P.T.A. was rescheduled to tonight, but we teachers weren't asked about it, and we made a huge fuss when we found out. So it was pushed back to this morning.
I went early to set up the biography projects on a table for the mothers to look at, and the principal came in in the middle.
She went through their books and took credit for all the nice work they did. I wanted to kill her.
Not very many mothers came, but I was glad to see the ones who did.
C.S.A's mother came of course, she was in school anyway because she's high school principal, and had her own P.T.A. We spoke a long time about C.S.A. being very pressured. I told her to look into some methods for anxiety for her to start using. The way she's going is not healthy. The mother agreed with me 100%.
L.K.'s mother was very nice, she just discussed how hard the workload was on her daughter.
H.W.'s mother was upset that her child didn't seem to care less about anything, and we tired to figure out a way to get her more motivated.
C.S.'s mother was as adorable as ever. She kept praising the teachers and telling us what a great job we were doing. Tell it to the principal.
T.K. has an attitude problem. She dropped out of her part in the performance last night, and both I and her mother were upset about that. We spoke about her attitude for a while, but she is doing better. We also brushed over her on and off friendship with R.H. We both decided it's not a good friendship, but it has to play out on its own.
M.L.'s (7b) mother came just to hear good things. That's all I had to say about her daughter. She's the type of girl who'll try hard no matter how many obstacles in her way. I can't get over the child, Her mother was so happy.
R.S.'s mother is the class mother of the class. She's very nice and easy to talk to. We spoke about how well she was doing, and then a little bit about her being so absent minded. I promised I would speak to her about her biography project because she had been absent that week, and I had no idea what she had done for the group.
I told F.G's mother how mature her daughter became, and how much she changed. Her mother was so glad to hear that.
The twin's mother came, and she's always tricky. I have to make sure to separate the girls because they're not the same person at all. They happen to be the perfect average students that every teacher needs to keep her class stable, and I told the mother that. She laughed. I asked her to tell Y.T. to speak up more in class, and to tell E.T. to stop talking to A.L. all the time during class.
G.S.'s mother is the cutest. G.S. happens to be doing very well in the new class. She calmed down a bit, but we think she's lost. She doesn't have a good friend in this class. We spoke about trying to put her together with either C.C.K or L.O. to encourage a friendship. I don't know how that's going to happen, but we'll see. I was also surprised to hear from her mother that G.S. has a soft side toward girls like M.L. and B.E.D. I was so pleasantly surprised.
M.P.'s mother is just as cute as she is. We spoke a lot about how pressured M.P. is and I said that I would speak to her about it. The mother also said that she called the principal to yell at her about all these projects. In fact, the mothers made a chain call to get as many mothers as possible to call up. They all told the principal that the teachers were wonderful, but the principal had to stop giving al the projects. I told M.P.'s mother that I appreciated her calling because the principal needed to hear it, but I didn't think it worked. I told her that I got all the blame for everything. She was shocked because she had specifically told the principal that it had nothing to do with me. She went outside to tell all the mothers what happened. (YES!!!)
A.L.'s mother still wanted her to switch classes because of her selective friendship with R.R. I told her to speak to the principal, and if she would then I would press it as well.
S.J.'s mother got to hear all about how cute and smiling her daughter is. I didn't have one bad thing to say about her.
M.R.'s mother is adorable! She is really not you typical mother. She looks so young and she's really spunky. I basically told her how great M.R. was doing, and then I asked her about her daughter's friendship with S.G.L. I wanted to make sure that she was on top of it, and that M.R. shouldn't be learning from her or whatever. We understood each other on that.
D.T.'s mother was all into praising me. She didn't even want to hear about her daughter. All she kept saying was how crazy D.T. was over me. ...Always good to hear.
T.J.'s mother was so funny. She meant everything seriously, but she made me laugh. She was worried that her daughter was so short and she hoped she would still grow. She wanted to make sure that T.J. was mature, and becoming less shy, and I assured her on both counts. About the growing though, I told her that I didn't think she'd stopped growing yet. She was relieved.
T.K.'s (7a) mother was very upset about C.O. being put together with her daughter in projects. The truth is, I was upset too, they never worked out well together. C.O. was hard to deal with, but T.K. is very bossy. I brushed over the group incident and gently told the mother to explain to T.K. that she didn't have to control everything.
M.L.'s mother wanted to know if she had matured, and of course, she had. We had a pretty nice conversation.
E.S. mother only wanted to vent about the principal. I happily joined her.
The funny thing is, at least 10 mothers had told me that they had called the principal. I told them that it backfired because the principal yelled at me.
They were all shocked. All of them said that was not what was supposed to happen. They had specifically told the principal that it had nothing to do with me or any of the other teachers.
Yay.
On a brighter note, I got my rating sheets in. Report cards almost due. I'm so thrilled.
Sunday, February 26, 2006
Saturday, February 25, 2006
Melaveh Malka, and a Lot of Money
My co's and I all went to school tonight to watch our students perform.
They were cute, even though their performances made us laugh. There was a dance, and a choir and a little play.
S.G.L., M.R., R.R., L.K., C.S.A., and some other girls had solos in the choir. They were pretty good actually.
B.E.D. was on dance, and she was smiling so nicely! We were all so happy for her.
T.K. was also in dance, and she was bossing everyone around stage. Typical.
The play was silly, but the girls worked hard.
T.K. in 7b wasn't in anything. She dropped out. All the teachers were bothered by that.
C.O. also dropped out. But she did it because it was beneath her dignity to perform with the seventh graders. She stayed in the back to be with the eighth graders.
This melaveh malka was very nice, it looked like the girls were having a good time.
After watching a cute slideshow, my co and I went to the supermarket to buy the goodies to fill our mishloach manos for the students.
We spent and hour and a half picking out the "nosh" and then an other two hours having panic attacks about the costs.
it does come out to a lot. If you spend two dollars per girl, it already comes out to $65. We tried to keep it under $2. The nosh itself cost $1.07, and with a container and maybe something else, it'll come out to just under two. Perfect.
I wonder if they include all this in our paycheck this month.
Yeah right.
They were cute, even though their performances made us laugh. There was a dance, and a choir and a little play.
S.G.L., M.R., R.R., L.K., C.S.A., and some other girls had solos in the choir. They were pretty good actually.
B.E.D. was on dance, and she was smiling so nicely! We were all so happy for her.
T.K. was also in dance, and she was bossing everyone around stage. Typical.
The play was silly, but the girls worked hard.
T.K. in 7b wasn't in anything. She dropped out. All the teachers were bothered by that.
C.O. also dropped out. But she did it because it was beneath her dignity to perform with the seventh graders. She stayed in the back to be with the eighth graders.
This melaveh malka was very nice, it looked like the girls were having a good time.
After watching a cute slideshow, my co and I went to the supermarket to buy the goodies to fill our mishloach manos for the students.
We spent and hour and a half picking out the "nosh" and then an other two hours having panic attacks about the costs.
it does come out to a lot. If you spend two dollars per girl, it already comes out to $65. We tried to keep it under $2. The nosh itself cost $1.07, and with a container and maybe something else, it'll come out to just under two. Perfect.
I wonder if they include all this in our paycheck this month.
Yeah right.
Thursday, February 23, 2006
Principal and S.G.L.- A Team?
The first thing I did this morning was call the principal at home. I should've known better.
According to her, it was all my fault everything happened. I still don't know what happened, but apparently, it's all my fault.
It turns out that S.G.L. had gotten caught running around the halls, and when the principal asked her what was going on, S.G.L. handed her a letter.
S.G.L. told her the entire sob story of how she wasn't doing well, and how I hated her, and how I never helped her and only made life harder.
I know she does this to her Hebrew sessions. She makes trouble, gets her teachers to yell at her, then she claims that her teachers don't like her, and that's her excuse for flunking life.
She cuts Hebrew classes, and really gets on everyone's nerves, and now she's trying to do it to me.
S.G.L. is a shrewd child. She knows exactly where everybody's weak spot is, and then she uses it to her advantage. She is now crying to the principal (who is known to give in to students,) to go hard on me. She knows that she herself can't really do anything to make me let her get away with things, so she's targeting me through the principal.
I must say that I admire this girl's way of thinking. She is brilliant. The one I hate here is the principal for the way she's choosing to deal with it. (Which is precisely the thing S.G.L. has in mind.)
She even lied to the principal about me, telling her that I embarrassed her in class by giving her an easy test in plain view of the class.
Of all the lies, this is the worst. It's because of HER, not any of the other "easy" girls, that I am so careful to staple the "easy" tests to the back of a regular test, so that no one should notice who gets what. I was even the one who gave the other teachers that idea!
The principal kept insisting that even if it was a lie, we had to make allowances for this girl.
Allowances?!? Any other girl caught cutting class would be suspended, and now, when she's cutting class and lying, the principal won't do anything.
She told the principal that the notes were too hard for her, so I explained my point of view to her.
The nerve of that principal, she insisted I make up special notes just for her. How thin do you want me to spread? Butter can only be spread over a certain amount of bread, and personally, I've more than reached my "buttering" limit.
I told the principal that I wanted to confront the girl myself. I wanted to have a meeting with the girl, and have the principal there as well. I wanted to see if S.G.L. had the guts to lie when I was there, and what she would tell the principal about it.
Listen, I'm not out to get S.G.L. I really want to help her. But when the principal is getting involved, and falling into the traps this girl so carefully planned for her, I need to establish my position here. I hope it will work.
Anyway, the school is implementing a new program for the teachers called Kesher. It's a division of Project Y.E.S. which deals with at risk teens.
We had a very nice orientation meeting with the two people of Kesher. They explained that they would have hours in the school where teachers, (Hebrew and English,) would be able to privately talk with them about specific students or problems in the classroom.
I didn't really get any feelings about them just from the orientation, but I'm sure that as soon as we begin doing one on one sessions, I'll figure out the way I feel pretty quickly.
What irked me the entire time, was that during their presentation my principal kept raising her hand and asking questions, and pushing her techniques. She was acting all chummy with the people, and the teachers were all sick. She acts so nice to everyone, but she treats us like dirt. There's a reason we have problems with kids in this school. The principal gives them everything and the teachers aren't allowed to do or say anything.
But when something goes wrong, it's always our faults. Or to be politically correct; my fault.
When we got to our classes it was already half an hour into the period, and both classes were busy taking a math test.
We had realized that the meeting would go into class time, so my co and I had decided to give her math tests to both classes at once so that we didn't waste any time.
I proctored the test in 7a, handed back their history tests, and passed around a picture of my "German friend" for the girls to look at.
The girls were so excited with the picture. I'm glad I brought it in. It made the whole Holocaust discussion more "real" to them. Instead of just reading an interview, they got to see the person behind it as well.
Thanks, German friend!
After recess, my co and I spontaneously decided to combine the classes, and I took them for the rest of the day.
I had the girls begin writing their picture books. Most had no problem, but there are always the few that do.
The class was pretty rowdy, but they got the work done, so I didn't mind that much.
I wrote a note to S.G.L. telling her that I really wanted to help her out, and if she had any questions she should call me up. I gave her my phone number and the hours she could call. I think she was thrilled when my co gave her the note and she discovered it was for her.
I think I saw her writing a letter for me, but I guess I'll find out.
I have to play it by ear.
For now though, I have to get started on my report card marks. They're due next week and I didn't start.
According to her, it was all my fault everything happened. I still don't know what happened, but apparently, it's all my fault.
It turns out that S.G.L. had gotten caught running around the halls, and when the principal asked her what was going on, S.G.L. handed her a letter.
S.G.L. told her the entire sob story of how she wasn't doing well, and how I hated her, and how I never helped her and only made life harder.
I know she does this to her Hebrew sessions. She makes trouble, gets her teachers to yell at her, then she claims that her teachers don't like her, and that's her excuse for flunking life.
She cuts Hebrew classes, and really gets on everyone's nerves, and now she's trying to do it to me.
S.G.L. is a shrewd child. She knows exactly where everybody's weak spot is, and then she uses it to her advantage. She is now crying to the principal (who is known to give in to students,) to go hard on me. She knows that she herself can't really do anything to make me let her get away with things, so she's targeting me through the principal.
I must say that I admire this girl's way of thinking. She is brilliant. The one I hate here is the principal for the way she's choosing to deal with it. (Which is precisely the thing S.G.L. has in mind.)
She even lied to the principal about me, telling her that I embarrassed her in class by giving her an easy test in plain view of the class.
Of all the lies, this is the worst. It's because of HER, not any of the other "easy" girls, that I am so careful to staple the "easy" tests to the back of a regular test, so that no one should notice who gets what. I was even the one who gave the other teachers that idea!
The principal kept insisting that even if it was a lie, we had to make allowances for this girl.
Allowances?!? Any other girl caught cutting class would be suspended, and now, when she's cutting class and lying, the principal won't do anything.
She told the principal that the notes were too hard for her, so I explained my point of view to her.
The nerve of that principal, she insisted I make up special notes just for her. How thin do you want me to spread? Butter can only be spread over a certain amount of bread, and personally, I've more than reached my "buttering" limit.
I told the principal that I wanted to confront the girl myself. I wanted to have a meeting with the girl, and have the principal there as well. I wanted to see if S.G.L. had the guts to lie when I was there, and what she would tell the principal about it.
Listen, I'm not out to get S.G.L. I really want to help her. But when the principal is getting involved, and falling into the traps this girl so carefully planned for her, I need to establish my position here. I hope it will work.
Anyway, the school is implementing a new program for the teachers called Kesher. It's a division of Project Y.E.S. which deals with at risk teens.
We had a very nice orientation meeting with the two people of Kesher. They explained that they would have hours in the school where teachers, (Hebrew and English,) would be able to privately talk with them about specific students or problems in the classroom.
I didn't really get any feelings about them just from the orientation, but I'm sure that as soon as we begin doing one on one sessions, I'll figure out the way I feel pretty quickly.
What irked me the entire time, was that during their presentation my principal kept raising her hand and asking questions, and pushing her techniques. She was acting all chummy with the people, and the teachers were all sick. She acts so nice to everyone, but she treats us like dirt. There's a reason we have problems with kids in this school. The principal gives them everything and the teachers aren't allowed to do or say anything.
But when something goes wrong, it's always our faults. Or to be politically correct; my fault.
When we got to our classes it was already half an hour into the period, and both classes were busy taking a math test.
We had realized that the meeting would go into class time, so my co and I had decided to give her math tests to both classes at once so that we didn't waste any time.
I proctored the test in 7a, handed back their history tests, and passed around a picture of my "German friend" for the girls to look at.
The girls were so excited with the picture. I'm glad I brought it in. It made the whole Holocaust discussion more "real" to them. Instead of just reading an interview, they got to see the person behind it as well.
Thanks, German friend!
After recess, my co and I spontaneously decided to combine the classes, and I took them for the rest of the day.
I had the girls begin writing their picture books. Most had no problem, but there are always the few that do.
The class was pretty rowdy, but they got the work done, so I didn't mind that much.
I wrote a note to S.G.L. telling her that I really wanted to help her out, and if she had any questions she should call me up. I gave her my phone number and the hours she could call. I think she was thrilled when my co gave her the note and she discovered it was for her.
I think I saw her writing a letter for me, but I guess I'll find out.
I have to play it by ear.
For now though, I have to get started on my report card marks. They're due next week and I didn't start.
Wednesday, February 22, 2006
Cutting Class?
My test today was very short, and I worried all night about what I would do if the girls all finished quickly, and I would have to start teaching.
I came up with a plan. Before I gave the history test in each class, I had them listen to a song I had brought in, Joe Dimaggio's card, on Journeys III. I had brought it up in class when we had discussed inflation; how when there is more of something. ie: money, it becomes worth less. Whereas when an item is rare, the price will go up.
This song was about a baseball card that was very rare. The girls really loved it, but I could see they were edgy about the test. They didn't believe me when I said that it would only take them 45 minutes.
I had them daven mincha, and then I gave out the test.
I was right. Most girls finished within 45 minutes.
Going back to lunchtime, L.K. cam over to me to tell me that she wasn't able to take the test because she had been absent the day before and she had missed some material for the test. She also had not studied because she hadn't been feeling well.
I wasn't happy, but I told her that if her mother spoke to the secretary and the secretary wrote me a note, I would let her take it the next day.
I spoke to the secretary and asked her to play along. I just wanted L.K. to see that there was an authority in the school, and that she couldn't just do what she pleased.
Well, she sure got authority. The principal, made her take the test.
I was really angry, but L.K. took it and failed.
I have to give it to her anyway tomorrow, but now she has the advantage of knowing all the examples on the test. This policy of the principal is brilliance. Sheer brilliance.
Another thing that had happened lunchtime was that I got a message to call S.G.L.'s mother.
I knew right away what this was about. S.G.L. had left all the studying to the night before, and she wasn't able to take the test today. Same old story.
I spoke to the mother and explained to her that her daughter needed to show more responsibility. I had given her the notes a week in advance for this very reason, and she still didn't bother to study.
The mother had to agree with me, but she did also complain that the "easy notes" were now harder than they used to be and her daughter wasn't coping.
The truth is, the notes were harder. I had found these great summaries that were on a 5th -6th grade level, perfect for the girls. Perfect for me too, I now didn't have to spend all that time typing up special notes for the girls.
My old notes were on a third grade level and I really though the girls were ready to move on. the only girl who was really having a problem was S.G.L.
I believe her real problem is that she doesn't bother to study in advance.
I told the mother that I would have to speak to the daughter before deciding what to do about the test.
I came into the 7a class after recess, and lo and behold, S.G.L. wasn't there.
She cut my class.
I couldn't very well leave the classroom and go after her, but I made up my mind to speak to the principal about it.
Of course, I couldn't catch the principal after school, so I figured I'd wait until tomorrow.
But then I got a call from my co. She told me that the principal had come over and spoken to her about S.G.L. and my co had mentioned something about my test.
I knew right away that the principal had probably gotten the wrong message, so I called her at home to settle the issue. (I mean, if she could call me at my house, why cant I do it to her?)
I called, but there was no answer. I left a message for her to call me back.
I left the house soon after to go to a meeting, and when I cam back 4 hours later, my husband told me that I had missed her call.
She had given him the message that she had spoken to the student and she knew what was going on.
That's exactly my problem. She did not know what was going on! Was she going to take the entire story from a student that was wreaking havoc in my class without even asking me anything? Who's word is more important, the student or the teacher?
The highlight of my day was as I dropped into bed. I was so exhausted, I was half asleep when I heard my husband say, " When your principal called, I wanted to kill her over the phone."
It's nice when my husband tries to take care of me, but this situation is one I'll have to deal with on my own.
I need to teach this principal a lesson.
