Dear Whitney,
This semester has been a test of your strength. You have been through more trying times this past year than you have ever been through before... the one person who gave you motivation passed away, your mom isn't here, your family does not always support you because you are not of the same religion, friends have died, and family has gone to the hospital... but guess what? YOU MADE IT! You DID IT! You will make a difference.
These kids that you care so much about make life all worth while, never once did you give up... and this is what these kids need- someone who has a life like they do, showing them that there is a way to make it out of a bad life, there is a way to make something out of nothing, there is a way to accomplish your dreams!
Never once did I say this was easy for you- you are emotionally unstable behind closed doors, but that poker face that you have, has paid off, people see you as strong, but real. You are who you are and you should love yourself because of what you have been through and what you have become because of these experiences. Life is never easy, you know this, so why does it surprise you?
When you think everything is going good you know that anything can happen- life is not guaranteed, so keep living for today and doing what you do! Keep caring about others and not living for yourself- without supporting one another, where would we be?! You have taught these kids something! You have made a difference in their lives! No matter what you do- you are amazing!
Love, Yourself
Sunday, April 28, 2013
Sunday, April 21, 2013
Extra Credit =)
I have been thinking about how to use this effectively... the more I think about it, I want to reward students for doing the right thing, and also going beyond expectations.
I have been giving stickers for extra credit when students are extremely focused and on task during in class work time, which models for the other students how to behave =) This has been a positive in several lights, the fact that the students are reinforced for their good behavior and the students who are off task are not reinforced... psychology, OOO YEA!
I thought I had been doing a great thing, but I read this blog and found some very interesting points
Extra Credit
This English man believes that it must be challenging (and sometimes staying on task is for these kids) but, if you are giving a lot of extra credit (when I only give 2 points) then it must be to build on a previously learned concept. I really found this interesting. Also, he only assigns extra credit if the student has completed all of the assignments... hmmm, kind of like the tests in math, you have to complete all the homework to take the test, so this concept makes sense to me in ways. You should check it out, it is really quick and easy to read through.
Now, some comics that may reflect a piece of your life...
I have been giving stickers for extra credit when students are extremely focused and on task during in class work time, which models for the other students how to behave =) This has been a positive in several lights, the fact that the students are reinforced for their good behavior and the students who are off task are not reinforced... psychology, OOO YEA!
I thought I had been doing a great thing, but I read this blog and found some very interesting points
Extra Credit
This English man believes that it must be challenging (and sometimes staying on task is for these kids) but, if you are giving a lot of extra credit (when I only give 2 points) then it must be to build on a previously learned concept. I really found this interesting. Also, he only assigns extra credit if the student has completed all of the assignments... hmmm, kind of like the tests in math, you have to complete all the homework to take the test, so this concept makes sense to me in ways. You should check it out, it is really quick and easy to read through.
Now, some comics that may reflect a piece of your life...
 |
My students are writing stories and many of them end abruptly, like this... it is funny how kids think! |
 |
| Don't forget that many students can utilize technology inside and OUTSIDE of the classroom with all of the cell phones and tablets, make projects adaptable to use with or without it, for those students who don't have access. |
 |
| Another one on writing, but when people think they are writing about nothing, that nothing becomes something! |
| Don't let this be you... remember to keep your performance fresh and fun, for not only your job's safety, but for your kid's sake! |
| And remember... speak their language! =) |
Monday, April 15, 2013
Struggling for Success
This is the title that I gave my English 680 Book Review, and I think it fits appropriately here as well.
Speaking of English 680 I read a really great book recently for this class called From Readers to Writers: The Pains and Pleasures of Writing, edited by M. Jerry Weiss. I will share some thoughts about what I really liked and what I plan to utilize from this text.
First off, this book interviewed over fifteen authors of children's books and asked them questions about their writing processes... this structure made it really quick and fun to read, it was like listening to a conversation in my head... which I do all the time =)
Here are some points that I hit on in my review:
- Sue Alexander is the first author mentioned in the book. Alexander discusses her writing experience and comments that “there’s a great deal of craft involved.” To follow this question Weiss asks “How did you learn [this craft]?” and Alexander responds, “Trial and error” (5).
