5th Grade Team - 2020 Texts Part 7
Tues, May 5. 9:41 AM
Brian: Important Reminder: Our brilliant CC Librarian will just willy-nilly forward any old email to who everyone she wants! (Not catastrophic this time; just that yesterday, C remotely restored my ChromeBook while I was working and it was quite startling.)
B: That's weird.
All her emails to us are mostly forwarded so no surprise there.
R: I agree, at least do a strong copy and paste job
B: Right? My thoughts exactly.
Brian: Well, my YouTube videos were looking crappy and the “Clear browsing data" thing has never worked for me. I asked D for a possible fix and she passed it along to JC.
(Again with the forwarding.)
J fixed the problem and I emailed her my thanks.
This morning, D asked if the problem was fixed and I replied with my harmless quip about being startled. Which she forwarded to J.
Again, not terrible this time but something to keep in mind when communicating with our CC Librarian.
B: I am FULLY aware now. Jersey
Jeesh
Brian: Feel free to call me "Jersey"!
B: I will!
Tue, May 51 3:28 PM
Brian: S noted that I had Mozart in the background of my lesson video.
B: Awwww he is definitely dignified,
I got a new umbrella for my deck. It matches my house. This makes me happy today even though my video on my slide show won't work for the kids.
R: I like it! Mine is boring beige and tore on one corner and I sewed it...then it ripped again. I should probably invest
B: I replaced my beige one with this one. Freddie's had them for $40
Tue, May 51 6:41 PM
Brian: Keep me posted!
One of my failures today was trying to print off a class list from Powerschool. Now, I know we can't actually print to our home printers; at least T was positive about it. so I brought up the list and then shared it to my home email.
I brought the document up on my phone (having to sign into my school account) and then then printed it off.
And got blank pieces of paper for my troubles.
Is the above process even possible by, you know, a smart person? One who knows what she's doing?
My ultimate goal is to make a contact log to keep track of who I am communicating with. So today's entry for S would be something like "5-5 Question about background music during lesson" Very simple notes but I do want to have a general idea of whom I talked with. I know G-CL and Bloomz keeps records but I want all this info in one place.
B: I can print to my home printer from my school ChromeBook.
Brian: Doggonit! How could T miss this?
Now that I know it's possible, I'll fight with it tomorrow.
Friday, Jun 12, 7:53 AM
Brian: Hello 5th Grade Team!! We have traveled from the Distant Past (2019) to warn you what awaits you. You'll never guess…
B: Brian should get one with a stuffed rat on his head. Like Ratatouille.
Seriously Bri, when we had a rat infestation in California and the only thing that worked was Decon. Lots of dead rat bodies to pick up but we paid the neighbor girl.
Is this Brian's iPad?
R. Let me know. I don't know if I can take a mask all day.
Brian: Yes, on Brian's iPad. (Being old) I prefer typing using all ten digits
R: No idea, But if it's a ploy to get out of wearing a face shield, it's not going to work.
I'm going to buy a set to try for Costco and goodwill travels. I'll have N print out everyone's name by August and we can stick them to our foreheads. She has different colors and fonts. Prepare yourself
Brian: Actually, I would like a pest control guy's name. Reason being that we're still hearing critter noises from the attic.
R: Also if you want one earlier I can hook that up too
Brian: So, the Modern Day Plagues of America:
B: Ok. Let me find it. I'll get it to you Bri.
Brian: 1. stupid Pharaoh 2. Plague 3. Rodents 4. Budget toilet paper 5. Moody child
R: #4 has got me
I bought Kirkland because that's all they had, guess what they have Charmin again. Not happy. Thinking about donating my Kirkland size one.
B: Ugh. Those ARE plagues. Add to that no escape and you've truly reached biblical times.
Brian: 6. Bad cops 7. Lack of exercise bikes on Amazon...Okay, I'm scraping the bottom of the barrel here.
B: You can donate it to me. We use at least a roll a day with all these butts.
R: Can you add trampoline to #7 as well
B: Get a Peloton!! I have been eyeing them but just can't pull the trigger.
R: Perfect, because right now I'm just putting it downstairs for K to use...it's not going quickly.
B: I must be ghetto. That Kirkland brand is awesome!
Of course my standards are pretty low, I just don't do one ply but other than that I am good.
Brian: Admit it! We all have a secret high quality roll stashed somewhere in each bathroom.
B: I wish. I thought Kirkland WAS high quality.
R: It's upstairs for ladies to use and K must go downstairs to use the toilet. There is a hierarchy in this house.
