No post yesterday because of absolute crap-type day. I got called out on some thing, and rightfully so, but names were hidden, other issues were brought up, so I was generally in a foul mood yesterday. I came back today the only way I know how, by proving everyone wrong. It was the same thing last year. People say something bad, show them up, and today I did. I still do not know who brought it up, and I would like to know, to understand the situation better and to make amends, but I'm in no rush to keep the crap afloat.
Today was much better though, save one moment near the end of the day, involving another teacher in a wholly unprofessional behavior. That situation will be worked on tomorrow, so no bad details here. On to the good news.
1. Today there were revolving rehearsals for the school's Winter music concert. Mr. Novick is bold and brave enough to try to get about 400+ students to perform. Aside from logistics, it looks like it will be wonderful.
2. This morning I got D-Troope to practice reading a book independently. He was able to work through a page on his own, practicing reading it until it sounded like talking.
3. Something got into Xander today. He was raising his hands and wanting to talk. He was jamming up on stage for "Feliz Navidad" and "Lean on Me." He was giggling, talking (at least trying very hard to). And he wrote a page about Santa Claus. I feel like we are approaching a breakthrough in terms of his communication. Boy was trying so hard today, I was so proud. He was generally acting like a very social and energetic person, you know...like most 6 year olds should be. We are getting better with him.
4. The problems I had, I dealt with swiftly, got the children to understand, and when I could not work them out I brought in the proper authorities and followed up with them.
Overall it was a very professional and positive and encouraging day. I'd like to thank my neighbor teacher for helping me out the past two days during the rough waters into which I've been tossed. She has acted as a buffer and a support, and I will have to repay kindness. Without her kind words I would feel sunk right now.
Wednesday, December 20, 2006
Saturday, December 16, 2006
Day 15
Skipping a couple of days, but I felt like I was about to pass out last night. But today there were a couple of things that were too good to pass up.
1. The party happened, and the day wasn't too insane. Had two parents show up and help a great deal. Even brought a couple of younger siblings, one in diapers.
2. I had my kids make snowmen, should have taken pictures, but did not. They gave them multiple necklaces around the body, as well as gold teeth. The biggest bit of ingenuity was when they decided to put handles on the back, so they could hold their snowmen up. No idea who started it.
3. My kids, at least 19 of them did well on the math test today. Not exactly where I wanted them to be, but they were a full 10% better than the last one, so we were at about 77-78%. Two even aced the test. They are starting to get it.
4. Crowning moment of the day was when I got Alexander to write, not just one, but four complete sentences, all staying on topic. So proud I had to take a picture. I finally got some language out of him, even if it was describing a picture, but for him it is amazing.
Moments like this, with students like this, is why I teach.
1. The party happened, and the day wasn't too insane. Had two parents show up and help a great deal. Even brought a couple of younger siblings, one in diapers.
2. I had my kids make snowmen, should have taken pictures, but did not. They gave them multiple necklaces around the body, as well as gold teeth. The biggest bit of ingenuity was when they decided to put handles on the back, so they could hold their snowmen up. No idea who started it.
3. My kids, at least 19 of them did well on the math test today. Not exactly where I wanted them to be, but they were a full 10% better than the last one, so we were at about 77-78%. Two even aced the test. They are starting to get it.
4. Crowning moment of the day was when I got Alexander to write, not just one, but four complete sentences, all staying on topic. So proud I had to take a picture. I finally got some language out of him, even if it was describing a picture, but for him it is amazing.
Moments like this, with students like this, is why I teach.
Wednesday, December 13, 2006
Day 13...yeah, I skipped day 12, too tired
So there it is. As we get closer to Christmas the kids get ants in their pants. And right now it is just trying to manage through the days. We've gotten a bit done, but I get the feeling in the next week that will slowly devlolve. Right now I'm hoping that my kids showed their parents the notes i sent home about the Christmas Party. In the new year I've got to get better about communicating and mobilizing parents. It was a strange day, it started out with 5 kids missing, 25% of my class, but then over time three of those showed up, so it seemed like the standard number absent. I'm feeling confident in my students abilities for this math test on Friday. Tomorrow will be testing light, reading test and such, I will try to shore up some grades that I might be lacking. I've got through next week to figure out grades for students. I want them done by Christmas.
1. Not really a good thing, but a rather funny quote, "My butt smells like pee." Mind you this was through tears and snot that it was said (long story).
2. Alexander was able to go over a Phoneme Segmentation test, Nonsense Word fluency, and an accuracy/fluency check. Oh yeah, he also wrote a sentence (coherent mind you) during writing. AMAZING!!!!
3. Oh yeah, about Alexander, he was able to read 39 words per minute. For him, that is amazing. The state frameworks say that they should be able to read a grade level text at 40 wpm by the end of the year. For his level and current abilities, he is doing fantastic.
Thursday will be interesting.
1. Not really a good thing, but a rather funny quote, "My butt smells like pee." Mind you this was through tears and snot that it was said (long story).
2. Alexander was able to go over a Phoneme Segmentation test, Nonsense Word fluency, and an accuracy/fluency check. Oh yeah, he also wrote a sentence (coherent mind you) during writing. AMAZING!!!!
3. Oh yeah, about Alexander, he was able to read 39 words per minute. For him, that is amazing. The state frameworks say that they should be able to read a grade level text at 40 wpm by the end of the year. For his level and current abilities, he is doing fantastic.
Thursday will be interesting.
Monday, December 11, 2006
Day eleven
Actually sent a student home today...never had to do that before. But I do not want to get bogged down by negative feelings.
1. By the end of the day we were able to create subtraction facts that were related to addition facts, like 4+5=9 so 9-5=4. It made me feel good that they could do that finally.
