Thursday, May 16, 2013

I don't feel so great today. :( I'm tired despite it being a fairly low-key, successful day.

Some of the changes I've made this semester have worked really well. I love what I'm doing with SSR. We start every day with the students reading books they've chosen. At the end of reading time, I pass out little sheets of paper (I cut scrap paper into quarter-sheets and use those) and students write their name, the title of the book, how many pages it has, and which pages they read, as well as a short summary. Those summaries get put in a business envelope which is kept in their writing portfolio. Every few weeks we go to the computer lab and they use the summaries to type up responses to a set of prompts about their SSR books. They print those out and I staple them to the wall by the classroom library. In addition, they present the responses to the class.

I've also retooled my homeworks. Most of them are thematically connected to our reading. There are others that ask the students to reflect on what they've learned and/or what is asked of them and how their work matches up to the expectations. Work is due at the beginning of the period, and so while they're reading their SSR books, I'm reading their responses. It's pretty nice - I update the gradebook EVERY DAY and it also gives me a chance to see how things are going with them (they have the option to freewrite for half the page).

I want to do more with lit groups again next term. I really didn't do much with that this term because I expanded SSR so much.

I need to go back and find my planning posts from last year...

Continue...

Friday, May 3

Note to self...

When you want students to write about a democracy, avoid using the phrase "a democratic society." By the time they get home, they will have forgotten your explanation and will write about the political party rather than the governmental style. :P

Continue...

Thursday, April 25

Next year our class sizes are going to go up significantly. I'll probably do a "first pass" on my essays and separate them into three groups: needs challenge, needs practice, and needs help. Students whose work regularly ends up in the 'needs help' group are the ones I'll pull for conferences.

This is always the time of year that I start reviewing what I've done and thinking ahead to how I want to do it next year. I've noticed that I'm not doing as well with contacting parents, and especially as we head into the home stretch, I need to make that a priority.

Continue...

Tuesday, April 23

So I picked up the box of novels I'll be using for my last unit. And what irked the heck out of me is that they're paperbacks, and they were just tossed in there any which way. No WONDER the books we got in 2007 are completely beat up. These were purchased in 2010 and there's no way they're going to last much beyond another year or two if teachers keep letting students treat them that way.

This is something that's particularly important to me, because reading is such a central part of our curriculum, and because money is SO tight right now.

Continue...

Wednesday, April 17

So we did our Caesar workshop last week. I expanded it to two days instead of one, and I feel like that was a mistake. I like the idea of reviewing it first before jumping into the scenes, but I think what I'll do next term is use the summaries with a mini-study-guide the first day, and then do the workshop on the second day. A lot of the students mentioned being completely lost, which definitely wasn't what I was going for; I was hoping that diving right into the original text would be bracing but not alienating. "Yes, it's difficult, but if you focus and work hard, you can accomplish amazing things" was the idea.

I've also found an example of a research paper, provided online from Bedford-St. Martins. We'll look at the Works Cited page first and then at the construction of the essay itself. I know I want to try to have two separate days in the computer lab each month, in addition to the time that I need for the research paper. And I want to do more essay writing so that we can also do more reading in front of the class - short pieces.

Back to grading research papers. UGH.

Continue...

Monday, March 11

I really, really hate Daylight Savings.

I need to do a better job of taking that into account. My first-period students were all punch-drunk and it doesn't help that I'm tired as well. I tried to go to bed early last night but you know how that works - you're tossing and turning for that hour and then because you're so antsy you end up staying awake even later than if you'd gone to bed at the normal time.

It's also annoying to have to either find someone to watch my students or just suffer if I have to go to the bathroom.

Not a whole lot else to report. I got my evaluation, and was rated completely satisfactory. Blah. I wish there was an option for 'exemplary,' but apparently teachers can't be exemplary or something. I dunno.

Today is probably going to be one of the days where I just have to push myself through it.

Continue...

Wednesday, February 27

I am unbelievably tired today. I took some NyQuil before bed and it just doesn't let go of me like it used to. It's really annoying, because the decongestant part of it wears off way before the drowsiness does!

Even so, today has been very productive. I collated and turned in my student surveys. I wrote up my peer-observation notes and turned those in. I created the program for the spring musical and gave it to the Drama Club adviser to review. I called the doctor and rescheduled the appointment that they'd rescheduled for this morning without asking me. I had to fuss a little and say PLEASE LET ME TALK TO A HUMAN BEING THIS TIME because I left messages and no one ever called me back. I feel like there were a few other things I did during planning but I erased the notes off my hand (ballpoint ink for the win!) and now I don't remember!

Oh! I also got observed on Monday. I know I did a good job. I hope I did everything I was supposed to - I know I had my standards posted and the essential question and I have student work on display and my word wall and I made sure to call on different students and talk with them not just at them... I don't know. Hopefully I'll get my eval sheet soon.

Continue...

Wednesday, February 20

Nothing much to report. I have down that I need to run photocopies of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, but I think I may already have done so. The thing is, I'm in here in the teacher work room, and IF I've already run copies, they're allll the way out in my trailer and it is COLD outside today.

