hrmmm.
First off for the bad news, or not exactly the best/wanted news, I was denied for both positions in Houston. Again a form letter of rejection. Not nearly as upset this time around. I had been holding off on checking the email since Friday. Finally checked it today after school, and the stin wa not as much as expected. I checked my email with kind of a "meh to whatever" attitude. Yeah it stings with jealous tinges. I sent an email back to the people with a couple of questions, so we'll see what happens.
On to better news.
1. My principal finally got around to observing me yesterday. Kind of a botched lesson on static electricity in my eyes. Evidently she liked it, even though it didn't really take on the kids. I guess my honest and forthright reflection afterwards was a good thing.
2. Dill had a mostly good day. First in a while. Not perfect, but progressing. That's something I like to see in all my kids.
3. Cher's father is seemingly more helpful. He is showing real concern about his daughter, which is a good step.
4. My principal also let slip some complementary words from my grade level chair. At least I'll take them as a complement. They both recognize the children that I like to work with.
5. As a result I had a really good conversation with my principal. I felt like an educator having a discussion with a colleague, not just an employee talking to a boss. She seemed to respect and appreciate the things that I was saying.
Another bit of good news. I'll be teaching first grade next year. Fresh batch. I get to tell the kindergarten teachers tomorrow.
Wednesday, March 14, 2007
Sunday, March 11, 2007
Day of weekend bundle of nerves
So my plans for implementing a new idea in my classroom have hit a snag. I've not gotten feedback I've expected. I'm also being observed a couple of times this week, so I'm not to sure about implementing new ideas. They will probably be implemented and the observers will just have to deal with seeing something new starting. Yes, I know it's the week before spring break, and I should probably wait until after break, but I've waiting too long already to get my kids more accountable. Now that testing is done, I'm glad to have my normal schedule back. I'll just have to get into the swing of planning for it soon.
Biggest thing. Right now, I'm scared. More than I should be. I've never been so nervous in my life. This is a completely irrational fear, but I've not been able to overcome it. I applied for a job to work at the Summer Institute in Houston, and I received an email on Friday stating if I was accepted for a position or not. I did not handle the first rejection well, not at all. And now I'm too nervous to check this one. People have been asking me if I got it, and I keep telling them that I've not checked my email. Monday I have to do it, I just need to find the courage and strength to deal with whatever the result is. Right now I do not have it.
Biggest thing. Right now, I'm scared. More than I should be. I've never been so nervous in my life. This is a completely irrational fear, but I've not been able to overcome it. I applied for a job to work at the Summer Institute in Houston, and I received an email on Friday stating if I was accepted for a position or not. I did not handle the first rejection well, not at all. And now I'm too nervous to check this one. People have been asking me if I got it, and I keep telling them that I've not checked my email. Monday I have to do it, I just need to find the courage and strength to deal with whatever the result is. Right now I do not have it.
Thursday, March 8, 2007
Day of Testing is DONE!
Well, actually that happened yesterday for my kids, and I think that there is still more testing to be done in the upper grades tomorrow, and one of my kids has make-ups to do (but he is about 60% attendance so far this marking period).
Yes, ITBS testing is done for my kids. The exact same test form as last year. Same questions that just kind of tweaked me last year tweaked me again this year. The cultural relevance of tests is a factor that needs to be addressed. Plus, one question to asses one concept is also a little wrong. Snapshots do not exactly tell what is outside the frame. Overall I think my kids did well. I did not feel as frustrated with seeing my kids mark wrong answers. It might be that they were actually performing better, or I reminded myself not to look so much, or I just calmed down in the room, or it was the fact that my principal decided to help proctor in my room. I'm not sure why, but I think it's something the TA that was helping me the other couple of days said. There are times when I feel like there is a lot of stuff going on behind my back, and I really don't know who I can turn to. But I try not to let things like that get to me, especially if it is just a TA.
Now we can resume real, regularly scheduled teaching. We have been sitting in groups and we are trying to work on Cooperative learning. A bumpy road, but we will get there. They have energy, they are sharp and they can help each other learn.
(Historical note for myself - The past two days with Dilland - turning point beyond what I can help with)
On to the list of things that went well.
1. Nearly all of my kids were able to work in centers and actually accomplish the work, and write it down correctly in their travel log. All had accomplished different levels, but the structure was there.
