Yatta, Mrs. Satta!  Domo arigato gozaimasu Satta Sensei.  Yatta means "I did it!" in Japanese and the rest means, thank you.  Thank you Carol for helping fix my blog issue problem.  This was from a week ago when I reported that I was having difficulty adding my gadgets.  Apparently there were two issues.  One problem was that I kept going back to Add a Gadget instead of just to edit.  Each time I would start a new list of blogs I follow.  The second problem was in not copying the blog address first and then trying to add them.  Carol really did a nice job of explaining and I in turn was able to  others.

Relate to my Japanese in the first paragraph, for our school's Dream Celebration there will be a chopsticks competition. I taught my students earlier how to use them.  I have developed a three step system that I think works well.  I start with a basic video that shows how to grip the chopsticks (for a couple of dollars you can buy packs of 50-100 cheap chopsticks that work well).  I then have students practice picking up styrofoam packing peanuts.  They have basically no weight and decent texture to grip.  The students practice a bit moving the peanuts around their desk and into a paper bowl.  Next, comes cheese doodles.  I give them 5-15 and then they get to eat.  When they have mastered that I have pass out Japanese senbei (rice crackers) that are small and hard.  When they can eat the senbei using chopsticks, they have graduated!

Below I have attached links to a simple chopstick video and a humorous link to a video entitled, "Chopsticks vs. Fork."

Well, I am here at home battling with my "computer machine" (a favorite quote from a fairly lame, yet harmless police/comedy sitcom that lasted two years).  The older partner kept telling the younger, tech savy partner, to look it up on his "computer machine." The younger partner eventually gave up trying to tell him that it is just "computer."  As for me and my family, we will call it a computer machine!

I am trying to add my "Blogs That I Follow" list.  Each time I leave the page to find and attach the URL the page goes back to the default "layout" page and I have to start over.  I posted two URL's and they came up separate on my blog page.  I'll have to get help from one of the people I mentor.

On a more positive note, we went snowshoeing in Cobbs Hill yesterday.  Cold, but fun.  We (my wife and I) are wimping out today and watching a movie while working out on the elliptical and treadmill.

                                     
                                 "Who needs global warming when you've got snowshoes?"

Well, I arrived home last night at 10:30 from Palmyra and was getting ready to go to bed when I checked my email, and lo and behold, No School!  I was not expecting two days out, but I do understand it.  We have power and no damage (expect a chimney guard that blew off and will have to be put back later.  I have been fairly busy organizing damage assessments for members of my congregation.  Also, opening up the church for those without power. Despite those duties, I have managed to workout, visit my mom, and fight with our taxes (I  am not mentioning naps or anything like that).
I was supposed to have my formal observation Thursday and that gave me the opportunity to extend with technology.  I used a site called QuizStar to make a pre and post test on test taking (in anticipation of NYS ELA testing at the end of the month).  I had trouble with it because I couldn't seem to get access to my students.  They could see the quiz but couldn't click on it.  I found out later that it took about two hours for the quiz to actually become active (populate?).  I probably should have used Google Forms, but I hadn't really used it before and wasn't sure how to.  Next time I will.

I also have been using Jeopardy Labs Jeopardy games.  There are many online, free and work well with my students.  I have picked out different topics for review (Egypt, Science reviews, and other subjects).  I decided that it would look good for my observation to have a Jeopardy game, so I made my own on test taking (Multiple Choice, QAR, Essay Questions, Close Reading, and Test Preparation). It seemed to work out well and I am looking forward to using it next week.  Here is a link to it.

jeopardylabs.com/play/ela-exam21


Remember!  What could go wrong?

I was told that it is good to add pictures to your blog page.  This is a picture of the Mona Lisa. It is very famous.  I actually saw it in person when I was 10, but that really isn't relevant.

Well, I'm back.  Life continues to be hectic, but good.  We have added a new grandchild to the family.  Eve Esperanza Tveten, who was born on October 28, 2016.  She is the newest "apple of my eye." She was born in and lives in Pittsburgh, which means many 2-day weekend visits to Pittsburgh.  Go Steelers, Pirates, and most importantly, go Penguins!  Sorry to my daughter that she wasn't enough of a draw for such frequent visits.

                                                                  Why is life so hard?



Otherwise, I continue being very busy as a teacher and a bishop for my church .  As part of being a bishop, I was able to officiate two weddings in September.  I first officiated my dear friend Demetria's wedding and then my daughter's best friend, Krysia's wedding.  Both experiences were really cool.  Last big change since I posted.  Last September I turned 60.

 Old age, how did you creep up on me?  I try to milk it for as much as I can.  I joke by asking teachers, "Where am I?" I will also go to other classrooms ask, "Is this my classroom?"  It works well since they don't take me seriously anyways.

I am actually going to be serious for a minute.  I am enjoying being a teacher (I always have). I see people retired at 60 and I am not jealous at all.  I like being "relevant" and being able to still work with young kids and with my younger peers.  I am in no rush to be "put out to pasture."  The hardest part is adapting to new technology and paperwork.  I seem to work more slowly than I used to.  The computer is great until something doesn't work and then it all seems counter intuitive. Regarding working slowly, I guess that may be an age thing (but hopefully I can work smarter).

Well, I hope you enjoy reading my blog entries.  I will try to be insightful and humorous when possible.  I will leave you with a picture of the Class "B" Boy Scout uniform (t-shirt) from my church's Boy Scout troop that has an inspiring message from me.