tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-254242812024-03-23T14:07:19.302-04:00AnnecdotesAbout teaching, and life.luckeyfroghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09338266098096236978noreply@blogger.comBlogger148125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25424281.post-77058579627657535932012-03-12T09:35:00.002-04:002012-03-12T09:35:24.285-04:00Hello there! I noticed I have a few teachers following me here, and I wanted to let you know that I am moving all teacher blogging to a new site! If you're interested, please check out http://luckeyfrogslilypad.blogspot.com/ and consider following me there! It's not much yet, but I hope to make it something awesome!<br />
<br />
Thanks!luckeyfroghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09338266098096236978noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25424281.post-89902788059521724672011-10-27T19:21:00.001-04:002011-10-27T19:22:59.391-04:00real right nowSo, I'm terrible about actually blogging, but this caught my eye.<br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.stephaniehowell.com/.a/6a00e551ef15fe883401539298257f970b-320wi" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://www.stephaniehowell.com/.a/6a00e551ef15fe883401539298257f970b-320wi" width="225" /></a></div><a href="http://lilacsandavocados.blogspot.com/2011/10/blog-your-heart.html">One of the bloggers I follow</a> tried this out. <a href="http://www.stephaniehowell.typepad.com/">The original woman who started this</a> says, "blog your heart. HONESTLY. it can be silly, funny, serious, short or long...whatever you want it to be. as long as it is <b>authentic."</b><br />
<br />
<b><span style="font-weight: normal;">So... here goes. I'm going to try to go with the things really on my mind lately, as well as a couple random thoughts that came to mind that will hopefully keep it a bit lighter.</span></b><br />
<br />
<ol><li><b><span style="font-weight: normal;">I love teaching, but right now I am craving a time where I feel like I'm doing well. I know I am a good teacher, but there are 10 more things I wish I had done at all times. I keep telling myself that next year will be better, because I won't be reinventing everything and I'll have things better figured out, but sometimes I worry that it's always going to feel like this, like I'm never doing enough and I'm constantly swamped.</span></b></li>
<li><b><span style="font-weight: normal;">I'm not a big fan of babies. I'm sure I'll be a big fan of MY (someday) babies, but for right now, they aren't fun until they are toddlers. Hate to say it, but some babies look like aliens and none of them do anything. Not many babies are actually 'cute' to me, and I think this in combination with the mothering I do at work keeps me from having any inkling of baby-craving yet. (Dang it, now that sounds like I want to eat babies. I don't. Promise.)</span></b></li>
<li><b><span style="font-weight: normal;">My dad died when I was 11. Honestly, I'm not sure I deal with it in a healthy way, but it's what I have done for over half my life. It's nice to live my everyday life NOT getting upset by everything all the time, but it's hard to deal when something catches me off-guard. Remind me that no matter how <i>perfectly</i> they got the dad-dies-suddenly-of-a-heart-attack plot, I should not watch sad episodes of How I Met Your Mother. (On a similar note, certain episodes of Everwood are just plain out.)</span></b></li>
<li><b><span style="font-weight: normal;">I need to work out and eat better. I don't know if it's the stress of the school year or what, but I have been eating terribly. My clothes aren't fitting me well right now and I just feel gross and unattractive. Somehow I am really unhappy about my body but that <i>doesn't</i> translate into the motivation to do something about it. Not fair. I don't know how to get that motivation right now. I didn't even find that motivation prior to getting married, like I hoped. I don't need to be a size 2, and never could be- but I know my body and where it <i>normally</i> is bigger and smaller and right now, I'm gaining weight in places I shouldn't. It's frustrating and I feel stupid typing this out, but my insecurities are huge right now.</span></b></li>
<li><b><span style="font-weight: normal;">I touched on this earlier, but I super love teaching. I have friends who have gone out to do their job after college and aren't sure it's right, or aren't sure they want to stay in it forever, and honestly, it's hard for me to imagine doing anything else for very long. I love that I can be creative, that it takes smarts (as much as some people might not believe it), and that I feel like I'm truly doing something important every day.</span></b></li>
<li><b><span style="font-weight: normal;">I miss being religious. I still believe in God, but beyond that, I'm really not sure what I believe anymore. Sometimes I really miss it, especially the connections to other people in a church, but other times the process of searching for a church isn't something I even vaguely want to embark on. I also miss music dearly. (Not that they have to be related, but singing in church was always a constant for me.) I don't want to go to church again because I feel obligated, but I feel guilty not going.</span></b></li>
<li><b><span style="font-weight: normal;">Ryan and I have been together 6 years tomorrow. (To get a measure of how long that is, our relationship-child would be in kindergarten.) Things are great, but sometimes I miss how exciting things were when we first started dating and did romantic things. I'm afraid we've lost a lot of that already, even as newlyweds, and what if it never comes back? It's just not the same now, even on the rare occasions we go and do something couple-y. We used to leave each other sweet notes, and now we send each other football links. There are so many perks with being together longer and being married and all that- but it's also hard to feel like the spark and excitement isn't as strong sometimes.</span></b></li>
<li><b><span style="font-weight: normal;">For some reason, folding laundry always feels like a pain. I don't know why it feels like such an awful chore, because it's really not that bad. Maybe it's because doing laundry means a DAY of laundry when I get around to it.</span></b></li>
<li><b><span style="font-weight: normal;">I miss having close girlfriends. My last real 'best friend' was in high school, and she and I have grown apart a lot. I chose bridesmaids for my wedding that are great friends, but I don't even keep in touch with them like I should and none of us are as close as we once were. There is nothing like that feeling of someone just 'getting' you, and you don't ever need to hide anything from them. It's not that I don't have some good friends, but I miss that natural ease of a <i>best</i> friend. It's hard not to feel like there's something wrong with me because it's been so long since I've had that in my life. It's lonely sometimes and I feel pressured to get everything right when I meet a new friend so that I don't screw it up.</span></b></li>
<li><b><span style="font-weight: normal;">I have a new camera and I LOVE it. I wanted a DSLR for years and I waited and waited because it wasn't something I needed and it was so expensive. I got one just before our honeymoon and it's so worth it.</span></b></li>
<li><b><span style="font-weight: normal;">Sometimes I don't feel like I have an identity anymore. I hate that I let most of my hobbies go in college to take a break from being so overwhelmed, and I never really took them back. I feel like all I do is work and then I'm so tired from work that I just come home and watch TV and that's all I ever do. It's like, what happened to the girl I was in high school, who did well in school despite being in so many activities and doing crafty things and actually hanging out with friends?</span></b></li>
<li><b><span style="font-weight: normal;">I'm bored with my hair. The ends need to go. I had been growing it out with only trims since I got engaged over two and a half years ago, so it's long, and sometimes I love that. Other times I want to chop it all off and make it more low-maintenance. I'm afraid though that a short haircut will round out my face and make me look fat. I know, it sounds ridiculous, but I've got some monster insecurity going on lately so I'm being indecisive.</span></b></li>
<li><b><span style="font-weight: normal;">I'm so grateful for the room moms for my classroom. Our fall party was today, and their pinterest-inspired craft and snacks for the kids were fantastic without being crazy or messy or too time-consuming. They are both incredibly sweet and helpful and I am so glad to have them. My last school didn't even have room moms.</span></b></li>
<li><b><span style="font-weight: normal;">I feel like such a slob. I'm not an organized person at all, and while I love for things to be organized, it doesn't usually irk me to have things be somewhat messy. It's just not likely to bother me, which is the complete opposite of Ryan. He does so much more than me when it comes to taking care of the apartment, and sometimes I feel super guilty and worry that he's seething at me inside. I could make excuses, but simply put, I should do more but I don't and it makes me feel bad. What organizing energy I do have (which isn't a lot) usually seems like it gets poured into school because everything gets so crazy there.</span></b></li>
