Learning NXT

Since I received the Lego NXT set from a small grant, I've been trying to become more proficient with the engineering and programming required. It has been challenging, and as a result, i haven't utilized it in my classroom the way I've envisioned yet. Just building something strong enough is difficult enough. Over the past week, I've been able to build somewhat original robots. The first has tread like a tank and uses the ultrasonic and light sensors. The programming for this was fairly simple, and it was able to turn in a 360° due to the treads being used. The second robot was inspired by one I saw on an NXT blog I read. It is an "inchworm" type design. I beefed it up a bit by using two motors. It took some tweaking of the design and program, but I was able to make it start with a clap, and stop with a clap. It is pretty cool watching it inch its way across the floor.

A Good Dog

I just finished reading A Good Dog, by Jon Katz. I love dog stores, and have read many from James Herriot to Farley Mowat, but this was truly a story about the deep and unique relationship that dogs and humans enjoy. Katz adopts a troubled border collie named Devon, whose name is eventually changed to Orson. Orson is has his fair share of problems in life, and so does Katz. They form a unique relationship, each helping the other to reveal and accept their own place in this world. Katz doesn't anthropomorphize dogs as many authors do, he sees them as the animals they are. I believe that many dog-owner problems result from treating dogs like humans. Dogs are dogs, and we've shared a special relationship with them for millennia, but it is a folly to begin to treat them like little people. Katz made some tough decisions about Orson whose problems got out of control. People have judged Katz harshly for his decisions and actions. He utilized a holistic vet, a shaman, and an animal communicator to help Orson, but finally, the decisions were his own, shaped by his unique relationship with a dog and his understanding of ethical pet ownership. It was a funny, heartwarming, and tragic story that spoke to me personally about the special relationship that I have with our dog Toby.

A crazy few days

The past four days have been a bit wild for Stephanie and I. Both her sister and my mom had to go to the hospital for emergency surgical procedures. Thankfully, both are doing fine now, but the recovery will be a long one for my mom. We both ended up missing a day of work this week due to the emergencies. I took Wednesday off to be with my mom and help out my dad. I brought their two dogs back to Port Orchard with me, just ahead of the snow storm. I listened to the radio as the storm swept in from the north and snarled traffic in the whole area. It began to snow in earnest as I got to Port Orchard, and was sticking when I pulled into the driveway. I just beat it. This district couldn't seem to make a timely decision, but finally cancelled school at 8:40 on Thursday. Friday was also cancelled. Together with the half-day we missed before Christmas, we will definitely be going to school into another week in June. Darn it. With the day that I took off, I'll have a six day break from my class. What was going to be a very productive full week in class was demoliished. The three dogs, Toby, Emily, and Holly are having a good time, and settling into a routine at our house. They love the snow and race around like maniacs.

The Arrival of the SMARTboard

Today the SMARTboard that I was awarded through a grant arrived at school. I've been waiting for the past three days, and was getting anxious. The boxes were huge, but I quickly had them unpacked and the equipment assembled. Students were able to use it right away, and everyone got a chance to draw on it using "digital ink". We were even able to use it for a math lesson today! The students and thrilled to have a new toy, and I am excited to have an incredible tool that will help enhance my teaching - plus, it's fun!

Christmas

Stephanie and I had a wonderful Christmas. We both so feel so blessed and fortunate to have family and friends around us. Stephanie's parents were able to come over from Billings to spend some time with us. Rick and I were going to repair to roof on our carport, but it turned out to be a bigger job than either of us expected, and will wait for this summer. We were able to celebrate Christmas a few days early with Rick, Elaine, Isaac, Jeff and Michelle. Isaac is an expert at opening gifts. Wrapping paper doesn't stand a chance! It is so cool to watch him grow up.

On Christmas Eve, we had dinner at Jeff and Michelle's, than went to my brother Nick's house for desert and presents with them. Mostly, we took turns holding and playing with Jacob. He had a little santa outfit on, and is just the happiest little baby. He got a jumping swing thing, and loves it.