Brian: In my wild, misspent youth, "secret high quality roll" had a VERY different meaning.
For my youth as well. I could roll a great doobie. Blunts were more my style but those took some time...
8. Moronic hillbillies protesting their right to spread the virus,
R: The only roll I'm hiding is a cinnamon roll so I don't have to share #carbqueen
Brian: We all have our guilty hoard. My family has yet to figure out how 2 bags of sunflower seeds can last 3 months.
B: 9: zoom
Brian: ...Just visited amazon. I thought you were joking about the face shields having a "face shield" label.
R: I don't joke about PPE
B: I forgot I had a zoom this morning at 8. I raced over to login and as soon as I got in she put me in a breakout room.
This is a zoom that has 60+ people so I usually don't do anything.
Brian: WHAT was I thinking? Of course, Double R takes her equipment seriously.
B: Yes she does, I appreciate that because she can order and personalize and I can pay her.
Brian: What does the "9:zoom" message indicate?
B: The ninth plague. I am so sick of zoom.
Brian: Ahh! Yes! Me likes. We've nearly got a Facebook Worthy post!
B: I have been blissfully off of Facebook. You'll have to post for us.
Brian: I been lusting after all the exercise bikes and gliders on amazon. It seems somewhat sinful to spend $400 on a fake bike when I've got a perfectly fine (if dusty) real bike just sitting in the garage.
B: Yeah but it's rainy and messy outside...
Brian: And I probably shouldn't play on my phone while cycling in the real world.
R: I was going to go for a walk today on the CC trail because I have to drive out there for W's swag, but it's going to be gross out
Brian: See what I'm doing here?? This is called "rationalization".
B: You can come over here. What time? I have a zoom from 1-2 but we're free after that. You can meet Norman.
Ok. Maybe next week.
Brian: Yes, your life is yet incomplete without a vigil with Norman.
B: True. He is pretty great.
R: Never met him, but I have seen his glamour shots
B: He's laying at my feet. Because he's loyal and he loves me.
R: Also, two zooms on a Friday. Wth.
B: Right? That's why I hate zoom.
The one I'm in now is distance learning and the one this afternoon is a book group. My LAST book zoom for this book.
Brian: Or he’s just too lazy to move.
I name him "Enorman·ous”
B: Ha! The Camp Bow WOW people call him Gi-Norman
Brian: That is also acceptable.
I am currently reading a book on the history of bourbon. Maybe not completely work· related.
OR is it?!?
B: Could be... if R gets face shields I can buy the straws.
R: I'm getting face shields! It's happening this week
B: Oh My Word
She just gave us homework
Brian: Again, lol
B: Not. Did not!!
R: Tell me you're getting paid for this PD
B: No
This distance learning one is pretty useful. Hidden figures on the other hand was terrible.
R: I saw S yesterday and she's also doing a PD on distance learning, maybe it's the same one?
She said basically they're just pushing videos of yourself because it meets the majority of students needs
Brian: Like those A-mazing end of year videos that we all worked on?
B: Probably. There's like 15 cohorts of 60+ people each. It's statewide. It's a google one.
They are saying don't give new instruction in a google meet. Record it so kids can go back and review things if they get confused.
Right now she's going over our modules we have to do as homework.
Monday, Jun 15, 7:23 AM
Brian: 10th Plague: Artemis Fowl! I'm considering burning my Disney+ subgcription over what they did to the lovely octogenarian Dame Judi. How could they…?
R: Really? I want to watch it. I haven't read the books though. Did they mess with Judi DENCH?!? THE Judi DENCH?!?!
Brian: All three of us read the books and spent the 90 minutes thinking, "Why did they change that from the book? What were they thinking?"
Like, say, having Dame Commander of the British Empire Judi Dench play an elf police captain. Wobbling around in green pleather the entire movie.
Why, Kenneth Branagh? WHY did you agree to direct this pile of offal? And the two of you were so amazing in "Murder on the Orient Express".
R: She was an elf captain? In green pleather?!?! That poor woman. She was probably so sweaty throughout filming. Kenneth Branagh directed huh? Does he usually direct? Maybe he only read the script and not the book.
Brian: I kept thinking "That woman's going to keel over any minute." From my limited knowledge, KB usually directs whatever he's in. He heard of the books from his nephews. seriously doubt he actually read the first book since it bears little resemblance to AF#1.
Hey RR!!.. Here's YET another text you maybe don't need to read! Aren't you glad you are in this children’s literature thread?
