Wow. Today was interesting. My kids were incredibly tolerant of the student that was trying to make trouble and be a distraction. They all kept trying to do their work as decided that he would try to get on my nerves. Did not let him, did not give him the chance. Handled it calmly, even-toned voice, served 18 times.
1. Like I said, my kids were with me nearly all day and doing their best not to pay attention to the distractions. We need to keep this up for the rest of the week.
2. I had two students grow one grade level in reading. One of those students is one of my most hyperbodies. According to the speech pathologist she is an angel in my class compared to her kindergarten class.
3. There was a reptile show at my school today. A man brought frogs, monitor lizards, and snakes. It was fun because I got to hold/wear a milk snake and a burmese python.
Today made me feel good about my ability to handle problem students. I just need to keep it up for as long as it takes.
Wednesday, January 10, 2007
Tuesday, January 9, 2007
Day...what was that, conference again??
Today I started a behavior log (document, document, document). I see it basically becoming a slight rant book. And I will leave it at school. Conference with the principal and counselor...blah blah, processing problem...blah, blah, power struggle (I knew that). I need to not let him frustrate me, I know that. He was causing a massive distraction, and the whole class was telling him to stop, and he refused, and he refused to give me the offending pencils...blah, blah, blah. I really do not like to complain without a suggestion to fix something. And for this boy I'm tapped. Everyone else I can work with..........
1. Bouncing back emails with my best college roommate during the day was a wonderful distraction. His writing/thought/language has not changed much. Not being in the mood for interpretation during school it seemed rather cryptic, especially that last one. But he always kept me thinking, and for that I will be forever thankful.
2. I had another student post one full grade level gains in reading today. Class average of the 8 students I've reassesed is .93 grade levels in one semester. go me!
3. My kids were flying through fractions again today like they really got it. They were all able to identify 1/2, 1/3, and 1/4 and shade in the appropriate sections in a shape. This is the only time they have all gotten math at the same time so far this year.
bed before midnight, which is a milestone in its own right. I will not let any child win, and I will not let him control me and my reaction, and every child in my class will learn.
1. Bouncing back emails with my best college roommate during the day was a wonderful distraction. His writing/thought/language has not changed much. Not being in the mood for interpretation during school it seemed rather cryptic, especially that last one. But he always kept me thinking, and for that I will be forever thankful.
2. I had another student post one full grade level gains in reading today. Class average of the 8 students I've reassesed is .93 grade levels in one semester. go me!
3. My kids were flying through fractions again today like they really got it. They were all able to identify 1/2, 1/3, and 1/4 and shade in the appropriate sections in a shape. This is the only time they have all gotten math at the same time so far this year.
bed before midnight, which is a milestone in its own right. I will not let any child win, and I will not let him control me and my reaction, and every child in my class will learn.
Day Monday Blues
Not necessarily a bad day, but another one of extremes.
1. I had one student, DB, post 1.4 grade levels in reading when I listened to him this morning. That is the biggest growth so far by a student.
2. All of my kids seemed to be able to identify fractions of 1/4 and 1/3. They seemed to be able to do the work remarkably well. It's interesting because for some of them addition and subtraction still baffle them.
3. I actually got Mr. Lane working with some students today. Mr. Lane is my foster grandparent. Sight is going, as well as hearing. We will slowly get him working in the classroom.
Also some not good things happened. I had one student have two major defiant trips. After the first one I'm almost positive that it is just defiance out of this boy, not any sort of disconnect.
Saddest bit of news I got. Speaking with a Speech Pathologist she said that she is not even sure why one of my students was in my class. She feels that he should not have even been promoted. She got his file out and the most disheartening thing I heard was that he got a 55 on an IQ test. Ouch! Also she said that he is very developmentally delayed.
But then again, if life were easy there would be more people alive. I did not take this job for an easy buck. I took it because I want to make a difference. The ones that are the lowest are the ones that can make the most significant gains.
1. I had one student, DB, post 1.4 grade levels in reading when I listened to him this morning. That is the biggest growth so far by a student.
2. All of my kids seemed to be able to identify fractions of 1/4 and 1/3. They seemed to be able to do the work remarkably well. It's interesting because for some of them addition and subtraction still baffle them.
3. I actually got Mr. Lane working with some students today. Mr. Lane is my foster grandparent. Sight is going, as well as hearing. We will slowly get him working in the classroom.
Also some not good things happened. I had one student have two major defiant trips. After the first one I'm almost positive that it is just defiance out of this boy, not any sort of disconnect.
Saddest bit of news I got. Speaking with a Speech Pathologist she said that she is not even sure why one of my students was in my class. She feels that he should not have even been promoted. She got his file out and the most disheartening thing I heard was that he got a 55 on an IQ test. Ouch! Also she said that he is very developmentally delayed.
But then again, if life were easy there would be more people alive. I did not take this job for an easy buck. I took it because I want to make a difference. The ones that are the lowest are the ones that can make the most significant gains.
Sunday, January 7, 2007
Day ?!??!
Body sore from frisbee. Tummy nourished from good beef stew. No list tonight. Application still not submitted, but emails sent. Week mostly planned out. Found a free, fun game for the computer. Kind of like Guitar Hero, but just using the keyboard. And people can submit their own songs, so more open ended.
Got a tricky bit of news. Was told that one of my roommates will be leaving in two weeks. Where to, he does not know. He feels that God is calling him elsewhere. This has been his fifth year teaching. Just a couple of months ago he told me that he could never imagine leaving, and that people that leave in the middle of the year kind of irk him. He seems confused, but content. He has a trust in something that is not within him and he is willing to let that take him across the country. I truly wish him the best. In the past couple of weeks, since Christmas break, something in his life has changed. Many things have changed.
