March 27 (2008)
End of the third quarter.
This quarter, the students constructed three separate structures, rather than the one or two done in prior quarters. This arrangement worked quite well. The smaller teams gave each student more opportunity to participate. Plus, the added "competition" added a new incentive. We also had our first female student--two female students are enrolled in the fourth quarter.
Here are the graduation pictures of the three teams and their "houses."
January 3 (2008)
Lot's of progress since the start of the second quarter:
Top row - Mr. Wiest lectures on how to install vinyl siding. Then students start to work on siding their house. Note the two different "houses" being built this quarter versus the single structure built during first quarter.
Bottom row - While some of the students work on siding, other students work at the individual "learning stations" Mr. Wiest has developed. On the left, a student has installed sheetrock and is beginning to tape the seams. The middle picture shows the electric wiring station--the picture on the right shows a student in the process of connecting circuits in the panel box (no, the panel is NOT "live.")
November 20
The second quarter has started which means a whole new group of students in CoaH. Some changes for this term:
Rather than building just one structure, Mr. Wiest has divided the class into two groups--each will build their own "house." This will give each student more opportunities to be involved in each step of the process.
We found that installing sheetrock and electric wiring just didn't work very well with all the students trying to learn those tasks at one time. We didn't even have a chance to do plumbing last quarter. So, this term, Mr. Wiest has constructed several "learning stations" where students will work in small, controlled spaces to learn and practice those skills. Each student will also have his/her work graded individually by Mr. Wiest. In this series of photographs, Mr. Wiest shows the students how to measure and cut sheetrock, then he shows them how to install the sheetrock in the learning station. Pictures of the learning stations for electric and plumbing will be included as students get to those skills.
End of Quarter 1
Here's a group photo of the first quarter students and their "house."
October 19
Shingles installed--note that students learned how to weave the shingles in the valleys of the roof.
Vinyl siding installed.
Basic electric wiring--switches (including 3-way) and outlets.
Insulation is easy, of course.
And, finally, everybody's favorite: Sheetrocking. Once all the students have an opportunity to measure, cut and install a section of sheetrock, they will then learn how to tape, mud and sand the seams.
Because we are nearing the end of the first quarter, the final activity will be to tear everything apart. We will salvage and re-use everything from lumber and plywood to shingles and vinyl trim. Of course, the ends of some of the boards are pretty "chewed up" by nails, etc. Mr. Wiest plans to cut the ends off those boards. The result, he says, is that "...next quarter's house will be just a little bit smaller."
The second quarter--and a new group of students--will start on November 13. Look for pictures and reports of the new class as it starts.
October 12
Underlay and edging installed on roof--ready for shingles.
Windows and doors installed.
Corner trim boards installed--ready for vinyl siding.
And then comes the shingles. Mr. Wiest gives a lecture on how to cut and install the first course of shingles and how to overlap the tabs.
But the big surprise for the students is how much shingles weigh and how cumbersome those packages can be! Each student had a chance to pick up a package of shingles and climb about 2/3 of the way up the ladder. It's a lot of work to carry all those shingles up to the roof!
October 5
The roof is taking shape. Note the peak over the door--this will help students understand how to apply shingles in valleys. Another revelation for some of the students is the discovery that they REALLY don't like being on ladders or on a roof. Important things to know if you are considering a career in the trades!
Of course, from the rear, the "house" looks like the back of a movie set.
Mr. Wiest devised a novel way to store the doors and windows until they are needed. Note that the windows are not new--they were donated by various staff members and are "recycled" from other projects.
And they found the top from an old workbench. They built a new base, making a very nice, solid (and almost new) workbench for the classroom.
The students also built a storage system for the dimensional wood.
September 27
Mr. Wiest meets with parents during Open House.
September 26
Class starts each day with lesson plans and assignments on the white board.
Interior walls have been erected.
Working on the roof structure.
Exterior of storage cabinet completed which means hand tools can now be secured during non-class periods.
September 18
Two walls are erected and rough cuts are made for windows and doors.
Working on setting the hinges for the doors to the tool storage cabinet--the cabinet is nearing completion.
September 11
Working on floor joists.
As a part of the class, the students are also building a tool storage cabinet for the classroom.
September 5
Meeting with the instructor, Eric Wiest, to go over class expectations.
The students also had an opportunity to learn how stringers for stairways are measured and cut. In this case, the students actually helped cut some of the stringers used on the new portable classrooms at the school.