2. Today Joshsawa actually said that he liked math and that it was easy. I think it's the first time he ever said that. He was actually smiling during math, which meant a lot to me.
3. I also found out that one of my students is now living in a different house. His home life was not the best, and it is good to see him out of that situation. I could not imagine anyone having to grow up like that.
I look forward to getting all of my parent surveys back tomorrow.
1. By the end of the day we were able to create subtraction facts that were related to addition facts, like 4+5=9 so 9-5=4. It made me feel good that they could do that finally.
2. Today Joshsawa actually said that he liked math and that it was easy. I think it's the first time he ever said that. He was actually smiling during math, which meant a lot to me.
3. I also found out that one of my students is now living in a different house. His home life was not the best, and it is good to see him out of that situation. I could not imagine anyone having to grow up like that.
I look forward to getting all of my parent surveys back tomorrow.
Sunday, December 10, 2006
Sunday
1. I was able to go through all of my math test data and was able to look at who needed what sort of help.
2. I was finally able to talk to my friend Jesica, even if for only a couple of minutes.
3. Buying a ticket to head home for Christmas.
2. I was finally able to talk to my friend Jesica, even if for only a couple of minutes.
3. Buying a ticket to head home for Christmas.
Saturday
It was a professional Saturday here in Helena. It was alright. The last one in Helena for a year. I believe we move to Clarksdale for the spring.
1. I was reminded of some good things that are happening in my class by my PD, Rachel. An observer is always good to point things out like that.
2. My cheesecakes won the bake-off. I made a 'Smores cheesecake and a Black Forest cheesecake. No award or anything, just recognition in front of a restaurant full of people.
3. I graded the math pre-tests my kids took yesterday and Temarja aced it. He got all 23 questions correct.
It is a start, but I really need to practice on noticing the positives and good things that are happening. Too often we get stuck looking at the bad things. Sometimes it goes on for so long, and that is all we discuss, that we forget that there are some good things happening. The environment is challenging, sure, but there are also many good people trying to accomplish many good thigns. When you are living day-to-day sometimes it is hard to realize that.
I'm also not sure if it's being humble or what, but I also learned today that I do not take recognition or praise very well. I am utterly lacking in confidence, and things that go well, I do not take a great deal of pride in for some reason. Just like high school, just like college. I feel like I just do things to do them. Grades, no special source of pride. They were what they were because I did what I did, nothing spectacular, nothing out of the ordinary.
Perhaps my idea of ordinary is just skewed.
1. I was reminded of some good things that are happening in my class by my PD, Rachel. An observer is always good to point things out like that.
2. My cheesecakes won the bake-off. I made a 'Smores cheesecake and a Black Forest cheesecake. No award or anything, just recognition in front of a restaurant full of people.
3. I graded the math pre-tests my kids took yesterday and Temarja aced it. He got all 23 questions correct.
It is a start, but I really need to practice on noticing the positives and good things that are happening. Too often we get stuck looking at the bad things. Sometimes it goes on for so long, and that is all we discuss, that we forget that there are some good things happening. The environment is challenging, sure, but there are also many good people trying to accomplish many good thigns. When you are living day-to-day sometimes it is hard to realize that.
I'm also not sure if it's being humble or what, but I also learned today that I do not take recognition or praise very well. I am utterly lacking in confidence, and things that go well, I do not take a great deal of pride in for some reason. Just like high school, just like college. I feel like I just do things to do them. Grades, no special source of pride. They were what they were because I did what I did, nothing spectacular, nothing out of the ordinary.
Perhaps my idea of ordinary is just skewed.
Saturday, December 9, 2006
Day ten
Yeah...that time of year...when I put off any Christmas party in my classroom and am reminded of it by the other teachers. One of the times of year when the schedule just gets changed around a bit.
1. Kevonta brought bottle rockets to school in his backpack this morning. Not the greatest thing, but certainly a strange way to start the morning.
2. My students were able to sit a separated arrangement all day today while they took three different tests (district reading test, spelling test, and a math pretest)
3. According the the scale given to me by my school, all of my kids scored advanced on the district reading test from today.
4. Day'Quan only got three words wrong on his spelling test. For him that is amazing improvement in just about a month.
5. I spoke with Alexander's mom when she picked him up about his writing. She recognized that he has a lot of difficulty with writing thoughts, which kind of put me in my place and made me take a step back from everything.
6. I went kind of new-old school in sending a note home today. I used packing tape to attach a note to a child's back. Hopefully his mom will see it when he gets home.
Next week will have a return of class meetings, differentiation of math instruction to get ready for the district test, communication with parents to try to pull off a Christmas party for my kids. I'll also bite my tongue when it comes to them as well. I'm a teacher, not an inquisitor.
1. Kevonta brought bottle rockets to school in his backpack this morning. Not the greatest thing, but certainly a strange way to start the morning.
2. My students were able to sit a separated arrangement all day today while they took three different tests (district reading test, spelling test, and a math pretest)
3. According the the scale given to me by my school, all of my kids scored advanced on the district reading test from today.
4. Day'Quan only got three words wrong on his spelling test. For him that is amazing improvement in just about a month.
5. I spoke with Alexander's mom when she picked him up about his writing. She recognized that he has a lot of difficulty with writing thoughts, which kind of put me in my place and made me take a step back from everything.
6. I went kind of new-old school in sending a note home today. I used packing tape to attach a note to a child's back. Hopefully his mom will see it when he gets home.
Next week will have a return of class meetings, differentiation of math instruction to get ready for the district test, communication with parents to try to pull off a Christmas party for my kids. I'll also bite my tongue when it comes to them as well. I'm a teacher, not an inquisitor.
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