Friday I rolled in behind a teacher friend. Literally. She let the door nearly hit me as I rode up. Didn't hear me coasting on my bike. On the way down the hall she mentioned that I must really be in shape with all the biking. Only when I got to my classroom did my radar go off. So I went back to her classroom (she was on my team the last 2 years, and we are decently close friends) and said to her "you sly fox, I realized what you did." She looked a little nervous so I explained - "when you asked about me being in shape, you hung back a little, and you were checking out my ass." She laughed and admitted she was checking out my calves. But still, a nice ego boost on a lazy Friday.
The day itself was uneventful. Test administered, handwritten progress reports issued. Test graded (most kids did really well, and I graded it gently). On the ride home, however, another ego boost (ok, not really). The final intersection I rode past about 3 cars in line, knowing I was going straight to a basically dead end street. My bike was still in a high gear, so to get going, I had to stand up in the saddle. And as I get to the other side, a pickup truck makes the left behind me and one of the contractors yelled something about "hey sexy"...so anyhow.
Signed up for Netflix this morning. Got a 30 day free trial, and so now I am watching some free online stuff. Dexter, Season 1. Almost bought it, then skipped it, and never watched it rerun on CBS. First episode was really interesting and a little creepy. Already ordered Season 1 of Supernatural (oldest daughter wants to watch it, too) followed by Torchwood. Just 1 disk at a time, but we wouldn't need more than that, anyhow.
Was out in Trenton today, for nephew's birthday (17, a year ahead of oldest, but they are in the same grade). His stepdad is a real Texan...got up at 4am to start smoking the dinner...we had brisket, pulled pork shoulder, ribs, chicken....a real meat faucet. And I plan to smoke my own brisket tomorrow, even though I don't know how many, if any, family members might wander by.
Sunday, August 31, 2008
Thursday, August 28, 2008
Sights along the way
Today was a non-day at school, nothing much of interest happened. Which is actually a good thing, since tomorrow all hell might break loose. Friday before a 3 day weekend. Progress reports going home, and a Pep Rally that has been touted all week will be announced to have been canceled (and lucky me, I get to be in charge of refunding $3 to all the students on my team who paid already).
Instead I think I will relate some crazy but typically Memphis things I get to see while driving. No, not the idiots or maniacs who drive, but the unusual. The non-emergency medical van label "Ray's Transpotation". The guy next to me in the turn lane today who had a nose that looked remarkably like a penis - I think he might have had some sort of medical condition. The woman who talked constantly on her cell phone while her two boys in the back seat (neither properly restrained) leaned out to the waist, then started tossing small papers and things from the windows on both sides, while she remained oblivious. Can't say I have seen any bumper stickers that have given me a chuckle...not much new under the sun on that front. Too many variations on the Jesus Fish, though...mucho tired of that.
One nice side effect of my exercise and increased metabolism...I don't feel the need to eat as much, or eat many sweets. Lots of water is very satisfying. Small snacks here and there, especially fruit. It is like my subconscious is getting my appetite in line.
Instead I think I will relate some crazy but typically Memphis things I get to see while driving. No, not the idiots or maniacs who drive, but the unusual. The non-emergency medical van label "Ray's Transpotation". The guy next to me in the turn lane today who had a nose that looked remarkably like a penis - I think he might have had some sort of medical condition. The woman who talked constantly on her cell phone while her two boys in the back seat (neither properly restrained) leaned out to the waist, then started tossing small papers and things from the windows on both sides, while she remained oblivious. Can't say I have seen any bumper stickers that have given me a chuckle...not much new under the sun on that front. Too many variations on the Jesus Fish, though...mucho tired of that.
One nice side effect of my exercise and increased metabolism...I don't feel the need to eat as much, or eat many sweets. Lots of water is very satisfying. Small snacks here and there, especially fruit. It is like my subconscious is getting my appetite in line.
Wednesday, August 27, 2008
Open House Mania
What a long day. Open house at the middle school - actually kind of fun. Had about 20 students and their parents visit my room. I was upbeat, shared (briefly) grade info with some parents, but mostly showed them my weebly page and told them about what we had been doing, how 7th grade is more hands-on, etc.
