Not been feeling right recently. Just a sort of general unease, like something is missing. Not quite sure what it is, but I'm trying to work through it. The past couple of weeks have been crazy at school. There were the Benchmarks last week and a Multicultural Fair at school this week. A good dose of lunacy in scheduling was also thrown into the mix.
There have been a couple of bright moments.
1. Last week I had my kids write books about two pharaohs. It was a six day process, but I'm pretty happy with the product. The goal was process and I think most started to pick up the process of writing. I will just need to be consistent with the stages.
2. I found a trick that absolutely blows Xander's mind. The whole fake-like-you're-taking-your-thumb-off. After I show him he gets a big grin and then he tries to take my thumb off. Since he has such sensitive hands his grip is light, barely pulling. Then he tries to take his thumb off. It ends with him saying, "I can't do it Mr. Taylor." Quick way to bring a smile to my face. He can even look at my hands and not realize that I have one thumb tucked into a fist.
3. I finished my Arkansas History course. I got an A and no longer need to worry about the online course.
4. I completed my Praxis III yesterday. It is a formal observation by a state trained assessor. The course and the Praxis III are the last hurdles to my getting a standard 5 year teaching license.
Friday, April 27, 2007
Tuesday, April 10, 2007
Day of whoa
Missed yesterday and went to school today. Not the easiest day, and I'm not even really sure why. Pretty rough day with some of my kids.
1. I was not the only one at my school that had a rough day. Other teachers that I talked to had pretty rough days. Rough days at school are not necessarily a good thing, but it made me feel better that I was not alone.
2. I had another student post 1.5 years of growth in reading today. Kev read a book that was at a pretty high level and he was able to answer questions and tell me about what he read. It was interesting because as he was reading he must have been splitting brain power because there were some words he could not read in the text, but in isolation was able to read them. Even with the bumps in decoding he was able to comprehend the book very well.
3. At my faculty meeting my principal bragged on me. She said that I was basically the only teacher that was following the schedule. It's funny because she came in and saw me this morning, and Tuesdays are generally off schedule days. But whatever. If she says I'm on schedule then I must be doing something right.
1. I was not the only one at my school that had a rough day. Other teachers that I talked to had pretty rough days. Rough days at school are not necessarily a good thing, but it made me feel better that I was not alone.
2. I had another student post 1.5 years of growth in reading today. Kev read a book that was at a pretty high level and he was able to answer questions and tell me about what he read. It was interesting because as he was reading he must have been splitting brain power because there were some words he could not read in the text, but in isolation was able to read them. Even with the bumps in decoding he was able to comprehend the book very well.
3. At my faculty meeting my principal bragged on me. She said that I was basically the only teacher that was following the schedule. It's funny because she came in and saw me this morning, and Tuesdays are generally off schedule days. But whatever. If she says I'm on schedule then I must be doing something right.
Thursday, April 5, 2007
Day of news
It is that time of year. The time of year when the schedules get mangled a bit. It's rough, but doable again. I did it last year, I can do it this year.
Kaydie moved to the other side of town and is now attending another school. I'm down to 19. She moved during break so she has been gone for a while. I hope things are going well for her family.
Since the Thursday before my spring break I have had one student only show up for two days. Two days attendance in ten possible days. I got my certified mail back saying that the address was vacant, so I'm not sure where exactly he is. The school's speech pathologist said that her assistant has seen the boy every day at the ballpark here in Helena. The boy is here in town, just not coming to school. She said that it was because his dad cut all his hair off. It's something completely new to me. I've heard about kids getting upset about haircuts, but enough so that their parents let them miss nearly two weeks of school? Crazy. That combined with the fact that he told me a couple of months ago that his dad is in "Mississippi Jail" because the police found something in his car that wasn't his. Not quite sure what exactly to believe.
Speaking of jail, it turns out that Sunday night/Monday morning 4 or 5 inmates escaped from the county jail, which is at the courthouse on Cherry Street, right downtown. So my school was on lockdown. Interesting way to start the week. Hearing conflicting stories from people, like possible shootings (which were dismissed by the police chief and my housemate that works at a bank), but nothing actually on the news. By today all had been recaptured, but not without incident.
One of my boys had been really out of it this week. I really got on him today and I called his mom during lunch to try to figure out what was going on, but I left a message. She called me up after school and gave me an idea as to why he might be a little distracted.
It turns out his mom's brother (boy's uncle) was shot. By one of the inmates. In the back. After a robbery. You know what...that would kind of knock me off for about a week. He is currently at the Med in Memphis and I hope he pulls through.
Everytime I think I've seen/heard it all, something new comes along.
The art teacher also sent me a student from another class because the boy's pants had ripped. Three safety pins to fix his pants. They had torn right down the back side, about as far as they could. Fascinating the thigns that happen during a normal day.
Even with all of that stuff I'm not down at all. You just kind of shrug it off and keep on rolling.
1. Nearly every student I've listented to in the past week and half has met my reading goal of 1.5 years of growth. I just need to get through the whole class to find all my numbers.