-Weiss asks the question to Judy Blume that sums up the entire book: “What advice would you give to someone who would like to be a writer” (12)? She responds with the most honest answer: “I don’t think anyone can teach you to write. You write out of yourself. You write out of your own needs - write of what you know and what you care about” (12).
-Many authors are asked how they create such real characters in their books, and every author says they literally live inside the character’s heads. They feel what they feel and imagine they were going through the same experience. Sue Alexander explains this process about one of her characters: “Goblin talks to me in my head for a long time before I write anything down” (9). I, as a writer, have never experienced this, I just write. I thought only crazy people heard voices inside their heads, but as an author, I guess you really do need to hear and feel the emotions of the characters for them to be honest.
*I think all teachers should read this book and share some of these experiences with their students... I really think it is interesting what Blume has to say (and she was one of my favorite authors as a child): you cannot teach writing, they just need to write.
*So, for my class I have not been grading for punctuation and grammar, I have just told them what I enjoyed and they keep pumping out some awesome work! This is super effective, everyone should try it... and it is nice not to have your paper all marked up with things you need to fix. I just give them a sticker for working and that way I can keep track of participation really easily, too, and everyone loves stickers! =)
Bibliography:
Speaking of English 680 I read a really great book recently for this class called From Readers to Writers: The Pains and Pleasures of Writing, edited by M. Jerry Weiss. I will share some thoughts about what I really liked and what I plan to utilize from this text.
First off, this book interviewed over fifteen authors of children's books and asked them questions about their writing processes... this structure made it really quick and fun to read, it was like listening to a conversation in my head... which I do all the time =)
Here are some points that I hit on in my review:
- Sue Alexander is the first author mentioned in the book. Alexander discusses her writing experience and comments that “there’s a great deal of craft involved.” To follow this question Weiss asks “How did you learn [this craft]?” and Alexander responds, “Trial and error” (5).
-Weiss asks the question to Judy Blume that sums up the entire book: “What advice would you give to someone who would like to be a writer” (12)? She responds with the most honest answer: “I don’t think anyone can teach you to write. You write out of yourself. You write out of your own needs - write of what you know and what you care about” (12).
-Many authors are asked how they create such real characters in their books, and every author says they literally live inside the character’s heads. They feel what they feel and imagine they were going through the same experience. Sue Alexander explains this process about one of her characters: “Goblin talks to me in my head for a long time before I write anything down” (9). I, as a writer, have never experienced this, I just write. I thought only crazy people heard voices inside their heads, but as an author, I guess you really do need to hear and feel the emotions of the characters for them to be honest.
-Grammar, spelling, and punctuation should not be the main
focus, “you can do that later,” says Julia Cunningham (25). The main focus
should be the emotions that come through in your writing, which should come
naturally, it cannot be forced. Too often do teachers try to force students to
write perfect English, when in many books we ask students to read, perfect
English is absent… it can be a stream of consciousness, or written in dialect,
or dialogue, which is most definitely not grammatically correct.
*I think all teachers should read this book and share some of these experiences with their students... I really think it is interesting what Blume has to say (and she was one of my favorite authors as a child): you cannot teach writing, they just need to write.
*So, for my class I have not been grading for punctuation and grammar, I have just told them what I enjoyed and they keep pumping out some awesome work! This is super effective, everyone should try it... and it is nice not to have your paper all marked up with things you need to fix. I just give them a sticker for working and that way I can keep track of participation really easily, too, and everyone loves stickers! =)
Bibliography:
Weiss, Jerry ed. From Readers to Writers: the Pleasure and
Pains of Writing. Delaware: International
Reading Association, 1978. Print.
Tuesday, April 9, 2013
So much success
The
future depends on what we do in the present. - Mahatma Gandhi
I honestly am so mentally and physically drained that I have to remember that I cannot give up. I am so close to finishing this semester, but it has definetely been a test these last couple of weeks. Dealing with your life and teaching children is not an easy task. I now know the true meaning and importance of having a 'poker face.' You have to leave everything outside of the classroom and be there for the kids. They need you!
My freshmen are finally working efficiently without me constantly correcting them. I can give them more open ended assignments and get quality work. They are getting to know me... FINALLY! and they are working for quality not quantity, which is all they were worried about before. I have had to constantly remind them: I want to learn from you, and I want you to learn from each other. They think they are doing everything for a grade, I want them to do it for themself.