I came up with a plan. Before I gave the history test in each class, I had them listen to a song I had brought in, Joe Dimaggio's card, on Journeys III. I had brought it up in class when we had discussed inflation; how when there is more of something. ie: money, it becomes worth less. Whereas when an item is rare, the price will go up.
This song was about a baseball card that was very rare. The girls really loved it, but I could see they were edgy about the test. They didn't believe me when I said that it would only take them 45 minutes.
I had them daven mincha, and then I gave out the test.
I was right. Most girls finished within 45 minutes.
Going back to lunchtime, L.K. cam over to me to tell me that she wasn't able to take the test because she had been absent the day before and she had missed some material for the test. She also had not studied because she hadn't been feeling well.
I wasn't happy, but I told her that if her mother spoke to the secretary and the secretary wrote me a note, I would let her take it the next day.
I spoke to the secretary and asked her to play along. I just wanted L.K. to see that there was an authority in the school, and that she couldn't just do what she pleased.
Well, she sure got authority. The principal, made her take the test.
I was really angry, but L.K. took it and failed.
I have to give it to her anyway tomorrow, but now she has the advantage of knowing all the examples on the test. This policy of the principal is brilliance. Sheer brilliance.
Another thing that had happened lunchtime was that I got a message to call S.G.L.'s mother.
I knew right away what this was about. S.G.L. had left all the studying to the night before, and she wasn't able to take the test today. Same old story.
I spoke to the mother and explained to her that her daughter needed to show more responsibility. I had given her the notes a week in advance for this very reason, and she still didn't bother to study.
The mother had to agree with me, but she did also complain that the "easy notes" were now harder than they used to be and her daughter wasn't coping.
The truth is, the notes were harder. I had found these great summaries that were on a 5th -6th grade level, perfect for the girls. Perfect for me too, I now didn't have to spend all that time typing up special notes for the girls.
My old notes were on a third grade level and I really though the girls were ready to move on. the only girl who was really having a problem was S.G.L.
I believe her real problem is that she doesn't bother to study in advance.
I told the mother that I would have to speak to the daughter before deciding what to do about the test.
I came into the 7a class after recess, and lo and behold, S.G.L. wasn't there.
She cut my class.
I couldn't very well leave the classroom and go after her, but I made up my mind to speak to the principal about it.
Of course, I couldn't catch the principal after school, so I figured I'd wait until tomorrow.
But then I got a call from my co. She told me that the principal had come over and spoken to her about S.G.L. and my co had mentioned something about my test.
I knew right away that the principal had probably gotten the wrong message, so I called her at home to settle the issue. (I mean, if she could call me at my house, why cant I do it to her?)
I called, but there was no answer. I left a message for her to call me back.
I left the house soon after to go to a meeting, and when I cam back 4 hours later, my husband told me that I had missed her call.
She had given him the message that she had spoken to the student and she knew what was going on.
That's exactly my problem. She did not know what was going on! Was she going to take the entire story from a student that was wreaking havoc in my class without even asking me anything? Who's word is more important, the student or the teacher?
The highlight of my day was as I dropped into bed. I was so exhausted, I was half asleep when I heard my husband say, " When your principal called, I wanted to kill her over the phone."
It's nice when my husband tries to take care of me, but this situation is one I'll have to deal with on my own.
I need to teach this principal a lesson.
Tuesday, February 21, 2006
Clean Classrooms and Folding Sheets
I had been taking care of personal business yesterday, and I couldn't be in school, so when I came back today, I expected index cards and spelling homeworks on my desk when I came in.
Of course, only about half the class bothered, so I had to spend a lot of time giving out minuses and warnings.
Once we got to the lesson I was in trouble because I was way ahead in 7a, because I hadn't taught 7b on Sunday.
I had to improvise, and I tried to catch them up as quickly as possible. But between finishing the history chapter for tomorrow, and catching up on literature, it took until recess.
So when recess came around I tried lagging behind after the bell so that I would have less time in the 7a class.
But the principal took care of that for me.
She stormed into the teachers room. The teachers all looked in my direction.
I know that kind of sounds funny, but by this time of the year, the teachers all expect trouble to have something to do with me. I have no idea why.
"I am LIVID!!!" The principal shouted.
I got on the defensive, ready to fight.
"Your classrooms are a mess! All of yours!"
I just had to laugh. The teachers were also breathing sighs of relief. Sometimes this principal can be so strange.
"Well," she continued, "the fifth grades are decent, and the sixth are fine too, and your classroom is not bad, and yours isn't either..." And soon she had gone through everyone except me.
Why am I not surprised?
She went on to ask if we had all washed our breakfast dishes before we had left for school.
It so happens to be that breakfast is a sore issue at home, because I eat on plastic and my husband drinks his coffee in glass, and I never feel like it should be my job to clean his cups. So yes, my dishes were still in the sink.
She of course, decided that my dishes were probably in the sink at home and made it a point to say so.
But I didn't say anything in defense. Not because I didn't want to, but because she didn't shut up long enough for me to open my mouth.
Old problems...
She instituted a cleanup contest throughout the entire school, and then she left the teacher's room. She left all of us giggling.
But it caused the distraction I wanted, and I walked in 5 minutes late.
I had an amazing time in 7a. They are so capable, and funny, and I always manage to have a good time with them.
In the beginning of the year, I had thought that the other class, being more spunky, would be my more favored class. But now, February time, I'm getting sick of the whining and chutzpah in 7b. I would have to say that 7a is the class I look forward to now. They're becoming less shy, and raising their hands to say more. Every day gets better and better in that class.
Today I managed to have a history review, start the picture books with them, and even do a little literature.
There was one part in literature where a teenage boy is helping a woman fold her linen.
That sparked a discussion about how boys are so inept at doing anything around the house. One girl entertained us with the story of her brother climbing in to the duvet cover to get the blanket inside evenly.
Then A.L. asked why that was so funny, she did her blankets that way all the time.
The class was on the floor.
I called S.J. up to the front.
I over using her as an example. She's tiny, always smiling, and always ready to volunteer.
I had her take off her sweater and using the sweater I demonstrated how to put a cover onto the blanket.
I turned it inside out, put my hands inside, took her hands, and put it over her head. It got stuck halfway thorough, so the class was in stitches watching her struggle to get into it.
I remember that I used S.J. in the beginning of the year to demonstrate how hard it was to travel by dressing her in 3 coats.
She's just the cutest when I ask her to help me demonstrate anything.
I reminded the class about the history test the next day, spoke to R.R. about taking it later, and breathed a long sigh of relief.
My day was over.
Of course, only about half the class bothered, so I had to spend a lot of time giving out minuses and warnings.
Once we got to the lesson I was in trouble because I was way ahead in 7a, because I hadn't taught 7b on Sunday.
I had to improvise, and I tried to catch them up as quickly as possible. But between finishing the history chapter for tomorrow, and catching up on literature, it took until recess.
So when recess came around I tried lagging behind after the bell so that I would have less time in the 7a class.
But the principal took care of that for me.
She stormed into the teachers room. The teachers all looked in my direction.
I know that kind of sounds funny, but by this time of the year, the teachers all expect trouble to have something to do with me. I have no idea why.
"I am LIVID!!!" The principal shouted.
I got on the defensive, ready to fight.
"Your classrooms are a mess! All of yours!"
I just had to laugh. The teachers were also breathing sighs of relief. Sometimes this principal can be so strange.
"Well," she continued, "the fifth grades are decent, and the sixth are fine too, and your classroom is not bad, and yours isn't either..." And soon she had gone through everyone except me.
Why am I not surprised?
She went on to ask if we had all washed our breakfast dishes before we had left for school.
It so happens to be that breakfast is a sore issue at home, because I eat on plastic and my husband drinks his coffee in glass, and I never feel like it should be my job to clean his cups. So yes, my dishes were still in the sink.
She of course, decided that my dishes were probably in the sink at home and made it a point to say so.
But I didn't say anything in defense. Not because I didn't want to, but because she didn't shut up long enough for me to open my mouth.
Old problems...
She instituted a cleanup contest throughout the entire school, and then she left the teacher's room. She left all of us giggling.
But it caused the distraction I wanted, and I walked in 5 minutes late.
I had an amazing time in 7a. They are so capable, and funny, and I always manage to have a good time with them.
In the beginning of the year, I had thought that the other class, being more spunky, would be my more favored class. But now, February time, I'm getting sick of the whining and chutzpah in 7b. I would have to say that 7a is the class I look forward to now. They're becoming less shy, and raising their hands to say more. Every day gets better and better in that class.
Today I managed to have a history review, start the picture books with them, and even do a little literature.
There was one part in literature where a teenage boy is helping a woman fold her linen.
That sparked a discussion about how boys are so inept at doing anything around the house. One girl entertained us with the story of her brother climbing in to the duvet cover to get the blanket inside evenly.
Then A.L. asked why that was so funny, she did her blankets that way all the time.
The class was on the floor.
I called S.J. up to the front.
I over using her as an example. She's tiny, always smiling, and always ready to volunteer.
I had her take off her sweater and using the sweater I demonstrated how to put a cover onto the blanket.
I turned it inside out, put my hands inside, took her hands, and put it over her head. It got stuck halfway thorough, so the class was in stitches watching her struggle to get into it.
I remember that I used S.J. in the beginning of the year to demonstrate how hard it was to travel by dressing her in 3 coats.
She's just the cutest when I ask her to help me demonstrate anything.
I reminded the class about the history test the next day, spoke to R.R. about taking it later, and breathed a long sigh of relief.
My day was over.
Sunday, February 19, 2006
Half of a Half Day
I didn't get a chance to teach 7b today.
All I did was daven with hem, and then go out to a "2 minute meeting" about the picture books.
Old news. The 2 minute meeting turned into an hour and 15 minutes, and all I had left was my 7a class.
I had no choice but to go ahead of the other class, and I did. This class is such a pleasure! We finished history, and got a load done in literature.
We had about 8 interruptions during the period. The principal and the secretary kept coming in to deliver things and give me messages.
The girls thought it was fun.
I spent some time with R.R. after school to answer questions she had on her test, and I was so proud that she scored an 85%. She wasn't happy, but I sat with her and gave her a pep talk. which was what she really wanted. :)
Now I'm home with a ton of things to read, and a severe pain in my back. I'm taking off school for an appointment tomorrow, and to tell the truth, I'm looking forward to the blood tests more than I now look forward to school.
All I did was daven with hem, and then go out to a "2 minute meeting" about the picture books.
Old news. The 2 minute meeting turned into an hour and 15 minutes, and all I had left was my 7a class.
I had no choice but to go ahead of the other class, and I did. This class is such a pleasure! We finished history, and got a load done in literature.
We had about 8 interruptions during the period. The principal and the secretary kept coming in to deliver things and give me messages.
The girls thought it was fun.
I spent some time with R.R. after school to answer questions she had on her test, and I was so proud that she scored an 85%. She wasn't happy, but I sat with her and gave her a pep talk. which was what she really wanted. :)
Now I'm home with a ton of things to read, and a severe pain in my back. I'm taking off school for an appointment tomorrow, and to tell the truth, I'm looking forward to the blood tests more than I now look forward to school.
Thursday, February 16, 2006
Have it Her Way
The principal came over to me in school today to "discuss" what had happened yesterday.
The word discuss is in quotes because the principal seems to have her own definition of what a discussion is.
I had always lived with the misconception of the word discussion meaning "an exchange of views on some topic." I learned today that this definition has a slight mistake; the words "an exchange of views." It should instead be changed to "Listening to someone's view..."
Because that's what I did.
I listened to her view of the world. I wasn't allowed to open my mouth.
She claimed I was an "individual soul" but that also caused me to defy authority. No, not authority... Her Authority. That's like going against G-d's word.
I tired reasoning, but I've discovered more than once that it's useless.
After wasting 15 minutes of my class time, (yes, she had called me out of class for this) I finally got her attention elsewhere, and she became quite civil.
I learned this method as a young child in the park when I was being chased by dogs. As soon as I was able to throw a stick in another direction, I ceased to be the center of the dog's attention.
I had no idea it worked so well on humans.
But then again, she isn't really quite human, is she?
But anyway, the day somehow ended.
I had the girls read a lot of picture books today in class. They were not very mature, but they seemed to have fun.
I also took a survey of the students.
They each took out a piece of paper and wrote down if they felt this writing was a pressure, and why.
Then I asked them to give me any suggestions to help make this writing easier.
I read the papers on the phone with my co. Every single girl said that yes, the project was a pressure, and it was because they had so little time, and too much work.
they all suggested having a lot of time to complete it.
B.E.D. was one girl who wrote that it was not a pressure. I find that very ironic. She never hands in her work! I guess she doesn't plan on doing anything anyway, so she doesn't find it hard. LOL
My husband actually suggested that I do this survey so that I could hear what the students had to say about all of this.
It really is a great idea. The principal can tell me whatever she pleases, The girls just told me that it's the projects they hate, not the way I present them.
I doesn't help much, but it does make me feel a bit better. Or at least a bit more aware of what's happening in my classroom.
So the principal is getting her way, again, and I'm not happy. But I will make sure I get my revenge someday....MUHAHAHAH!!!
;p
The word discuss is in quotes because the principal seems to have her own definition of what a discussion is.
I had always lived with the misconception of the word discussion meaning "an exchange of views on some topic." I learned today that this definition has a slight mistake; the words "an exchange of views." It should instead be changed to "Listening to someone's view..."
Because that's what I did.
I listened to her view of the world. I wasn't allowed to open my mouth.
She claimed I was an "individual soul" but that also caused me to defy authority. No, not authority... Her Authority. That's like going against G-d's word.
I tired reasoning, but I've discovered more than once that it's useless.
After wasting 15 minutes of my class time, (yes, she had called me out of class for this) I finally got her attention elsewhere, and she became quite civil.
I learned this method as a young child in the park when I was being chased by dogs. As soon as I was able to throw a stick in another direction, I ceased to be the center of the dog's attention.
I had no idea it worked so well on humans.
But then again, she isn't really quite human, is she?
But anyway, the day somehow ended.
I had the girls read a lot of picture books today in class. They were not very mature, but they seemed to have fun.
I also took a survey of the students.
They each took out a piece of paper and wrote down if they felt this writing was a pressure, and why.
Then I asked them to give me any suggestions to help make this writing easier.
I read the papers on the phone with my co. Every single girl said that yes, the project was a pressure, and it was because they had so little time, and too much work.
they all suggested having a lot of time to complete it.
B.E.D. was one girl who wrote that it was not a pressure. I find that very ironic. She never hands in her work! I guess she doesn't plan on doing anything anyway, so she doesn't find it hard. LOL
My husband actually suggested that I do this survey so that I could hear what the students had to say about all of this.
It really is a great idea. The principal can tell me whatever she pleases, The girls just told me that it's the projects they hate, not the way I present them.
I doesn't help much, but it does make me feel a bit better. Or at least a bit more aware of what's happening in my classroom.
So the principal is getting her way, again, and I'm not happy. But I will make sure I get my revenge someday....MUHAHAHAH!!!
;p
Wednesday, February 15, 2006
There's Only So Much I Can Handle
I was pretty nervous last night about starting this whole new writing with the girls. They're to start writing picture books, and I wanted to introduce the lesson in an interesting way.
I started off the class by having the girls tell me what the qualities of a good picture book might be, and the girls really seemed to enjoy reminiscing about their favorite children's books.
After we had talked about what makes a children's book great, I had the girls sit on the floor as I read them a personal favorite of mine; The Jester Has Lost His Jingle by David Salzman.
The girls were thrilled with it.
After we had discussed that one, we looked through the book Look Alikes Jr. It's similar to an I Spy kind of book, where they find objects hidden in pictures.
They had a great time.
For homework, I had the girls go home and see if they had any good picture books at home that they'd like to bring in, and I also told them to begin thinking about a story they'd like to write.
I had to be a bit strict, and I said that a girl who came to class without an idea tomorrow would not be able to join the lesson. I have had girls take advantage of my being easy with homework before, and I have had to send some students out for not completing their homework.
If they wanted to continue taking part in the lesson tomorrow, they had to make sure they were following along.
I had a few attitude problems, but not anything I haven't seen before, namely, T.K, F.G, and a few others.
I was actually quite proud of the way my day went until I got home.
I just got a call from the principal.
She had gotten a call from an irate mother who's daughter had come home crying that she was pressured to have a plot for tomorrow.
The principal berated me for a half hour, blaming me for every problem she ever had in her life.
So it wasn't enough that I had stayed late in school yesterday, she now finds it important to call her teachers at home.
She said that I was irresponsible because I had forgotten to ask her for something that I had needed for my lesson.
I had not forgotten, they were not part of my lesson today.
She hated that I didn't come over to talk to her when my students were pressured to figure out what we could do about it.
-How should I know to come to her??? And more importantly, why would I want to?
"Whether you like it or not, you are going to have to work together with me to make this succeed."She said.
Somehow, she had turned me into a huge problem, I almost quit over the phone. It would be such a relief not to have to go back there. But, being a little bit of a logical thinker, I decided not to do it over the phone, I'll wait until school tomorrow.
Quitting over the phone wouldn't have worked anyway. She didn't' let me get a word in edgewise. She wouldn't have heard me if I said I quit.
She claimed that the seventh grade this year was having more problems than any other year, because I didn't know how to explain things to my students in a way that would excite them and make them understand.
I spaced out in the middle because I began typing to my husband over MSN messenger so that he could keep me calm, but at one point I had to open my mouth.
I began talking, but the principal didn't let me.
I refused to let her walk all over me.
I firmly said, "Please let me finish talking, I think you've said more than enough to this point." and she actually shut up for a minute so that I could finish me sentence.
I told her that she was not in my class today. I had done everything a good teacher should do and more. It was not my fault her writing projects were hard, it was not my fault that I had to be a little strict with my students today, and it certainly was not my fault that a student had taken my words out of context.
But she seemed to think otherwise.
At this point I realized that she had already made up her mind to be right, and that whatever I was going to say would not make nay difference. So I simply stayed quiet, and let her talk. (Which seemed to please her.)
She went on and on while I didn't make a sound. Sometime in the middle she thought I must've hung up, because she asked me if I was still there.
I made some sort of unintelligible noise which she took to mean, "Yes, I'm here, go on yelling. I don't mind at all."
So she did. She got confused that I wasn't answering back to her, but what she didn't know was that I had put the phone on mute and gave my lungs some exercise. I had a few good screams, and then I put the phone back on.
She was still talking.
She finally finished, and without even waiting for me to say anything, she abruptly hung up.
While I told my husband what had been going on, she called back to apologize for hanging up so abruptly. It was just that her car service was waiting outside.
