September 5, 2013

Today wasn't entirely productive but it did go by pretty fast. My main lab project was messing with the shortcuts link on all the computers. I started with all the individual links on the desktops but those got deleted. Next I upgraded to a folder, which didn't get deleted but the younger kids having trouble picking the shortcut they needed out of the list and double-clicking it. So I made a website in Word, using the main picture of each site a hyperlink, so the kids could click on the shortcuts “website” and then click once on the picture of the site they wanted. But that was confusing because the kids were used to clicking on the shortcuts folder, not the second link I made. And the second link was accompanied by a folder called “Shortcuts-files” or something, which also confused the kids. So today I went around and hid all of the shortcut folders and links other than the one I wanted kids to use, and I actually had to make a shortcut of the shortcuts link so I could change the icon, because for some reason I couldn't pick an icon for the original Word website. So I made a shortcut of the shortcut, hid the original, and made the icon for the copy a star, so it stands out on the desktop. I think it is a much better solution and I hope I don't change my mind because it is incredibly tedious making these changes twenty-four different times.

I had reading centers with the second graders today. The first group had to write about their best friend because we are still on the Frog And Toad story. The second group did a game with their spelling words and that was kind of annoying because two of the girls are kind of snotty to everyone when they are together, one kid really isn't good at spelling, and one of the other kids is a little too competitive. It was all a bit of a mess but it could have been worse.

From reading centers I went back to the lab and watched over the sixth graders working on their stories. Their para had to leave at 11:45AM to go to class so I had to stay until noon. And then follow them to lunch for lunchroom duty. I did pretty much the same thing as yesterday. One of the first graders, who I knew as a kindergartener, decided I was a zombie today, so every time I walked by I would stick out my hand like I was coming for his brains and it would freak him out. In a funny way, not in a scary way.

After the lunchroom I went back to the lab stood around for the third grade class until about one o'clock and then I was able to finally eat my lunch. I really should have scheduled a lunch break for myself.

After my lunch break I was supposed to have both kindergarten classes but the first one lost track of time and never showed up. I filled that time by cutting scratch paper to get ready for the start of MAP testing next week. The second class did show up and it was fairly uneventful. And after them there were second graders and it was also uneventful. At the end of the day I got an email that the MAP testing server was finally working properly so I went around and logged in on each computer, not only to check and make sure all the computers were working, but also to decrease the log-in time when I have to do it for real next week.

I didn't really do much when I got home but I eventually ate half a Chipotle burrito. And despite some confusing communication with the new volunteer kid, we actually had a visit tonight. The first in a few weeks. We went to the nearby gas station so he could get Cheetos and Moutain Dew and then we went across the street to park and talked for about a half an hour. He has been enjoying football even though that workout and taking weightlifting are almost killing him. He said his wrist is still hurting him, especially during weightlifting, and I am hoping that nothing happens because the wrist injury kept him from wrestling last year. And when I asked him what his least favorite class was so far he picked English over Trig or Physics because he doesn't like reading. Sad.

And now it is 9:45PM, creeping up on my bedtime. I am glad that I am getting back to my school sleep schedule but it is really going to suck working at the theater tomorrow night. I am not looking forward to being up at least four hours past my bedtime, after a full day of work at the school.