SimoniSays

Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince

2009-07-16T16:25:00.001-07:00

It has been a long time since I have posted anything on here and this has nothing to do with running. I have been a fan of the Harry Potter books and movies for a long time. As a middle school teacher it gives me something to connect with the students (plus the books are quick page turners and easy to read).

Anyways, I normally leave the movie reviewing up to my buddy Dave (check out his site HERE) but I felt that I should probably give this movie a quick review from the perspective of someone who read the book.

Overall, I was entertained throughout the movie. While it is long (2h, 33m) it does not feel drawn out. The director (David Yates) keeps the momentum going for the most part. My biggest grudge concerns the choices made between what to cut and keep from the book. The movie stays honest to the major plot lines, however, it is the small things that were left out that really grinds my gears.

I am pretty sure that the love story that makes up a big part of the Twilight series may have influenced the movie version of Half Blood Prince. The many sub-plots and romances between Ron and Lavender Brown, Harry and Ginny, etc. were a major focus of the movie. While these did appear in the book, I believe that their inclusion was at the expense of more interesting/exciting elements of the book.

If you are an adult who has not read the book or someone who is currently going through puberty then you will probably really enjoy this movie. It is about as good as the last couple of movies but not as good as the prisoner of azkaban. Go check it out and let me know what you think.

When should I buy new marathon shoes?

2008-09-08T18:33:00.000-07:00

Spending over a hundred dollars on your running shoes could make you want to wear them until your toes poke out and you have to duct tape the soles to keep them from flapping. Unfortunately, you will hurt more than just your wallet if you try to train on worn out shoes. Shin splints, knee pain and hip problems are some of the problems that occur from running on your old trainers.

Just buying a new pair of shoes will not solve all your problems. It is important that you purchase shoes that fit you properly and that complement your arch type and fit your foot strike. I will explain both of these if you are new to running and haven't been exposed to how these minor difference can lead to discomfort, pain and joint problems if the proper shoes are not worn.

There are three basic categories of running shoes. Understanding these vocabulary words will help you understand which shoes to pick.

Stability or Motion Control = Heaviest shoe, provides the most cushioning

Neutral-Cushioned = Mid-weight shoe, balance between cushioning/support/lightweight

Lightweight/Performance = Lightweight but usually very little cushioning or arch support

To decide which type of shoe is right for you start with your arch type. You can find out what type of arch you have by getting the bottom of your foot wet and then stepping on a piece of computer paper.

High Arch

Not many people have this type. It will result in a lot of shock traveling up your leg with each foot strike as you do not have the arch supporting your foot. High arch runners tend to be supinators, aka underpronators. These runners can usually get away with relatively cheap running shoes as they should not buy any stability or motion control shoes. They should stick to neutral cushioned or light weight shoes.

Medium Arch

Most runners will fall in this category. Congratulations, you are normal. Or at least your feet are. You can have a medium arched foot and still over or under pronate. We will cover that in the next section. As far as shoes for medium arched runners go, the world is your oyster. Pick a shoe that feels good and provides enough cushioning. If you are going to be training for long distances (3 or more miles) you should get something that will absorb the impact. Shorter distance runners can get away with lighter weight shoes that have less cushioning.

Low Arch (fallen arch)

If you are particularly tall, overweight or just goofy looking there is a good chance you have a low arch. The definition for overweight is actually a comparison between yourself and a Kenyan marathon runner of equal height. If you are over 165 lbs you may need a shoe that can support a lot of impact with each step. Your foot strikes the ground with a force that is approximately three to four times your body weight, depending on the surface. Those of us with a low arch tend to have more injuries as our arch does not properly absorb the impact of each step. Purchasing a good shoe that compensates for this deficiency will keep you running and out of the doctor's office.

This post will be followed up with information on the three main types of pronators. Arch type will help determine what type of foot you have, however, it is possible to have any three of the above mentioned arch types but still under or over pronate.

Welcome to Virginia

2008-09-06T17:22:00.000-07:00

After four great years in Sarasota, Florida it was time for a change. I had a great time living in the Sunshine State, but it was about time for me to move closer to my family. I am now living in Arlington, Virginia which is a suburb of Washington, D.C.

I am still teaching and working with 8th grade students. The Civics curriculum that I am working with would have been exciting to teach anywhere in the country given that it is an election year. Working this close to the Nation's capital should make it particullary interesting.

I also have been given the opportunity to be a long distance running coach at a local high school. I will be working with the cross country team as well as the indoor and outdoor track team at McLean high school. I have been running with the team and am starting to get in shape again. Hopefully I will be able to post more advice on marathons as I have my eye on a few upcoming events.

I certainlly will miss Florida and all it had to offer. Virginia is looking like a pretty decent place to live and work and the fact that they have Wegmans certainlly ads to my enjoyment.

High Stakes Testing

2008-02-12T06:54:00.000-08:00

My students are currently taking their first round of high stakes testing today. In this no child left behind environment that I teach in, we unfortunately do find ourselves focusing more on the test and less on letting the students enjoy the curriculum. The Florida Competency Achievement Test, or FCAT is not a particularly challenging state exam. The questions and responses can sometimes seem ambiguous, but for the most part it is a fair exam.

On of the great things about teaching in Florida, however, is that there currently is no Social Studies examination. I therefore have the freedom to teach my content in any way that I desire. Recently, however, I have been pressured by the county administration to give up some of my units so that I can help supplement the FCAT testing. I realize that any additional practice will be beneficial for my students, but I find that when we do prep for the test, the interest level in my class plummets. Suddenly every student needs to go to the bathroom or has a question on a current event. Even the eyes of my scholar students glaze over when I talk about "author's purpose" or "extended responses."

Overall, I do not believe that these tests should be done away with, as my of my fellow colleagues have expressed. I do not think that they should be used to the degree that they currently are for determining the pathways that a student may take in school. Assigning students into pre-defined tracks according to test scores does not produce positive results, and something should be done to remedy this practice.

Are marathons harmful?

2008-01-14T17:41:00.000-08:00

This weekend I completed the Walt Disney World Marathon in Orlando, Florida. It was a well organized and fun race. The Disney characters lined the course cheering on runners in the areas where other spectators could not go. There was plenty to see as we ran through all four theme parks, which helped keep my mind off how badly my body felt.

