The regime falls.

Hello,

I'm disappointed but I've got to cut my losses.  The government interactive unit didn't work this year.  A combination of apathy and lack of responsibility took it down.  I'm sorry for the kids that tried hard to make it work, and would have gotten a lot out of it.  I'll figure out another way to teach what I need to teach.  Ultimately, too many students weren't doing their jobs, and I refuse to be a babysitter. 

I'll continue to give them opportunities to take responsibility, because ultimately how can they ever learn to do that unless they are given the opportunities?  But in this case, it was too much for the whole group. 

As one of my colleagues, who also does the interactive government, said when I broke the news, "Oh man, now you're going have to teach how a bill becomes a law with worksheets.  Yuck." 

I hope it doesn't come to that completely, but yes, there will be some of that. 

Very disappointing. 

My math class is still doing a combination of geometry and multiplication.  We start each class with rocket multiplication facts and then refocus on geometry.  Homework has been a mixed bag of each.  Today we made geometric shapes out of other shapes using pattern blocks.  It was a great math class.  The words that they were using to describe and figure things out made me feel a little better about the government class that had just ended.  Parallel, perpendicular, opposite, adjacent, equal, obtuse, etc.  Bravo to them.

I've got to go.  I hope to be here tomorrow.  Snow, snow go away.  Go to Canada.

Good night,

Mr. Shea