<li><b><span style="font-weight: normal;">I need to finish thank you notes 2 months ago. They are half done but I don't want to send them out until they are all done. Every time I work on them, I remember Ryan and I have a ton of people in our lives that love us a lot, and it's awesome.</span></b></li>
<li><b><span style="font-weight: normal;">I could not be much happier to be on fall break. I have a day off to either slack off or be productive, and while I haven't decided which one I'm doing yet, both are sorely needed before I leap into November.</span></b></li>
</ol><b><span style="font-weight: normal;"> </span></b><br />
<b><span style="font-weight: normal;">Weeeell. I have complained plenty for tonight, eh? I just felt like getting it all out. Honestly, life is really good and I'm so lucky to have a teaching job at a great school in the same town where Ryan is in school, but sometimes I need to take a break from the optimism and just get out how I'm really feeling, good and bad.</span></b><br />
<b><span style="font-weight: normal;"><br />
</span></b><br />
<b><span style="font-weight: normal;">If you 'blog your heart,' let me know.</span></b>luckeyfroghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09338266098096236978noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25424281.post-31134309291396256612011-09-20T17:36:00.000-04:002011-09-20T17:36:40.255-04:00UpdateGetting RIF'ed last year was rough. It's hard to know that you haven't done anything wrong, but that you're losing your job anyway. It's even harder when you keep hearing about the number of schools doing the same thing, and the number of teachers now in the job pool with you.<br />
<br />
As it turned out, the months I spent job searching, filling out applications, and hoping and praying actually paid off. Despite hearing all kinds of depressing statistics ("oh, we had 400 applicants for those 3 jobs"), I landed a job for this year.<br />
<br />
An ACTUAL job. As in, my own classroom kind of job.<br />
<br />
I am extremely grateful to my summer boss. I've been his assistant coordinator for science camps for years now, and when he heard there was a position in this corporation, he decided to go in and vouch for me. It certainly helped that his wife had taught in the corporation for over 15 years, and that his neighbor worked in the central office, but from what I heard, the principal (who didn't know this guy at all) was simply impressed that someone had come in and so vehemently argued that she should take a look at an applicant.<br />
<br />
She told him that she'd already decided who to interview in the first round, and he told her she was making a big mistake.<br />
<br />
Gulp.<br />
<br />
But as it turns out, something convinced her to give me a shot, and I was called for an interview with her and the principal at another elementary in the corporation. That other principal ended up liking me so much that she called me in for a 2nd interview with a panel of teachers, and soon, I was hired.<br />
<br />
Amazingly, my new school is even closer than my previous school (which was only 15 minutes or so away from home). I am able to live in the same town as my husband, who's finishing school. I didn't think there was ANY chance of that happening. I'd been applying to schools that were an hour or more away, thinking that was the best chance I had. Better yet, this is a great school corporation where I should have a bit more job security, at least for a few years.<br />
<br />
It took about 6 months of agonizing over uncertainty, but everything fell into place. My summer was filled with working the science camp, applying to jobs, wedding planning, interviewing, moving, getting married, honeymooning, and setting up a classroom. Very, very busy- but seriously, busy for so many wonderful reasons.<br />
<br />
Life is good- but, very busy. Even with two years under my belt as an assistant, my own classroom is still a big challenge. I think it would have been a much easier transition if I had kept the same reading and math series, but changing EVERY series I teach, along with moving to a new school, and being in my OWN room for the first time- it's a lot of change. But I'm in the same grade level, in the local area where I wanted to be, and I just plain have a job, so I really can't complain!luckeyfroghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09338266098096236978noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25424281.post-17011413714796137602011-02-25T09:17:00.000-05:002011-02-25T09:17:09.141-05:00It's never going to happen, but in an ideal world...<i>...everyone</i> who works hard to make schools work well should be appreciated.<br />
<br />
One thing that I think is missing from all the education debate right now is classified staff.<br />
<br />
Around here, especially in the current teacher job climate, many of our classified staff- also known as paraprofessionals, teachers' aides, etc.- are actually certified teachers. Others have been working in similar jobs for such a long time that they may as well have a teaching degree.<br />
<br />
Sure, there are some who are unexperienced, not competent, or downright lazy, but most of our paras are very good at what they do and really care about the kids. In our building, there are paras who move from small group to small group all day long, providing intervention for struggling kids. There are paras who work with special needs kids and have to know their particular needs and quirks in order to service them. There are paras who work alongside teachers in the classroom all day.<br />
<br />
They often work just shy of full-time (not by choice) so that the school corporation doesn't have to shell out for their benefits. Some of the paras I know still have to spend time at school either before or after they clock in to plan for their small group instruction the next day. Most paras come to be incredibly knowledgeable about the classrooms and kids they work in. They know what is normal, what is allowed, and where things are.<br />
<br />
And yet, amazingly, paras (of any experience or talent level) in many corporations make slightly less per day than substitute teachers, who come in to a classroom they likely don't know at all in a school they likely don't know well. They don't know the kids or the rules. Even the best substitute teachers have to be left simplified plans because rarely can the teacher count on things running the same as usual in her absence.<br />
<br />
Paras do their job day in, day out, and know the drill. And many of them find their jobs rewarding- but unfortunately, the pay is terrible. Especially if someone doesn't have a second income, it's hard to make it on a para's pay.<br />
<br />
And that's not fair. Sure, it might be fair for the kid just out of college who has nothing better to do and does the bare minimum of work, not bothering to connect with kids. But when a school finds someone who is good at the job, reliable, and knows the kids, the school should try to retain that person by paying them a reasonable amount. At the very least, even if the hourly pay were to stay the same, an experienced and talented para should get to work full-time so that s/he can get benefits.<br />
<br />
All of the focus right now is on teachers, and believe me, teachers are a big part of the puzzle. But it frustrates me to see people at my school that are good paraprofessionals leaving for other jobs- even though they enjoy this one and feel like they're making a difference- because they simply can't afford to stay. It's not good for our kids- particularly special needs kids- to have a revolving door of paras. It's not good for our schools to be re-training people instead of sticking with those we have. It's not fair to those paras who teach kids and help teachers teach better that they aren't compensated better than the random college kid who knows nothing about education but comes in to sub for the paycheck.<br />
<br />
It's about time that schools get enough funding to be able to really hang on to the people- teachers <i>and</i> support staff- who make the schools better. Paras should be able to get paid more as they prove that they are capable, dependable, experienced, and good at their job. I wouldn't call it merit pay, but I do think good support staff should be getting paid what they deserve.luckeyfroghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09338266098096236978noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25424281.post-7540306674595645952011-02-14T13:03:00.000-05:002011-02-14T13:03:25.604-05:00Happy Valentine's DayI just got the official notice that I am being RIF'ed this year.<br />
<br />
(For you non-education people, that means I am on the job hunt again. Joy.)luckeyfroghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09338266098096236978noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25424281.post-37936929598900851972011-01-24T16:30:00.002-05:002011-01-24T16:30:50.489-05:00Quick QuizWhat's the most feared three-letter acronym in education?<br />
<br />
