If you feel a change coming

Reply to this post if you change your visual/presentation Preference.

Quotes of the Day before Christmas

I can’t put myself in his shoes he wore sandals
Put yourself in his sandals

No High hat was working in the world of drums and we went to the drum room for 80 minutes a day … did you know that tag is the greatest game ever,,,no the band party was way better… No I liked hopscotch … I am kind of stealing you broken candy cane … We read the book Labamba ,,, the movie was way better, Lou Diamond Phillips was amazing in that movie.

Mistakes

Mistakes happen all the time. Everybody remembers the Miley Cyrus song from Snow Ball, "Everybody Mistakes". In fact I may be mistaken and have the wrong song title. But I have been reading a lot lately and not running as much. So my brain is not working the same, it is on a different clock. It is a good trade off because I have some good books. The "One school one book" book is interesting.
The story has mini stories wrapped around plane passengers experiences while in Canada. They are their because their play was diverted after the US declared no one was allowed to fly over their airspace. It is funny because as I think of good math problems that relate to the book, I think of distance problems, and I can't help but think about the events in the story. It almost fiction it is that unbelievable.
I have one thing to say about page111. I think their is a typo on this page. It wouldn't be the first time I found a mistake, I may be wrong. Then again Mr. Grasso making a mistake is almost as unbelievable as the events in this book, but it still might happen.

What I am good at

"Things I am a good at" is a bog about all the little things I think about when I consider my strengths. I am a little bit of a reader, I am little bit of a writer, I am a little bit of a film maker, I am a little bit of a jing master, I am a little bit into baseball, I am a little bit into football, I am a little bit into Johnny Rockets, I am a little bit into the OFFICE.

I think of these things as a part of the whole. But the big parts are different. When am I at my happiest. I am into hockey( which I played today in gym, one goal one assist in 2 minutes of play), I am into Kelly Clarkson and John Mayer, I am into technology in teaching ( holograms please) I am into teaching ( never teach it the same way twice) I am into brain science ( not rocket surgery) , I am into Star wars ( I want fly), I am into space ( I want to fly), I am into anything that can involve random fun. Like when I went running past Mr. Greene's house ( on a jog) and knocked on the door. Next thing I knew we were all playing football in front of his house.

Things I am good at make me an instant 10. When I am 10 I am the happiest... I always want to be a 10 out of 10. Music, teaching, hockey, space. What are yours?

First Man of Steel

"I consider my ability to arouse enthusiasm among men the greatest asset I possess. The way to develop the best that is in a man is by appreciation and encouragement." Charles Schwab


but let us judge not, that we be not judged. The prayers of both could not be answered; that of neither has been answered fully. " Lincoln's Second Inaugural Address, March 4, 1865.

John Mayer and the Bruins

When I read Mr. Dewar's blogs, listening to "Say" by John Mayer, I thought that Mr. Dewar has a great eye for pictures and a nice camera to snap pics. Be careful he will get you when you least expect it. (Sorry Mr. Barth) Also I can see that food is a popular topic that attracts, and rightfully so, a massive amount of attention. I am always on the look out for new restaurants and I have a long standing reputation for eating a dorito or two. But I look forward to Thanksgiving and overeating every year more than most holidays. But I am going to change this year. I promise myself not to have that overeating pain in my stomach this year when I am done my third dessert Thursday. And mean forever not just Thanksgiving Thursday.
Well if I am not eating, what should I fill my time with. I will be filling my time as I always do. Getting my swell on at the gym and playing/ coaching hockey are my past times.
I think that is change we should all get behind. Less overeating and OOOOh we a great hockey team in Boston now. I know it is a shocker, but remember I called it. I knew it was going to be a good season for the Bruins, I just thought it would take until January for them to gel as a team. I also have an eye for football talent. I thought there was something about Matt Cassel. He is alright to the tune of back to back 400 yard weeks. I guess you can say what you need say my optics are as good as Mr. Dewar finding a resting Barth.

60 Minutes: How business should Run

How to give back and people in Norton better off.

