We had an assembly on Friday. Our first of the year. I am the chair of our school culture committee. We did 4 lessons during the beginning of this year on
Respect your self
Respect for others
Respect for your space
Realizing your Potential
From these lessons we are creating a code of conduct for the students. So we had an assembly to present the information to the entire school of what they had done separately. There was a group of girls that did Step Dancing. They were great. There were videos and pictures and skits. It was a great assembly.
I started the assembly with expectations for the behavior of the students. I helped the students understand how to applaud the correct and polite way. We practiced the applause and one student decided to continue to clap after the speaker started to speak, and he received a detention. That was different.
So, bottom line, the assembly was great. The student participation was outstanding, and the work that my committee has been doing since July has something tangible to show for all of our work.
I've been doing a lot of thinking about how students struggle with transitivity in math. The idea that if a+b=c then c = a + b and that c - a = b and c - b = a. They have a hard time knowing that they can change things around.
I had to convince them that if m = a + b = c + d then m = c + d. They don't substitute well into equations. I am beginning to think that the basics of math thinking are being learned too quickly and that we are rushing into algebra and abstract thinking before they can handle the ideas. I am thinking a great deal about this idea and looking for some research to read that affirms that 11 and 12 year olds are ready to handle abstract math concepts.
Saturday, October 24, 2009
Wednesday, October 21, 2009
Two stories
1) I at times, have an agenda on the board for what we are going to do for the day. (I'm supposed to have it on the board everyday, but I mess this one up). So I had written, -Pass back to imply I was going to pass back work to the students. If I don't write it down, I forget to do it.
So I had erased part of the board and had erased a part of the P on -pass back. It left ass back on my board. The class tried to tell me in a very nice way that there was a bad word on the board. I thought they were showing me the projector was left on, so I turned the projector off and went on teaching. Later, one young man said, "Ms. Dyer, you erased some of the agenda." I told him No Problem, I had only erased what we had already done. He told me that there was a bad word on the board. I looked and said, "Thanks Rog. You handled that really well." The class didn't giggle or go out of control. Thank you to Rog. He is a wise kind young man whose feet don't yet touch the floor.
Story 2)
Ralph is a student in my 7th grade class. He is quite an enigma. He's pretty good in math, but is just weird. He's a class clown and he sometimes falls asleep in class. So yesterday, he fell asleep. I somehow got enough attention of the other student by panomiming. I indicated (ALL WITHOUT WORDS) that on my count of three, via my fingers, we would all say, "Ralph!" The class all understood what I wanted. I raised my fingers, one, two,... Three. And the class, having rehearsed unison answering in every class, shouts clearly and quickly, "RALPH!"
The look of fear and shock on Ralph's round face was priceless. He pounded his fists on his desk and did one of those silent screams. It was so funny. Funny .... I then lost the class.
It took 5 minutes to bring them back. I tried to write notes on the board, but that didn't work. I then had to have the class journal about what had happened. Many wrote the goings on in the back of their planner that has a place for "most memorable moments." I had another teacher in the room. He said that it was the best moment of his teaching career to be there. I'm sure I can't write the story as funny as it was, but the kids were talking about it still today.
another day in the life...
So I had erased part of the board and had erased a part of the P on -pass back. It left ass back on my board. The class tried to tell me in a very nice way that there was a bad word on the board. I thought they were showing me the projector was left on, so I turned the projector off and went on teaching. Later, one young man said, "Ms. Dyer, you erased some of the agenda." I told him No Problem, I had only erased what we had already done. He told me that there was a bad word on the board. I looked and said, "Thanks Rog. You handled that really well." The class didn't giggle or go out of control. Thank you to Rog. He is a wise kind young man whose feet don't yet touch the floor.
Story 2)
Ralph is a student in my 7th grade class. He is quite an enigma. He's pretty good in math, but is just weird. He's a class clown and he sometimes falls asleep in class. So yesterday, he fell asleep. I somehow got enough attention of the other student by panomiming. I indicated (ALL WITHOUT WORDS) that on my count of three, via my fingers, we would all say, "Ralph!" The class all understood what I wanted. I raised my fingers, one, two,... Three. And the class, having rehearsed unison answering in every class, shouts clearly and quickly, "RALPH!"
The look of fear and shock on Ralph's round face was priceless. He pounded his fists on his desk and did one of those silent screams. It was so funny. Funny .... I then lost the class.
It took 5 minutes to bring them back. I tried to write notes on the board, but that didn't work. I then had to have the class journal about what had happened. Many wrote the goings on in the back of their planner that has a place for "most memorable moments." I had another teacher in the room. He said that it was the best moment of his teaching career to be there. I'm sure I can't write the story as funny as it was, but the kids were talking about it still today.
another day in the life...
Sunday, October 18, 2009
Best Note EVER passed in class
So one day this last week, I confiscated a note being passed across the isle from one student to another. I put the note in my pocket to read later so that we didn't disrupt the flow of the lesson.
Later I read the note and it basically was a note to everyone in the class from one of the students. It was a note that said "7C, Do your science homework. Ms. Nagin said she would give us crackers if we all did our homework." So it was a note about students working together as a team to receive a reward. Notice the reward was crackers. As a matter of fact it was Saltine Crackers. These students need very little incentive at times.
I gave the note back to the class via their homeroom teacher so that it could finish making its rounds through the class. Sure enough they all did their science HW and Ms. Nagin got them Oreo cookies instead of Saltine Crackers. I shared the note with her before I returned it to the class, so that she was aware of the amazingness of her class.
Love it!
Later I read the note and it basically was a note to everyone in the class from one of the students. It was a note that said "7C, Do your science homework. Ms. Nagin said she would give us crackers if we all did our homework." So it was a note about students working together as a team to receive a reward. Notice the reward was crackers. As a matter of fact it was Saltine Crackers. These students need very little incentive at times.
I gave the note back to the class via their homeroom teacher so that it could finish making its rounds through the class. Sure enough they all did their science HW and Ms. Nagin got them Oreo cookies instead of Saltine Crackers. I shared the note with her before I returned it to the class, so that she was aware of the amazingness of her class.
Love it!
Wednesday, October 14, 2009
When do the rules apply in math?
