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  • Odds and Ends

    Someone at school asked me if I had blogged the details of my recent changes. I told her I had as much as it affected my diabetes.

    I’m real careful not to post much about school. In fact, for most of the almost three years of blogging, I’ve kept this about diabetes. I have been posting about my dogs and agility lately, though those also affect the diabetes, and the diabetes affect it. It’s not hard to track me down and I don’t need any more controversy in my life, thanks.

    School gets better every day. I do feel the need to comment on my students comments, as that has been the coolest part of this year. Even today, I saw one of my students who had transferred from my class back in September, and he complimented me. He said I explain things better than teacher he has now. When I pinned him down, he said it was more about the tone of my voice, that she “yells and seems mad” when she has to explain something. That’s something I don’t get.

    Not everyone gets every thing the same way. One thing I ALWAYS do when a student asks a questions, I repeat the question for the whole class and answer the question for everyone. I feel that it opens up things for the other students, and if one kiddo doesn’t get it, at least 3 others don’t.

    I’ve always taught a wide variety of kids who have differing ability levels. I always try to cover the lesson as fast as possible for those kids that get it and want to get the assignment done and gone on with the next thing. Then I go over the assignment in detail. Then I wait for kids to ask questions and repeat them for the group. I also wait for the kid that just doesn’t get it and if we have time, go over it once just for them. We don’t always get that time.

    I’ve got a kiddo in regular CS that is that way. He dives into class, does the assignment as quick as possible and then goes and does what he wants to do on the internet. I don’t have a real problem with that, though that does challenge me to find things that will get him to spend more time on my work. In the same class, I have one or two students who have to see me go through the whole assignment before they “get it”.

    Anyway, I’m having one of my best years ever. I may not always do things the way the administration wants them done (meaning high passing rates on the AP CS tests), but I’ve always been good at giving my students what they want and need.

  • TextPayMe

    Looks interesting.


    SignUp at TextPayMe

    I’m not sure how and when I’ll use it, but it looks interesting. Supposedly you can textmail someone a payment instantly. I’ve referred my sister, and I think it would be handy to be able to send her money — like for her birthday — rather than dealing with a gift card, which by the way, is still sitting on my desk. I am thinking sending it to my mom will be the safest thing to do with it.

  • Site Changes at School

    Had to do it today. Site change. I’d changed a site this morning and at noon, had a high blood sugar even after a correction. No place to hide. Called fora security guard, waited and waited, none came. Finally figured out that I could lift my shirt and do it without disturbing the students. Wouldn’t work if I was wearing a dress, but this one did.

    Blood sugar is lower, though I think the heat in this room is part of the problem, it’s over 100 degrees, and approaching hotter.

  • Not gaining

    It’s actually amazing to me, but my weight has been very stable since about the end of November, even though my eating hasn’t been great and my insulin usage has been considerably higher.

    In fact, right now, I’m at my lowest ever weight, even after the class schedule switch. Every day is getting better with that, by the way, just got the software inslalled I need for my Visual Basic students (well, I will by 2nd period — I still have a couple of computers to go.

  • Still on the right track

    Didn’t get home until late tonight–mainly because my students need Microsoft VB.net and I had to get it on 16 computers. Got it mostly knocked out. I have two computers to finish in the morning.

    I still had a high blood sugar in the afternoon, and I swear I bolused for it this time AND did the symlin. It was 205 this time, better than yesterday. However, the correction worked.

    I have gotten in 15 minutes on the treadmill, had to stop because I think I was burning blood sugar faster than I was digesting it. I’m going to try to get in another 15 minutes before 8:00.

  • Getter Better

    After last week’s major reorganization of my day, everything IS getting better.

    I didn’t do any school work last night and I didn’t do any uncontrolled stress eating. My insulin usage was actually under 40 units, which is the best it’s been since the initial announcement.

    I still manage to go a few moments each day without something major i need. Yesterday it was the cell phone/blood sugar monitor bag. For an entire class period. Left it up in the other room. Also my coat. I’ve got to figure out how to handle that, because retrieving that hurt my knee.

    I also forgot to bolus for lunch but did do the symlin. Blood sugar was 225 in the mid afternoon, which is not good when the room is 100+ degrees.

    I thought it was either the heat or too much insulin the day before, but it was a simple missed bolus. Downloading everything each day is a wonderful thing!

  • The day after….

    My blood sugar has run a bit high all day ,and the corrections haven’t worked — in the 140 to 200 range. It’s one of two things, the heat in my classroom, I swear it was at 110 this afternoon OR it’s the after affect of pushing so much insulin in my body because of the agility trial.

    The knee I feel on is a bit sore, not bad. I had loads of fun telling people about falling and still taking second. It was a good lesson, and a great opportunity to brag on Marcie. She’s got a big fan club at school since she come in every semester and teachs AP Psychology.

    I actually decided not to do any school work tonight. I’ve got all Wednesday to grade — all math students (and my CS students) have to do a writing prompt that I don’t have to grade.

    I’m in the middle of installing software at school. I have Microsoft.Net on 5 computers so far, and have 11 to go by Thursday.

    So things are going much better. However, I never have what I need when I need him.

  • Cool article

    This article interests me on a lot of different levels.

    First, Verplank went to a Dallas ISD high school (not mind, but the closest one between mine and the house), and grew up at the country club down the street from our house. By the way, a good portion of our school’s golf team has already been in my CS classes.

    I’m also interested in his strageties for competing and managing blood sugar, though we are in vastly different sports. Dog agility is a short burst of energy and long periods of sitting around.

    Scott Verplank – Celebrities with Diabetes – Diabetes Health magazine

    For Scott Verplank, staying on top of his diabetes with frequent blood glucose testing means staying on top of his game for the Professional Golf Association (PGA) Tour.

  • Dog Agility

    My blood sugar levels were the best they have ever been during dog agility. I never went higher than 200 all weekend.

    That made a vast difference in how I felt and how we did.

    The second day went well, though I fell during Marcie’s Standard run, we did finish the run and take a second place. She was still real slow the second run — JWW, and my instructor suspects I only have one really good run in my knees right now, and I suspect she’s right.

    Maggie had 4 refusals, all caused by me, in the Open run. I just couldn’t be where she needed me. Her JWW was very good, though I didn’t get the time. She missed the weaves.

    Hopefully I’ll have new pictures up soon, one of the professional photographers took quite a few.

  • Agility

    This is my first agility trial sine I started PT. We are doing well.

    Marcie took a first in Excellent A Standard and was clean but over time for JWW.

    I am definately tired.

    Maggie just got goofy and took an excusion. At that point I got confused.

    We knocked a bar, had a refusal, and truly ugly weaves. I just couldn’t run any more.

    All in all a good day especially after the trama from the week before.