state testing starts tomorrow! (cue scary music here) i will be watching my kids test for three hours starting wednesday and when that is done i will be having a staring contest with those not testing for three hours.
we have to play educational games if we are not teaching and honestly sometimes my kids need a break. what would you do? any suggestions?
Monday, April 9, 2012
Sunday, April 1, 2012
well hello again...
I teach at a year-round school which meant that I had a two week spring break! I spent part of week one teaching intersession and then the rest of the week taking care of myself. I found myself starting to burn out mentally and I decided that wasn't going to help my kids so I took the rest of the week off. I felt bad not finishing intersession but we had more than enough teachers and not enough students so I did it and to be honest it felt nice. I spent the second week of spring break with my husbands family in San Antonio, Texas. I had a blast! My husband is the youngest of three and his brother and sister both have two children. I MELT when I hear the words "Aunt Jen" Prior to marrying my husband I had one nephew (and it was because I have known Parker's mom my ENTIRE life.) A week of hearing "Aunt Jen" and I still melt. This was my first family vacation with my new family and it was great. I loved getting to know my new family since we are all so spread out. What did you do for spring break this year?
One of the problems with a two week spring break was that the kids came back on Monday crazy, crazy, and crazy. We had beautiful weather (no air conditioning because that doesn't come on until the 15th!) and no one wanted to pay attention or review things we had previously discussed. Not to mention just like last year the America's Choice people showed up on the day we got back from Spring Break. I love our new America's Choice rep but seriously? Why would you show up then? I have been teaching for three years and have received two bad reports as a teacher and both occured last year from our old AC rep. The first one was the week after spring break and I had been gone the week prior to spring break for oh my wedding in South Carolina. The sub(s) had not done any of the work I had assigned so I had to come back to "make up" work with my kids. Strike One against me! The next bad review was the week after state testing. I hadn't seen my first/second hour kids (I teach 90 minutes) in probably over a week and right before the rep comes in my kids were telling me they didn't have to learn anymore because we were done with testing. Obviously I had a discussion explaining why that was wrong, blah, blah, well then I tried to take my kids on a virtual field trip and of course NONE of the computers were working. I had done this field trip with my other students and they had liked it, the computers had work, and now while I'm being observed nothing worked. It was horrible because I could see everything blowing up in my face but couldn't stop it. Not to mention the woman kept leaving the room so she would miss my having to discipline the kids and she wanted to know why all of the sudden the assistant principal had shown up in my room. I had called her to come down because I had warned the kids if they didn't start behaving she would be down to take some kids to ISS. Can you tell I'm bitter? These reviews didn't hurt me professionally but they hurt me personally because I put my heart and soul into teaching and well just like in the real world things happen to derail us.
Have you ever had that happen to you?
Wow this is a long post and please excuse the run ons, spelling errors, etc. I am not going to double check things because if I do I'll probably end up deleting things, writing more, you know the curse of being long winded.
I hope you have had a good weekend....
One of the problems with a two week spring break was that the kids came back on Monday crazy, crazy, and crazy. We had beautiful weather (no air conditioning because that doesn't come on until the 15th!) and no one wanted to pay attention or review things we had previously discussed. Not to mention just like last year the America's Choice people showed up on the day we got back from Spring Break. I love our new America's Choice rep but seriously? Why would you show up then? I have been teaching for three years and have received two bad reports as a teacher and both occured last year from our old AC rep. The first one was the week after spring break and I had been gone the week prior to spring break for oh my wedding in South Carolina. The sub(s) had not done any of the work I had assigned so I had to come back to "make up" work with my kids. Strike One against me! The next bad review was the week after state testing. I hadn't seen my first/second hour kids (I teach 90 minutes) in probably over a week and right before the rep comes in my kids were telling me they didn't have to learn anymore because we were done with testing. Obviously I had a discussion explaining why that was wrong, blah, blah, well then I tried to take my kids on a virtual field trip and of course NONE of the computers were working. I had done this field trip with my other students and they had liked it, the computers had work, and now while I'm being observed nothing worked. It was horrible because I could see everything blowing up in my face but couldn't stop it. Not to mention the woman kept leaving the room so she would miss my having to discipline the kids and she wanted to know why all of the sudden the assistant principal had shown up in my room. I had called her to come down because I had warned the kids if they didn't start behaving she would be down to take some kids to ISS. Can you tell I'm bitter? These reviews didn't hurt me professionally but they hurt me personally because I put my heart and soul into teaching and well just like in the real world things happen to derail us.
Have you ever had that happen to you?
Wow this is a long post and please excuse the run ons, spelling errors, etc. I am not going to double check things because if I do I'll probably end up deleting things, writing more, you know the curse of being long winded.
I hope you have had a good weekend....
Monday, March 12, 2012
spring break, what is that?
Friday at 4:25 i started Spring Break. What are my big spring break plans? I will be spending the next week teaching intersession from 9 - 3, then having softball practice. I will also be celebrating my one year wedding aniversary with my husband. The second week of spring break I will be outside of San Antonio with my husband and his family. I can't wait!
Are you on spring break? Do you have big plans?
Are you on spring break? Do you have big plans?
Friday, March 9, 2012
my feelings exactly!
Kim at Finding JOY in 6th grade ( http://joyin6th.blogspot.com/2012/03/to-blog-or-not-to-blog-blogdentity.html ) recently wrote an amazing post about blogging and I am going to use her post as a template today.
Author's Purpose -
I began blogging a few years ago for a few different reasons, my friends were blogging and I liked what I was reading, I had moved back to South Carolina and this was a great way to keep in touch with family and friends, I couldn't get on facebook at work (and I had a lame job) are the main reasons.