As a school we should give back to the community. I know of numerous programs we have at the high school that give back. Even businesses give back with grants and donations like Raytheon, Best Buy, Roche Brothers, Dunkin Donuts and Toshiba. You ever hear of the phrase we live in a small world. Well, we live in a small town. This is the story of a Recycling company of all companies that lie, cheat, and lose track a greater and more rewarding responsibility of people.

The Internet changed everything. In fact the 2008 one can argue the Presidential election came down to the Internet. Obama used it to gain more support than McCain.

Americans don't see how very small the world's become. One such company is "Executive Recycling" out of Colorado. Company's should have a social component and give back, because good American companies make more money when they put a greater good of all first. They do this by recycling and giving back with grants and donations.

High Schools give back to their communities as well. In fact I head up a group of grant writers and they need to be involved in the community because they are looking for money to improve it.
Executive Recycling sent old computer monitors to Hong Kong to be illegally disposed and by doing so harmed the health of children and works with harmful chemicals. The president of the company "Didn't know" they were sending the poisonous Cathode Ray Tubes across the Pacific. An irresponsible environmentalist sounds like an oxymoron, that is what we have. Business's foolishly and irresponsible think of themselves. The world is not one big market just to be taken advantage. And good for 60 Minutes for thinking the entire world should be valued and may soon we will see a "good for all" at the top of schools and companies mission statements. At least my students will see that they have more than a civic duty but a global duty to make all better off.

Neil Degrasse Tyson... Nova

http://www.pbs.org/teachers/_files/pdf/PBS_Math_resources.pdf

Music and Math

I am a member on the committee searching STEM. We are trying to write grants for buses. That's right we need grant money from grants, with lump sum money rather than matriculating, and we need bus money. In order to go on field trips we need money but no one, teachers included with students, even know where we can go. Well some teachers know where we can go, like math and physics day at six flags for calculus students, but still that is 20 to get in with a 25 bus fee. More for the bus than to get inside the park. We need grants and we need the right kind. In the future containing instability, education should always be one forever improving process,thats fun.

I am listening Depeche Mode Enjoy the Silence. and Ray Lamontagne You are the Greatest thing, and Albert King Cold Feet.

What I do in my spare time

I am currently making an extremely large folder of my work. As I said before I want to be the best teacher, best hockey player, Best coach. I want to be the best all the time even Saturday morning when evryone is watching cartoons or sleeping still.

Check out Class of 2011 Blog

The 2011 Blog is linked from here. We were looking sweatpants and t-shirts. Both good ideas and we should have them by Christmas. That is our goal. Send in ideas if you have any.

Geometry Sophomores Project due October 22nd

List the project you desire... Make sure you don't pick one that is already chosen.

Lesson Project

Post your topic you would like to teach

Caleb = Pythagorean Theorem

Julia = Distance and Midpoint

Kim = Polygons

Parke = Angles and Polyons

Meg = Classifying Triangle

Liz = Volume Cylinder

Ian = 6-4 parallel line with proportional parts

Jackie = 9-3 rotations

Stephen = Arc and chords

Allison = Angles and polygons

Jared Marvel = Similar Triangle

Brian = 11.4 Area of irregular figures

Tyler = 10-1 circles and circumference

Curve Stitching

Curve Stitching has begun. What designs are you creating? If you can scan in your design or take a picture you can send it or post it. Remember at least 10 angles.

VP Debate

If you thought Biden should not attack at the debate because Palin is a female you may be confused with all his attacking statements. That is he attacked McCain, George w McCain.

Wow. did Palin have one plan to anything. Any let me paraphrase her. "I will not anwer the questions." Wow. She answered the ones she wanted (with cliches she remembered) or ignored the question all together. Wow. Biden knows how to support his arguments with facts. I think we should all learn to do that in school. Education was a topic passed over, but Biden said "No Child left behind" was left behind with no funding. WOW thank you for at least saying something but we need more time allocated to education than just 3 sentences.

Class of 2011

We went to Gillette on our "quest for a prom venue in 2010", we need a better name for the quest. We are working hard Chck outthe 2010 blog for more picks and updates. Thanks to all that went... Rob, CJ, Tory, Emily, Kerryn.

Test Geometry

You should know conditional statements, converse, postulates that are my favorite to recite. Be able find the space between.

