I really needed that day off on Monday! In retrospect, I was really getting maxed and didn't notice. It is amazing what that day off did for my patience. Whew.
Something really interesting and good happened yesterday. I was in the mail room with the math department chairperson. I have been meaning to send her an email to complement her department's efforts to help the students remember their important formulae for the End-of-Course exams - construction paper posters posted around the building and "Math Woman" roving the buildings and stopping students to rewards them if they knew the answer to her question. When we walked out of the mail room, Dr. Gainey, the building principal, wanted to speak with her. But before I walked off and their their conversation began, the math department chair turned to me, in front of the principal mind you, and said that she suggested her student teacher come and observe me teaching my class! Ha! That's right. The math department chair, whom the principal highly respects, thought that her student teacher would benefit from seeing me in action AND the principal was their to hear it! It doesn't get much better than that as far as timely complements go, especially after the debacle towards the end of last semester being called out on the carpet by the principal.
It seems that my tool for enforcing behavior in my Civics and Economics class is working. The students are being more respectful of each other and more mindful of what they say and when they say it. The tool is simple. No it isn't a paddle, it is a self-evaluation of Character Education. Wake County Schools emphasizes character education from Kindergarten all the way through high school. By the time the students reach 10th grade, they should be well aware of the character traits emphasized by WCPSS - courage, respect, perseverance, good judgement, honesty, integrity, kindness, responsibility, and self-discipline. At the end of each period they simply write down a number (0-4) and score themselves based on the criteria outlined on their "daily sheet." I go over each student's sheet, adjust their grades if necessary, and distribute the sheets the next day. Not only is this 10% of the student's grade for the course, but it is also evidence of student conduct in the classroom to be used during a parent conference, if necessary. I came up with the idea about 10 years ago and now I use it only in classes that need the extra motivation to cooperate. I adapted a similar tool used in foreign language classes that the teachers there use to have students evaluate themselves on their use of the foreign language in the class. And now, several teacher use this "Character Education" model to enforce rules in their classes - it seems every once in a while I have a good idea.
Thursday, December 13, 2007
Tuesday, December 11, 2007
December 11, 2007
It is testing time. That is, time for the students to test me. And in return I will test them. I do not mean a formal exam, multiple choice, matching, but testing each other to see what we will do. Since I took a "mental health" day yesterday, I left work for the classes to complete in my absence. This is usually not a problem, especially for an honors class, of which I have two. So decided today to check to make sure they completed the work I left for them. I gave them a "homework quiz." This is a simple technique to determine who completed their work or homework (in my class, any work not completed in class is to be completed for homework unless otherwise instrtucted). Such a quiz is generally simple for the students who did their work. Two questions, one directly from the worksheet such as "What is the answer to question #5?" and a second question which required the students to have read the section(s) in the text book. Two questions, easy to grade and easy for the student who did their work. Their test of me was the simple question, "Were we supposed to finish it for homework? Nobody told us to." Would I give in? Would I simply concede that it had not been specifically stated the day before? No. If I do, then the students will make that the status quo and would require me to remind them every time that a classwork should be completed for homework. No better motivator for a honors student than a poor quiz grade.
This evening, after dinner, we sat around the table and made Christmas ornaments as per Evan's suggestion. It was definitely better than sitting in the office doing school work, playing video games, or watching TV. It was really nice to do something together, all too often we forget and take each other for granted. Last week Evan and I bought a gingerbread house kit, we are planning to build it this weekend.
This evening, after dinner, we sat around the table and made Christmas ornaments as per Evan's suggestion. It was definitely better than sitting in the office doing school work, playing video games, or watching TV. It was really nice to do something together, all too often we forget and take each other for granted. Last week Evan and I bought a gingerbread house kit, we are planning to build it this weekend.
Monday, December 10, 2007
December 10, 2007
Let's see if I can get back on a roll. It is that time of year, Christmas is in the air, 24/7 Christmas music on half the radio stations, crowded malls and parking lots, traffic galore, and it is going to be 80 degrees this week. Nothing quite like it! And the good news, businesses are trying to get that holiday spirit to last longer and longer each year by pushing up the date of the "holiday shopping" season. Soon, we will be Christmas shopping in 90+ degree heat on our way back from the pool with songs wanting to "Let It Snow, Let It Snow, Let It Snow." And if they are successful, we will enjoy the throngs of shoppers and tangles of traffic for 3 or 4 months out of the year. How exciting!