This was the third marathon that I have completed in the last 10 months. When I began training for my first marathon about a year ago, I wondered how my body would respond to the stress long distance running can place on the body. I heard horror stories about fifty year old marathon runners who could barely walk. I also read news paper headlines describing the tragic deaths of prominent runners in London, Chicago and New York this year.

I have been apprehensive about what, if any, damage I am doing to my joints as I have trained for and run these marathons. In all three races, as I approached mile 21 I experienced pain unlike any that I have ever felt. It is a pain that is hard to describe, as it seemed to encompass my whole body. Each step becomes harder than the next and the voice in the back of my mind telling me to stop grew louder. At the same time, I watched sixty and seventy year old men pass me by. As a 25 year old who is in decent shape, it was disheartening to see people who did not appear to be athletic pass me by.

I still do not have evidence that marathons are either harmful or beneficial. My body is still sore from the last race, but overall I feel strong. The pain that I experienced during the race is mostly forgotten and I am once again contemplating running another race. I believe that wearing the right equipment, eating a balanced diet and participating in proper training will lead to the successful completion of a marathon.

Jury Duty

2008-01-07T05:32:00.001-08:00

I am currently waiting to perform the patriotic obligation known as Jury Duty. Every year, millions of people throughout the country are summoned to court rooms. The Sixth Amendment to the Constitution provides the right to a "speedy and public trial" that is presided over by an "impartial jury." This right that is enjoyed by all Americans also becomes an obligation that is dreaded by these same people.

As I wait for my number to be called, I have heard the grumblings around me and I unfortunately have also uttered them myself. It seems that we all have something more important to do and other obligations to fulfill. As an educator, I had to make lesson plans and re-arrange the schedule of my students. We are less than a month away from our increasingly important FCAT state exams. This time out of the classroom means at least one less day of preparation for the exam.

Of course, how can I explain to the person on trial in the court room that the FCAT is more important than their case. As a juror, I will have the responsibility of potentially sending someone to or saving them from prison. If it is a civil case then there is the chance of awarding or declining life changing sums of money from a person.

I would like the chance of sitting on a Jury and I do believe that I possess qualities that will allow me to listen to a court case and make a rational decision. On the other hand, it would be great to be dismissed and have the rest of the day off. I will know in the next few hours what my fate will be.

Are Marathons Healthy

2007-12-27T16:25:00.000-08:00

Around nine months ago I wrote a post questioning whether or not Marathons are healthy. I wrote the post a few days after I had completed the ING Georgia Marathon. In the half a year since that has passed I have trained for and ran the New York City Marathon and I am currently a few weeks away from running in the Disney Marathon.

The good news for anyone interested in running a Marathon is that I am still running with no real problems. I have reduced my mile pace by close to a minute and I have also lost close to fifteen pounds. I have been taking a vitamin supplement as well as glucosamine. I still can feel an old hip injury during the first couple of miles but otherwise I have not noticed any changes in my body.

The scary news is that during the past few months there have been multiple cases of sudden death during marathons. Chad Schieber collapsed during the Chicago Marathon this summer. His death has been attributed to a pre-existing heart condition. In April, 22 year old David Rogers collapsed after completing the London Marathon. His death has been attributed to hyponatraemia. Finally, there was the highly publicized death of Ryan Shay, the elite runner who perished while attempting to qualify for the Beijing 2008 Olympics. His death has also been linked to a pre-existing heart condition.

It should be noted that these young men who died while running made up a very small percentage of those who ran in Marathons and finished without a problem. Most of these men had pre-existing conditions and the stress of the marathon was too much for their bodies to take. These unfortunate events highlight the need to get a proper medical exam before attempting to run long distances. Marathons place a enormous amount of stress on the human body and you need to be sure that you are not putting yourself in danger.

Can the interenet be used to make money?

2007-12-19T07:07:00.000-08:00

I apologize to the few people who actually read this blog on occasion, as I have not done much to keep your interest levels up. The past month has been quite turbulent as far as my work and social life goes, plus the weeks before Christmas break are always crazy at school. This is of course not a good excuse since I actually still have been doing some writing.

Some of you may remember Don Lapre, the "nutritionist" who enthusiastically told late night television viewers how he made "millions of dollars from his one-bedroom apartment by placing tiny ads in newspapers around the country." Well, my scheme does not really sink to that level of desperation but it is not much better.

If you have used the Internet in the past few months, you may have noticed that there is an abundance of advertisements strategically placed on many websites. These ads provide revenue for the owner of the website each time they are clicked on. The amount of money is determined the type of advertisement and if the click results in a sale for the advertiser.

As a young college graduate with limited wisdom on the workings of the world, there are unfortunately a limited number of topics that I can provide advice about. The one topic that I do know quite a lot about is obtaining funding for college. I had to take out student loans for both undergraduate and graduate school. As a result of the research I did, I believe I can provide somewhat sound advice for students attempting to pay for their education. The best part of my idea is that the advertisements that I have placed on my website are quite lucrative.

Now that you have taken the time to read this post, please be sure to check out the sound financial advice on my Student Loan Advice website! Perhaps you will even help me pay off my own loans by visiting some of the advertisers on my website. Hopefully you will see me some day talking about how I made millions from my one bedroom apartment by placing tiny advertisements on websites all over the Internet.

I beat P-Diddy

2007-11-28T12:58:00.000-08:00

Well, the NYC Marathon is a couple weeks behind me and I am just finally sitting down to write about it. The race itself was incredible. I give a lot of credit to the New York Road Runners organization for putting on a great run. They were able to organize over 40,000 runners into three starting areas and based on previous finishing times. These runners were then herded into starting corrals which allowed for a somewhat organized start of the race.

The sight of NYC from street level is an experience I will never forget. The sight of Manhattan from the Verrazano-Narrows Bridge was incredible. The various ethnic neighborhoods kept my mind on the surrounding environment and not on what my body was telling me. I also was fortunate enough to have the support of my family who made the trip to NYC to cheer me on.

The most memorable part of the race will forever be the Queensboro Bridge. This two mile long span is known for being especially difficult because of a lack of fans encouraging you on as well as no water stops. As we ran up the first mile which is a slow and gradual incline to the apex of the bridge, the only sound to be heard were the pounding of shoes on the deck of the bridge. Halfway up we passed a runner from the wheel chair class who was struggling up the incline backwards, propelling himself upward with his one functional leg. I began to cheer for him and my shouting spread to hundreds of other runners on the bridge.