Then off to my youngest's open house at the elementary school. So I got to hear the opposite side, except en masse instead of parents trickling in over the course of 90 minutes. At least it was over in about 20 minutes. No real surprises, after having at least one of these for the last 6 years annually.
School is still upbeat. Teams are working really well together, and it is showing. Everybody is commenting (and being sincere about it) that this is the best start to a school year we have ever had. And that feeling is driving us to work harder to keep it that way. I stayed at school between dismissal and the beginning of the open house to get caught up on grading, and put batteries (4 AAA per) into 33 calculators. Nice suitcase full of TI-83s, plus I have a nifty transparent one to put on the overhead to show the kids how to use it. Maybe I will do some graphing with it, later. Also might be useful to teach the kids NOT to rely on a calculator, because if you screw up the order of operations, the calculator won't know what you meant to do.
Then off to my youngest's open house at the elementary school. So I got to hear the opposite side, except en masse instead of parents trickling in over the course of 90 minutes. At least it was over in about 20 minutes. No real surprises, after having at least one of these for the last 6 years annually.
School is still upbeat. Teams are working really well together, and it is showing. Everybody is commenting (and being sincere about it) that this is the best start to a school year we have ever had. And that feeling is driving us to work harder to keep it that way. I stayed at school between dismissal and the beginning of the open house to get caught up on grading, and put batteries (4 AAA per) into 33 calculators. Nice suitcase full of TI-83s, plus I have a nifty transparent one to put on the overhead to show the kids how to use it. Maybe I will do some graphing with it, later. Also might be useful to teach the kids NOT to rely on a calculator, because if you screw up the order of operations, the calculator won't know what you meant to do.
Tuesday, August 26, 2008
Why me?
Another smooth-ish day, although some things kept me from getting everything done that I wanted, and much of that list was work that shouldn't have been heaped on me in the first place. Got tapped for traffic duty - we are trying to get the parents/relatives who pick up students to allow a lane for those who have already picked up to leave. So far, so good...today we got the place cleared in 15 minutes. Still, we had to be out there 45 minutes before dismissal...45 minutes of my planning period lost. Which means I am behind in entering attendance into the system for the first two weeks of the school year. Never mind we had to submit daily written logs of who showed up for every period, and they kept changing kids around (and my homeroom was the overflow/temporary assignment), now we have to put that into the computer. My impression, obviously wrong, was that the attendance secretary would put all that in as she took our logs. Nope.
Also, we were told we were dropping our old online communication for Teacher-Eaze (sp?), which means we put in grades weekly and parents can see them faster. This system will also allow us to generate progress reports. Guess what. The system is not set up yet. But, we are required to issue progress reports for every student (120 or so) by Friday. The old fashioned way, without benefit of a weighted average program, with minimal grades (since the first week was impossible to take grades, with the churn of students), and hand writing them on a form I just created for my team.
And trying to put painters tape around the perimeter of 32 one-square-foot tiles of dry-erase board. Got half of them before I decided to leave. At which point I discovered my back tire (the new one) was flat. Not just low, but flat. It was fine inbound, and odd that it could deflate that much over the course of a day. Yes, suspicions surfaced about my students, especially the ones who laughed after asking me what type of bike I had, after a period of my being in the hall trying to understand why two of my female students should have arrived at my class with the rest of them, but were 10 minutes later. The tube showed no leaks, but on the safe side I replaced it.
Biking, I have now retired (mostly) the fifth gear, and get by with just the top two. Only exception is at the beginning of each transit, especially in the morning when it takes me a bit to get the leg muscles warmed up. Weight-wise, the lying scale seems to be consistent over the past 3 weeks. Not losing, but not gaining either. Which means I am losing fat as my legs become like mighty oaks once again, since muscle weighs more than fat.
Also, we were told we were dropping our old online communication for Teacher-Eaze (sp?), which means we put in grades weekly and parents can see them faster. This system will also allow us to generate progress reports. Guess what. The system is not set up yet. But, we are required to issue progress reports for every student (120 or so) by Friday. The old fashioned way, without benefit of a weighted average program, with minimal grades (since the first week was impossible to take grades, with the churn of students), and hand writing them on a form I just created for my team.
