Oh no!! I hate to admit it, but I have almost completely forgotten about this blog. Then today I was blog stalking and I found a link to my old university's FACS student association blog. And right there at the top of that blog--a link here! I was overcome with guilt. I'm a bad teacher!! I will change!!
A fast update: I looked and the last time I posted was Sept 2009. It is now January 2010. I started my 3rd quarter this last week which means I have my third round of students. It's getting easier and harder at the same time. I'm trying to spend less time at school, I felt like it was overcoming my life. Sometimes I wonder if it SHOULD be overcoming my life--I mean, that's what first year teachers do, right? Organization and diligence have never been my strong points. In fact, I'm downright terrible at them. What it takes people an hour to do, it takes me three....days. Because I get distracted easily. Once I get into a task, I do it and I do it well--it's just that sometimes it is very hard for me to get into sitting and writing down lessons. Sigh.
Since it is 12:30 and I'd like to go to bed, but I'd like to write something useful first, I'm going to sum up my top 10 lessons on my first semester. And I'm going to make them up on the spot. Which means I might end up with only eight. And I might change them later.
10. Turn your desk so that it faces the classroom. This is a no-brainer, but when I got to my classroom my desk was facing the back wall. I could see no solution, because there isn't really a good way to put it anywhere else, so I let it be for a semester. I finally moved it last Monday (blocking a whole set of cabinets in the process), and it has been the best thing ever! I'm so happy!
9. Make a list of the ridiculous things your students do. Right now my favorite is when a 6th grader wrote on his paper that he needed "phabric by next monday".
8. Be prepared every day. You never know when the principal will randomly show up in your classroom.
7. It's ok to make mistakes. Just don't do it the next quarter.
6. I have made a "The Teacher's magic idea board" that I keep in my desk. I write down all my brilliant ideas that I have during the day, so that I can incorporate them into lessons later.
5. Don't let school take over your life. Yes, you're a first year teacher. Yes, you want to feel like you're perfect like the Spanish teacher down the hall. But honey, she's been teaching for 20 years and has tons of experience. You don't. Even if you spent every waking minute at school, you won't be as good as her this year. Take time for yourself to rejuvenate from school. Even if that means reading crappy romance novels. But not like I know anyone who does that.....
4. Make friends. You have to have more people to talk to than your students.
3. Bribe your students to do your dishes for you. That's the nice part about being a home ec teacher. You always have cookies somewhere. And you always have dishes. And you always have students. Easy answer: Save yourself the calories--give the cookies to 7th graders and have them do the dishes for you.
2. DON'T LET THEM GET AWAY WITH THINGS. I've had so many kids walk all over me last semester--I let them get away with so many things. Terrible, I know! I finally made a "consequences" poster in my classroom and have a decent discipline plan. So far we're 4 days into having new kids and things are ok. I'll let you know in three weeks how it goes.
And lastly:
1. It is not your student's opinion of you that matters. I was TERRIFIED of that before I student taught. I was so afraid that my students would say "man, this is the lamest lesson ever." And then, they actually said that. And they still say that. And I don't actually care. Ok, that's a lie--I do care. I want them to like me and I want them to like my topic--but if they don't, it doesn't mean I'm a bad teacher. Not everyone will like me and not everyone will do their homework. Just move on and do your best.
Happy new years and happy new semester! And happy student teaching to all my old buddies!
~The teacher
Saturday, January 23, 2010
Sunday, September 20, 2009
grading papers
A fast note on something I've learned recently.
I hate to grade papers. It's such a pain.
But these are the things I've learned about grading papers.
1) You don't actually have to grade every paper and input the grade. Just call it "participation grades" and give them a blanket grade for the week. I think this works particularly well in FACS where there are some handouts that I do that don't necessarily have a right or wrong answer. I just want them to be engaged.
2) Grade as you go. I'm 2 1/2 weeks behind and it is miserable and I want to shoot myself. I should be grading things every day. But I'm just a slacker. Sigh.
3) Rubrics are awesome. Even if you use a toned down version of a rubric. I gave my students an 80 point project last week, and I broke it up. 15 points for pictures, 15 points for spelling and grammar, 10 points for looking nice, and 40 points for content. I didn't break it down any more than that, but it's given me enough wiggle room that I know where to go with it. I think otherwise, I would give everyone 78/80.
4) Make sure your students know how many points different assignments are worth.
One day, I'm going to get really on top of things and I'm going to make a packet of papers for each unit. That way I can grade packets at a time in stead of papers at a time. I think it will have to wait until after this first quarter though. Sigh.
Good news though, things are getting easier. Lessons are getting easier, management is getting (a little) easier, and I'm getting a better idea of where I want to be going with my classes. Tomorrow I'm starting a sewing unit with my 6th graders and I have no idea where we're going. My expertise was always in foods. So it's a little challenging, but I can do it. I'm also teaching labor and delivery to my 8th graders. I'm excited to see their faces when we talk about delivery. *Insert maniacal laugh here*
I hate to grade papers. It's such a pain.
But these are the things I've learned about grading papers.
1) You don't actually have to grade every paper and input the grade. Just call it "participation grades" and give them a blanket grade for the week. I think this works particularly well in FACS where there are some handouts that I do that don't necessarily have a right or wrong answer. I just want them to be engaged.
2) Grade as you go. I'm 2 1/2 weeks behind and it is miserable and I want to shoot myself. I should be grading things every day. But I'm just a slacker. Sigh.
3) Rubrics are awesome. Even if you use a toned down version of a rubric. I gave my students an 80 point project last week, and I broke it up. 15 points for pictures, 15 points for spelling and grammar, 10 points for looking nice, and 40 points for content. I didn't break it down any more than that, but it's given me enough wiggle room that I know where to go with it. I think otherwise, I would give everyone 78/80.
4) Make sure your students know how many points different assignments are worth.
