Yesterday was a good day. Don't know what today will be, but yesterday was a good day. My two good classes were behind a day due to various assemblies, fire drills, and such, and so they finished their notes over the writing process.
My other three classes - the ones that did not get to do the "Walk a Mile in My Shoes" activity, were finished or finished early during the class period, so I came up with the motivation to watch a movie and then write about themselves. I chose Freedom Writers, and, boy, did I get some reactions. I have only seen two so far, and they made me want to just sit down and cry. So many of these kids are coming from horrible backgrounds. I want to help them so badly. My goal of finding motivation to make these kids want to write has just skyrocketed. I really feel like it can be an outlet for them, as well as a means to make better lives for themselves when they leave here. I'm also not sure I don't want to save this activity until the second week next year, maybe Friday after a quiz. It seemed to make a difference having had them a little while before they opened up completely.
One other thing I did was to try a different discipline approach. I realized that when I got on to some kids, the problems simply got worse, and I do not want to get in a power struggle with any of them. Also, it is not fair to the other 23 kids in the class for me to spend the majority of my time trying to calm the other 2 or 3 or 5 down rather than providing instruction. Therefore, I simply ignored the ones who weren't doing what I asked and went around to each group individually, asking questions, seeing how they were doing, etc. It actually worked in 2 of my 3 rowdy classes. I will probably still send out a friendly email to parents this weekend and call a few next week, but at least it was a step.
Now, we shall see how today goes.
Friday, August 28, 2009
Tuesday, August 25, 2009
Keepin' On Keepin' On
This week we are learning about the WRITING PROCESS! And it was so nice to learn that when they finished the seventh grade last year, they were doing well to write a single paragraph! Ahhhhhh! They have to be able to write 500 words in the form of 5 paragraphs by the end of the year! Needless to say, we have our work cut out for us. I shudder to think about those responsible for the reading test!
Monday wasn't too bad. I had 3 boys come in at lunch with me to clean desks, pick up trash, and scrape gum (that one had sooo much fun, let me tell you!). But, really, it was just a matter of reminding everyone that they had to keep quiet, take notes, etc.
Today was a little more eventful. The gum scraper got silent lunch for making me call on him 3 times before I even finished taking roll. Then, when I informed of his punishment, he gathered his books and walked out into the hallway where he proceded to bang loudly on the lockers. I began the day's assignment and calmly called the office on the intercome, informing them of the situation. The principal was there in a matter of minutes, and the student did not return for the rest of the hour. The class was AMAZING! We got so much done, and I did not have to call many of them down at all! Once their ring leader was gone, they were actually decent pre-humans, as my father likes to call them.
A later hour was even more rambunctious, driving me to threaten that the next person who speaks would have silent lunch. Immediately four young gentlemen decided to try me on it, and, so they will be visiting the silent lunch coach tomorrow. (One, however, did promise not to speak again for the rest of the hour if I would take it away. He didn't, so I did. He was another ringleader, and the change in climate was wonderful!)
On the academic side, I am not sure my notes are completely clear. There were several questions about a thesis statement, and I realized as we went through the Power Point that I used some rather large words. This weekend, I hope to put it in more 8th-grade language for next year.
I also found out from bellwork this weekend that I have 2 students who speak minimal English. This week I have begun writing bellwork in Spanish and English, and they are copying the notes in English. At least they are copying word for word. I have contacted the ELL teacher and am going to try to get some notes to them in Spanish so that they at least understand the basic writing process by the time they start trying to write in English. It's kind of fun, actually, getting to use my Spanish, even if it is a little bit extra work.
I also have begun the "differentiated instruction" approach! A few students on IEPs and not were having trouble keeping up with notes for whatever reason. I therefore went through and printed a copy of the slides with blanks for them to fill in. It seemed to help, though I will have to wait and see how much they learned.
Pretty exciting so far, and it's only Tuesday! Can't wait to see what the rest of the week has to offer. Can't say I would rather be doing anything else at this point, though I hear Halloween is the time most people reconsider.
