Monday, February 22, 2010
New Era
We were lucky enough to begin our new unit with brand-spanking-new books! No one has ever opened these before! I tried communictae to the kids how cool that is.
I'm so happy we're done with poetry and moving on to something new :)
Six Week Grades
I just sent in my final grades for the first six weeks! Hooray! The poetry projects were really interesting to read, although many kids did not complete the assignment and their grades suffered. It frustrates me that the kids who have the resources and abilities don't take advantage of them. The kids who did the best on this project are kids who struggled and needed extra help. For some reason, fifth period is the worst -their class average is almost 60%. First period's is about 65%, and third period is nearly 70%. I wonder why the difference? I know fifth is always a little behind the other classes. I'm guessing this means they receive less time to work and fewer instructions. Today I told them about this problem and I was probably visible annoyed. I was much stricter, trying to keep the class focused. We will see how this works.
Wednesday, February 17, 2010
The BINDER
Today I used the awe-inspiring, crazy-old, and slightly rusty (but still amazing) BINDER to bind the students poetry books. Thanks to Mr. Bob Gorrell for rescuing this amazing piece of metal and cleaning it up for classroom use. We are lucky to have such a cool machine!
Feel the power of the BINDER!!!
Tuesday, February 16, 2010
Long Weekend
After the long weekend, I am feeling refreshed and ready to take on the new six weeks! The students are turning in their poetry projects this week and honestly, I'm glad we're done with poems. I'm excited to see their work and looking forward to starting our unit on To Kill a Mockingbird!
In other news, I read all of Shadow of the Wind, the book my student gave me as homework. It was beautiful and enchanting, honoring the art of story telling. I am happy to be able to share in the love of a good book, and one of my student's favorites. I think I'll bring him 100 Years of Solitude, which he is sure to enjoy.
Another update about my UNM friend who had the trouble with her students videotaping her: the students were suspended for a week, and the school officer (a woman) volunteered to come and talk to the class about sexual harrassment and appropriate behavior. It has been a learning experience for us all.
In other news, I read all of Shadow of the Wind, the book my student gave me as homework. It was beautiful and enchanting, honoring the art of story telling. I am happy to be able to share in the love of a good book, and one of my student's favorites. I think I'll bring him 100 Years of Solitude, which he is sure to enjoy.
Another update about my UNM friend who had the trouble with her students videotaping her: the students were suspended for a week, and the school officer (a woman) volunteered to come and talk to the class about sexual harrassment and appropriate behavior. It has been a learning experience for us all.
Tuesday, February 9, 2010
Drug Dialogue
There was a sub for Mrs. Gorrell today (APS is processing my sub application like a sloth full of molasses.) It was inevitably an interesting day.
Two of my male students have been discussing drugs with me. Well, more them telling me about how they smoke weed and writing about how they get chinc-eyed and other things I did not want to hear. This dilemma was also brought up during my seminar class. Apparently the perscribed response is to tell they kids this doesn't impress you and then tell them you don't want to hear about these types of things because you may have to take furhter actions. First, would I really take further actions, or would that be an empty threat? (Let's face it, I don't really discipline my kids...) And second, is it the right answer to just shove these things under the rug? It seems silly not to discuss issues in my students' lives. Third, these two students in particular do not turn in any work and are hardly ever on task during class. They failed the first semester and I don't have any hope they will pass the second, let alone graduate high school. I don't want to seem like I don't believe in my students, I know if they wanted to do this whole school thing, they'd rock at it. I wonder if they have just been shot down so many times by the system that they turn to drugs and alcohol for relief, and then talk about it in class so they don't have to do any work...???