Today, I gave the student an expression to evaluate. I was working on doing math with the appropriate order of operations. So while the students were working on the expression
28-30+6
I had a student ask if this was integer work or order of operation work. I told him I didn't understand his question. I replied that yes, these are integers and that we always use the rules of order of operations. He said, "No, I mean do I still follow the integer rules?" I probably dropped my jaw to the ground.
I guess I hadn't made it clear that once we learn something we use it everytime. Interesting. He had compartmentalized and thought when we are learning a topic, that's the only time we use those rules. Could not believe it. It was truly a moment of understanding that I needed to have.
28-30+6
I had a student ask if this was integer work or order of operation work. I told him I didn't understand his question. I replied that yes, these are integers and that we always use the rules of order of operations. He said, "No, I mean do I still follow the integer rules?" I probably dropped my jaw to the ground.
I guess I hadn't made it clear that once we learn something we use it everytime. Interesting. He had compartmentalized and thought when we are learning a topic, that's the only time we use those rules. Could not believe it. It was truly a moment of understanding that I needed to have.
Saturday, October 3, 2009
My students are honest with me
I have a group of about 15 7th grade students who are my advisees. Once a week we get together and talk. This week's talk was about respecting one's self. While we talked and the direction of the conversation led us to talking about smoking and the dangers of smoking or drinking, some of my students talked about family members that smoke pot. Some brothers, cousins, and even some parents were outed by the students.
I asked if any of them had seen someone smoke pot and every hand went up. OMG, I thought. First of all that the culture in our society is such that talking about this is very okay and that these students don't keep information to themselves. I will never breach the confidence that they have in me unless I am obligated by law. What I will do is to help them learn.
Last week they all told me how they have been hit for punishment (spankings, cords, belts). So drugs and fear of physical punishment, guess I'm getting to know these kids more and more. I have amazing students that are insightful, resilient, happy, and a joy to be with most of the time.
I retaught how to multiply 2 or 3 digit numbers this week. I also tested the 7th grade students on 5 different NYS standards. Hopefully they understand the different classifications of numbers and can tell the difference of a rational and an irrational number now. They also were tested on their understanding of adding and subtracting integers. Most of them can handle the integer laws. This week we finished multiply and divide integers. Next week the 7th grade students will delve into remembering the Order of Operations. This is one of the skills that they need to practice A LOT! My principal is going to observe me on Tuesday. It's my first formal observation. I video recorded myself this week to see what he will see. I am making some immediate changes. First of all, students fill any time you give them. So if I give them 5 minutes to do something that should take 2 minutes, they'll fill the entire 5 minutes. So... I have shortened the amount of time I give them to do tasks. Especially the time to get into the room and to get started. We practiced this on Friday. We reset the room and went back into the hallway and came back into the room and reduced the amount of time needed by 50%. That's a huge amount of time that I can use for instruction.
Enjoyed a night out with many of the staff last night. got home at 9:30 which is so early in a town that never sleeps. I slept and now I need to get my own homework done.
Peace!
I asked if any of them had seen someone smoke pot and every hand went up. OMG, I thought. First of all that the culture in our society is such that talking about this is very okay and that these students don't keep information to themselves. I will never breach the confidence that they have in me unless I am obligated by law. What I will do is to help them learn.
Last week they all told me how they have been hit for punishment (spankings, cords, belts). So drugs and fear of physical punishment, guess I'm getting to know these kids more and more. I have amazing students that are insightful, resilient, happy, and a joy to be with most of the time.
I retaught how to multiply 2 or 3 digit numbers this week. I also tested the 7th grade students on 5 different NYS standards. Hopefully they understand the different classifications of numbers and can tell the difference of a rational and an irrational number now. They also were tested on their understanding of adding and subtracting integers. Most of them can handle the integer laws. This week we finished multiply and divide integers. Next week the 7th grade students will delve into remembering the Order of Operations. This is one of the skills that they need to practice A LOT! My principal is going to observe me on Tuesday. It's my first formal observation. I video recorded myself this week to see what he will see. I am making some immediate changes. First of all, students fill any time you give them. So if I give them 5 minutes to do something that should take 2 minutes, they'll fill the entire 5 minutes. So... I have shortened the amount of time I give them to do tasks. Especially the time to get into the room and to get started. We practiced this on Friday. We reset the room and went back into the hallway and came back into the room and reduced the amount of time needed by 50%. That's a huge amount of time that I can use for instruction.
Enjoyed a night out with many of the staff last night. got home at 9:30 which is so early in a town that never sleeps. I slept and now I need to get my own homework done.
Peace!
Tuesday, September 29, 2009
Teaching Multiplication
I taught my students how to do standard multiplication today instead of the lattice system they love. It is a trick method that doesn't teach or help students with place value. I told them that if they needed to use it, not to put it onto the paper that they hand in for their work.
My class with the most IEP students were my last two periods of the day and they were not going to focus or work very hard. Why is handing back papers so time consuming? anyone with any suggestions? I am insistant that only a teacher hand back tests and quizzes to protect the students from others knowing the grades.
I had a boy complain that it was wrong that I had scored his paper an "F." I had asked him to round 3 numbers (no decimals) and he didn't do any of them even closely correct. He also didn't write anything in the area to describe how to round numbers. Some of this was because he had wasted classtime and note completed the task because he didn't know it was going to be graded as a quiz. Failure is Failure in my room. If there is understanding and focus in class, it's hard to fail.
I also learned that if a students grades are padded too high, then the school won't consider testing them for learning disabilities. I need to do my job of being fair. I really don't like students failing at items that they should have some understanding by now in their middle school career.
My class with the most IEP students were my last two periods of the day and they were not going to focus or work very hard. Why is handing back papers so time consuming? anyone with any suggestions? I am insistant that only a teacher hand back tests and quizzes to protect the students from others knowing the grades.
I had a boy complain that it was wrong that I had scored his paper an "F." I had asked him to round 3 numbers (no decimals) and he didn't do any of them even closely correct. He also didn't write anything in the area to describe how to round numbers. Some of this was because he had wasted classtime and note completed the task because he didn't know it was going to be graded as a quiz. Failure is Failure in my room. If there is understanding and focus in class, it's hard to fail.