Monday wasn't too bad. I had 3 boys come in at lunch with me to clean desks, pick up trash, and scrape gum (that one had sooo much fun, let me tell you!). But, really, it was just a matter of reminding everyone that they had to keep quiet, take notes, etc.
Today was a little more eventful. The gum scraper got silent lunch for making me call on him 3 times before I even finished taking roll. Then, when I informed of his punishment, he gathered his books and walked out into the hallway where he proceded to bang loudly on the lockers. I began the day's assignment and calmly called the office on the intercome, informing them of the situation. The principal was there in a matter of minutes, and the student did not return for the rest of the hour. The class was AMAZING! We got so much done, and I did not have to call many of them down at all! Once their ring leader was gone, they were actually decent pre-humans, as my father likes to call them.
A later hour was even more rambunctious, driving me to threaten that the next person who speaks would have silent lunch. Immediately four young gentlemen decided to try me on it, and, so they will be visiting the silent lunch coach tomorrow. (One, however, did promise not to speak again for the rest of the hour if I would take it away. He didn't, so I did. He was another ringleader, and the change in climate was wonderful!)
On the academic side, I am not sure my notes are completely clear. There were several questions about a thesis statement, and I realized as we went through the Power Point that I used some rather large words. This weekend, I hope to put it in more 8th-grade language for next year.
I also found out from bellwork this weekend that I have 2 students who speak minimal English. This week I have begun writing bellwork in Spanish and English, and they are copying the notes in English. At least they are copying word for word. I have contacted the ELL teacher and am going to try to get some notes to them in Spanish so that they at least understand the basic writing process by the time they start trying to write in English. It's kind of fun, actually, getting to use my Spanish, even if it is a little bit extra work.
I also have begun the "differentiated instruction" approach! A few students on IEPs and not were having trouble keeping up with notes for whatever reason. I therefore went through and printed a copy of the slides with blanks for them to fill in. It seemed to help, though I will have to wait and see how much they learned.
Pretty exciting so far, and it's only Tuesday! Can't wait to see what the rest of the week has to offer. Can't say I would rather be doing anything else at this point, though I hear Halloween is the time most people reconsider.
Saturday, August 22, 2009
Funny Point
As I was grading some of my "Why Is Writing Important" papers, I came across an interesting answer: If you don't know how to write, you cannot check into the hospital to get attention (for non emergencies). Now, I know this is not entirely true, but it is an interesting thought. It is important to be able to fill out all those forms. So, potentially, writing could, in fact, save your life! Such encouragement!
I also rewrote my lessons for the first three days, looking back over them to make sure I know what I'm doing and correcting the mistakes I made for next year. I already wish I could do those three days over. I have learned so much, it seems! Of course, I am sure when I get back in there this week, I will realize just how much more I have still to learn, but it is encouraging to look back and see that yes, I can, in fact, do this job!
I also rewrote my lessons for the first three days, looking back over them to make sure I know what I'm doing and correcting the mistakes I made for next year. I already wish I could do those three days over. I have learned so much, it seems! Of course, I am sure when I get back in there this week, I will realize just how much more I have still to learn, but it is encouraging to look back and see that yes, I can, in fact, do this job!
First Week
I apologize for my tardiness, but I only just obtained internet access once again. And on that note, I would like to say we are officially moved to Ada, as of last weekend, that being the reason I did not have internet access until today.
So, last week on Thursday, we found a rent house - extremely quick, concerning Dell had only had his job for a week! Friday, Mom, Dell and I (yes, my parents are EXTREMELY happy that we moved back - they have both been over nearly every day this week to help in some way) cleaned the rent house, and Saturday, Dell's aunt, uncle, 2 cousins and grandmother, and my parents all came and helped us move from the City back to my home town. It was CRAZY!!!! But we got moved in, albeit without gas (meaning we did not have hot water - couldn't do laundry, dishes, or take showers at home - don't worry, we took showers at my parents').