One day, I'm going to get really on top of things and I'm going to make a packet of papers for each unit. That way I can grade packets at a time in stead of papers at a time. I think it will have to wait until after this first quarter though. Sigh.
Good news though, things are getting easier. Lessons are getting easier, management is getting (a little) easier, and I'm getting a better idea of where I want to be going with my classes. Tomorrow I'm starting a sewing unit with my 6th graders and I have no idea where we're going. My expertise was always in foods. So it's a little challenging, but I can do it. I'm also teaching labor and delivery to my 8th graders. I'm excited to see their faces when we talk about delivery. *Insert maniacal laugh here*
Thursday, September 10, 2009
i'm officially cool
Great news. I'm officially a cool teacher. Already this afternoon I've had students stop by TWICE to say hi. It's probably the fact that I have the mechanical babies and they just want to see the babies. Either way--I'm taking it as "I'm awesome".
I can't believe that I'm almost finished with week three. This has been so challenging. I have spent way way way too many hours at school working on lesson plans and getting things ready. I think I have to come to terms with the fact that I will never be as prepared as I'd like to be. To be honest, I've heard that from a lot of teachers, and it's just starting to sink in to me.
It's so disappointing when you know that you need to teach something well, but it just backfired on you. Like today. My students have been in the kitchens for a few days making Pasta Salads. They ate the salads yesterday, and it was a sigh of relief, because it was so hard to get them made and ready. But they did it, and I was proud. I evaluated some things that I've taught--and they have no idea how to follow a recipe. Or maybe they know how to follow a recipe, but I've walked them through everything, so they aren't succeeding at it. Anyways, today I planned a lesson that really should have only taken 15 minutes, but it took ALL PERIOD. We were planning the labs for next week. By now the students have read the recipe and know what they have to do. Hopefully things will go better next week when we make fruit pizzas. We'll just have to see.
In other news, I've finally gotten my $1,000+ computer modules up and running. I was planning on having my 7th graders use them today, but there were lots of kids who left to go play football, so we cooked instead. My 7th graders do much better in the labs--but they were taught last year by a more experienced teacher. It will all come with time....
My 8th graders are neck-deep in human sexuality. It's such a hard subject to teach. It terrifies me, to be perfectly honest. But we watched an incredible movie for the last two days, and the result was mostly positive. All I want from my students is for them not to get pregnant during high school. I would be so happy if they would not get STDs and not get pregnant outside of marriage, and I would be overjoyed if they all waited to have sex until they got married. It breaks my heart so often when people say that teenagers are just "animals" and they all are just horny and have sex all the time. They are so much more than that. I hope that my girls have self-confidence and self-respect enough to wait. I tried to teach them today, but I don't know how effective I was. I did the best I can. Tomorrow is STD day. After that, we're going to move out of human sexuality....mostly because I'm terrified of angry parents, but also because I don't know what else to teach. We're going to talk about fetal development next week which is always super interesting. I'm stoked.
I'm off now to go watch the 8th grade volleyball team. My girls did their cheer for me after lunch today. And I'm here, so I might as well watch them play. I figure---when you have to teach sexuality, you should do everything you can so your students will trust and respect you. That way they will listen to and follow what you have to tell them. So....go team!!
~The Teacher
I can't believe that I'm almost finished with week three. This has been so challenging. I have spent way way way too many hours at school working on lesson plans and getting things ready. I think I have to come to terms with the fact that I will never be as prepared as I'd like to be. To be honest, I've heard that from a lot of teachers, and it's just starting to sink in to me.
It's so disappointing when you know that you need to teach something well, but it just backfired on you. Like today. My students have been in the kitchens for a few days making Pasta Salads. They ate the salads yesterday, and it was a sigh of relief, because it was so hard to get them made and ready. But they did it, and I was proud. I evaluated some things that I've taught--and they have no idea how to follow a recipe. Or maybe they know how to follow a recipe, but I've walked them through everything, so they aren't succeeding at it. Anyways, today I planned a lesson that really should have only taken 15 minutes, but it took ALL PERIOD. We were planning the labs for next week. By now the students have read the recipe and know what they have to do. Hopefully things will go better next week when we make fruit pizzas. We'll just have to see.
In other news, I've finally gotten my $1,000+ computer modules up and running. I was planning on having my 7th graders use them today, but there were lots of kids who left to go play football, so we cooked instead. My 7th graders do much better in the labs--but they were taught last year by a more experienced teacher. It will all come with time....
My 8th graders are neck-deep in human sexuality. It's such a hard subject to teach. It terrifies me, to be perfectly honest. But we watched an incredible movie for the last two days, and the result was mostly positive. All I want from my students is for them not to get pregnant during high school. I would be so happy if they would not get STDs and not get pregnant outside of marriage, and I would be overjoyed if they all waited to have sex until they got married. It breaks my heart so often when people say that teenagers are just "animals" and they all are just horny and have sex all the time. They are so much more than that. I hope that my girls have self-confidence and self-respect enough to wait. I tried to teach them today, but I don't know how effective I was. I did the best I can. Tomorrow is STD day. After that, we're going to move out of human sexuality....mostly because I'm terrified of angry parents, but also because I don't know what else to teach. We're going to talk about fetal development next week which is always super interesting. I'm stoked.
I'm off now to go watch the 8th grade volleyball team. My girls did their cheer for me after lunch today. And I'm here, so I might as well watch them play. I figure---when you have to teach sexuality, you should do everything you can so your students will trust and respect you. That way they will listen to and follow what you have to tell them. So....go team!!
~The Teacher
Wednesday, September 9, 2009
failure.....
Wah! I failed at my goal of last week! I posted only once. Not on Wednesday NOR Saturday. And I am sorry to say that this will not be a long post either. It's 10:20 and I need to be in bed 45 minutes ago because I need to be up early tomorrow morning.