I also learned that if a students grades are padded too high, then the school won't consider testing them for learning disabilities. I need to do my job of being fair. I really don't like students failing at items that they should have some understanding by now in their middle school career.
Tuesday, September 22, 2009
Struggling so far this week
I did not have internet in my classroom for 4 class days. It was like working without my left hand. I could do it, but it wasn't easy. I got the internet back this afternoon, so tomorrow I have some lessons to work on tomorrow.
I have a parent information night tomorrow. I look forward to meeting parents and sharing our goals for the year with them. I have a bulletin board that I still need to finish before tomorrow evening. Hmmm.... I guess I'll do that tomorrow afternoon when the students leave because they have a half day. Christian stayed after school to help me clean the bulletin board off today. I miss having Christian as my student.
I am tired from the small struggles of the few days. Bed sounds good now.
OHHHH!!! One of the students decided to "steal" a folder from me. I would have been happy to give her one had she asked me for one. However, she chose to just take the folder from my room and admitted to it. She'll be serving an In School Suspension tomorrow. Disappointed in her I am.
I have a parent information night tomorrow. I look forward to meeting parents and sharing our goals for the year with them. I have a bulletin board that I still need to finish before tomorrow evening. Hmmm.... I guess I'll do that tomorrow afternoon when the students leave because they have a half day. Christian stayed after school to help me clean the bulletin board off today. I miss having Christian as my student.
I am tired from the small struggles of the few days. Bed sounds good now.
OHHHH!!! One of the students decided to "steal" a folder from me. I would have been happy to give her one had she asked me for one. However, she chose to just take the folder from my room and admitted to it. She'll be serving an In School Suspension tomorrow. Disappointed in her I am.
Sunday, September 20, 2009
Pictures from this week.
We traveled to Staten Island on the Ferry and enjoyed a day next to the water. The students simply enjoyed a day without structure.
Friday, September 11, 2009
I'm so tired
The first week of classes done. Actually, I gave a couple of diagnostic exams and assigned a little bit of homework. Next week we really begin. This weekend I finish up my papers to hand to the kids for classroom policies and such. I also write a couple of lesson plans and do the reading for my own graduate classes. I did take a couple of pictures of my kids using the Macs to take an exam. Unfortunatly I didn't check the camera too well before I snapped the pics. Next week, I'll add more pictures of the kids.
Scott said the floor in the bathroom and laundry room looks amazing. I can't wait to see it.
I am so going to sleep hard all night tonight and not set me alarm for 5am. I found one of my students gets up at 4am and then goes to his grandmothers before school. Holy crap!
I so love the kids I can't get over how well they respond to my style. It truly makes me feel amazing that they learn and laugh and then take things seriously as well. We talked just a smidge about imaginary numbers today. I told them I couldn't talk about them that they were reserved for high school or for after school with me.
LOVE TEACHING....
Scott said the floor in the bathroom and laundry room looks amazing. I can't wait to see it.
I am so going to sleep hard all night tonight and not set me alarm for 5am. I found one of my students gets up at 4am and then goes to his grandmothers before school. Holy crap!
I so love the kids I can't get over how well they respond to my style. It truly makes me feel amazing that they learn and laugh and then take things seriously as well. We talked just a smidge about imaginary numbers today. I told them I couldn't talk about them that they were reserved for high school or for after school with me.
LOVE TEACHING....
Tuesday, September 8, 2009
Beginning Year #2
So tomorrow we start school again. I have a new homeroom partner, new students, a new neighbor in the science room and lots of new supplies. First of all.... Thank you to my parents and all of the other people who bought supplied for my students this last summer. I have so many notebooks, folders, packages of loose leaf paper, and pencils. I am so excited to have the basic supplies so that I can give them to my students.
Scott was here this last weekend and we went to the US Open tennis tournament. What a great time we had. We met really wonderful people and we watched great tennis.
Jeff is on to his second year at RIT. He had a great summer working for Hitachi in Boston. He lived with Andrea and her fiance in Waltham. They did really well together. I went out for a weekend and we all had a nice time.
Tomorrow starts a year of teaching math to 6th and 7th grade students. I am part of a couple of committees, and I've offered to keep track of the money our school collects in various fundraisers over the year.
So, here we go. Oh... two courses at Pace taken over the summer and another two start this week. I graduate in May with a Master's degree. It's a lot of work, but I'll be fine.
Zip me an email and keep me up to date on what you are doing!
D
Scott was here this last weekend and we went to the US Open tennis tournament. What a great time we had. We met really wonderful people and we watched great tennis.
Jeff is on to his second year at RIT. He had a great summer working for Hitachi in Boston. He lived with Andrea and her fiance in Waltham. They did really well together. I went out for a weekend and we all had a nice time.
Tomorrow starts a year of teaching math to 6th and 7th grade students. I am part of a couple of committees, and I've offered to keep track of the money our school collects in various fundraisers over the year.
So, here we go. Oh... two courses at Pace taken over the summer and another two start this week. I graduate in May with a Master's degree. It's a lot of work, but I'll be fine.
Zip me an email and keep me up to date on what you are doing!
D
Tuesday, June 2, 2009
Time goes so quickly
I had a great weekend. My mom and dad came to the city and stayed with me. They arrived on Friday with Scott. He drove them down and parked their van near my home. They took naps, had lunch and then ventured via the subway to my school on the Upper West Side. I showed them my classroom and talked about my students.
First we went to 46th street's restaurant Bourbon Street. After a lovely dinner, we went and saw Mamma Mia! that night. I heard my dad and my mom laugh a lot. They really liked the set and the singing. It is such an exciting show to watch. Heck, Mom didn't even fall asleep watching it. We then took the subway back to Queens. We arrived back at my apartment around midnight.
Mom and Dad slept in the bedroom and Scott and I found rest on the couch and floor in the living room. We woke Saturday to a glorious morning. We trekked down to Battery Park and bought tickets on the Circle Line to see Ellis Island and the Statue of Liberty. We did not debark at the Statue, but instead spent the day at Ellis Island. We learned a great deal, and enjoyed the museum. We came back to queens and enjoyed a NYC Pizza and a fruit salad that I made from the fruit stand beneath my apartment.