Once we reached the pinnacle of the bridge and began our descent, something could be heard from up ahead. It started out faint, but with each step it grew louder. As we approached the end of the bridge, there was a sharp turn to the left and then a steep 180 degree turn. The sound had grown into a powerful roar, and that is when the sight thousands of people standing 10 deep on the barriers hit me.

The rest of the race became increasingly difficult mentally as I physically began to deteriorate. My quads and calf cramped up into knots that grew larger with each step. Without the support of the fans and my family, it would have been difficult to finish. I was reduced to walking for a few minutes each mile after mile 22. The surge of energy that I had hoped would hit me as I came withing a mile of the finish failed to materialize. I felt worse with each step even as I crossed the finish line. It was a good feeling to be done, however, I was both mentally and physically drained.

Overall, the race was a great experience. My training paid off, and I was able to finish with a decent time (just over 4 hours.) I am grateful for the opportunity to see NYC from street level and I cannot thank those who cheered me on enough. I am also glad that I was able to beat Sean "puff daddy" Comb's time by more than 10 minutes.

NYC Marathon

2007-11-01T15:08:00.000-07:00

I leave tomorrow morning to run in the New York City Marathon! I have been training diligently since I found out that I was admitted via the Lottery. The weather appears like it should be favorable and I hope to finish with a decent time. I will be sure to post my results and opinions about the race in the days following the event.

Over 110,000 people tried to get into this marathon, and I am one of the lucky 38,000 that will have the opportunity to run this race. I hope that I do not let down my friends and family who will be watching and that I can finish strong.

Updates will be posted soon!

The Toronto Bills?!

2007-10-19T16:01:00.000-07:00

The rumor mill is churning out all kinds of speculation about the Buffalo Bills. The most recent disappointing loss to the Cowboys on MNF in the closing seconds of the game has started anew grumbling in upstate New York. As most NFL fans know, the Bills are considered one of the most unlucky teams in the league. Their four Super Bowl losses in a row is a record that few teams will ever hope to beat.

With yet another losing season in progress and a lack of any economic recovery in Buffalo, NY, rumors have started about a possible sale of the franchise. Owner Ralph Wilson has repeatedly stated that he has no intention of moving the Bills anywhere. However, like Ponce De Leon, Ralph Wilson has not discovered the Fountain of Youth and will most likely die soon. When that does happen there may be a power struggle that could rival that of Imperial Russia.

Apparently Ralph Wilson will not be leaving the Bills to his sons due to inheritance taxes. This means that the team will be up for grabs to the highest bidder. There has been rumors that the slow economy and lack of funds could push the Bills into the territory of our maple syrup and beer producing neighbor to the north. The promise of a new stadium and larger fan base could lead to the final loss for Buffalo.

During the 2008-2009 season, the Bills will play a pre-season game in Toronto. The following year the Bills will play a pre-season and one regular season game. This could be the beginning of the end of the Bills. It may be up to a local billionaire to pick up the pieces, much like how Tom Galisano was able to revive the Buffalo Sabres. As a loyal Bills fan, I can only hope that NFL football remains in Buffalo.

Jar wars

2007-09-28T16:54:00.001-07:00

Jar Wars Video

Jar Wars

2007-09-28T14:50:00.000-07:00

For the past three years I have organized a fund raiser. The idea for the fund raiser was taken from my high school. On an annual basis, our school would anticipate the arrival of Jar Wars. The details of the event were kept a secret for most of the year. There were periodic announcements on the school television station, but these commercials were cryptic and kept the underclassmen in the dark.

The Jar Wars fund raiser was created by Mr. Carmen Gumina. His enthusiasm for the project was contagious. He was a Biology teacher at Webster High School and is currently serving as a Principal in the same school district. When I became a teacher I reflected on my high school experience and thought about what had made it a truly unique experience. The one event that I looked forward to each year was the Jar Wars fund raiser. As I began my own career on the west coast of Florida, I hoped to start a similar event for my students.

Monday will kick off the competition. This year we are raising money for the Achilles Track Club, a local organization that encourages people with disabilities to participate in athletics. We hope to beat the total from last year which was over $2,800. There are no administrative costs; all money will go directly to the charity. All prizes that are given to the winning team have been donated from our community.

To follow in the footsteps of Mr. Gumina, I have put my dignity on the line and offer up my hair as a reward to the students. Should they raise more than $3,000 this year, I will shave my head on the morning news. This morning was the culmination of a advertising contest for Jar Wars. The students who designed the most creative advertisements won a small prize and were invited to come on the morning announcements and smash a pie in my face. The odor of curdled whipped cream is still in my nose, but hopefully it will make the smell of a successful fund raiser that much sweeter.

St. Augustine

2007-09-10T09:20:00.000-07:00

I had the opportunity to travel to the Oldest City in the United States last weekend. As a History teacher, one would assume that I had a great time reading placards on monuments and visiting museums. For those of you who do not know, St. Augustine was first "discovered" by Spanish explorer Ponce De Leon. He was looking for the fabled Fountain of Youth, but all he ended up finding was a bunch of sulfur water and some Calusa Indians. While there was no Fountain of Youth, De Leon did realize that St. Augustine would be a great place to set up some gift shops and wax museums, so he claimed the land for Spain.

Now, I must admit that I had a good time in St. Augustine. There was plenty to see and do and overall it was a fun weekend. As a pseudo-historian, however, I did not come away from the weekend feeling like I had just spent the weekend in the Oldest City in the country. The town itself is beautiful, however, the people that now occupy St. Augustine seem hell-bent on exploiting the tourists who now come to visit the town. The prices that were charged for admission were outrageous for even the most mundane of attractions. While paying 5 dollars to a historical society for their upkeep of a monument is palatable, forking over 10+ dollars to see a cheap re-creation of Ponce De Leon drinking from a pool of water should be considered a crime.

The majority of the attractions in St. Augustine where basically tourist traps that exploited historic events. The best [i.e. worst] of these tourist traps was the "Fountain of Youth Experience." The center-piece of this attraction was a 20 foot illuminated plastic globe. The recorded narrator described how Ponce De Leon traveled the earth while a docent used a laser pointer to highlight his route. I stared in amazement and pondered if this was really happening. Around me there were families staring blankly with moronic grins on their faces nodding in wonderment at this massive globe. The fountain of youth experience unfortunately went downhill from there. It is a good thing that Ponce De Leon did not find the fountain of youth because he would have been utterly disappointed if he had the chance to visit the "Fountain of Youth Experience."

