met his grandson. I wonder if he ever will.

My father's the reason I am the way I am. His technological savvyness is a part of who I am. We always had new technology in the house. I remember him with an audio cassette recorder since my earliest memories (mid 70's) and he has a recording of me counting to forty and saying nursery rhymes when I was eighteen months, which would have been 1974.

We had a computer in the house as long as I can remember. A Datapoint 1170, from which he was allowed to do work at home, since he was that valued an employee. The computer was about the size of a large dresser, with a five or six inch wide computer screen.

He helped me learn my first PC (actually a PC-XT, which had a turbo button, so it could work at 4.77 MHz or at 8 MHz), taught me how to use word processing and basic programming, taught me how to use my modem so I could use bulletin board services.

My mom and he divorced in 1981. It was the last day of third grade, and I went home to my grandmother's house instead of my house. Blame and fault lies on both parties, so I won't go into details about that.

Part of who I am, cold and distant to those that love me most, I get from him as well.

Part of that is all the moving around we had to do. I went to four different elementary schools during fourth grade, three more during fifth grade (including back in Dad's house, when my parents tried to reconcile.) After the divorce, I never went to the same school for more than two years until I went to college.

I was reminded of this earlier this week, seeing a high school friend of mine (who's the de-facto class organizer) posting pictures of our class members from his high school days.

This group, I was never really a part of, even though I've known many of them since fourth grade. See, Adams Hill was one of those fourth grade elementary schools I went to. In fifth grade I started at Ed Cody (which Adams Hill split into), but didn't finish the year. I went to Pease Middle school for sixth and seventh grade, but didn't return until I went to Jay the middle of my eleventh grade year.

I'm not in any of the pictures. I'm barely in the memories. I have many acquaintances, but few friends. Very few.

As a father, I hope one of the things I can provide Miguel is stability. My wife and I have discussed possibly changing his day care into one that is more convenient for us during the summers. But I really want him to stay where he is, hopefully until elementary when we can get him into Kuentz or Helotes. It's important for me to make sure he stays with the friends he's learned so far.

I don't want him to have disposable relationships. They never last long enough, and leave me wanting.

Do they leave my dad wanting? I doubt I'll ever know.

Leaving the nest

Sun, 31 May 2009 21:43:23 GMT

My last group of kids for a while are leaving the nest.

This group of math team students are the last of the bunch Pre-Miguel. That is, these are my last of the surrogate children that I had to have before I ever had a child of my own. I don't have a crew of juniors becoming seniors, so this is the end of a generation of sorts. And so I look back.

Although I right heartfelt thoughts in my little CRC books, I still feel compelled to write this, more for myself than for you.

1 - You know what you're doing. You'll probably never read this, and I doubt we'll ever talk again, but I hope you find what you're looking for. I've always been envious of your ability to adapt to situations, but I hope you find the way to open yourself up to someone and be comfortable in your skin around them. I'm sorry about that incident in December, I realised half-way through how it could have been misconstrued, and so I stopped. But by that time you'd already judged me. And there's nothing that can be done about it now.

2 - You have thoughts and dreams ahead of you. Usually I can categorize students into two groups - those that'll never visit again and those that will. I'm still not sure which group you'll be in. It's so hard to look into your soul to tell what you're truly thinking. I hope someone has that gift to make you open up to them.

3 - I've never seen someone so sure of themselves be so unsure of where they're going in life. You find a way to keep every door open to the last possible second, and it's a gift of yours. You'll always be surrounded by friends, but I hope you find a few close friends, the kinds you can share secrets with and they'll stay secret.

4 - Every time I saw you, you were surprising me with something new you were involved in. Of the four four-year math/sci seniors, your mind works the closest to mine. Sometimes it's a blessing and sometimes it's a curse, but it's something you'll live with. You'll have a blast wherever you go. Of the four, your life story will be the one I'll want to read the most.

And so that's it. Life shuts a door. Who knows what next year will bring. And, yeah, I probably was too open in my statements, so you can probably choose which one applies to who, but there's a little bit of truth for everyone there.