I'm curious if everyone will have the same answer as me, and if people outside of education have any clue.luckeyfroghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09338266098096236978noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25424281.post-75082363595661909722011-01-20T16:40:00.000-05:002011-01-20T16:40:46.720-05:00UnfairToday we did another lesson on Martin Luther King, Jr. (I teach Science or Social Studies every Tuesday and Thursday.) Our kids were starting to remember the stories, but I didn't think they'd really gotten just how unfair everything was.<br />
<br />
I started out by doing a read-aloud, but on the SmartBoard. I called students to sit by what color they were wearing. I told them, "Well, red shirts are the best, so if you have a red shirt, come sit in the front row." A couple of kids looked at me quizzically, but they went with it. "Blue shirts, I guess you're okay. Come on up in the second row. Remember, only red shirts are good enough to be in front." Then I continued. "Everyone else..."<br />
<br />
The other kids started to stand up, but I said, "You have to stay at your seats." There were a couple of angry faces, but only one spoke out and I shushed him quickly. "Now I need someone to go turn off the lights." Hands shot up. "But it's an important job, so I want someone with a red shirt."<br />
<br />
We went on to read <a href="http://minibooks.scholastic.com/content/collateral_resources/swf/09/IWB09_e007.swf?lt=MB/ib//eng/FullScreenIWB///MB_proddetail/txtl/IWBusgae///">this book</a>, and when I had a question to ask, I only called on kids with red shirts. One time I said another student's name, but stopped myself and said, "Oh, wait, I need to choose someone with a red shirt. Those are the smartest kids." The girl I had almost called on was <em>indignant</em>, and I heard some surprised gasps, but I kept moving with the lesson and at the end, called everyone down to the carpet.<br />
<br />
I talked about how Martin Luther King, Jr. didn't like that people were judged by the color of their skin, and then I asked the kids what I had been judging them by. Some of the kids- especially those in the back of the room- had hands in the air immediately. I explained that I didn't really think shirt color mattered, but we talked about how it made people feel when I pretended it did.<br />
<br />
A few minutes later, we finished the book, with everyone sitting together. I felt like it had gone well, and the kids really seemed to have understood on an emotional level (not just a cognitive one) how it would feel to be judged on an arbitrary characteristic. (A lot of teachers do this with eye color, but I didn't think I had enough variation in our class to make it useful.)<br />
<br />
I noticed at the end of the story, one girl was crying. It was the girl I had almost called on but then stopped to call on someone with a red shirt. I felt <em>terrible</em>- even though I'd meant to make the situation feel unfair, I didn't want her <em>still</em> upset! Especially because she's not one of those kids who cries often.<br />
<br />
We all went back to our seats, and I immediately went over to her. As she sat down, I told her that I hadn't really meant that she wasn't smart enough to answer the question, that I was sure she knew the answer, and that I was only trying to show how unfair things used to be. She nodded. I asked her if she was mad at me, and she said, "No."<br />
<br />
I was confused. "What's wrong?"<br />
<br />
She looked up at me, wiping away one of her last tears, and just said simply, "I'm sad that someone killed Martin Luther King."<br />
<br />
I don't know if it was the shirt color segregation or what, but something hit home.luckeyfroghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09338266098096236978noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25424281.post-89878646976998797602011-01-14T17:22:00.000-05:002011-01-14T17:22:34.082-05:00exhausted.It has been a crazy week.<br />
<br />
Last Thursday, I checked my phone and had 3 messages at lunch. I <em>never</em> have more than one message, and even that is rare. Mom was desperately trying to get ahold of a family member who had called her, and I had a bad feeling even then.<br />
<br />
When my cousin called back, she said her father had two brain aneurysms discovered a few days before, and they had led to a massive stroke on both sides of the brain. When we got the call, he was on life support but declared braindead.<br />
<br />
They kept him on life support until they could find enough patients for him to donate multiple organs, but the funeral happened in a matter of days.<br />
<br />
I know they can't be pleasant for anyone, but funerals are tough for me. My dad died when I was young, and every funeral I go to reminds me incredibly of that rough time. I'm still nowhere near over it (even though I recently reached the point where I'd been alive longer without my dad than with him). I have trained myself, basically, to push back the grief when I need to. Or even when I just want to. Most days nothing really gets to me- and even if it does, I'm usually able to move on through my day and deal with it when I get home.<br />
<br />
A funeral is a giant reminder of everything. I can't push it back, or get away, or concentrate on something else. It's there, staring me in the face, with every awkward hug and each line of "On Eagle's Wings." Every second I can't manage to distract myself, I become 11 years old again and can't stop crying. The grief that normally lies dormant and dull suddenly becomes sharp and insistent, especially when there's a picture set out of my dad and uncle together when they were young and grinning.<br />
<br />
For me in this case, the person's death was sudden but not entirely shocking, as he'd suffered many health problems in the past. But my heart <em>ached</em> for his family. His kids are only in their 20's, and yet both of their parents have died in the past 5 years. I know how much it hurts to lose your dad, but I can't imagine how the pain would magnify if my mom weren't here either. It doesn't feel fair that they have to deal with that.<br />
<br />
I did my sub plans on Monday, drove home to beat the snow, spent most of the day at the church, drove back, and taught again on Wednesday. My week felt strange and 'off', and I kept fighting off really thinking more about what happened so I could get through the week. Honestly, during the days I didn't think I could deal with it and still teach. And after work, I've kept myself distracted as much as possible because I haven't really wanted to deal with it. <br />
<br />
Throughout all of this, my grandfather has been in the hospital, too, dealing with a plethora of ailments that seem to be worsening and complicating each other more each day.<br />
<br />
I got a message yesterday that my mom and her siblings were driving down to Florida immediately. The doctor gave word that Grandpa's chances weren't good of making it out of the hospital. They're fighting a monster case of pneumonia for a chance to fix his heart, and he's just been moved to the ICU where they are trying 'last chance' options.<br />
<br />
I feel like I don't know what to do, because there's really not any concrete thing I <em>can</em> do but pray and it doesn't feel like enough. I feel guilty because I keep putting everything out of my mind, even though I know that tends to be how I deal with things until I can't do it anymore. I can't stop worrying about my cousins and my grandma and my mom and everyone who is closer to the situation than me. I'm sick of having to keep my phone in my pocket at work because I might need to take an emergency call or check it and find a message that something else has gotten worse.<br />
<br />
I don't know what I want to come of writing about all this, but I needed to. Either one of these situations would be hard, but I'm really struggling with facing both so close together. If things get worse for my grandpa, I'm afraid I'll just... unravel. Hopefully the antibiotics will start working soon.<br />
<br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;">P.S.- I know I have some friends who will want to pray and think of me, but please don't. If you want to do something like that, think of my grandfather and my cousins, grandma, and mom. They are dealing with a lot more than I am right now.</span>luckeyfroghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09338266098096236978noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25424281.post-68431505522224632662010-11-09T17:20:00.000-05:002010-11-09T17:20:14.038-05:00Heartbroken.One of the special things about working in a low-income, high-transiency school is that you sometimes have little or no notice that a child is moving.<br />
<br />
This morning a girl turned her homework in on my desk, and then told me that this afternoon she needed to pack up all her stuff because her mom was picking her up and tomorrow she was going to a new school. Occasionally a kid will claim to be moving for months (and it never happens), but this was immediate- and as a quick check with the secretary revealed, it was also true.<br />
<br />
She came and found me while I was on recess duty. She left her friends to come over and tell me that she was really going to miss me and she wished she could stay here at our school. But she was moving- again- to at least her 4th school in 2 1/2 years. She said she asked her mom if they could just please stay in one spot.<br />
<br />