R: Well, I couldn't get past the first chapter both times I tried reading it in elementary school soooo...
B: I never even cracked the book open. The premise sounded weird. She's too good for this. Oh Judi.......... couldn't you say no to the hat??
Brian: I know, right? Is it possible to arrest your agent for elder abuse?
B: She should. I feel like a small man dressed as a woman would've been more appropriate for the part.
R: Back to the drawing board. Silver ridge has our time slot. What time no that Wednesday at noon doesn't work
B: What about today at noon? Can we just get it over with?
Brian: Getting it over with would be my preference. Shockingly, my schedule today is wide open.
B: R!!!! What about you? You open today?
R: T’s meeting at 10, IEP at 11, middle school al 12?
B: Get it done!
We have one at 10!? Holy crap I'm glad you told me.
R: Okay, I have nothing going on today
B: We could give ourselves a break and do 1 instead.
Who wants to schedule it?
R: I say let's plunge through. I'll email
B: Perf
Brian: Bang, bang, bang. Let's knock them out. I didn't know we had a 10:00 Staff Meeting till TT sent out the Zoom link.
B: By B, Brian, and R
R: He said something last week, but honestly I forget right after I'm told anything. Side effects of a pandemic, I guess.
Thu, Jun 18, 7:03 PM .
Brian: So how did clean up go today?
B: Done in two hours. Don't know what I'm gonna do with all the crap I stuffed in a variety of places today. Crap from my classroom into a variety of places IN MY CLASSROOM BRIAN!!!
R: Also two hours deep. I went rouge and pulled everything away from the walls hoping they'll clean behind it.
Brian: Sheesh...
Yes, but at any time, did you go rogue?
R: This was pretty much me the entire time. Walking in circles forgetting what I was doing.
Brian: Whoa....
B: Yeah. Lots of walking in circles.
R: Also someone stole my recycling bin
I'll be over it by August, don't worry team.
B: I'm pretty sure you left it in my classroom because I have like four.
R: I never brought it out? I just used your wagon, however I will take one off your hands!
B: Take it!
R: Monday it's MINE
B: I'll bling it out for you.
Brian: Okay, well, that conversation happened.
So, about tomorrow. I've got a check up in the morning, a family Zoom meeting in the late afternoon and I'll be checking on X's math grade throughout the day. Other than that? I'm free.
B: Me too
Brian: I'll write up my sad little "Summer Math Fun!" Paragraph and get it to you by early afternoon. C told me RB was shutting down for the summer. This surprised me. If EVER there was a summer to throw a little extra learning for July/ August....... But that's above my pay grade.
B: Closed!! That's stupid.
Brian: And I'll ponder (perhaps in a befuddled state) as to whether I should tell the parents of J and J that their child's last math quiz of 5th grade would probably go better if they took over 4 minutes to complete.
Yes, I foresee much befuddlement.....
B: Yes. Or lots of not caring.
Fri, Jun 191 7:03 AM
Brian: I can't even muster a paragraph. About math. Please include something to the effect that kids can (should?) continue to work on math over the next two months. While Redbird will be off-line for the summer, both Moby Max and iXL will be available till the fall. (B, I don't actually know about the iXL part.) Believe in yourself. Try your best and…
yadda, yadda, and finally, yadda.
And thus, Brian pour out a 40 for 19-20.
This being 2019-2020, it's a 40oz. Bottle of Perrier, because that's the only carbonated drink we can get home delivered.
'Cause it's awful.
And we're very white people....
R: I have like 3 science websites they could access. Should we also create a Summer "topic" on Google Classroom and create an assignment for each resource?
Except that's basically like the resources tub we already have...
Brian: Will the Classroom stay up and running all summer?
B: I think it will. I've been told they should have access all summer.
What if we make the resources topic the very top of the classroom and rename it Summer Resources?
I'll muster something up at some point today. IXL I think might be done by now. They gave me 90 days way back in March.
IL will be available until July 31 and SORA and tumblebooks should be available all summer long. I'd like to focus on just a few. That way they don't feel overwhelmed.
R: Science A-Z is available all summer (or at least the majority), and it’s books and videos.
B: Perfect. I'll add that too.
Fri. Jun 19. 9:51 AM
Brian: Ugh....Once they can reopen, the Y will probably be requiring reservations on their Y App go I've spent the last couple of days trying to sign onto the stupid thing. Even emailed J at the Y to ask her to check into it. (I got a robo-reply saying she wasn't currently working.)
