Teaching CS in Dallas

This year is going better than I can remember any year going so far.

I have just under 120 students.  Last year I had 180.  Makes a huge difference.

I've got my A* CS I kids programming.  I'm having a bit of a problem getting my A* CS II kid going but he has always been that way.  He'll go days without working and then turn in EVREYTHING.  Drives me nuts, but that's the way he is.

A* stands for two words that are copyrighted or some such by the college board.

I've decided that I have to let my PreAP kids fly and let my Webmastering kids plod.  I don't have many webmastering kids, but 2 of them can't speak English, much less type it, or read it.

At any rate, I'm really glad I waited out last year, and I have things the way I want them now.

I even have a printer!

Posted by at 12:27 AM | Permalink

All four of my online students showed up for our kickoff -- face to face meeting.  The main reason we met in person, was to give the kiddos their laptops.  That makes things very nice.  I have set up -- and need to publish, a movie on how to download and install Java, but it is much nicer that we gave it to the kiddos done.

Two of my students have completed their first assignment -- email me.  One sort of has, but is having issues installing his ISP.  I haven't heard from the fourth yet.

I'm really excited about this.  Each student is from a different high school which means we'll get good word of mouth.

I'm actually hoping to teach AP CS online next year.

Posted by at 12:21 AM | Permalink

I did something new this year (and remember, I didn't teach CS at the beginning of the year last year).

The District Acceptable Use Policy form I gave to students had a place for parents to put their email address.  So as I got each of the permission slips back, I emailed each parent that included that the form.

I got nothing but positive responses, and I have placed all the responses in a seperate folder in my email account, so if I do need to contact a parent, I can check for them in that folder.

Basically I just put each child's name in the subject heading.  In the body of the message, I introduced myself and  told the parent that they should contact me if they had quetions or concerns.

I did get several questions, all easily answered.

Posted by at 2:28 PM | Permalink

Threads in Computer Science (Education Blog On 10)

This definately seems to be the wave of the future. I think Carnegie Melon is already doing that.

But students still need a broad introduction, in my opinion before they pick.

Posted by at 2:57 PM | Permalink

I can't remember if I posted this -- but I got my AP results, though I didn't get ALL of them.  My alternate tested passed too!

So I had two AP Computer Science A students pass and one AP Computer Science AB students pass.  Unfortunately my alternate passer misproved my theory -- she did not have me before, but one of the students I taught, taught her.  So that is almost as good.

Posted by at 2:38 PM | Permalink | Comments (1)

First, I'm "officially" an old teacher. One of my former students is teaching in our building (French).

Second, I might start blogging for my students here -- haven't decided -- or I might start a special blog for them.

I don't think I have a big audience, but do you think it would be better to do a seperate blog or not?

Posted by at 12:17 AM | Permalink | Comments (1)