On the whole the weekend was not a wash because I did learn one fun fact. It turns out that the average height of a Spaniard during the 1500s was only 4'5". Ponce De Leon was a towering 4'11". The average life span was also only 40 years old for the Spanish male. Ponce had heard rumors of a tribe of Native Americans living in South Florida who were over 6' tall and who lived well into their 80s. They were the Calusa Indians and it was because of their massive height and old age that Ponce De Leon had assumed that there was a "Fountain of Youth" somewhere in Florida. Apparently the geriatrics of the country have also heard this rumor, because Florida still abounds with retirees seeking to prolong their lives and to make the roads unsafe for all of us youngsters.

Teaching is like a Marathon

2007-09-04T20:03:00.000-07:00

For the past two months I have devoted at least 25 hours a week to training for the NYC Marathon. For the months of September and October that number will rise to close to 35 hours a week. That will make my training comparable to having a second full time job. During these runs I am usually accompanied by friends with whom I discuss current events and ways to become a better educator. Tonight I went out for a speed workout by myself and began to think about how my career is similar to the race that I will run this November.

The first day of school begins with a stomach full of butterflies. As the gun goes off we shuffle uncertainly through the hazy morning. The first day feels vaguely familiar, similar to all those training runs that helped build up muscle memory, yet it will certainly be unique. It is usually nothing like the way they described it in the summer trainings or during all that planning and prep time. I see a blur of faces, some familiar but many new. Like the first few miles of the race my adrenaline will carry me. I pass smiling faces and hear words of encouragement and just like the weeks of the school year, the miles start to fly past.

The first moment of reflection comes at the end of the first marking period. By this time routines have been established, small aches and pains have been worked out and I have finally hit my stride. There is still a long school year left but I feel strong both physically and mentally and I know that all the training, planning and prep time has paid off.

I wish the midpoint of the race felt like the climber who has reached the apex of a mountain, as he knows that it is all downhill from that point. Unfortunately the hardest part of both a Marathon and the school year come toward the end of the year. As we return from winter break, the dreaded FCAT crunch begins and fatigue will quickly follow it. I know that I am more than halfway done and I feel physically able, however, the second 13 miles of the race seem exponentially longer. By mile 15 my body begins to show signs of deterioration. My classroom and the school around me begin to display similar signs of stress.

The hardest part of the race comes at mile 23. The invisible wall that many encounter can leave students paralyzed with fear as they face down their Scantron as well as the Marathoner dehydrated, cramped and bleeding on the side of a course. To make it through the last three miles of the school year takes guts, determination and at times the help of those around you. The last three miles of the marathon may as well be a million to the under prepared, and quitting seems like the only rational decision. A runner who skimped out on training would feel like they were looking in a mirror if they happened upon a teenager who has capitulated as he or she Christmas Trees a bubble sheet.

For many it will come suddenly and when all hope seems to have been lost. The finish line somehow becomes something tangible. It is concrete. It is not longer something that you could only visualize. There it is. It is still over a mile away but the streets are lined with encouragement. The school suddenly becomes electrified with energy. We almost made it. The countdowns become shorter and you can just make out the race clock. Like the start of the race your feet suddenly become swift as the lead somehow sublimates from your body. Positive thoughts reenter your body and as waves of emotions pass over you are somehow crossing the finish line, signing yearbooks, speaking at ceremonies and posing for pictures, shaking hands and giving high-fives. You receive congratulations on a job well done, the hard work paid off, and a myriad other descriptions of what a difficult task you just accomplished.

As the euphoria fades and life returns back to normal you reflect and make some notes on what you will do different the next time around. The experience will drive many to never return again, but those who are dedicated will learn from prior mistakes and come back year after year stronger, more able, and with wisdom of past experiences.

Pandora's Box

2007-08-09T11:52:00.000-07:00

The school year is starting in less than two weeks which means lots of time spent at my desk coming up with lesson plans, classroom procedures and student schedules. This type of work usually is pretty tedious and is usually about as fun as helping my father clean rocks in the back yard. To make my day more enjoyable, I normally will listen to CD's. I have two that I rotate, MA$E and Puff Daddy and the Family. These are the last CD's that I bought back in Junior High School. They are getting pretty scratched up and tend to skip during the best parts of the songs. This leads to frustration and I end up getting little work done.

I was telling a friend of mine about my predicament and she directed me to an amazing website. Internet radio is nothing new, but most of the stations that are broadcast online are usually done so from a creepy 35 year old working from his parent's basement.

At last there is a solution. Pandora.com provides music that is selected according to your preferences. Each song that is played can be rated and then similar tracks will be played from obscure artists. Each user creates their own profile with personailized radio stations. If you have access to the internet during the day and would like to listen to something other than Micheal McDonald, check out Pandora.

...

Penetrating the Earth!

2007-07-30T15:10:00.000-07:00

I had the opportunity today to take a tour of a part of our Earth that most people have never had the chance to see. I am currently in Texas and the local news had a story about the cave systems that dot the subterranean Texas landscape. The story focused on the large amount of rainfall during the last month and the fact that the caves are filling up with water. I knew that there were cowboys, longhorn steer and cacti in Texas but I did not know that there are caves. The story on the news described how most of the caves were now closed to the public and would be so until the water receded. I will only be here for a few more days, so we quickly made plans to head out and explore.

The cave we ended up going to is called "The Inner Space" cavern. It was discovered in 1963 when the Texas highway department was building Interstate 35. The crew was doing some ground core samples and came across a large airpocket. They drilled a larger hole and lowered one of their men down into a 40 foot high chamber.

Since that time the local family that owns the cave has turned it into a tourists attraction complete with a trolley that brings you down into the cavern and a snack bar full of all the best Texas meats. The tour guide was knowledgeable and some of the formations are incredible. The caverns were only partially open, as the rising water levels have made access impossible. The staff is predicting that they will be completely shutting down by the end of the week as the rest of the cave will soon be flooded. If you are ever in Texas, be sure to check out the caves. Just make sure that you avoid the meat at the snack bar.