Back to the ice

"Back to the ice" is a saying that comes from being at hockey practice everyday from November to March. After March you are told, by the powers that be, that you have to leave your teamates and go home after school instead of the rink. But there was one big difference my senior year and no one has ever mentioned it until now, we couldn't give it up. All I kept thinking was that I don't want to leave this emotion. After we won our last game, there is no words to describe the feeling, no one left the locker room. The parents waited in the waiting room. No one left the empty rink, then someone jumped on the ice and everyone followed. This is a story very few ever heard. We played tag on the ice like we were a bunch of 2ND graders. We didn't leave we just ran and slid around. Hockey was so much to us that we couldn't leave. So when life gets too stressful and responsibilities seem too much to handle ( make sure that make you go outside your comfort zone) remember if you never try something you will never know. You can have the emotion of being young while you grow happily old. If you don't have a place any great moment will suffice. And I will always go back to the ice.

It feels good to just take a risk. When we won, I floated above my body and whatched 22 out of 26

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QyhRomSbtRE

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z5JraT3m0M8&feature=related

David Blaine

Math is like magic.... It is out there to make you say Wow when you master it. My father even calls his high school students in Florida mathmagicians instead of mathematicians. I thought of that while David Blaine was on TV last night. It changed my life when I first learned magic wasn't real. Now all I have is the thrill of David Blaine hanging upside down trying to show me that magic is sometimes, in your mind, possible. Then he was preempted by the President for 15 minutes. How can the president be a terrible story teller yet still think he can convince the American people, that don't trust him , to give him 700 billion no stings attached dollars. I make fun of Mr. Taylor and other passionate 1984 book lovers. Don't stop teaching that book . All I know is future of the economy is unstoppable horrible without THE BUSH plan. The future like magic and math will always be out there no matter how much you try to stop it.

I found the end

http://www.comcast.net/articles/news-science/20080919/SCIENCE-PLANETS-COLLISION-DC/

This story means that planet's orbitz may become unstable over time and planets may collide. Or, optio "b", someone may possess the power to cause planets to collide into each other. That is the ultimate weapon in the universe., not the death star like star wars fans may believe. If some alien has this power or planets orbits do become unstable with age either way it would make an interesting science fiction novel.

Intelligente

It is Spanish... I put my thoughts in ways most people understand. I think one sign of intelligence is being able to take two sides of the same story and understand that they may both be valid. Sometimes we worry and overthink until we get upset over one side's validity. My message is don't worry so much. Intelligence comes with reflecting and being able to share what everyone is thinking yet no seems willing to share, and that is not spanish.

What is school?

School is a vehicle to help find out who you are. Writing will show all your best qualities. History reveals our room to grow. And Math shows us our capacity to believe in truth. The well rounded student finds a way to grow every class every day.

I always said wellness, which including handball, basketball( I game at which I rule just ask keef and taylor) flag football, and floor hockey, is where a well rounded curriculum starts. I always said I was a coach first, I actually started coaching deck hockey when I was 18, because everything in sports is based on interacting with others. Sport allows us to be more than just some Norton guy or gal, we can be a teammate (I like the sound of that word, notice I didn't say captain). But your best quality shouldn't be a physical attribute. Your body can give out but your brain is less likely to pull a hammy. It would be great for you to be able to throw a ball 98 miles per hour, run the dash in sub 10 seconds, or fire a 100 mile per hour slap shot but if you can't interact by listening and communicating effectively with others no one will ever want to work with you. Your gift, your physical identity will never reach it's full potential, but your intellectual identity is limitless and writing anything will help it grow. I started writing my senior year in high school and it started with a play. I put it on with a little help from my friends and it was a great success. It was called "Bongo Baby". I even recieved offered from fellow classmates that wanted me to be in their play. I showed everyone that their offer was important and I did ever play I was asked to. I continue today to write and with every paper, essay, or memo I write I learn what my best attributes are. Do you know what your best qualities are? Try and write down 3.

Blog

The blog I posted looks at the textbook as tool. The educational tool of a textbook should supplement the class information and supply the student with a resource. Just using worksheets, we all love those, is not enough. Check the blog and let me know what you think of the activities.









Another great song Instant Karma by John Lennon. Remember shout it don't sing it.