2. One girl was able to read nearly all of "Fox in Socks" with me on the carpet today. We've read it every day this week to help us listen to rhyming words in preparation of writing couplets. I even had one of my most speech problemed students joining in and trying to read the book of tongue twisters.
3. My students were better at telling time. They worked in groups to read clocks and tell times and I think that helped some of them. With just a little more practice we should be able to effectively tell time to the half hour.
4. I went to the 5-6 grade basketball game at the Community Center and I saw the team from my school beat the team from the KIPP school. The final score was 59-14. Kind of a blowout honestly.
One more slightly jumbled/test affected day. On Monday, though it is the week before spring break, we will be jumping back in hard core. We've still got a lot of ground to cover, and I really want to get this new tracking/accountability system down.
Yes, ITBS testing is done for my kids. The exact same test form as last year. Same questions that just kind of tweaked me last year tweaked me again this year. The cultural relevance of tests is a factor that needs to be addressed. Plus, one question to asses one concept is also a little wrong. Snapshots do not exactly tell what is outside the frame. Overall I think my kids did well. I did not feel as frustrated with seeing my kids mark wrong answers. It might be that they were actually performing better, or I reminded myself not to look so much, or I just calmed down in the room, or it was the fact that my principal decided to help proctor in my room. I'm not sure why, but I think it's something the TA that was helping me the other couple of days said. There are times when I feel like there is a lot of stuff going on behind my back, and I really don't know who I can turn to. But I try not to let things like that get to me, especially if it is just a TA.
Now we can resume real, regularly scheduled teaching. We have been sitting in groups and we are trying to work on Cooperative learning. A bumpy road, but we will get there. They have energy, they are sharp and they can help each other learn.
(Historical note for myself - The past two days with Dilland - turning point beyond what I can help with)
On to the list of things that went well.
1. Nearly all of my kids were able to work in centers and actually accomplish the work, and write it down correctly in their travel log. All had accomplished different levels, but the structure was there.
2. One girl was able to read nearly all of "Fox in Socks" with me on the carpet today. We've read it every day this week to help us listen to rhyming words in preparation of writing couplets. I even had one of my most speech problemed students joining in and trying to read the book of tongue twisters.
3. My students were better at telling time. They worked in groups to read clocks and tell times and I think that helped some of them. With just a little more practice we should be able to effectively tell time to the half hour.
4. I went to the 5-6 grade basketball game at the Community Center and I saw the team from my school beat the team from the KIPP school. The final score was 59-14. Kind of a blowout honestly.
One more slightly jumbled/test affected day. On Monday, though it is the week before spring break, we will be jumping back in hard core. We've still got a lot of ground to cover, and I really want to get this new tracking/accountability system down.
Sunday, March 4, 2007
day making up
Yes. It's been a while since I've posted. Been kind of scrambling this last week trying to get ready for testing. Practicing for it all last week. Righ now it is all in my kids hands. I've got to test them an hour a day for the next three days. Tried to take pictures of them. Will try to post a few.
These are photos from what caused the snow day a month ago. The first two were taken at 6 am, when I found out school was cancelled. The last one was taken at 11, when I rolled out of bed that day.
This last one is of two of my students that had lunch in my room with me (best behavior for the previous week). Talk quickly went to that of doing the splits, so they decided that they would both do it and insisted that I take a picture of them.
Had a professional development day this Saturday. Went fairly well. I ended up generating an idea of something I want to try in my classroom. It will take me just about all week to implement it and I would not really be able to use it until next week (when real teaching resumes), but there is a chance I could start it on Thursday (we finish testing on Wednesday). My idea is to give all of my kids "Brain Books." Basically just folders with tracking sheets in them. Right now I'm trying to instill in them the notion that if they work hard, they can achieve success and get smarter. I spent most of the night trying to figure out what sort of information would be in it and what it would look like. I'm trying to get my students to be more independent. The hope is that they will be capable of looking at this folder, using it, and realizing what they need to do to accomplish the goals that are laid forth within. It will be more work for me to get it up and running and maintaining it, but I think my kids and I are capable of using them. I just do to want to introduce anything more to them for the first part of this week, especially if I am not completely sure what I want.