This week has been wonderful. Lots of work--but I feel like I'm getting somewhere. I'm learning a little more about lesson plans, a little more about classroom management, a little more about discipline. I've had students take the mechanical babies home for the 3-day weekend (they begged to take them home for an extra day!), I've had flops of lesson plans, I've had great lesson plans, I've had failed computers, successful lab days, and two observations. I'm surviving. Exhausted, behind, and almost burnt-out, but I am surviving. And I'm getting better. I've gotten home at a decent hour most days this week. Very exciting!! I'm lucky that I'm single right now--I spend 14+ hours a day at school some days. (Some days I only spend 11 hours at school)--and I'm lucky to be single and not have a family to take care of. I can dedicate my time for my student. I hope that it is not always the case--I need "me" time. I went to my parents house this weekend for Labor day, and it was so rejuvenating. It was hard to come back again. But I did, and I'm enjoying it.
I've started teaching human sexuality to my 8th graders. Let's talk about terrifying. I'm most terrified that a parent will call me and yell at me for teaching sexuality to her daughter. I will be changing my disclosure document to have an opt-out clause for next time--I debated putting it in this time, but decided against it. I wish I hadn't, I'd feel much better knowing that I had that security. So I keep crossing my fingers and praying that no one calls to yell at me. It's not like I'm teaching it inappropriately--mostly I'm just showing a video (Pam Stenzel's "Time to wait for sex".....BEST MOVIE EVER) and they have to write a response. But I'm still terrified.
It is officially time for bed. I'm not ready for tomorrow....but then again, I'm never ready. One day I'll get caught up. One day.
~The Teacher
This week has been wonderful. Lots of work--but I feel like I'm getting somewhere. I'm learning a little more about lesson plans, a little more about classroom management, a little more about discipline. I've had students take the mechanical babies home for the 3-day weekend (they begged to take them home for an extra day!), I've had flops of lesson plans, I've had great lesson plans, I've had failed computers, successful lab days, and two observations. I'm surviving. Exhausted, behind, and almost burnt-out, but I am surviving. And I'm getting better. I've gotten home at a decent hour most days this week. Very exciting!! I'm lucky that I'm single right now--I spend 14+ hours a day at school some days. (Some days I only spend 11 hours at school)--and I'm lucky to be single and not have a family to take care of. I can dedicate my time for my student. I hope that it is not always the case--I need "me" time. I went to my parents house this weekend for Labor day, and it was so rejuvenating. It was hard to come back again. But I did, and I'm enjoying it.
I've started teaching human sexuality to my 8th graders. Let's talk about terrifying. I'm most terrified that a parent will call me and yell at me for teaching sexuality to her daughter. I will be changing my disclosure document to have an opt-out clause for next time--I debated putting it in this time, but decided against it. I wish I hadn't, I'd feel much better knowing that I had that security. So I keep crossing my fingers and praying that no one calls to yell at me. It's not like I'm teaching it inappropriately--mostly I'm just showing a video (Pam Stenzel's "Time to wait for sex".....BEST MOVIE EVER) and they have to write a response. But I'm still terrified.
It is officially time for bed. I'm not ready for tomorrow....but then again, I'm never ready. One day I'll get caught up. One day.
~The Teacher
Monday, August 31, 2009
New Goal
I made a decision today. I have spent way too much time in the past few days going through OTHER PEOPLE's lesson plans. I've dug through the other teacher's old stuff. I've gone through listservs and internet resources. I've been trying to find the perfect lesson plan. (I'm trying to be perfect at week 2...) But the catch is--there is no perfect lesson plan. And I think that internet and physical resources are great at what they are...RESOURCES. But they shouldn't be a replacement. I think after I've gone through my curriculum once or twice, I'll be able to use them to supplement what I have--but right now, I need to know what I'm doing and where I'm going in order to be able to understand what I can and can't use. So, my new goal for the remainder of the quarter is to START FROM SCRATCH. And as I defined to my sixth grade students recently: "scratch" means from the raw ingredients.
I went to college for 5 years. I got a 187 on the Praxis. I'm pretty sure that I know my material. I just need to think harder instead of trying to steal harder.
(and not that there is anything wrong with stealing your lessons....that's the greatest invention ever.... but I'm using it as a cop out, so I'm not going to do it anymore.)
Today was hard. I have all sorts of computer problems and I feel like I'm being annoying in trying to get them fixed. That's not the goal. I hope that I'm not being a problem. It's also hard because I wasn't prepared as well as I should have been. I found myself with TEN minutes of downtime at the end of class. (And for a 40 minute class....that's saying something.) I felt bad for that. I need to try a little harder. AND, I said that I was going to leave school at 5:30. It's 9:30 now, and I have yet to go home....
Good luck to me tomorrow.
~The Teacher
I went to college for 5 years. I got a 187 on the Praxis. I'm pretty sure that I know my material. I just need to think harder instead of trying to steal harder.
(and not that there is anything wrong with stealing your lessons....that's the greatest invention ever.... but I'm using it as a cop out, so I'm not going to do it anymore.)
Today was hard. I have all sorts of computer problems and I feel like I'm being annoying in trying to get them fixed. That's not the goal. I hope that I'm not being a problem. It's also hard because I wasn't prepared as well as I should have been. I found myself with TEN minutes of downtime at the end of class. (And for a 40 minute class....that's saying something.) I felt bad for that. I need to try a little harder. AND, I said that I was going to leave school at 5:30. It's 9:30 now, and I have yet to go home....
Good luck to me tomorrow.
~The Teacher
Saturday, August 29, 2009
One week down
Oh. Dear. Goodness. This is hard to do.
Students came on Monday. The first two days were fantastic. Then it got hard. I'm sorry that I haven't posted in the middle, but I've just had so much to do. That, and I might have some Adult ADHD, so it just takes me longer to get stuff done...