Sunday we started out early and went to the Top of the Rock. The views were great and I believe it's a better tour and experience than the Empire State Building. The lobby at Rockefeller Center is simply beautiful. Mom and Dad took lots of pictures. Dad was impressed with mom being quite comfortable with the height. Then we went and took the GreyLine Downtown tour on the double decker red bus. We saw so much and didn't have to drive in the traffic. We ate down at the South Street SeaPort. After showing mom the wooden escalators in Macy's (she really didn't know how large the store was) we went back to queens once again and ate at a local Polish restaurant.
We got to bed at a decent hour, because I had to work on Monday morning. They left after rush hour was over so that the drive would be easier. I think they enjoyed their time here. They frequently commented they were happy to not feel rushed.
First we went to 46th street's restaurant Bourbon Street. After a lovely dinner, we went and saw Mamma Mia! that night. I heard my dad and my mom laugh a lot. They really liked the set and the singing. It is such an exciting show to watch. Heck, Mom didn't even fall asleep watching it. We then took the subway back to Queens. We arrived back at my apartment around midnight.
Mom and Dad slept in the bedroom and Scott and I found rest on the couch and floor in the living room. We woke Saturday to a glorious morning. We trekked down to Battery Park and bought tickets on the Circle Line to see Ellis Island and the Statue of Liberty. We did not debark at the Statue, but instead spent the day at Ellis Island. We learned a great deal, and enjoyed the museum. We came back to queens and enjoyed a NYC Pizza and a fruit salad that I made from the fruit stand beneath my apartment.
Sunday we started out early and went to the Top of the Rock. The views were great and I believe it's a better tour and experience than the Empire State Building. The lobby at Rockefeller Center is simply beautiful. Mom and Dad took lots of pictures. Dad was impressed with mom being quite comfortable with the height. Then we went and took the GreyLine Downtown tour on the double decker red bus. We saw so much and didn't have to drive in the traffic. We ate down at the South Street SeaPort. After showing mom the wooden escalators in Macy's (she really didn't know how large the store was) we went back to queens once again and ate at a local Polish restaurant.
We got to bed at a decent hour, because I had to work on Monday morning. They left after rush hour was over so that the drive would be easier. I think they enjoyed their time here. They frequently commented they were happy to not feel rushed.
Wednesday, May 13, 2009
My first Panic Attack in NYCity
No worries... I lost my keys.(found them)
Before I leave anyplace I make sure I have my phone and my keys. Note that my keys are attached to my "wallet" that has my driver's license, credit cards, metro card and cash. It also holds my Dunkin Donuts card so I can get some free coffees sometimes. As I was getting ready to leave work this evening, I couldn't find my keys. I looked in about 8 or 9 places, but couldn't find them. I was stressed a bit. I told myself that they were just in a place I hadn't looked yet.
I called Scott and vented and swore a bit. I was safe and at my school, however, I had nothing else. He was ready to drive down and rescue me with a set of keys and money. But... I again traced my steps and found my keys... but for those 10 minutes, I was scared. I would have been stuck.
Then, I had an angel meet me waiting for the train. A lady asked me how my day was as we waited for the train on the platform. It was a simple question from a stranger. We talked for about 4 minutes, and then her train came and off she went. What a great moment for me. I love NYC.
Before I leave anyplace I make sure I have my phone and my keys. Note that my keys are attached to my "wallet" that has my driver's license, credit cards, metro card and cash. It also holds my Dunkin Donuts card so I can get some free coffees sometimes. As I was getting ready to leave work this evening, I couldn't find my keys. I looked in about 8 or 9 places, but couldn't find them. I was stressed a bit. I told myself that they were just in a place I hadn't looked yet.
I called Scott and vented and swore a bit. I was safe and at my school, however, I had nothing else. He was ready to drive down and rescue me with a set of keys and money. But... I again traced my steps and found my keys... but for those 10 minutes, I was scared. I would have been stuck.
Then, I had an angel meet me waiting for the train. A lady asked me how my day was as we waited for the train on the platform. It was a simple question from a stranger. We talked for about 4 minutes, and then her train came and off she went. What a great moment for me. I love NYC.
Sunday, May 10, 2009
Pictures from the Overnight Adventure
NO! I did not kidnap my students and take them to Berkshire. However... they are blindfolded in a rope maze in the middle of the woods.
Read my next post to read about the trip we made.
Always so much to share
I went to see a show last night! I saw "Exit the King." The comedy play stars Geoffrey Rush. He was Captain Barbosa in the Pirates movies. Susan Sarandon was also in the play. I always think of her as the mom in "Little Women" or the nun in "Dead Man Walking." movies. Some broadway plays and musicals have tickets for college students that are only $26. It makes it affordable to go to see a show. Before the show, I had a small pizza at an Italian restaurant, while I sat at a table out on the sidewalk in Manhattan.
The week's big events were that I finished the Spring Semester at Pace Univ and I went on an overnight with the students in my 7th grade.
Pace classes are done for a few weeks. It feels wonderful to have some space and time in my head to not be doing my own homework in addition to grading my students' work and planning my students' lessons. Whew... nice.
The trip we took was to Princeton-Blairstown Center. It was in NJ, about a 2 hour bus ride on a school bus. When we were there, we did teambuilding activities and games. One of the favorites that my team did was to create a circle, toss a ball in a specific pattern and to repeat the pattern with multiple balls going at the same time. We never quite got it perfect, but they really wanted to try over and over.
Several students who have focus issues were focussed on the bugs. They were not able to ignore the bugs around them. I had one student who tucked his pant legs into his socks, tucked his sweatshirt into his jeans and cinched his belt (too tight) and then pulled the strings on his hoody sweatshirt so that he was completely covered. Of course he couldn't participate in the activities like that. So instead, he would undo his hoody and then slap and swat at the bugs without paying attention to the activity. He slapped his glasses off of his face several times because he was just wild with his arms due to the bugs.