She wants me to come talk to her during lunchtime so that we can go over some ways of making the girls feel less pressured.
Yay.
By the way, I got my paycheck today. $500.00.
It isn't fair that teachers don't get disability pay. How in the world will a paycheck like that pay for my psychologist?
Officially, I'm a teacher with heart, but sometimes I like to punch people too.
I started off the class by having the girls tell me what the qualities of a good picture book might be, and the girls really seemed to enjoy reminiscing about their favorite children's books.
After we had talked about what makes a children's book great, I had the girls sit on the floor as I read them a personal favorite of mine; The Jester Has Lost His Jingle by David Salzman.
The girls were thrilled with it.
After we had discussed that one, we looked through the book Look Alikes Jr. It's similar to an I Spy kind of book, where they find objects hidden in pictures.
They had a great time.
For homework, I had the girls go home and see if they had any good picture books at home that they'd like to bring in, and I also told them to begin thinking about a story they'd like to write.
I had to be a bit strict, and I said that a girl who came to class without an idea tomorrow would not be able to join the lesson. I have had girls take advantage of my being easy with homework before, and I have had to send some students out for not completing their homework.
If they wanted to continue taking part in the lesson tomorrow, they had to make sure they were following along.
I had a few attitude problems, but not anything I haven't seen before, namely, T.K, F.G, and a few others.
I was actually quite proud of the way my day went until I got home.
I just got a call from the principal.
She had gotten a call from an irate mother who's daughter had come home crying that she was pressured to have a plot for tomorrow.
The principal berated me for a half hour, blaming me for every problem she ever had in her life.
So it wasn't enough that I had stayed late in school yesterday, she now finds it important to call her teachers at home.
She said that I was irresponsible because I had forgotten to ask her for something that I had needed for my lesson.
I had not forgotten, they were not part of my lesson today.
She hated that I didn't come over to talk to her when my students were pressured to figure out what we could do about it.
-How should I know to come to her??? And more importantly, why would I want to?
"Whether you like it or not, you are going to have to work together with me to make this succeed."She said.
Somehow, she had turned me into a huge problem, I almost quit over the phone. It would be such a relief not to have to go back there. But, being a little bit of a logical thinker, I decided not to do it over the phone, I'll wait until school tomorrow.
Quitting over the phone wouldn't have worked anyway. She didn't' let me get a word in edgewise. She wouldn't have heard me if I said I quit.
She claimed that the seventh grade this year was having more problems than any other year, because I didn't know how to explain things to my students in a way that would excite them and make them understand.
I spaced out in the middle because I began typing to my husband over MSN messenger so that he could keep me calm, but at one point I had to open my mouth.
I began talking, but the principal didn't let me.
I refused to let her walk all over me.
I firmly said, "Please let me finish talking, I think you've said more than enough to this point." and she actually shut up for a minute so that I could finish me sentence.
I told her that she was not in my class today. I had done everything a good teacher should do and more. It was not my fault her writing projects were hard, it was not my fault that I had to be a little strict with my students today, and it certainly was not my fault that a student had taken my words out of context.
But she seemed to think otherwise.
At this point I realized that she had already made up her mind to be right, and that whatever I was going to say would not make nay difference. So I simply stayed quiet, and let her talk. (Which seemed to please her.)
She went on and on while I didn't make a sound. Sometime in the middle she thought I must've hung up, because she asked me if I was still there.
I made some sort of unintelligible noise which she took to mean, "Yes, I'm here, go on yelling. I don't mind at all."
So she did. She got confused that I wasn't answering back to her, but what she didn't know was that I had put the phone on mute and gave my lungs some exercise. I had a few good screams, and then I put the phone back on.
She was still talking.
She finally finished, and without even waiting for me to say anything, she abruptly hung up.
While I told my husband what had been going on, she called back to apologize for hanging up so abruptly. It was just that her car service was waiting outside.
She wants me to come talk to her during lunchtime so that we can go over some ways of making the girls feel less pressured.
Yay.
By the way, I got my paycheck today. $500.00.
It isn't fair that teachers don't get disability pay. How in the world will a paycheck like that pay for my psychologist?
Officially, I'm a teacher with heart, but sometimes I like to punch people too.
Tuesday, February 14, 2006
Discouraged
Test again.
I've learned to dread giving tests. The girls get so bratty, whiney, and frustrated, that it really wears me out.
I had to give L.K. a minus, and I was tempted to do the samw for R.H.
S.G.L. and R.R. didn't study, and they'll be taking the test tomorrow. I really ought to fail them.
S.F.F. was absent yesterday, but she managed to study anyway. I am so proud of her.
T.K. totally took advantage of me, and I HATE her attitude!! She made me go through recess answering her questions, and at the end, she had 3 left.
I was not going to answer those questions, and I demanded she give in her test.
She refused becuase by leaving out 3, she would start off with a 94.
I smiled and told her that if her paper wasn't in my hands within 5 seconds she'd fail.
After an entire day of answering questions, the principal came over to request I saty at a short meeting to discuss the picture books I'm supposed to have my students write.
The short meeting took 2 hours.
I just got home.
I didn't get a chance to put my stuff away yet. My coat in on the back of my chair, and my briefcase is on the floor. I am so angry.
I wasted 2 hours of my time in this meeting, and I still don't understand this project. I spoke up a few times, and asked questions, but the principal either avoided them, or answered vaguely. I cannot go into my classes now, and do this with them. I seriously can't handle this.
I am tired, upset, hungry, and I have ton of things to do. I don't know where to start, so I came here.
Now that I vented, (sort of) I guess I'll go mark tests.
Starting to make supper at 6pm isn't something I can do. My husband will just have to bring something home.
I called other schools this morning, but they all told me to call back in a few months.
I feel so discouraged.
I've learned to dread giving tests. The girls get so bratty, whiney, and frustrated, that it really wears me out.
I had to give L.K. a minus, and I was tempted to do the samw for R.H.
S.G.L. and R.R. didn't study, and they'll be taking the test tomorrow. I really ought to fail them.
S.F.F. was absent yesterday, but she managed to study anyway. I am so proud of her.
T.K. totally took advantage of me, and I HATE her attitude!! She made me go through recess answering her questions, and at the end, she had 3 left.
I was not going to answer those questions, and I demanded she give in her test.
She refused becuase by leaving out 3, she would start off with a 94.
I smiled and told her that if her paper wasn't in my hands within 5 seconds she'd fail.
After an entire day of answering questions, the principal came over to request I saty at a short meeting to discuss the picture books I'm supposed to have my students write.
The short meeting took 2 hours.
I just got home.
I didn't get a chance to put my stuff away yet. My coat in on the back of my chair, and my briefcase is on the floor. I am so angry.
I wasted 2 hours of my time in this meeting, and I still don't understand this project. I spoke up a few times, and asked questions, but the principal either avoided them, or answered vaguely. I cannot go into my classes now, and do this with them. I seriously can't handle this.
I am tired, upset, hungry, and I have ton of things to do. I don't know where to start, so I came here.
Now that I vented, (sort of) I guess I'll go mark tests.
Starting to make supper at 6pm isn't something I can do. My husband will just have to bring something home.
I called other schools this morning, but they all told me to call back in a few months.
I feel so discouraged.
Sunday, February 12, 2006
P.T.A. 2
I spent the entire night sick.
Between my migraine and throwing up, I didn't sleep at all. My husband didn't know what to do with me, but somehow we go through the night.
It had been a warm winter up till now, but last night we were hit by a blizzard full force. By this morning we had at least 10 inches of snow, and even more than a foot in some places.
I got up early to prepare for P.T.A., but before I bothered to get dressed I called the school's hotline.
School was cancelled!!!!!
They cancelled the P.T.A. on account of the snow, but I take personal credit. It just shows what prayer can do when people really put their minds to it.
I called my co to tell her he good news, but she had already called the school at 7am. She was nice enough not to call me and let me sleep in, but it backfired, because I called her, and woke her up. :)
I finally got myself together and went out with my husband to clean up his car. We had a snowball fight and then drove around town to laugh at the cars without 4 wheel drive.
But the last laugh was on us when we went to get a hot chocolate and we realized we forgot our moneys back home!
But the cafe was really nice, and they said they wouldn't let us go back out in that weather without a hot drink, and they gave us our beverages on the house.
What a great day!
Such a great day, in fact, that I don't really want to waste it writing this blog!
See ya'll tomorrow!
Between my migraine and throwing up, I didn't sleep at all. My husband didn't know what to do with me, but somehow we go through the night.
It had been a warm winter up till now, but last night we were hit by a blizzard full force. By this morning we had at least 10 inches of snow, and even more than a foot in some places.
I got up early to prepare for P.T.A., but before I bothered to get dressed I called the school's hotline.
School was cancelled!!!!!
They cancelled the P.T.A. on account of the snow, but I take personal credit. It just shows what prayer can do when people really put their minds to it.
I called my co to tell her he good news, but she had already called the school at 7am. She was nice enough not to call me and let me sleep in, but it backfired, because I called her, and woke her up. :)
I finally got myself together and went out with my husband to clean up his car. We had a snowball fight and then drove around town to laugh at the cars without 4 wheel drive.
But the last laugh was on us when we went to get a hot chocolate and we realized we forgot our moneys back home!
But the cafe was really nice, and they said they wouldn't let us go back out in that weather without a hot drink, and they gave us our beverages on the house.
What a great day!
Such a great day, in fact, that I don't really want to waste it writing this blog!
See ya'll tomorrow!
Thursday, February 09, 2006
German Misconceptions
I had a great time in class today.
For some reason the girls couldn't get that holocaust interview out of their minds, and they brought it up again.
I didn't mind going off on a tangent, especially one so interesting, so I went along.
It took time away from history, but that was ok.
We first reviewed most of what was said in the interview, and then the girls had a ton of questions.
L.K. wanted to know if the guy I had interviewed was a Nazi. -I couldn't stop laughing, as I explained to her that he is in fact quite a nice person, and that not all Germans are Nazis.
M.R. needed to know how people could be so mean. I spent a while telling her that they weren't necessarily mean, they were just mindlessly following a twisted leader.
M.R. had actually gone home and researched video clips of German soldiers marching. I had mentioned to them something about the Germans being beautifully coordinated as they marched, and that video clips always focused on their marching feet, to show how neat they were. M.R. came to tell me that the clip she had seen had focused on the feet, exactly as I had said.
The girls were pretty hurt that the world could be so bad. Their naivete is so charming.
The truth is, I'm still naive and idealistic, and that's why I had this holocaust conversation to begin with.
I had been chatting with my "German friend" for quite some time, and I always had some questions in the back of my mind. That's what prompted me to ask him about the Holocaust.
It took a while to make the girls understand that people cannot be generalized, or put into categories. It can't be that all Germans are bad people, in the same way that not all Americans eat hot dogs. Or in the way that not all Jews have Semitic features. And in the same way that not all Italians are mafiosos.
It was hard to get through to them because they aren't exposed to the world in that way. They don't mean to be racist, but they don't know what's really out there, they only know what they're taught.
In school they're taught that Germans killed Jews. That makes them bad.
They're taught that Africans were slaves. I guess that makes them lower class.
Their knowledge is limited to what they read and learn. Most of them never try to investigate and find out more about their world.
That irks me.
By nature I am a curious person, and I need to know everything. I can never understand how people can go through life not even caring to know more than what they do.
Especially in this school.
If I walk into the classroom one day and tell my students the sky is red, they'll calmly write it in their notes and study it for the test. My students only challenge me when they're trying to waste class time. Never because they really want to know.
So that's one issue. The girls see everything in black and white. Germans = Bad.
Another issue I had in trying to explain this to them is that they are, after all, just 12 year olds.
Sometimes I feel like they're bigger, but in truth, they're really tiny.
They were pretty shocked that I even had a "German friend." They couldn't fathom why a German would even look at a Jew.
Oy, do these kids have a lot to learn.
They wanted to know if I could bring him in for show and tell.
Yeah right. I guess it wouldn't be a problem if I wanted to lose my job.
We had to end the conversation eventually, and go on to history, but It was really nice to spend time on it.
In the 7a class I had a great time. M.R. kept me laughing all day. The class was thrilled to see me in such a good mood, and they caught on to my mood quickly.
In 7b, my mood had stayed with me, so I managed to handle the "calling out" and still keep smiling.
Somehow, L.K. got to telling me that she had seen a young married woman who looked just like me. She wanted to know if she was my sister.
I laughed and said that I didn't have any married siblings. They then asked if I had sisters that looked like me.
I told them that she was 6 years old.
The girls were thrilled to hear that I had such young siblings. They begged me to bring her in. R.H. wanted to know how many siblings I had.
I just smiled and told her that I'd leave it to her imagination.
It's funny how these girls are so into every aspect of my life. Hee hee.
The principal came in closer to the end of the day to announce the newspaper jobs.
Very few girls got jobs in the paper. It's supposed to be a big privilege.
But of course, in the 7b class, they don't appreciate anything, and R.H. who had gotten the job of reporter, immediately said she wanted to back out. L.K. who was assigned to graphics, followed R.H.'s lead.
I have no doubts that T.K. will soon join as well.
I'm more than slightly turned off.
I had sat for hours trying to make sure that these specific girls had gotten jobs. I guess there are some people you can never seem to please.
By the way, who do you think is in charge of the entire newspaper?
ME!!!
I love to write, and a career in journalism would be a dream come true, but taking charge of a seventh grade newspaper...? Not my cup of tea.
I'll be staying late a lot, pressuring my head off to get to print on time, and making sure the girls all have their jobs done.
I did not volunteer for the job. It seems that it was a hidden part of my duties. It's a seventh grade newspaper, and I'm the seventh grade English and writing teacher, so that makes it all my job.
Yay.
And how much do you think I'm getting paid for this?
Yep, the grand total of $000000.00.
I am definitely going to start making calls to other schools Sunday afternoon.
It's time to start applying for next year.
For some reason the girls couldn't get that holocaust interview out of their minds, and they brought it up again.
I didn't mind going off on a tangent, especially one so interesting, so I went along.
It took time away from history, but that was ok.
We first reviewed most of what was said in the interview, and then the girls had a ton of questions.
L.K. wanted to know if the guy I had interviewed was a Nazi. -I couldn't stop laughing, as I explained to her that he is in fact quite a nice person, and that not all Germans are Nazis.
M.R. needed to know how people could be so mean. I spent a while telling her that they weren't necessarily mean, they were just mindlessly following a twisted leader.
M.R. had actually gone home and researched video clips of German soldiers marching. I had mentioned to them something about the Germans being beautifully coordinated as they marched, and that video clips always focused on their marching feet, to show how neat they were. M.R. came to tell me that the clip she had seen had focused on the feet, exactly as I had said.
The girls were pretty hurt that the world could be so bad. Their naivete is so charming.
The truth is, I'm still naive and idealistic, and that's why I had this holocaust conversation to begin with.
I had been chatting with my "German friend" for quite some time, and I always had some questions in the back of my mind. That's what prompted me to ask him about the Holocaust.
It took a while to make the girls understand that people cannot be generalized, or put into categories. It can't be that all Germans are bad people, in the same way that not all Americans eat hot dogs. Or in the way that not all Jews have Semitic features. And in the same way that not all Italians are mafiosos.
It was hard to get through to them because they aren't exposed to the world in that way. They don't mean to be racist, but they don't know what's really out there, they only know what they're taught.
In school they're taught that Germans killed Jews. That makes them bad.
They're taught that Africans were slaves. I guess that makes them lower class.
Their knowledge is limited to what they read and learn. Most of them never try to investigate and find out more about their world.
That irks me.
By nature I am a curious person, and I need to know everything. I can never understand how people can go through life not even caring to know more than what they do.
Especially in this school.
If I walk into the classroom one day and tell my students the sky is red, they'll calmly write it in their notes and study it for the test. My students only challenge me when they're trying to waste class time. Never because they really want to know.
So that's one issue. The girls see everything in black and white. Germans = Bad.
Another issue I had in trying to explain this to them is that they are, after all, just 12 year olds.
Sometimes I feel like they're bigger, but in truth, they're really tiny.
They were pretty shocked that I even had a "German friend." They couldn't fathom why a German would even look at a Jew.
Oy, do these kids have a lot to learn.
They wanted to know if I could bring him in for show and tell.
Yeah right. I guess it wouldn't be a problem if I wanted to lose my job.
We had to end the conversation eventually, and go on to history, but It was really nice to spend time on it.
In the 7a class I had a great time. M.R. kept me laughing all day. The class was thrilled to see me in such a good mood, and they caught on to my mood quickly.
In 7b, my mood had stayed with me, so I managed to handle the "calling out" and still keep smiling.
Somehow, L.K. got to telling me that she had seen a young married woman who looked just like me. She wanted to know if she was my sister.
I laughed and said that I didn't have any married siblings. They then asked if I had sisters that looked like me.
I told them that she was 6 years old.
The girls were thrilled to hear that I had such young siblings. They begged me to bring her in. R.H. wanted to know how many siblings I had.
I just smiled and told her that I'd leave it to her imagination.
It's funny how these girls are so into every aspect of my life. Hee hee.
The principal came in closer to the end of the day to announce the newspaper jobs.
Very few girls got jobs in the paper. It's supposed to be a big privilege.
But of course, in the 7b class, they don't appreciate anything, and R.H. who had gotten the job of reporter, immediately said she wanted to back out. L.K. who was assigned to graphics, followed R.H.'s lead.
I have no doubts that T.K. will soon join as well.
I'm more than slightly turned off.
I had sat for hours trying to make sure that these specific girls had gotten jobs. I guess there are some people you can never seem to please.
By the way, who do you think is in charge of the entire newspaper?
ME!!!
I love to write, and a career in journalism would be a dream come true, but taking charge of a seventh grade newspaper...? Not my cup of tea.
I'll be staying late a lot, pressuring my head off to get to print on time, and making sure the girls all have their jobs done.
I did not volunteer for the job. It seems that it was a hidden part of my duties. It's a seventh grade newspaper, and I'm the seventh grade English and writing teacher, so that makes it all my job.
Yay.
And how much do you think I'm getting paid for this?
Yep, the grand total of $000000.00.
I am definitely going to start making calls to other schools Sunday afternoon.
It's time to start applying for next year.
Wednesday, February 08, 2006
First Day Back
The first thing my students noticed when I cam into class was my tan.
Or actually my burn.
I spent a good deal of time in Florida tanning, and I came home fried. I couldn't move, couldn't sleep, couldn't shower, and couldn't wrinkle my nose without yelping in pain.
As soon as I got into class, my students all began giggling. (Just wait until they see my co, she's even more tanned than I am.) I had to take my watch off in class because the burn on my arm was stinging, and the girls saw my beautiful watch/tan mark. That inspired another round of giggles.