And trying to put painters tape around the perimeter of 32 one-square-foot tiles of dry-erase board. Got half of them before I decided to leave. At which point I discovered my back tire (the new one) was flat. Not just low, but flat. It was fine inbound, and odd that it could deflate that much over the course of a day. Yes, suspicions surfaced about my students, especially the ones who laughed after asking me what type of bike I had, after a period of my being in the hall trying to understand why two of my female students should have arrived at my class with the rest of them, but were 10 minutes later. The tube showed no leaks, but on the safe side I replaced it.
Biking, I have now retired (mostly) the fifth gear, and get by with just the top two. Only exception is at the beginning of each transit, especially in the morning when it takes me a bit to get the leg muscles warmed up. Weight-wise, the lying scale seems to be consistent over the past 3 weeks. Not losing, but not gaining either. Which means I am losing fat as my legs become like mighty oaks once again, since muscle weighs more than fat.
Monday, August 25, 2008
Wet
Coming out of school today, sprinkling. No biggie. But within a mile it was a downpour that clouded my sunglasses (yes, there was enough sun to need them) and threatened to flood my left contact lens out of my eye. Then the cool/cold rain stopped and the steam began to rise from the pavement. yuck. Plus the road grime that my tires kicked up into my face and up the back of me. Laundry time!
Counting down to a long weekend/short week combination. Still trying to focus on the positives (spinning quiz scores as "what you did right" instead of focusing on wrong answers), throwing in mini-lessons as time allows, and starting to formulate strategies on how to help students who were below proficient on the TCAP last year. Goal, set by the administration, is to reduce those numbers by 50%. Since I only had 8 last year....but none of those translated to 7th with me. I need to find out so I can target them.
Counting down to a long weekend/short week combination. Still trying to focus on the positives (spinning quiz scores as "what you did right" instead of focusing on wrong answers), throwing in mini-lessons as time allows, and starting to formulate strategies on how to help students who were below proficient on the TCAP last year. Goal, set by the administration, is to reduce those numbers by 50%. Since I only had 8 last year....but none of those translated to 7th with me. I need to find out so I can target them.
Sunday, August 24, 2008
Another week
It ended in flames, sort of, and the next one looks to be a challenge to find some hands-on stuff for the kids to do that relate to the lessons, although I might have that locked down.
I have quite a few students I taught last year. More than the 30% you would expect from just random classroom placement. One of the kids was just terribly spoiled, immature, disrespectful and disruptive. His mother ignored all four teachers' comments on his behavior, focusing only on his grades. When those started to slip, she took some notice, only because she plans for him to go to private high school, again ignoring the fact that if her son can't even control himself enough to be allowed to practice a sport, he isn't going to get past admissions.
I have him again. And in the first two weeks, he has made an impression on every one of his new teachers - the same impression he made last year. On Friday we got called into a meeting with his mental health caseworker. Seems that mid-June, right around the time his mother called me in the middle of a class at University (to, coincidentally ask me for more indications he might be ADHD), she submitted him for mental health services. She ignored teachers for 10 months, but 2 weeks of having him full time and she throws in the towel. Anyhow, on Friday the mom had sent the caseworker in to find out what was going on, as the boy tends to fabricate stories of what happens in school (with himself as the victim) and his mother believes him no matter how farfetched. We spent an hour talking with her, and him, as he got progressively more defiant and angry. Good that she got to see how he acts, regardless of who is around.
I don't think we are going to see any progress, because the mother isn't behind what we are trying to do, she just wants to delegate it, but not help, either with emotional support, or withholding the spoiling she is doing.
Keep having all sorts of anxiety dreams lately, too. Most are school related, but others have involved planning a dinner party and other strange things. Maybe having had three weather related days that kept me from riding my bike. Curse you Fay.
