Debates: Quality over Quantity
Last week I was teaching middle school kids about speech and debate. My blog post for the academy will be published in about two weeks, so I figured I'll revise it for my own audience.
Latest
My Vows for the Summer
They say that by voicing your vows aloud, or just recording your goals, you are a step closer to attaining them. Here's my record.
Captain's Log: Final Words of Wisdom
It was the last lesson of Wacky Science. It was also accidentally harder than I thought it would be.
Captain's Log: Magnetic Moments
This week I decided to do something a bit different.
A Nod to The Use of AI
I should be wholly anti-AI. But I'm not. Not totally.
Captain's Log: When Student Becomes Teacher Becomes Student Again
This time I was accidentally 100% prepared.
Captain's Log: "Figure it out yourself"
I've learned the hard way this week some simple things that adults say to kids.
In This Economy?
Mind you, I'm sad for my friend that he didn't get the job. But am I highly amused why? Yes, yes I am.
Dear Diary,
I have a lot of musings to write about.
Captain's Log: Can't Trust Kids with Glue
Kids, great expectations, and gorilla glue don't go well together.
It Finally Happened
After going through the subreddit, talking to interested people, and meeting these creatures face-to-face several times, I encountered a giant house spider on the carpet. And I carried it to safety!
The Queen is Watching...and Hopefully Exercising Those Muscles
Would I recommend this game? Yes, yes I would. Has it been helpful to me? Let's see.
Wacky Science
Captain's Log: When Life Gives You Lemons
Apparently you can make invisible ink. This is what I tried to teach the kids this week in Wacky Science, except for one itty bitty, teeny tiny important little detail: the writing wouldn't show up.
Musing
Can't Learn Everything in an Hour
I've got thoughts and Captain's Logs to write, and I'll start first with this: for foundational classes, one day a week might not be enough.
Teaching
Captain's Log: Lotta Fun with Lava Lamps!
I gotta give credit where credit's due: For the moments of please and thanks, the kids turned into little angels.
Biology
Arachnaphobia? Don't Know Her...Anymore
I would have forgotten about the whole simple interaction except for one word: spiders.
Wacky Science
Captain's Log: Lava Lamps Were a Smooth Flow...Today
I prepped a lava lamp to show the kids last night, and realized I got some things wrong.
Musing
To That Neighbor with the Barking Dog, Don't Worry.
I always wondered how much of a nuisance my dog's barking was to the neighbors. How many of them heard, and who hated us for it?
Teaching
Captain's Log: Lava and a Letdown
Look, I'm learning, okay?
Wacky Science
Homemade Volcanoes Science Part 2: Deeper and Hotter
I woke up Monday morning and found, to my utter relief and surprise, a message from my boss reminding me this week was spring break. I had more chances to plan for a better lecture! So here's more science.
Wacky Science
Volcano Science, Homemade Edition
The good news is that it seems like the science is short and simple. The bad news is I will then make it longer and a little more complicated, because I want to go the extra mile for the students if given the chance.
Musing
My Own Schmidt Moment
Karl Patterson Schmidt, I salute you.
Autism
A Review of "The Invisible Manual" by Anonymous
To the author's credit, they did say the book wasn't a memoir. But when you're searching for true, lived experiences of other women with autism, it really doesn't help to dangle the story as truth or fiction.
Autism
"Do you think autism is a mental disorder?": My Autism Research Deep Dive, Currently
One day, my dad asked me if I thought autism was a mental disorder. I answered him from the perspective of a student versed in neuroscience and psychology. A definite "yes". Now what do I think, as someone with autism?