Erin O'Rourke - Latest Comments

Re: Being a teacher: Grading fairly

Erin O'Rourke — Thu, 22 Mar 2012 00:05:14 -0000

Hey Risa - thanks for the comment. That's fascinating, I didn't even think about the fact that most grading occurs in a highly controlled environment. Luckily it's pretty easy for me to identify struggling students given my classes average about 7 people each. I probably should have clarified that the maximum points are all the same - if a struggling student differentiated correctly between "do" and "does" but didn't conjugate the verb correctly I might take off a point out of 2 instead of all. If my best student did that I might take off the whole 2! Don't know if that makes sense.

I'm still not sure if this practice is all right, but I'm happy to hear your evaluation - thanks!! Admittedly I didn't even think about the idea that it's a disservice to other students. I feel that because some of my struggling students work just as hard as some of my best but it comes less easy to them, they deserve the recognition when they're on the right track. Some of my students got in the 70s on the last test - a grade range that I balked at before I started teaching. But I was really excited for them, because I could see the basic concepts were beginning to sink in. The number didn't really matter so much as they were getting there! For me, their tests were great!

Re: Being a teacher: Grading fairly

Risa Goren — Mon, 19 Mar 2012 14:48:52 -0000

It's difficult for me to answer this because I feel that your teaching world is vastly different than mine. With the struggling kids, you are encouraged to differentiate instruction, but I am not sure exactly what your case is here. I think that without a system of identifying the students who need the most help or who might be facing a LD of some sort, you are doing what is most likely best for your students. Yet, in the case of my classrooms, I would never do that because there is a system in place to identify and classify struggling students. I differentiate instruction and assess in as many ways as possible, but when it comes to the straight up tests, those are high stakes and cannot be altered. All students are held to the same testing standard, so I would be doing a disservice to my students if I graded on any sort of sliding scale. It's a reality of teaching in the USA right now. But, it seems like you are thinking and being reflective and doing the best you can for your students for what you've been given, so I would suggest you continue to go with your gut feeling.

Re: Being a teacher: Grading fairly

Erin — Mon, 19 Mar 2012 13:04:46 -0000

Thanks Aunt Kathy - I appreciate the comment and the support! I really miss home, but I´m not sure when I'll be back. I sent this along to Jenn. Take care, I miss you!

Re: Being a teacher: Grading fairly

Aunt Kathy — Sat, 17 Mar 2012 15:51:38 -0000

very intersting Erin - this sounds just like your thinking - send this to Jenn if you haven't already (jennw46@hotmail.com) I'm curious to see what she has to say. You are truly amazing for doing this Erin, I hope you come home to us soon with a firm,solid plan of action that you have always been very capable of achieving! Love Aunt Kathy

Re: Letter to the Editor: Re: Obama contraception rule goes too far

Erin O'Rourke — Fri, 10 Feb 2012 23:32:30 -0000

Not sure what point you're trying to make.

Re: Letter to the Editor: Re: Obama contraception rule goes too far

gloria — Fri, 10 Feb 2012 15:42:36 -0000

MAN PROPOSES AND GOD DISPOSES.........

Re: Grande Araña, EEK!!

sharon — Fri, 10 Feb 2012 00:02:05 -0000

lmao! this is hysterical i can so totally relate lol i would so do the same thing you are so far braver then me!! i would of been long gone away from that country weeks ago lol ...

Re: ER: Farm Animal Edition

Erin O'Rourke — Wed, 21 Dec 2011 15:57:39 -0000

Yeah, I've been doing that more and more when I carry a bag but lately I've been in the habit of just grabbing my keys and my change purse - this was one of those nights!

Re: ER: Farm Animal Edition

Mike — Wed, 21 Dec 2011 11:46:35 -0000

Y'know, just because your phone is turned off doesn't mean you can't carry it as a handy point and shoot.

When you get back, don't forget to ask about the chicken!

Re: Grande Araña, EEK!!