I have quite a few students I taught last year. More than the 30% you would expect from just random classroom placement. One of the kids was just terribly spoiled, immature, disrespectful and disruptive. His mother ignored all four teachers' comments on his behavior, focusing only on his grades. When those started to slip, she took some notice, only because she plans for him to go to private high school, again ignoring the fact that if her son can't even control himself enough to be allowed to practice a sport, he isn't going to get past admissions.
I have him again. And in the first two weeks, he has made an impression on every one of his new teachers - the same impression he made last year. On Friday we got called into a meeting with his mental health caseworker. Seems that mid-June, right around the time his mother called me in the middle of a class at University (to, coincidentally ask me for more indications he might be ADHD), she submitted him for mental health services. She ignored teachers for 10 months, but 2 weeks of having him full time and she throws in the towel. Anyhow, on Friday the mom had sent the caseworker in to find out what was going on, as the boy tends to fabricate stories of what happens in school (with himself as the victim) and his mother believes him no matter how farfetched. We spent an hour talking with her, and him, as he got progressively more defiant and angry. Good that she got to see how he acts, regardless of who is around.
I don't think we are going to see any progress, because the mother isn't behind what we are trying to do, she just wants to delegate it, but not help, either with emotional support, or withholding the spoiling she is doing.
Keep having all sorts of anxiety dreams lately, too. Most are school related, but others have involved planning a dinner party and other strange things. Maybe having had three weather related days that kept me from riding my bike. Curse you Fay.
Thursday, August 21, 2008
Uplifting Day
Strangely enough, the best part was our team meeting. We shared and talked and supported each other in order to keep stability in our classes. Everybody gave and took and shared...very different than other years. Everybody is also a "one"...I am the one white, we have one woman, one person new to the school...hell, the fourth person doesn't fit, but anyhow.
Spent time discussing different students, who needs interventions, who is acting out for attention, etc. Really acting as a team, and it makes me very optimistic.
Did a lot of presenting Guided Practice from the textbook website, something I like to do once a week. The kids show what they know to each other, and they see the answers and even learn the concepts from playing with the questions and answers. At once point I looked up to see an Asst. Principal and somebody else (could have been an inspector from the board *shrug*)...hopefully they were impressed with the use of technology and the guiding questions I was asking.
Oldest daughter woke up sick this morning. Just fed her some rice from dinner. Looks like she will make it to school tomorrow (she had been talking about going to see Casablanca downtown tomorrow night with a friend...not sure if that is still on). And I got to pick up her carpool as normal on Thursday. Routines begin again. I think our classes have finally leveled out and we can start getting down to business.
Spent time discussing different students, who needs interventions, who is acting out for attention, etc. Really acting as a team, and it makes me very optimistic.
Did a lot of presenting Guided Practice from the textbook website, something I like to do once a week. The kids show what they know to each other, and they see the answers and even learn the concepts from playing with the questions and answers. At once point I looked up to see an Asst. Principal and somebody else (could have been an inspector from the board *shrug*)...hopefully they were impressed with the use of technology and the guiding questions I was asking.
Oldest daughter woke up sick this morning. Just fed her some rice from dinner. Looks like she will make it to school tomorrow (she had been talking about going to see Casablanca downtown tomorrow night with a friend...not sure if that is still on). And I got to pick up her carpool as normal on Thursday. Routines begin again. I think our classes have finally leveled out and we can start getting down to business.
Wednesday, August 20, 2008
Rainy Day
Woke up and it was raining, with 70% chance of heavy rains and thunderstorms, so kept the bike in the shop. Gave me a little extra time and energy which didn't really translate to teaching, but everybody has a day where they just don't feel on top of their game.
Oldest complained of not feeling well this morning, and tonight after dinner time informed me she had just thrown up. Probably no school tomorrow, but I am still on the hook for carpool - another "excuse" to not ride. Good to have a day off now and again to rest and recover. Metabolism seems to still be up, though.
Beyond that...watching "Primevel" on BBCAmerica on Demand, since we don't get the regular feed as part of our package (although the wife is considering dropping the daily newspaper, keeping Sunday, and using the savings to upgrade to a premium package, so we would get all that good stuff). Kind of fun. Read a motivational book as part of the requirements to be a 'team leader' at school. Got to hit a library for the 2nd book in the Twilight series - school library didn't have it, but my art teacher friend does, I think. She is so far behind on books, she probably hasn't opened it.