I've done some great lessons in the past week, and had some terrible lessons in the past week. I keep planning lessons with the thought of "this needs to be the best lesson ever. I have to plan the greatest plans and have a great class." Yes, there's a lot of pressure on me---FACS is something that many schools and districts don't really care for, and if you aren't important they'll cut you (why doesn't anyone get how important this is!!) But I keep telling myself--it's only the first year, you don't have to be perfect yet. I'm learning, learning, learning.
I love my students. When I student taught, I was in a 9-12 high school and a 7-9 Jr High, but the youngest I taught was 9th grade. Now my classes are 6-8. They are HILARIOUS. I love junior high kids. They talk alot--I'm going to have to learn alot about management and I'm going to have to be better at enforcing my limits, but I sure love to teach them.
I have some book recommendations. They've saved my hide during the first week.
The First Days of School by Harry and Rosemary Wong
Survival Kit for New Secondary Educators (I don't know who it's by. I don't have my copy handy...)
The Adult ADHD is kicking in again and I've wasted WAY too much time on a Saturday. Thus, I'm going to log off and sit at one of my classroom tables to work. I will do my best to write next week. Two times. At least. Once on Wednesday and once on the weekend.
~The Teacher
Students came on Monday. The first two days were fantastic. Then it got hard. I'm sorry that I haven't posted in the middle, but I've just had so much to do. That, and I might have some Adult ADHD, so it just takes me longer to get stuff done...
I've done some great lessons in the past week, and had some terrible lessons in the past week. I keep planning lessons with the thought of "this needs to be the best lesson ever. I have to plan the greatest plans and have a great class." Yes, there's a lot of pressure on me---FACS is something that many schools and districts don't really care for, and if you aren't important they'll cut you (why doesn't anyone get how important this is!!) But I keep telling myself--it's only the first year, you don't have to be perfect yet. I'm learning, learning, learning.
I love my students. When I student taught, I was in a 9-12 high school and a 7-9 Jr High, but the youngest I taught was 9th grade. Now my classes are 6-8. They are HILARIOUS. I love junior high kids. They talk alot--I'm going to have to learn alot about management and I'm going to have to be better at enforcing my limits, but I sure love to teach them.
I have some book recommendations. They've saved my hide during the first week.
The First Days of School by Harry and Rosemary Wong
Survival Kit for New Secondary Educators (I don't know who it's by. I don't have my copy handy...)
The Adult ADHD is kicking in again and I've wasted WAY too much time on a Saturday. Thus, I'm going to log off and sit at one of my classroom tables to work. I will do my best to write next week. Two times. At least. Once on Wednesday and once on the weekend.
~The Teacher
Friday, August 21, 2009
three keys for any teacher
Oh! I totally forgot. Last night when I was at my brother's Eagle award thing, I was talking to a teacher friend of mine. And when I say "teacher friend," I mean, she was actually my third grade teacher, but has since become a great family friend who we love and adore. Anyways, we were discussing teaching and she told me three keys to being a good teacher.
1) Make friends with the custodial staff and secretaries. They will help you get things done.
2) Get every flu shot and immunization available. Otherwise you'll end up sick as a dog.
3) Make very few rules, but make sure that they're important and enforce them.
It was a great conversation and it got me pumped up to teach. It will sure be a learning experience for the students and for me. Have I mentioned that yet?
~The Teacher
1) Make friends with the custodial staff and secretaries. They will help you get things done.
2) Get every flu shot and immunization available. Otherwise you'll end up sick as a dog.
3) Make very few rules, but make sure that they're important and enforce them.
It was a great conversation and it got me pumped up to teach. It will sure be a learning experience for the students and for me. Have I mentioned that yet?
~The Teacher
just cut the apron strings already...
Three things:
1) Yesterday I took the purchasing card and went to Walmart to buy supplies for my class. That was a thrill. And a little nerve-wracking. I mean, we're supposed to be frugal, and I kept thinking "not my money, not my money...has to last all year, has to last all year." But I bought some good stuff. And some maybe not good stuff (opening activity for child development...could be a bust.)
2) Yesterday, the teacher who retired came back to help me with some stuff that has been really confusing, but that I have to use because the district said so. She was trying to walk me through it, and first of all, SHE had no idea what she was talking about, so she couldn't teach me, and I just thought to myself "really? How did you teach this? I bet your kids were bored silly." And then the custodian came in and I asked her about my disposals and the former teacher said "What?! No! You need those disposals! They throw away a lot of stuff!" And I said "yeah, but 6th graders are springy, so they can just take the trash out for me." She looked horrified and she looked like what she really wanted to say was "This is my kitchen! Don't you dare change my program! Leave the !#)%(& disposals!" But she didn't say that. Instead she said "Well, that's a hard decision to make, but I'm not the one who has to make them anymore." At that point, I just wanted her out of my classroom. That may be terrible of me, but I realized that I am the teacher now, and I have the choice to do what I want to with my students. And I don't need it to be approved by her.
3) I went back to my parent's house yesterday because my little brother received his eagle scout award (Yay little brother!) and spent the night. Today I stuck around doing laundry and running errands. When it was time for me to come back, I just put it off and put it off. It was hard to come back today. I was dreading all the work that I have to do in my room. I was dreading the fear and terror that I know is inevitable. I was dreading the feeling of inadequacy. I just wanted to be in college again and not really having responsibility. This being-a-teacher thing is hard work. But I have chosen this life and I have to do it. I will do it--I will work in my room, and I will work to help my students. And I will enjoy myself while I do it. (And if I don't, I'm going to be miserable and wish that I had dropped out of college to work at McDonalds, because you don't have to think critically there.)
~The Teacher
1) Yesterday I took the purchasing card and went to Walmart to buy supplies for my class. That was a thrill. And a little nerve-wracking. I mean, we're supposed to be frugal, and I kept thinking "not my money, not my money...has to last all year, has to last all year." But I bought some good stuff. And some maybe not good stuff (opening activity for child development...could be a bust.)