Monday I sat through more meetings, still having no clue how the things they kept telling us were going to play out in the actual classroom, and Tuesday I got the ENTIRE DAY to prepare my room! It really seemed like I wasn't getting much done, but when I looked back at my list, I really had gotten more than I realized, thankfully. One key point, the SMARTboard, was not working as I did not have access to the adapter that fits from the plug into the Mac. So, all the things I had planned to put on that board had to be moved to the dry erase board. Flexibility, you know. I borrowed one from my fellow teacher, however, whose computer died and who had to bring his own computer to use.
Wednesday was my first day of actual classes. It actually went pretty smoothly. We only had one fight at lunch, the kids thought my knighthood theme was lame and didn't even know what the term chivalry meant, and most of the classes stayed on task.
Thursday was a different story. Three of my five core classes (I have one enrichment class at the end of the day) were absolutely awful. It being an emotional, stressful time for me, I broke down at lunch, thankfully not in front of my classes, but thanks to the support of my fellow team teachers, especially my supervising teacher (bless her!) I got it under control and realized I cannot allow them to sit idle or do work completely on their own at this point at all. If I do, I will have shouting and paper wads flying across the room. Oh, yes, they are VERY mature. I made it through the day, though, and even went back on Friday! I do have to admit that the thought crossed my mind that I don't HAVE to do this job, but it didn't last long. I was determined to last the year, if for no other reason than to spite my students. It was not really a matter of being bothered by the students' behavior, or letting their smart-alec comments get to me. I knew it was going to be like that. I was more frustrated with myself for not figuring out how to deal with the situation better. By the third awful class I finally figured out a fun assignment of making them write down the procedures as I read them aloud - you should have heard the complaining. I also found I had to remember my own procedures - if I wanted them to raise their hands to ask a question, I had to make them raise their hand and wait on me to call on them before I answered the question. By the end of the hour, I had made them raise their hands and repeat their questions enough that they finally began to get it a little. It was tough and gruelling, but it started to work.
Friday. It was a little better. I played catch-up with my first two awful classes, and their complaining was just as bad at having to write procedures as the class from the day before. Oh, and I loved how the class who was throwing paper wads was "in the eighth grade now and too mature to have to write procedures now." They're going to have a nice surprise when I spend my entire weekend making sure they wrote everything down word for word and took off points when they didn't. I hope so, at least.
One note I would like to remember for next year and to pass on to any other teachers. I began with procedures on the first day and then tried a get-to-know-each-other activity for the second. Don't do this. Instead, switch them. Introduce yourself the first day, maybe with a video or something along those lines. Go over the syllabus and classroom rules, as well as any new rules or new processes or activities the school is introducing that year. Maybe go over the different things like cafeteria procedures, library procedures, etc., for the new students as well. If you want, give them a survey or something about themselves at the end of the hour and maybe for homework. Save your procedures for the second day, and make sure you drill them on them all hour - give them each something to do, such as write them down or act them out. They really aren't ready to simply sit and listen all hour without being involved themselves - at least that was my experience. The last day I gave them an assignment to do on their own (we only 3 days that first week), but even this was a struggle for some of the classes. They really needed direct instruction the entire hour in order to stay on task. Now some could handle it, but even those classes were a little talkative, it being the last day of school the first week. I have a few adjustments to make on my beginning lesson plans for next year now, and for next week as well, but I feel that overall it was fairly productive, and I am beginning to get bluff in. Oh, and did I mention I made a few students come clean my room at lunch Friday for their behavior Thursday? Yeah, I'm a mean teacher. And one of them didn't even come. If he wasn't alreay in trouble for another teacher, he's going to have a fun two days at lunch! I am dying to create positive relationships, but I am quickly learning that they need to learn their part in the relationship and how to behave in a class of 25 kids before that is going to be possible. Can't wait for next week and more staying on them about procedures! They'll get it. It may take a while, but that's why we do this, right? Because it's one of the most difficult jobs in the world, and only a special few can truly handle making a difference in the lives of 128 students every day. Bring it on!