Farewell. May you always see the light.
~Tony

Star Trek: TOS

Sun, 15 Feb 2009 19:03:16 GMT

I like that CBS has the original series online for free viewing at http://www.cbs.com/classics/star_trek/

I don't like that the exterior shots are all CGI now.

~MP

Why my wife is awesome

Sun, 15 Feb 2009 03:39:55 GMT

What I got for Valentine's Day:

CD's:

The Pretenders - Greatest Hits CD
Queen - Greatest Hits Vol. 1 & 2
The Beatles - Let it Be...Naked
AC/DC - Highway To Hell

Books:

Papillon
MASH
The MAA Problem Book
Mathematical Olympiad in China

DVD:

10000 Maniacs - Time Capsule

I love you Alma.
~T

Math Team: The Confuzzlement.

Wed, 07 Jan 2009 05:07:42 GMT

The math/sci team schedule has changed so much, it's hard to keep track.

Our contest is always the Saturday before MLK. This year Jefferson's hosting a full UIL meet on our date. MacArthur usually hosts the week after ours, but they've changed it to January 31. This week usually conflicts with the WTFCTM Midland meet, but they've changed their date to February 7th, which conflicts with the Memorial Meet.

So, to make our up to date schedule clear:

Jan 10 - Medina Valley UIL
Jan 17 - OHS Winter Meet
Jan 24 - Off date (SAT)
Jan 31 - MacArthur UIL
Feb 7 - WTFCTM __OR__ Memorial (depending if you want to/can go out of town)
Feb 14 - Off date
Feb 21 - Regional Science Bowl
Feb 28 - Off date
Mar 7 - La Joya __OR__ John Jay (depending if you want to/can go out of town)

District qualifiers are Jan 10, Feb 7, and Mar 7. These scores will be added to the Humble scores to determine who represents OHS at UIL district math events.

My son Miguel makes this interesting noise -- not really a snort, but more of an exhalation. Put the back of your tongue against your soft palate and exhale through your nose hard. This is the sound my son makes. He makes it when he's pensive. He makes it when he plays with his trains. And when he sings, this is the sound of the rhythm when he's singing a song but there's no words at that moment.

So in the truck, he's singing "Days of the Week, Gnh, Gnh, Days of the Week, Gnh, Gnh, Monday Tuesday, Gnh, Gnh, Wednesday, Thursday, Gnh, Gnh, Friday Saturday, Gnh, Gnh, and Sunday, Gnh, Gnh, Days of the Week, Gnh, Gnh, Days of the Week, Gnh, Gnh.

I love my son.

~MP

I wish I...

Thu, 01 Jan 2009 05:37:32 GMT

Another door opening, and one closing behind me.

After getting too close to students (and having that bite me in the butt) I made a conscious change to be more distant. I'm sorry if I've made you feel cold by the way I am, but it's they way I've had to be to avoid the hurt. After burying another student, I feel older and closer to the end myself.

According to Wikipedia, Life expectency is 75, so I'm practically halfway there. Of course, with my size, I need to work hard to make it to fifty.

My son is three, and developing a personality. I am the role model, and I have to be one. I didn't have one consistent one, and had to learn to be a man on my own. Because of this, I still have some immaturities that are so ingrained in myself I don't know if I'll ever rid myself of them. And I have to lead this boy through the teenage talismans of lawn care and vehicle maintenance.

These aren't resolutions, as resolutions are inevitably failed. These are realizations of my self. These are things I have to change on my own. I can't rely on others, I can't blame others. I am these qualities, and I am the only one who can change them.

I wish I were better. And I wish a happy new year to you.

And I hope to see you at the end of the road.

~MP

End of the year

Wed, 31 Dec 2008 02:53:47 GMT

It's the end of the year, and I need to spend my Pepsi Points before they expire.

So, I'm looking at songs I like, both contemporary and from my past, that I like. And wouldn't you know it?

I found the Free MP3's link on Amazon. Hopefully the link will work for you.

Now I get to cull the drek I've downloaded. And I still have to find three songs I want to buy with my remaining points.

Earlier today, we took Miguel to the zoo. Since this is the third time we've gone this year, we splurged and bought a annual pass. For $65, we can go to the zoo whenever we want (namely, Saturdays I don't have a math team contest, and once a month during the summer.) He had fun, but got cranky early, so we had to leave after being there only three hours. Didn't get to see much of the zoo, but it made me wonder -- what happens with those animals that usually hibernate during the winter. Unfortunately we didn't get to the bear section to find out.

