First week of May

The end is fast approaching.  I look around at all my little cherubs and think what greatness lies before them. They all have own little personalities and dreams.  However, it saddens me that soon I will be leaving them.  I informed my students that next week will be my  last week and Mrs. Hallam will be taking back over.  Surprisingly, they shouted, "we don't want you to go!"  Obviously, I had mixed emotions about their response.  Then they asked "can we have a party" and I of course laughed and said "maybe."

Students have been working on learning ethos, pathos and logos.  We are wrapping up the unit and it has been a fun one between using the magazine ads, commercials and PSA's.  They are now creating their very own PSA's on topics that the English department chose; the dirty dancing/grinding, plagarism, proof reading, busting a sag, purchasing electronics for students, sleeping in class.  The students are doing research but turning them into videos.  You can imagine how hysterical some of them actually are.

Besides the kids emotional responses the week has been somewhat harrowing.   The week has been super busy and stressful.  I had my last supervisor observation on Tuesday and my last teacher observation on Wednesday.  So the last week and a half I have frantically trying to plan out my last weeks here, getting my materials organized and complete my student analysis, all while working during the week.  I am very much looking forward to some much needed rest this weekend.

Week After Spring Break

I thought once we came back from spring break that the week would go sooooooo slow and the kids would be difficult to engage.   Boy, was I wrong.  My honors students wrote about how bored they were on vacation and couldn't wait to come back to school.  Many of them did not do much at all on vacation.  The standard class also informed me that vacation was boring but they were not super excited to be back either.  I was a little shocked and maybe this is my age showing here but when I had spring break I never wanted to come back to school.  Yes, as a teacher I probably should not be admitting this but its the truth.  It is the same with someone working and taking a vacation.  Most people don't want to go back to work either.  So their response to vacation was different than what I had anticipated.  However, it was a good thing because we easily transitioned into the next unit.
The week also flew by.  I guess this a good thing but on the other hand it also means the end of class and interning.  This makes me happy but I'll miss all the fantastic people I have met so far.

Senior Madness

I can very easily see how teachers get frustrated or overwhelmed at the end of a quarter.  It seems as though papers and past due work is coming from every crevice in the building.  What hurts though is the seniors.  A lot of them need a very specific grade this quarter to pass and graduate this year.  I have a few students who have not been to one of my classes since I started interning and now they are attempting to make up all the work for the whole entire semester.  
E.P.H students have until April 12^th to hand everything in.  Partly, I am annoyed that the students who have not come to class have this opportunity while students who have done what they were supposed to do this semester are struggling to meet the demands on them.  However, on the other hand if they were not able to hand in the work they would not be able to graduate.  I can understand the students who are at least trying, handing in work late but the ones who have done nothing all semester.  Come on.   I think it is totally unacceptable.  Where is the accountability for these students?  Will they go out into the work force or to college with this same mentality?  Aren’t we in a way doing them a huge disservice?  I really don’t see the point.  
I wonder if all other districts have this same practice in their school?  So how about it guys?  Are your students able to hand in ALL their work at the last minute after not trying all semester and this includes making up tests and quizzes too?  I’m just curious.  Maybe I’m wrong but I still feel as though it is not right.

Going against the grain!

Sometimes I wonder why things happen to me.  However, once I stop and think about it for a minute I always seem to find the silver lining in almost any experience.  

This week I had to stand up to three teachers including my CT for one of my students.  My students went up to the library to continue working on their research papers with my collaboration teacher while I gathered a few extra outlines that my students would undoubtedly need.  Once I got up to the library (about two minutes after my students)the librarian immediately grabbed my ear.  She informed me that one of my students brought a coffee into the library and that she was very rude to her.  (E.P.H's has a hard fast rule in their school, students are not allowed to have anything but water in class.)  I told her that I would speak to the student and take care of it and had her point the student out to me.

When I spoke to the student she began to get visibly upset and saying she can't throw it out.  She began turning blotchy red and looked close to tears.  I sat down and asked her what is really going on.  I figured for her to be this upset it had to be about more than just a cup of coffee.  Her actions and attitude were not typical from what I have seen in previous classes.  She was hesitant but said "Miss V.  I have Crohn's disease.  I usually drink my stuff at home but I didn't have time this morning.  It tastes awful in anything except coffee."  I said "ok, I will take care of it but you need to apologize to the librarian."  She agreed and did so later.  I also asked if the nurse was aware of the situation and she said "no."  I also informed her she would need to go and speak to the nurse.

I returned and to speak to the librarian.  Upon walking over she told me she was throwing out the coffee.  I asked her not to and explained the situation.  She went off saying they are not supposed to have coffee.  I explained I would gladly handle any fall out from the incident.  In the meantime the collaboration teacher came over and agreed with the librarian.  I again explained the situation.  The collaboration teacher told e there was nothing listed on her chart on the computer. I didn't give in and they accepted the terms of the arrangement.