Airplanes and Cookies

2007-07-07T11:43:00.000-07:00

Allow me to drift from my normal education focused posts. Over the course of the summer, I usually try to relax, read and visit my friends and family. During the last few weeks I made some tentative plans to visit a friend in Buffalo, NY and then catch a ride to visit my family in Rochester, NY. My idea was to catch a one way flight into Buffalo and then another one way flight from Rochester back to Florida. While in the process of looking for tickets, I may have stumbled upon one of the airline's biggest secrets.

It all began when I looked up flights home my home computer while enjoying my morning coffee. I found a few relatively inexpensive one-ways into Buffalo and proceeded to call my buddy to see what time would be preferable. Due to his work schedule, I didn't hear back from my buddy until around 7pm. I then went back to my computer and tried to find the same flights. Unfortunately for my credit card, all the flights had somehow tripled in price. I called my friend and we swore about the airline industry for a while and ended the conversation with a "maybe later in the summer will be better."

The next morning I woke up checked up world events while enjoying my coffee and an Eggo Waffle. I decided to try to find tickets one last time. This time, however, I went into my browsers tools and deleted all my cookies. (For more info on cookies click here) I then proceeded to search for flights and to my amazement was able to find an amazingly cheap ticket. This may have been a coincidence; perhaps there was a cancellation and I was just lucky to be the first to get it. There also is the chance that the airlines tracked my flight queries and jacked up the price knowing that i would probably be back to buy my flight. Conspiracy or not, I will now be able to afford to take the flight to Sunny Buffalo, NY.

Timmon's Great Idea

2007-07-03T14:00:00.001-07:00

PB Wiki

A teacher I work with had a great idea that i will let everyone know about. She built a Wiki for her class. A Wiki is kind of like a traditional web page, however, it can be edited by anyone who has the password. This helps to foster communication between the teacher, students and their parents. The PB Wiki that Timmon's created is easy to edit, simple to use and contains a wealth of information.

I have heard that imitation is one of the best forms of flattery. Well, I hope that Timmons is flattered because I will absolutely be stealing her idea of using a Wiki for my class as well. I am excited to keep the students of my parents up to date with the happenings of my classroom. This page will also serve as a kind of evolving syllabus for my class, as my students and I work together to shape my curriculum.

For a look at what I am talking about, click HERE

Re-Charging My Batteries

2007-06-22T09:35:00.000-07:00

Teaching has been the most rewarding experience of my life. I enjoy working with my students and watching them blossom in the classroom. Unfortunately, by the end of the school year most of my colleagues and I feel pretty drained. The buildup of paperwork and backlogged phone calls all come to a bottleneck at the end of the year resulting in a stressful finish. Thankfully, teachers are entitled to a wonderful two months known as "summer vacation."

I am currently in Washington D.C. doing just that. As a history teacher, there is so much to explore in our Nation's capitol. Every building has a story and I enjoy reading every placard and inscription on the thousands of monuments and statues throughout the city. This afternoon I will tour the Holocaust museum and then stand in line at the National Archives so that I can see the Declaration of Independence.

This time off during the summer has provided me with an opportunity to not only relax and visit family and friends around the country, but also to come up with new ideas for my classroom. I just read The essential 55 and I am currently reading Napoleon's Button's and Chasing Che. I hope to use the ideas in these books for my class in the upcoming year. I hope that all teachers use the time over the summer to charge their batteries and also to prepare themselves for the upcoming year.

I Won the Lottery!

2007-06-14T16:13:00.000-07:00

I received the great news yesterday that I was accepted into the ING NYC Marathon! Over 98,000 people applied to run in this marathon from all over the world. Because of the massive number of people who applied, the organizers of the marathon were forced to hold a lottery to decide who would get to participate. I was among the lucky 40,000 who will be allowed to run in this famous race.

This will be my second marathon, and I am looking forward to beginning my training again. Running in the summer in the Florida heat and humidity will certainly be grueling, however, i am excited to get back into shape and lose the fat I gained from my end of the school year in-activeness and also from the many course dinners that I had on the cruise.

I will try to update on my progress. Those of you who live close to NYC had better come out and watch me come as close to death as humanly possible. The race is in November so come out and bring me a refreshing adult beverage for the finish line.

Activboard

2007-05-24T04:24:00.000-07:00

Sarasota County has made the decision to install Promethean Activboards throughout classrooms county wide. The Activboard is essentially an interactive whiteboard that has the ability to display images, maps and video. The 78" board is connected to a computer and all images, drawings and notes are saved as individual flip charts. This allows teachers to print off anything that was demonstrated on the board for students with IEP's or those with low English proficiency. It also allows teachers to print off information for students who had been absent.

The controversy that surrounds this decision has primarily focused on the cost of each board versus the impact it will have on education. It goes without saying that simply introducing new educational technology into a classroom will not result in improved assessment results. What has been proven to improve test scores are classrooms full of students engaged in meaningful standards-based lessons. The ability of a teacher to engage his or her classroom can be strengthened through use of educational technology. Therefore, in the hands of properly trained teachers, the Activboard will become another tool to empower Sarasota County teachers to engage their classrooms.

Engaging students is one of the most difficult parts of education. While there are many self- motivated students, there are some who, for a myriad of reasons, do not place school at the top of their list of priorities. Working with these "reluctant learners" can be extremely challenging for teachers. These disengaged students can become disruptive and upset the learning environment that teachers strive to achieve. While the Activboard may not hook every student in the classroom, the interactive lessons that teachers can create with it are certainly more engaging than traditional teacher-centered classrooms.

Overall, the addition of the Activboard to my classroom has been an incredibly positive experience. Students who had been reluctant to participate in class were now practically jumping out of their seat at the chance to demonstrate problems on the Activboard. Although the summer has only just begun, I am already looking forward to the upcoming school year and the chance to work with a new classroom full of engaged students.

Ithaca is Gorges

2007-05-22T15:09:00.000-07:00

This weekend I returned to the town where I spent 4 of the best years of my life. My younger brother completed his undergraduate education from the same college that I attended. This meant i had the opportunity to see some old friends and professors and also to revisit a few of my old stomping grounds.

For those of you who have never been to upstate New York, you really are missing out. Ithaca is one of the most beautiful cities in the United States. It is located on the southern tip of Cayuga lake amidst rolling hills and breath-taking gorges.

I have enjoyed my time in Florida, however I know that some day I will return to a more northern location. While at times the cold weather can be brutal, I will gladly take a few months of snow over the chance of my house being flooded or blown over during the next big hurricane.