I can't wait for my face to begin peeling. They'll split their sides laughing.
I tried to ignore the giggles, and I began the most boring day of my life.
I gave the girls a speech about the second half of the year. I made it sound like they were so special, almost eighth graders. I enforced some rules, (namely the no calling out in class rule,) and had a small review.
The history I taught today was dead boring and hard to understand, but I was too lazy to really explain it well. If I have any student who still believes that teachers don't enjoy vacation, someone has to tell her that she is sadly mistaken.
I definitely could use a couple of more days.
My literature lesson was even more frustrating. I was in no mood to teach, the girls were in no mood to learn, and the material itself was stupid.
What a day.
Over vacation the principal had given me a 15 page booklet to read. It was a syllabus of my next writing project; the book fair.
Every girl in the school has to write a book and display it at a fair we are going to hold in March.
My girls cried when they heard they were having a book fair. They just finished 5 projects, one after the other, and this really was unfair to them.
Another problem I have, is that I didn't understand a word of that booklet. She wants me to do so many things with these girls, that I would need to teach 24 hours a day in order to get it all done in 4 weeks. The other teachers feel the same way. And as a side point, none of the other teachers understand the booklet either.
Over vacation I put it aside, because I couldn't be bothered to think of school, but I took it out last night. I looked at the cover and my blood ran cold.
No kidding.
The first page of the 15 had a little header that read: Week One.
All of this has to get done in one week. When I pointed it out to the other teachers they had the same reaction.
If you ever wondered when you were a student if teachers cry, well they do.
I went over to the principal to tell her I didn't understand the syllabus, and she just smiled and said, "Don't worry, I'll 'unconfuse' you."
I'm so thrilled.
I came home with so much pressure on my head, I didn't know what to do.
I spent most of the night making up a history test, and then I quickly made up a rating sheet for the biography projects. I just realized that P.T.A. is this Sunday, and I have to have the marks in by then.
We got rating sheets for report cards again. I can't believe second term is almost over, we just finished first.
This school seems to like doing things a little rushed.
The 6th grade teacher's wedding was tonight and I went over for a while. It was beautiful. I didn't dance much because I had to scream every time someone touched me. My burn was hurting more than ever.
I met a student's mother at the wedding, and she told me that my makeup was stunning.
I had to laugh. I wasn't wearing any makeup. My face is so red from my burn that I didn't want to put anything on it. All I was wearing was a little eye makeup and lipstick, and she couldn't get over me.
I just smiled and took the compliment.
What was I supposed to tell her? That I had just roasted in Florida? :)
I am so overwhelmed now, I've got a load to do.
3 days of vacation isn't nearly enough!
Or actually my burn.
I spent a good deal of time in Florida tanning, and I came home fried. I couldn't move, couldn't sleep, couldn't shower, and couldn't wrinkle my nose without yelping in pain.
As soon as I got into class, my students all began giggling. (Just wait until they see my co, she's even more tanned than I am.) I had to take my watch off in class because the burn on my arm was stinging, and the girls saw my beautiful watch/tan mark. That inspired another round of giggles.
I can't wait for my face to begin peeling. They'll split their sides laughing.
I tried to ignore the giggles, and I began the most boring day of my life.
I gave the girls a speech about the second half of the year. I made it sound like they were so special, almost eighth graders. I enforced some rules, (namely the no calling out in class rule,) and had a small review.
The history I taught today was dead boring and hard to understand, but I was too lazy to really explain it well. If I have any student who still believes that teachers don't enjoy vacation, someone has to tell her that she is sadly mistaken.
I definitely could use a couple of more days.
My literature lesson was even more frustrating. I was in no mood to teach, the girls were in no mood to learn, and the material itself was stupid.
What a day.
Over vacation the principal had given me a 15 page booklet to read. It was a syllabus of my next writing project; the book fair.
Every girl in the school has to write a book and display it at a fair we are going to hold in March.
My girls cried when they heard they were having a book fair. They just finished 5 projects, one after the other, and this really was unfair to them.
Another problem I have, is that I didn't understand a word of that booklet. She wants me to do so many things with these girls, that I would need to teach 24 hours a day in order to get it all done in 4 weeks. The other teachers feel the same way. And as a side point, none of the other teachers understand the booklet either.
Over vacation I put it aside, because I couldn't be bothered to think of school, but I took it out last night. I looked at the cover and my blood ran cold.
No kidding.
The first page of the 15 had a little header that read: Week One.
All of this has to get done in one week. When I pointed it out to the other teachers they had the same reaction.
If you ever wondered when you were a student if teachers cry, well they do.
I went over to the principal to tell her I didn't understand the syllabus, and she just smiled and said, "Don't worry, I'll 'unconfuse' you."
I'm so thrilled.
I came home with so much pressure on my head, I didn't know what to do.
I spent most of the night making up a history test, and then I quickly made up a rating sheet for the biography projects. I just realized that P.T.A. is this Sunday, and I have to have the marks in by then.
We got rating sheets for report cards again. I can't believe second term is almost over, we just finished first.
This school seems to like doing things a little rushed.
The 6th grade teacher's wedding was tonight and I went over for a while. It was beautiful. I didn't dance much because I had to scream every time someone touched me. My burn was hurting more than ever.
I met a student's mother at the wedding, and she told me that my makeup was stunning.
I had to laugh. I wasn't wearing any makeup. My face is so red from my burn that I didn't want to put anything on it. All I was wearing was a little eye makeup and lipstick, and she couldn't get over me.
I just smiled and took the compliment.
What was I supposed to tell her? That I had just roasted in Florida? :)
I am so overwhelmed now, I've got a load to do.
3 days of vacation isn't nearly enough!
Thursday, February 02, 2006
Projects, Introductions, and the End of a Week
Today was an insanely rushed day.
I woke up very early so that I could bake with my husband, and then of course, I was left all alone to clean up after him.
I spent most of the morning running around,m getting stuff together for my vacation, and dumping them onto my couch.
Too soon I had to leave to school, where I was taking over both classes at the same time because my co had taken her mid-winter vacation a day early.
I came to school, and my kids were a wreck. They were busy trying to get their projects done even though they were supposed to be done already.
C.S.A. was having a panic attack because H.W. who was part of her group wasn't there yet, and she had things they needed to finish the project.
Other girls from other projects kept coming over to me to ask if they could have more time in class today to finish.
The principal then came over to me to tell me that almost every seventh grade mother had called the school to complain about this project because it was so pressuring on the students.
And whose fault is that, may I ask?
I felt like kicking her.
Having the classes together wasn't half bad. I actually enjoyed it. We did history, literature and even current events.
I did give the girls some extra time to finish their projects, and by the end of the day I had all of them.
During history, G.S. asked a good question about how the British troops were so organized in fighting. I compared it to the Nazi's in WWII and the lesson went great. I used a technique I had rest about in a book called The Wave, and I made all the girls sit up straight, with their hands on their desks.
It worked wonders. The girls were so much more alert and attentive. I was impressed! Now I really could understand why Hitler's strategy worked so well. I almost got carried away with that power myself!
And that was only for 5 minutes!
The girls really caught on to what I was trying to tell them.
I then read an interview I had with a German friend of mine. I was planning to keep it for the 12th grade, but because of the direction my lesson took, I read it to them.
basically the point I brought out them was that discipline is a key element in achieving a goal. The interview I read had a small part there about the Germans still being very disciplined until today.
There was a part where my friend had said that he believed another holocaust could happen any day, because his country had not changed.
The class was shocked and upset. I felt that maybe it was too much for a young class to really grasp, but they did well for their age. M.R., the cutest kid in the class, didn't look so shocked as much as she looked hurt. Her eyes were tearing for the rest of the lesson.
The one problem I had all day was the talking. Between R.H, L.K, L.O, T.K, and C.K. I can't get a word in edgewise.
They're all in class 7b, and their class suffers because they won't keep quiet. I really have to talk to them.
I also had a group coming down to me to discuss T.K. is 7a. It seems that she was being extremely bossy and she had controlled the entire group. The girls were all crying, and I told them I would try to do something about it.
Now I just have to figure out what.
I got to twelfth grade, and read them that same interview I had about the holocaust. They went nuts over it, and it sparked a huge debate. That's exactly what I wanted, (as this is a speech class) and it took up a nice amount of time.
I also gave every girl a slip of paper with a classmate's name on it, and they each had to come up and introduce the "next speaker." It worked out well.
My day was over. I got a 12th grader S.C.W. to help me carry home my 7th grade projects, and then I packed.
Florida here I come!!!
I woke up very early so that I could bake with my husband, and then of course, I was left all alone to clean up after him.
I spent most of the morning running around,m getting stuff together for my vacation, and dumping them onto my couch.
Too soon I had to leave to school, where I was taking over both classes at the same time because my co had taken her mid-winter vacation a day early.
I came to school, and my kids were a wreck. They were busy trying to get their projects done even though they were supposed to be done already.
C.S.A. was having a panic attack because H.W. who was part of her group wasn't there yet, and she had things they needed to finish the project.
Other girls from other projects kept coming over to me to ask if they could have more time in class today to finish.
The principal then came over to me to tell me that almost every seventh grade mother had called the school to complain about this project because it was so pressuring on the students.
And whose fault is that, may I ask?
I felt like kicking her.
Having the classes together wasn't half bad. I actually enjoyed it. We did history, literature and even current events.
I did give the girls some extra time to finish their projects, and by the end of the day I had all of them.
During history, G.S. asked a good question about how the British troops were so organized in fighting. I compared it to the Nazi's in WWII and the lesson went great. I used a technique I had rest about in a book called The Wave, and I made all the girls sit up straight, with their hands on their desks.
It worked wonders. The girls were so much more alert and attentive. I was impressed! Now I really could understand why Hitler's strategy worked so well. I almost got carried away with that power myself!
And that was only for 5 minutes!
The girls really caught on to what I was trying to tell them.
I then read an interview I had with a German friend of mine. I was planning to keep it for the 12th grade, but because of the direction my lesson took, I read it to them.
basically the point I brought out them was that discipline is a key element in achieving a goal. The interview I read had a small part there about the Germans still being very disciplined until today.
There was a part where my friend had said that he believed another holocaust could happen any day, because his country had not changed.
The class was shocked and upset. I felt that maybe it was too much for a young class to really grasp, but they did well for their age. M.R., the cutest kid in the class, didn't look so shocked as much as she looked hurt. Her eyes were tearing for the rest of the lesson.
The one problem I had all day was the talking. Between R.H, L.K, L.O, T.K, and C.K. I can't get a word in edgewise.
They're all in class 7b, and their class suffers because they won't keep quiet. I really have to talk to them.
I also had a group coming down to me to discuss T.K. is 7a. It seems that she was being extremely bossy and she had controlled the entire group. The girls were all crying, and I told them I would try to do something about it.
Now I just have to figure out what.
I got to twelfth grade, and read them that same interview I had about the holocaust. They went nuts over it, and it sparked a huge debate. That's exactly what I wanted, (as this is a speech class) and it took up a nice amount of time.
I also gave every girl a slip of paper with a classmate's name on it, and they each had to come up and introduce the "next speaker." It worked out well.
My day was over. I got a 12th grader S.C.W. to help me carry home my 7th grade projects, and then I packed.
Florida here I come!!!
Wednesday, February 01, 2006
The Nerve!
I was proud to give back my history tests today, as the classes had gotten a 95, and a 98 average. The girls were thrilled too, and they all looked excited as I gave them back.
Except for T.K.
I had sat with her all during lunch yesterday going over her test. I even let her take it back home so that she could do the essay.
I don't know why I gave in to her and did it with her. All she did was speak to me with an attitude, and refuse to think for herself. I practically had to force her to write the answers on the page.
Today, when I gave the tests back, she came over to me to tell me that she wasn't happy with her mark.
She had scored a 96%.
I was tempted to take her test and rip it up.
Instead, I looked at her sharply and said, "I don't believe you are in any position to complain about your mark."
She looked annoyed and went to whisper to her friends.
I don't get these girls. What do they think? That they deserve all this? In Yiddish we have an expression, "Sie kimpt sich mir." Basically, "I deserve special treatment and good things."
But this is a little too far. After I was nice to her, let her take the test home twice, put up with her attitude, and sit with her during lunch, she still has the nerve to fight over a 96? There is something so wrong with this picture.
And it's not only her.
I had been sitting in the teacher's room during lunch today with my co, and my girls did not stop banging down the door.
My co was giving a math test, and the girls had questions. My co was busy and she wasn't going out to them. Instead she sent out a message that she was not available and that the girls should stop knocking at the door.
They kept knocking anyway.
When another teacher told the girls that it was pretty disrespectful to keep knocking, they insisted on seeing my co. The other teacher said that my co was eating lunch and she should not come out.
R.H, one of the girls there at the time said, "Well she better come out, that's her job."
I was so disgusted.
My co sent a note out to R.H. saying, "Being respectful is more important than passing a math test."
The girls just laughed when they read it. I wonder if it's just in this school, or if other schools have this problem too. I don't remember students doing that in my school!
Maybe the times are changing.
Change isn't always a good thing.
Except for T.K.
I had sat with her all during lunch yesterday going over her test. I even let her take it back home so that she could do the essay.
I don't know why I gave in to her and did it with her. All she did was speak to me with an attitude, and refuse to think for herself. I practically had to force her to write the answers on the page.
Today, when I gave the tests back, she came over to me to tell me that she wasn't happy with her mark.
She had scored a 96%.
I was tempted to take her test and rip it up.
Instead, I looked at her sharply and said, "I don't believe you are in any position to complain about your mark."
She looked annoyed and went to whisper to her friends.
I don't get these girls. What do they think? That they deserve all this? In Yiddish we have an expression, "Sie kimpt sich mir." Basically, "I deserve special treatment and good things."
But this is a little too far. After I was nice to her, let her take the test home twice, put up with her attitude, and sit with her during lunch, she still has the nerve to fight over a 96? There is something so wrong with this picture.
And it's not only her.
I had been sitting in the teacher's room during lunch today with my co, and my girls did not stop banging down the door.
My co was giving a math test, and the girls had questions. My co was busy and she wasn't going out to them. Instead she sent out a message that she was not available and that the girls should stop knocking at the door.
They kept knocking anyway.
When another teacher told the girls that it was pretty disrespectful to keep knocking, they insisted on seeing my co. The other teacher said that my co was eating lunch and she should not come out.
R.H, one of the girls there at the time said, "Well she better come out, that's her job."
I was so disgusted.
My co sent a note out to R.H. saying, "Being respectful is more important than passing a math test."
The girls just laughed when they read it. I wonder if it's just in this school, or if other schools have this problem too. I don't remember students doing that in my school!
Maybe the times are changing.
Change isn't always a good thing.
Sunday, January 29, 2006
I'm Going "Sew" Nuts!!!
Back to my "I hate Sundays routine."
I didn't sleep all last night, and this morning dawned dark and cloudy.
I had absolutely no lesson plan for today, and I had so much to get done.
The writing project the girls are doing has to be done by Thursday because that's the last day I have them before vacation.
That was the only good part to my morning, the thought of vacation.
I have a cold, and my voice was hoarse. My eyes were hurting and they kept rejecting my contact lenses. I coughed my way to school, and started them off davening.
I collected some journals during davening, and I was disappointed to see that half the class hadn't bothered to do their double-entry response journal. They were given a week to do them, and they just weren't done.
I had notes from a couple of mothers and excuses from here to Honolulu about why they weren't done.
Right after davening, I gave the girls a speech.
I could barely talk, my voice was so hoarse, but I think they got the message. I gave the same speech to the other class a few days ago.
"You don't put the effort in; the teachers don't send you out to eighth grade."
I made it very clear to them that an excuse from their mothers didn't cut it in life.
I made an abrupt change to history, and I was then interrupted by the principal knocking on the door.
I told the girls to start reading in their books and I went outside.
Basically, a mother had called the school. She felt it was wrong that her daughter was put in a biography group with a girl who did her biography on a secular woman.
She felt that it wasn't right to compare a Jewish leader to the Elizabeth Blackwell, the first woman doctor. She said that although she certainly respected Blackwell, she didn't feel it appropriate to put them together.
I felt the color leave my face.
The girls worked on these projects for a while already. They were due Thursday. The principal wanted me to take all the secular biographies and put them together in one group.
It worked out because there were only 3 secular books, and they were all put into different groups. taking one girl out of each group would give me 4 groups of 3 girls and 1 group of 4. It could be done, but I didn't want to tell the girls about the change.
The principal said she would do it after recess.
Until then, I taught history, a great lesson on the Declaration of independence. I am making the girls memorize the preamble to the document, and C.S.A. already got it!
We said it out loud 3 times together, and I think it shouldn't be too hard for them to memorize.
I actually managed to get another whole aim done today! Three more days like this, and I can give a chapter test on Thursday!
Ok, let's be fair, we'll push it to the Thursday after vacation.
Recess time came and I went to the teacher's room and drank a cup of coffee. I never drink the stuff, but I was so nervous, that I downed a cup in less than 30 seconds.
My husband will be so proud. I'm finally growing up.
The principal spoke to the class after recess. The effect of her speech really hit C.S.A., H.W. and C.K. Those were the girls with the secular biographies.
C.K. was absent.
H.W. looked frustrated.
C.S.A. burst into tears.
The principal went on and on and I felt she put it down well, but I needed to figure out what to do with this new group. They had to redo their prefaces, and come up with new themes, and a title.
C.S.A. had worked hard on her group's theme, and now she had to do it all over again.
I told the principal that I was willing to stay after school with the girls and help them with their project.
I sent H.W. and C.S.A. out to call their mothers to ask for permission.
My life gets better and better.
I switched classes then, and got my history lesson done there as well. We didn't have time for writing, but there weren't any problems with secular books there that needed to be addressed. Whew!
B.E.D. didn't have her summary, or her journal entry done. She hadn't finished her test last week, and I gave her the opportunity to finish. She just shrugged me off and said that she didn't know enough about the essay on the test to be able to write about it.
She asked how many points I would take off if she didn't do the essay. I told her that it wasn't a matter of points, it was about the responsibilities she had as a seventh grader.
I have to call her mother.
I have to call R.S.'s mother too. She didn't have her homework done for a week. I have to find out what's going on.
D.T. came over to me to ask me about B.E.D. She was worried that B.E.D.'s missing papers would affect their group mark. I told them that it had nothing to do with them, and that they should just keep up their great work.
The bell rang and H.W. and C.S.A. came over to me.
I told them to go out and have lunch and meet me back in school in half an hour.