So, last week on Thursday, we found a rent house - extremely quick, concerning Dell had only had his job for a week! Friday, Mom, Dell and I (yes, my parents are EXTREMELY happy that we moved back - they have both been over nearly every day this week to help in some way) cleaned the rent house, and Saturday, Dell's aunt, uncle, 2 cousins and grandmother, and my parents all came and helped us move from the City back to my home town. It was CRAZY!!!! But we got moved in, albeit without gas (meaning we did not have hot water - couldn't do laundry, dishes, or take showers at home - don't worry, we took showers at my parents').
Monday I sat through more meetings, still having no clue how the things they kept telling us were going to play out in the actual classroom, and Tuesday I got the ENTIRE DAY to prepare my room! It really seemed like I wasn't getting much done, but when I looked back at my list, I really had gotten more than I realized, thankfully. One key point, the SMARTboard, was not working as I did not have access to the adapter that fits from the plug into the Mac. So, all the things I had planned to put on that board had to be moved to the dry erase board. Flexibility, you know. I borrowed one from my fellow teacher, however, whose computer died and who had to bring his own computer to use.
Wednesday was my first day of actual classes. It actually went pretty smoothly. We only had one fight at lunch, the kids thought my knighthood theme was lame and didn't even know what the term chivalry meant, and most of the classes stayed on task.
Thursday was a different story. Three of my five core classes (I have one enrichment class at the end of the day) were absolutely awful. It being an emotional, stressful time for me, I broke down at lunch, thankfully not in front of my classes, but thanks to the support of my fellow team teachers, especially my supervising teacher (bless her!) I got it under control and realized I cannot allow them to sit idle or do work completely on their own at this point at all. If I do, I will have shouting and paper wads flying across the room. Oh, yes, they are VERY mature. I made it through the day, though, and even went back on Friday! I do have to admit that the thought crossed my mind that I don't HAVE to do this job, but it didn't last long. I was determined to last the year, if for no other reason than to spite my students. It was not really a matter of being bothered by the students' behavior, or letting their smart-alec comments get to me. I knew it was going to be like that. I was more frustrated with myself for not figuring out how to deal with the situation better. By the third awful class I finally figured out a fun assignment of making them write down the procedures as I read them aloud - you should have heard the complaining. I also found I had to remember my own procedures - if I wanted them to raise their hands to ask a question, I had to make them raise their hand and wait on me to call on them before I answered the question. By the end of the hour, I had made them raise their hands and repeat their questions enough that they finally began to get it a little. It was tough and gruelling, but it started to work.
Friday. It was a little better. I played catch-up with my first two awful classes, and their complaining was just as bad at having to write procedures as the class from the day before. Oh, and I loved how the class who was throwing paper wads was "in the eighth grade now and too mature to have to write procedures now." They're going to have a nice surprise when I spend my entire weekend making sure they wrote everything down word for word and took off points when they didn't. I hope so, at least.
One note I would like to remember for next year and to pass on to any other teachers. I began with procedures on the first day and then tried a get-to-know-each-other activity for the second. Don't do this. Instead, switch them. Introduce yourself the first day, maybe with a video or something along those lines. Go over the syllabus and classroom rules, as well as any new rules or new processes or activities the school is introducing that year. Maybe go over the different things like cafeteria procedures, library procedures, etc., for the new students as well. If you want, give them a survey or something about themselves at the end of the hour and maybe for homework. Save your procedures for the second day, and make sure you drill them on them all hour - give them each something to do, such as write them down or act them out. They really aren't ready to simply sit and listen all hour without being involved themselves - at least that was my experience. The last day I gave them an assignment to do on their own (we only 3 days that first week), but even this was a struggle for some of the classes. They really needed direct instruction the entire hour in order to stay on task. Now some could handle it, but even those classes were a little talkative, it being the last day of school the first week. I have a few adjustments to make on my beginning lesson plans for next year now, and for next week as well, but I feel that overall it was fairly productive, and I am beginning to get bluff in. Oh, and did I mention I made a few students come clean my room at lunch Friday for their behavior Thursday? Yeah, I'm a mean teacher. And one of them didn't even come. If he wasn't alreay in trouble for another teacher, he's going to have a fun two days at lunch! I am dying to create positive relationships, but I am quickly learning that they need to learn their part in the relationship and how to behave in a class of 25 kids before that is going to be possible. Can't wait for next week and more staying on them about procedures! They'll get it. It may take a while, but that's why we do this, right? Because it's one of the most difficult jobs in the world, and only a special few can truly handle making a difference in the lives of 128 students every day. Bring it on!