2) Yesterday, the teacher who retired came back to help me with some stuff that has been really confusing, but that I have to use because the district said so. She was trying to walk me through it, and first of all, SHE had no idea what she was talking about, so she couldn't teach me, and I just thought to myself "really? How did you teach this? I bet your kids were bored silly." And then the custodian came in and I asked her about my disposals and the former teacher said "What?! No! You need those disposals! They throw away a lot of stuff!" And I said "yeah, but 6th graders are springy, so they can just take the trash out for me." She looked horrified and she looked like what she really wanted to say was "This is my kitchen! Don't you dare change my program! Leave the !#)%(& disposals!" But she didn't say that. Instead she said "Well, that's a hard decision to make, but I'm not the one who has to make them anymore." At that point, I just wanted her out of my classroom. That may be terrible of me, but I realized that I am the teacher now, and I have the choice to do what I want to with my students. And I don't need it to be approved by her.
3) I went back to my parent's house yesterday because my little brother received his eagle scout award (Yay little brother!) and spent the night. Today I stuck around doing laundry and running errands. When it was time for me to come back, I just put it off and put it off. It was hard to come back today. I was dreading all the work that I have to do in my room. I was dreading the fear and terror that I know is inevitable. I was dreading the feeling of inadequacy. I just wanted to be in college again and not really having responsibility. This being-a-teacher thing is hard work. But I have chosen this life and I have to do it. I will do it--I will work in my room, and I will work to help my students. And I will enjoy myself while I do it. (And if I don't, I'm going to be miserable and wish that I had dropped out of college to work at McDonalds, because you don't have to think critically there.)
~The Teacher
Wednesday, August 19, 2009
Back to school
And Oh Yeah...
Back-to-school night was tonight. I met a lot of students and a lot of parents. I had a 6th grade girl come in with a pierced nose. That was a little crazy. But I was excited for my class, and I hope that will be contagious to my students. Being a FACS teacher automatically makes you cooler than the other teachers, because you get to do really neat things that other classes can't. Like eat food and make clothes. And take home mechanical babies. And learn about human sexuality. And plan parties. And decorate gingerbread houses.
Yeah, you bet your britches you won't be doing THAT in a math class.
~The Teacher
Back-to-school night was tonight. I met a lot of students and a lot of parents. I had a 6th grade girl come in with a pierced nose. That was a little crazy. But I was excited for my class, and I hope that will be contagious to my students. Being a FACS teacher automatically makes you cooler than the other teachers, because you get to do really neat things that other classes can't. Like eat food and make clothes. And take home mechanical babies. And learn about human sexuality. And plan parties. And decorate gingerbread houses.
Yeah, you bet your britches you won't be doing THAT in a math class.
~The Teacher
More training?
I feel like I've been in so many meetings for the last few days. Today was school inservice. The Principal had scheduled today and tomorrow for it, but lucky for me, we got through it all today, so tomorrow is a teacher work day. More time to work in my room!!
I finally got through all of the dishes and things that the last teacher left. I threw away so many spices. I called the McCormick people and asked them how to read the codes and how long the spices were good for. She said, "That's easy. We've been putting 'best by' dates on our bottles since 2004, and we only guarantee them for 2-3 years." Spices don't really expire, they just lose some of their punch. We kept talking and it turns out that some of those spices were at least 20 years old. I think I'm going to have to clean out my mom's spice cabinet sometime soon. **Note: If you have any spices in the McCormick TINS...they were made in the 80s. Chuck them.** So I finally put my room back together. It was a many day project. And I still have to label my cupboards, but at least everything is off the tables. Next week I am going to have the students take a piece of butcher paper and draw outlines for everything that should be on each shelf. Then I will have it laminated and we will use it for inventory so I can check people out after labs. It's a brilliant idea (not mine...definitely stolen from another teacher.) It's all going to come together....
Yesterday I also started planning for a bulletin board that is right outside of my room. I have the creative energy of a dead animal. I've always said, "Ask me to design a project and we're toast. If you tell me what to do and give me the tools to do it, I will come up with a brilliantly constructed item for you." Let's just say--google is my friend. I looked up "bulletin boards" and there are oodles and oodles of sites. My bulletin board says "Pencil Us in For a Great Year!" And there is a pencil that says "Family and Consumer Sciences" and then a clipboard with a piece of paper that says "Welcome to class! Tips for Success:" And then it lists my class rules. Blasted brilliant. And it looks dang good. I was so excited about it last night, I couldn't sleep. Either that, or it was the 20 oz coke that I had with dinner. (I'm usually not a soda drinker, so when I drink soda--especially with caffeine--it makes me pretty wired.)
I also read a great book yesterday. It is by Harry and Rosemary Wong called "The First Days of School." And dang. It was a great book. It was my textbook for one of my education classes in college and I never really read through it then. I read about half of it last night. So, so, so helpful.
You see, I'm so terrified about the first few days. I can't even think about curriculum because I'm so terrified about what to do in introducing my class and rules and procedures. It's overwhelming--especially as a first year teacher, because everyone says that classroom management is the most challenging aspect of teaching. But the Wong book laid it all out. Step by step. I am going to do the following things:
1) Post my rules at the FRONT of my class (I recently discovered that they're actually hanging in my room already. At the back of the room in a random corner. Yes, that will be changing.)
2) Greet my students when they come to my room on Monday.
3) Set them right to work as soon as they come in. I am going to give each student a half-sheet of paper with a few questions on it so they are working at the beginning.
4) I will not be giving my students assigned seating on Monday. Wong says to do it. But I'm going to try this time without doing it. If it blows up in my face, I will change it next term when I get new kiddies.
5) I'm going to smile. A lot. And be excited for what I do.