I created a writing assignment for the rest of my unit that will help these kids learn the importance of their own thoughts, and that they DO matter. It is hard to teach these kids what they need for school and for life at the same time... but I am managing to do it somehow. I have been wracking my brain and I have done pretty good so far... here is the hand out I gave to the students, just in case you are interested:
I honestly am so mentally and physically drained that I have to remember that I cannot give up. I am so close to finishing this semester, but it has definetely been a test these last couple of weeks. Dealing with your life and teaching children is not an easy task. I now know the true meaning and importance of having a 'poker face.' You have to leave everything outside of the classroom and be there for the kids. They need you!
My freshmen are finally working efficiently without me constantly correcting them. I can give them more open ended assignments and get quality work. They are getting to know me... FINALLY! and they are working for quality not quantity, which is all they were worried about before. I have had to constantly remind them: I want to learn from you, and I want you to learn from each other. They think they are doing everything for a grade, I want them to do it for themself.
I created a writing assignment for the rest of my unit that will help these kids learn the importance of their own thoughts, and that they DO matter. It is hard to teach these kids what they need for school and for life at the same time... but I am managing to do it somehow. I have been wracking my brain and I have done pretty good so far... here is the hand out I gave to the students, just in case you are interested:
Narrative: Write a narrative that contains the elements of a
story (setting, plot, character, conflict, & theme) Keep this paper with
your work. If you are absent one day you still must complete that task. Each day 10 points are for participation,
if you do not participate during class you cannot get credit. The other 10
points are for your ideas and collaboration.
4/9 Day 1: (20 points) Your job is to brainstorm a narrative and begin your first
draft, use the back of this sheet
for brainstorming. Come up with things that you are interested in. You can tell
a story about a dog, your brother, anything (keep it school appropriate!).
Tell a story that is exciting and interesting. Use specific
details and dialogue to engage your readers. Your audience is your classmates.
4/11 Day 2: (20 points)Finish your rough draft: include all elements of a story.
Read over it: start to re-arrange, check spelling and grammar. Ask yourself:
Does it make sense? Does it flow? Is it interesting? Would I want to read this
to my classmates (you WILL be sharing)?
4/15 Day 3: (20 points) Peer editing: Start with one person that you feel comfortable
sharing your work with. Read each other’s papers and give each other
compliments and some advice. Now, ask each other: Does it make sense? Does it flow? Is it
interesting? What did you learn? If you finish, ask another classmate.
Remember, they are your audience.
4/17 Day 4: (20 points) Published copy: Make your final decisions about your
narrative. What do you want to add, or take out? Is it organized? Does it
accomplish what I want it to? You must complete your final draft before the end
of class.
4/18 Day 5: (10 points) Group share: Your job is to listen to each other’s stories and
thank them for sharing.
I am using the feather circles technique to have the students share, which actually got the students more motivated to write. I am not quite sure why, but the fact that they have an audience to write for I think made a difference.
That's all I've got- my brain is dead!
Sunday, March 31, 2013
Let's Go Shockers!
Happy Easter everyone!
I just wanted to post some thoughts that I have had about this last week...
-My freshmen Class: This past week I have had a very successful week with my freshmen. I even got a student who never does anything to write a journal entry, and talk to me for the first time. Even other than this, I have been planning like crazy so that this class will be successul, I have to differentiate instruction for almost every student, but my hard work did pay off! They played traketball to study vocab and we did free writes instead of journal entries... and they loved it... and learned! Being a teacher is really rewarding! It just takes a lot of time to get where you want to be, or the students to be (at least for this class it has).
-My Sophomore Class: We are finished with our Harlem Renaissance unit and we are watching the Color Purple to sum it all up. They are working on their abstract art project and a found poem (I will post it to the wiki as soon as I get some free time) and I have never seen students so engaged in learning inside and outside of the classroom. I would go into more detail, but it is kind of hard to explain the project...
I will share my found poem (a poem using lines from the texts we read: Their Eyes Were Watching God and A Raisin in the Sun- and I used the movie we are watching as well). The goal for this is to encapsulate the entire theme and mood of the Harlem Renaissance in one poem, using at least 12 lines, using both texts.
*Observation: I was observed this week by my supervisor and she saw me introduce the abstract art piece of the project. She thought it was a really cool assignment, and the entire lesson went extremely well.
