American vs Chinese Math culture & a friendship

I can't take credit for my class being American math class culture, but it's definitely a CPM, problem-based, cooperative learning environment.

No one proved this more than a truly inspirational student I had last year: Cindia Wu. She came from China and had lots of background knowledge and was faced with the task of cooperating in groups with people that didn't speak her native language and deepened her own understanding by trying to explain the best way that she could. She wrote this though provoking learning log that I shared with multiple teachers and wrote me a letter at the conclusion of the school year.

Student testimonials

There's nothing better than getting a letter from a student at the end of the year!

Painting away

Thanks to Larry Gatt for all of the help painting! Couldn't have been done without him.

Thanks dad for helping with repairs and giving sound advice!

The yellow that didn't last long... way too bright. This room was painted 3 times, ended up being antique white.

Using my noggin to reach the high spots.

Our bedroom. We like this color.

Taking a break. Taupe paint is done, but about to rip up them carpets!

Dry rot before carpet and hardwood floors

I removed all the carpet from the upstairs dining room and hallway along with the stairs going downstairs. We opted for new grey carpet in the bedrooms. There was dry rot from old leakage from prior windows and thankfully my uncle Mike was able to help repair it before the carpet installers got to that room. Thanks!

front yard before and after

Completely dug up, new topsoil, new sod new shrubs. Jasmine from front transplanted to back.

Mike Moran watering after the new sod was put down:

azalea bushes and flowers in

Retaining wall back yard

We dug holes to cement in posts to build a wall. Basically, it also acts as a bench and has a bunch of roots from the humungous pine tree in my back yard. So, there's mulch and shrubs there now too.

What math do you think was involved in this project?

and this salamander, can you spot it?

Oh yeah, this test prep book thought D was the correct answer. I don't know what the correct answer besides a to the (9/4)th power.

Tan lines and comp books

Another trig joke:

Filled up the shopping cart, about 150 of them. One for each of my students.

Only a buck each, thanks Staples!