Christmas day was spent at our home in Port Orchard. Tim, Mom and Dad came over, and we did presents with them. The rest of the day was spent playing with the three dogs, eating a wonderful ham dinner, lounging around, and just plain enjoying each other's company.

As I finish writing this, I can't help but think how blessed our family is. Everyone is healthy, safe, and loved. I can't ask for anything more.

Wow, wind

The windstorm knocked out our power for almost 24 hours starting Thursday night. The wind woke us up and I watched nearby trees sway at impossible angles. The gusts were incredible. We could hear them coming through the trees, and then feel as they slammed into our little house. We feel very thankful and fortunate that our home wasn't damaged, no one we know was injured, and that our power is back on again. Thanks PSE! Around Port Orchard, we saw many fallen trees. The photos show one near our home, and the power lines it took down.

Electric Joy

The Christmas lights went up on the house today. It was raining out, as required, but they went up fairly quickly. I also replaced the electrical outlet near our front porch. I think it was original vintage 1954 - it broke apart as I was removing it. The lights look great, nothing too fancy, but full of holiday spirit. Tomorrow we'll get the Christmas tree, or as our cat calls it, the jungle gym.

A Major Award! (no, not a bowling alley)

Today I got the good news that I am the recipient of a SmartBoard interactive whiteboard for my classroom. I wrote a grant several months ago to a foundation at the University of Washington, and have been anxiously waiting for a several weeks to hear. This addition just about rounds out the technology in my classroom - I have GPS receivers, digital temperature probes, a remote student response system, a wireless slate, document camera, and digital projector. I have been so fortunate to receive it all through awards, grants, and curriculum. The SmartBoard has the potential to completely change the way lessons are presented, and the level of student involvement I can achieve. Gone will be the regular roll down screen. Students will be able to write directly on the board using "digital ink" with just their finger. They will be able to construct graphic organizers by moving objects around and typing text into them - with just their fingers! Classroom technology has come a long way since overhead projectors and film strips. Hopefully, it will be up and running by the new year!

Nope, not the butler...

It seems that the mystery of King Tut's death has been solved. It wasn't a candlestick, letter opener, or revolver. A simple infection resulting from a broken leg (maybe someone broke it intentionally?). I know it is morbid, but I was hoping for something more juicy. As a kid, I was fascinated by King Tut. I drew pictures of the sarcophagus in high school, and really dug into ancient Egyptian history. A great mystery, finally solved - except for the curse part.

Poinsettia Fundraiser

Sixth grade students at Sidney Glen go to outdoor education camp in March. We head off to Olympic Park Institute near Lake Crescent. This year will be our second year, and the students are pretty excited. Money presents a major obstacle for this experience. With over 100 students attending at a cost of over $150 each, we have our work cut out for us. Selling poinsettias as a fundraiser is the first major way students can earn money towards their camp cost. This year, they sold more than 200 poinsettias! Belfair Valley Nursery generously sold us the plants at a much reduced price, and then students sold them to friends and family. They were beautiful all together.

Wet Blanket

It is wet and soggy, but it is definitely snow! This morning we awoke to a layer of heavy flakes. Stephanie immediately played the "Skating" song from Charlie Brown's Christmas CD, and made hot chocolate. Toby was let outside, and he played around, biting and throwing it up into the air. Toby usually hates the rain and getting wet, but snow is different - he ran around and played by himself for about five minutes. It is forecasted that it will snow again this evening and again on Monday morning. Will there be a delayed start to school?

Thanksgiving Hijinks & Homage to Laika

When my family gets together, there is always a fair amount of goofing around. The three dogs were the brunt of our jokes this year. After Tim and my mom made antenna for Emily and Holly, Toby joined in on the fun. Soon all three dogs were sporting aluminum foil headgear. Emily stated that she was "Thankful and proud to pay homage to the first dog in space, Laika." Toby agreed by wagging his tail, and Holly headed toward the back door to be let outside.