And I want to ask her mom the same thing. This girl started the year reading under 10 words a minute and she is expected to be at 90 words a minute by the end of the year. This girl has just finally- after working on it for the last 10 weeks of school- learned to count by 2's, 5's, and 10's (... most of the time). <br />
<br />
Sure, she's gregarious and adorable, so she'll make friends at a new school, but will she still have 60 minutes of targeted reading instruction at her level (even though it is probably a year behind)? Will she still get at least 30 minutes of focused, small-group time on math skills? Will she still have two teachers in her classroom to pull her out when she needs some extra help? Will she still be coming to school an extra hour every day and potentially an extra 6 weeks into the summer to help her catch up?<br />
<br />
Most of those will definitely not be true at her new school, and the others aren't likely.<br />
<br />
So I spent the end of my lunch writing her a note, hopefully at her reading level, that told her how much I was going to miss her and gave her the address of the school in hopes she'll write to me.<br />
<br />
She probably won't, but I had to try. Because I <em>will </em>miss her. Despite how hard things are for her, she has a bright and cheery attitude and won't give up. I've asked her to erase a backwards number or letter countless times and she doesn't complain- she just fixes it and goes on trying. She's got this beautiful singing voice and loves to use rhythm or movement while she counts. She wants to do well and she's sweet, and when she finally does get something, she grins from ear to ear and you can't help but feel every bit as proud as she does. She's one of those kids I've just clicked with a little extra.<br />
<br />
And I just have to hope that her new teacher doesn't groan and give up after seeing her test scores. I have to hope that her new teacher doesn't get frustrated with how talkative she can be, or how she sometimes spaces out and doesn't pay attention. And more than that, I have to hope that her new teacher can find the time and the help to get her what she really needs. (Because although most teachers would probably want to, it's sometimes impossible to get it all in.)<br />
<br />
I may have only known her since August, but I hate having to let her go and trust that some teacher I don't know at some other school is going to take care of her, especially because I know my school has been given extra money for extra teachers and extra time and most schools don't have those kinds of opportunities for their students.<br />
<br />
It's hard when a student leaves. It's harder when it's a student you worked with in small groups or individually a lot. It's tougher when you've seen firsthand how another teacher might not click with her so well. It's even worse when she once spent a day of recess telling you about fighting going on at home.<br />
<br />
*sigh*<br />
<br />
I hope it all works out. Who knows? Maybe she'll end up back here someday...luckeyfroghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09338266098096236978noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25424281.post-32386930091561028312010-10-06T23:03:00.000-04:002010-10-06T23:03:35.953-04:00That's not fair! She was doing it, too!In the teacher's lounge today, we got to talking about speeding tickets. One of the teachers had gotten one that very morning, and was none too happy about it.<br />
<br />
"I even asked him- what about all those other cars in front of me? I was just keeping up with traffic, so I <i>know</i> they were speeding too! How come he didn't pull <i>them</i> over?"<br />
<br />
It cracked me up.<br />
Kids tell me the exact same thing all day.<br />
<br />
"But I wasn't the only one talking!"<br />
<br />
"What about the other people that ran?"<br />
<br />
"He hit me <i>first!</i> Why isn't he in trouble?"<br />
<br />
And I always explain that I don't have eyes in the back of my head and sometimes I don't see when people misbehave. Not every person will get caught every time. But if you don't want to be caught doing the wrong thing, you can't be <i>doing</i> the wrong thing in the first place.<br />
<br />
It's always seemed hard for kids to understand the cause-and-effect in that kind of situation, but it wasn't until today that I realized they aren't the only ones!luckeyfroghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09338266098096236978noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25424281.post-53287612309582951382010-09-15T23:18:00.001-04:002010-09-15T23:26:21.001-04:00Never Make Assumptions...Being an assistant teacher for these two years has meant that I get to work firsthand with substitute teachers.<br />
<br />
And there are <i>wonderful </i>substitute teachers. But unfortunately, those subs are in high demand and there aren't usually enough to go around.<br />
<br />
I know that I'm in a unique situation. Most people leave some hopefully-foolproof sub plans, cross their fingers, hope for the best, and read between the lines of the notes and the students' comments to guess how the day <i>actually</i> went. It's a leap of faith, and sub plans are a pain, but at least you don't have to be there to <i>see</i> how awful it may go.<br />
<br />
As it is now, our school is required to get a substitute for the classroom teacher, but usually, because I know how we do things, I do the majority of the teaching anyway. I have quickly discovered that some substitutes actually will walk around, help students, and help them pay attention while I teach. Others... well, I can easily see which subs come to our school knowing (and taking advantage of the fact) that they often have a much easier workload because there is an assistant teacher in the room who does almost everything. <br />
<br />
I also have a chance to see those who mean well, but unfortunately just don't quite cut it.<br />
<br />
Today there were only 10 minutes of the entire day during which my students were alone with the substitute teacher while I was at lunch. Less than that, actually, when you consider that we never get in from recess on time.<br />
<br />
Written in the plans: Basically, take students for a restroom break, and then to a special. <br />
Implied: Keep the class under control.<br />
<br />
Apparently I need to be more specific, because the class was completely <i>out</i> of control to the point where another teacher stepped in to yell at loud kids and try to sort out some probable bullying. The other teacher explained that maybe she had overstepped her boundaries, but felt obligated to step in because the substitute was doing nothing more than "standing in one spot and talking loudly" to the kids and she was concerned for a student's safety.<br />
<br />
Annnd not only did his happen, but when this colleague stopped in to talk to me about it after school, I had no idea what she was talking about. The substitute had allowed the class to get so out of control that another teacher intervened, and a student was possibly physically bullied in the bathroom, but <i>the substitute didn't bother to tell me anything about it, even when I was in the classroom for the entire afternoon with</i><i> her. </i>This is a situation that my colleague shared with the principal- and the substitute didn't even share it with <i>me.</i><br />
<br />
In fact, her note to the teacher ended with, "We had a great day!"<br />
<br />
I'll say it again. There are <i>wonderful</i> substitute teachers, but there are also some- even the sweetest old ladies- who make me worry for the days when I will have my own classroom and need a substitute. Because if <i>I </i>struggled to keep certain members of the class under control today- I don't even want to think about what the day would have been like if the substitute was their only teacher.<br />
<br />
And I might not have even known.<br />
<br />
It's a scary thought.luckeyfroghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09338266098096236978noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25424281.post-72895623818778566782010-09-13T21:27:00.000-04:002010-09-13T21:27:04.146-04:00Recess WalkUntil the weather gets freezing, I'm actually enjoying recess duty. I usually take over Homework Detention, which means helping a lot of kids who don't do their homework at home (and often have a hard time completing it on their own). I don't mind it. Some of these kids are getting attention that they crave, or getting one-on-one reteaching that they might not get otherwise. Meanwhile, I miss out on lots of tattling and help out the grade level teachers. Win-win!<br />
<br />
Unfortunately, I started Homework Monitoring just after promising one of the little ones that we'd go for a walk and talk one day. He kept asking me, "When are we going to go on our walk?" And when I said, "I don't know- I'll try today!" he'd respond, "You keep <i>saying</i> that." I felt awful, but I promised him that I'd find a day to make it work.<br />
<br />
Today I was finally able to go on a walk with him, and I asked him about his weekend.<br />
<br />
"Did you see the building that went down on TV?" he asked. I assumed he was talking about the local bar that burned to the ground a few days ago.<br />
<br />
"Oh, the one with the fire?"<br />
<br />
