East Coast Invasion, Day 6

We spent the morning learning about the significance of the battle of Gettysburg then it was off to Harper's Ferry for river rafting.

East Coast Invasion, Day 5

Walked through Central Park on our way to the Met. We then headed to Amish country enroute to Gettysburg.

East Coast Invasion, Day 5

Walked through Central Park on our way to the Met. We then headed to Amish country enroute to Gettysburg.

East Coast Invasion Day 3

Another fun filled day for day 3.  The wet weather forecast turned for the better and lifted much of the cloud layer and cold. We visited Ellis Island in the morning and rode to the top of the Rock in the afternoon. We finished the day with dinner and a show, the Broadway musical, Spiderman. Tomorrow we head to Pennsylvania.

East Coast Invasion Day 2

After spending the morning on The Freedom Trail in Boston, we reflected on our experiences and moved onward to New York.  The weather has turned wet and we first headed to the new 9/11 Memorial and under construction World Trade Center. The memorial's design is outstanding with waterfalls cascading to emptiness where the twin towers once stood.

East Coast Invasion Day 1

Day 1 in Boston went very well for our 8th graders. The group left San Diego at o'dark-thirty on Saturday and traveled smoothly on three different flights. Our group has lots of excitement and energy but relatively calm. After an evening at Quincy Marketplace, we spent Sunday exploring pre-colonial America up to the start of the American Revolution.  The weather has exceptional and the city was booming with outdoor activity.  The rest of the week looks like rain so we suppose that's the trade-off for great weather in Boston.

Daddy Day Care

Ah, it's been quite some time since I've posted on my moblog. Everything is going well this summer and I've been learning the essentials of taking care of our son while Michelle starts her new job. Knox makes noticeable progress every day and it's fun to see all the developmental changes in early stages.

The Urban Jungle of NYC

At the top of the canopy, the vastness of the Manhattan jungle is impressive.  Our kiddos are loving the view!

One World Trade Center

As we near the 10th anniversary of 9/11, I wondered how our students would react to visiting Ground Zero. Most on our trip were only 4 years old on that tragic day. They seemed to be most interested in the future and snapp?ed many pictures of the construction of the One World Trade Center.

Gateway to America

I checked for my last name on the Ellis Island's web database with no luck. I'm not sure how my DNA crossed the Atlantic but I have a feeling the emotion and dream was the same as immigrants have felt here. Turns out that the events at Ellis Island were mostly not positive as previously assumed. A lengthy process was endured here that broke dreams for so many.
Security remains tight for access to Liberty and Ellis Islands. Our most iconic symbol of freedom remains in confidence despite threats, war, and terror. -Mr. G

Lexington and Concord

"Let it begin here!" This morning we visited sites of the events on April 15, 1775 that changed the course of American history. A seemingly unintentional battle that intensified throughout this day contains the first casualties in the American Revolution.
After a presentation on the events at the Minuteman Museum, the story and sites visited all came together for us. From the first colonial casualties at the Lexington green and the first two fallen British Regulars to the mass of 4000 colonial militia that brought down an unwelcoming folley on the British retreat along the bay road, the experience here is rich and moving. Even for a teacher, the learning here is more memorable than chapters studied in a textbook.
Pictured are our group at the Lexington green, Minuteman Statue at the green, and our reinactment of the first British casualties at Old North Bridge.

Beantown!

We've arrived! Flights went very well. Our bus checked in to our hotel and we're heading to Quincy Marketplace for dinner. -G

Getting ready to travel to the east side and don't remember if there's restrictions on small stowaways. Leaving at O' dark-thirty tomorrow. East Coast or BUST!

Growing Strong!

Knox is 9 lbs. 11 oz. today.

Spring Break, Wahoo!!!

Just arrived at my exotic destination for spring break! 

Knox, Meet Your Great Grandparents!

Catching Some Zzzzzz

Knox is falling into a good routine of feeding, sleeping, and evening awake time.

Little G

I've told many others, I'm not a fan of babies but I really like this one!

First Doctor's Visit

Here's Knox at his first checkup.  Looks like all systems are go!  At the end of his first week, Knox is back to his birth weight and his bilirubin levels are returning to a healthy level.

Knox Evan Gardinier

We're home now and extremely excited about our new addition.  Everyone is healthy and well.  This was taken on the morning of Knox's birthday.

Look what rolled in last night!

Our son arrived early this morning!  7lbs 7 oz. 19 in.

Rubik's Cube Rotation

I currently have 12 week blocks in a mini-elective where the focus is centered around learning how to solve the famed 3x3 Rubik's Cube. On Tuesday, I will see 30 new eager kiddos. Success rate varies from about 35-85%. Anyone want to throw down for an insane pizza party if I can get 100% of a class to solve the cube unassisted within 12 weeks?
Mini-electives are 30 minute classes meeting 4 days a week.
Here's some of my last group 7th graders who wanted to leave a nice surprise for the next group.

The Darwin Podcast

Finishing up our unit in Evolution with a podcast where students tell about Charles Darwin, his legendary voyage on the HMS Beagle, evidence collected, and the development of his theory of Natual Selection.

Solar Powered Ventilation

Testing out our new solution to ventilate the crawlspace under our house utilizing a solar powered gable fan. The fan will be installed in the cover to the access port and the solar panel will sit on the roof.

Famosa Slough Student Volunteers

Offer extra credit and kids readily volunteer for great events like volunteering at our local wetland. Famosa Slough is adjacent to our school and I find that most students don't even know it's here.

Awesome Cell Model

This is the best cell model I've had from one of my students. Huge props to Amy for her hard work, creativity and skill. Its also the most educational pillow ever! Next is our cell division comic and hopefully Amy's will feature "Phyto".

Superworm Races

Go Zophobas morio!  Last week, we studied a living organism as part of our Introduction to Biology. Kids learned about Superworms (related to mealworms) not through research but by collecting qualitative and quantitative data. Here are a group of my kiddos measuring distance traveled in 5 minutes.

Ice Cream!

Its been insanely hot these past few days in San Diego.  Last year, I started coordinating a school-wide incentive program that rewards GPA achievement.  Today, we were able to reward students earning a 3.0 or higher with an ice cream social.  With the weather this extreme, the ineligible students appeared to be very dissappointed that they were missing out.   Next week, we reward 3.5 and higher.

Stable Mates

Everyone should have 4 wheels, right?

In progress...