So, as I was writing a second plaintive email to some other poor Y employee, it occurred to me that I might not have
Hazelwood's app.......And, yep! YConnects didn't recognize my email because I don't go the Virginia Peninsula YMCA, (Mutter, mutter...)
R: Even the zoo with memberships you have to make reservations for visits. W's going next week, that's why I know that
B: I wanna go to the zoo!!!
So much for spontaneity in our lives.
R: M kicked me off the membership, sorry I'm not paying $12 a head
B: What?!? You didn't negotiate that in the divorce?
R: Well originally I renewed it and made sure his name was on it too, so that W could go no matter which parent she was with but he doesn't think so...nicely
B: Ugh. $50 for our family to go and that is if we leave J at home.
I guess we'll be going to woodland park zoo. I haven't been there and I hear they have gorillas...
R: Might as well buy a pass at that point.
Also I want to go to the woodland park, it's HUGE in comparison. Save me a seat in the minivan
B: Consider it done. Sometime this summer my friend. What are you doing with your old Traeger?
R: The heat setting wasn't matching the thermometer, so we took it back to Costco and got the newer version. We've only had it since October so that shouldn't have happened. Now we've got a sweet smokestack and it's slightly bigger.
B: Nice. I was gonna put in a bid for a hand me down. I don't know how to operate a sweet smokestack but I am intrigued.
His pulled pork was super good.
R: Seriously just put pellets in and turn the dial onto desired heat. I haven't cooked on it but I do know how to turn it on
B: Also, side note. Island lake park is open. They have a little swim area that isn't completely gross. You lost me at pellets.
Just kidding. I know what they are. I just don't know how many to use
R: I'm about to clean out last year’s pool, that is completely gross…
B: Yeah. I remember those days.
(A guidance counselor: Mr. K, from a local middle school wishes to conference about some of our [now former] students)
R: Didn't we just talk to him?
B: No. We talked to the RI guy. K is the CKMS guy.
Brian: (Sigh) I leave you gals for a couple hours and look what you’ve gotten yourselves into…
R: Shouldn't have checked my email
Brian: Too many Zooms. Can’t keep them straight; especially when playing Tower Balloon Defense on the other monitor.
B: Yes, Tower Balloon Defense is very engaging.
R: I'm planning my elopement and watching my kid splash around the pool. It's crazy.
Brian: I’m free for whenever. Signing A’s book was my only official duty today.
B: Seriously? Eloping?!?!
R: No, I’m not eloping.
B: I fully expect to be there.
R: Vegas is out.
B: I eloped.
R: Again. Not eloping
B: You could slope anywhere.
R: K can't leave the state because of his job
B: Elope. You can slope at the courthouse.
Brian: Is he a bank robber?
B: Elope
It keeps autocorrecting.
R: DoD hos strict travel restrictions for employees
Brian: Sorry for the incontinence of these dumb texts.
B: Also you can't be there, it's an elopement not a wedding
Brian: An actual quote from a parent.
B: PO courthouse.
I have some friends who could marry you. I happen to be in with the pastors. Yes I can. I'll be your official witness.
Brian: I can be the UNofflcial one.
B: J and I had to pay for our witness. I'll do it for free. Brian will too.
R: I was thinking a weekend in Chelan
B: I can pack up the minivan.
R: Because I can't justify the price of that place otherwise
B: I've never been there and being your official witness would be reason to go. For realsies. The S's love and support you.
Brian: I will require a lovely boutonniere as payment. A really big one.
R: I just want like a ring, a kiss, and a few good photos. I can't handle anything else. Also you're getting a carnation
B: I'll pay for Brian's big flower as my gift to the shindig
Brian: Yeah, so about Mr. K...
R: Where's that list of all the kids going?
I swear we talked to him last week, because isn't R going to CKMS and we talked about him
B: Just asked H for one.
BTW: Chelan is very nice. Just a medium drive from Winthrop. Hot as Hell in late summer, though.
R: Hey, what's happening in Winthrop? My sister just asked me about it today and I thought that's where you grew up. Any place for a girl’s weekend?
Brian: The Methow Valley: consisting of the towns of Mazama, Winthrop, Twisp, Carlton, and Methow, is a lovely piece of Heaven in the North Cascades. Winthrop is the touristy town so most folks just say "Going to Winthrop" as shorthand for Methow Valley.
R: I'll google it now that I have a positive review
Brian: The Valley has booming cross-country skiing, downhill skiing and fat-tire mountain biking in the winter. And hiking, river rafting, mountain biking, and horse back riding in the summer.