Miguel's enraptured with the reptile house, so he takes us there first, then the cats. Usually we'll got to the elephants, rhinos, giraffes, and zebras, but that path was closed so we couldn't go.

Also, the Mold-a-ramas were acting up, so we had to get refunds twice (two different machines -- I'm not that stupid) and with him being potty trained, we had to backtrack quite often to find bathrooms. So, we didn't get to see as much as we have the past few times (when he's been in diapers.)

One last week of school being off, and I still haven't graded a thing. I should get around to that though. Someday before Sunday night I will.

If I don't see you , happy new years!

~MP

The Break

Wed, 24 Dec 2008 18:39:20 GMT

On Friday, I collapsed with a cold.

My nose was itchy all day Friday, and after yabba-dabba-doo-ing out of school at 4:06, we went to El Chapparal. My son calls it "The Dinner House" because it looks like a house and we eat dinner there every once in a while. My mother got a new job near Babcock and Scenic Loop, so she met us there for a nice long dinner.

I got home and collapsed.

Miguel wakes me up every morning on the weekends, and Saturday's was no different. He got me up at 6:45 because he wants to watch cartoons. I got up but wasn't all there.

That afternoon I intended to nap for a couple hours. I napped for six.

Then I went to bed at nine. totally zapped.

Woke up at eight Sunday morning, still ill, but a bit better. I'd been playing around with the demos for World of Goo and SBCG4AP, so I splurged on myself and bought the games.

And played all day long in bed. Go go gadget laptop.

The thing I didn't like was that I had to be on my Windows volume (my laptop dual boots WinXP and Ubuntu) when I use the linux for virtually everything else. Yet the games wouldn't install under Wine. Yet according to the standard Ubuntu upgrade tree said I had the latest build.

After a bit of fiddling, I got the latest Wine version, so now World of Goo works in Linux. Haven't had a chance to put Strong Bad on yet, but I'll try it later.

Monday we went to North Star to get the rest of the gifts for our family. Lots of walking and we got everything for everyone. And of course, Cheesecake Factory is our tradition for Christmas shopping.

Yesterday was a quiet day, just some cleaning and arranging.

Today my mother's coming over for dinner, then tomorrow we're going over to my niece's for Christmas (hard to call someone in her late twenties my niece, but that's the power of in-laws.)

If I don't see you this break, enjoy your holiday. If you get a chance, download the demos for the games. If you like it, support the programmers, as they're both indie-style software companies.

And, for my Calculus kids, don't forget your take-home test.

Love, MP.

Stuff

Wed, 26 Nov 2008 18:42:19 GMT

Had fun yesterday playing Jenga with my son. Screw age requriements on games. You take a brick off, you put a brick on. It's not that hard to explain to a three-year-old. And he's finally got the knack that if it doesn't come out easy the first time, don't force it -- find something else to grab onto.

I figured out how to resize my extended partition on my laptop. I dual-boot, using the windows section to play games and other windows-only stuff (but am paring that down a bit.) Others have had problems using gparted in Ubuntu to do this, and even with the Live CD, haven't gotten it to work. I found that the live CD used the swap partition on my hard drive, which was on the extended partiton, and you can't resize an extended partition if any part of it is mounted. Right-click on the swap to unmount it, and the resizing was a snap. So now, my Ubuntu partition went from 10 GB to 30.

Speaking of games, I spent Saturday (while watching random football games) playing with the World of Goo demo and the Strong Bad Cool Game for Attractive People demos (Volumes 1-4.) Hilarious games. I might spend some money on them. And that's saying something since I'm a bit frugal when it comes to compy stuff.

Speaking of football, I watched most of the debacle that was Tech's loss to Oklahoma. We got our butts handed to us. Luckily, we still have a moderately good chance of taking the Big 12 championship, if this season's patterns hold out:

UT beat OU in Texas
UT beat OSU in Austin
TT beat UT in Lubbock
TT beat OSU in Lubbock
OU beat TT in Norman
OU plays OSU in Stillwataer

So the home team in the Big 12 South has taken each game between the four powers so far. Hopefully it will hold out.