I ran home in the rain to grab some lunch of my own.
I came home to find that my dear husband had put our blankets on the porch to "air out." ...In the rain!!
I got back to school, carrying a scrapbook in one hand and a chocolate bar in the other.
The girls and I got to work.
After a good deal of thinking, C.S.A. came up with a brilliant theme: sewing.
She wanted the title to be, "The Alteration of a Nation - How Our Society Became 'Just Sew'. Stitching Together the Lives of People"
I thought that was adorable, and we spent an hour writing the most adorable essay that had everything to do with sewing. They literally sewed the lives of their biographies together.
We came up with some ideas about how to decorate their book, and by the time I left school, at 2:15, I think the girls were excited with their new group, and I was satisfied as well.
But like I said, "This school makes me 'sew' nuts!!"
I didn't sleep all last night, and this morning dawned dark and cloudy.
I had absolutely no lesson plan for today, and I had so much to get done.
The writing project the girls are doing has to be done by Thursday because that's the last day I have them before vacation.
That was the only good part to my morning, the thought of vacation.
I have a cold, and my voice was hoarse. My eyes were hurting and they kept rejecting my contact lenses. I coughed my way to school, and started them off davening.
I collected some journals during davening, and I was disappointed to see that half the class hadn't bothered to do their double-entry response journal. They were given a week to do them, and they just weren't done.
I had notes from a couple of mothers and excuses from here to Honolulu about why they weren't done.
Right after davening, I gave the girls a speech.
I could barely talk, my voice was so hoarse, but I think they got the message. I gave the same speech to the other class a few days ago.
"You don't put the effort in; the teachers don't send you out to eighth grade."
I made it very clear to them that an excuse from their mothers didn't cut it in life.
I made an abrupt change to history, and I was then interrupted by the principal knocking on the door.
I told the girls to start reading in their books and I went outside.
Basically, a mother had called the school. She felt it was wrong that her daughter was put in a biography group with a girl who did her biography on a secular woman.
She felt that it wasn't right to compare a Jewish leader to the Elizabeth Blackwell, the first woman doctor. She said that although she certainly respected Blackwell, she didn't feel it appropriate to put them together.
I felt the color leave my face.
The girls worked on these projects for a while already. They were due Thursday. The principal wanted me to take all the secular biographies and put them together in one group.
It worked out because there were only 3 secular books, and they were all put into different groups. taking one girl out of each group would give me 4 groups of 3 girls and 1 group of 4. It could be done, but I didn't want to tell the girls about the change.
The principal said she would do it after recess.
Until then, I taught history, a great lesson on the Declaration of independence. I am making the girls memorize the preamble to the document, and C.S.A. already got it!
We said it out loud 3 times together, and I think it shouldn't be too hard for them to memorize.
I actually managed to get another whole aim done today! Three more days like this, and I can give a chapter test on Thursday!
Ok, let's be fair, we'll push it to the Thursday after vacation.
Recess time came and I went to the teacher's room and drank a cup of coffee. I never drink the stuff, but I was so nervous, that I downed a cup in less than 30 seconds.
My husband will be so proud. I'm finally growing up.
The principal spoke to the class after recess. The effect of her speech really hit C.S.A., H.W. and C.K. Those were the girls with the secular biographies.
C.K. was absent.
H.W. looked frustrated.
C.S.A. burst into tears.
The principal went on and on and I felt she put it down well, but I needed to figure out what to do with this new group. They had to redo their prefaces, and come up with new themes, and a title.
C.S.A. had worked hard on her group's theme, and now she had to do it all over again.
I told the principal that I was willing to stay after school with the girls and help them with their project.
I sent H.W. and C.S.A. out to call their mothers to ask for permission.
My life gets better and better.
I switched classes then, and got my history lesson done there as well. We didn't have time for writing, but there weren't any problems with secular books there that needed to be addressed. Whew!
B.E.D. didn't have her summary, or her journal entry done. She hadn't finished her test last week, and I gave her the opportunity to finish. She just shrugged me off and said that she didn't know enough about the essay on the test to be able to write about it.
She asked how many points I would take off if she didn't do the essay. I told her that it wasn't a matter of points, it was about the responsibilities she had as a seventh grader.
I have to call her mother.
I have to call R.S.'s mother too. She didn't have her homework done for a week. I have to find out what's going on.
D.T. came over to me to ask me about B.E.D. She was worried that B.E.D.'s missing papers would affect their group mark. I told them that it had nothing to do with them, and that they should just keep up their great work.
The bell rang and H.W. and C.S.A. came over to me.
I told them to go out and have lunch and meet me back in school in half an hour.
I ran home in the rain to grab some lunch of my own.
I came home to find that my dear husband had put our blankets on the porch to "air out." ...In the rain!!
I got back to school, carrying a scrapbook in one hand and a chocolate bar in the other.
The girls and I got to work.
After a good deal of thinking, C.S.A. came up with a brilliant theme: sewing.
She wanted the title to be, "The Alteration of a Nation - How Our Society Became 'Just Sew'. Stitching Together the Lives of People"
I thought that was adorable, and we spent an hour writing the most adorable essay that had everything to do with sewing. They literally sewed the lives of their biographies together.
We came up with some ideas about how to decorate their book, and by the time I left school, at 2:15, I think the girls were excited with their new group, and I was satisfied as well.
But like I said, "This school makes me 'sew' nuts!!"
Thursday, January 26, 2006
Not T.K. Again!!
A problem with T.K. means a test day.
I gave out my history test, and T.K. made faces and began "kvetching" about how hard the test was. I refused to help her out until she actually looked at the test and tried to answer the questions.
By the time she looked at it, it was 5 minutes to recess. I called her up to my desk, only to find that she hadn't bothered to fill in a single answer.
I asked her if she was trying to play some sort of joke on me. I told her to ask me a specific question, and that I could help her with that. I couldn't fill in her entire test for her!
I told her to come into my class after recess so that I could sit with her and explain the test to her.
She refused.
She handed in an empty paper and put her head down on her desk.
I called her mother.
Her mother was actually about to call me!
We spoke at length about T.K.'s attitude, and I offered to let T.K. take her test at home for now.
She would have to work on the attitude, and then we would try to figure out a way to help her on tests.
We both hung up happy.
I finished marking all those tests and I am amazed.
It was not an easy test and the girls scored beautifully!
The class average in 7a was 95% and the average in 7b was 98%!
I will most definitely have a good weekend!
I gave out my history test, and T.K. made faces and began "kvetching" about how hard the test was. I refused to help her out until she actually looked at the test and tried to answer the questions.
By the time she looked at it, it was 5 minutes to recess. I called her up to my desk, only to find that she hadn't bothered to fill in a single answer.
I asked her if she was trying to play some sort of joke on me. I told her to ask me a specific question, and that I could help her with that. I couldn't fill in her entire test for her!
I told her to come into my class after recess so that I could sit with her and explain the test to her.
She refused.
She handed in an empty paper and put her head down on her desk.
I called her mother.
Her mother was actually about to call me!
We spoke at length about T.K.'s attitude, and I offered to let T.K. take her test at home for now.
She would have to work on the attitude, and then we would try to figure out a way to help her on tests.
We both hung up happy.
I finished marking all those tests and I am amazed.
It was not an easy test and the girls scored beautifully!
The class average in 7a was 95% and the average in 7b was 98%!
I will most definitely have a good weekend!
Wednesday, January 25, 2006
History Overload
History is one of my strong points. Ok, well so are science and writing. Um, come to think of it, I'm good with everything as long as it isn't math.
But getting to my day.
I had promised the girls a review game for their history test tomorrow, but I had set a goal for myself of teaching them an entire aim in history first. I found this really condensed summary of the history I'm teaching, and I was ready to put it to use.
Problem was, there are a lot of topics squeezed into that summary, and I didn't count on class 7b who kept peppering me with questions all day.
The reason I'm doing this is because I made up my mind to start and finish this entire chapter in 5 days.
During my meeting with the principal, I had come to realize how behind I was in history, and the principal mapped out a course for me. She basically wanted me to finish a chapter a week in history from now on.
Keep in mind that until now, from September to January, I have only managed to cover 5 chapters.
I see where I've gone wrong and I could've speeded it up, but I didn't think her goal of finishing all this material up so soon was realistic.
I decided that I would give it a shot anyway, and I ultra condensed my already summarized lesson.
It took a full hour instead of the usual 45 minutes, but I got it done. In both classes. It was draining, and I made a mistake in one class that I better make sure to fix tomorrow, but it was satisfying.
If I can finish this chapter by this time next week, I'm going to Florida on vacation!
Wait a minute, I'm already going to Florida.
Oh well, I guess I'll just get a manicure instead.
I think the real test will come when I actually finish the chapter and see how much the girls retained. I'm really forcing them to stay on their toes in order to keep up with this pace.
Let's just hope that I have the stamina to keep this up. The principal is good at expecting the impossible. And I'm terrible for trying so hard, and not proving her expectations wrong.
But the truth is, I would like to do this, even if only for a week, just to see if I can do it.
'Cause hey, you can't live a full life unless you're ready to try everything at least once; right?
So then, after this tiring history lesson, we still had a history game.
The students were enjoying the game, but I was in history overload. I needed a break.
The 4:15 bell couldn't ring soon enough today.
I ran all the way home, (down the block) and got on the computer to make up my "special" history test, for my "weaker" students.
The "special" test is usually just a list of questions, but this time I added some skills as well. I added a matching and a "fill in the chart" section. I know that the girls are going to cry tomorrow during their test, but I've really had with them.
They're 5 girls who really are sitting on my shoulders, expecting me to carry them, while enjoying the view.
I can't keep doing that.
I'm ready to work harder to come up with a better test but they have to work harder to get closer to the lever they're supposed to be at. If they're not even trying, than there's no point in me doing all the work for them. It's not going to lead anywhere except to more frustration when they'll meet a teacher who won't do all of this for them.
Rather get that wake-up-call now than to get it when you're older and it's not as easy to do something about it.
Whatever it is that I'm feeling right now, all I can really say is that between teaching, playing, and updating the history on my blog, I've had me enough history to last quite a while.
Now I need to go treat myself to some ice cream.
But getting to my day.
I had promised the girls a review game for their history test tomorrow, but I had set a goal for myself of teaching them an entire aim in history first. I found this really condensed summary of the history I'm teaching, and I was ready to put it to use.
Problem was, there are a lot of topics squeezed into that summary, and I didn't count on class 7b who kept peppering me with questions all day.
The reason I'm doing this is because I made up my mind to start and finish this entire chapter in 5 days.
During my meeting with the principal, I had come to realize how behind I was in history, and the principal mapped out a course for me. She basically wanted me to finish a chapter a week in history from now on.
Keep in mind that until now, from September to January, I have only managed to cover 5 chapters.
I see where I've gone wrong and I could've speeded it up, but I didn't think her goal of finishing all this material up so soon was realistic.
I decided that I would give it a shot anyway, and I ultra condensed my already summarized lesson.
It took a full hour instead of the usual 45 minutes, but I got it done. In both classes. It was draining, and I made a mistake in one class that I better make sure to fix tomorrow, but it was satisfying.
If I can finish this chapter by this time next week, I'm going to Florida on vacation!
Wait a minute, I'm already going to Florida.
Oh well, I guess I'll just get a manicure instead.
I think the real test will come when I actually finish the chapter and see how much the girls retained. I'm really forcing them to stay on their toes in order to keep up with this pace.
Let's just hope that I have the stamina to keep this up. The principal is good at expecting the impossible. And I'm terrible for trying so hard, and not proving her expectations wrong.
But the truth is, I would like to do this, even if only for a week, just to see if I can do it.
'Cause hey, you can't live a full life unless you're ready to try everything at least once; right?
So then, after this tiring history lesson, we still had a history game.
The students were enjoying the game, but I was in history overload. I needed a break.
The 4:15 bell couldn't ring soon enough today.
I ran all the way home, (down the block) and got on the computer to make up my "special" history test, for my "weaker" students.
The "special" test is usually just a list of questions, but this time I added some skills as well. I added a matching and a "fill in the chart" section. I know that the girls are going to cry tomorrow during their test, but I've really had with them.
They're 5 girls who really are sitting on my shoulders, expecting me to carry them, while enjoying the view.
I can't keep doing that.
I'm ready to work harder to come up with a better test but they have to work harder to get closer to the lever they're supposed to be at. If they're not even trying, than there's no point in me doing all the work for them. It's not going to lead anywhere except to more frustration when they'll meet a teacher who won't do all of this for them.
Rather get that wake-up-call now than to get it when you're older and it's not as easy to do something about it.
Whatever it is that I'm feeling right now, all I can really say is that between teaching, playing, and updating the history on my blog, I've had me enough history to last quite a while.
Now I need to go treat myself to some ice cream.
Tuesday, January 24, 2006
Bad Friendship
I had to meet with the principal today to finish what we had begun to discuss yesterday. I arranged for my classes to have computers right before and right after recess so that I would have at least an hour to talk to the principal.
I felt I needed the hour because the principal has a tendency to go off on a tangent and keep talking without really saying much. I made sure to allot myself extra time.
Turns out, I couldn't go in to her right away. She had forgotten that she had a meeting with me, and she was in a meeting with another teacher.
I just hung around the office until she was ready. My girls were being supervised by the computer teacher, so I didn't feel too guilty about it.
While I waited, I taught the secretary how to play solitaire. I was quite shocked that after 18 years she hadn't mastered the game. It's a classic!
My grandfather taught me how to play, and it has come to use many times during boring computer lessons in school. LOL
I only got to meet with her after recess, which, of course meant that we went overtime.
But the meeting itself was not half bad. I think we're learning to talk to each other. I walked out of there actually feeling happy.
The answer to your question is yes, I did lose some marbles.
I walked to class only to find half of them in the hallways making a racket and disturbing the other classes.
Sometimes you think they're so big, and other times you realize they're as little and as dumb as they come.
I gave a little speech to the class about working nicely in groups, they really needed it. C.O. and R.H. and L.O. already came over to complain about their groups. (See, I told you they're little!)
As I was talking, S.G.L. was busy waving to someone peeking into the window of the door. She then did a stupid thing by asking me if she could go out.
I asked her who it was at the door, and she told me it was her older sister's friend. Her older sister is a problem case in the 11th grade, and this "friend" was in the 9th grade. What's beyond me is, why is a 9th grader so interested in a 7th grader.
Obviously, she wasn't a very "cool" kid.
A cool kid doesn't hang out with 7th graders.
I put the girls into groups and I walked out into the hallway. The 9th grader hid from me, but I found her and asked her who she was looking for.
She told me that she wanted S.G.L. I told her that as S.G.L.'s teacher, I couldn't allow her to go out of class, but if she would like, I could have her join mine, since she seemed so interested in the 7th grade. I got her name, and she went away.
I don't like the idea of S.G.L. having an older friend. It's ok if she would have other friends, but she doesn't, instead, she's hanging out with the losers in the other grades. She worships her sister and she's trying very hard to go on the same path.
I specifically do not like this 9th grader, because I did some research, and she IS a wannabe. It would be a different story if she were the Honor Roll student who was reaching out to help S.G.L.
Another thing is, 9th graders and 7th graders have very different focuses in their lives. 9th graders know things that are not meant for 7th graders, and 7th graders have to get there on their own. A 9th grader who isn't that smart (this one didn't seem to be so brilliant) doesn't know where to draw the line.
From 7th grade to 9th grade is a big jump, and if we're not careful about where this is going, S.G.L. might not make it to the other side of that jump in one piece. I'm more than just a little afraid that she's going to fall down somewhere in the middle.
I felt I needed the hour because the principal has a tendency to go off on a tangent and keep talking without really saying much. I made sure to allot myself extra time.
Turns out, I couldn't go in to her right away. She had forgotten that she had a meeting with me, and she was in a meeting with another teacher.
I just hung around the office until she was ready. My girls were being supervised by the computer teacher, so I didn't feel too guilty about it.
While I waited, I taught the secretary how to play solitaire. I was quite shocked that after 18 years she hadn't mastered the game. It's a classic!
My grandfather taught me how to play, and it has come to use many times during boring computer lessons in school. LOL
I only got to meet with her after recess, which, of course meant that we went overtime.
But the meeting itself was not half bad. I think we're learning to talk to each other. I walked out of there actually feeling happy.
The answer to your question is yes, I did lose some marbles.
I walked to class only to find half of them in the hallways making a racket and disturbing the other classes.
Sometimes you think they're so big, and other times you realize they're as little and as dumb as they come.
I gave a little speech to the class about working nicely in groups, they really needed it. C.O. and R.H. and L.O. already came over to complain about their groups. (See, I told you they're little!)
As I was talking, S.G.L. was busy waving to someone peeking into the window of the door. She then did a stupid thing by asking me if she could go out.
I asked her who it was at the door, and she told me it was her older sister's friend. Her older sister is a problem case in the 11th grade, and this "friend" was in the 9th grade. What's beyond me is, why is a 9th grader so interested in a 7th grader.
Obviously, she wasn't a very "cool" kid.
A cool kid doesn't hang out with 7th graders.
I put the girls into groups and I walked out into the hallway. The 9th grader hid from me, but I found her and asked her who she was looking for.
She told me that she wanted S.G.L. I told her that as S.G.L.'s teacher, I couldn't allow her to go out of class, but if she would like, I could have her join mine, since she seemed so interested in the 7th grade. I got her name, and she went away.
I don't like the idea of S.G.L. having an older friend. It's ok if she would have other friends, but she doesn't, instead, she's hanging out with the losers in the other grades. She worships her sister and she's trying very hard to go on the same path.
I specifically do not like this 9th grader, because I did some research, and she IS a wannabe. It would be a different story if she were the Honor Roll student who was reaching out to help S.G.L.
Another thing is, 9th graders and 7th graders have very different focuses in their lives. 9th graders know things that are not meant for 7th graders, and 7th graders have to get there on their own. A 9th grader who isn't that smart (this one didn't seem to be so brilliant) doesn't know where to draw the line.
From 7th grade to 9th grade is a big jump, and if we're not careful about where this is going, S.G.L. might not make it to the other side of that jump in one piece. I'm more than just a little afraid that she's going to fall down somewhere in the middle.
Monday, January 23, 2006
Long and Quiet Day
I had a meeting with the principal today.
You know what, it wasn't as bad as I was expecting it to be.
I am behind in curriculum, and we tried to map everything out on a calendar. I still have to meet with her tomorrow to go over my literature curriculum.
Of course, I can't leave the prinicpal's office without hearing some criticism, so here it is.