Did I mention that I COULDN'T FALL ASLEEP yesterday because I was so excited? Because I totally couldn't. I was so excited. I just had to tell myself, "fall asleep now so you can wake up and go to school tomorrow!!"
Love it. I love it. Yay for teachers!!
~The Teacher
I finally got through all of the dishes and things that the last teacher left. I threw away so many spices. I called the McCormick people and asked them how to read the codes and how long the spices were good for. She said, "That's easy. We've been putting 'best by' dates on our bottles since 2004, and we only guarantee them for 2-3 years." Spices don't really expire, they just lose some of their punch. We kept talking and it turns out that some of those spices were at least 20 years old. I think I'm going to have to clean out my mom's spice cabinet sometime soon. **Note: If you have any spices in the McCormick TINS...they were made in the 80s. Chuck them.** So I finally put my room back together. It was a many day project. And I still have to label my cupboards, but at least everything is off the tables. Next week I am going to have the students take a piece of butcher paper and draw outlines for everything that should be on each shelf. Then I will have it laminated and we will use it for inventory so I can check people out after labs. It's a brilliant idea (not mine...definitely stolen from another teacher.) It's all going to come together....
Yesterday I also started planning for a bulletin board that is right outside of my room. I have the creative energy of a dead animal. I've always said, "Ask me to design a project and we're toast. If you tell me what to do and give me the tools to do it, I will come up with a brilliantly constructed item for you." Let's just say--google is my friend. I looked up "bulletin boards" and there are oodles and oodles of sites. My bulletin board says "Pencil Us in For a Great Year!" And there is a pencil that says "Family and Consumer Sciences" and then a clipboard with a piece of paper that says "Welcome to class! Tips for Success:" And then it lists my class rules. Blasted brilliant. And it looks dang good. I was so excited about it last night, I couldn't sleep. Either that, or it was the 20 oz coke that I had with dinner. (I'm usually not a soda drinker, so when I drink soda--especially with caffeine--it makes me pretty wired.)
I also read a great book yesterday. It is by Harry and Rosemary Wong called "The First Days of School." And dang. It was a great book. It was my textbook for one of my education classes in college and I never really read through it then. I read about half of it last night. So, so, so helpful.
You see, I'm so terrified about the first few days. I can't even think about curriculum because I'm so terrified about what to do in introducing my class and rules and procedures. It's overwhelming--especially as a first year teacher, because everyone says that classroom management is the most challenging aspect of teaching. But the Wong book laid it all out. Step by step. I am going to do the following things:
1) Post my rules at the FRONT of my class (I recently discovered that they're actually hanging in my room already. At the back of the room in a random corner. Yes, that will be changing.)
2) Greet my students when they come to my room on Monday.
3) Set them right to work as soon as they come in. I am going to give each student a half-sheet of paper with a few questions on it so they are working at the beginning.
4) I will not be giving my students assigned seating on Monday. Wong says to do it. But I'm going to try this time without doing it. If it blows up in my face, I will change it next term when I get new kiddies.
5) I'm going to smile. A lot. And be excited for what I do.
Did I mention that I COULDN'T FALL ASLEEP yesterday because I was so excited? Because I totally couldn't. I was so excited. I just had to tell myself, "fall asleep now so you can wake up and go to school tomorrow!!"
Love it. I love it. Yay for teachers!!
~The Teacher
Tuesday, August 18, 2009
fighting for FACS
Good news!! I graduated on Friday. That's me--a diploma carrying, funny hat wearing FAMILY AND CONSUMER SCIENCES EDUCATION GRADUATE. I spent the Friday night with my old roommates, and then went to my last day at my college job on Saturday. They threw me a party and bought me some signs for my classroom. It was very nice. Saturday night, my parents drove me back with the van AND the truck crazy-full of furniture and stuff that I'd been storing at their house. Good news--it's all organized and I'm not sleeping on the floor. I don't have any living room furniture, but that's ok---I don't spend much time at home. I have two bookshelves against one wall, and in between those, I have two end-tables that my grandmother gave me, and in between those, I have one folding chair that my parents loaned me. I like that chair. One day I'll get a couch. Yes. My life is exciting. I'm saving up for a couch. (But a kitchenaid stand mixer comes first!!)
Anyways, I came back to school on Monday and had district in-service all day. It was super boring--because we'd gone over ALL the same information last week in new-teacher orientation. After it was over, I came back to my classroom which was STILL a mess from when I'd unloaded all the cupboards and I only had an hour or so to work in my room before we had the district picnic. I got a lot of free food yesterday. That was exciting. I also talked to my counterpart at the other middle school. We spent a good two hours talking about what we do in our classes. She's trained as a health teacher and got the FACS job by chance. We were talking about how the superintendent feels about the FACS program. Apparently, he pretty much wants it out of the schools. He's all about technology and getting students to be on the cutting edge of things. I'm in a district that has a lot of money--and that's good, it enables us to do cutting edge sorts of things. But as a FACS teacher, I feel like there are things that are important that AREN'T technology. Teaching them can be enhanced by technology, and even the act of doing these things can be enhanced by technology. But the subjects taught in Family and Consumer Sciences are LIFE SKILLS that will help my students get through every day--not just get to college. College students have to eat. Non-college students have to eat. We all have to wear clothes. We have families and need to know appropriate and inappropriate ways to interact. We used to live in a world where these skills would have been passed on from parent-to-child (mother to daughter, typically). But that is no longer the case. We have to learn it SOMEWHERE. I think a big part of the reason that we have a crazy society with more abusive families, overweight people, people in debt, etc is that we don't know these BASIC skills. We've overlooked them in favor of technology and advancing ourselves in careers.
Sigh. It's rough. I feel like I'm going to have to stand up for Home Economics during my time here. And in order to have any credibility, I need to have a good program. I have a lot to learn.