Classes on online

A prelimary schdule of what your classes is up on edline. Take a look but remember like in life it is subject to change.

Customizing Life

I don't need to watch mtv or vh1 anymore. I don't need someone telling me what to listen or what to watch. I have youtube to watch any music video, and some case movie, I desire. I have made my own channel and it is called Hockeybookavision. I watch the office on dvd or any other show I like off DVR. In fact I don't really need to TV anymore. I watch music videos, friends videos, or education videos(like the history channel but funnier history) on the Internet. I even shop, eat, stretch while listening to music from my i-tunes. If I want ideas for new song I read a magazine.
I started watching a Bobby Orr video and now it is in my rotation. Also the song "Valerie" my Matt Ronson and Amy Winehouse, is a favorite of mine. We can design our media input schedule and not just TV schedule, I mean our own schedule for life. We can design to live life while incorporating everything we like.

I have even more time to be with friends, read and exercise(hockey). That is what I love to pass the time with. Also designing hockey practices for my team is fun to me. We finished 9th out of 16 this summer but we had 6 defenseman and they are all coming back. They are all 7th or 6th graders and we are the only team without any 8th graders playing defense. I don't need tv anymore I have a lot of action in my life already.

Maybe that is why Chambo bought the i-phone and it goes with him on the train to and from Boston everyday. So when he is around he never needs to watch TV or surf the internet.

The Future Now

This is what just happened to science and it is a huge leap forward.

http://www.comcast.net/articles/news-science/20080810/SCIENCE-CLOAKING-DC/

With great power comes great responsiblity

Movies and School

I finished my classes and have had time for my love, movies. Wall-E was inspirational but cute. Stepbrothers was dumb but fun, Dark Knight was the best movie in the past 10 years.

I don't get too happy or too down anymore when it comes to movies or sports. That is why the Dark Knight was amazing. It made me remember why I like movies.

My sports world got flipped upside down when Manny got traded. If you think this doesn't effect me emotionally you are wrong. I thought I was done being emotional about sports, but I was proven wrong. It was just like with movies something came out of nowhere. Manny and I have history. Manny was there when I was in college. I have been watching his career through everything. I thought he was better than the best. He was unique. I miss people who are unique. That is why I like certain people and I gravitate toward them in a room.

I will miss Manny because he is a symbol of my youth and he is gone. But getting over Manny will not be the toughest thing I will ever do in my life. It was tough to graduate high school, play hockey, leave hockey, get a job, go to college. I realize now everything will pass, thank you Dr. Ansay, and learning who you are is the most important part of my youth and then life. Being young is inspirational, cute, dumb, fun, and the best. And there will always be something you didn't expect, the next big thing.

CVS

Working is a natural part of life like birth, sleeping, and bathing. Work will always be needed. I needed to get a summer job and CVS was the best one I could find. Maybe I didn't look hard enough but as everyone knows I am also coach hockey. In fact it may not be the best job I could find, but instead the best one for a hockey coach who has a sporadic schedule. I love part time jobs. The people and the customers make for great stories. Especially when a customer asks for a box from the back room yet no box satisfies. Until you find out she is burying her dead cat and needs the perfect box, from CVS, to make her cats final resting place perfect. A natural part of life indeed.

The Dark Knight

I responded to a boston globe article with the following. Movies do make you feel better and at times unite the masses. In the Dark Knight you see the world turned upside down with future danger inevitable. In the end of all great movies something ends and dies. Nolan doesn't want allegories galore, because he wants you to enjoy the art. If you want allegories then go see "There Will be Blood".
If you don't think this movie questions the major theories of a democratic society or the importance of a presidential election then you are mistaken. When electing a person into a government office you should look to the right person with a proven track record who you have a good feeling about. When a hero is faced with adversity you have a want him to throw the detonator out the window or sacrifice everything when even a gun is pointed in his face. This movie unveils everything good and bad about the human race. If that doesn't juice your roger, you can just take it for the fun art it is. Maybe then you're world will no longer be upside down, but instead it will be a brighter place with The Dark Knight.

