Whoa parent/teacher conferences. I have been here for almost 8 hours, and I had seen 50 parents. CRAZINESS!!!
Overall, the conferences went really well. I had one that escalated quickly, but I was also able to diffuse the situation quickly. The whole thing was caused by a misunderstanding because of the way our on-line grading system appears to the parents. Once I explained the situation, the mom actually seemed kind of embarrassed for being so angry.
What is really funny is that almost all of my 5th hour parents came and told me how much their child loves me and loves the class. This is only funny because that hour is definitely not my all-time favorite. And I teach them grammar and composition, which I think is much more dull than literature.
Today is the day that the job overall pays off. Hearing from parents that their child is learning alot from you, or that their daughter told them they HAD to meet their English teacher even if they didn't meet anyone else.
I think part of why today went so smoothly is because I had been pretty proactive with the parents whose students are having troubles and have called them long before today. Mostly for them, today was just reinforcing things that have already been discussed.
Tomorrow conferences are by appointment only, and I only have one conference. I get out at noon and then I get to go and meet with my florist. YAY!
Thursday, October 29, 2009
Saturday, October 17, 2009
...time flies...
Holy cow the school year is a fourth of the way over.
This week was better than last week, but it was still quite stressful. I finally got my service day ironed out. I also graded all the honors papers. This week my freshmen were writing satires. From the ones I have read so far, they have turned out pretty good and funny! My sophomores were writing their own original short story. They also have been pretty good thus far. The downside of first quarter being over is the fact that I have to have all the grades in by 4:00 on Tuesday. Considering most of the short stories and satires won't even be turned in until Monday that will be quite a feat.
We also were asked to fill out a sheet about the Jan-Term class we will be teaching the first week of January. Honestly, I had not given a thought. Part of the problem was that no one ever really told me what it was exactly. One of the most frustrating parts of being a new teacher is the lack of communication. I only find out information about something if I ask someone about it. I guess this is why they have the mentor program in public school.
I didn't get my sheet filled out for Jan-Term, but now that I have gotten some more information about it, I think I have an idea of what I am going to do. I am going to have students meet at a different coffee shop each day. We are going to read, analyze, and discuss African American literature and history. There are very few black students in my school, and I think most of the white students have never been exposed to that culture. I wish when I was in high school that we had read some African American literature. I honestly cannot remember on text we read that was written by a black author. I think it is important for these kids to learn that they live in the world of privelege and not everyone does. From comments made in class, it is obvious these students need some instruction in race relations.
I am currently reading the book Why Are All the Black Kids Sitting Together in the Cafeteria. I am finding it fascinating. Most of what the author is saying are things that Alex and I have already discussed. While it is not easy to sit there and read a book that tells you that you are in a seat of privelege just for being white, it is the reality of the situation. Even if you do not feel that you are racist, you are living in a society that operates under a racist system. We all have gotten advantages that we don't even realize. I think I will be able to tie some of this into my Jan-Term class.
Otherwise, I know that I want to include Langston Hughes, Ralph Ellison, bell hooks, Zora Neale Hurston, Alice Walker, Richard Wright, and James Baldwin. I have some theorists I have been thinking of using also.
Today I am a bit tired and feel like I have a cold. Maybe it's from sitting outside in the cold and rain last night watching my kids' soccer game. I have about 6-7 kids on the team, and it seems to mean a lot to them when I go to the games. They won 8-0! Now I will probably have to go to the next game, Regional Finals. Maybe it will warm up...
Monday we start research papers. Yuck. But, until then, I will enjoy my weekend!
This week was better than last week, but it was still quite stressful. I finally got my service day ironed out. I also graded all the honors papers. This week my freshmen were writing satires. From the ones I have read so far, they have turned out pretty good and funny! My sophomores were writing their own original short story. They also have been pretty good thus far. The downside of first quarter being over is the fact that I have to have all the grades in by 4:00 on Tuesday. Considering most of the short stories and satires won't even be turned in until Monday that will be quite a feat.
We also were asked to fill out a sheet about the Jan-Term class we will be teaching the first week of January. Honestly, I had not given a thought. Part of the problem was that no one ever really told me what it was exactly. One of the most frustrating parts of being a new teacher is the lack of communication. I only find out information about something if I ask someone about it. I guess this is why they have the mentor program in public school.
I didn't get my sheet filled out for Jan-Term, but now that I have gotten some more information about it, I think I have an idea of what I am going to do. I am going to have students meet at a different coffee shop each day. We are going to read, analyze, and discuss African American literature and history. There are very few black students in my school, and I think most of the white students have never been exposed to that culture. I wish when I was in high school that we had read some African American literature. I honestly cannot remember on text we read that was written by a black author. I think it is important for these kids to learn that they live in the world of privelege and not everyone does. From comments made in class, it is obvious these students need some instruction in race relations.
I am currently reading the book Why Are All the Black Kids Sitting Together in the Cafeteria. I am finding it fascinating. Most of what the author is saying are things that Alex and I have already discussed. While it is not easy to sit there and read a book that tells you that you are in a seat of privelege just for being white, it is the reality of the situation. Even if you do not feel that you are racist, you are living in a society that operates under a racist system. We all have gotten advantages that we don't even realize. I think I will be able to tie some of this into my Jan-Term class.
Otherwise, I know that I want to include Langston Hughes, Ralph Ellison, bell hooks, Zora Neale Hurston, Alice Walker, Richard Wright, and James Baldwin. I have some theorists I have been thinking of using also.
