almost over

Well, there are about two weeks to go. My husband and I are both teachers so we are looking forward to spending time with our little ones come break. I have learned some things over the past couple of months though, aside from the things I have learned in my MAT classes, I have learned that it is easier to go in and be real tough in the begining and then slack off rather than the other way around.

Co-op

Just wanted you all to know that you have great resource at your local school co-op. A few years ago when I was in a long-term sub position in a 3rd grade class, I was not comfortable with their new growing with math program, so I called the local co-op and they sent a specialist out who taught my math for a day, and showed me how the program worked. I was much more comfortable after that. They also have a plethora of book, movie, literature units, and much more! Just a call away, I know ours delivers to us on Thursdays and we just have it ready to return when we are finished with what ever it is.

More Room Pics

Students working on homecoming posters,

and then students working on their next speech "how to" the are so excited, yeah right!

MY ROOM

These are some of my students working on bell work as the class begins.

This is my "the places we will go" board, it has a calender with important assignments on it, and also anytime the school or town is in the paper I cut it out and post in here.

You cannot see them very well but these are stories my students wrote and then illustrated.

This is me, a math teacher and two English teachers, we were saying "BOOOO" to drugs on Halloween.

These are Totem poles, we decided what qualities our family, friends, future career, and self poses, then we researched animals and what each one stood for. Then we created Totem poles to share with the class as a get to know me thing.

Students need help

I have a student who is really pretty and really sweet, she was voted homecoming maid, and her mom said she was not taking her to get a dress. I do not know if it is a money thing or what, but I got out a poofy prom dress of mine and took it up there on the off chance she might like, and she did. It also fit her perfect without any alterations. So I was talking to her today about make-up and hair, mom is not checking her out to get it done like all the other girls, so during my lunch she is going to come to my class and I am going to play dress up and fix her hair and make-up. n I like to help others, it gives me joy.

On another note, about another girl, there is one girl who is sweet, smart, pretty, and is now dating someone she shouldn't. They are getting really too affectionate in school and parents have been called by the principal. but, things do not seem to be improving. I am trying to decide if I should call mom since I have met her about three times this year.

Oh the things we do for our students!

Book Review

I had my students read Of Mice and Men by John Stienbeck. Since I had not read it in a long time and since it is always good to do what you have your students do, I read it again. Watching the students eyes open to this book was an amazing experience for me. The story is about George and Lennie, friends who travel as migrant workers around the time of the great depression. George tries to keep Lennie out of trouble, because Lennie was mentally handicapped, that proves to be a difficult task for George. Through the book you understand how much they have been through and you can also see evidence of that fact that John Stienbeck believes you can never rise above what you are born into. As they travel Lennie gets into trouble and they move on to stay out of serious trouble. When finally they are in a new town when Lennie does the unthinkable, which leads George to a major delima, to see how he handles you will have to read the book.

It never fails!

This is not so much about what I have learned that will help me in the classroom, but in relation to the rest of the job. Just like in a church there are those who are never happy, can never just do as they are asked, they always have something to complain about. They do not like the kids, they do not like what administration is doing to try and better the school, all they want to do is gripe, and can never see that they are sometimes the burden. They try to keep others down! So, I have learned to keep to myself, stay in my room and avoid the teachers lounge at all cost. I even use the student restrooms.

Book Review

I know this book review is suppose to be for a book of leisure, well I read one but it was The Boy in the Striped Pajamas and since Dr. Zimmerly did a book talk on it I won't. So I am going to tell you about a book that you may have read in High School, but I a covering it in my class so I read it. It is called Of Mice and Men.
This is an amazing book about the spirit of man, loneliness, friendship, and showing mercy for others. It is about to men who travel together as migrant workers during the Great Depression. One man is small (George)and keeps a watch on the other who is big and 'slow' (Lennie). Lennie seems to always get them into trouble, he has a desire to touch soft things which has led to their need to move to the next farm fairly quickly. At their current farm Lennie reaches to touch the soft hair of the landlords wife and accidentally things lead to him killing her.
Now I said this was a book that was a testament to loneliness, friendship, mercy, and the spirit of man. If you want to see how you will have to read the book.
There are boys in my class that have never read a book, and they are reading ahead in this book and have written wonderful essays about it :) Just had to share!

Parent/Teacher

My Parent/Teacher conferences were tonight, I had about 20 parents show up, all went well. Too bad it seems that the two parents I really needed to talk to did not bother with showing up. Maybe that tells a little about why I needed to talk to that parent! Those parents who are not active in their childs school career cannot be surprised when that student is not studious, and we as teachers cannot be surprised when that student has a hard time taking school serious.

I'm not a math teacher!

Being someone who likes words more than numbers, I find myself saying, I am not a Math teacher, a lot. The other day I noticed a student trying to get her math done for the next class before the bell rang for our class to begin. As I walked by I heard one of the other students say, You did not do it right. So she asked if I knew how to do it. I had been years, but after a little review from the student who told her she did it wrong, but for some reason was unable to explain it to this student, I attempted it. I guess the student who was doing it wrong was also a words person, because after I told her in my words how to do the problem she was able to finish the worksheet correctly. I did not think I could teach math, but I guess we were just speaking the same language.

Let's call him Ty

I have a student who was held back for two years, after thought about that, the school decided to let him skip 8th grade so that he would not be 20 when he graduated, or drop out in the 10th grade. So he is my my class as a ninth grader. He has complained about every assignment I have given and everything we have attempted. BUT, we are studying Of Mice and Men, which he complained about in the beginning "I hate reading". Well, he came in class the other day and had gotten so into the book that he read ahead about 10 pages! He was so excited along with the class of students who have watched him have this attitude for so long. They are all "way to go" and asking him questions about what was going to happen next! Those little moments we all live for and want.

September 20th

It is Sunday and as I prepare for my week I wonder if it will be the bliss I sometimes find where each and every student it engaged and actively learning, or will it be like trying to herd cats? Most days are great, but just like my years in the past, I have my favorite classes of the day and the not so favorite ones. I do not know if I like certain classes because they stay engaged with little effort from me, or is my effort the same in both kinds of classes, and the other class finds it hard to engage no matter what? Eventually I go into the class expecting what I expect,no matter what I try and tell myself.

Giving blogging a try!

This is my first time to blog. I would like to start out by saying that the first week has been great. I suppose my students and I are still in the "honeymoon" period, but it is good. I have a total of about 3 years experience in the classroom but this is the first time I have began a school year knowing that it is the beginning of my career, so I am excited. I teach Oral Communications and have had many of my students in class before or at least spoke to them in the halls (I am that teacher who talks to everyone!) so they were excited to have me again this year and that makes me feel good.