Mystery Tube of Science

This was a short week at school - perfect for the Mystery Tube of SCIENCE! The Mystery Tube has four holes, and strings come out of each. When one string is pulled, the others react in unexpected ways. They are all linked somehow - and that is for the students to figure out. They are given a Pringles can and as much string as they want. This is more than a puzzle - it is a way for students to work their way through a problem using scientific thinking skills. They must observe, ask questions, make and test predictions, and compare their results to the model. The first group to solve it did it in about two hours. On the final day, I gave some clues, and almost all groups were able to build their own Mystery Tube, which they promptly took home to amaze family and friends over Thanksgiving Break.

Shocking!

This afternoon at about 1:30, and powerful storm moved through the Puget Sound area. My students were at lunch recess, and the pea sized hail fell as the bell rang. As I went out the get them, thunder and lightning rocked the area. After we got to class, I turned on our LCD projector, and we watched the Doppler Radar animation of the storm moving toward Seattle. It finally got there, and let loose with lightning and hail. Three buildings in Downtown Seattle were struck, simultaneously! I love crazy weather, but not too crazy.

November Evening

After all the rain and wind and a disappointing Seahawks loss, the sunset tonight was refreshing. Steph and I are looking forward to a short 2 1/2 day week at school and a long Thanksgiving Break next weekend.

A weekend at Pete's

My brother Tim came over and spent Friday and Saturday night with us. We had a great time watching select episodes of the second season of the Office, eating pizza, and building lego robots. Tim built a great praying mantis model, and I built a robot that follows a line on the floor. It was harder than I thought, but I'm getting the hand of engineering and programming Lego robots (how old am I?). This afternoon we watched the Hawks game, in which Josh Brown scored a last minute, game winning field goal against the Rams. The game was made even better by the entire jar of salsa con queso we consumed.

FEMA, can you handle this?

Earth has it's fair share of violent storms. Hurricanes and typhoons form in our oceans and batter nearby land-masses, and people. Recently, there seems to have been a rise in the frequency and intensity of Atlantic Hurricanes, although currently there haven't been any major doozies this year. Some scientists think that this might be related to global warming. On Saturn, the hurricanes don't mess around.

At 5,000 miles across (two-thirds the diameter of Earth) and 350 mph, this thing packs a punch. It isn't really a hurricane though - there is no ocean below it, it does not drift around, but has eye-wall clouds. The most amazing thing is that these eye-wall clouds allow scientists to see farther down into Saturn's interior than ever before. FEMA, get those trailers ready.

This isn't good...

So getting a kit a build a robot may not be all it is cracked up to be. Apparently, robots think humans taste like bacon. If robots love bacon as much as I do, we should be worried.

Mindstorms NXT

Today I received a Lego Mindstroms NXT building kit for my classroom. A generous community member wanted to donate the system to a classroom, and after a grant-type selection process, I was chosen. The kit was delivered in a tough Pelican case with a Masterlock. The Pelican case has foam cut to fit the pieces, which are in small compartmentalized containers. Not only did I receive the Lego kit, but it came packaged in an indestructible, waterproof custom made case! Wow! During the next few days I am going to figure out how to build and program the NXT system, then I'll get it going in my classroom.

Blog changes ... and rain



I changed the title of my blog today to reflect the fact that I want to publish more than just about things that happen in my classroom. The previous title was "Mr. Darragh's Class".

Today was the second day of the projected three day rain/wind experience for Washington. It was rained over 2.5 inches in just 2 days! Snoqualmie Falls is raging, and flooding is predicted for low lying areas such as Skagit Valley. In anticipation of this deluge, I worked on our roof and gutters today. Our carport basically needs a new roof, but it will do for now, and our shed needed a few repairs.

Tomorrow might be a big day at school. I applied for a Lego NXT Mindstorm kit through a grant provided by a community member. I think I will receive it, and am really looking forward to learning how to use it, and then use it in my classroom. Tomorrow in class we begin a new math investigation, and start memoir writing. Soon, I hope to get the kids outside and use the GPS devices that PTA bought for my class a couple of years ago. The geocache that was placed two years ago was recently muggled, so it is time to place a new one with this class.