I have kept blogging because I have moved back to Oklahoma and this is still a great way to family and friends to know what I'm up to. I have found amazing resources in the blogger community not to mention the fact that it helps knowing there are other teachers out there who care as much as I do. Who let me know it's okay to have a bad day and that it doesn't mean you aren't a good teacher plus I am starting to "make friends" via blogger.
What can I share? -
This one is a big one for me because my lesson plans are EXTREMELY rigid as to what I can and can't do. If you don't teach the program I teach then I can't help you but if you do then I'm an okay resource for you. I don't follow the rules exactly because I can't. Why can't I? I have big plans for myself and my future role in the education world (time will tell if i succeed) but it has a lot to do with helping with education reform and one of my BIGGEST convictions is that there is not one program perfect for every student. YOU the teacher have to have the ability to tweak things to work for you and not get in trouble for it. As a teacher we have a responsiblity to our students to help them succeed in life and for that I can't do something that I know will help my kids fail. I have spent quite a few sleepless nights with that issue and finally after a good talk with my admistration I know I am doing the right thing for my kids.
I can share my thoughts, ideas, excitement and I hope I can make you laugh. I think I am funny but then again I am crazy enough to teach 7th grade English where the word ain't is so common I tell strangers to not say ain't. oops!
I can also share my love of teaching! I was the student that no one thought would graduate high school (reasons being another blog post in the near future) and now I have a Masters degree from an amazing school in the South. (where they are beginning to get a fantastic football team!)
Options -
I will continue to blog and hope that my rambling, rants, and raves are read by at least one person that understands, or cares. I will also continue to blog because it makes me feel better. I know that teachers are underappreciated, underpaid, overworked, but I want to share about the good things too. Don't get me wrong I still will rant, but I will also make an effort to rave.
So as my first rave thank you Kim for reminding me why I blog!
Author's Purpose -
I began blogging a few years ago for a few different reasons, my friends were blogging and I liked what I was reading, I had moved back to South Carolina and this was a great way to keep in touch with family and friends, I couldn't get on facebook at work (and I had a lame job) are the main reasons.
I have kept blogging because I have moved back to Oklahoma and this is still a great way to family and friends to know what I'm up to. I have found amazing resources in the blogger community not to mention the fact that it helps knowing there are other teachers out there who care as much as I do. Who let me know it's okay to have a bad day and that it doesn't mean you aren't a good teacher plus I am starting to "make friends" via blogger.
What can I share? -
This one is a big one for me because my lesson plans are EXTREMELY rigid as to what I can and can't do. If you don't teach the program I teach then I can't help you but if you do then I'm an okay resource for you. I don't follow the rules exactly because I can't. Why can't I? I have big plans for myself and my future role in the education world (time will tell if i succeed) but it has a lot to do with helping with education reform and one of my BIGGEST convictions is that there is not one program perfect for every student. YOU the teacher have to have the ability to tweak things to work for you and not get in trouble for it. As a teacher we have a responsiblity to our students to help them succeed in life and for that I can't do something that I know will help my kids fail. I have spent quite a few sleepless nights with that issue and finally after a good talk with my admistration I know I am doing the right thing for my kids.
I can share my thoughts, ideas, excitement and I hope I can make you laugh. I think I am funny but then again I am crazy enough to teach 7th grade English where the word ain't is so common I tell strangers to not say ain't. oops!
I can also share my love of teaching! I was the student that no one thought would graduate high school (reasons being another blog post in the near future) and now I have a Masters degree from an amazing school in the South. (where they are beginning to get a fantastic football team!)
Options -
I will continue to blog and hope that my rambling, rants, and raves are read by at least one person that understands, or cares. I will also continue to blog because it makes me feel better. I know that teachers are underappreciated, underpaid, overworked, but I want to share about the good things too. Don't get me wrong I still will rant, but I will also make an effort to rave.
So as my first rave thank you Kim for reminding me why I blog!
Monday, February 20, 2012
what do you do?
i have tried to write this post at least 15 times but i can't seem to get my thoughts in order. i have so much to say but i don't how to get it all out. do you ever have those moments? i have decided to make another top ten list for this post. i know i was supposed to make it friday but i didn't. i kept trying to write it and well it didn't work so hopefully this time it will.
10. i want to eventually work on education policy but i feel like i have so much to learn before i can even think about that.
9. i think standardized testing is a joke.
8. i think a day of professional development is a joke. i think it should be more than just one day a year.
7. just because it isn't in your contract doesn't mean you can't help others.
6. i think that before you teach you must also spend a year in the corporate world.
5. teachers are people too.
4. just because i am a new teacher doesn't mean i'm naive.
3. not all students are created equal.
2. sometimes teachers act worse than students.
1. not all parents are evil.
what are some things you want to get off your chest? are you scared to death to share things too?
Sunday, February 19, 2012
how many hats do you wear?
i have been teaching for the past three years and in these past three years i have learned some amazing things. i have also met some amazing people. while teaching these past few years i have worn various different hats. what kind of hats you ask? i am the head volleyball coach (rule #1 is don't hit me with the ball!), assistant softball coach, english department head, remedial english teacher and on grade level english teacher, building leadership committee member, vice president of facality advisory comittee (drafted not volunteered!), yearbook advisor, and those are just the ones that are ongoing. my school is understaffed, underfunded, and underappreciated by the district. we are supposed to close in a few years to become an elementary school due to the MAPS project (which stinks!) and it upsets me. i teach some of the greatest kids ever and we are one of the few schools not overcrowded. this is not a woe is me post this is just a how many hats do you wear post? what are you actively involved in at school? do you wish you could do more or less? sometimes i feel like i don't get to see my husband (and we haven't even been married a year yet) but he gets that my job right now is very taxing. i love him for that understanding. :)
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