Blog Archives

Day 155

4/30/2014

HUUUMMMPPPP DAAAAAYYYYY!
The chemistry students got a preview of the Combustion Lab. See, in this lab, we gonna take a candle,(which is really an alkane) and attempt to measure the amount of heat generated by the burning of the candle. We can do this by heating up a known amount of water. We went over the necessary calculations as well.
The AP Biology students continued their AP Biology Exam review. Today we worked on more multiple choice questions and went over their answers.

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Day 154

4/29/2014

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I love teaching. If I could be in my class all day teaching that would be OK with me.
The chemistry students learned that alkanes aren't the only hydrocarbons around. There is alkenes and alkynes, too. They have double and triple bonds, respectively. They also learned that saturated and unsaturated fats are different because of the presence (or absence) of double bonds.
The AP Biology students began the push to the AP Exam which is 2 weeks from yesterday. We worked on some practice exam questions and we will continue doing that until test time.

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Day 153

4/28/2014

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Oh Boy! I'm at a golf tournament all day today. Coaching golf is cool but I honestly miss being in class.
The chemistry students reviewed alkane structures and formulas.
The AP Biology students put the finishing touches on the Animal Behavior lab today.

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Day 152

4/25/2014

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You know what some kids were talking about today? After today, there are only 5 more Fridays in the school year. I guess that's good, right?
The chemistry students reviewed everything we did during the week regarding alkanes. We're gonna have a quiz on this stuff on Tuesday. It's pretty easy to figure out so I'm expecting great things from the students!
The AP Biology students designed and completed their own experiment with the rolie-polies and the choice chamber. We will complete this on Monday and turn it in.

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Day 151

4/24/2014

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Now we are 151/180ths of the way done with the school year!
Today I'm at a golf thingy at Lake Shastina in Weed. One of our golfers, Jason, knows the owners of that course and we get to play it for free! Yayy!
The chemistry students will continue an exercise on the structure of alkanes.
The AP Biology students will begin the experimental phase of the Animal Behavior Lab. The will put the isopods in a "choice chamber" and observe while the rolie-polies figure out if they like wet or dry filter paper.

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Day 150

4/23/2014

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Day 150??!!?? Wow, this year is 5/6ths of the way done! Oh Boy!
The chemistry students continued their study of alkanes, the simplest hydrocarbons. We used molecular models to help us visualize the structural formulas. Building stuff is fun!
The AP Biology students made their initial observations of the behavior and anatomy of isopods. We answered questions about kinesis and taxis and reviewed what we will be doing tomorrow during the experimental phase of the lab.

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Day 149

4/22/2014

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What a great Spring Break! I did a bunch of stuff. How about you?
The chemistry students began the Organic Chemistry Unit today by looking at alkanes, really simple hydrocarbons. We talked about how they are named, what they look like and what an structural isomer is.
The AP Biology students got a preview of the Animal Behavior Lab which will begin tomorrow. Hopefully, students will bring in a bunch of rolie-polies (you know, isopods) so we can observe them. We also talked about the brains and behavior of dogs and dolphins who are super smart.

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Cal Day

4/12/2014

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Day 148

4/11/2014

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The last day before break! Hurray!
The chemistry students finished up their recording of all the food they have eaten for the last 72 hours. We also looked at the number of calories for the students' favorite fast food meals. Yuck, there was some big numbers!
The AP Biology students took the Animal Structure and Function Exam.
Have fun during Spring Break! Be careful and good!

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Day 147

4/10/2014

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I had a golf tournament today at Gold Hills. I played pretty good - a couple of birdies and shot an 82. Don't ask what the boys did.
The chemistry students continued their recording of everything they have eaten over the last 72 hours. We will complete this tomorrow. We also looked at some nutritional information about the fast food my students seem to eat everyday. Especially Taco Bell.
The AP Biology students continued their preparation for the exam on Friday.

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Day 146

4/9/2014

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I had a super important meeting today during first period so I moved the exam to Friday. I think a lot of students were happy about that.
The chemistry students started to keep track of their diets. That is everything they eat and drink for a 72 hour period. This is the beginning of organic chemistry and biochemistry units.
The AP Biology students continued their preparation for the exam on that is now on Friday.

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Day 145

4/8/2014

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This is the one day of the year when I totally focus on something other than my students and being a good teacher. Well, that's not entirely true. Pretty every day in July might fit that description. Today is the Giants' home opener. I have been going to the home opener since my junior year in high school. And that was in 1977! Anywho, it was a great day at the ballpark. Brandon Belt went yard in the first inning and the Giants won 7-3.

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Day 144

4/7/2014

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I love the Giants. I will be attending Opening Day tomorrow. It will be my 38th consecutive home opener that I have attended. I began going to these games during my junior year in high school. That proves 2 things: I'm old and I love the Giants.
The chemistry students did something very cool and science-y today. We ate asparagus and it was good. Why did we eat asparagus? To see how many excretors of S-thioester we have in class. S-thioester is a compound that is found in urine after some people eat asparagus. Truly, a fine science-type day.
The AP Biology students did a intensive review for the exam on Wednesday. Also very science-y.

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Day 143

4/4/2014

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I was off campus today working on the iPad grant. Actually, I got a lot of work done, so that's good.
The chemistry students took their Gas Laws Exam.
The AP Biology students continued reviewing material for the Animal Structure and Function Exam next Wednesday.

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Day 142

4/3/2014

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Today is a big golf tournament at Wilcox in Red Bluff. I'm so excited.
The chemistry students finished a really good review on the Ideal Gas Law and the other Gas Laws too. I think some students are going to do just fine tomorrow on the exam.
The AP Biology students began to review for their Animal Structure and Function Exam next Wednesday.

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Day 141

4/2/2014

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We are 7/9ths of the way done with the school year. Today is Day one of the rest of the year (and your life).
I was at a WASC meeting today so there was simple stuff going on in both chemistry and AP Biology.
The chemistry students did some review work with the Ideal Gas Law in preparation for Friday's exam.
The AP Biology students worked on their homework assignment that is due tomorrow.
Oh yeah, WASC stands for Western Association of Schools and Colleges and we are working on West Valley's accreditation.

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Day 140

4/1/2014

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In honor of April Fool's Day, which of the following statements is false?
    1. In 2012, I was in the Giants World Championship Parade. IN the parade!
    2. My wife and I were secretly engaged after only 3 months of dating.
    3. I snuck into the NBA All Star Game dinner party when the All Star Game was in     Oakland.
    4. I won the 3 point shooting contest at West Valley during a rally and it was         announced by Rich Eisen, who is the lead anchor for the NFL network.
    5. I dated an Oakland Raiderette when I was in college.

Which one is false?

The chemistry students reviewed the second part of the practice Gas Laws exam. We talked about the Ideal Gas Law and other cool stuff.
The AP Biology students did 3 cool things. First, we saw more of that Phantoms of the Limb movie. It way cool. Then we got out our phones and got this app about brain experiments. And finally we saw an online split brain experimenting game. Try this link!

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Day 155

Day 154

Day 153

Day 152

Day 151

Day 150

Day 149

Cal Day

Day 148

Day 147

Day 146

Day 145

Day 144

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