Happy XGiving folks!

~MP

I wonder when Tech will get some respect...

Tue, 11 Nov 2008 03:44:37 GMT

When they were 1-0, 2-0, 3-0, 4-0, and 5-0, the comment was "Well, look at the cupcakes they've played. The game against Nebraska will prove their mettle."

When they were 7-0, the comment was "Well, they've gone through the soft part of their schedule. They always start strong, but Kansas will put them down."

When they were 8-0, the comment was "Well, They've never beaten a good Texas team, and they won't this year. They don't have a chance."

When they were 9-0, the comment was "Well, the Texas game was a fluke. We'll see how good they really are when they play Oklahoma State."

Now they're 10-0, and the comments are "Well, Oklahoma has more to prove, so they have more to play for. We'll see how got they really are when they play Oklahoma."

Would someone please give Tech some props?

~MP

Three years ago next Monday...

Mon, 03 Nov 2008 02:45:10 GMT

Three years ago, I was terrified.

After all, my wife had reached her due date. And I was sure something would go wrong. We'd been childless for nine years, teased before, almost lost him once, and I was sure something was going to go wrong, and I'd lose one or both of them.

I'd fallen in love with him through our watching the video screen for each ultrasound, and each kick and stretch in her belly.

When she was in her waiting room bed, waiting for the dilation to occur, I was terrified. How could I go on without her, without them?

When they put in the epidural, watching her wince in pain, I was horrified. How could I go on without her, without them?

When they rushed her into the OR, when his heart beat got dangerously low, I was petrified. How could I go on without her? Without them?

When they started the C-section, when I couldn't raise my head past the sheet to see our son brought out into the world, I was scared.

How could I go on without her?

And now Dev is. And my heart breaks for him. And their child.

I got the call from Woodfill earlier today. It was a fourth generation call, a friend called a friend, who called a friend, who called me.

I gave numbers so she could call. Because I didn't know what to say. I still don't.

I love you Gwen, and I miss you.

For so many years, I thought I'd never have children. So my students were my children-by-proxy. I kept up with them, regaled others with stories of them.

And when I lost students, I cried.

After Miguel, I had my child. Students, after all, would eventally have lives of their own, and move on. Miguel will at least stay with me for a while, Lord willing.

Dev was in my Pre-Cal class my first year at O'Connor, Gwen my second year there in Geometry.

~MP

A disappointing weekend.

Wed, 30 Jul 2008 03:16:15 GMT

A couple of hard-to-take things happened this weekend:

1. Got the AP Scores for Calculus BC:

GRADE 5 - 9 GRADE 4 - 6 GRADE 3 - 3 GRADE 2 - 6 GRADE 1 - 13 TOTAL FOR SECTION - 37 SECTION AVERAGE - 2.784

I guess I overprepared my students. I'm very disappointed they didn't do better, and I'm going through my brain trying to find new things to make the results a bit better.

Some (not all) colleges use the AB Subgrade, which was a bit better, but nothing to write home about:

GRADE 5 - 14 GRADE 4 - 3 GRADE 3 - 9 GRADE 2 - 3 GRADE 1 - 8 TOTAL FOR SECTION - 37 SECTION AVERAGE - 3.324

2. New air conditioning

Our air conditioner went out Thursday night, so we had to get a repairman to come out and fix it. Turns out, we could get a new capacitor, switch, and something else ($300 each) and it should hold out for another two years, or we could bite the bullet and replace a 12 year old air conditioner.

It was the one that came with the house, and so was relatively cheap (apparently builders try to cut corners any way they can, so our air conditioner, while up to code when the house was built, was no longer up to code. Meaning, we couldn't just replace it with one like it.

So, $8100 dollars later, we have a new heat pump and air conditioner. Of course, in South Texas, it's not a luxury -- it's a necessity. So there went our PREP paychecks for this year.

3. Speaking of PREP...

One of the reasons I don't teach college is that I never really got to learn about my students. Seeing them 28 times (for a TTH class) or 42 times (for a MWF class) just doesn't let you get into their heads, find out thier needs and desires, and get to know them as more than just a collection of grades.