~The Teacher
Anyways, I came back to school on Monday and had district in-service all day. It was super boring--because we'd gone over ALL the same information last week in new-teacher orientation. After it was over, I came back to my classroom which was STILL a mess from when I'd unloaded all the cupboards and I only had an hour or so to work in my room before we had the district picnic. I got a lot of free food yesterday. That was exciting. I also talked to my counterpart at the other middle school. We spent a good two hours talking about what we do in our classes. She's trained as a health teacher and got the FACS job by chance. We were talking about how the superintendent feels about the FACS program. Apparently, he pretty much wants it out of the schools. He's all about technology and getting students to be on the cutting edge of things. I'm in a district that has a lot of money--and that's good, it enables us to do cutting edge sorts of things. But as a FACS teacher, I feel like there are things that are important that AREN'T technology. Teaching them can be enhanced by technology, and even the act of doing these things can be enhanced by technology. But the subjects taught in Family and Consumer Sciences are LIFE SKILLS that will help my students get through every day--not just get to college. College students have to eat. Non-college students have to eat. We all have to wear clothes. We have families and need to know appropriate and inappropriate ways to interact. We used to live in a world where these skills would have been passed on from parent-to-child (mother to daughter, typically). But that is no longer the case. We have to learn it SOMEWHERE. I think a big part of the reason that we have a crazy society with more abusive families, overweight people, people in debt, etc is that we don't know these BASIC skills. We've overlooked them in favor of technology and advancing ourselves in careers.
Sigh. It's rough. I feel like I'm going to have to stand up for Home Economics during my time here. And in order to have any credibility, I need to have a good program. I have a lot to learn.
~The Teacher
Thursday, August 13, 2009
FINALLY working in my room
Even though I've been in my classroom for the last three days, today is the first day that I'm actually able to work in it. Which I'm really regretting, now that I see how much there is to do (and how little time I have to do it in--I have to drive two hours to graduate from college tomorrow, and my family is coming back up with me the next day to bring my furniture up SO I DON'T HAVE TO SLEEP ON THE FLOOR....so I don't have a whole lot of time for working on classroom things...). But, I'm glad to finally be working on it.
I walked into my room today and the entire custodial staff was sitting at my tables eating lunch. Which I think is great--I have no problem with that. Everyone has told me that FACS teachers especially need to make good friends with the custodians and maintenance--because WE NEED THEM. So I said hi to everyone and then asked the main custodian for a little help whenever she was done eating because I had some questions for her. I asked her what I should do about my nasty-smelling sink because I thought it was the disposal. She said "If I had my way, I'd get rid of them entirely!" I said "Me too!! I see no reason to have them! I want to ask the Principal what my budget is and put in an order to have them taken out." And then she said, "Oh, if that's alright with you, I'll put in a work order today and have them changed out as soon as possible." AND IT WON'T EVEN HAVE TO COME OUT OF MY BUDGET. Angel. She's an angel. I'm super happy about that.
I cleaned my sinks today. First I used comet. Then I found some stainless steel cleaner--hello! Why didn't I start with that? It's good stuff. So if you need to clean a stainless steel sink...go straight for the steel cleaner. Then I emptied ALL of my cupboards out. The teacher who just retired has been here for 20+ years and has accumulated SO MUCH stuff. I have 4 kitchens, and found 11 sets of measuring cups in those kitchens. That's a lot. My task now is to decide what I want in each kitchen and then put the rest in storage (and throw it away at the end of the year!!!). I'm really lucky because I worked in the foods lab in college for a year, so I'm really familiar with what each kitchen needs. (Not 11 sets of measuring cups). When I finalize my list tonight or tomorrow, I'll post it, in hopes that it will be helpful to someone else.
I also spoke with the Principal today. He's really great. He expressed a lot of confidence in me and my ability to do good things here. Every day I'm becoming more and more confident that I will be able to be a good teacher. My first term will be terribly rough, I'm sure. But I will succeed. Anyways, if you're a teacher, your Principal should be one of the first people you talk to for help. I told him "I'm sure I'm about to have a lot of stupid questions, bear with me," but now we're on the same page.
I'm excited. This is going to be good. I'm doing the right thing. Countdown to school: a week and a half. Tomorrow I'm heading to my COLLEGE GRADUATION!!! After 5 years, it's about time. And in this economy, I count myself very lucky to be graduating with a job. And a good job at that.
~The Teacher
I walked into my room today and the entire custodial staff was sitting at my tables eating lunch. Which I think is great--I have no problem with that. Everyone has told me that FACS teachers especially need to make good friends with the custodians and maintenance--because WE NEED THEM. So I said hi to everyone and then asked the main custodian for a little help whenever she was done eating because I had some questions for her. I asked her what I should do about my nasty-smelling sink because I thought it was the disposal. She said "If I had my way, I'd get rid of them entirely!" I said "Me too!! I see no reason to have them! I want to ask the Principal what my budget is and put in an order to have them taken out." And then she said, "Oh, if that's alright with you, I'll put in a work order today and have them changed out as soon as possible." AND IT WON'T EVEN HAVE TO COME OUT OF MY BUDGET. Angel. She's an angel. I'm super happy about that.
I cleaned my sinks today. First I used comet. Then I found some stainless steel cleaner--hello! Why didn't I start with that? It's good stuff. So if you need to clean a stainless steel sink...go straight for the steel cleaner. Then I emptied ALL of my cupboards out. The teacher who just retired has been here for 20+ years and has accumulated SO MUCH stuff. I have 4 kitchens, and found 11 sets of measuring cups in those kitchens. That's a lot. My task now is to decide what I want in each kitchen and then put the rest in storage (and throw it away at the end of the year!!!). I'm really lucky because I worked in the foods lab in college for a year, so I'm really familiar with what each kitchen needs. (Not 11 sets of measuring cups). When I finalize my list tonight or tomorrow, I'll post it, in hopes that it will be helpful to someone else.