I've got an idea, but before I present it to them I need to know what I want out of it. I need to know what it will look like, when they will use it, how they will use it, where it will be located (wll they be able to take it home?) and other questions of the sort. I've not been this energized about a classroom idea in a long time.
These are photos from what caused the snow day a month ago. The first two were taken at 6 am, when I found out school was cancelled. The last one was taken at 11, when I rolled out of bed that day.
This last one is of two of my students that had lunch in my room with me (best behavior for the previous week). Talk quickly went to that of doing the splits, so they decided that they would both do it and insisted that I take a picture of them.
Had a professional development day this Saturday. Went fairly well. I ended up generating an idea of something I want to try in my classroom. It will take me just about all week to implement it and I would not really be able to use it until next week (when real teaching resumes), but there is a chance I could start it on Thursday (we finish testing on Wednesday). My idea is to give all of my kids "Brain Books." Basically just folders with tracking sheets in them. Right now I'm trying to instill in them the notion that if they work hard, they can achieve success and get smarter. I spent most of the night trying to figure out what sort of information would be in it and what it would look like. I'm trying to get my students to be more independent. The hope is that they will be capable of looking at this folder, using it, and realizing what they need to do to accomplish the goals that are laid forth within. It will be more work for me to get it up and running and maintaining it, but I think my kids and I are capable of using them. I just do to want to introduce anything more to them for the first part of this week, especially if I am not completely sure what I want.
I've got an idea, but before I present it to them I need to know what I want out of it. I need to know what it will look like, when they will use it, how they will use it, where it will be located (wll they be able to take it home?) and other questions of the sort. I've not been this energized about a classroom idea in a long time.
Sunday, February 25, 2007
Day of life
Today was good. I got up early, went to the gym for about an hour. I'm actually enjoying working out. When I came back the weather started to get interesting. Supposed to take an exam for Arkansas history, but a thunderstorm delayed it for an hour. After waiting for about 30 minutes after thunder I began the 65 minute exam. Around minute 50 I started to notice the sky getting dark and thunder starting up. About that time Phillips County was placed under a Tornado warning, one had been sighted in Dumas. We just had wind and rain (enough to flood portions of front and back yard). Rotational winds, but no tornadic activity. One did touch down one county north of us, in Lee County. Wasn't able to get to Memphis like I had originally planned, but I'm heading there on Friday to meet up with my sister and her boyfriend. Guess I'll have to take them with me shopping.
There was a Chinese New Years potluck at a corps members house and I went to that. Did not bring anything myself because I was doing other work today. I had a good time. After that there was a dance party at another house. Also fun, especially the salsa dancing instruction video.
Between parties my housemate asked me if I had any romantic interests here in the Delta. Answered him honestly and said no. I could not think of one that would be easy to act on. That which was there has kind of faded away. Not sure why, maybe reality setting in, or other reasons. Because there happen to be none does not mean that I would not like it, or have one elsewhere. Just kind of going through life. I just keep thinking of "Your My Home" by Billy Joel. The answer seems to be somewhere in there.
There was a Chinese New Years potluck at a corps members house and I went to that. Did not bring anything myself because I was doing other work today. I had a good time. After that there was a dance party at another house. Also fun, especially the salsa dancing instruction video.
Between parties my housemate asked me if I had any romantic interests here in the Delta. Answered him honestly and said no. I could not think of one that would be easy to act on. That which was there has kind of faded away. Not sure why, maybe reality setting in, or other reasons. Because there happen to be none does not mean that I would not like it, or have one elsewhere. Just kind of going through life. I just keep thinking of "Your My Home" by Billy Joel. The answer seems to be somewhere in there.
Thursday, February 22, 2007
and things happen
The parent called today, and for some reason the office buzzed me to talk to her, in the middle of class, on an already slightly chaotic day. There are days when I reflect on what has happened and I'm convinced that I'm a bad teacher and should not be doing what I'm doing. There are times when the bad things seem overwhelming and good is hard to track down. The general atmosphere in my room is not a good one. There is not the kind of hustle that I need in my classroom and as a result the kids are moving slow, long transitions, and more opportunities to talk with their neighbors. With a couple of kids I talked to today they were able to tell me that what they were doing was wrong and that they were making bad choices, but They still don't have that thought before they act. It's rough, there seems to be no consequence that stops them, and when I try to praise/reward them those that don't get it just get upset and the mood falls apart even more.