The pictures from this post come from Treman State Park. For more images, visit Joe Braun Photography.

Here it comes...

2007-05-15T18:33:00.000-07:00

Well ladies and gentlemen, the school year is just about over. Our students are going through their Ellis Island simulation tomorrow. We have lots of cool activities planned for the last few days of school. Overall, my students have not been acting like there are only 4 days left. As I look around campus however, it is obvious that most of the students have summer fever. Our "tucked in shirt" policy is rarely enforced besides in our team area, public displays of affection are rampant and I even saw one student streak through the cafeteria. (Just kidding about that last one.)

As we come to the last few days, I hope our team can work together to ensure that our students continue to behave like civilized 7th and 8th graders. We have worked hard to have the fewest behavior incidents in our school. As long as we keep working together, we can keep the $#it from hitting the fan.

Does history matter?

2007-05-13T07:34:00.000-07:00

This weekend I spent about 10 hours going through over 500 potential social studies test questions. The Florida Competency Assessment Test, or FCAT only tests reading, math and science. Current legislation will require that social studies also to be tests. As a social studies teacher, I am conflicted over this.

On one hand, our students are already being over tested. They are bombarded with high stakes exams that determine their placement in high school and also whether or not they will graduate. Students who do not achieve a competent score on the test are required to take enrichment classes in areas where they are deficient. These classes replace P.E., art and music classes.

On the other hand, I do not like hearing my students say that "history class doesn't matter because we don't take an FCAT for it." I believe the lessons I teach my student are some of the most important that they will learn. I start my class off each year by telling my students that "history is cyclical and that those who choose to forget it are doomed to repeat it." We then look through past events and compare them to how similar situations are occurring today.

Not having an exam certainly does give me some elasticity with the curriculum. If I do not hit every topic, I know that my students will not be penalized for it. The only request I have from the State is that when they do give us a State exam that they consult with classroom teachers first. My work this weekend was a good step in that direction and I hope they continue to work hand in hand with educators when determining how our students should be assessed.

Florida is on Fire!

2007-05-08T18:02:00.000-07:00

Our track meet today was rescheduled today due to inclement weather. Where I grew up (Rochester, NY) this would mean a snow or ice storm. Here in Florida I already have had school days cancelled due to hurricanes. Now I have something new to worry about. Brush fires in northern Florida are burning so intensely that prevailing winds have carried soot, ash and black smoke over 400 miles away to . There are health advisories warning young people and the elderly to stay indoors today.

Now, i know that some of the native Florida plants are supposed to burn periodically and that these fires are not all that bad for the environment. However, the fact that i cannot go outside today because the sky has turned black with smoke is ridiculous! Rochester, NY is certainly not renown for its great weather. That being said, Rochesterians do not worry about their houses being blown away in a hurricane or burned down by brush fires. Sunshine is great and all, but it seems that day after day of clear skies not only leaves the land parched and prone to burn, but also fries the brains of some of the long-term residents.

Gluttony on a boat

2007-05-03T10:11:00.000-07:00

My brother is graduating from college this may. For a graduation present I will be accompanying him on a Caribbean cruise. I'm pretty excited. If you like to eat food, go on a cruise. I went on one during my spring break in college and put on around seven pounds. Your whole day pretty much revolves around what you are going to eat. The islands are fun and the excursions are cool, but the food is the best part of the vacation. I have been preparing myself mentally and physically for the amount of punishment that i'm going to put my body through. I have already begun to stock up on pepto and lacitaid (I am a lactard) so that i can enjoy all the delicous dairy food. Overall, my worst fear while on the ship will not be hearing "iceburg dead ahead" but rather "iceburg lettuce is all we have left to eat."

Coming to America

2007-04-29T15:49:00.000-07:00

For the next month my students will be working on an interdisciplinary unit. The theme is "Coming to America" and it falls under my immigration standards. The students will spend the next three weeks doing research in all of their core classes. They will be required to take over 100 pages of notes from a variety of mediums. They will view 3 videos, read 2 chapters which contain 4 sections from their textbook and browse through over 100 websites.

This intensive research will give each student an incredible base of knowledge on the topic of immigration. They will understand why people were both pushed out of their countries and pulled to the United States. They will learn about the transformation of the United States from a mostly agrarian nation to an industrial superpower.

What makes this unit different from traditional classroom learning happens in the final week of the project. The students are assigned a fictional identity. They are provided with a background profile of an immigrant who is coming to America. Through creative writing instruction in their L.A. class, the students write a journal that describes their journey across the oceans. This journal will be written using a blending of facts taken from their research mixed in with their own thoughts.

The culmination of the project is a simulation where the students are processed at Ellis Island. Parent volunteers work as the processors. Our media center is transformed into a holding area where each student must pass through a series of medical and psychological exams. Students that are successful will take an oath of allegiance. Those who are not successful are deported.

More to come...

Goodbye Boris

2007-04-25T16:53:00.000-07:00

The first freely elected leader of Russia has died. Boris Yeltsin is well known for climbing atop a tank during the coup to overthrow Mikhail Gorbachev. He will also be remembered for the drastic decline of the former Soviet State during his tenure. More importantly, he was seen as a friend to the rest of the democratic world as he eased tensions and formed stronger bonds between former cold war enemies.

With that being said, here are a few more moments from Yeltsin's life that should not be forgotten:

A mischievous child, Yeltsin lost his thumb and index finger while playing with a grenade.

He was expelled from elementary school for criticizing a teacher at an assembly.

While working as Communist Party Boss, Yeltsin was drunk and fell off a bridge into a river. The details of the event are unclear, however, a local police station recorded that he suddenly turned up, fully dressed, and was dripping wet from head to foot.

Goodbye Boris. Thanks for helping to end the Cold War.

Change in Leadership

2007-04-23T16:48:00.000-07:00

Our principal has been re-assigned to another middle school in our county. I have incredible admiration for her style of leadership and her dedication to our school. She has always tried to do what is best for students which may be her most admirable quality. It will be difficult to work under a new principal, but she can leave knowing that the stability she created will not be rocked. Her policies will continue to be implemented and our school will continue to succeed.

I have a disability

2007-04-18T18:20:00.000-07:00

I remember being a kid in my elementary school and having other kids point out the fact that my clothes did not match. I really didn't care too much about how i dressed so it wasn't that big of a deal. It was around this time that I was sent to the nurse to take a color blind test. I failed pretty badly.