Oldest complained of not feeling well this morning, and tonight after dinner time informed me she had just thrown up. Probably no school tomorrow, but I am still on the hook for carpool - another "excuse" to not ride. Good to have a day off now and again to rest and recover. Metabolism seems to still be up, though.
Beyond that...watching "Primevel" on BBCAmerica on Demand, since we don't get the regular feed as part of our package (although the wife is considering dropping the daily newspaper, keeping Sunday, and using the savings to upgrade to a premium package, so we would get all that good stuff). Kind of fun. Read a motivational book as part of the requirements to be a 'team leader' at school. Got to hit a library for the 2nd book in the Twilight series - school library didn't have it, but my art teacher friend does, I think. She is so far behind on books, she probably hasn't opened it.
Tuesday, August 19, 2008
Dangerous Roads
But I lived. Stupid soccer mom on the cell phone. I got to the intersection at the yellow, so waited my turn to cross the road with my green. Light turns green and the car in the intersection makes its left, across my path. I start going, since it takes a bit to work up speed and the light is a short one. Well, the woman in the SUV, stopped at the red, decides this is a good time to be second through the red, and turns directly in my path. I yelled JESUS LADY and hit the brakes...BOTH of them. First time I have been on one tire, not so much fun that it was the front one. Bike heeled over and the woman just kept going, probably never saw me.
Aside from that, getting mucho stronger on the bike. Was really tired going over the interstate, then went to put it in a higher gear and realized I had taken the hill in the highest gear...yay me. And once I got home, I took a nice walk to the post office rather than cool down. Eating lots of freestone peaches, too. yum
School is settling down, but things are still kind of un-level. My homeroom has 27, another has 32, the honors is steady at 26 (but really should have one moved from the 32 room...she was straight A student last year), and the last room has 23. Go figure. The biggest and smallest are the worst at different times, including one young lady who was so insolent last year her mother cried in a meeting with us.
Aside from that, getting mucho stronger on the bike. Was really tired going over the interstate, then went to put it in a higher gear and realized I had taken the hill in the highest gear...yay me. And once I got home, I took a nice walk to the post office rather than cool down. Eating lots of freestone peaches, too. yum
School is settling down, but things are still kind of un-level. My homeroom has 27, another has 32, the honors is steady at 26 (but really should have one moved from the 32 room...she was straight A student last year), and the last room has 23. Go figure. The biggest and smallest are the worst at different times, including one young lady who was so insolent last year her mother cried in a meeting with us.
Monday, August 18, 2008
Hello, Monday
Routine being established. Had a surprisingly good day with all my sections, although the Honors class still tends to be the least respectful and most talkative and disruptive, both in class in during transitions to other classrooms and lunches. Looks like we will have to make an example of some of them soon.
I think we will finally distribute textbooks tomorrow - I got an extra 10 from storage to make sure I don't have to give out any wrecked copies (missing spines, etc.). The kids seem to like the idea of composition books - they are selling briskly.
Commuting is getting faster and easier, and I am staying in the top gears more often. No, it doesn't go to 11, but with 7 as the top gear (and the major drive gear at 3, the max), I have been doing the whole ride on 6, with some downhills at 7, and the top parts of some uphills at 5 briefly. Hard to stop at an intersection on a hill and not start back up at a lower gear, even standing on the pedals.
Scale seems to agree with a week ago...go figure. Clothes are a little looser, though. Got to keep reminding myself that the soreness from my waistband is mainly due to wearing 3 layers (briefs, bike shorts, khakis) beneath my belt.
Wife leaves for Chicago tomorrow. Stitches convention, an annual event. I will be on my own, herding the girls through their first week of school this year. Youngest wants a 2-friend sleepover on Friday night...I am already tired thinking of this week. At least Thursdays will be a small relief, as I have to pick up carpool and won't be biking.