1. One good thing. For writing we did a sequence of events for a story we read on Tuesday. Nearly all of the students were able to tell me what happened at the beginning, the middle, and the end of the story. We'll see how that carries over into the test tomorrow on sequence.
2. McNeal came to my room this morning in a funk and, with a bit of prompting, I was able to get him to tell me what was making him upset. I'm trying to work on proper expression with him and he has started to internalize the messages and the proper actions. he still needs prompting and coaxing, but he knows what he should do, and that's a first step in anger management. He came up with some things that he could do to help his mood, but nothing can really help not getting good sleep. He tried so hard though.
3. Xander greeted me at the door with a very strong, "Helloooooo there." I just doubled over laughing at my door. He had never done anything like that first thing in the morning.
A new leaf needs to turn over in my room. I feel like I'm back to my first year with everything seeming to be out of control in my room.
1. One good thing. For writing we did a sequence of events for a story we read on Tuesday. Nearly all of the students were able to tell me what happened at the beginning, the middle, and the end of the story. We'll see how that carries over into the test tomorrow on sequence.
2. McNeal came to my room this morning in a funk and, with a bit of prompting, I was able to get him to tell me what was making him upset. I'm trying to work on proper expression with him and he has started to internalize the messages and the proper actions. he still needs prompting and coaxing, but he knows what he should do, and that's a first step in anger management. He came up with some things that he could do to help his mood, but nothing can really help not getting good sleep. He tried so hard though.
3. Xander greeted me at the door with a very strong, "Helloooooo there." I just doubled over laughing at my door. He had never done anything like that first thing in the morning.
A new leaf needs to turn over in my room. I feel like I'm back to my first year with everything seeming to be out of control in my room.
Wednesday, February 21, 2007
Day...23 is a tough number to have
So my number has been 23 the past two days. If one student makes it to school it will make it a chart topping 24, one short of the legal limit. Yesterday went well, today kind of fell apart. One student decided that he wasn't going to work mid-way through the morning, but somehow made it back to my room after his mother was called. Gave me a headache, his behavior did, and I was not the best at coping with it.
Also learned something about a student that I didn't really need to know, and I really don't want to have to follow up and learn more about it and fact check. If it pans out to be true it becomes a problem greater than me. There havebeen glimpses of it and it makes me sad if it is true. And it's all about my focal student.
On to good things.
1. According to my grade level chair her kids grades are not that great this marking period either. Kind of wishing for kids to do bad, but not really. It just makes me realize that my kids are not the only ones having a problem since Christmas.
2. In the course of one math problem I was able to change a child's mood. Monty (a guest) went from crying face down on the carpet saying, "I can't do this," about addition and subtraction facts, all the way to me boosting his confidence and getting him smiling and laughing. If I could transfer that malleable intelligence to all my kids, I would be in a better spot. For now I'm content to get this student believing that he can accomplish.
3. Had dinner with a friend and good converstation.
4. Took a practice quiz for my AR History class and got a 5/5. Now I just need to figure out when I'm taking the actual first exam. It will happen by Sunday.
Right now I've got to sleep and think about what Seuss Book to decorate my door with. Never really decorated my door, so we'll see how it goes.
Also learned something about a student that I didn't really need to know, and I really don't want to have to follow up and learn more about it and fact check. If it pans out to be true it becomes a problem greater than me. There havebeen glimpses of it and it makes me sad if it is true. And it's all about my focal student.
On to good things.
1. According to my grade level chair her kids grades are not that great this marking period either. Kind of wishing for kids to do bad, but not really. It just makes me realize that my kids are not the only ones having a problem since Christmas.
2. In the course of one math problem I was able to change a child's mood. Monty (a guest) went from crying face down on the carpet saying, "I can't do this," about addition and subtraction facts, all the way to me boosting his confidence and getting him smiling and laughing. If I could transfer that malleable intelligence to all my kids, I would be in a better spot. For now I'm content to get this student believing that he can accomplish.
3. Had dinner with a friend and good converstation.
4. Took a practice quiz for my AR History class and got a 5/5. Now I just need to figure out when I'm taking the actual first exam. It will happen by Sunday.
Right now I've got to sleep and think about what Seuss Book to decorate my door with. Never really decorated my door, so we'll see how it goes.
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