Then there was the student who thought we were going to sleep outside. There was a nightwalk and then a campfire and then we were going to be sleeping in our cabins. So as he headed to the night walk, he carried his sleeping bag. One of the teachers noticed and told him to leave his bag at her cabin and pick it up on the way back after the night's activities. He didn't realize he didn't need his sleeping bag. So we go and do all of the activities. Then, when he arrived in his cabin, he told his cabin leader that he didn't have any bedding for his cot. That means he completely didn't put together that he had left his bag before the activities. Very curious how a student can forget something like this. It's part of the adventure.
The most difficult parts were the lack of sleep (girls were up late, using restrooms in the middle of the night and then up early to shower) and not helping the students solve problems the camp facilitator gave them to do.
Mr. DeWolf and I did a blindfold walk helping each other walk thru a maze of things with one being sighted and the other blindfolded. It was really hard for me to take my glasses off, don a blindfold and trust him in this wooded, uneven ground, lake nearby area. We did a great job. He lead me and I was able to completely trust and listen to his directions. We were a good team.
Enjoy the week!
The week's big events were that I finished the Spring Semester at Pace Univ and I went on an overnight with the students in my 7th grade.
Pace classes are done for a few weeks. It feels wonderful to have some space and time in my head to not be doing my own homework in addition to grading my students' work and planning my students' lessons. Whew... nice.
The trip we took was to Princeton-Blairstown Center. It was in NJ, about a 2 hour bus ride on a school bus. When we were there, we did teambuilding activities and games. One of the favorites that my team did was to create a circle, toss a ball in a specific pattern and to repeat the pattern with multiple balls going at the same time. We never quite got it perfect, but they really wanted to try over and over.
Several students who have focus issues were focussed on the bugs. They were not able to ignore the bugs around them. I had one student who tucked his pant legs into his socks, tucked his sweatshirt into his jeans and cinched his belt (too tight) and then pulled the strings on his hoody sweatshirt so that he was completely covered. Of course he couldn't participate in the activities like that. So instead, he would undo his hoody and then slap and swat at the bugs without paying attention to the activity. He slapped his glasses off of his face several times because he was just wild with his arms due to the bugs.
Then there was the student who thought we were going to sleep outside. There was a nightwalk and then a campfire and then we were going to be sleeping in our cabins. So as he headed to the night walk, he carried his sleeping bag. One of the teachers noticed and told him to leave his bag at her cabin and pick it up on the way back after the night's activities. He didn't realize he didn't need his sleeping bag. So we go and do all of the activities. Then, when he arrived in his cabin, he told his cabin leader that he didn't have any bedding for his cot. That means he completely didn't put together that he had left his bag before the activities. Very curious how a student can forget something like this. It's part of the adventure.
The most difficult parts were the lack of sleep (girls were up late, using restrooms in the middle of the night and then up early to shower) and not helping the students solve problems the camp facilitator gave them to do.
Mr. DeWolf and I did a blindfold walk helping each other walk thru a maze of things with one being sighted and the other blindfolded. It was really hard for me to take my glasses off, don a blindfold and trust him in this wooded, uneven ground, lake nearby area. We did a great job. He lead me and I was able to completely trust and listen to his directions. We were a good team.
Enjoy the week!
Thursday, April 30, 2009
a Day of Chaos.... could have been prevented
I think I am the only person in the school that did not receive the "Memo" that there was Science state testing happening today and that it would displace me for my first 3 periods.
As I went to my classroom to start first period, my students were telling me that we were relocated to another room due to testing of 8th graders in our classroom. This was NEWS to me. We had two periods of material to cover and now I am in a foreign classroom with the class that doesn't adjust well to change. (I told them over and over that I don't adjust well to change and that they needed to help me through this. It worked like a charm. wink wink)
We did one period in Mr. DeWolf's room and then we relocated to Ms. Bachman's room for the 2nd period of instruction. That was kind of fun, because my friend Ms. Bachman was able to see me teach the class that she and I live with for the majority of our school days. They were great. They learned a lot (I think) and they handled the change brilliantly.
So now I go to 3rd period and thought it was in my room, only to find out that I would be on the 8th floor and I needed to get my teaching supplies. Oy Vey! We rearranged the room we were placed in and used the space wisely. We did 3rd period on one room and then... Finallyyyyyyy we got to go back to my classroom for the 4th period of my 4 period marathon. The sixth grade class also handled the disruption wonderfully and when we went from the 8th floor to our classroom, they did so quickly and smoothly and we just continued the lesson as though we had never moved.
Then.... Then.... my 6th and 7th period class got the giggles and I wasn't in any mood to join in. I had a really important lesson to teach them. I had to teach them how to subtract negative numbers for the first time they have seen it. This is a skill they need to have through all of the rest of mathematics into college. Here I was truly introducing something they had not ever done, and they were snickering and giggling. I asked what was so funny, and none of them knew... they obviously just got the giggles. Darn it. Wrong day. I like it when people get giggly, but this was a hard lesson to teach, and I wasn't able to find a "funny" spin to put on it.
Oh well, another day down.
Swine flu is the only thing the news is reporting these last few days in NYCity. I attend Pace University in Lower Manhattan and I have received notice that a student there may have swine flu. I wash my hands a lot. Masks aren't worth getting unless I am the one sneezing. The subway has been free of sneezing and coughing people as far as I can tell. I do wash my hands after every ride.
As I went to my classroom to start first period, my students were telling me that we were relocated to another room due to testing of 8th graders in our classroom. This was NEWS to me. We had two periods of material to cover and now I am in a foreign classroom with the class that doesn't adjust well to change. (I told them over and over that I don't adjust well to change and that they needed to help me through this. It worked like a charm. wink wink)
We did one period in Mr. DeWolf's room and then we relocated to Ms. Bachman's room for the 2nd period of instruction. That was kind of fun, because my friend Ms. Bachman was able to see me teach the class that she and I live with for the majority of our school days. They were great. They learned a lot (I think) and they handled the change brilliantly.
So now I go to 3rd period and thought it was in my room, only to find out that I would be on the 8th floor and I needed to get my teaching supplies. Oy Vey! We rearranged the room we were placed in and used the space wisely. We did 3rd period on one room and then... Finallyyyyyyy we got to go back to my classroom for the 4th period of my 4 period marathon. The sixth grade class also handled the disruption wonderfully and when we went from the 8th floor to our classroom, they did so quickly and smoothly and we just continued the lesson as though we had never moved.