Erin O'Rourke — Tue, 20 Dec 2011 23:42:18 -0000

Banana spiders!!! My goodness, I didn't know such things existed in the US. And I seem to be getting my spider types confused because I thought that was in fact a poisonous one synonymous with the Brazilian Wandering Spider. They have those down here in the jungle, which is the major reason I fear going - I intend to anyway, but it's the only spider that actually hunts its prey rather than uses a web to catch it. Due to this they are dangerous to people given they are more likely to cross paths with them or take refuge in places where people might come across them. One was accidentally transported to England where it bit a CHEF!!!

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_...

Re: Grande Araña, EEK!!

Erin O'Rourke — Tue, 20 Dec 2011 23:38:54 -0000

Wow. That sounds like a really difficult fear to deal with given they are so fast. I have never managed to get near a gecko despite having tried the few times I've seen them in Florida. My family is generally incompetent when it comes to killing spiders for me, but it's relatively easy to do as long as one is careful.... or not arachnaphobic. ;)

Re: Grande Araña, EEK!!

KNITTINGinHI — Fri, 16 Dec 2011 13:46:09 -0000

OMG this sounds so hilarious! But I totally relate because I have a crazy fear of house geckos and we have lots in our house. From across the room, I scream like a girl and a male in the house trys to catch it, while I'm yelling "KILL it, kill it!" I actually had one jump on my head as I was walking through a garden gate, so I KNOW they attack.

Re: Grande Araña, EEK!!

Jason — Fri, 16 Dec 2011 00:36:22 -0000

HAHAHA that's hilarious! That sounds absolutely terrifying. I encountered my first banana spider down here in South Carolina, and I was mystified at its huge size - but what you're talking about is a step beyond that! I'm glad I don't have to deal with giant poisonous spiders - or parasitic wasps for that matter! How horrifying is a creature that perpetrates such horror on another horrifying creature? The natural world is filled with wonders - both beautiful and terrible.

I'll just pretend that the rainbow in your picture is arching over idyllic streams and meadows inhabited by bunnies and kittens.

Re: Short Update

Erin O'Rourke — Fri, 09 Dec 2011 21:54:57 -0000

Thanks Cynthia! Luckily I am far away from that part of the country. It's strange, because it hardly seems to register here. Or maybe I just don't catch that it does because 75% of the Spanish is going over my head. ;)

Re: Short Update

KNITTINGinHI — Thu, 08 Dec 2011 12:17:00 -0000

Alive is good. Thought about you when I read about the violence in Peru.

Re: Vignettes on Adjusting

Cynthia — Tue, 08 Nov 2011 12:29:19 -0000

Great Blog post! I especially enjoyed the scorpion moment (having a deathly fear of geckos myself).

Re: Día de Mercado (Market Day)

Jason — Tue, 25 Oct 2011 23:51:39 -0000

Great pictures. The market sounds like a really cool place. You must be eating some very fresh and healthy foods. Do you feel healthier because of your new diet of foods? Do you cook for yourself? What do you make with all of the things you coddle together from the market? I'm looking forward to the next post.

Re: Culture Shock – Urubamba, Week 2

Mike — Fri, 21 Oct 2011 01:54:57 -0000

Yep, when I dissolve it, it usually is totally gone, except maybe a little residue on the bottom of the pan. I guess that one may be pretty different, since it's so bitter. The one I've got doesn't need anything but milk...

Re: Culture Shock – Urubamba, Week 2

Erin O'Rourke — Thu, 20 Oct 2011 22:02:25 -0000

I must concur - I LOVE being able to walk everywhere, but the moto-taxis are constantly zipping around, honking as they reach every intersection. I will have to look up this Isle of Sark. Sounds quite fascinating.

Also, it's funny you say that about cacao being a super food - I actually went to a chocolate museum last week, and I had no idea why there was one in the first place until I checked it out. It chronicled much of the history you allude to, pretty interesting stuff. It is NOT good by itself, but mixed with sugar and milk it becomes really incredible hot chocolate. I wish I had it in me to make some now.

Voila - the cap in question. I asked someone, you can snip it with a scissor or cut it with a knife. Doesn't seem all that sanitary, since once it is opened it can never be closed. And with a knife (no scissors) I have to lay it on its side, and that's just asking for a mess... Mystifying.