I guess i can blame my mom for being color blind. I remember learning about it in science class when i was in high school. I think it is a sex-linked trait. I am pretty sure the reason that an over whelming majority of people who are color blind are men is because the trait for color blindness is carried on the X chromosome. There must be an evolutionary reason why only men become color blind. It probably makes us incredibly manly. It probably had to do with men being dragged to malls and home decorating stores. Perhaps we evolved to become really poor at shopping so that we would not have to go.

Anyways, at least now i have an excuse when my clothing does not match. Actually, I have been pretty fortunate that people have helped me pick out my clothing. I can't stand shopping anyways, so it worked out pretty well.

Flying Spaghetti Monster

2007-04-11T06:07:00.000-07:00

The teaching of evolution in public school has been a highly debated topic. We all learned about the "scopes monkey trial" where John Scopes was arrested for teaching about evolution in a Tennessee public school in 1925. Since then there have been numerous court cases and lawsuits brought upon schools for the teaching of either creationism or evolution. While they are both theories, evolution is backed up by both morphological and molecular evidence. Creationism is supported by the bible, but holds little merit from a scientific point of view.

The separation of church and state was clearly defined by our founding fathers in the First Amendment to the Constitution. Therefore, the teaching of a theory that is only backed up by the bible should be prohibited. Recently, the Kansas school board decided that along with evolution, they would begin to teach the theory of "intelligent design." This was simply a re-worded form of creationism.

The following website was created when a parent of a Kansas school student wrote a letter to the Board of education asking them to consider the teaching of his theory of "creation." His "Flying Spaghetti Monster" is backed up by more evidence than intelligent design. He even includes charts and graphs.

The Church of the Flying Spaghetti Monster

Are we related?

2007-04-08T09:39:00.000-07:00

Breaking News: Charles Simonyi has become the 5th person to pay for a ride on a Russian made rocket into outer space. He was blasted into orbit on April 7th and will return on the 20th. Simonyi was born in Budapest and came to the United States to attend Berkley. He became involved with Microsoft's Office program and was behind the development of Word and Excel. Why should you all care? Well, Simonyi is now worth over a Billion dollars.

My Grandfather may have also have spelled his name with a Y. When he came to Ellis Island after WWII, he spoke little English and it was common for the processors to change the spelling of names to make them more "American." My Grandfather came from the Ukraine, which borders Hungary to the east. Perhaps my grandfather had a brother who lived in Budapest? Wouldn't it be great if I could be united with my long lost Uncle Charles? What would be even better would be if I could become the 6th person to pay for a ride on a Russian made rocket into outer space. Help me find a connection!

Are Marathons Healthy

2007-04-06T10:12:00.000-07:00

Not really sure about this one. I was speaking with a friend recently about my new found enthusiasm for running marathons. I just completed my first in Atlanta, Georgia and have signed up for two more this year. My friend was concerned that perhaps these long runs may be causing permanent damage to my body. I spent a few hours and was able to find many websites that discuss how marathons can be harmful and little that says they can be healthy. Check out these two:

Marathons = Bad

Running = Good

I am interested to hear from anyone that has run multiple marathons during their life. I do not believe there has been much research done on the effects of running 26.2 miles years after this feat has been accomplished.

It is slightly concerning especially considering the first person to run a "Marathon," Pheidippides, collapsed and died after he ran from the fields of Marathon to Athens, Greece.

Updated! Click HERE

Being a Bills fan is hard

2007-04-05T08:32:00.000-07:00

It is hard to cheer for the Buffalo Bills. Their past Super Bowl performance alone has made it difficult to be a fan. Growing up in Rochester NY, (around 90 miles from Buffalo) the only team i was even aware of were the Bills. Since my move to Florida, I have had the opportunity to tailgate in the sunny parking lots of the Buc's stadium. While they are not much better of a team, at least they never have even threatened to "black out" the televised games.

The Bills have had some major shake-up's in their organization this off season. The one that actually provoked this blog is the trade of Willis "ACL" McGahee to the Ravens. After the trade was complete, McGahee was quoted in the Baltimore Sun saying that "he couldn't wait to get out of Buffalo because there was nothing to do there but play video games due to the lack of suitable night clubs, restaurants and attractive women."

McGahee is dead wrong about the lack of diverting things to do in the frozen tundra of Buffalo, NY. Since it is so cold all the time, residents of Buffalo have extended hours on their bars (4am) which help you get more drinks down thus giving the appearance of more attractive women. Apparently McGahee was too busy playing Dungeons and Dragons to go to Chippewa street or to see the lovely ladies at "The Colonie Lounge."

Sure it is tough to be a Bills fan, but it doesn't even come close to how hard Willis McGahee sucks at life.

Reign over me

2007-04-01T18:01:00.000-07:00

Growing up, one of my favorite movies was Billy Madison. There is nothing funnier than watching Adam Sandler put flaming bags of poop on Old Man Clement's front porch. Well, it appears that Sandlers days of nudi magazines and chasing penguins are over. He has matured into more serious roles such as Spanglish and Punch Drunk Love. His most recent release, Reign over me, with co-star Don Cheadle is one of his best yet.

The story is quite simple. Sandler and Cheadle were roommates during dental school, but grew apart after graduation. The two are reunited during low points in both of their lives. Cheadleoperates a successful dental practice, but is bored with his work and feels suffocated by his wife (Jada Pinkett Smith.) Sandler suffers from the loss of his wife and daughters who were killed in the September 11th terrorist attacks.

The rest of the movie follows the friendship that is reignited between Sandler and Cheadle. Sandler does an excellent job playing the role of a man who has not grieved over his loss. Cheadle attempts to "fix" his friend with varying degrees of sucess. Both actors do an outstanding job in a movie that will make you tear up as Sandler describes his family as well as laugh out loud when Cheadle deals with an obsessed patient.

Pretty much the hardest thing I have ever done

2007-03-31T06:57:00.000-07:00

3 months ago i decided that i would attempt to run a marathon. As a virile young man, i thought to myself, "how hard could it possibly be?" Well, as it turns out, it was pretty darn hard. I was fortunate to have the opportunity to train with a co-worker of mine who is a veteran marathon runner. She is disciplined enough to make sure that we followed through with our training, including grueling 15, 18 and 22 mile long weekend runs.