Then.... Then.... my 6th and 7th period class got the giggles and I wasn't in any mood to join in. I had a really important lesson to teach them. I had to teach them how to subtract negative numbers for the first time they have seen it. This is a skill they need to have through all of the rest of mathematics into college. Here I was truly introducing something they had not ever done, and they were snickering and giggling. I asked what was so funny, and none of them knew... they obviously just got the giggles. Darn it. Wrong day. I like it when people get giggly, but this was a hard lesson to teach, and I wasn't able to find a "funny" spin to put on it.
Oh well, another day down.
Swine flu is the only thing the news is reporting these last few days in NYCity. I attend Pace University in Lower Manhattan and I have received notice that a student there may have swine flu. I wash my hands a lot. Masks aren't worth getting unless I am the one sneezing. The subway has been free of sneezing and coughing people as far as I can tell. I do wash my hands after every ride.
Wednesday, April 29, 2009
Yes... I'm washing my hands a lot.
I have probably been exposed to the swine flu. But no real worries. There is another math teacher in my one graduate class who went to Mexico for the Easter break (week after Easter) to help build a home for their equivalent of Habitat for Humanity. She returned and got sick. She figured it was that sickness from riding on a plane... so she went to the doctors and received antibiotics for what they all figured was bronchitis or another bug. She missed class last week. We did a presentation together this week. (We rocked. She played the role of James Lifton and I was an expert in Parental Involvement in a school.) We had a great time. So yep... in hindsite, she things she probably had Swine Flu and so she was going to go back to her doctor to be tested. She wasn't that sick, but did miss a day of school.
There is a weird nervousness on the subway, no one wants to hold the hand rails to help them from falling in fear of the germs. oh well.
That's all for tonight.
There is a weird nervousness on the subway, no one wants to hold the hand rails to help them from falling in fear of the germs. oh well.
That's all for tonight.
Sunday, April 26, 2009
Swine FluI
In case you are concerned about Swine Flu. The school where the students have the swine flu is about 7 miles from my house and about an hour and a half bus ride from my apartment. The school is close to Met's stadium and Flushing Meadows where the US Open is played.
I need to write some papers and prepare a presentation.
I need to write some papers and prepare a presentation.
Saturday, March 21, 2009
Sunday, March 1, 2009
Snow Storm in NYCity
this is an interesting day in NY. Bottom line...
They don't have many dump trucks, so they put snow plows onto the front of all of the garbage trucks. We have 100s of garbage trucks.
They don't have many dump trucks, so they put snow plows onto the front of all of the garbage trucks. We have 100s of garbage trucks.
Thursday, February 26, 2009
Great Feelings are amazing
If you know me from IC, you will know that I was not very good at Analysis. As a matter of fact, without Stan’s “sticky points” I might have had a grade less than a B. ICK. So, I didn’t learn as much as I would have liked in that class about proving calculus. However, I learned something from Stan Selzter.
I learned the value of a “sticky point.” Yesterday I implemented my version of sticky points in my math classes. I struggle with the punitive system in the school. I appreciate the support from the administration. My students are really quite well behaved. However, I couldn’t find a way to compliment them effectively and quickly. So I started carrying around a small pack of post it notes. I catch students doing good work while I’m walking around and I write a note to the student and give them the post it on their notebook. I like finding them doing the things I want them to do
• Copying notes
• Trying problems
• Asking good questions
• Being proud of themselves
So, I write things like:
• Nice Work
• Good Job
• Quick work
• Excellent
• Terrific
• WOW! That’s good
• Good Work
• Good question!
• Thanks for trying
• Good Start… keep trying
I thought they would appreciate the positive reinforcement. I explained to them that they could put these sticky notes onto a test or quiz and receive “bonus points.” Other rules include
• I’m not responsible of lost sticky points. They are responsible for them.
• I will not give you one if you ask for one.
• You can give them to other people
• If you want to sell them…. I don’t care. I’m not responsible after I writ it.
• They don’t expire.
So after I started class today, I noticed the kids were amazingly engaged in the class. About ½ an hour into the class my CTT partner teacher came in. She wondered what I had done to get every student so quiet and working so hard. I truly didn’t know…. I thought they liked the topic. Then my homeroom partner came in and needed to ask a few students a quick question. While she was there we told her we had already done Science today (her content subject). Then the class wanted to tell her more.
• They told her we had done ELA when we discussed the word “compound” and how we use it in ELA
• We told her we did science when we talked about chemistry and the word “compound”
• We told her we talked about H2O and the ratio of Hydrogen to Oxygen in water.
• We told her we talked about social studies because we talked about what was on the sides of our money.
All of those topics lead up to us learning about compound events of flipping coins and spinning spinners and rolling dice and finding probabilities.
So later, my homeroom partner commented on how amazing the class was paying attention and able to be so focused. I attribute it to the “sticky point” system
So… Thanks Stan! And Thank you Matt M for letting me have your sticky points in Analysis.
I learned the value of a “sticky point.” Yesterday I implemented my version of sticky points in my math classes. I struggle with the punitive system in the school. I appreciate the support from the administration. My students are really quite well behaved. However, I couldn’t find a way to compliment them effectively and quickly. So I started carrying around a small pack of post it notes. I catch students doing good work while I’m walking around and I write a note to the student and give them the post it on their notebook. I like finding them doing the things I want them to do
• Copying notes
• Trying problems
• Asking good questions
• Being proud of themselves
So, I write things like:
• Nice Work
• Good Job
• Quick work
• Excellent
• Terrific
• WOW! That’s good
• Good Work
• Good question!
• Thanks for trying
• Good Start… keep trying
I thought they would appreciate the positive reinforcement. I explained to them that they could put these sticky notes onto a test or quiz and receive “bonus points.” Other rules include
• I’m not responsible of lost sticky points. They are responsible for them.
• I will not give you one if you ask for one.
• You can give them to other people
• If you want to sell them…. I don’t care. I’m not responsible after I writ it.
• They don’t expire.
