Semester Tests

I have far too many tests to give this year, and I only hope that I set them to be just about the right time. My principal has set our tests to a timed hour-and-a-half, and I just hope I got the number about right. All of my tests have response sections and one "extended response" section, where students should write at least three paragraphs in that one section. I also have ninety questions apiece. I'm thinking that I should go back and make the last ten or so optional, because the test is very long for ninety minutes with ninety questions plus four writing sections. I guess I just got nervous and overshot it again, but I'd rather have too much to do than not enough.

Fireworks... Oh, I mean Frameworks....

Is it just me, or do most frameworks seem to be a repetition of things already learned. I used to sit and wonder why it took thirteen years of school to teach a kid to read, write, and do arithmetic, but I took a look at the math frameworks that a colleague has to teach all this year; and I almost started to cry. ( I guess it was flashbacks of my YEARS of trying to survive COLLEGE ALGEBRA... UUUUUHHHHHH..... SCARY.) Anyhow, I see that so many of the frameworks build on knowing what happened previously. All knowledge does, so the next time someone asks you what exactly you're doing teaching kids for so long--- be sure to pull out your huge list of frameworks that you have to cover in less than a year's time. And after seeing all of the "rocket-science" looking stuff she has to cover this year--- I realized--- no wonder students are here 13 years. For me it was 18 plus years, and I still fear math. I thank goodness that I learned how to spell.

What are you doing to make your classroom a better place? Afterall we practically live there now.

I love the whole "homey" atmosphere for my kids. After a few weeks of feeling like I was sitting in a jail cell (my kids felt the same way), I realized that it was "ok" to bring some extra lighting and curtains and pictures to my classroom. I went all out and overdid it with the music and ceiling art, but it's my first year. I'll get it right next time. My kids walked in class after one weekend and were shocked. "It's just like walking right back into kindergarten, Miss Amy." said one of my kids. "You're absolutely right," I replied. And I really felt that way too when she said it. How was I supposed to know that my eighth graders would feel a little old for fish and peace sign curtains? I thought that stuff was cool? Oh well... Maybe I'll decorate in leopard print next year... Sigh....

Cheerleading Sponsor

I love my girls to death, and I appreciate I was given the opportunity to coach my cheerleaders this year, but this getting home at midnight thing twice a week is for the birds! I think I'm going to ask for a pay raise... Hmmmm.... I wonder how well that's going to go? ;) I will tell all new teachers this, don't sign up for something unless you've read ALL of the small print and asked far too many questions!!!!! You will get signed up for enough work WITHOUT volunteering yourself for clubs, organizations, sponsorship, committees, etc.

Our Grammar and the Text Messaging Era

I know it's not just me batting my kids around over the whole "bc" for because and "2" for any form of two, to, or too, but I can honestly say I feel like it's me against the entire AT&T company these days. I can't tell how many times I've seen students (and yes, even some of my teachers) use this shortened, text-messaging era language to communicate in formal papers. It drives me crazy. I can honestly say that for the last two years, I've only seen the top of my fourteen-year-old sister's head at our family gatherings. I've seriously forgotten what color her eyes are--- simply because she's one of those text-era people who send three-thousand plus text messages a month! I probably sound like a grandma here, but what ever happened to just writing a letter or picking up the phone? There's been a serious amount of degeration in our language with the onset of the texting era, and I am saying that I can see it now as I grade our children's papers...... OMG!

Teacher Observations

So I've just finished my final teacher observation for this semester, and is it just me or am I a little relieved? I don't know what it is about having my principal or mentor in my room during classtime, but I get a little nervous for some reason. I did notice today that the butterflies weren't as bad this time. Maybe it'll go away with time, or maybe it's one of those things we're always supposed to feel a little bit nervous about... Hmmmm.....

America's Choice saved my life this year. It includes lesson plans, student readers, all sorts of literature and author studies. It also gives detailed instructions for making my teaching and grading responsibilities easier. I hear so many teachers talk about how they dislike the program for some reason or another, but I absolutely love it! My author and genre studies are lined up to take an exact nine weeks worth of lessons and activities. I stay "to the book" with the programs, and so far my year has been great! It's a wonderful program, and I would recommend it to anyone. I know our school will probably stop using this program someday, but honestly I'd like to keep it. Not only are the activities and literature great pieces to use to teach my kids, but they line right up with frameworks for the state, and there is always something new to do!