She's onto my personality again. I'm too spunky and spontaneous. I come across as the girls' older sister rather than their teacher. The truth is, I can she where that's a bad thing, but I am aware of this so-called problem since the first time she brought it up. I know it's something I'll have to work on, but it's annoying to keep getting it shoved in your face.
Anyway, I got out of her office 2 minutes before class, and I ran around to find a copy of Paul Revere's Ride. I then realized I was starving as I hadn't yet eaten, but there was no food to be found anywhere, so when the bell rang I ran into class hungry.
I finished the chapter in history, and then I divided the girls into writing groups. They actually managed to work well! I was thrilled!
Of course, three girls already came over to complain to me about their groups. I expected that. Tomorrow I have to speak to the classes about not bossing each other around, and treating each other with respect.
I read and answered index cards while the writing was going on. We had some interesting ones this week, but nothing major.
S.G.L. wrote how happy she is in English, but she HATES her Hebrew teachers.
M.R. told me about her father who lives in England with his wife. He just had a baby with her and they named her the same name as her mother's new baby.
It took me a minute to figure out what she was trying to say, but I got it.
G.S. wrote, "My head hurts."
I totally don't get her sometimes.
It was a long day, but not much really happened.
You know what, it wasn't as bad as I was expecting it to be.
I am behind in curriculum, and we tried to map everything out on a calendar. I still have to meet with her tomorrow to go over my literature curriculum.
Of course, I can't leave the prinicpal's office without hearing some criticism, so here it is.
She's onto my personality again. I'm too spunky and spontaneous. I come across as the girls' older sister rather than their teacher. The truth is, I can she where that's a bad thing, but I am aware of this so-called problem since the first time she brought it up. I know it's something I'll have to work on, but it's annoying to keep getting it shoved in your face.
Anyway, I got out of her office 2 minutes before class, and I ran around to find a copy of Paul Revere's Ride. I then realized I was starving as I hadn't yet eaten, but there was no food to be found anywhere, so when the bell rang I ran into class hungry.
I finished the chapter in history, and then I divided the girls into writing groups. They actually managed to work well! I was thrilled!
Of course, three girls already came over to complain to me about their groups. I expected that. Tomorrow I have to speak to the classes about not bossing each other around, and treating each other with respect.
I read and answered index cards while the writing was going on. We had some interesting ones this week, but nothing major.
S.G.L. wrote how happy she is in English, but she HATES her Hebrew teachers.
M.R. told me about her father who lives in England with his wife. He just had a baby with her and they named her the same name as her mother's new baby.
It took me a minute to figure out what she was trying to say, but I got it.
G.S. wrote, "My head hurts."
I totally don't get her sometimes.
It was a long day, but not much really happened.
Sunday, January 22, 2006
Combined Class
I had a ton to do today, and I didn't know how I would get everything done. The periods are much shorter on Sundays, and I have more time in one class than the other because you have to allow 45 minutes in the beginning of the day for the class to daven.
Today, the principal called a teacher's meeting during davening. All the teachers were miserable about it, and it was so boring, it was almost stressful.
It turned out that I had only 20 minutes left in 7b, while I would have an hour and a half in the other class.
Now I know why I'm always behind.
My co had a meeting with the principal, and her class was doing nothing, just waiting for her. I decided to combine both classes and have a full hour and a half.
It worked great. We got some writing and history done. Of course, the principal came in to my class as soon as her meeting was over so that she could observe me.
Sheesh!!
It wasn't half bad though. I think I might be getting used to this whole business, as much as I think the idea stinks.
I have my meeting with her tomorrow though. Yay.
I had to spend a lot of time this afternoon putting their writing groups together. The girls are being put into groups for their writing project. Each group will connect the lives of the people in their biographies. This is nowhere near on a 7th grade level, but hey, what can I do?
I had to put the groups together based on the girls' preferences, and based on similarities between their characters.
This was not easy. It took me a while, and I sure hope I got it right. These group things aren't much fun. For me, and believe it or not, for the students either.
Today, the principal called a teacher's meeting during davening. All the teachers were miserable about it, and it was so boring, it was almost stressful.
It turned out that I had only 20 minutes left in 7b, while I would have an hour and a half in the other class.
Now I know why I'm always behind.
My co had a meeting with the principal, and her class was doing nothing, just waiting for her. I decided to combine both classes and have a full hour and a half.
It worked great. We got some writing and history done. Of course, the principal came in to my class as soon as her meeting was over so that she could observe me.
Sheesh!!
It wasn't half bad though. I think I might be getting used to this whole business, as much as I think the idea stinks.
I have my meeting with her tomorrow though. Yay.
I had to spend a lot of time this afternoon putting their writing groups together. The girls are being put into groups for their writing project. Each group will connect the lives of the people in their biographies. This is nowhere near on a 7th grade level, but hey, what can I do?
I had to put the groups together based on the girls' preferences, and based on similarities between their characters.
This was not easy. It took me a while, and I sure hope I got it right. These group things aren't much fun. For me, and believe it or not, for the students either.
Thursday, January 19, 2006
Not Bad for a Thursday!
Wednesday was quite boring. I gave a Literature test, and I basically spent the first half of my day writing a birthday poem for my co, and after recess, I marked the tests from my first class.
Most girls got in the high nineties, only 2 girls in the grade scored in the eighties.
S.G.L. of course handed in an empty paper, and this time, I just didn't bother. I gave back the paper the same way I got it. I didn't even attempt to mark it.
The principal saw it though. I'm supposed to give all my marked tests in to her so that she could go over them. (Not that I always do it...not even that I sometimes do it!) I know she saw S.G.L.'s test, so I'll leave it in her hands.
This morning we held a good-bye party for the 6th grade teacher who's leaving. It was actually a lot of fun. We prepared a lunch and organized some cute activities as well.
I gave the tests back today, and we had a good day. I accomplished a lot in both classes, and I was pretty satisfied.
The secretary cornered me and scheduled the meeting I kept avoiding with the principal.
Oh well, I guess it's inevitable.
I was in a pretty good mood by the time I got to 12th grade, and I was also pretty excited.
I had prepared a great game for public speaking, and I hoped it would work. I know that my subject is considered a joke to the girls. Public Speaking always is. I wanted to do something that would keep all the girls participating in the lesson.
I went out this morning and bought a deck of cards. I prepared a list of topics and each card represented a topic.
The girls were to take turns coming up to my desk, picking a card, and talking spontaneously for one minute about that topic.
It worked something amazing!!!
The girls were actually participating, and fighting for a chance to come up and talk. We didn't do it for the whole period, because we didn't have that much time, but the girls can't wait to do it again next week.
To tell you the truth, neither can I.
I think I'm finally getting the hang of this high school thing!
Most girls got in the high nineties, only 2 girls in the grade scored in the eighties.
S.G.L. of course handed in an empty paper, and this time, I just didn't bother. I gave back the paper the same way I got it. I didn't even attempt to mark it.
The principal saw it though. I'm supposed to give all my marked tests in to her so that she could go over them. (Not that I always do it...not even that I sometimes do it!) I know she saw S.G.L.'s test, so I'll leave it in her hands.
This morning we held a good-bye party for the 6th grade teacher who's leaving. It was actually a lot of fun. We prepared a lunch and organized some cute activities as well.
I gave the tests back today, and we had a good day. I accomplished a lot in both classes, and I was pretty satisfied.
The secretary cornered me and scheduled the meeting I kept avoiding with the principal.
Oh well, I guess it's inevitable.
I was in a pretty good mood by the time I got to 12th grade, and I was also pretty excited.
I had prepared a great game for public speaking, and I hoped it would work. I know that my subject is considered a joke to the girls. Public Speaking always is. I wanted to do something that would keep all the girls participating in the lesson.
I went out this morning and bought a deck of cards. I prepared a list of topics and each card represented a topic.
The girls were to take turns coming up to my desk, picking a card, and talking spontaneously for one minute about that topic.
It worked something amazing!!!
The girls were actually participating, and fighting for a chance to come up and talk. We didn't do it for the whole period, because we didn't have that much time, but the girls can't wait to do it again next week.
To tell you the truth, neither can I.
I think I'm finally getting the hang of this high school thing!
Wednesday, January 18, 2006
What is This Girl Thinking?!?
More about my test later.
The real issue today was G.S.
First, she came late to class. She came in carrying a whole pile of cake and peanut chews. I refused to give out my tests before she settled down and cleared her desk of all the food.
She made such a fuss of it, it took at least 5 minutes for her to get everything in order.
The class was waiting impatiently so they could begin the tests, when C.S.A. saw the peanut chews.
She's allergic to a lot of things, and peanut putter makes her reactions terrible. C.S.A. had a panic attack as soon as she saw the peanut chews.
I told G.S. to take her briefcase out of the classroom. She made a HUGE deal of it, asking why it was so major to take the peanut chews out of the class. She made fun of C.S.A. for getting so scared, and I was ready to strangle her by the time she finally took it out.
FINALLY, I gave out my tests.
When the first 3 girls gave in their tests, I let them go out to my co who needed some girls to help her clean the lab.
G.S. was one of the first three. She went out loudly with the other girls and helped them make a racket it the hallway.
After about 20 minutes, they all came back in, and I noticed that G.S. was chewing something. It was 5 minutes to recess, so I didn't make a big deal. I saw her sneaking something out of her pocket into her mouth, trying to make sure I didn't see. The girls should only know how much I can see from the teacher's desk.
L.K. started yelling at G.S. that she wasn't being fair, it was dangerous, and right away I realized that G.S. had brought in peanut chews.
C.S.A. had another panic attack right away, and I thought I was going to slap G.S.
I asked her what she was doing, messing around with someone else's health. She just laughed and said that C.S.A. makes a bigger deal of it than it really is. I answered that it still wasn't' her place to test the severity of C.S.A.'s allergies.
I sent G.S. out of the room. As she was leaving, I told her, "Sometimes it's beyond me what you're thinking up there. Or even if you're thinking at all."
I spoke to the principal about this. She was upset too. G.S. has shown no improvement since changing classes, and this wasn't even a behavioral problem. It was something much deeper. WE have to do something.
The real issue today was G.S.
First, she came late to class. She came in carrying a whole pile of cake and peanut chews. I refused to give out my tests before she settled down and cleared her desk of all the food.
She made such a fuss of it, it took at least 5 minutes for her to get everything in order.
The class was waiting impatiently so they could begin the tests, when C.S.A. saw the peanut chews.
She's allergic to a lot of things, and peanut putter makes her reactions terrible. C.S.A. had a panic attack as soon as she saw the peanut chews.
I told G.S. to take her briefcase out of the classroom. She made a HUGE deal of it, asking why it was so major to take the peanut chews out of the class. She made fun of C.S.A. for getting so scared, and I was ready to strangle her by the time she finally took it out.
FINALLY, I gave out my tests.
When the first 3 girls gave in their tests, I let them go out to my co who needed some girls to help her clean the lab.
G.S. was one of the first three. She went out loudly with the other girls and helped them make a racket it the hallway.
After about 20 minutes, they all came back in, and I noticed that G.S. was chewing something. It was 5 minutes to recess, so I didn't make a big deal. I saw her sneaking something out of her pocket into her mouth, trying to make sure I didn't see. The girls should only know how much I can see from the teacher's desk.
L.K. started yelling at G.S. that she wasn't being fair, it was dangerous, and right away I realized that G.S. had brought in peanut chews.
C.S.A. had another panic attack right away, and I thought I was going to slap G.S.
I asked her what she was doing, messing around with someone else's health. She just laughed and said that C.S.A. makes a bigger deal of it than it really is. I answered that it still wasn't' her place to test the severity of C.S.A.'s allergies.
I sent G.S. out of the room. As she was leaving, I told her, "Sometimes it's beyond me what you're thinking up there. Or even if you're thinking at all."
I spoke to the principal about this. She was upset too. G.S. has shown no improvement since changing classes, and this wasn't even a behavioral problem. It was something much deeper. WE have to do something.
Monday, January 16, 2006
Index Cards Again
Index Cards first.
B.E.D. gave me one that said, "My brother's yahrtzeit was yesterday. Last night my someone tripped over my younger brother's feeding tube and pulled it out. He had to go to the hospital and he came home at 4 in the morning."
Wow.
S.G.L. gave me one that said, "I'm so excited for this new writing. I already wrote 120 words."
It's good to know she likes something. I wrote an encouraging remark on hers.
C.O. wrote a continuation to last week's card. "I'm not embarrassed of girls seeing me come over to you. I'm embarrassed of you!"
I wrote back, "You weren't embarrassed when I lived down the block!"
Hee Hee
Most girls asked me if I had enjoyed the high school play. To tell you the truth, it was a waste of a motzei shabbos. It was SO DUMB!!
M.R. cute as ever, wrote, "Did you enjoy the play? I didn't."
Yum!
G.S. wrote something borderline fresh, "If you want to know how to keep an idiot busy for hours, turn this card over." On the other side she had written the same thing.
I just wrote, "Very cute!" Even though I would've loved to kill her. J/K
T.K. wrote "I'm so excited for the biography project."
I knew for a fact that she was being sarcastic, so I asked her if she was sarcastic, where were her quotation marks. (We just finished learning about them.)
I taught the girls today about the Committee of correspondence and I was trying to explain to them why it was so effective at spreading the feelings in the colonies.
the girls weren't getting it, so I taught them the "smile game."
I made them all stop smiling and I was the only one who was allowed to smile. I them took the smile off my face and "threw" it to a girl in the class. She them "caught" the smile, showed it off, and threw it to someone else.
Well, that's the way it's supposed to work, but of course, the girls weren't very good at it, and they kept giggling out of turn.
I stopped the game and asked them why they were giggling if they didn't "have" the smile. T.K. (7a) told me it was because it was catchy.
She proved my point. Spirit is catchy. That's what the Committee of correspondence was.
Best spontaneous lesson I've ever given. I'm still smiling!
Later on, I tried to teach the kids what is what like in the colonies without tea. I had them imagine the Coca-Cola company going out of business.
The girls were really getting into it, and then I asked them what would happen if coffee beans were outlawed in this country. I meant for them to tell me what their parents would feel like, but C.O. yelled out, "Starbucks would go out of business!"
Big Problem. Starbucks' milk isn't certified as stringently as the milk that most people in this community drink, and therefore most girls didn't even know what Starbucks was.
I had to explain to them that Starbucks was a cafe chain that specialized in coffee. And I crossed my fingers and hoped it'd be the end of it.
But C.O. continued, "Yeah, I go there all the time, if you don't drink their milk, you can ask for soy milk. It's kosher."
I had to explain to the girls that it was not something most of them would drink, and C.O. finally shut up.
I was terrified that a kid was going to tell her mother about our lesson on Starbucks, and the mother would call the school.
I didn't need to get it from the principal, so I went over to her. I told her what had happened, and she saw it from my point of view (!). Now, if a mother calls, she'll know what happened and she might defend me. Yay!
Now, if you don't mind, I will go back to the teacher's room and go get my Starbucks Frappuchino. There's nothing like an iced coffee at the end of a long day.
B.E.D. gave me one that said, "My brother's yahrtzeit was yesterday. Last night my someone tripped over my younger brother's feeding tube and pulled it out. He had to go to the hospital and he came home at 4 in the morning."
Wow.
S.G.L. gave me one that said, "I'm so excited for this new writing. I already wrote 120 words."
It's good to know she likes something. I wrote an encouraging remark on hers.
C.O. wrote a continuation to last week's card. "I'm not embarrassed of girls seeing me come over to you. I'm embarrassed of you!"
I wrote back, "You weren't embarrassed when I lived down the block!"
Hee Hee
Most girls asked me if I had enjoyed the high school play. To tell you the truth, it was a waste of a motzei shabbos. It was SO DUMB!!
M.R. cute as ever, wrote, "Did you enjoy the play? I didn't."
Yum!
G.S. wrote something borderline fresh, "If you want to know how to keep an idiot busy for hours, turn this card over." On the other side she had written the same thing.
I just wrote, "Very cute!" Even though I would've loved to kill her. J/K
T.K. wrote "I'm so excited for the biography project."
I knew for a fact that she was being sarcastic, so I asked her if she was sarcastic, where were her quotation marks. (We just finished learning about them.)
I taught the girls today about the Committee of correspondence and I was trying to explain to them why it was so effective at spreading the feelings in the colonies.
the girls weren't getting it, so I taught them the "smile game."
I made them all stop smiling and I was the only one who was allowed to smile. I them took the smile off my face and "threw" it to a girl in the class. She them "caught" the smile, showed it off, and threw it to someone else.
Well, that's the way it's supposed to work, but of course, the girls weren't very good at it, and they kept giggling out of turn.
I stopped the game and asked them why they were giggling if they didn't "have" the smile. T.K. (7a) told me it was because it was catchy.
She proved my point. Spirit is catchy. That's what the Committee of correspondence was.
Best spontaneous lesson I've ever given. I'm still smiling!
Later on, I tried to teach the kids what is what like in the colonies without tea. I had them imagine the Coca-Cola company going out of business.
The girls were really getting into it, and then I asked them what would happen if coffee beans were outlawed in this country. I meant for them to tell me what their parents would feel like, but C.O. yelled out, "Starbucks would go out of business!"
Big Problem. Starbucks' milk isn't certified as stringently as the milk that most people in this community drink, and therefore most girls didn't even know what Starbucks was.
I had to explain to them that Starbucks was a cafe chain that specialized in coffee. And I crossed my fingers and hoped it'd be the end of it.
But C.O. continued, "Yeah, I go there all the time, if you don't drink their milk, you can ask for soy milk. It's kosher."
I had to explain to the girls that it was not something most of them would drink, and C.O. finally shut up.
I was terrified that a kid was going to tell her mother about our lesson on Starbucks, and the mother would call the school.
I didn't need to get it from the principal, so I went over to her. I told her what had happened, and she saw it from my point of view (!). Now, if a mother calls, she'll know what happened and she might defend me. Yay!
Now, if you don't mind, I will go back to the teacher's room and go get my Starbucks Frappuchino. There's nothing like an iced coffee at the end of a long day.
Sunday, January 15, 2006
350 Words
I was bored this morning and I sat in the teacher's room writing numbers. I spelled out the numbers from one to three hundred and fifty.
I did it because I wanted to introduce a new writing to the girls today, and I didn't want any of them to think they can get away with writing two paragraphs. Or even three pages done in a big handwriting.
Most girls compare the amount of space on the page their writings take up instead of how much they've actually written. I wasn't going to stand for reading a dumb two paragraph summary when I was looking for perfection.
I introduced the writing; a summary of the biographies they'd read, and I held up the paper with 350 words. I showed them what 350 words on wide ruled paper, done in a small handwriting looked like.
I then passed around the paper and when the girls read what was written on the paper, they all had a good laugh.