Hawaii

In case you were wondering, Hawaii is BEUTIFUL. It is not too hot or too cold. The mountains are beutiful and the ocean is crystal clear. We have pictures of a beutiful wedding. I will be returning to Attleboro to start my summer of hockey and math tutoring.

Life is too short to never travel. I wonder if there is a paradise like hawaii anywhere else in this universe. I say nope, but I will spend the rest of my life looking for an equal.

Ballin After School

Aud Shhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhchhchchchbueer tried to teach Mr. Taylor how to shoot a basket ball properly. It was hilarious. That was after Mr. V , Mr. T, Mr. Kefor, and I had already beaten the ladies.

Last week we beat K. Shicehekehehehkerker, and B. Av. This week another trouncing. It was a 4 on 4 versus K.B., Shanny, A.S., and Waz.

Victory
Good luck getting better over the summer.

One final note. When the girls played best they really took it to us when they were playing aggresive. Someone once told me being aggressive helps you play better. I don't buy it.

Bring Folders and Notes

The organization skills you gain from keeping a neat folder and binder is all about regulating. If you want to be an artist and put your files in stacks, that's ok. That may be you.

What answer to why do we have to do this? Those who don't see value in the skill should do it now and get the rewards in the form of a grade. In some way grades will motivate you for all your academic career. Feel no guilt over that. It is funny to think of all the things grades ,and later money, will make you do.

Just remember, after my class, you did stay organized once.

Are you born with it?

Are baseball players natural stars or are they trained ?

Nature vs. nurture

Are some people born to be teachers or can they be trained?

I wonder what the answer truly is

Mr. Dewar's Blog and 7 blog tips

http://www.wired.com/entertainment/theweb/commentary/alttext/2008/06/alttext_0604

Wired.com has great resources as well for blogs

Mr Dewar's blog is about blogging, check it out.

9th Grade at the Middle School

Today was a great example of experience being a hard teacher. She give the test first and the lesson later.

This is what our town has almost understood

I think our town has the concept down, we don't need new stuff. The only thing Norton needs now is to learn how to work together to trust in each other in our town and it's schools. I think we can get there together. All the yes and no voters need to learn that no one wins with a "No" vote and no one wins with a "yes" vote. We all need to work towards being better so we don't contribute to a 1% of the country that consumes goods every 6 months when there is nothing wrong with it. So people of the town, both sides, I hear you. And I think you have something here if we work together.


http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=7496487490135901757&ei=&hl=en

this is hard to hear but it is the truth... Don't you want to be happy

Let's stop trashing this place

Stuff = A linear system

We have too much stuff

http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-9153550196656656736

This makes sense

Video of me detroying a tree

I took the Brookie challenge and dominated

Constuction Day Pictures

To the left is

Championship team... Sorry Brendan... you know who you are.

Construction Day

We had a great time.
Where - Hopkington

Who- 21 Norton students and about 200 students from various locations in Mass.

What we got - Hard Hat, Backpack, made tool boxes, We received points for taking part in different engineering activities such as making a balloon tower, computer design bridge, Lego challenge, Parachute creating.

The best part - using caterpillars, bull dozers, John Deere tractors, the jackhammer, and all the other equipment.

Rational Zero Theorem

http://www.purplemath.com/modules/systprob2.htm
Solve decompostition problem

Next

Find the equation of the parabola that passes through the points (–1, 9), (1, 5), and (2, 12).

Algebra 2 Honors

CR I can hear you talking while I am blogging. I wish I couldn't hear you.

CJM no everyone can't read like you

The book I am reading now is "
The name of the Rose" It is actually a murder mystery.

Shout out to Algebra 2 HHonors, Read this an respond to how does the Rational Zero Theorem make Calculus easier, when y"{}all get there.

AS you're welcome

Iron Man

I love a movie that takes a character, billionaire without a care in the world Tony Stark, and then runs him into the ground testing him in everyway. And just when you think he can't survive and his life is over, he finds a way to persevere. The next step of getting on with his life begins only to have his greatest challenge to date come along. Iron Man never stops with the action. It grabs you until your reluctantly forced to say, what time is it because that was not a two hour movie. WOW, thank you Jon Favreau for directing a great movie.

The next big summer movie = Indy Jones. I hope it is half as good as Iron Man.