I also spoke with the Principal today. He's really great. He expressed a lot of confidence in me and my ability to do good things here. Every day I'm becoming more and more confident that I will be able to be a good teacher. My first term will be terribly rough, I'm sure. But I will succeed. Anyways, if you're a teacher, your Principal should be one of the first people you talk to for help. I told him "I'm sure I'm about to have a lot of stupid questions, bear with me," but now we're on the same page.
I'm excited. This is going to be good. I'm doing the right thing. Countdown to school: a week and a half. Tomorrow I'm heading to my COLLEGE GRADUATION!!! After 5 years, it's about time. And in this economy, I count myself very lucky to be graduating with a job. And a good job at that.
~The Teacher
Wednesday, August 12, 2009
DONE
Ok. I'm officially done with my paper. It's 4:15 and the paper had to be emailed to her by 4:30.
Yes, I may have scraped through college by the skin of my teeth, but I'm DONE. I graduate in TWO DAYS.
Now I just have to make sure that I can get all of my paperwork from the university so I can turn it into the state licensure board so I can get licensed and *paid*. (Which is NOT why I'm a teacher...but it will be nice to not be a college student anymore. I love macaroni and cheese, but after five years...)
And I still have time this evening to start working on my classroom. It's huge. I think I'm going to go clean the sinks.
~The Teacher
Yes, I may have scraped through college by the skin of my teeth, but I'm DONE. I graduate in TWO DAYS.
Now I just have to make sure that I can get all of my paperwork from the university so I can turn it into the state licensure board so I can get licensed and *paid*. (Which is NOT why I'm a teacher...but it will be nice to not be a college student anymore. I love macaroni and cheese, but after five years...)
And I still have time this evening to start working on my classroom. It's huge. I think I'm going to go clean the sinks.
~The Teacher
Webpage
So today we had more new teacher orientation stuff. We went over the online grading system and we made a website for our classes. It was actually pretty fun. I have a lot of energy today--probably because I'm an hour shy of sleep and am still antsy about my paper that is due in THREE HOURS--so I was all over the place. One of the other new teachers looked at me and said "What are you doing?!" and I said "I teach Junior High!!!!" His response? "Yeah, I teach Junior High too, but I'm not going to do *that*." It was pretty funny.
I'm always amazed at how many resources there are for teachers. This district is really amazing. There is lots of stuff available to help me be an effective teacher. I remember right before I did student teaching last fall and was so overwhelmed by everything, and then I went to the fall conference for teachers and saw the resources--state and district people, companies like Staples, museums, universities that have curriculum that you can use--I felt so much better after that. I feel the same way today. Yes, I'm terribly overwhelmed. I haven't really even started LOOKING at my classroom. I don't really know what my first week of lesson plans are going to be. But I know there's help out there for me, and that makes me feel a million times better.
I'm embarking on a great adventure! Bring me minds for the molding! I'm ready!!
Ok, I'm not ready. I still have to finish my paper.
~The Teacher
I'm always amazed at how many resources there are for teachers. This district is really amazing. There is lots of stuff available to help me be an effective teacher. I remember right before I did student teaching last fall and was so overwhelmed by everything, and then I went to the fall conference for teachers and saw the resources--state and district people, companies like Staples, museums, universities that have curriculum that you can use--I felt so much better after that. I feel the same way today. Yes, I'm terribly overwhelmed. I haven't really even started LOOKING at my classroom. I don't really know what my first week of lesson plans are going to be. But I know there's help out there for me, and that makes me feel a million times better.
I'm embarking on a great adventure! Bring me minds for the molding! I'm ready!!
Ok, I'm not ready. I still have to finish my paper.
~The Teacher
Tuesday, August 11, 2009
Overwhelmed
So I'm here in my GIGANTIC new classroom with no idea where to start. Part of me keeps thinking (hoping?) that this is all just a dream and I'll wake up and be back in college with no life again. But I know that isn't going to happen, so I just need to get started. I've been in new teacher orientation for the last few days. We have meetings in the morning, and in the afternoon we get to go work in our classrooms. Yesterday, the cold that I've been running from caught up with me, and I couldn't function. So I went to wal-mart and bought some drugs and went to sleep. But today I've been sitting in my classroom for 7 hours and just contemplating. Well, people keep coming in to talk to me, and I've been working on some curriculum things, but then I've been getting a little distracted. (I have this dang final to write that is due tomorrow at 5 pm---it's the LAST thing that I have to do for college... but I don't want to write it. Probably why I'm starting a new blog?) I need to buckle down and get started. But where to begin? Do I work on curriculum? Do I work on my discipline plan? What do I have to organize? What do I have to decorate? The last teacher left me a lot of things and I'm excited to go through it and make it my own.
My classroom is HUGE. I'm a FACS teacher--we do a lot of stuff. I have 4 kitchens, some computer stations, and 20+ sewing machines. Not to mention the desks and the SMART BOARD. Which is cool...except I don't know how to work it.
Ok. I just made a decision. I'm done posting tonight. I have to start this paper. That way I will be able to dedicate ALL my attention to my classroom tomorrow. Because I don't even get to work on my room on Friday--I have to go to my college graduation. Ah! If I think about it I stress. Time for me to just get to work.
~The Teacher
My classroom is HUGE. I'm a FACS teacher--we do a lot of stuff. I have 4 kitchens, some computer stations, and 20+ sewing machines. Not to mention the desks and the SMART BOARD. Which is cool...except I don't know how to work it.
Ok. I just made a decision. I'm done posting tonight. I have to start this paper. That way I will be able to dedicate ALL my attention to my classroom tomorrow. Because I don't even get to work on my room on Friday--I have to go to my college graduation. Ah! If I think about it I stress. Time for me to just get to work.
~The Teacher
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