Four girls in 7a were doing their biographies on the same book, and they kept looking at each other's notes. T.K. seemed to be having a huge problem writing her essay, so I asked her if she would like to take C.C.K.'s notes and make copies for herself and the other girls.
She just shrugged and said, "No."
C.S. went out and made the copies. T.K. ended up using them. But she made it very clear that she wasn't going to do anything I wanted her to do.
New problem? No problem. Just add it to my growing list.
We had to vote on moving the literature test that was scheduled for Thursday because another teacher was giving them a murder test on Monday and she wanted them to have that extra night to study. Between you and me, these girls will never study in advance, but anyway...
I gave them the choice of having it either Wednesday, or next Tuesday. I really wanted them to take it Wednesday, so I made my offer better. I told them that if they'd do the test Wednesday, I'd cancel their spelling test. Wednesday won unanimously. Well except for T.K., but she's another story.
I called T.K.'s mother after school and I had a pretty long conversation with her. She was pretty shocked at her daughter's behavior. She said that her daughter was very stressed, and I understood that, but I said that her behavior was unacceptable. She agreed, and she asked me how we could work this all out.
I told her that the only way to work it out was by T.K. coming over and talking to me. I couldn't help her if she didn't tell me what was wrong.
Her mother agreed and said she would talk to her. She said that she had left messages for all the teachers to call her because she noticed that her daughter had been behaving strangely, and she wanted to see what was going on in school. T.K. wasn't telling her anything, and she was doing her detective work.
I hope something works out.
I did it because I wanted to introduce a new writing to the girls today, and I didn't want any of them to think they can get away with writing two paragraphs. Or even three pages done in a big handwriting.
Most girls compare the amount of space on the page their writings take up instead of how much they've actually written. I wasn't going to stand for reading a dumb two paragraph summary when I was looking for perfection.
I introduced the writing; a summary of the biographies they'd read, and I held up the paper with 350 words. I showed them what 350 words on wide ruled paper, done in a small handwriting looked like.
I then passed around the paper and when the girls read what was written on the paper, they all had a good laugh.
Four girls in 7a were doing their biographies on the same book, and they kept looking at each other's notes. T.K. seemed to be having a huge problem writing her essay, so I asked her if she would like to take C.C.K.'s notes and make copies for herself and the other girls.
She just shrugged and said, "No."
C.S. went out and made the copies. T.K. ended up using them. But she made it very clear that she wasn't going to do anything I wanted her to do.
New problem? No problem. Just add it to my growing list.
We had to vote on moving the literature test that was scheduled for Thursday because another teacher was giving them a murder test on Monday and she wanted them to have that extra night to study. Between you and me, these girls will never study in advance, but anyway...
I gave them the choice of having it either Wednesday, or next Tuesday. I really wanted them to take it Wednesday, so I made my offer better. I told them that if they'd do the test Wednesday, I'd cancel their spelling test. Wednesday won unanimously. Well except for T.K., but she's another story.
I called T.K.'s mother after school and I had a pretty long conversation with her. She was pretty shocked at her daughter's behavior. She said that her daughter was very stressed, and I understood that, but I said that her behavior was unacceptable. She agreed, and she asked me how we could work this all out.
I told her that the only way to work it out was by T.K. coming over and talking to me. I couldn't help her if she didn't tell me what was wrong.
Her mother agreed and said she would talk to her. She said that she had left messages for all the teachers to call her because she noticed that her daughter had been behaving strangely, and she wanted to see what was going on in school. T.K. wasn't telling her anything, and she was doing her detective work.
I hope something works out.
Thursday, January 12, 2006
Big Day
It was a big day for my students. They presented their books to the school today in a mini science fair.
I took 10 minutes in the beginning of the day to give a literature quiz on chapter four of the book we're learning. The girls were majorly upset about it, but I couldn't give up the quiz. I'm behind as it is, I can't let them get off with not reading the material.
G.S. failed, she just handed in an empty quiz. I'm not at all surprised. M.L. got a 9/10, and I was so happy for her. She's severely learning disabled, and she tries really hard to do well.
After the quiz, T.K. from 7b (who walks around these days looking like she's going to blow a fuse) and S.G.L. stayed back in the classroom looking all upset. I was alone with the two of them and I tried talking to both of them. Problem was, neither of them wanted to talk in front of the other. So I didn't get anywhere, and I just ended up looking stupid.
I decided to get out of there with whatever dignity I had left, and I ended by telling them that my door was always open.
I would love to help these two, but I can't keep running after them if they won't talk to me. T.K. especially. She seems to have a problem just in my class. I tried talking to her more than once, but she won't say anything. How am I supposed to help her if she won't tell me what's wrong. She makes it very obvious that she's angry at me, but she won't do anything to resolve what's wrong.
I went downstairs and joined the class' science fair.
I had bought cupcakes for the girls but I kept forgetting to give them out. They sat in my locker overnight, but I finally remembered them, and I gave out the half melted cupcakes as they were setting up the fair. The girls were so appreciative. :)
I left for a minute to run down the block and get my camera. the kids were so adorable, I just had to get pictures.
I snapped a few of G.S., C.S.A., S.J., M.R. and R.S. who were sitting on rocking chairs and reading their books out loud to girls sitting on little rugs on the floor.
I took pictures of all the other groups and one of R.R. dissecting a real frog.
I then had to take a break and "psychologise" E.F.G. who was dead upset at T.K. (7b). Now I understood why T.K. was upset as well.
It's a funny thing though, T.K. seems to be turning up in everyone's problems.
I sat around most of the day just supervising and observing my students.
Lately, C.O. became friends with S.G.L. I don't like the friendship, but we'll see. S.G.L., C.O., M.R., and G.S. were running off together all day. I managed to snap a picture of S.G.L. and C.O. together, even though C.O. kept trying to run out of all the pictures.
My co and I stayed late to clean up, and the principal came to talk to us about doing the wax museum.
I think we've come to the conclusion that the girls already were too priveleged. They really didn't need the wax museum. We still have to see about that.
I left at about 5, but my co stayed until 6 with some girls who helped her clean up. M.R. stayed behind with her, and my co tried talking to her about her friendship with S.G.L. Both principals had already spoken to her as well as another teacher, so M.R. already knew the drill. She looked up at my co and said, "I don't need a psychologist, don't worry."
I love the kid, she's so cute!
I got a message to call T.K.'s mother. I can't wait for this conversation.
I took 10 minutes in the beginning of the day to give a literature quiz on chapter four of the book we're learning. The girls were majorly upset about it, but I couldn't give up the quiz. I'm behind as it is, I can't let them get off with not reading the material.
G.S. failed, she just handed in an empty quiz. I'm not at all surprised. M.L. got a 9/10, and I was so happy for her. She's severely learning disabled, and she tries really hard to do well.
After the quiz, T.K. from 7b (who walks around these days looking like she's going to blow a fuse) and S.G.L. stayed back in the classroom looking all upset. I was alone with the two of them and I tried talking to both of them. Problem was, neither of them wanted to talk in front of the other. So I didn't get anywhere, and I just ended up looking stupid.
I decided to get out of there with whatever dignity I had left, and I ended by telling them that my door was always open.
I would love to help these two, but I can't keep running after them if they won't talk to me. T.K. especially. She seems to have a problem just in my class. I tried talking to her more than once, but she won't say anything. How am I supposed to help her if she won't tell me what's wrong. She makes it very obvious that she's angry at me, but she won't do anything to resolve what's wrong.
I went downstairs and joined the class' science fair.
I had bought cupcakes for the girls but I kept forgetting to give them out. They sat in my locker overnight, but I finally remembered them, and I gave out the half melted cupcakes as they were setting up the fair. The girls were so appreciative. :)
I left for a minute to run down the block and get my camera. the kids were so adorable, I just had to get pictures.
I snapped a few of G.S., C.S.A., S.J., M.R. and R.S. who were sitting on rocking chairs and reading their books out loud to girls sitting on little rugs on the floor.
I took pictures of all the other groups and one of R.R. dissecting a real frog.
I then had to take a break and "psychologise" E.F.G. who was dead upset at T.K. (7b). Now I understood why T.K. was upset as well.
It's a funny thing though, T.K. seems to be turning up in everyone's problems.
I sat around most of the day just supervising and observing my students.
Lately, C.O. became friends with S.G.L. I don't like the friendship, but we'll see. S.G.L., C.O., M.R., and G.S. were running off together all day. I managed to snap a picture of S.G.L. and C.O. together, even though C.O. kept trying to run out of all the pictures.
My co and I stayed late to clean up, and the principal came to talk to us about doing the wax museum.
I think we've come to the conclusion that the girls already were too priveleged. They really didn't need the wax museum. We still have to see about that.
I left at about 5, but my co stayed until 6 with some girls who helped her clean up. M.R. stayed behind with her, and my co tried talking to her about her friendship with S.G.L. Both principals had already spoken to her as well as another teacher, so M.R. already knew the drill. She looked up at my co and said, "I don't need a psychologist, don't worry."
I love the kid, she's so cute!
I got a message to call T.K.'s mother. I can't wait for this conversation.
Wednesday, January 11, 2006
Sick
I wasn't looking forward to going back to school after a day off, especially since I wasn't feeling well.
I had been feeling really badly last night, and I wasn't feeling that great this morning either. Luckily, I want going to be doing too much today. My co was doing this huge science project with the girls. They were studying animals and they each had to make a book on animals. They came out amazing. Tomorrow, they're going to have a major presentation for the whole school. They needed time off today to make signs and booths for tomorrow. They're bringing in actual animals and everything.
I gave the girls a grammar quiz, and then tried to teach a little bit of history. It didn't work too well. I switched classes halfway through the period, and did the same thing in the other class. Lather. Rinse. Repeat.
Anyway, by the time recess came, I needed it. I was feeling terrible. I was considering leaving as I wasn't going to be doing anything anyway after recess.
I decided to stick it out there anyway, and I got some aspirin so I could go into class.
I came up to the fourth floor and the principal was already standing at the door. She gave me a telling off for coming late to class. I was polite, I got my point across, and I told her that I would appreciate it if she would talk before she'd judge.
I walked into a class of 10 girls. 20 of the girls were downstairs in the lunch room setting up for tomorrow, and the girls I was stuck with were making signs.
I was enlisted to draw Hebrew letters for a group's sign. I like to draw, but it was funny, how the girls thought I could do anything just because I'm a teacher.
I am all powerful!!
Now, If you'll excuse me, I need to go throw up.
I had been feeling really badly last night, and I wasn't feeling that great this morning either. Luckily, I want going to be doing too much today. My co was doing this huge science project with the girls. They were studying animals and they each had to make a book on animals. They came out amazing. Tomorrow, they're going to have a major presentation for the whole school. They needed time off today to make signs and booths for tomorrow. They're bringing in actual animals and everything.
I gave the girls a grammar quiz, and then tried to teach a little bit of history. It didn't work too well. I switched classes halfway through the period, and did the same thing in the other class. Lather. Rinse. Repeat.
Anyway, by the time recess came, I needed it. I was feeling terrible. I was considering leaving as I wasn't going to be doing anything anyway after recess.
I decided to stick it out there anyway, and I got some aspirin so I could go into class.
I came up to the fourth floor and the principal was already standing at the door. She gave me a telling off for coming late to class. I was polite, I got my point across, and I told her that I would appreciate it if she would talk before she'd judge.
I walked into a class of 10 girls. 20 of the girls were downstairs in the lunch room setting up for tomorrow, and the girls I was stuck with were making signs.
I was enlisted to draw Hebrew letters for a group's sign. I like to draw, but it was funny, how the girls thought I could do anything just because I'm a teacher.
I am all powerful!!
Now, If you'll excuse me, I need to go throw up.
Monday, January 09, 2006
Index Cards Day!
I think I like only two things about Mondays. The first is that I get the index cards from my students, and the second is that the day ends at 4:15. LOL
Today I had a busy, rushed day. We're not having school tomorrow because of Asara B'Teves, so I really wanted to cram things in as fast as I could.
I tried explaining this biography project to the girls, but it was way over their heads. I knew it would be. I'm totally overwhelmed and even more annoyed. I can't keep stuffing these projects and writings down my students' throats. Even the syllabus didn't work.
I thought I had written it down so clearly but it seems that the girls wither need it on a second grade level or that they're just huge kvetches.
Whatever the case may be, they're definitely pushing my nerves to the limit.
To make things worse, the principal still told me that she had to talk to me about putting on this Wax Museum with the students. To tell you the truth, I don't think they need it, they're already having this major science presentation this Thursday in front of the school. And besides, I don't think I can handle this now.
I'm already way behind in my curriculum and a Wax Museum is the last thing I need right now.
I really would love to do something special with the girls. I was a headcounselor this summer, I love this stuff. But when I'm put under pressure to do this, all of a sudden, it's not something I want to do anymore.
I went into this job because I believed in it. I didn't do it for the money, but looking back, I didn't realize it would be this pressuring. I speak to some of my other friends who teach, they don't have it so hard. I guess this school didn't get it's reputation for nothing. Like I said, I went into this job because I believed in it, not because I wanted a nervous breakdown.
The girls were nuts today. H.W. was so fresh, I was really put out by her. I was teaching about John Adams, and she kept calling out to ask why I didn't teach about her father. I put up with her for a bit, but after a while it got really out of line. I told her that when I wanted to know about her father I would ask her.
F.G. also said something that made me give her a look. I don't remember exactly what the exchange was, but I asked her some sort of rhetorical question, and she still ha the nerve to give me an answer. I gave it to her too.
Today could maybe be considered excusable because of there being no school tomorrow. But H.W.'s and F.G.'s mothers will get calls if any of them put a toe out of line.
C.O.'s index card was interesting, it was a continuation of last weeks card. She wrote that she was embarrassed to come over to me.
I gave her an index card that explained to her that we needed to get this sorted out, and if she was shy to come over to me she could always continue to write to me on her index cards.
The one thing that made my day was M.R.'s index card. She wrote,
I love everything you wear, you always looks so good. I also love everything you say, it's so interesting, and I really love you.
It's the small things like these that make teaching worth it.
I stayed late in school to discuss some things with my co, and when we came down tot he teacher's room we found that the door to the room had been replaced. I have no idea what was wrong with the old doors, but the school is busy replacing all of them.
Our door was built with a window so that you could look straight in, and that annoyed the teachers. When we retreat to the teachers room we want privacy. The students are always knocking at the door and trying to call the teachers out and it annoys us to bits.
I got a piece of construction paper and made a sign to cover the window that said, "Think Before You Knock! Thank-You, Your Teachers.
My co and I were laughing about it when the 6th grade teacher walked in and started telling me off about how babyish it was that I was just playing along with the students.
Off all people, she's the one who's always running out to her 8th and 6th grade students who crush her and she thrives on the love she gets from them. And she's accusing me of playing along with them. Of all people.
I'm so glad she's getting married and leaving school next week. I hate being made to feel like I'm one of her students.
Today I had a busy, rushed day. We're not having school tomorrow because of Asara B'Teves, so I really wanted to cram things in as fast as I could.
I tried explaining this biography project to the girls, but it was way over their heads. I knew it would be. I'm totally overwhelmed and even more annoyed. I can't keep stuffing these projects and writings down my students' throats. Even the syllabus didn't work.
I thought I had written it down so clearly but it seems that the girls wither need it on a second grade level or that they're just huge kvetches.
Whatever the case may be, they're definitely pushing my nerves to the limit.
To make things worse, the principal still told me that she had to talk to me about putting on this Wax Museum with the students. To tell you the truth, I don't think they need it, they're already having this major science presentation this Thursday in front of the school. And besides, I don't think I can handle this now.
I'm already way behind in my curriculum and a Wax Museum is the last thing I need right now.
I really would love to do something special with the girls. I was a headcounselor this summer, I love this stuff. But when I'm put under pressure to do this, all of a sudden, it's not something I want to do anymore.
I went into this job because I believed in it. I didn't do it for the money, but looking back, I didn't realize it would be this pressuring. I speak to some of my other friends who teach, they don't have it so hard. I guess this school didn't get it's reputation for nothing. Like I said, I went into this job because I believed in it, not because I wanted a nervous breakdown.
The girls were nuts today. H.W. was so fresh, I was really put out by her. I was teaching about John Adams, and she kept calling out to ask why I didn't teach about her father. I put up with her for a bit, but after a while it got really out of line. I told her that when I wanted to know about her father I would ask her.
F.G. also said something that made me give her a look. I don't remember exactly what the exchange was, but I asked her some sort of rhetorical question, and she still ha the nerve to give me an answer. I gave it to her too.
Today could maybe be considered excusable because of there being no school tomorrow. But H.W.'s and F.G.'s mothers will get calls if any of them put a toe out of line.
C.O.'s index card was interesting, it was a continuation of last weeks card. She wrote that she was embarrassed to come over to me.
I gave her an index card that explained to her that we needed to get this sorted out, and if she was shy to come over to me she could always continue to write to me on her index cards.
The one thing that made my day was M.R.'s index card. She wrote,
I love everything you wear, you always looks so good. I also love everything you say, it's so interesting, and I really love you.
It's the small things like these that make teaching worth it.
I stayed late in school to discuss some things with my co, and when we came down tot he teacher's room we found that the door to the room had been replaced. I have no idea what was wrong with the old doors, but the school is busy replacing all of them.
Our door was built with a window so that you could look straight in, and that annoyed the teachers. When we retreat to the teachers room we want privacy. The students are always knocking at the door and trying to call the teachers out and it annoys us to bits.
I got a piece of construction paper and made a sign to cover the window that said, "Think Before You Knock! Thank-You, Your Teachers.
My co and I were laughing about it when the 6th grade teacher walked in and started telling me off about how babyish it was that I was just playing along with the students.
Off all people, she's the one who's always running out to her 8th and 6th grade students who crush her and she thrives on the love she gets from them. And she's accusing me of playing along with them. Of all people.
I'm so glad she's getting married and leaving school next week. I hate being made to feel like I'm one of her students.
Sunday, January 08, 2006
Problems...
Sunday again.
Believe it or not, I'm actually starting to get used to this schedule.
So, back to all my "problems."
First matter of business, S.G.L. was chewing gum when I walked into class. She's trying me again. I looked her up and down and told her, "This is second term, we're starting all over again. This is your first and last warning for this term. You will spit out that gum now, and if I ever catch you with gum again, you will not be allowed to keep sitting in this classroom."
S.G.L. spit out the gum and looked down, blushing and angry.
What is the dear child thinking???
I'm trying to be nice to her. I give her extra time, special notes, all the attention I am able to give her, and then she keeps taking advantage by chewing gum in my class?!? What in heavens name is going on here?