Now, with three days left, PREP is winding down. And I'm getting to know the kids much better. Some are really opening up. And I'll probably never see them again. I mean, none of them go to Northside schools, much less O'Connor.

So, there's the depression that comes at the end of the year when you say goodbye to a group of students.

For some reason I volunteer to endure it twice within three months.

~MP

Two anecdotes

Sun, 13 Jul 2008 18:58:55 GMT

When I was a kid, I used to run around barefoot all the time, playing outside. We couldn't afford but one pair of shoes a year, so no use in wearing them out when I wasn't in school.

So, I figured, no sense in putting on socks and shoes to check the mail yesterday. We have the community mail carrel four houses down, so it'd be just a short jaunt there and back.

I'm hoping the burn blisters on my feet heal well enough to teach tomorrow.

-=-=-

My son woke us up this morning with a cookie in his mouth. Which perplexed us.

My wife bought a package of Mrs. Fields individually wrapped cookies, ate one, and thought they were bad. However, Mikie eats everything, so we give them to him every once in a while. Last night the bag had three left.

This morning, my son was chomping a cookie, goading us to get up.

My wife asks, "What are you eating?"

"A cookie."

"Where did you get it?"

"The bag."

"How did you open it?"

"Scissors."

Immediately, both of us sprang out of bed to check the damage.

In the kitchen trash, an open cookie package, with several slash marks. No bag of cookies, no scissors, and Miguel's telltale stool by the utility drawer holding one less pair of large scissors than it did last.

In his bedroom, the bag of cookies (with two remaining, still wrapped) and an orange-handled pair of scissors.

So, my son apparently knows both how to use scissors and where they are located.

Inside, I'm proud of my problem-solving son. Outside, it's pow-pow time. Because he knows he's not supposed to touch scissors.

~MP

A tiring commute

Fri, 27 Jun 2008 03:26:18 GMT

For those that want to know what my day is like, dropping the baby off and dropping my wife off at work before getting to work myself:

View Larger Map

That's one way. 47.3 miles according to Google.

For those scoring at home, that's leaving at 7:00 to get to work by 9:00, leaving work at 4:00 to get home by 6:30.

Thankfully I enjoy my job. I don't enjoy filling up three times a week (or that Shell gas station changing the pump limit to $50!)

What's your daily commute like?
~MP

news...

Mon, 26 May 2008 05:34:36 GMT

My son is starting the potty-thing. He had his first success today (told me he had to go, went to the potty, and went) and one accident (I'm doing a load of bedsheets right now.)

I remember when he was younger, and we did a couple of loads a day. I think we might be returning to that for a while.

In other news, my e-mail server is fubared right now. For a while I thought port 25 was blocked, but GRC (among others) claim it's open. My router is redirecting it correctly, so the problem must be with my implementation of postfix and/or spamassassin. For now, I can't send mail out, and mail either doesn't come in, or gets bounced to the spam account (which is tedious to find, since running multiple websites I get ~1000 spam e-mail a day.) Yahoo and Hotmail get put into spam folders, where Gmail gets bounced.

So, if you're sending me e-mail, don't for a while (or send it to texasmath@yourfavoritefreewebmailserviceprovider.com.

In health news, my sickness is down to just the pervasive cough. No more headaches, or fever, or chills, or general malaise. Just an everpresent tickling in my throat, and the accompaning cough.

Life goes on. Four more school days for my seniors. Another week after that for the rest of my kids. Then a three-day inservice to learn to teach geometry gooder (and to get a free electronic blackboard or something), then PREP starts again. They've done some funky things (Fourth year PREP for HS? Computer Science moved?) so I might have to pay attention to the goings on at the meetings in a few weeks.

Lots of love to those that read this.

~MP

/needs sleep badly.

Mon, 12 May 2008 04:39:08 GMT

Miguel's been sick for the whole weekend. He's a weird kind of sick, the kind that rotates about every three or four hours. He's fine, playing, running around, pretending to be a kitty kat (his latest thing), and then he's got a 104 temp, lethargic on the couch, drooling and tearing (as in tears in his eyes, not crying, and not ripping up stuff.) After a few hours of that (or in the fetal position on my chest or mommy's), he's back to rambunctiousness (probably massacred that word) all over the house.