I think we will finally distribute textbooks tomorrow - I got an extra 10 from storage to make sure I don't have to give out any wrecked copies (missing spines, etc.). The kids seem to like the idea of composition books - they are selling briskly.
Commuting is getting faster and easier, and I am staying in the top gears more often. No, it doesn't go to 11, but with 7 as the top gear (and the major drive gear at 3, the max), I have been doing the whole ride on 6, with some downhills at 7, and the top parts of some uphills at 5 briefly. Hard to stop at an intersection on a hill and not start back up at a lower gear, even standing on the pedals.
Scale seems to agree with a week ago...go figure. Clothes are a little looser, though. Got to keep reminding myself that the soreness from my waistband is mainly due to wearing 3 layers (briefs, bike shorts, khakis) beneath my belt.
Wife leaves for Chicago tomorrow. Stitches convention, an annual event. I will be on my own, herding the girls through their first week of school this year. Youngest wants a 2-friend sleepover on Friday night...I am already tired thinking of this week. At least Thursdays will be a small relief, as I have to pick up carpool and won't be biking.
Sunday, August 17, 2008
A Wedding
My niece, who I have watched grow up, not from birth, but definitely from toddler stage, got married yesterday. Nice little ceremony, not too fancy. Both girls were attendants and were very honored and pleased to be part of it. The cycle is beginning again, with another generation maturing and going off to their new lives. My oldest's cousin, the younger brother of my niece, is in the same grade as my oldest...the race is on.
The night after the wedding everybody went to a local bar for karaoke. Intimidating enough, as I don't sing, and I don't really drink any more (lots of diet soda which interacts nicely with endorphins), but more so when you realize that the groom and his family are all hugely talented singers, as is my niece, who is attending college on vocal scholarships. The groom, his dad, two of his groomsmen and about 8 other friends sang an amazing Ave Maria at the start of the wedding.
Being the crazy person I am, though, I distributed books of songs (and this guy had TONS of songs...three ring binders with dozens of pages) and song slips to everybody, hoping that some not so good singers would go...because the groom and his brother were hammering harmonies and real "singing" songs. I think I was the first non-singer to go...but I cheated because I picked a song that doesn't need to be sung. Cake - Short Skirt, Long Jacket. I had been singing it in the car for weeks, so I was hugely amazed to find it in the list. Then I pushed a bunch on stage for an "everybody" song...Why don't we get drunk (and screw) by Jimmy Buffet. Later everybody got up to do Bohemian Rhapsody. It didn't hurt that we were about the only people in the bar (there were about 20 of us) until 11pm.
While grocery shopping today, I realized that we currently are expected to do things for ourselves that used to be an actual paid job for somebody. Pumping gas, banking, bagging groceries. But it doesn't seem that I save any money doing this...
The night after the wedding everybody went to a local bar for karaoke. Intimidating enough, as I don't sing, and I don't really drink any more (lots of diet soda which interacts nicely with endorphins), but more so when you realize that the groom and his family are all hugely talented singers, as is my niece, who is attending college on vocal scholarships. The groom, his dad, two of his groomsmen and about 8 other friends sang an amazing Ave Maria at the start of the wedding.
Being the crazy person I am, though, I distributed books of songs (and this guy had TONS of songs...three ring binders with dozens of pages) and song slips to everybody, hoping that some not so good singers would go...because the groom and his brother were hammering harmonies and real "singing" songs. I think I was the first non-singer to go...but I cheated because I picked a song that doesn't need to be sung. Cake - Short Skirt, Long Jacket. I had been singing it in the car for weeks, so I was hugely amazed to find it in the list. Then I pushed a bunch on stage for an "everybody" song...Why don't we get drunk (and screw) by Jimmy Buffet. Later everybody got up to do Bohemian Rhapsody. It didn't hurt that we were about the only people in the bar (there were about 20 of us) until 11pm.
While grocery shopping today, I realized that we currently are expected to do things for ourselves that used to be an actual paid job for somebody. Pumping gas, banking, bagging groceries. But it doesn't seem that I save any money doing this...
Friday, August 15, 2008
1/36 finished
Week one is over. I feel victorious.