Re: Life in the Sacred Valley – Week 1

Erin O'Rourke — Sun, 16 Oct 2011 00:34:20 -0000

I have my computer, but wifi is difficult to find here!! Lugging it around is also quite frustrating but not all that unsafe. But luckily I am borrowing a USB modem from the woman who owns the school I'm teaching at as she's away. So I have internet at home for now.

Admittedly it never occurred to me not to ride in the mototaxi?? As soon as I arrived in Urubamba we loaded my luggage onto the back and off we went... I've taken them a lot to get around!! I did hear of an instance in which the back tipped off when someone was riding in it, but it was more funny to me than scary. Mototaxis are the primary form of public transportation within Urubamba. They're everywhere.

Re: Life in the Sacred Valley – Week 1

Jason — Fri, 14 Oct 2011 10:44:46 -0000

You're pecking away at a Spanish keyboard? Don't have your computer with you? Or maybe it's just unsafe to lug around in public - and probably no wifi.
Have you been bold enough to ride in one of the tent-motorcycle-things? Er...mototaxi?

Re: Culture Shock – Urubamba, Week 2

Jason — Fri, 14 Oct 2011 10:32:20 -0000

I completely agree with you regarding the car culture. I've developed somewhat of a hatred towards it. It completely is a by-product of American attitude. The city I live in is completely walkable, and that's one of the reasons I like it so much. I can walk to the store, to restaurants, to work - my car can sit unused for weeks at a time. Yet, there are still too many cars crawling around, threatening the peace, tranquility, and the lives of pedestrians and bicyclists. It led me to find the "list of car free places", where cars are disallowed or illegal. Among the most interesting of those places is the "Isle of Sark". It's also listed as a "dark sky" location, because there is so little light pollution during the night.

That's so cool that you found 100% cacao! That's supposed to be the greatest superfood in the world - something about it having the greatest concentration of anti-oxidants. I'm really curious about what it tastes like! There's a huge amount of history with cacao and human culture - it being used as an extremely bitter drink during religious ceremonies going back thousands of years.

So - what was this vinegar bottle cap like? I'm having trouble envisioning why it couldn't be opened...

Re: Culture Shock – Urubamba, Week 2

Erin O'Rourke — Mon, 10 Oct 2011 21:51:57 -0000

That's funny, I was going to make a stupid joke like "if this were a fantasy novel I'd have flint!" or if I were a boy scout, too. ;x Admittedly this is a more difficult experience than I anticipated, but I'll be fine. And hey, when you make it from the bar do you get it to dissolve fully?? I think I boiled it on high for about 4 minutes, and I still had these weird little bits of bitter chocolate. Honestly, I think you REALLY NEED sugar with this stuff - it's crazy bitter. And I don't think marshmallows exist down here. I'll just mix in dulche de leche instead!!

Re: Culture Shock – Urubamba, Week 2

Mike — Mon, 10 Oct 2011 01:53:37 -0000

I said it before you left, and I'll say it again. I'm envious. I am happy with my life, but wish that I'd had taken the chance for experiences like that at one point.

I'm pretty sure I've made that kind of hot chocolate for you before, Mom keeps the same kind of bars. I don't bother with the sugar, once you melt it in milk it's pretty nice, and if you can get marshmallows, it adds all the sweet you'd need.

Also, I was camping with the scouts this weekend, and my friend Tim had a great flint/steel striker. If you get care packages from your mom, ask for one of these (or a cheaper one, but this one is pretty handy.) It should light a gas stove just fine.

http://www.rei.com/product/775...

Re: Peru: Ear to the Ground

Erin O'Rourke — Tue, 04 Oct 2011 10:01:52 -0000

Hey Uncle Larry, thanks for the suggestions. I bought a 5 liter thing of water last night so I´ll be using that when I´ve gone through it, though I definitely won´t be putting boiled water in it until it cools - I´m already worried enough about toxins leaching into the water from the plastic without helping it along. Thanks for reminding me about gloves - one of the things I need to see if I can purchase today. I´ve been trying to use notepad, but I admit it´s just not the same. Luckily I might have internet at home for 6 weeks, so we´ll see how it goes!!