-Life: The turns it takes...
I have had a crazy week with planning, coaching, finishing my KPTP, and sooooo much more! I'm sure you have enough going on in your life, to want to read about mine =)
My emotions (and hormones) are running wild, but I have never felt so happy and stressed at the same time. I can see, and feel, the light at the end of the tunnel (cliche) and man it feels good. I cannot wait for this semester to be over with, but I don't want it to end at the same time... I take that back: I want to graduate, but I love the classes and the kids that I am teaching! It is amazing! I can't wait to get a job!
zzzzzz.... now it is my bed time! or I am claiming it is! Goodnight room, goodnight moon...
I just wanted to post some thoughts that I have had about this last week...
-My freshmen Class: This past week I have had a very successful week with my freshmen. I even got a student who never does anything to write a journal entry, and talk to me for the first time. Even other than this, I have been planning like crazy so that this class will be successul, I have to differentiate instruction for almost every student, but my hard work did pay off! They played traketball to study vocab and we did free writes instead of journal entries... and they loved it... and learned! Being a teacher is really rewarding! It just takes a lot of time to get where you want to be, or the students to be (at least for this class it has).
-My Sophomore Class: We are finished with our Harlem Renaissance unit and we are watching the Color Purple to sum it all up. They are working on their abstract art project and a found poem (I will post it to the wiki as soon as I get some free time) and I have never seen students so engaged in learning inside and outside of the classroom. I would go into more detail, but it is kind of hard to explain the project...
I will share my found poem (a poem using lines from the texts we read: Their Eyes Were Watching God and A Raisin in the Sun- and I used the movie we are watching as well). The goal for this is to encapsulate the entire theme and mood of the Harlem Renaissance in one poem, using at least 12 lines, using both texts.
*Observation: I was observed this week by my supervisor and she saw me introduce the abstract art piece of the project. She thought it was a really cool assignment, and the entire lesson went extremely well.
My Time
MY TIME- to say goodbye
Working like somebody’s old horse
You got to fight, see
Thinkin’ bout money all the time
You just got to do something’ different
Father, Give us strength
Take form with the sun and emerge from the gray dust of its making.
You’re black- poor- ugly- and a woman
But dear God, I’m here
Ambition was useless
Folks don’t like nobody bein’ too proud or too free.
Beat her!
Things suffered, things enjoyed, things done and undone
Just pack up and leave
-now, She was free
Hallelujah! AND GOODBYE MISERY!
-Life: The turns it takes...
I have had a crazy week with planning, coaching, finishing my KPTP, and sooooo much more! I'm sure you have enough going on in your life, to want to read about mine =)
My emotions (and hormones) are running wild, but I have never felt so happy and stressed at the same time. I can see, and feel, the light at the end of the tunnel (cliche) and man it feels good. I cannot wait for this semester to be over with, but I don't want it to end at the same time... I take that back: I want to graduate, but I love the classes and the kids that I am teaching! It is amazing! I can't wait to get a job!
zzzzzz.... now it is my bed time! or I am claiming it is! Goodnight room, goodnight moon...
Sunday, March 24, 2013
Now- we can breathe
This past week has been crazy. The KPTP has been intense. I am still not all the way finished... so, so close. I am a perfectionist and a procrastinator- and this is kicking my butt! Still, I am looking on the bright side and can see the light!
The halfway point to the semester has passed. We are almost there! It seems almost incredible that this time next year I will be in my own class...
Speaking of the future I have been thinking about what I want to teach. I have been brainstorming all sorts of cool lessons here lately and can't wait to create even more fun activities. There are some really awesome websites out there that teachers have created, and I found that there is always a way to adapt something, or get inspired from others work.
We as teachers, must continue to want to teach new and better things. It is what keeps our kids learning, and we must also continue learning, with our students...
I swear not to teach the same thing, or the same way year after year! (Harry Wong says something similar)
---A Website I would highly recommend for anyone to look at is scholastic.com
The ideas and fun activities are really a great way for a teacher to stay connected =)
The halfway point to the semester has passed. We are almost there! It seems almost incredible that this time next year I will be in my own class...