I feel like I have to walk on eggshells. On the one hand, this kid head a real situation, and she's being dealt with. But on the other hand, she's still breaking rules and taking advantage of the help her teachers are trying to give her.
D.T. gave me a problem today as well.
She's a very smart girl, but I have a feeling that she's not that mature. She has the highest average in the grade, but by her actions, I can see why she didn't skip a class.
Today, I offered the girls extra credit, a plus two for whomever remembered a certain name we had mentioned earlier in the year.
T.K. in 7a was trying so hard, she was searching her notes frantically to find what she was looking for, and I was excited to be able to give her the extra credit, but then D.T. called out with the name.
D.T. is the last girl who needs the credit, and I really didn't want to give it to her, especially since she had called out.
I had to give it to her, because I can't punish a student for being smart, but it bothered me.
D.T. has one friend in the grade. E.F.G. They are both very smart girls who always feel they have to show me how much they know.
The truth is, teachers like those students in the beginning, but then they get to be show offs, and after a while, we can't stand them.
The other students are intimidated by these two girls. They're really very nice kids, but when it comes to giving answers and showing what they know, they can get pushy. The other girls in their classes don't like competing with them.
Usually this is something I would ignore and not make a big deal of. I mean, there's usually one of these in every class. The problem is, E.F.G. is going to be switching in to the other class to take G.S.'s place.
I'm dreading having both D.T. and E.F.G. in the same class. I hope it turns out well.
On a brighter note, B.E.D. raised her hand today in class and said a pretty funny story. I actually heard her voice and I saw her laugh.
I called her mother to tell her how well her daughter was doing. I don't know what happened, but B.E.D. is changing. The teachers are all thrilled!
I tried calling T.K.'s (in 7b) mother but there was no answer. I really need to find out what's going on with the kid. She's so frustrated and angry lately, I have to get to the bottom of this before we have another "case" on our hands!
Believe it or not, I'm actually starting to get used to this schedule.
So, back to all my "problems."
First matter of business, S.G.L. was chewing gum when I walked into class. She's trying me again. I looked her up and down and told her, "This is second term, we're starting all over again. This is your first and last warning for this term. You will spit out that gum now, and if I ever catch you with gum again, you will not be allowed to keep sitting in this classroom."
S.G.L. spit out the gum and looked down, blushing and angry.
What is the dear child thinking???
I'm trying to be nice to her. I give her extra time, special notes, all the attention I am able to give her, and then she keeps taking advantage by chewing gum in my class?!? What in heavens name is going on here?
I feel like I have to walk on eggshells. On the one hand, this kid head a real situation, and she's being dealt with. But on the other hand, she's still breaking rules and taking advantage of the help her teachers are trying to give her.
D.T. gave me a problem today as well.
She's a very smart girl, but I have a feeling that she's not that mature. She has the highest average in the grade, but by her actions, I can see why she didn't skip a class.
Today, I offered the girls extra credit, a plus two for whomever remembered a certain name we had mentioned earlier in the year.
T.K. in 7a was trying so hard, she was searching her notes frantically to find what she was looking for, and I was excited to be able to give her the extra credit, but then D.T. called out with the name.
D.T. is the last girl who needs the credit, and I really didn't want to give it to her, especially since she had called out.
I had to give it to her, because I can't punish a student for being smart, but it bothered me.
D.T. has one friend in the grade. E.F.G. They are both very smart girls who always feel they have to show me how much they know.
The truth is, teachers like those students in the beginning, but then they get to be show offs, and after a while, we can't stand them.
The other students are intimidated by these two girls. They're really very nice kids, but when it comes to giving answers and showing what they know, they can get pushy. The other girls in their classes don't like competing with them.
Usually this is something I would ignore and not make a big deal of. I mean, there's usually one of these in every class. The problem is, E.F.G. is going to be switching in to the other class to take G.S.'s place.
I'm dreading having both D.T. and E.F.G. in the same class. I hope it turns out well.
On a brighter note, B.E.D. raised her hand today in class and said a pretty funny story. I actually heard her voice and I saw her laugh.
I called her mother to tell her how well her daughter was doing. I don't know what happened, but B.E.D. is changing. The teachers are all thrilled!
I tried calling T.K.'s (in 7b) mother but there was no answer. I really need to find out what's going on with the kid. She's so frustrated and angry lately, I have to get to the bottom of this before we have another "case" on our hands!
Thursday, January 05, 2006
Lost
I had gotten an index card Wednesday that had no name on it. All it said was, "Why do you hate me?" I spent a while trying to figure out who it could be from, and I automatically assumed that it was from S.G.L.
The only problem with that theory was that S.G.L. had given me a card that did say her name on it, so I was confused.
I spent the night thinking about it, and I wrote a pretty long response on the card.
I told the girl that I didn't believe I treated anyone in a way to make them feel that I disliked them, and that it would be a shame for anyone to have to sit through the rest of the year feeling like I had something against her.
When I came to school today, I held up the few cards without names, and it turned out this card belonged to C.O.
Of all people, I didn't expect this to be hers!
She didn't come over to me, but I did mine. As soon as she's ready to come talk, I'm open.
I'm just pretty confused now.
I wasn't involved in the whole meeting we had with her mother. I was going to speak to her separately, but in the end we agreed to drop it. So now, if she's really trying to start off fresh in the second term, what's she doing bringing up first term issues?
The workings of a seventh grade mind...
By the way, S.G.L. didn't bother to raise her hand even once during my lesson. I guess she doesn't care all that much about that honor roll.
Funny thing is, my co told me that S.G.L. did raise her hand in her class. I hate to have to spell things out for people.
She can raise her hand all she wants in my co's class, but if she doesn't do it in mine as well, no honor roll. She has to understand that we work together. I'm at a little bit of a loss.
Thank goodness for the weekend.
The only problem with that theory was that S.G.L. had given me a card that did say her name on it, so I was confused.
I spent the night thinking about it, and I wrote a pretty long response on the card.
I told the girl that I didn't believe I treated anyone in a way to make them feel that I disliked them, and that it would be a shame for anyone to have to sit through the rest of the year feeling like I had something against her.
When I came to school today, I held up the few cards without names, and it turned out this card belonged to C.O.
Of all people, I didn't expect this to be hers!
She didn't come over to me, but I did mine. As soon as she's ready to come talk, I'm open.
I'm just pretty confused now.
I wasn't involved in the whole meeting we had with her mother. I was going to speak to her separately, but in the end we agreed to drop it. So now, if she's really trying to start off fresh in the second term, what's she doing bringing up first term issues?
The workings of a seventh grade mind...
By the way, S.G.L. didn't bother to raise her hand even once during my lesson. I guess she doesn't care all that much about that honor roll.
Funny thing is, my co told me that S.G.L. did raise her hand in her class. I hate to have to spell things out for people.
She can raise her hand all she wants in my co's class, but if she doesn't do it in mine as well, no honor roll. She has to understand that we work together. I'm at a little bit of a loss.
Thank goodness for the weekend.
Wednesday, January 04, 2006
S.G.L.
If I have to name a post for a student, she must be on my mind big time.
There was a lot going on today with S.G.L.
Her parents finally agreed to have her evaluated. This is a major step in what we're trying to do here.
We looked into the friendship between her and M.R. and we agreed that we should stay out of it for a while and see what happens.
My co and I made up the monthly honor roll today and we were debating whether or not to put S.G.L. on it. She wasn't misbehaving, but she wasn't doing anything else either.
Every time a teacher looks at her, she turns her face to the side. When she catches herself smiling, she makes sure to stop. This is a desperate plea for attention, so desperate, it's bordering on insanity.
The other teachers and principals agree.
We know that the family has a lot of problems that could be feeding this. We officially labeled her an "At Risk Teen." It sounds a little extreme, but it's true.
I knew that she was dying to get in the honor roll. The honor roll is a huge deal in this school. If a student gets on the list 5 times over the course of the school year, she gets a silver medal at the end of the year.
S.G.L. is dying to get a medal.
I called her over and spoke to her. (Her face was sideways, of course.) I told her that if she would make sure to raise her hand at least once a day in my class, I would out her on the honor roll. She didn't have to get the answers right. She just had to participate. She smiled and even looked at me for a second. She is thrilled with the idea.
I made sure to give B.E.D. that extra attention today. She thrived on it. I'm so happy for her.
I found out that 12th grade is cancelled for tomorrow on account of their play, so I'm extra thrilled today.
I got my Chanukah money from the students. $180 bucks. I'm so not impressed. That's less than 5 dollars a kid. I guess they're not big on showing appreciation to the teachers around here. My husband thinks my job is a joke. Now I'm starting to see what he means.
I got out of school and ran home. I had a ton of things to do and I tried to do everything really quickly. I marked history quizzes, answered index cards, and did a million other little things, because I had somewhere to be.
My nephew got engaged (to a girl I know!!), and I had to run to his Vort.
He has no idea how he saved me. The principal stopped me on the way out of school yesterday to ask if she could meet with me today. I used my nephew's engagement as an excuse.
She didn't believe me at first because my niece had just gotten engaged two weeks ago. But I managed to convince her, and got the meeting pushed off.
I love my nephew.
There was a lot going on today with S.G.L.
Her parents finally agreed to have her evaluated. This is a major step in what we're trying to do here.
We looked into the friendship between her and M.R. and we agreed that we should stay out of it for a while and see what happens.
My co and I made up the monthly honor roll today and we were debating whether or not to put S.G.L. on it. She wasn't misbehaving, but she wasn't doing anything else either.
Every time a teacher looks at her, she turns her face to the side. When she catches herself smiling, she makes sure to stop. This is a desperate plea for attention, so desperate, it's bordering on insanity.
The other teachers and principals agree.
We know that the family has a lot of problems that could be feeding this. We officially labeled her an "At Risk Teen." It sounds a little extreme, but it's true.
I knew that she was dying to get in the honor roll. The honor roll is a huge deal in this school. If a student gets on the list 5 times over the course of the school year, she gets a silver medal at the end of the year.
S.G.L. is dying to get a medal.
I called her over and spoke to her. (Her face was sideways, of course.) I told her that if she would make sure to raise her hand at least once a day in my class, I would out her on the honor roll. She didn't have to get the answers right. She just had to participate. She smiled and even looked at me for a second. She is thrilled with the idea.
I made sure to give B.E.D. that extra attention today. She thrived on it. I'm so happy for her.
I found out that 12th grade is cancelled for tomorrow on account of their play, so I'm extra thrilled today.
I got my Chanukah money from the students. $180 bucks. I'm so not impressed. That's less than 5 dollars a kid. I guess they're not big on showing appreciation to the teachers around here. My husband thinks my job is a joke. Now I'm starting to see what he means.
I got out of school and ran home. I had a ton of things to do and I tried to do everything really quickly. I marked history quizzes, answered index cards, and did a million other little things, because I had somewhere to be.
My nephew got engaged (to a girl I know!!), and I had to run to his Vort.
He has no idea how he saved me. The principal stopped me on the way out of school yesterday to ask if she could meet with me today. I used my nephew's engagement as an excuse.
She didn't believe me at first because my niece had just gotten engaged two weeks ago. But I managed to convince her, and got the meeting pushed off.
I love my nephew.
Tuesday, January 03, 2006
First Day Back
I was nervous about coming back after a great vacation. I got back to America early yesterday morning.
My co had already called me last night to update me on her problems with C.O.
Her mother had come down to school ready for a fight. I knew it would happen, but I didn't think it would be that bad. After all, the principal was backing us, (for once,) and she would be in the room to keep everything going smoothly.
It didn't quite turn out that way.
First of all, Mrs. O. came about an hour late to the meeting. This set my co really on edge. She was nervous as it was, and this messed up her schedule so she had even more to worry about, and more time in which to do so.
When she was finally called in to the office, they had to rush 'cause the principal had to go around to the classrooms to hand out the report cards.
My co was left alone in the office with C.O. and her mother, and basically, nothing got accomplished.
She was very upset, and the principal had wanted her to write up a contract for C.O. outlining clear and specific rules she had to listen to.
This morning, my co and I were on the phone making up the contract, when my co got a call from C.O.'s mother.
She said that C.O. was very upset over her whole vacation, and she really wanted to go into the new term with a fresh start, but she felt it wasn't possible because she felt that her teacher hated her.
They worked it out over the phone and we came to school hopeful of a change.
It was great to be back to school. Back to the work, the stress, the late nights, the criticism, and of course, the girls.
S.G.L. was as sullen as ever, and I began believing that her friend M.R. was a little torn as to what to do with her. I discussed it with the other teachers, and we agreed to look into it further.
I had three girls come over to me to ask me about their history project mark. That was the group in 7b that had left L.K. to do all the work herself and ended up embarrassing her in front of the class.
I had given L.K. an A- on the project, and the rest of the girls a B+.
C.S. really didn't deserve it, it was really only for T.K. and E.T. They were all in it together though, so I had to give it to all of them.
I told them that I had extra credit for them to do if they wanted to raise their marks, but they had to do it together, because that was the issue I was trying to address.
Right away T.K. said she wouldn't do it. She wouldn't give me a reason, even when I spoke to her privately. I asked her to think about the rest of the group, but she said she wouldn't change her mind.
I went to the principal, (which would usually be against my better judgment) and surprisingly, she listened and even agreed with me. Something has definitely come over her. I'm just wondering how long it will last.
She didn't like T.K.'s attitude, but she agreed that I shouldn't let the other girls make up their marks without her.
YAY! One for me!
I spoke about S.G.L. with her. She also vowed to get more involved, and promised to look into the friendship with M.R. as well.
G.S. switched into the 7b class! We were excited about it, we thought it would do her well. Unfortunately, she adapted all too quickly, and she's not much better in my opinion. My co is in love with her and she refuses to see what I see.
Oh well.
E.F.G. was supposed to switch out of the class into the 7a class, but it hasn't happened yet.
I'm not so sure I'm very happy about her switching. She has a very exclusive friendship with D.T. in that class, and I think that it's the best thing for them to be separated for at least half the day. Putting them together would just add to the intimidation the class already feels around the two "geniuses" of the grade.
I introduced a new writing topic to them. It's a biography unit called "Connecting Lives." I think it's way too much for a seventh grade, but the curriculum is not up to me. I tried to make it sound as exciting as possible, and I even spent loads of time typing up a syllabus for them on this.
I remember being upset at doing the syllabus in the beginning of the year for the "Letter to Self," and I really am very proud that I managed to teach the class how to listen and take notes without me having to spoon-feed it to them. I made the syllabus here, because I am purely lazy, and I have no patience going over this with them 100 times until they get it straight. And the truth is, the syllabus made this whole project easier for me to understand.
I hope it works out well.
I told the girls to do their index cards for tomorrow, because we weren't in school Monday. I am so hooked on these index cards. I think it's the most brilliant idea I've had all year!
While I was thinking a bit before, I realized that I had sort of let B.E.D. fall to the side. I noticed she's been smiling lately, and I'm really happy about that. I must make sure to giver her some attention tomorrow.
My co had already called me last night to update me on her problems with C.O.
Her mother had come down to school ready for a fight. I knew it would happen, but I didn't think it would be that bad. After all, the principal was backing us, (for once,) and she would be in the room to keep everything going smoothly.
It didn't quite turn out that way.
First of all, Mrs. O. came about an hour late to the meeting. This set my co really on edge. She was nervous as it was, and this messed up her schedule so she had even more to worry about, and more time in which to do so.
When she was finally called in to the office, they had to rush 'cause the principal had to go around to the classrooms to hand out the report cards.
My co was left alone in the office with C.O. and her mother, and basically, nothing got accomplished.
She was very upset, and the principal had wanted her to write up a contract for C.O. outlining clear and specific rules she had to listen to.
This morning, my co and I were on the phone making up the contract, when my co got a call from C.O.'s mother.
She said that C.O. was very upset over her whole vacation, and she really wanted to go into the new term with a fresh start, but she felt it wasn't possible because she felt that her teacher hated her.
They worked it out over the phone and we came to school hopeful of a change.
It was great to be back to school. Back to the work, the stress, the late nights, the criticism, and of course, the girls.
S.G.L. was as sullen as ever, and I began believing that her friend M.R. was a little torn as to what to do with her. I discussed it with the other teachers, and we agreed to look into it further.
I had three girls come over to me to ask me about their history project mark. That was the group in 7b that had left L.K. to do all the work herself and ended up embarrassing her in front of the class.
I had given L.K. an A- on the project, and the rest of the girls a B+.
C.S. really didn't deserve it, it was really only for T.K. and E.T. They were all in it together though, so I had to give it to all of them.
I told them that I had extra credit for them to do if they wanted to raise their marks, but they had to do it together, because that was the issue I was trying to address.
Right away T.K. said she wouldn't do it. She wouldn't give me a reason, even when I spoke to her privately. I asked her to think about the rest of the group, but she said she wouldn't change her mind.
I went to the principal, (which would usually be against my better judgment) and surprisingly, she listened and even agreed with me. Something has definitely come over her. I'm just wondering how long it will last.
She didn't like T.K.'s attitude, but she agreed that I shouldn't let the other girls make up their marks without her.
YAY! One for me!
I spoke about S.G.L. with her. She also vowed to get more involved, and promised to look into the friendship with M.R. as well.
G.S. switched into the 7b class! We were excited about it, we thought it would do her well. Unfortunately, she adapted all too quickly, and she's not much better in my opinion. My co is in love with her and she refuses to see what I see.
Oh well.
E.F.G. was supposed to switch out of the class into the 7a class, but it hasn't happened yet.
I'm not so sure I'm very happy about her switching. She has a very exclusive friendship with D.T. in that class, and I think that it's the best thing for them to be separated for at least half the day. Putting them together would just add to the intimidation the class already feels around the two "geniuses" of the grade.
I introduced a new writing topic to them. It's a biography unit called "Connecting Lives." I think it's way too much for a seventh grade, but the curriculum is not up to me. I tried to make it sound as exciting as possible, and I even spent loads of time typing up a syllabus for them on this.
I remember being upset at doing the syllabus in the beginning of the year for the "Letter to Self," and I really am very proud that I managed to teach the class how to listen and take notes without me having to spoon-feed it to them. I made the syllabus here, because I am purely lazy, and I have no patience going over this with them 100 times until they get it straight. And the truth is, the syllabus made this whole project easier for me to understand.
I hope it works out well.
I told the girls to do their index cards for tomorrow, because we weren't in school Monday. I am so hooked on these index cards. I think it's the most brilliant idea I've had all year!
While I was thinking a bit before, I realized that I had sort of let B.E.D. fall to the side. I noticed she's been smiling lately, and I'm really happy about that. I must make sure to giver her some attention tomorrow.
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