Leveling of the population of homerooms has begun, or finished, depending on who you talk to. What this means is I have 28 in my homeroom, 28 in two other classes, and 25 in the fourth. A far cry from the 24:1 ratio, and even higher than allowed (in theory) by our union contract. But I can live with it.
Next week begins the establishment of routine. Regular class rosters. Bellwork. Textbooks. Assessments. Routines are good. Kids thrive on them. So do I.
Reading a book given to us for the school "reading club", which means the people tapped to lead teams. Titled "Whaledone", applies training of orcas at SeaWorld to team building. Boils down to positive feedback for good jobs instead of negative feedback when you screw up. Obviously I wouldn't have read it if it weren't assigned.
Participated in some alcohol related team building after hours too. I didn't drink, but got to hear some scuttlebut from some highers up. They aren't real happy, and won't stay the year. If things get too bad, I suppose I can take my sick time and have surgery. Which segues nicely into an update on my nerve. Still hurts. Worse when I cough or sneeze (REALLY bad). Tingling and funny sensations now extend every once in a while down to my hand and fingers. No pain that far, yet, though. So my lifestyle isn't affected enough for me to "want" surgery.
Leveling of the population of homerooms has begun, or finished, depending on who you talk to. What this means is I have 28 in my homeroom, 28 in two other classes, and 25 in the fourth. A far cry from the 24:1 ratio, and even higher than allowed (in theory) by our union contract. But I can live with it.
Next week begins the establishment of routine. Regular class rosters. Bellwork. Textbooks. Assessments. Routines are good. Kids thrive on them. So do I.
Reading a book given to us for the school "reading club", which means the people tapped to lead teams. Titled "Whaledone", applies training of orcas at SeaWorld to team building. Boils down to positive feedback for good jobs instead of negative feedback when you screw up. Obviously I wouldn't have read it if it weren't assigned.
Participated in some alcohol related team building after hours too. I didn't drink, but got to hear some scuttlebut from some highers up. They aren't real happy, and won't stay the year. If things get too bad, I suppose I can take my sick time and have surgery. Which segues nicely into an update on my nerve. Still hurts. Worse when I cough or sneeze (REALLY bad). Tingling and funny sensations now extend every once in a while down to my hand and fingers. No pain that far, yet, though. So my lifestyle isn't affected enough for me to "want" surgery.
Thursday, August 14, 2008
Getting stronger
The week crested, and there is stability of a sort in sight. I got a final (!) roster for my homeroom that has 28 students on it. The honors homeroom has 29 students in it. What are the chances that we will hit a 24:1 student/teacher ratio, as advertised? Unpossible, since an Asst. Principal confided to me that our registration was down (down...to the level the school was built to house, 900) and there would be surplussing, including one administrator. Wonder what teachers will get the axe, and how they will distribute the students, as it seems the 7th grade, or at least my part of it, is overflowing.
Lesson continue to come easily and non-traditionally. First time I have actually done investigations with the class to develop awareness of concepts. Without relying on the textbook. And kids are not only enjoying it, but they are getting the concepts. Yay me! I feel confident and strong as a teacher. I hope, and anticipate, this feeling will continue.
On the home front, my niece will be married on Saturday. I have watched her grow up, from toilet training, so it is kind of eerie. Wedding was postponed a month, too due to some chilly feet. Tomorrow there is a breakfast sort of thing, then rehearsal in the evening followed by the dinner. Wedding Saturday. I am not in the wedding party, but both girls are...bridesmaid and junior bridesmaid. Makes for a full weekend, for sure.
Both daughters are wonders, delights, and sources of worry. The oldest just passed her driving test today, although she doesn't like to drive (confidence issues, plus Memphis is a craptastic place to drive). At the youngest's pediatrician visit for her volleyball physical, the doctor took my wife aside and informed her that the girl is very attractive and we should keep an eye on her. I guess he sees her as a heartbreaker, or at least a target of lust, in future years. Just wonderful.