Speaking of the future I have been thinking about what I want to teach. I have been brainstorming all sorts of cool lessons here lately and can't wait to create even more fun activities. There are some really awesome websites out there that teachers have created, and I found that there is always a way to adapt something, or get inspired from others work.
We as teachers, must continue to want to teach new and better things. It is what keeps our kids learning, and we must also continue learning, with our students...
I swear not to teach the same thing, or the same way year after year! (Harry Wong says something similar)
---A Website I would highly recommend for anyone to look at is scholastic.com
The ideas and fun activities are really a great way for a teacher to stay connected =)
Sunday, March 10, 2013
Please God... Give Me Strength
"Courage is not the absence of fear... but the willingness to walk through it." (Anonymous)
This is the same quote my mother said to me on my first day of college. I found myself saying this to myself walking into the freshmen class this week.
I was not afraid of them, I was afraid of how they would react with what I was about to reveal to them...
my life.
I am having them work on a project analyzing 13 reasons why they have become the person they are today... trying to take a more positive outlook on the negative experiences and showing how they have made them stronger. To model what I expected from them, and to show how in depth I wanted them to go, I needed to tell them why I am who I am...
I went through things like being tortured by my brother- not literally =) and growing up with my addicted mother and my single father... and then I got to my grandma, who passed not quite a year ago, and who I was very close to. I had typed this whole presentation without any thought and was like... "YEA, I really like this"... but, when I got in front of the class, I realized how hard it truly was to talk about these experiences that I have gone through. (This is why they will not be presenting). I totally just started crying, not sobbing uncontrollably, but the tears were'a'flowin'. I just said "NEXT SLIDE" when I was finished, and finished my presentation. I did it! and I think they could understand me.
The students finished the class with such great success I was thrilled. It was a breath of fresh air seeing them engaged and thinking. I thought it would take longer than this to be at this level of concentration, but they wanted to learn... about me, about life, about themselves.
This lesson has shown me that teaching is so much more than academics. It is the stuff that is real for these kids that matters.
I have had to be very patient with these kids with enforcing routines and procedures within the classroom so that this level of growth is reachable. I used several things I have learned throughout college: a classroom contract, a silence signal, wait time, clearly displaying expectations for ALL activities, and soo much more. College can help prepare you, it just does not show you exactly how to utilize these tools, and I don't think it should, because it is different for every class.
This class has grown so much in the past two weeks, it is truly incredible. They are showing their true potential and rising to meet expectations. They are teaching me that you can do all that you want to with a class, you just have to create an environment in which this is possible.
This is the same quote my mother said to me on my first day of college. I found myself saying this to myself walking into the freshmen class this week.
I was not afraid of them, I was afraid of how they would react with what I was about to reveal to them...
my life.
I am having them work on a project analyzing 13 reasons why they have become the person they are today... trying to take a more positive outlook on the negative experiences and showing how they have made them stronger. To model what I expected from them, and to show how in depth I wanted them to go, I needed to tell them why I am who I am...
I went through things like being tortured by my brother- not literally =) and growing up with my addicted mother and my single father... and then I got to my grandma, who passed not quite a year ago, and who I was very close to. I had typed this whole presentation without any thought and was like... "YEA, I really like this"... but, when I got in front of the class, I realized how hard it truly was to talk about these experiences that I have gone through. (This is why they will not be presenting). I totally just started crying, not sobbing uncontrollably, but the tears were'a'flowin'. I just said "NEXT SLIDE" when I was finished, and finished my presentation. I did it! and I think they could understand me.
The students finished the class with such great success I was thrilled. It was a breath of fresh air seeing them engaged and thinking. I thought it would take longer than this to be at this level of concentration, but they wanted to learn... about me, about life, about themselves.
This lesson has shown me that teaching is so much more than academics. It is the stuff that is real for these kids that matters.
I have had to be very patient with these kids with enforcing routines and procedures within the classroom so that this level of growth is reachable. I used several things I have learned throughout college: a classroom contract, a silence signal, wait time, clearly displaying expectations for ALL activities, and soo much more. College can help prepare you, it just does not show you exactly how to utilize these tools, and I don't think it should, because it is different for every class.
This class has grown so much in the past two weeks, it is truly incredible. They are showing their true potential and rising to meet expectations. They are teaching me that you can do all that you want to with a class, you just have to create an environment in which this is possible.
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