I'm checking on lab times for the end of the next unit, and I've also contacted another teacher about doing my observation... I haven't decided which other teacher I want to work with. I think I'm going to go with history teachers, because I want to know what they do to guide students as they read. I think I'm more likely to see examples of extended reading in history classes than in science, math, or electives. All teachers in the same department have the same planning time, which usually is a great thing, but it means I can't go observe another English teacher.

I've run copies of an article discussing Lincoln's apparent use of Machiavellian techniques, annnnnd... there's a log post I want to use but for some reason I can't seem to get in touch with the author. My comments aren't getting posted :(

I also need to get the crate that has the class set of The Prince. It'd probably be helpful to have that, too...

And I need to get all of this into proper lesson-plan format and submit that. UGHHH :P

Continue...

Livid

So once again I got not very much accomplished during planning. I came in, made some tea, went to the bathroom, and then went to cover another teacher's class. They were taking a test so I couldn't make parent calls or watch the video that I need to make a worksheet for. Not a big deal - I found some blog posts I'd like to use in upcoming units and left messages with the authors. Did a bit of writing. Took some DayQuil, drank my tea. Loving the cough drops that my husband picked up at the grocery store - they're SOOO soothing, and even after they're gone, the effects linger. It's nice.

So anyway, the bell rings and I wait the 2-3 minutes for alllll the students to gather their things and get out of the room (how DO they make it to their next classes on time?!) and then rush over to the workroom to go potty and heat some more water for tea, but some jerk locked the darn door, so I pop my cup of water into the microwave for two minutes (I'll be late but hopefully I won't have to cough my way through class) and go across and down the hall to the next-nearest workroom and use THAT bathroom and then dash back to the first workroom to get my hot water...

Which was setting out on the counter, still at room temperature.

Why would someone do that? Seriously. Why?

So I did not have any lovely minty tea to sip on to soothe my throat during my long class. Grrr.

Also: "Can I go take my books to the library?" No. This is time to READ. This is not library time. This counts as work time. This is like asking "can I be excused from a homework assignment because I spent the time doing other things?" No. I am so over this you have no idea.

Continue...

Tuesday, February 12

Today is shaping up to be a questionable day. *sigh* I'm starting to have some resistance from students when I ask them to focus on their work rather than texting. I have one student whose grandfather is in the hospital. I told him to put his phone away - if I saw it out again, it'd go in my filing cabinet until the end of the day. He said, "but it's my mom." I'm like... dude, what is your mom thinking, texting you during class? SERIOUSLY.

I would like to touch base with my student directors from last semester's Julius Caesar unit and have them interact with my new classes for some of the other units as well. I know I need to finish watching the Machiavelli documentary and taking notes. AND SOON. That's our next unit, and we're winding things up with LOTF ... well, kind of today. We have some other stuff to work on for the unit, but we're finishing the book today.

It's frustrating not to have my room during planning, because I really do need privacy for parent phone calls, and I simply can't rely on it in the teacher workrooms. Teachers send student in to pick up papers from the printer, or to make up a quiz, or even to buy snacks for them out of the vending machine (this one drives me bananas).

Additionally, I simply don't understand why a floating teacher would be assigned to the trailers. That's just MEAN! It's bad enough that you don't have a classroom of your own, but to have to come out of the building every day as well, trudging through puddles and glop on rainy days... ugh, it sucks! And you're stuck in a classroom with a crappy layout (long and narrow), and... yeah.

So I try to be patient when I come back to my room and I find books on the floor instead of in the little trays under the seats, or mud tracked everywhere, or papers around the desks instead of the trash can.

Because it could be worse. ;)

Continue...

Monday, February 11

So I've got a few angels who would rather text than work. Big surprise there. Also, we were out late last night (it was totally worth it) so I'm exhausted. Today is Monday, so I need to call at least ten parents. My goal is fifteen. I want to start with anyone who is missing assignments.

There's also a fan competition going on for Zombies, Run! and I want to get another scene written for my audio mission.

The cafeteria doesn't get new veggies until tomorrow, soooo I think I'm going to go with the wild rice and broccoli mix I've got in the freezer. Doesn't sound very appetizing, but oh well.

And I want to print progress reports. Then I think I'm good for today.

Continue...

Thursday, February 7

I am exceptionally tired this morning. It is the ninth day of the new semester. I had a student come in this morning with a note for his absence over the past three days. In all, he has missed six days of instruction. I have another student in the same situation. When they're here, they do good work. But if they're never here, how can they improve their skills? How will they understand the works we're reading and studying in class if they're not here to read and study with us?

So, clearly, I have two parent calls that I HAVE to make today. *sigh* I hope things can change...

Continue...

Wednesday, February 6

It's the little things that get to me.

Like today, during planning. Wednesday is my lesson planning day. I did not get any unit planning done. Fortunately I don't really need to, as I've still got two weeks left in this unit and those two weeks are securely planned out. But it feels like I got nothing done. Which is why I should have kept the list like I keep telling myself I'm going to.