So after I started class today, I noticed the kids were amazingly engaged in the class. About ½ an hour into the class my CTT partner teacher came in. She wondered what I had done to get every student so quiet and working so hard. I truly didn’t know…. I thought they liked the topic. Then my homeroom partner came in and needed to ask a few students a quick question. While she was there we told her we had already done Science today (her content subject). Then the class wanted to tell her more.
• They told her we had done ELA when we discussed the word “compound” and how we use it in ELA
• We told her we did science when we talked about chemistry and the word “compound”
• We told her we talked about H2O and the ratio of Hydrogen to Oxygen in water.
• We told her we talked about social studies because we talked about what was on the sides of our money.
All of those topics lead up to us learning about compound events of flipping coins and spinning spinners and rolling dice and finding probabilities.
So later, my homeroom partner commented on how amazing the class was paying attention and able to be so focused. I attribute it to the “sticky point” system
So… Thanks Stan! And Thank you Matt M for letting me have your sticky points in Analysis.
Saturday, February 14, 2009
A Week off in February
A moment.
I find myself having a couple of moments in the morning. I am awake, showered, have cleaned the apartment and am packed and ready to get on a bus to go to Binghamton (Berkshire). So… I am never without something to do, so now I’m writing for my blog and watching the Today show on NBC.
I taught Venn diagrams in math this week. My students were confused about the fact that I require a box around the two or three circles. We haven’t done much with the world of “sets,” but instead, I’ve given them enough information to do a few questions if they are posed to them. They can read the Venn and could determine some probability after looking at it.
My students took practice math exams this week. I have one student that is going to have a difficult time getting out of the lowest bracket of scores on the state exam in March. I will work with her when we get back. I also have a student that is going to receive a score in the highest level bracket.
One student did so well on the exam that I was in tears after scoring his exam. I looked back and he has never done so well in the past on his math. Great Gains are what make me the happiest. He has the most disabilities of all of my students. It’s an amazing “high” to have students do that well. It also amazes me to see the students write their math the same way I write my math, which is the same way Jim Gulick taught me to do my math. His legacy lives on into NY City.
So now I have a week off. Unfortunately (fortunately) Scott has the week off also. He is on a furlough because his business isn’t doing so well. The newspaper business is losing money and so they have cut people’s work year by cutting weeks out and not paying them. So we’ll enjoy the time together, but not the reason why we get an entire week together.
I find myself having a couple of moments in the morning. I am awake, showered, have cleaned the apartment and am packed and ready to get on a bus to go to Binghamton (Berkshire). So… I am never without something to do, so now I’m writing for my blog and watching the Today show on NBC.
I taught Venn diagrams in math this week. My students were confused about the fact that I require a box around the two or three circles. We haven’t done much with the world of “sets,” but instead, I’ve given them enough information to do a few questions if they are posed to them. They can read the Venn and could determine some probability after looking at it.
My students took practice math exams this week. I have one student that is going to have a difficult time getting out of the lowest bracket of scores on the state exam in March. I will work with her when we get back. I also have a student that is going to receive a score in the highest level bracket.
One student did so well on the exam that I was in tears after scoring his exam. I looked back and he has never done so well in the past on his math. Great Gains are what make me the happiest. He has the most disabilities of all of my students. It’s an amazing “high” to have students do that well. It also amazes me to see the students write their math the same way I write my math, which is the same way Jim Gulick taught me to do my math. His legacy lives on into NY City.
So now I have a week off. Unfortunately (fortunately) Scott has the week off also. He is on a furlough because his business isn’t doing so well. The newspaper business is losing money and so they have cut people’s work year by cutting weeks out and not paying them. So we’ll enjoy the time together, but not the reason why we get an entire week together.
Thursday, February 12, 2009
Tough Day
Well... I had tears at school today. The students were disrespectful to me and just pushed my buttons. After they left the room, I had tears. They were tears of frustration. I had lost my pocket of things to do. I had a brain meltdown and forgot to just send the students out of the room. Probably happened because they were taking a math practice exam.
I would like them to finish the math test... Priority should have been to maintain the climate of the classroom.
Looking forward to the week off of teaching! I get to go to Berkshire!!!!!
I would like them to finish the math test... Priority should have been to maintain the climate of the classroom.
Looking forward to the week off of teaching! I get to go to Berkshire!!!!!
Saturday, February 7, 2009
Middle School Dance
I was not on my game this week. I did not bring my camera to two different events. First of all, the 6th grade students went ice skating on Monday at a place called Riverbank park. We were south of the George Washington Bridge. As we looked up and down the Hudson River, we commented that this would have been an amazing place to have been when the plane landed in the river. The plane cleared the GWB by a few hundred feet as it came down the river.
The kids had a great time and I even went around the rink a couple of times. They are a great group of students that are easy to take on the subway. We just have to count off before and after we get on a train car. They have clear instructions on what happens if they get lost on the train and miss our stop (which wouldn't happen with two teachers per class). So... we had one boy fall and has a sprained ankle... oh well.
Then on Wednesday the school had a dance. There was a DJ and lots of teachers as Chaperones. The kids are amazing. I only got to see a bit of the dance, because I was working on my grades for report cards. However, the dancing I saw just made me smile. The boys and girls were all dancing. No one was sitting down or not dancing. It was so much fun. The music was loud and fun. They all did Latin dancing also. They all can salsa dance. The amount of fun they had was great. It made my day. I was able to see my students as teenagers and not just students. They had their nails and hair done. They all wore jeans. The rules on what they were allowed to wear included the line
No Boobs, No Butts, and No Bellies.
It worked. They all dressed very conservitately and fun. It was fun to see them in normal street clothes. Note that I only ever see them in their school uniform.
I am in the city for the weekend and have lots of homework to do and cleaning. I need to get my laundry done and buy some groceries. I'll be busy, but it is going to be 50 degrees today. Hopefully I'll find the time for a walk.
The kids had a great time and I even went around the rink a couple of times. They are a great group of students that are easy to take on the subway. We just have to count off before and after we get on a train car. They have clear instructions on what happens if they get lost on the train and miss our stop (which wouldn't happen with two teachers per class). So... we had one boy fall and has a sprained ankle... oh well.