On the other hand, I guess I should consider myself pretty lucky that it is going to be so warm this week considering our heat doesn't work. It doesn't seem likely that it will be repaired but will have to be replaceed. The unit it so old that any label with a date, serial number, or part number is totally blank. The first repairman says the unit is about 18 years old (guessing it was from 1989) while the second estimates it to be about 22 years old. Either way, it is well past it's life expectancy. The problem will be convincing the home warranty company that it cannot be repaired because they will not be able to find a replacement part without a part number. These warranty companies and the local companies they contract the work out to are trying to cut their costs. In fact the local company will make less if they accept a contract from these warranty companies. As a result, they will want to get the job done it in the quickest and easiest way possible.
Speaking of that time of year, it is that time of the semester. The "honeymoon" period is definitely over inthe classrooom. Teachers have to now resort to their "bag o' tricks" in order to get the students on task and to keep them motivated to learn - which is not all that easy when you consider that the teachers are usually not all that motivated at this point either. I guess that is why I took a "mental health" day today! It becomes a downward spiral. The students, being teenagers, act as anybody can expect them too, as teenagers, their interests lying outside of the classroom. When the teacher must "fight" to keep the students working and paying attention and completing their homework, the teacher begins to feel like they are putting in more effort than the students and will want to cut back. This is usually accompanied with a lack of enthusiasm on the teacher's part which is easily noticed by the studnets who will like show a further lack of interest, and so on, and so on. Two things make this a little better: 1) the holiday spirit makes it easier to tolerate each other; 2) the semester is almost over, only about 20 days of instruction left with this group of students (or 20 days left with these teachers!) making the end in sight! Any way you slice it, the upcoming weeks are always interesting and challenging in the classroom.
On the other hand, I guess I should consider myself pretty lucky that it is going to be so warm this week considering our heat doesn't work. It doesn't seem likely that it will be repaired but will have to be replaceed. The unit it so old that any label with a date, serial number, or part number is totally blank. The first repairman says the unit is about 18 years old (guessing it was from 1989) while the second estimates it to be about 22 years old. Either way, it is well past it's life expectancy. The problem will be convincing the home warranty company that it cannot be repaired because they will not be able to find a replacement part without a part number. These warranty companies and the local companies they contract the work out to are trying to cut their costs. In fact the local company will make less if they accept a contract from these warranty companies. As a result, they will want to get the job done it in the quickest and easiest way possible.
Speaking of that time of year, it is that time of the semester. The "honeymoon" period is definitely over inthe classrooom. Teachers have to now resort to their "bag o' tricks" in order to get the students on task and to keep them motivated to learn - which is not all that easy when you consider that the teachers are usually not all that motivated at this point either. I guess that is why I took a "mental health" day today! It becomes a downward spiral. The students, being teenagers, act as anybody can expect them too, as teenagers, their interests lying outside of the classroom. When the teacher must "fight" to keep the students working and paying attention and completing their homework, the teacher begins to feel like they are putting in more effort than the students and will want to cut back. This is usually accompanied with a lack of enthusiasm on the teacher's part which is easily noticed by the studnets who will like show a further lack of interest, and so on, and so on. Two things make this a little better: 1) the holiday spirit makes it easier to tolerate each other; 2) the semester is almost over, only about 20 days of instruction left with this group of students (or 20 days left with these teachers!) making the end in sight! Any way you slice it, the upcoming weeks are always interesting and challenging in the classroom.
Wednesday, November 28, 2007
November 28, 2007
Not much to say, this song pretty much says it all.
"The Christmas Shoes" by Newsong
"The Christmas Shoes" by Newsong
Thursday, November 22, 2007
November 22, 2007
A feast: turkey, and/or ham, stuffing, cranberry sauce, sweet potato pie, green bean casserole. A spread fit for a king. All day spent cooking and all evening spent eating. Aren't we fortunate to be able to eat this way with our family? All that food and time, how special is that? Of course it is very special. And what many of us forget is that there are some families that save money to provide a modest feast on Thanksgiving, while others could afford to eat that way once a week or more. On this Thanksgiving, what I am thankful for is all that I have. So much that I take for granted, including my health and family and modest home. All are more than many can afford.