• I set up library and checked lab times for research. We are now completely scheduled, and while I didn't get times that are idea (we have to split spring break, UGH) at least I won't have to worry about not getting library time or having to use the computer carts.
• I did some troubleshooting on the computer, contacted tech support to let them know I was having a problem, and found an update that solved it, and then emailed the people I'd previously emailed to let them know it was taken care of.
• I filled out and submitted data about students who failed my classes during the previous marking period.
• I made photocopies for my upcoming unit of the United Nations "Universal Declaration of Human Rights."
• I gave a hip scarf to our art teacher.
• Oh yeah - I went potty.

I guess it's the computer thing that really sucked down most of the period. I didn't get any writing done, and I really have been trying to do more of that.

And my final class of the day is starting to give me a bit of trouble. I get frustrated when I have to repeat directions. I had a student who used our free-reading time to do some of her make-up work. And while completing work you missed while you were absent is important, so is doing the work that's currently assigned. The instructions were on the board. AND also I review them out loud as students enter the room. There really is no excuse.

Continue...

Tuesday, February 5

I have mid-morning planning this semester. My favorite is planning over the period that has lunch. It's nice because it splits the day, and because that period is the only one that NEVER gets tampered with! Whether we have pep rallies, assemblies, early dismissals or late starts, lunch-period planning is never cut.

This planning period used to be my least favorite. Early planning gives you a chance to ease into the day, and to review your lesson plans and feel completely prepared. Late-afternoon planning helps you get prepared for the next day. Mid-morning is just kind of bleh. It's not early enough to be helpful for THAT day, but it feels too early to be getting ready for the next day when you've still got several classes for THIS one.

However, I also have the last lunch period. And I'm finding that mid-morning planning and late lunch break up my day nicely into small, more-easily-manageable chunks. We're also required to stay for an hour after students are dismissed, so I have an end-of-day breather as well.

All in all, it's been a pleasant surprise to find out that what I thought was going to be a crappy schedule is one I very much enjoy! :)

Continue...

Monday, February 4

As of today, we've been on the new semester for a whole week. Today during planning I will need to get in touch with parents for the first time, introducing myself and my expectations for my students.

• SSR - reading every day, discussing books with class
• Composition book rather than spiral-bound notebook
• "Quickwrite" homework most nights, please review student's work
• Class website updated daily; all notes & assignments online, daily extra credit available.
• Gradebook updated at least weekly online.
• Questions for me?

I also need to print out the syllabus quiz and the limericks for tomorrow's study on rhyme scheme and meter. And I need to call the parent of a student from last semester who didn't pass, did some extra work... which shows that he really isn't ready to move on without a LOT of additional help and practice. Not looking forward to that one.

Continue...

Wednesday, January 30

My classroom wasn't available today, and so my classes have met in different rooms throughout the building. Unfortunately, I only found out about this a few minutes before school started, so I barely had time to grab my computer, our copies of Lord of the Flies, and head to my first room assignment.

Today we talked about beginnings, and the way writers craft the start of their stories to set up a reader's expectations for what the rest of the story will be like. I used examples from Moby-Dick, Huck Finn, Pride and Prejudice, 1984, and The Graveyard Book.

As they read chapter 1, the students asked some good questions: "what does it mean by 'the scar'?" was one that came up in a couple of classes. So we talked briefly about the context (one boy was standing on the scar, so obviously it wasn't a scar on his face or something) and then by using what they already knew about the story (they're standing on the ground, so the scar is on the ground) the students were able to put together that the scar was the part of the island that was gouged up by the plane crash.

Continue...

Tuesday, January 29

The new semester started yesterday, so I have a whole new crop of students. I was completely unprepared - these guys have gotten started without complaint and focused on doing their work and so we finished like fifteen minutes early. Not a big deal - fortunately I have planning second period so I'll be able to pull in a supplemental activity for my other classes.

Things I need to do during planning:

• Turn in the grade reports
• Possibly delete all the comments that I wrote for my previous group of students and re-type them into a new field, URGH
• Go get copies of Lord of the Flies
• Find crayons and coloring paper for the characterization assignment

Continue...

Thursday, December 20

What I've done during planning today:

• Graded tests
• Ate lunch
• Wrote up students for skipping class
• Discussed make-up work with a student
• Emailed administration about a student with missing contact information
• Smuggled gift to Secret Sister
• Went potty
• Picked up trash in classroom

What I need to do after school:

• Call parents
• Grade tests from the second half of the day

Continue...

Tuesday, December 18

Stuff I absolutely have got to get done today:

• Call parents whose chillins has not turned in the final draft of Friday's essay
• Input Caesar quiz grades
• Finish grading Friday's essay
• Put essay grades in computer
• Double-check daily work grades in computer
• Run and print progress reports for tomorrow
• Check that the Hunk called about medical bills

Continue...

Thursday, December 13

What I did during planning today:

• Call parents
• Email Principal M back
• Fill out and turn in discipline forms for students who'd been tardy
• Download student contact information from the server
• Photocopy incomplete student work so that I can keep the original and they can continue working
• Supervise a student doing make-up work

Continue...