"No, the one the plane went into. I felt really sad for that lady," he told me somberly, with genuine sympathy on his face.<br />
<br />
Apparently at some point this weekend, he saw a 9/11 memorial on television, heard a woman tell her story, and didn't realize that the whole event actually happened 9 years ago.<br />
<br />
I was a little taken aback, but also touched. I don't think he realized that this had been such a huge national event, especially because we live far from the area in which it happened, and he wasn't even alive when the planes hit- and yet I could tell that he was really affected nonetheless by seeing it.<br />
<br />
I wouldn't have expected a seven year old to understand the gravity of 9/11, but he certainly seemed to. I'm glad I made time for that walk today.luckeyfroghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09338266098096236978noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25424281.post-51654529083634468562010-08-31T22:22:00.000-04:002010-08-31T22:22:18.155-04:00"Listen, Mom! Someone thinks I'm organized!!!"Today we were talking about responsibility, and giving some ideas for how to be responsible with homework.<br />
<br />
I was mentioning how I make sure to take things out of my bag for school and then put them back as soon as I'm done so I know I won't forget them. I told them I have to do this because I'm a messy person and it's hard for me to be neat, even though I'm trying (especially the beginning of this year).<br />
<br />
Later, my new lead teacher asked, "Really? Was that true? I don't see you as a messy person at all..."<br />
<br />
And I was amazed. Yes, we're only a week and a half in, but this is shocking considering that at one point in my childhood, my room floor was so messy that my dad took everything and put it in trash bags and said unless it was homework, I couldn't get it back for 2 weeks. Clothes, shoes, whatever- I went 2 weeks without it.<br />
<br />
My backpacks were always filled with randomness by the end of a year. More than a few papers were lost while I was in school. I have a pile literally a foot tall of papers from last year and the summer that still need filing.<br />
<br />
But to start out the school year, I have managed to convince my co-teacher that I am at least somewhat organized and neat. <br />
<br />
This may be the first time anyone has ever even kind of called me organized. I called my mom right after school to brag. Now I just hope it lasts!luckeyfroghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09338266098096236978noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25424281.post-41276273652594399732010-08-21T20:36:00.000-04:002010-08-21T20:36:43.968-04:00Open House!Every teacher blog I read seems to be focusing on how their classroom is set up for the new year, and I love it. I'm picking up so many wonderful ideas and so much inspiration for when I set up my own room! (See: linky on Babbling Abby's fantastic <a href="http://babblingabby.blogspot.com/2010/08/teacher-week-creative-ideas.html">Teacher Week</a>!) It makes me itch to get started and buy and make new things.<br />
<br />
Unfortunately, I'm not at the stage of having my own room, but I <i>am</i> working on setting up a classroom! Our open house was this past week, and school is starting soon!<br />
<br />
I've been helping my new partner-in-rhyme (eh... not sure about that one). We've been working on moving her into a new school while she also moves at home. I don't know how she's doing it, and I know she has got to be so stressed. She seems like she has a million different wonderful teaching ideas, and I can't wait to learn from her, but she's been so busy that I spent some time getting ready alone in the room this week.<br />
<br />
It was odd; at times, I could think of so many things that I would do if it were my room. Some of these were things I didn't know if she wanted to do herself (or at all), and some of them were things that I would simply want to check with her about before I started working. It was a little odd to know what to do but not feel I could do it, but it also felt like a trial run.<br />
<br />
I can tell already that one of the ways my assistant position has helped me is simply in showing me what a room needs to be ready. Between student teaching and where I was last year, I've seen two very different classrooms. Because I student taught in the Spring, though, I didn't get to see everything the teacher did at the beginning of the year (both before students came, and on that all-important first day).<br />
<br />
Here were some of the things I did as we got ready for Open House: <br />
<br />
<br />
- Make a bulletin board outside the room with student names so they can find their room. <i><br />
(I put each name on a balloon and then tied a string from each one. Then I gathered the strings so they were in one big bunch!)</i><br />
- Put away student supplies. <i><br />
(Our school is purchasing or getting donated the necessary supplies, so I separated them all from their bulk boxes and put them in individual boxes for each kid or into a class supply area.)</i><br />
- Label art boxes. They all look alike and I know we'll have arguments of whose are whose! <i><br />
</i><br />
<i>- </i>Distribute books to each desk. <i><br />
</i><br />
<i>- </i>Label any place the kids will use specifically in the room, such as cubbies. <i><br />
</i><br />
- Make a name label for each desk- but class lists change a lot, so don't attach them far in advance!<br />
<br />
And those were just the things I actually did! If it were my room, I would want to do even more before open house.<br />
<br />
I'd make sure we had a large name label for each teacher's desk, a welcome message up on the SmartBoard, a sign-in sheet and parent volunteer sheet, a note with a picture of me and treat for each student inside their desk at open house, and a page or activity for parents and/or students to do while at open house! I might even let students sign in on the SmartBoard (but make sure that no other writing utensils but the SmartBoard pens are in sight!), or I might have a slideshow of pictures from the year before on the board to show students some of the activities they will be doing.<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
At our school, open house happens before school starts and families mill around the school at any time in the hour to see their students' classrooms. There is no time where all parents are in your room to hear a talk or presentation, but luckily we still had time to greet each student and family that came in. About half of our students came, which is actually much better attendance than last year! The kids really like seeing their name outside the door and then coming in to see their special spots and things in the room. And, of course, meeting even half of the kids has me so excited to start school this week!<br />
<br />
All the preparation also got me thinking about the things I would like to do to set up my own classroom next year- not just for open house, but for the whole year. This week I hope to type out my list for each step along the way so that next year, I'll have each small step written out and ready to be crossed off when it's done!luckeyfroghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09338266098096236978noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25424281.post-44265654170013871412010-08-17T09:56:00.000-04:002010-08-17T09:56:29.216-04:00Another Way to Make a Cent<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://24.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_l73ws5ZeqB1qznc2io1_400.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://24.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_l73ws5ZeqB1qznc2io1_400.jpg" width="239" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">Picture borrowed from <a href="http://rrrrred.tumblr.com/">Rrrrred</a>. </div><br />
New pennies? Come on! They look nice, but do you people realize how difficult you make teaching money every time you add an updated style?<br />
<br />
The new nickels have been confusing, and don't even get me started on state quarters. (What coin has a tree? Well, kids, if it has an eagle or ANYTHING ELSE YOU DON'T RECOGNIZE, go ahead and assume it's a quarter.)<br />
<br />
It may seem simple for adults to figure out, but for little kids, you're just adding more and more that they have to be able to recognize and distinguish, and learning to count money is already hard for most of our kids!<br />
<br />
Come on, U.S. Mint, I know you're trying to honor stuff, but help us out here!luckeyfroghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09338266098096236978noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25424281.post-6281374242856007772010-08-05T13:18:00.002-04:002010-08-05T13:18:40.030-04:00Summatime!Most jobs have vacation time that's a bit more spread out through the year. Teachers get it mostly at once, and after this summer, I've realized I have to be careful to use it as vacation!<br />
<br />
(By the way, for any non-teachers who think I'm complaining or think it's unfair, just stop. Teachers don't get paid for the summer- our paychecks for the 180 school days we work are just spread out over the whole year.)<br />
<br />