Finally, I thought the situation was resolved but it was not.  Once I went downstairs to my classroom my Ct teacher asked me what happened.  The news had already traveled.  I went through the whole incident again with her.  She told me "I don't want to say she lied to you but I have never heard about it." For a brief second I replayed the incident in my head and though maybe I am wrong.  Then I saw the students face in my head and how upset she was.  I  felt as though I was still right but didn't say anything.   I did however have that brief moment of doubt.  My ct then told me that she was going to the students next class and taking her out and down to the nurse.  She was going to tell her how concerned she was.  My ct said that you can't accuse them of lying because if they are right we could get sued.  And off she went!

My Ct came back to class and said well if she is lying she is doing a really good job.  My student said that she was just recently diagnosed.  The ct overheard her talking to the nurse and it all sounded like the truth.

My silver lining?  My student now has the little medical sign on her chart so there will not be further problems like this for her.  Also, I found it in myself to stand up for my student and something I felt was the right thing to do even though it put me in a difficult position.  I don't know, I like to give people a chance maybe it's because I am not jaded yet or that I am naive sometimes.  I tend to see the the good in people unless they give me a reason not to.  Perhaps it is just my personality.  I'm just glad it didn't turn out she was lying.  I know it could have gone a lot differently and that would not have been cool.

In full swing!

So this has been a crazy, busy and exciting week!  I have fully taken over three block periods in which I am teaching something different to each class.  It is exciting too because each class is a different level. I am teaching one of each level; standard, college prep and an honors class.  I have learned that you definitely need to be prepared ahead of time especially this week.  The school is completely out of copy paper.  I was very happy that I had already prepared and copied all my dittos for this week.  Some of the teachers were running around trying to locate any remains of paper to copy dittos and packets for the students.  I am pretty sure I will be buying some copy paper this week!
Besides the copy paper, I have learned that being prepared ahead of time and having my dittos and outlines ready to go makes me a much more easy going, relaxed teacher.  Well as relaxed as you can be, anyway.  I hate that feeling of oh my god do I have everything I need the night before.  I have packets ready to go the week before for each class and if I need to adjust as I go, I already have the material read

Eccentric "C"

Eccentric “C”

The student I have chosen to write about is very different from the rest of the class.  If I had to describe him in one word it would be eccentric.  He seems to like to go out of his way to be different from his classmates.  His clothing style changes frequently.  One day he comes in dressed like a skateboarder.  Another day he dresses like a preppy kid and yet another day he wears a flannel shirt and jeans.  I never know what to expect.  He is tall and gangly looking.  “C” also never fails to have a hat with him. 

“C’s” hat was the cause of the first time we had a confrontation.  This was a battle at the beginning of the quarter because he felt he did not have to follow the school rules.  He now walks into my classroom and immediately takes off his hat.  When “C” speaks he is never quiet.  His voice bellows with smug sureness that he is always right.  “C” is often argumentative and forever lets his feelings be known about the government trying to control his life and his extreme opposition to it.

“C” is very intelligent but often lazy.  He will write the minimum required and most times try to skate by without writing at all.  He seems to not like to write.  I say that because whenever I put him in a group for a discussion or group work he always has a lot to offer the class.  However, to get him to write it down is a completely different story.  His grade in my class is excellent in terms of testing.  When he writes for classwork or homework I find myself often prodding him to do the work.  When “C” does write I am often floored by his responses.  His grammar and writing skills clearly require some improvement but his ideas are phenomenal.

Although, “C” is the “pebble in my shoe” he is one of my favorites in the class.  He is always eager to share when we are reading Macbeth.  His ideas are often insightful and thought provoking.  Even though “C” requires a lot of attention and prodding, I am always happy to see him in my class.  I just wish that “C” had higher expectations for himself in terms of what he can accomplish in class.  

A little trip

I figured I would share this embarrassing story and give all of you a good laugh.
I brought three students to a computer room to watch a movie clip, only to find another teacher had taken over the room.  We were able to watch the clip but could not really discuss it as the classroom was full and very loud.  Going back to our classroom was not an option as there were four other movie clips going on at the same time as well as discussions.  The only place we found free was the auditorium.  So we sat where the orchestra section usually sits in front of the stage as the rest of the place was dark.  Our area had a table, chairs and most importantly light!  We finished our discussion and got up to head back to class.  The orchestra stage looked like it went flush right up against the stage.  I quickly found out it did not to my surprise!  I was walking to get off the stage and suddenly I put my foot down only to touch nothing!  I was walking on air!  There was no floor there!  I kinda fell down in this hole that is probably about half the size of me.  Ever see someone do the stop, drop and roll?  Well this was the drop and pop up version.  I quickly jumped up and all three boys immediately asked "are you alright Ms., do you need help and are you sure you are ok?"  I immediately laughed it off and said, "hey watch out there is a hole there."  They immediately started laughing.  Although it was an embarrassing experience I now have a different connection to these students. They never said anything to the rest of their classmates but every now and then they will walk over and say, "are you ok?"  and we immediately laugh together.