Of course, at night, it turns to hourly, and I'm the one he likes to wake up.

Last night, the temp got up to 105, which means I brought out the cold bath. I'd been doing alcohol rubs to lower the temps, but this one was hardcore and scary. I took him to the doctor's office (happy mother's day, mommy!) and the doctor says "No Strep, No ear infection, some congestion, here's some antibiotics, not sure why. Try ibuprofen and acetominaphen!"

Some help. No idea what's wrong, but here's some drugs.

Needless to say, he can't go to school in that condition, and (with TAKS, UIL, and AP done) since I serve no purpose at school, I volunteered to stay at home with him.

Hence, no me there tomorrow.

Lately, Facebook has been asking me if I'd like new friends. Of course, I know about sixty percent of the people on the list (and ex-out the ones that either I don't know, or who have made it clear to me they don't wish to be a part of my life anymore)

Of course, the usual dilemma occurs. I can't add first most of them, as they're students, and 35 year old friending 16 year olds reeks of creepiness. And for some reason I can't poke them. So, I have to just message them (which reeks of similar creepiness.)

So, if I've creeped you out, sorry. Wasn't the intent.

~MP

My Beloved Alma Mater in Flames...

Wed, 07 May 2008 02:56:58 GMT

It's been a very emotional couple of hours. I've just watched an old friend fall apart on TV.

The original Main Building at Our Lady of the Lake University is over a hundred years old.

Watching the building go down in flames over the past two hours has been a heart-rendering endeavor. I recall the front doors, walking in, the reception desk to the left, the old living room to the right, decked out in contemporary (for 1895) couches, chairs, bookcases, curtains, and dining service. The hall spread out east to west, opening up to offices in the walls. Straight ahead was a Victorian staircase, twisting up and to the left. Just to the right was the dining halls, named after Sister Annie B, who served me bagels so many mornings.

Up the stairs, you reach the first floor of classrooms. In the back of the building were the broadcasting studios and computer labs (There was a old Television camera, with the call letters K-OLL on them.) The stairs continued up another lap to the third floor

The third floor was Therisian Hall. It was a dorm for "non-traditional students", i.e., students who were older than the average, or for foreign students. All the walls had this antiqued wood paneling. There was a kitchen/dining room, and dorm rooms off to the sides.

I remember when the fourth floor was renovated. Originally it was quarters for the CDP sisters, but it was updated to a new technology wing, with most of the recordkeeping up there.

My body may be at school tomorrow, but my soul will be elsewhere.

TDP.

The perils of being rich

Wed, 09 Apr 2008 03:25:50 GMT

Last year we got a pretty sizable refund from Uncle Sam. This year we earned quite a bit more, and as a result, we owe the government. And, yes, we're supposed to get a "economic recovery" check, but not until we pay our outstanding taxes. Clearly I'm trying to bilk the government out of its just desserts.

I get fingerprinted on the fourteenth. Thanks for making me feel less a criminal, TEA!

~MP

Anwering questions, answered questions

Mon, 07 Apr 2008 00:12:16 GMT

Answered Question:

This answers whether or not I should go through the AP Audit for Computer Science II.

The College Board, in their infinite wisdom, has decided that in order to allow themselves to better prepare students for Computer Science A exam, will eliminate the Computer Science AB exam. But you can get the information from the horse's mouth

Answered Question:

This answers how we'll do at region.

This Saturday, we'll have regionals at UTSA. Right now, we are behind La Joya in Number Sense, behind them and PSJA in calculator, and behind Mac, Edinburg North, and Science Academy in Science. And you can see here to see where we stand state-wide.

Answered Question:

It doesn't really bother me as much as you'd think.

I've learned how to deal with things I can't control. Having a two year old will teach you that. While things seem to be falling apart around me, there's not much I can do about it. And therefore, it really shouldn't bother me. I shouldn't take it seriously.

And I don't. Not anymore.

I am who I am, not any more, and not any less. People ascribe the title of "miracle worker" to me. I'm just a teacher.

<3, MP