Then on Wednesday the school had a dance. There was a DJ and lots of teachers as Chaperones. The kids are amazing. I only got to see a bit of the dance, because I was working on my grades for report cards. However, the dancing I saw just made me smile. The boys and girls were all dancing. No one was sitting down or not dancing. It was so much fun. The music was loud and fun. They all did Latin dancing also. They all can salsa dance. The amount of fun they had was great. It made my day. I was able to see my students as teenagers and not just students. They had their nails and hair done. They all wore jeans. The rules on what they were allowed to wear included the line
No Boobs, No Butts, and No Bellies.
It worked. They all dressed very conservitately and fun. It was fun to see them in normal street clothes. Note that I only ever see them in their school uniform.
I am in the city for the weekend and have lots of homework to do and cleaning. I need to get my laundry done and buy some groceries. I'll be busy, but it is going to be 50 degrees today. Hopefully I'll find the time for a walk.
Tuesday, February 3, 2009
I wish I had more time every day...
Couple of things I want to write about.
Yesterday we took the 6th grade students ice skating. They skated up on 145th street in Harlem at a wonderful Riverside park. what a nice day. About 40 degrees, we didn't need our coats, just our gloves and helmets. All of the students skated. Many had blisters from not wearing thick enough socks.
Today I told my 6th grade class something they had NEVER heard of. I told them that if you put money into a bank to save it, the bank will pay you money. They know about debt and credit card charges, but not savings interest or investments. We had a great conversations about earning money and saving money.
So... that was fun.
I have met a fellow fellow who lives around the corner from me. He is a nice man who graduated from Columbia University and teaches English. He introduced me to a store owner here on Fresh Pond Road. I met people in the neighborhood!!!!! That is so exciting to me. I knew it would happen, just didn't know it would take so long.
I had a large "charlie" in my apartment yesterday. It's dead now. Guess the humidity from the heat encourages them to come up the pipes that heat the apartment. I find my apartment warm for the most part.
Okay... need to get to bed so that I can go to work as early as possible tomorrow. G'night.
Yesterday we took the 6th grade students ice skating. They skated up on 145th street in Harlem at a wonderful Riverside park. what a nice day. About 40 degrees, we didn't need our coats, just our gloves and helmets. All of the students skated. Many had blisters from not wearing thick enough socks.
Today I told my 6th grade class something they had NEVER heard of. I told them that if you put money into a bank to save it, the bank will pay you money. They know about debt and credit card charges, but not savings interest or investments. We had a great conversations about earning money and saving money.
So... that was fun.
I have met a fellow fellow who lives around the corner from me. He is a nice man who graduated from Columbia University and teaches English. He introduced me to a store owner here on Fresh Pond Road. I met people in the neighborhood!!!!! That is so exciting to me. I knew it would happen, just didn't know it would take so long.
I had a large "charlie" in my apartment yesterday. It's dead now. Guess the humidity from the heat encourages them to come up the pipes that heat the apartment. I find my apartment warm for the most part.
Okay... need to get to bed so that I can go to work as early as possible tomorrow. G'night.
Thursday, January 29, 2009
Sunday, January 25, 2009
Things I've done...
I picked up Andrea and Dan on Friday evening after work. We went out for dinner at a nice restaurant because it was Restaurant Week here in the city. We then came home and I picked up my laundry. Saturday, Andrea and Dan went and saw Wicked on Broadway. They had a great time. I met them afterwards, and we again went out for Pub food. Then we went and saw Mall Cop because it was SO cold outside. We took a cab down to 34th and 3rd ave to meet friends.
We had a few drinks with Nicole and Sophia. We have all been involved with community theater together. It was really great to be in the city with old friends.
Andrea and Dan left to go back to Boston this morning. They came in on the North East train. They drove to Sanford Connecticut and then took the train into the city. They said it was so much easier than taking the bus like they did last time.
Work was weird last week, because we had state English exams. Every day was different than the day before. I can handle change, but the students tend to struggle when we change things a lot.
I had a successful lesson on Friday. My 6th grade class got to use the laptop carts in Math class. It was a website that is a partner with the textbook we use. The exercises we used were just like the homework they had been doing during the week. No one asked to use the bathroom. They were that involved in the lesson. It was great. I want to do it more often. While they work, I can work with a few students individually.
This week, I am teaching Proportions to the 6th grade and surface area to my 7th grade class. All of them will be taking midterm exams during the week. I plan to go to Berkshire on Friday, which means that I'll miss the Superbowl on Sunday night. Oh Well!
We had a few drinks with Nicole and Sophia. We have all been involved with community theater together. It was really great to be in the city with old friends.
Andrea and Dan left to go back to Boston this morning. They came in on the North East train. They drove to Sanford Connecticut and then took the train into the city. They said it was so much easier than taking the bus like they did last time.
Work was weird last week, because we had state English exams. Every day was different than the day before. I can handle change, but the students tend to struggle when we change things a lot.
I had a successful lesson on Friday. My 6th grade class got to use the laptop carts in Math class. It was a website that is a partner with the textbook we use. The exercises we used were just like the homework they had been doing during the week. No one asked to use the bathroom. They were that involved in the lesson. It was great. I want to do it more often. While they work, I can work with a few students individually.
This week, I am teaching Proportions to the 6th grade and surface area to my 7th grade class. All of them will be taking midterm exams during the week. I plan to go to Berkshire on Friday, which means that I'll miss the Superbowl on Sunday night. Oh Well!
Sunday, January 18, 2009
I do have fun in NY City!
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I don't want you to think that all I do is work 15 hour days. Sometimes, on Fridays... I go out with friends. Here are a group of us who are all Math teachers and we worked together all summer and try to still get together. The lady on my left is my last class' instructor. She taught me a lot of ways to teach math. On my right is Steve. He teaches high school math in a school that teaches with the idea of Social Change as their guiding force.
After dinner this particular night, I met Scott at Port Authority bus station. He came down for the weekend. It was great to have him here. We did a little shopping where he bought new shoes and I bought another pant suit and a new skirt.
Teaching is going along. I've moved onto teaching standard unit conversions. feet to yards, cups to gallons, ounces to pounds and such things. I'm watching the Cardinals beat up on the Eagles at this point. We'll see how it all ends.
Oh... I have tomorrow off from teaching.
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