Besides enduring torture treatment from Jack Bower, running 26.2 miles could possibly be the most painful thing to do to your body. I was prepared for the chaffing and the pounding that results in blisters and bloody nipples. I was ready to be dehydrated. What i was not ready for was the mental and emotional exhaustion that slammed into me around mile 23. The thought of going 3.2 more miles became emotionally devastating. During our training runs, a 3 miler would be completed in 25 minutes with barely a sweat broken. Now it seemed an impossible distance.

Somehow Jess and I were able to finish. For her account of the race check out her blog (Jess Blog). At the finish line, a wave of emotion flooded through me. It was amazing to me that i was able to complete something that less than .1% of Americans have ever done. I quickly moved on to help Jess into the medical tent and then to the food tent to guzzle down delicious bagels and oreos.

In the hotel after it was all over, i laid on the bed barely able to move. In between complaining about soreness and pain, we discussed the high and low points of the race. Within a few minutes our conversation turned to discussions of upcoming races. I am proud to admit that i have already signed up for the Disney Marathon and am in the pool for the New York Marathon. Thanks Jess for getting me hooked.

Favorite part of my morning

2007-03-30T12:23:00.000-07:00

Like most people, i have a pretty set routine in the morning. I like to wake up early, make my coffee and bring it with me to school. My door doesn't open to students until 7:10 but i try to get to school by 6:20. I will normally make some oatmeal and enjoy my coffee while checking up on news and sports updates. Before my day gets too crazy, I am sure to check my favorite website.

Like all real men, I cannot stand going to the mall or department store. It is unbelievable that people can just wander around a mall for hours without a purpose. I do as much of my shopping online as possible. There is nothing better than shopping around online and then 2-3 days later having your season one box set of Baywatch delivered to your house.

Back to my morning routine. If you like shopping online and getting great deals on electronics and other goofy stuff, check out WOOT. This website sells only one item a day. Starting at 12am (central time) they begin selling a new item. They usually sell out rather quickly. As soon as they are out of stock, the sale is over. The website is well put together and has some humorous descriptions. If you are lucky, you will catch the "bag o crap" sale, during which they sell random items in paper bags for 1 dollar (plus 5 dollars shipping.)

Be sure to check out woot. It will make a good addition to your morning routine.

The Cafeteria

2007-03-29T13:14:00.000-07:00

I gotta admit that for many of my students, the highlight of the day is the 30 minutes spent in the cafeteria. It is the one environment in our school where students have to make decisions that will affect their social lives. They have the opportunity to not only pick what they eat, but also who they will sit next to. For the most part, there is no assigned seating in the lunchroom. This means our students have the freedom to pick whether they sit next to the smelly kid with dandruff or the overly mature cheerleader with the too short for school skirt. Many a hard decision is made.

During my stint in a Junior High school in upstate New York, i found the cafeteria to be the second scariest place in school (the scariest by far was the boys locker room). Our cafeteria was monitored by lunch ladies who had little if any control over the students that freely roamed and wreaked havoc among weaker students. If there was going to be a fight there was a good chance that it would occur somewhere in the cafeteria. At least once a month my lunch would be ruined when two meatheads fighting over the cheerleader with the too short for school skirt would come flying across the cafeteria spilling trays full of delicious school food. They would inevitably land on the end of my table launching my turkey chunks with gravy skyward and leaving my stomach growling for the rest of the day.

In order to prevent my students from enduring this same hostile environment in the cafeteria our team has made a point to remain in the cafeteria with our students. Our contract stipulates that we are entitled to a duty free lunch. This means that we could drop our students off at the doors and then enjoy our fiesta pizza in peace and quiet. As a team, however, we would rather have our students eat in a peaceful and safe cafeteria. Although it is an inconvenience, we enjoy fewer behavior problems than teams who rely on "lunch lady" monitors. I also get the satisfaction that my students will always get to finish their turkey chunks with gravy.

Field Experiences

2007-03-19T18:01:00.000-07:00

For the first time ever I had the opportunity to go on a "field experience." Throughout my life i have gone on many a "field trip." They were always fun. We would go to the zoo or the planetarium or crappy amusement park and test crappy g-force tools. The highlight of these trips was always the bus ride and lunch. More would be learned during the bus ride over than during the whole trip itself. Usually someone would get sick and throw up on the way home. I always felt bad for the teacher who would have to put that pink kitty litter stuff on the vomit so that he could sweep it up easier. I felt even worse for the kid who would then have to ride next to barf breath who looked like he was going to ralph again at any moment.

For the most part, that is how almost every field trip would go. Even over the last two years of teaching, just about every field trip has ended with a pungent puke smelling bus pulling up to the school parking lot. Today, however, was the beginning of a new type of out of school experience.

Earlier this year, there was a push throughout our county to change the vernacular from "field trip" to field experience." "Field trip" apparently sounds too much like the thing you do with your family to Wally World during the summer. I thought this was amusing, because for the most part, students continued to take trips to all kinds of fun places. They got to go to amusement parks, the movies and even tropical islands. These are all fun experiences that all students should have the opportunity to take, however, they essentially are "trips."

This morning we loaded our students onto a bus and drove out to a large state park. Our students brought their lunches which i suspected i would be cleaning up with pink kitty litter as well as their composition notebooks. For the three hours that we toured the park, our students worked their butts off making observations and taking over 5 full pages of notes. These students had the opportunity to see what we had studied in class, but they did so in a very structured way. When utilized properly, a "field trip" can become a very meaningful opportunity. I now have seen that there truly is a difference between a "field trip" and a "field experience" and it has little to do with the amount of regurgitated lunch that i have to clean up.

Teaching Rocks

2007-03-18T19:13:00.000-07:00

Welcome to simonisays, a blog about nothing and everything at the same time. I am a 25 year old social studies teacher working in Florida. When i started off college, i had no idea that i would ever enter the world of education. As a current middle school teacher, i must admit that i have never been happier in a job. Middle school students comprise an age group that is one of the toughest to work with. Students are not children but they are not yet adults. The transitional world that makes up middle school is full of growth spurts, mood swings and acne. While i never imagined myself in such an environment, for the time being middle school rocks. Students are still young enough to have a good time and not take themselves too seriously. They are also old enough to be engaged in meaningful conversations. Overall, I love my job and my students.