This week, my colleague shanghaied one of my chalkboards for a weather station. While the chalkboard & wind unit may not seem like much, The hand-held reader really catches a teacher’s eye. This type of scientific information begs to be utilized in the classroom. Daily, nay, hourly temperatures can be recorded and used to findContinue reading “Weather Stations, Web 2.0 Tools and John Merrow”
Tag Archives: Teaching
Teacher Tip: Use Pilot Holes for Hammering!
When installing finishing brads and nails, I usually chuck the nail into the bit and punch a hole through the lumber. This results in a minimal hole (the length of the nail minus the depth of my drill’s chuck jaws) which prevents most splitting. I recently “discovered” a secret – the deeper the pilot holeContinue reading “Teacher Tip: Use Pilot Holes for Hammering!”
A Quick Reminder – Keep Safe Today
This article from Makezine.com hit my inbox recently. Woodshop, machine shop, handsaws and chisels can all cause injury and at times, death. Constant vigilance and evaluation of our skills is the only way to reduce the our chances, and our students chances, of injury. Take a moment today to evaluate your own practices and routinesContinue reading “A Quick Reminder – Keep Safe Today”
Why I Sometimes Read Business Books (The Teacher As a Manager)
By kindle recently bit the dust and as I reloaded the half-read novels into the new one’s memory, I came acroos a book for business managers. In many business books, I’ve found lots of semi-coherent and applicable advice (and soemtimes incoherant and inexplicable advice) for teachers. For example, in “The Truth About Managing People”, StephenContinue reading “Why I Sometimes Read Business Books (The Teacher As a Manager)”
Gear Review: Groz Planes
In the woodshop today, I spent some quality time with a set of 3 Groz planes. The block plane (unsure what the Stanley No would be), the Jack Plane and their Jointer. I’ve been pleased with the results throughout this year. I sharpen the blades about once a quarter or during long breaks, and whenContinue reading “Gear Review: Groz Planes”
How To Re-Plant Galveston Bay Saltgrass (Wetland Project)
My students and I took a little trip down to Baytown to participate in the harvesting of saltgrass for replanting in the Galveston Bay. The students learned a little about the destruction/erosion of coastal wetlands, such as bays and estuaries. They learned about the wildlife which depends on coastal wetlands to survive and grow. WeContinue reading “How To Re-Plant Galveston Bay Saltgrass (Wetland Project)”
This Week in the Classroom: What Do Plants Eat? And How Does It Grow Leaves? And Other Teaching Errors
What exactly, is a plant’s food? And where do the raw elements that make up a tree trunk come from? Take a moment and think up two answers. I had a student ask these questions on a recent field trip. The answer given by the speaking biologist to the second question was wrong. In fact,Continue reading “This Week in the Classroom: What Do Plants Eat? And How Does It Grow Leaves? And Other Teaching Errors”
This Week in the Classroom: The 2×4 Shaving Horse
In preparation for a walkin’ cane project, I built a dirty looking 2×4 shaving horse. It ain’t named Trigger, though I might name it Jimmy Stewart. Whenever I think of the description “long face”, I think of Jimmy Stewart. I’ll walk you through my build after the jump…
Teacher Resources: TEDTalks on Education
The TED Talks started in the 1980’s as a Silicon-Valley conference focused on software, technology and design. Now, it’s the destination for smart hipsters and brilliant researchers, visionaries and experimenters to express their passions and become the circus attraction. I’ve been watching a few of these talks on and off for a year or so. Continue reading “Teacher Resources: TEDTalks on Education”
This Week in the Shop: Refurbish A Children’s Bike
The 16″ childrens’ bike project has cleared my outbox. I’m busy in reflection mode with the students, examining all the different parts of our work for ways to improve the product, teaching and quality next time. I thought the bike itself came out well: If you’ve followed the blog over the past two months, thenContinue reading “This Week in the Shop: Refurbish A Children’s Bike”
WSC Designs 