When people evoke God I really do not know what to say. I did the best thing that I could think at the time...I offered him beef stew.
Got a tricky bit of news. Was told that one of my roommates will be leaving in two weeks. Where to, he does not know. He feels that God is calling him elsewhere. This has been his fifth year teaching. Just a couple of months ago he told me that he could never imagine leaving, and that people that leave in the middle of the year kind of irk him. He seems confused, but content. He has a trust in something that is not within him and he is willing to let that take him across the country. I truly wish him the best. In the past couple of weeks, since Christmas break, something in his life has changed. Many things have changed.
When people evoke God I really do not know what to say. I did the best thing that I could think at the time...I offered him beef stew.
Friday, January 5, 2007
Day yup
So it was an interesting day. A few things got done, I got blocked on a few others, and a student locked himself inside my bathroom, twice! But that is the way it goes some times.
1. C-Brown has improved over one grade level in reading and is now at about a second grade level! In one semester he went from sometime in mid-to-late kindergarten, all the way to second grade.
2. On the DSA spelling test 16 of 19 tested went on to the second level, compared with 3 of about 21 at the beginning of the school year. It is great to see growth.
3. I finally completed the first round of applications for summer Institute in Houston. I just need to submit them when the system decides it wants to work again.
Again another late night. I'm thinking it will be bed early tomorrow.
1. C-Brown has improved over one grade level in reading and is now at about a second grade level! In one semester he went from sometime in mid-to-late kindergarten, all the way to second grade.
2. On the DSA spelling test 16 of 19 tested went on to the second level, compared with 3 of about 21 at the beginning of the school year. It is great to see growth.
3. I finally completed the first round of applications for summer Institute in Houston. I just need to submit them when the system decides it wants to work again.
Again another late night. I'm thinking it will be bed early tomorrow.
Thursday, January 4, 2007
Day uh huh
Too late to want to type, but I shall proceed.
1. All of my students did their mid-year DIBELS assessments. I have not seen their scores, but my lit coach said that they all did very well.
2. I was able to reasses one of my students with the DRA, which can give their grade level equivalent in reading. The student, Kaydie, went from a level 4 to a level 14, which was equal to one whole grade level. The best record of student growth I have ever had with a student, one whole grade level in one semester.
3. On a more personal note I was able to update my resume finally. I'm actually kind of happy with how it turned out. More work will be done tomorrow before I try to apply for the jobs. My application and letter of intent are the doorway to a summer job in Texas.
Yes yes yes, I'm up too late, but that resume needed to get done. I'm trying to get better and I will not give up on my resolution yet. I did take a nap earlier, so I'll count that for sleep.
1. All of my students did their mid-year DIBELS assessments. I have not seen their scores, but my lit coach said that they all did very well.
2. I was able to reasses one of my students with the DRA, which can give their grade level equivalent in reading. The student, Kaydie, went from a level 4 to a level 14, which was equal to one whole grade level. The best record of student growth I have ever had with a student, one whole grade level in one semester.
3. On a more personal note I was able to update my resume finally. I'm actually kind of happy with how it turned out. More work will be done tomorrow before I try to apply for the jobs. My application and letter of intent are the doorway to a summer job in Texas.
Yes yes yes, I'm up too late, but that resume needed to get done. I'm trying to get better and I will not give up on my resolution yet. I did take a nap earlier, so I'll count that for sleep.
Wednesday, January 3, 2007
Day something or other...too long off
After a short break it was back to school at J. F. Wahl Elementary. The thing was not everyone seemed to get the memo...which leads me to number one for the day.
1. I was missing five students today. Not that I like it when they are absent, but missing 25% of my class on the first day after break kind of helped to smooth the transition back to work.
2. Dil-Bry was able to stay in the class all day. Probably did not handle it the best way (sort of went back on my word), but for over half the day, the last half, he was cheerful, participating, and working like I expect of everyone.
3. My Assistant Principal reminded me of the conference in Little Rock at the end of January and she had me fill out the registration form. That means in two weeks I'll be going back to Little Rock.
4. I got a memo from my Literacy coach that said we would be doing mid-year testing tomorrow. Normally that would have drawn groans, but I'm really looking forward to see how much my kids have grown in a couple of months. I'll also try to work with her to get DRA's done again to see what sort of reading level growth my kids have done.
In the new year it is good to reasses where I am and where I'm going. I've got to update my resume for a job application that is due Friday. I am also looking forward to the opportunity to replot my year. I've got to make significant gains, and if I can see whre shortcomings are I will have a better idea how to shore them up and give my kids the challenges and opportunities they need.
1. I was missing five students today. Not that I like it when they are absent, but missing 25% of my class on the first day after break kind of helped to smooth the transition back to work.
2. Dil-Bry was able to stay in the class all day. Probably did not handle it the best way (sort of went back on my word), but for over half the day, the last half, he was cheerful, participating, and working like I expect of everyone.
3. My Assistant Principal reminded me of the conference in Little Rock at the end of January and she had me fill out the registration form. That means in two weeks I'll be going back to Little Rock.
4. I got a memo from my Literacy coach that said we would be doing mid-year testing tomorrow. Normally that would have drawn groans, but I'm really looking forward to see how much my kids have grown in a couple of months. I'll also try to work with her to get DRA's done again to see what sort of reading level growth my kids have done.
In the new year it is good to reasses where I am and where I'm going. I've got to update my resume for a job application that is due Friday. I am also looking forward to the opportunity to replot my year. I've got to make significant gains, and if I can see whre shortcomings are I will have a better idea how to shore them up and give my kids the challenges and opportunities they need.
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