Wednesday, August 12, 2009
Breaking In
I meant to begin this blog on Monday, but for reasons you will soon see, I was unable to do so. Therefore, I am going to break this down into 3 sections.
Monday, August 10
This was to be the day I went to the school for the first time employed exclusively as an 8th-grade English teacher. (My other job ended last Friday.) However, at 11:30 p.m., Sunday night, I woke up to a screaming pain in my back. My wonderful husband drove me to the emergency room as soon as I could move, where we waited 2 hours without being seen. It had settled down enough by then that we left, and my husband insisted that I go with him to the town where he works (which also happens to be where I grew up and where my family still lives.) So, while he went to work, my mother and I looked for houses (my husband's job requires us to move to that town), and at 5, I finally got to see a physician's assistant. Turns out it was an old tennis injury flaring up, and just a stiff muscle. We did find a few houses we wanted to see, though.
Tuesday, August 11
We got to see the houses tonight, but we didn't like the one, and the one I absolutely LOVED, of course had to have potential termite and water problems. So, we came home at 9:30 p.m., and I have yet to even get my keys at the school!
Wednesday, August 12
I finally got to go to the school! Well, actually, I had to, since our first day of new-teacher training started at 8. It was actually pretty good. I was still drugged up on pain-killers, steroids, and muscle relaxers, so I'm sure people thought I was being rude and trying not to fall asleep during their presentations, but I was impressed with how well the other 40 new teachers listened - usually teachers are the WORST about listening during a speech or presentation. I signed up for NEA, and even got to go to my room, although I need to figure out why I can't log on to my computer and still need to get my keys. Not bad, though. Hopefully tomorrow will be even better, and I will meet my husband again to look at rent houses this time. Theh sooner we are able to move, the better!
Monday, August 10
This was to be the day I went to the school for the first time employed exclusively as an 8th-grade English teacher. (My other job ended last Friday.) However, at 11:30 p.m., Sunday night, I woke up to a screaming pain in my back. My wonderful husband drove me to the emergency room as soon as I could move, where we waited 2 hours without being seen. It had settled down enough by then that we left, and my husband insisted that I go with him to the town where he works (which also happens to be where I grew up and where my family still lives.) So, while he went to work, my mother and I looked for houses (my husband's job requires us to move to that town), and at 5, I finally got to see a physician's assistant. Turns out it was an old tennis injury flaring up, and just a stiff muscle. We did find a few houses we wanted to see, though.
Tuesday, August 11
We got to see the houses tonight, but we didn't like the one, and the one I absolutely LOVED, of course had to have potential termite and water problems. So, we came home at 9:30 p.m., and I have yet to even get my keys at the school!
Wednesday, August 12
I finally got to go to the school! Well, actually, I had to, since our first day of new-teacher training started at 8. It was actually pretty good. I was still drugged up on pain-killers, steroids, and muscle relaxers, so I'm sure people thought I was being rude and trying not to fall asleep during their presentations, but I was impressed with how well the other 40 new teachers listened - usually teachers are the WORST about listening during a speech or presentation. I signed up for NEA, and even got to go to my room, although I need to figure out why I can't log on to my computer and still need to get my keys. Not bad, though. Hopefully tomorrow will be even better, and I will meet my husband again to look at rent houses this time. Theh sooner we are able to move, the better!
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