This year I taught summer school. Unlike a lot of summer school programs, ours lasted the entire school day for 6 weeks. Then, I helped teach a summer camp for a couple of weeks. After that, I went back to my hometown and dove headfirst into wedding planning for a week.<br />
<br />
Today, I slept in. I've done nothing productive at all yet. I'm still in my pajamas, and I've got reality TV on. I do need to get a few things done this afternoon, but it shouldn't be much. Tonight, I'm leaving for a mini-vacation with my fiance and family. I do need to clean up around home and get myself organized for the new school year after vacation, but I finally have the time to do it, and at least I shouldn't have a lot to do to set up a classroom! <br />
<br />
It feels like I've <i>finally</i> gotten to SUMMER and it's fantastic!<br />
<br />
School's going to start before I know it, and I'm hoping I have enough time left to enjoy that summer feeling, and get bored with that summer feeling <i>juuuust</i> before school starts! How about you? Has it felt like summer, and are you ready to go back to school?luckeyfroghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09338266098096236978noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25424281.post-16699077638024216702010-07-24T18:30:00.000-04:002010-07-24T18:30:42.119-04:00Already?!Whew. I worked through the regular school year, summer school, and then a week and a half of science camp. After that, I've gone in twice for a few hours to help finish up the grading and paperwork of the camp.<br />
<br />
It's truly summer 'break'- and luckily for me, they've pushed back our school's start date so that I have about a month until teacher workdays.<br />
<br />
But the stores already have Back to School materials out. Ugh. Does that make anyone else feel like summer is basically over?luckeyfroghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09338266098096236978noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25424281.post-14489235766396140432010-07-21T11:01:00.000-04:002010-07-21T11:01:00.999-04:00The Red PenI try to look for the bright side of things, and this past year has been no exception. Starting out my teaching career as an assistant to another teacher had its perks.<br />
<br />
I didn't have that notorious Terrible Horrible No Good Very Bad First Year. I was given plenty of opportunities to teach, and plan, and grade- I just didn't have to do ALL of it. I could share those responsibilities and not feel overwhelmed, while still getting a teacher pay and compensation.<br />
<br />
Honestly, even just getting a job as a teacher of any kind was wonderful.<br />
<br />
I wasn't the only teacher in this kind of position in our school, and a lot of us became friends. We were together in just starting out and wishing for our own room.<br />
<br />
And for a few of the teachers, that happened. By Spring Break, they knew they had their own room for the following year. They were thrilled, but of course, didn't want to brag. I made my best effort to bring it up and congratulate them so that my friends wouldn't feel awkward, but it's hard to see other people getting what you want.<br />
<br />
When I was evaluated, I was cut down hard for my classroom management. I know it's something a lot of new teachers hear, so it probably shouldn't have bothered me as much as it did, but it was unexpected. We were having some discipline issues in our classroom and I knew that, but never before in ANY evaluation (even all through student teaching) had I been criticized for my ability to keep the class under control. I had my weaknesses but that was not one I knew.<br />
<br />
I was told that even as an assistant, the kids had to know that when I was in front of them, teaching, certain things were and were not acceptable- regardless of the classroom climate when the other teacher was up in front of them. If they could get up and get a drink mid-lesson with the other teacher, they had to know they couldn't with ME. I wasn't sure what else I could do- many times I already felt like I was tougher with discipline than the other teacher, but the system in place didn't have much in the way of consequences. I would have loved to change it, but couldn't do more than suggest a change. I also wasn't sure I even wanted to force inconsistency of the rules on the kids- I felt it would be confusing and probably not work well without consequences to back it up.<br />
<br />
It was hard for me because I felt that it wasn't necessarily a weakness of my teaching, and I wasn't sure how to show improvement. I was told the principal saw improvement on the next evaluation, but I could tell much more was expected. In none of my evaluations did I get better than a "Satisfactory" in any category, so I was left feeling like I was bad at this, and not especially good at <i>any</i>thing. Despite the words that came out on the evaluation, the tone and suggestions still said, "You aren't good at this."<br />
<br />
It was interesting to me, too, and I wondered if the principal noticed- the lead teachers who were struggling with classroom management had assistants who also struggled, and the lead teachers who did well with classroom management had assistants who also did well. Coincidence? Well, to me, this speaks of classroom climate having a very strong impact, and it being hard to evaluate each individual independent of it, especially assistants who have little control over the climate. But I'm not sure the principal saw it the same way.<br />
<br />
When time came to get my assignment for the next year, I knew better than to hold out much hope that I would join my friends in having my own classroom. I could tell the principal didn't trust me to have my own room yet.<br />
<br />
Honestly, from the principal perspective, I know they only want to put people in a classroom that they have seen demonstrate really doing it. It makes sense. But the principal has to know it is hard on us to see our colleagues- the people who are just as new as us, and who were on the same level as us before- moving up, when we don't get to.<br />
<br />
It's hard, and I'm jealous. If there just wasn't room, that would be one thing. But there are rooms with no 'head teacher'- including the one I'm assigned to for next year. I don't know who I'll work with, and may not know until the last minute. I don't know if this is someone that will let me do much actual teaching. I don't know if this is someone who is strong where I'm not and will teach me a lot and make me a better teacher. I don't know if this is someone I'll even get along with at all.<br />
<br />
The hardest part for me is that except for my evaluations and this whole issue, I feel this year has made me a better teacher. The teacher I worked with was great and let me be a partner. I know my first year will be easier because of this year. But overall, my confidence in myself running a classroom has diminished.<br />
<br />
I was scared before, but knowing that the principal doesn't have faith in my abilities makes me terrified. What if those opinions are right? What if I CAN'T control the kids? What if I'm NOT cut out for this?<br />
<br />
If I ended up getting one of the open positions for the fall, it would be at the last minute. And while this whole thing speaks to me wanting my own room, I'm not sure I want one this year. Not a week before school with little time to set up and plan. Not knowing that the administration doesn't trust me and sees it as a risk. Not with my self-confidence so low.<br />
<br />
I don't know what would have made them better, but I know for sure that evaluations shouldn't leave me feeling like this.luckeyfroghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09338266098096236978noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25424281.post-23337938570405062202010-07-18T11:29:00.000-04:002010-07-18T11:29:16.934-04:00(High School) Kids Say the Darndest ThingsWhen I'm teaching elementary kids, I expect them to be completely and totally random. I expect them, especially in science, to ask me all kinds of crazy questions about why the world is the way it is. And I love it!<br />
<br />
Now that summer school is over, I'm helping out at the summer camp I've worked for 4 summers. It's a high school biology camp, with heavy loads of chemistry and math. It's kind of unique- I'm a 2nd grade teacher who can teach logarithms, pH, and the Henderson-Hasselbalch equation like they're the back of my hand. I really enjoy it because I love biology (and nearly became a biologist instead of a teacher.)<br />
<br />
It's really different teaching high school students. There are reasons why I chose to become an elementary teacher (and not a biology teacher) even though I love biology. There are so many kids already turned off about learning, and way too much attitude that I don't want to deal with. Even though most of these kids come to camp voluntarily, I can see it in some of them, too. For a few weeks, it's fine- but it's not something I want to deal with every day. Plus, in elementary, I get the chance to teach everything. I love biology, but I am passionate about reading and writing too. I hated math when I was in elementary school, so I love the opportunity to make math seem easier and more fun to kids who hate it!<br />
<br />