Today I am a bit tired and feel like I have a cold. Maybe it's from sitting outside in the cold and rain last night watching my kids' soccer game. I have about 6-7 kids on the team, and it seems to mean a lot to them when I go to the games. They won 8-0! Now I will probably have to go to the next game, Regional Finals. Maybe it will warm up...
Monday we start research papers. Yuck. But, until then, I will enjoy my weekend!
Sunday, October 11, 2009
Columbus...I love you.
Thank goodness for this three day weekend. I think I was starting to lose my mind. This past week was Rockford Christian's homecoming. Talk about crazy! The kids of course not only don't want to do anything but also believe they actually shouldn't have to do anything. I am the big bad teacher because I actually had a lesson planned for Friday instead of just showing a movie or letting them sit there and do nothing.
I also agreed to let the sophomores make their homecoming banner and decorations in my room. That was a mistake. While I love those kids dearly, I also need some alone time! I hardly got anything done while they were working in my room, because I was constantly watching to make sure that paint didn't end up on my floor, or they weren't stabbing themselves with scissors, or doing anything else they shouldn't be doing. After two weeks of spending 2 1/2 hours with these kids after school, I was ready to freak out!
First quarter ends on Friday which I think is crazy! I can't believe that the school year is almost a fourth of the way over already. I am happy to be done with short stories though. As much as I love reading them, 8 weeks is a long time! This week the kids are writing their own short stories, so those should be fun to read! My freshmen are spending the next week writing a saritical essay. Those should be even more fun to read! My honors kids are turning in their outside reading papers on Tuesday, so I am going to be loaded down with grading for sure.
Second quarter is all about research papers. While I am excited to move on to something new, I am also worried about all the independent work time the students will have. It is hard for them to concentrate on their own for an extended period of time, and I struggle to decide whether I should demand silence or I should let them just waste their time and have more homework. Also, the research paper unit I taught at Guilford only lasted a few weeks. This unit has to last 8! I will be teaching grammar mini lessons throughout, so that should help.
I am spending more time reading now which is nice. I am reading Revolutionary Road. I decided I needed a break from the classics and time to just read for pleasure! The book is somewhat depressing but also good. I want to rent the movie once I finish the book. Today I bought a new book: Why are all the Black Kids Sitting Together in the Cafeteria. I am excited to start reading it. While I absolutely LOVE Rockford Christian, I have been missing some of the diversity I had at Guilford (not the discipline problems, but the diversity). I have had several teaching opportunities though at RC. Most of these kids have gone to this school their entire lives and know nothing outside of it. They can't fathom that others in life have not been given the same opportunities that they have. While I personally believe I am teaching them Christian values (loving and understanding others), I also sometimes worry that my "leftist" views will get me in hot water. Since I think the kids need to hear these things, I am willing to take the risk.
Mostly, I think I am really doing a good job. I spend a lot of time not just trying to create lessons, but to make lessons that the students will actually enjoy and get something out of. If students don't think that the stories relate to their lives, they will never get anything out of them. I work hard to make connections, but I also challenge them to make the connections themselves. Likewise, I try and use song lyrics to make grammar more interesting for the freshmen. I am constantly learning, but I truly think that everyday I become a better teacher.
With all that said, I still love Columbus more than ever.
I also agreed to let the sophomores make their homecoming banner and decorations in my room. That was a mistake. While I love those kids dearly, I also need some alone time! I hardly got anything done while they were working in my room, because I was constantly watching to make sure that paint didn't end up on my floor, or they weren't stabbing themselves with scissors, or doing anything else they shouldn't be doing. After two weeks of spending 2 1/2 hours with these kids after school, I was ready to freak out!
First quarter ends on Friday which I think is crazy! I can't believe that the school year is almost a fourth of the way over already. I am happy to be done with short stories though. As much as I love reading them, 8 weeks is a long time! This week the kids are writing their own short stories, so those should be fun to read! My freshmen are spending the next week writing a saritical essay. Those should be even more fun to read! My honors kids are turning in their outside reading papers on Tuesday, so I am going to be loaded down with grading for sure.
Second quarter is all about research papers. While I am excited to move on to something new, I am also worried about all the independent work time the students will have. It is hard for them to concentrate on their own for an extended period of time, and I struggle to decide whether I should demand silence or I should let them just waste their time and have more homework. Also, the research paper unit I taught at Guilford only lasted a few weeks. This unit has to last 8! I will be teaching grammar mini lessons throughout, so that should help.
I am spending more time reading now which is nice. I am reading Revolutionary Road. I decided I needed a break from the classics and time to just read for pleasure! The book is somewhat depressing but also good. I want to rent the movie once I finish the book. Today I bought a new book: Why are all the Black Kids Sitting Together in the Cafeteria. I am excited to start reading it. While I absolutely LOVE Rockford Christian, I have been missing some of the diversity I had at Guilford (not the discipline problems, but the diversity). I have had several teaching opportunities though at RC. Most of these kids have gone to this school their entire lives and know nothing outside of it. They can't fathom that others in life have not been given the same opportunities that they have. While I personally believe I am teaching them Christian values (loving and understanding others), I also sometimes worry that my "leftist" views will get me in hot water. Since I think the kids need to hear these things, I am willing to take the risk.
Mostly, I think I am really doing a good job. I spend a lot of time not just trying to create lessons, but to make lessons that the students will actually enjoy and get something out of. If students don't think that the stories relate to their lives, they will never get anything out of them. I work hard to make connections, but I also challenge them to make the connections themselves. Likewise, I try and use song lyrics to make grammar more interesting for the freshmen. I am constantly learning, but I truly think that everyday I become a better teacher.
With all that said, I still love Columbus more than ever.
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