For example, Christmas is a huge holiday. We buy gifts for each other and exchange them on or around Christmas day. But all the while we buy ourselves some of the many things we want along the way: clothes, games, toys, tools, etc. What we forget is that there are many people who must save up for these purchases to give on Christmas, without much left over to give or buy at times in between. The tell tale sign at school are coats. Come Thanksgiving time, some students have been wearing the same coat all year (save the warm months), and by now, they smell dirty. After New Years', these students come back to school with new coats that do not smell. The coat as a Christmas gift. Money saved to give a new present of a coat. We are fortunate, if I need a new coat, I buy it, be it October, November, February. I would feel jipped if I got a coat for Christmas.
Think it over. What do you have? What do you take for granted? What do others' have or need?
Be thankful.
For example, Christmas is a huge holiday. We buy gifts for each other and exchange them on or around Christmas day. But all the while we buy ourselves some of the many things we want along the way: clothes, games, toys, tools, etc. What we forget is that there are many people who must save up for these purchases to give on Christmas, without much left over to give or buy at times in between. The tell tale sign at school are coats. Come Thanksgiving time, some students have been wearing the same coat all year (save the warm months), and by now, they smell dirty. After New Years', these students come back to school with new coats that do not smell. The coat as a Christmas gift. Money saved to give a new present of a coat. We are fortunate, if I need a new coat, I buy it, be it October, November, February. I would feel jipped if I got a coat for Christmas.
Think it over. What do you have? What do you take for granted? What do others' have or need?
Be thankful.
Wednesday, November 21, 2007
November 21, 2007
At least we know there won't be a clean sweep, the New England Revolution lost the MLS championship this past weekend and it doesn't look good for the Boston College Eagles to play in the college championship after losing two straight games. The best Bostonians can hope for now is to sweep the remaining pro sport championships. The Boston Red Sox have already won the World Series, the New England Patriots look unbeatable and en route to winning the Super Bowl (unfortunately), the Boston Red Sox are off to a hot start (9-1) giving them a great chance in the NBA, and in the NHL since more than half the teams make the playoffs, there is no telling how far the Boston Bruins can go (they are currently 7th in the Eastern Conference). In the past, I used to think of New England, especially Boston, as being rich in history, a quaint region with considerable influence, having a passionate dedication to their sports teams. Now, I hate them. I hate the New England Patriots. I don't mind that they "run up the score" I just hate hearing "will they go 19-0?" or "just how good is the golden boy, Tom Brady?" Ugh, I feel nauseous just thinking about it. I used to like the Boston Red Sox as a legitimate rival to the New York Yankees (whom I hate as much as Osama bin Laden and George W. Bush), but now, I am sick of them too - Big Papi, Manny, Schilling and his bloody sock, blah blah blah, . Enough already, I am now sick of New England and Boston and their sports teams.
November 20, 2007
There I was, my size 8.5 Nikes touching the invisible line - the point of no return, literally. One more step and I would again have to subject myself to violation, made to strip in order to go any further. For some reason, an invisible energy forbade me from taking another step. I looked to my right, and there, sitting on a stool behind a lectern-like security station was the burgundy and black clad TSA agent. My confused look seemed to have provided a certain degree of amusement to her, after all, she has been made to sit and monitor exiting passengers for hours at a time. I imagine I was just the remedy for her monotony.
"Excuse me," I begin, "if I go out this way to get to gate 26, will I have to come back through security?"
Her response, "It depends," meant one of two things, either I was her comic relief for the hour, or I was about to hear a deep philosophical explanation on our existence and what it means to "pass through." I was relieved to discover it was the former when she directed me to the gate that provides a shuttle service to the next concourse. On the shuttle I smiled at my good fortune to not have to be subject to a near disrobing in order to get to my connecting flight.
To accommodate a gate change, an hour later I was back on the shuttle bound for the original concourse, this time without my smile.
"Excuse me," I begin, "if I go out this way to get to gate 26, will I have to come back through security?"
Her response, "It depends," meant one of two things, either I was her comic relief for the hour, or I was about to hear a deep philosophical explanation on our existence and what it means to "pass through." I was relieved to discover it was the former when she directed me to the gate that provides a shuttle service to the next concourse. On the shuttle I smiled at my good fortune to not have to be subject to a near disrobing in order to get to my connecting flight.
To accommodate a gate change, an hour later I was back on the shuttle bound for the original concourse, this time without my smile.
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