Simply put, elementary's a better fit for me, but I still love science and this camp is a great way for me to get a chance to do things like gel electrophoresis and bacterial transformation. And I get to teach high school kids. The kids who aren't turned off are a lot of fun to be around. You can joke with these kids, or be sarcastic, and they get it. I get to help introduce them to a university, and what it's like to be in college. They can challenge me on an intellectual level the way most of my 7 year olds can't. I get to watch hilariously obvious flirting when often, they are oblivious. Best of all, I don't have to deal with them asking to go to the nurse, needing help to tie their shoes, or having "accidents" in the middle of the day.<br />
<br />
It's a nice change, but I miss some of the things about elementary kids, too- like their propensity to say the funniest, most random things. And then one of the high schoolers surprised me.<br />
<br />
We were making macromolecule models and I mentioned that -ose at the end of a word means 'sugar' because glucose (like in blood sugar) and sucrose (table sugar) are two examples- as is deoxyribose, the sugar that helps to form the backbone of our DNA. One of the kids asked about -ase as a suffix. Generally, -ase means an enzyme. From there, we talked about what it means to be lactose-intolerant, and what that means about your body's lactase (the enzyme that processes the sugar lactose, which is most commonly found in milk).<br />
<br />
Stay with me :) Almost there.<br />
<br />
Now that we're talking about digestion, one of the kids, laughing because she's a little embarrassed to say it, asks me why her pee smells like tuna after she eats tuna. I wasn't sure, honestly, but I explained that since urine is waste, the way it ends up is affected by what you eat first. She counters, saying, "But when I eat hamburgers, my pee doesn't smell like hamburgers." The best I had was, whatever causes the 'tuna smell' must not be broken down through the digestion process, but the 'hamburger smell' must get broken down somehow- and that seemed to satisfy her.<br />
<br />
But she has one more question. "How come when I drink a lot of water, my pee gets almost clear?"<br />
<br />
And this one, I can answer. In fact, it's a perfect reinforcement of something we've learned. I respond that this is just like our dilutions of dye solutions. When you add more water, the color gets lighter and the solution gets more clear. She made an "ahhhhh," and I had to laugh. I did <i>not</i> go into the day expecting to answer random questions about things like tuna-smelling pee.<br />
<br />
Maybe teaching high school kids isn't quite as different as I thought!luckeyfroghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09338266098096236978noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25424281.post-41506395411062925052010-07-08T16:21:00.000-04:002010-07-08T16:21:18.345-04:00The Finish Line.That's it! I'm done!<br />
<br />
Today was definitely a little frantic, but overall- it was wonderful. <br />
<br />
I gave them each a pair of "reading glasses" (shiny sunglasses!) to celebrate finishing summer school. The class store had a 50% off sale. I gave them each a special send-off message, and got a few sweet hugs. We had a great time hanging out at the pizza party, and they were so grateful and polite.<br />
<br />
As for the serious stuff- we had a ton of assessments to still finish up today- and they did <em>amazingly</em>. Overall, they made a lot of progress and they worked <em>so</em> hard, even on the last day. After yesterday's computer test was frustrating for a lot of them, today's wasn't so bad (even though it covered a ton of things we never did!).<br />
<br />
Our attendance has slowly dwindled, so what started as a class of 7 was down to 4 kids today- but those 4 kids had a great day. When I asked their favorite thing we did in summer school, the first response was "working as a team." (Whaaat? Unexpected!) And when I gave them their reading glasses, they looked so darn cute that I couldn't help but snap a couple of pictures with them.<br />
<br />
It's funny. I am incredibly glad to be on summer break, but it feels weird not to be typing up morning work or grading papers. I'm not going to know what to do with myself tomorrow.<br />
<br />
I am so glad I taught summer school. Having my own room for the first time, and having such a small class, was fantastic. Only six weeks with these kids- but I am going to miss them like <em>crazy</em>.luckeyfroghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09338266098096236978noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25424281.post-88330621336014641332010-07-07T17:11:00.000-04:002010-07-07T17:11:54.967-04:00Almost summer break at last!NOW I realize why teachers do so much "fluff" the last days of school.<br />
<br />
We made the mistake of choosing 3 review standards to cover and assess for our last week, which is 3 days long. After a long weekend, and before going home for a glorious few weeks of freedom.<br />
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Besides these 3 standards and assessments, we need to end summer school taking mClass Math (5 assessments to practice and take), DIBELS ORF (3 one-minute readings and retells per child), a computerized standardized test in reading and math (the first took my kids well over an hour today), and a general math post-test. <br />
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I definitely should have done more of these last week. There's just so much to do! Tomorrow by the time we've had morning work, our morning recess, science, and a computer test, we have 20 minutes before lunch. IF they finish the test on time. Lunch is a pizza party for those that met their reading goal (everyone). Everything else, including packing up, cleaning the room and desks, and finishing up assessments will have to happen in the afternoon. Somehow, in amongst all of that, I am required to get the grades in the gradebook so that right after school, the principal can print grade cards.<br />
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<em>Plus</em>, I'm trying to pack up my things because I'm currently taking residence in another teacher's room and I want to get my stuff out of her way. I am allowed to leave it at school, but I don't even know for sure where to leave it (because my assignment may well change, said the principal). The loot I've collected over the summer is piling up and most of it needs to go home until I have my own classroom.<br />
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I'm a messy person by nature, but the state of this room (not to mention my to-do lists for tonight and tomorrow) are driving me crazy. If I stay until I get it all done, I could be here all night.<br />
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And yeah, I know. I'm blogging instead of working, but... I needed a break. I needed to vent!<br />
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The good news is that my kids are doing really well on their assessments so far. Most of them are showing a lot of growth in at least 1 area, and I think coming to school for an extra six weeks has been good for them. Better yet- a couple of them said they wish tomorrow wasn't the last day, and kids were asking me if they could please take their reading logs home.<br />
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Even though I can't wait for tomorrow to be over, it makes me feel good to know I've got to be doing <em>something</em> right!luckeyfroghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09338266098096236978noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25424281.post-56701660703470159482010-07-06T15:50:00.000-04:002010-07-06T15:50:27.116-04:00FireworksOver the weekend, I watched fireworks to celebrate the Fourth of July (American Independence Day!). We went downtown and sat on a pedestrian bridge, waiting until the fireworks started and just chatting with friends until they started.<br />
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There were people who had waited patiently in order to snag a good seat sitting all along the sidewalks. Many were there even before we arrived. But when the show started, just about everyone walking along the bridge seemed to stop in the middle of the bridge and stand.<br />
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So- two rows of people sitting, with people standing in front of us. Faaantastic. Luckily, we were far enough back to still see okay, and we made sure to scoot back in case the people in front of us needed to move back. There was a lady, though, who couldn't see well from her staked out spot and was <em>furious.</em> <br />
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She spent most of the fireworks show yelling at people to sit down or move out of the way, with such polite requests as "There's a BABY back here! MOVE it!" Anytime someone stopped in front of her, she told them to move down (and stand in front of other people) because "her baby can't see!!!" When someone she was with took the baby and held him in a different area, where he could see, she whined (loudly) that the reason she <em>came</em> was to see the baby's reaction and she couldn't see it when he wasn't even <em>near</em> her. The man handed her the baby and vented that, "Fine, you should just do what you want then. I'm done trying." As more people moved and stopped in front of her, she'd yell, "My baby's crying because he can't see! Get outta the WAY!" (Apparently not realizing that fireworks, being loud and bright, could probably also scare a baby enough to make him cry. Or, you know, this woman yelling in his ears.)<br />