R: But for 4 grandmas pushing 30 in August? Non athletic type River rafting might be good. We can't do Chelan twice haha
Brian: Anyone a grandma by age 30 might be ready for anything.
B: Sounds fun. Grandma river rafting is so my style.
R is going to RI by the way. We haven't met with CK yet. We don't have a lot of kids of concern going that way.
I have the list.
Brian: The Valley's population has nearly doubled since C-19 appeared. Roughly half the properties in the Valley were for vacation and since shelter in place, a butt-load of Seattleites just decided to ride out the plague, while working remotely from their cabin in the woods, One result being that my eldest brother, who has the local internet business is booked out till MID-JULY to get homes hooked up. Crazy.
B: My CB is dead though.
Good for him!!
Brian: Just make sure you wear a mask. Much grumbling about "people from the Coast" bringing their City Germs over to God's Country. ("The Coast" being defined as anything even an foot west of Steven's Pass)
B: I have lots of masks. If RR gets us our shields we would look on fleek.
Brian: ...look on fleek.....
B: He he. That was me being dorky.
Brian: T just asked if we're all available right now.
B: I am. Give me five.
R: I'm not going to wear a mask while floating. I'll put a shirt on. Sun bathing isn't school appropriate.
B: No masks on the river. I feel like that would be drowning waiting to happen.
R: Do we have a zoom link
Brian: Actually, T just wants to contact me. He's in a meeting right now but will contact me. “I want you to help me out on something very important right away. Can you?"
B: Nice. Handle it Bri!
R: Is this another spam
B: Oh. It could be.
Brian: Oh, fudge. You might be right.
R: Wait are we zooming with middle school right now or...
Are looking at H’s email I would assume her notes are enough.
Brian: Yeah, the email is “*Redacted*” Note the extra period. I call shenanigans!
B: She just said she doesn't have time and we could just add notes. That's bogus!!!
Brian: Check email. “T" is telling me I'll be "rewarded bountifully afterwards'. I don't know. Sounds kinda tawdry, don't you think?
B: Yes. Tawdry is a good word,
I wanna see the ring R!
R: Oh I want to hear more about this bountiful reward. I haven't seen the ring yet
B: Who did he take with him to pick it out? Someone reliable?
Brian: Yeah! Sounds great. Granted, rushing out to Walmart to buy gift cards is a big ask but being bountifully rewarded........
B: Ha!!! Hand them my way please. My Nigerian Prince friend said he will pay you double for them.
R: Maybe you're gelling a ring from Walmart Brian
Brian: But my beautiful Russian 2nd Wife also wants to pay for her plane ticket with gift cards. Guess I just don't understand finance.
R: I've been watching 90 Day fiancé: Before the 90 Days and you've got it right.
Brian: Okay, so no rushing to Walmart. No Zooming with K. But we are supposed to write notes on specific kids on the doc H shared with us?
B: Yes. That's the plan.
Brian: Wait, K is on CKMS list. Whom were we just talking about her to?
B: We weren't.
We talked about M.
Brian: Come On, brain! Work with me here!
Fri, Jun 19, 5:27 PM
R: I don't want to brag, but my kid is borderline famous. She was the last one pictured with 10 seconds left in video. How do I know this? Her teacher emailed me, you know because I didn't even watch the video when it was sent out earlier
B: Nice! C is somewhere in the awards video but we didn't watch it.
S got nothing so that is part of the reason.
R: Oh I haven't watched the awards or the graduation. This is just kids during remote learning. Yeah I submitted a picture of W doing speech
B: Did we get access to the promotion? I didn't even look at it. I've seen all the pictures though. Cute babies.
R: I don't think so actually
B: Meh. Oh well. This year was a bust.
Sat, Jun 201 8:09 AM
Brian: Where are these promotion videos to be found?
B: I have no idea.
Afterword:
This journal went from early March to late June of 2020. During this time, the Covid-19 pandemic went from a Seattle and New York news story to a world-wide crisis. One result was a crippling of the US economy. The national unemployment rate went from 3.5% in February to 13.3% in May.
Also during this time period, the nation (and world) had massive protests movements which demanded social justice for communities of color; long victims of systemic racism.
And all the while, the President managed to make every part of the crisis worse. And continues to do so.
Despite this, the CC 5th grade team worked diligently to distance educate their students. They would not claim it went well; that no mistakes were made. They worked hard, were flexible and met each situation as best they could. This despite the many frustrations and setbacks. Team 5th was weighed in the balance of this crises and was not found wanting.
Whatever fall 2020 may bring, they will continue to do so.