Two of my male students have been discussing drugs with me. Well, more them telling me about how they smoke weed and writing about how they get chinc-eyed and other things I did not want to hear. This dilemma was also brought up during my seminar class. Apparently the perscribed response is to tell they kids this doesn't impress you and then tell them you don't want to hear about these types of things because you may have to take furhter actions. First, would I really take further actions, or would that be an empty threat? (Let's face it, I don't really discipline my kids...) And second, is it the right answer to just shove these things under the rug? It seems silly not to discuss issues in my students' lives. Third, these two students in particular do not turn in any work and are hardly ever on task during class. They failed the first semester and I don't have any hope they will pass the second, let alone graduate high school. I don't want to seem like I don't believe in my students, I know if they wanted to do this whole school thing, they'd rock at it. I wonder if they have just been shot down so many times by the system that they turn to drugs and alcohol for relief, and then talk about it in class so they don't have to do any work...???
The Gift of Books
I've been thinking a lot about books and children lately -how could I avoid it? I am trying to form some opinions about how to encourage children to become lifelong readers. Now I know there are many, many paper and books published on this topic. And I have read some of them. But I cannot "own" an idea unless I a) come up with it, or b) try it out for myself.
So, I've been reading some fun young adult books in my young adult literature class at UNM: Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian by Sherman Alexie and American Born Chinese, which is a graphic novella by Gene Luen Yang. I have been wanting to share these books with my classes, but we are waist-deep in poetry and it is hard to cram anything else in right now. I have a student aid though, who was in my class last semseter and only needed one semester of English. So I share my books with him. Sometimes I bring in Nation Geographics with cool articles, other times I lend him the short books I'm reading. It is such a joy to be able to share this with him, especially since I am learning, too. I let him read the beginning of American Born Chinese and he like dit so much that he went to the public library over the weekend, checked it out, and finished it before Monday. When I saw him in class, he was dissapointed I hadn't finished the book yet because he wanted to discuss it! Amazing!
In another class, there is a young man who is very interested in books and reading already. We were discussing some books and he was explaining why he disliked Steinback's East of Eden, which I am reading for the first time. I asked him what books he really liked and he wrote down two titles for me. I told him I'd do my best to look them up. Everyday since he has asked me if I've read the books yet. I have been so busy with classwork (and Steinback!) that I did not check out the novels. In class today (one week from when we had this discussion) he asked again about the books. I asked him if the school library might have them so I could check them out later during my prep. As I was eating lunch, he came marching in with a book, "This is your homework," he said triumphantly. "Read this by Tuesday. you have a long weekend to finish it!" I am tickled that a student of mine is so determined to share his reading material with me! I realize he is already a lifelong reader, but the social exchange is rewarding for both parties. So now I begin The Shadow of the Wind by Carlos Ruiz Zafon on behalf of an eager 16-year-old...
So, I've been reading some fun young adult books in my young adult literature class at UNM: Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian by Sherman Alexie and American Born Chinese, which is a graphic novella by Gene Luen Yang. I have been wanting to share these books with my classes, but we are waist-deep in poetry and it is hard to cram anything else in right now. I have a student aid though, who was in my class last semseter and only needed one semester of English. So I share my books with him. Sometimes I bring in Nation Geographics with cool articles, other times I lend him the short books I'm reading. It is such a joy to be able to share this with him, especially since I am learning, too. I let him read the beginning of American Born Chinese and he like dit so much that he went to the public library over the weekend, checked it out, and finished it before Monday. When I saw him in class, he was dissapointed I hadn't finished the book yet because he wanted to discuss it! Amazing!
In another class, there is a young man who is very interested in books and reading already. We were discussing some books and he was explaining why he disliked Steinback's East of Eden, which I am reading for the first time. I asked him what books he really liked and he wrote down two titles for me. I told him I'd do my best to look them up. Everyday since he has asked me if I've read the books yet. I have been so busy with classwork (and Steinback!) that I did not check out the novels. In class today (one week from when we had this discussion) he asked again about the books. I asked him if the school library might have them so I could check them out later during my prep. As I was eating lunch, he came marching in with a book, "This is your homework," he said triumphantly. "Read this by Tuesday. you have a long weekend to finish it!" I am tickled that a student of mine is so determined to share his reading material with me! I realize he is already a lifelong reader, but the social exchange is rewarding for both parties. So now I begin The Shadow of the Wind by Carlos Ruiz Zafon on behalf of an eager 16-year-old...
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