2. Most of my kids are doing better with coins. They are getting better at counting mixed coins, as well as coming up with ways to show different amounts.
3. Walking around during writing showed me that my kids are really trying out the things that I talk about during the mini-lessons.
4. Dil has been phenomenal since spring break. Only a couple of issues, but he's been energetic, laughing, smiling (you know, like a first grader should be). We just need to eliminate the chair vault from his repertoire and we'll be alright. Better attitudes make me feel better. And really seem to improve my standing in the eyes of my principal.
I'm starting to see things that we've talked about since the beginning of the year start to gel. It's a good feeling to notice that I've made an impact.
Kaydie moved to the other side of town and is now attending another school. I'm down to 19. She moved during break so she has been gone for a while. I hope things are going well for her family.
Since the Thursday before my spring break I have had one student only show up for two days. Two days attendance in ten possible days. I got my certified mail back saying that the address was vacant, so I'm not sure where exactly he is. The school's speech pathologist said that her assistant has seen the boy every day at the ballpark here in Helena. The boy is here in town, just not coming to school. She said that it was because his dad cut all his hair off. It's something completely new to me. I've heard about kids getting upset about haircuts, but enough so that their parents let them miss nearly two weeks of school? Crazy. That combined with the fact that he told me a couple of months ago that his dad is in "Mississippi Jail" because the police found something in his car that wasn't his. Not quite sure what exactly to believe.
Speaking of jail, it turns out that Sunday night/Monday morning 4 or 5 inmates escaped from the county jail, which is at the courthouse on Cherry Street, right downtown. So my school was on lockdown. Interesting way to start the week. Hearing conflicting stories from people, like possible shootings (which were dismissed by the police chief and my housemate that works at a bank), but nothing actually on the news. By today all had been recaptured, but not without incident.
One of my boys had been really out of it this week. I really got on him today and I called his mom during lunch to try to figure out what was going on, but I left a message. She called me up after school and gave me an idea as to why he might be a little distracted.
It turns out his mom's brother (boy's uncle) was shot. By one of the inmates. In the back. After a robbery. You know what...that would kind of knock me off for about a week. He is currently at the Med in Memphis and I hope he pulls through.
Everytime I think I've seen/heard it all, something new comes along.
The art teacher also sent me a student from another class because the boy's pants had ripped. Three safety pins to fix his pants. They had torn right down the back side, about as far as they could. Fascinating the thigns that happen during a normal day.
Even with all of that stuff I'm not down at all. You just kind of shrug it off and keep on rolling.
1. Nearly every student I've listented to in the past week and half has met my reading goal of 1.5 years of growth. I just need to get through the whole class to find all my numbers.
2. Most of my kids are doing better with coins. They are getting better at counting mixed coins, as well as coming up with ways to show different amounts.
3. Walking around during writing showed me that my kids are really trying out the things that I talk about during the mini-lessons.
4. Dil has been phenomenal since spring break. Only a couple of issues, but he's been energetic, laughing, smiling (you know, like a first grader should be). We just need to eliminate the chair vault from his repertoire and we'll be alright. Better attitudes make me feel better. And really seem to improve my standing in the eyes of my principal.
I'm starting to see things that we've talked about since the beginning of the year start to gel. It's a good feeling to notice that I've made an impact.
Wednesday, March 28, 2007
Day
This week has been alright. My kids have come back with a better focus, for the most part, and I have seen across the board improvement.
One student did move. Kaydie told me that she would move to West Helena, a big move in town. Now she goes to Beechcrest. She was one of my better students, but could have a slight attitude. Now her cousin, who used to be her next door neighbor is saying that he is moving. This takes my total to 19.
1. Xander may have internalized the strategy of stretching out words to figure out the letters to write for them. In a little conference I asked him how he could spell a word and he said, "stretch it out," in his cute little way.
2. Most of my kids seemed more concerned about the flow of activities in the classroom. I'm hearing more kids use kind messages and requests. They have even said things like, "May y'all please be quiet in here." Really interesting turn of events in my class.
3. I've gotten my kids to say that they really like words like delicious and diabolical and horrible. We've been talking about describing words and adjectives during writing. Hopefully next week we can start to incorporate them into our writing.
4. I did a reading level check on one student. Tak completely blew me away. in an above level book, she read it at about 100 wcpm. Standards say at the end of the first grade they need to be at 40 wcpm. She was also reading a book that was at about a mid-second grade level. She has surpassed her reading goal for the year and now it needs to be bumped up. I hope I can find more encouraging news as I go through the other students.
All in all it's been a good week back.
One student did move. Kaydie told me that she would move to West Helena, a big move in town. Now she goes to Beechcrest. She was one of my better students, but could have a slight attitude. Now her cousin, who used to be her next door neighbor is saying that he is moving. This takes my total to 19.
1. Xander may have internalized the strategy of stretching out words to figure out the letters to write for them. In a little conference I asked him how he could spell a word and he said, "stretch it out," in his cute little way.
2. Most of my kids seemed more concerned about the flow of activities in the classroom. I'm hearing more kids use kind messages and requests. They have even said things like, "May y'all please be quiet in here." Really interesting turn of events in my class.