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As if that wasn't enough, some salesmen walked by with glowsticks. "HEY! Light man! Hey- HEY! Guy with the LIGHTS!" she hollered. He has a hard time hearing because he's not very close, he's in a crowd of people, and <em>there are fireworks being shot off.</em> Finally, the guy turns around and she tells him, "You know, maybe you should LISTEN if you want business." And she proceeds to take her sweet time paying this man for a glowing lightsaber thing while <em>he</em> stands directly in front of a couple and our group. So, heaven forbid someone stand in front of <em>her</em> and <em>her baby-</em> but no big deal if she causes them to stand right in front of <em>other</em> people.<br />
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This woman is driving me crazy. Her bitching has been constant and annoying throughout what should have been an extremely pleasant fireworks display. Honestly, if I were the guy selling glowsticks, I would have loved to tell her to be nice if she wants service and walked away. Money's good, but sticking it to her by not letting her get what she wanted would have felt even better.<br />
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I'm quickly losing my faith in humanity, but then, a few minutes later, I hear a kind voice from behind her. Someone politely asked if she wanted to come back there. The nice woman explained that they had a great view, and she and the baby should be able to see just fine without anyone in their way.<br />
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And, my faith in humanity was quickly restored. Even though this lady was being an incredible annoyance, someone <em>still</em> offered her a better spot when they didn't <em>have </em>to offer anything. Kindness means a lot, but kindness to someone who's berating others and doing nothing to earn it means even more.<br />
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If you celebrate it, hope you had a happy 4th of July!luckeyfroghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09338266098096236978noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25424281.post-27292324040850544232010-07-05T09:39:00.000-04:002010-07-05T09:39:31.258-04:00Loot!I'm still teaching summer school, but summer school is only for grades K-3. Our 5th grade is moving to a middle school next year, and we will likely be adding sections in the primary grades, so a lot of people are moving classrooms. I have discovered that a LOT of people are going through their closets and throwing out things they don't need, and it is glorious.<br />
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GLORIOUS, I tell you.<br />
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My old co-teacher has been extremely generous- while she's at school for summer school, she's been slowly working through her cabinets and she found lots of things she never uses, like number lines and morning meeting posters and laminated charts- some not even opened- and gave them to me. She also found a huge box of books from an old reading series, and gave them to me. I found an old science series (we don't even use science series in primary grades anymore!) and a desktop file holder in the teachers' supply room. I found some thick cardboard mailboxes out in the hallway, about to be thrown away. I found binders and a few old board games outside a room where someone is moving.<br />
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I am so lucky to be in the school for the first part of the summer to see when people throw things out like this! I likely won't have my own room this year, so my "for a classroom" collection is collecting dust in the closet- but when the time comes, I'll have a lot more to start with.<br />
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Make sure if you have work to do at school over the summer that you walk around the building looking for free boxes! Plus, if your grade-level teachers know you're looking to build up your classroom, they will hopefully offer you first dibs. I've been VERY lucky and it's exciting! :) And better yet- FREE!luckeyfroghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09338266098096236978noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25424281.post-9240677762428677132010-07-01T15:59:00.000-04:002010-07-01T15:59:03.889-04:00One of the things that makes teaching relatively unique...One of my kids was itching today, but not his head particularly, so I didn't think much of it. Plus, it's the summer and I have multiple kids with mosquito bites all over their arms and legs from being outside in the evenings.<br />
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Later in the day, I was walking around to see how they were doing on a paper, and this kid looks up to me, pointing at the side of his neck. "Do I have a flea on my neck?" he asks, clear as day.<br />
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And... yes, yes he did. A few minutes later he itched his head and said, "I hope I'm not getting lice again."<br />
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I have been itching ALL day.luckeyfroghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09338266098096236978noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25424281.post-56618893908794087732010-06-27T17:14:00.000-04:002010-06-27T17:14:31.838-04:00The Power of a ThemeEven though I'm excited to have a break in a few weeks, I am loving summer school.<br />
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I have a class of 7 kids. I can work individually on something with every kid, every day. I can call on them each probably at least 10 times a day. They each get a worthwhile classroom job every week. Our line in the hallway and our time spent going on bathroom breaks are wonderfully short. When I walk around the room, I can check every paper every time. When students turn in a quiz, it is easy for me to meet with each one to go over the answers. Every student does fluency practice every day. We can do hands-on, materials-intensive projects. I can assess students while they play games much easier, so we do less worksheets. I feel like we can do <i>so much!</i> In some ways, I wish school was like this year-round.<br />
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The opportunities for differentiation are fantastic, too, but I think my very favorite thing about summer school is that we have a theme in the curriculum for each week.<br />
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Besides our reading choices being focused on the same theme, we also have a designated time (30 minutes per day) for thematic science or social studies instruction. When possible, we connect math and writing to that theme, too. There is a focus, and I love it!<br />
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Having that theme gives me somewhere to start, especially for science and social studies. It gives me ideas for better lessons. Last week, we learned about giants. Our standards were measurement of length in centimeters and inches; writing a brief description of a familiar person, place, or thing; and identifying synonyms and antonyms. Here were some of our activities:<br />
<ul><li>Reading aloud a rhyming fiction story about a giant</li>
<li>Reading non-fiction about giant animals, a legend about a giant, and two poems about giants</li>
<li>Giants readers' theater (a fairy tale)</li>
<li>Reading about redwoods and experimenting to see how stems move water up a plant</li>
<li>Discussing perspective and drawing from the perspective of a giant</li>
</ul><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqLVF-cNp01llBtEy8gf8hYjlGzy2C0mAtVyTOzoIRNKX1KOLCoFGPaHsNFb5bIy9w2dc7gipVlxApuRX-SDZrBc-KbsvB31EZGQ7lhBBizAidmIgN-y_iiqntPHxVc9Ud6JIl6A/s1600/DSCN9029.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqLVF-cNp01llBtEy8gf8hYjlGzy2C0mAtVyTOzoIRNKX1KOLCoFGPaHsNFb5bIy9w2dc7gipVlxApuRX-SDZrBc-KbsvB31EZGQ7lhBBizAidmIgN-y_iiqntPHxVc9Ud6JIl6A/s320/DSCN9029.JPG" /></a></div><br />
<ul><li>Creating a "giant" out of straws and measuring its body parts</li>
<li>Writing a description of the straws giant</li>
<li>Brainstorming synonyms and antonyms for the word giant</li>
<li>Created giant ants with antonyms on them </li>
<li>Folding an icosahedron model of the Earth</li>
<li>Using our models and flashlights to simulate the movement of Earth around the sun</li>
</ul><br />
Obviously, we did other activities that weren't tied into the theme, too. This was actually one of the harder themes to integrate, I felt, but we <i>still</i> did all of these things related to Giants in five days.<br />
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I can't wait to try more of this during the regular school year, because it makes the planning and teaching more fun for me, and- most importantly- the kids are <i>SO EXCITED </i>to learn! And I'll post more about this later, but I think that's half the battle.luckeyfroghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09338266098096236978noreply@blogger.com0