Iron man is a rich, genius, who realizes his life means more than just girls and weapons. Think you can pull one over on Tony Stark, Iron Man says no way.

I always wanted to teach

If you have not learned yet I like being the facilitate of knowledge, creative, inventive and Doritos filled. The best part about The test was when I am done grading I know where you guys stand. I can tell one thing from this class. You all like to work hard at something if there is a light at the end of the tunnel.

Okay my article presentation is Thursday night. I appreciate all the work you all put into it. Use that technique and you don't have to even write it down. Just use it to make predictions. I plan on doing more of that sort of activity again. Maybe even with a movie. If anyone has a good one, I will have to get it approved, but I think I can get it to work if it is good.

Any idea on Lesson Plans. I will be getting a list of topics. But what should be graded? Participation? Presenting the Lesson in Class? Working cooperatively? Creating examples?
Ideas are welcome.

Quote of the week comes from Return of the Jedi, "Hey, point that thing some place else."

Week of March 17th

I apparently = syntax error.

"Why do we celebrate his resurrection on Easter, why not Halloween?"

Similar Triangle Parts

Another day at Norton High brings another great learning experience. One such moment occurede in my period C geo, one student stopped my class to say the lamest joke. I gave an orange marker to a student and said "you need the orange marker". The student replied, "YOU need the orange marker!?!"

As he said this unrully statement to me, everyone realized something. That he is the lamest and the joke was not nearly as funny as it sounded in his head. Creative? No WAY.

It is obvious learning from each other is more fun than lecturing. We learned about inner voices and orange markers that day. I learned don't try to be funny. It never works out. Also the iner monologues actually work. We should all use them more.

Which is better

The door decorating contest will end with in victory for Mr. Grasso's Door. We have a superior door design. The jealousy coming from the other competitors is ludicrous.


P.S.
Wendy's or Burger King?

Reporters Lack Any Reporting

I just read "Senate panel passes $157 billion stimulus plan" and I have to say it lacking slightly. Like for instance where is the debate of recession being good vs. bad. There is no such thing as a good recession, unless you have read history books on economics and see that our economy is cyclical. Are we to believe you didn't ask any hard questions to any politician? I think no one makes a case for common sense notions such as economic recessions and economic booms can occur in patterns. Are reporters doing any investigating at their job?

The pre-war fumble by reporters has made this Global American Citizen skeptical whenever a bill sounds to good to be true.

Why I Never Follow

"Whoso would be a man, must be a nonconformist. Nothing is at last sacred but the integrity of your mind... ALL MISTAKES I make arise from forsaking my own station and trying to see the object from another person's point of view" Ralph Waldo Emerson

These words by the great nonconformist, he said "By all means , see things from the other person's point of view- but always act upon your own point of view. "

My conviction is never to follow. I am proud to say I experience no terror for being different.

College Algebra can Change

In light of the massive numbers of collge students taking college algebra as their final math class of their lives in college. I realized I love my job but I hate certain things about it. It takes you to dislike something to change it I have found... This is what I would change about the math cirriculum.

Freshman year: begining mans on...(cooperative learning rules are set)

Sphomore year: service learning hands on...(cooperative learning)

Junior year: project driven (cooperative learning)

Senior year: College algebra prep to reduce number of "can't do calculus students". apon conclusion use a real world example across cirriculum. A student should be able to read the newspaper and create a chart(visual) in order to test exponential and algebraic skills. Interpreting what you read and verbalizing, sharing, and learning from oneself.

College Algebra
http://www.contemporarycollegealgebra.org/national_movement/an_urgent_call.html

Bruins vs. New Jersey

That was one of the best ending to a game I have ever seen. Thank you Glen Metropolit.

Radicals

I think radicals are the door that opens to the world of quadratics. If one can relate radicals to monomial expressions next linear equations can be compared to quadratics. Then anything you see in Calculus is possible.
If a student is defeated before they start an equation then I let them know that speed doesn't matter and mistakes are not a sign of weakness. I often think of my past mistakes, and reflect on how I corrected them. I wasn't sure how to correct everything but "sometimes you have to jump and build the wings on the way down. " Kobi Yamada
Then fly to a resolution you desire to live with.