3. I've gotten my kids to say that they really like words like delicious and diabolical and horrible. We've been talking about describing words and adjectives during writing. Hopefully next week we can start to incorporate them into our writing.
4. I did a reading level check on one student. Tak completely blew me away. in an above level book, she read it at about 100 wcpm. Standards say at the end of the first grade they need to be at 40 wcpm. She was also reading a book that was at about a mid-second grade level. She has surpassed her reading goal for the year and now it needs to be bumped up. I hope I can find more encouraging news as I go through the other students.
All in all it's been a good week back.
Tuesday, March 27, 2007
Day of back to work and a late night
Yes, this entry is very late at night, been busy all day and all night.
First day was back, though it took me till about 2:00 to have the same problem that I had earlier. One child decided that he would be the straw that broke this camel's back. I overreacted, but apologized afterwards.
One of my kids may have moved, I'll see what tomorrow brings.
I tried to introduce a couple of new things today, did not necessarily take off well, but I'm not going to give up on them just yet. Slowly introducing more of the Brain Book. The next part will be a reading rate (wcpm) chart so they can see how they are reading better, as opposed to having reading level only in there. I just need to have more accurate, precise, and concise explanations for these things. I tend to be long winded, and that is not good for first graders. Also need to make more of an effort to model correct work.
This evening I felt a push in a good direction. While reading over some summaries of education articles I have come across two potential growth points for myself. By growth point I mean potential career turns. Both of them invovle starting something new at my school.
The first one involves changing the work atmosphere and collegial nature of my school, especially in terms of professional/staff development. I think it the staff worked together in more efficient and effective ways they students achievement could improve. There is definitely work I need to do in terms of research and background reading, but it is worth it. If implemented correctly it could definitely help the students at my school, and potentially the whole district. We just need to work on being more reflective. The district is close, but they seem to need just that extra nudge to get them going in the right direction.
The second involves a comment that my Grade Level Chair made to my principal, and some talks that I've had with her. I do enjoy working with the lowest students. It is something that a couple of teachers at my school have noticed. I just love the moement where they get it. It makes my job worth it. Now, with that comes a problem though. The students that need that one-on-one time can hardly get it effectively in the classroom with potentially 20 other students. Some of them get that help during interventions, but sometimes if TAs or parapros run them they do not get the best effect/benefit. There is a program called Reading Recovery that I think would benefit some of the lowest first graders at my school. It is a big system to initiate and operate, but I think I could be an effective Reading Recovery Teacher. I think setting up the system in the school would be difficult at first, but I would be willing to see it through its start-up period. There would be some difficulties, sure, but I think they benefits would offset it.
This being only my second year and not exactly on the most solid footing, I'm just trying to figure out the best way to go about floating my idea around. It would be difficult work, but I completely believe it would be worth it.
First day was back, though it took me till about 2:00 to have the same problem that I had earlier. One child decided that he would be the straw that broke this camel's back. I overreacted, but apologized afterwards.
One of my kids may have moved, I'll see what tomorrow brings.
I tried to introduce a couple of new things today, did not necessarily take off well, but I'm not going to give up on them just yet. Slowly introducing more of the Brain Book. The next part will be a reading rate (wcpm) chart so they can see how they are reading better, as opposed to having reading level only in there. I just need to have more accurate, precise, and concise explanations for these things. I tend to be long winded, and that is not good for first graders. Also need to make more of an effort to model correct work.
This evening I felt a push in a good direction. While reading over some summaries of education articles I have come across two potential growth points for myself. By growth point I mean potential career turns. Both of them invovle starting something new at my school.
The first one involves changing the work atmosphere and collegial nature of my school, especially in terms of professional/staff development. I think it the staff worked together in more efficient and effective ways they students achievement could improve. There is definitely work I need to do in terms of research and background reading, but it is worth it. If implemented correctly it could definitely help the students at my school, and potentially the whole district. We just need to work on being more reflective. The district is close, but they seem to need just that extra nudge to get them going in the right direction.
The second involves a comment that my Grade Level Chair made to my principal, and some talks that I've had with her. I do enjoy working with the lowest students. It is something that a couple of teachers at my school have noticed. I just love the moement where they get it. It makes my job worth it. Now, with that comes a problem though. The students that need that one-on-one time can hardly get it effectively in the classroom with potentially 20 other students. Some of them get that help during interventions, but sometimes if TAs or parapros run them they do not get the best effect/benefit. There is a program called Reading Recovery that I think would benefit some of the lowest first graders at my school. It is a big system to initiate and operate, but I think I could be an effective Reading Recovery Teacher. I think setting up the system in the school would be difficult at first, but I would be willing to see it through its start-up period. There would be some difficulties, sure, but I think they benefits would offset it.
This being only my second year and not exactly on the most solid footing, I'm just trying to figure out the best way to go about floating my idea around. It would be difficult work, but I completely believe it would be worth it.
Wednesday, March 14, 2007
Day of ups and downs
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.
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.
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.
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