And exercise-wise, bike is back in commission. Today everything felt even better than fine. My bike is a 21 speed, so 3 large gears and 7 small. I keep the big on the top (3), and usually don't go below 5...today I only went that low on one hill that has a stop at the top. And despite the nerve pain and my chagrin over my large stomach, I feel pretty fit after the mid-point of the week. My metabolism is definitely up - I can sit and think about exercise and feel the warm rush...I tend to run warm anyhow, so I can almost feel the calories burning, melting away all that marshmallow. Also been pricing bicycle shorts on eBay, since the guy who fixed my tire looked amazed that I ride 10 miles a day in only unpadded spandex. All the good deals seem to attract last minute bidders, though, so I have had no success.
Lesson continue to come easily and non-traditionally. First time I have actually done investigations with the class to develop awareness of concepts. Without relying on the textbook. And kids are not only enjoying it, but they are getting the concepts. Yay me! I feel confident and strong as a teacher. I hope, and anticipate, this feeling will continue.
On the home front, my niece will be married on Saturday. I have watched her grow up, from toilet training, so it is kind of eerie. Wedding was postponed a month, too due to some chilly feet. Tomorrow there is a breakfast sort of thing, then rehearsal in the evening followed by the dinner. Wedding Saturday. I am not in the wedding party, but both girls are...bridesmaid and junior bridesmaid. Makes for a full weekend, for sure.
Both daughters are wonders, delights, and sources of worry. The oldest just passed her driving test today, although she doesn't like to drive (confidence issues, plus Memphis is a craptastic place to drive). At the youngest's pediatrician visit for her volleyball physical, the doctor took my wife aside and informed her that the girl is very attractive and we should keep an eye on her. I guess he sees her as a heartbreaker, or at least a target of lust, in future years. Just wonderful.
And exercise-wise, bike is back in commission. Today everything felt even better than fine. My bike is a 21 speed, so 3 large gears and 7 small. I keep the big on the top (3), and usually don't go below 5...today I only went that low on one hill that has a stop at the top. And despite the nerve pain and my chagrin over my large stomach, I feel pretty fit after the mid-point of the week. My metabolism is definitely up - I can sit and think about exercise and feel the warm rush...I tend to run warm anyhow, so I can almost feel the calories burning, melting away all that marshmallow. Also been pricing bicycle shorts on eBay, since the guy who fixed my tire looked amazed that I ride 10 miles a day in only unpadded spandex. All the good deals seem to attract last minute bidders, though, so I have had no success.
Wednesday, August 13, 2008
Enrollment
Some days I don't know who to believe. On one hand, I hear that we are budgeted for 1,050 students. If we don't meet that number, we will have to surplus (lay-off) teachers. So we have an all-call to people who might want to get into the school on a choice transfer (meaning they attend a sucky school and through NCLB they get to transfer from anywhere to a non-sucky school). So, currently, I have 36 students assigned to my homeroom. Not counting the ten on my roll who haven't shown up yet (and still might).
On the other hand, we were told that our average class size was reduced to 24 this year. Doing the math, it means we should only have about 900 students in the school, for the number of homerooms we have.
Even though I am getting tons of kids assigned to me, I chatted with my friend the enrollment manager, and she confided that if she liked the students who registered, she tried to assign them to my room. She is SO sweet, and it is a shame she is being worked so hard with this situation.
Teaching is going well. Resolved the monitor cable issue and showed the kids the website I developed for them (mrparry.weebly.com). They liked it, and like having the textbook online. Yay!
Bad news - on the way home I hit some sort of metal in the street. Made a huge clanging sound as it shot across at least one lane, and suddenly the rear of my bike was kind of unresponsive. Damn thing cut through my tire AND the tube. So, I take off both wheels to get it into the car, thoughtfully brought round by my spouse, and go to the bike store. Got a sturdier tire for the back, and a nice little strobe light for visibility in dark conditions. Like this morning, where ground fog adjacent to a park was so thick that I couldn't see 10 feet.
On the other hand, we were told that our average class size was reduced to 24 this year. Doing the math, it means we should only have about 900 students in the school, for the number of homerooms we have.
Even though I am getting tons of kids assigned to me, I chatted with my friend the enrollment manager, and she confided that if she liked the students who registered, she tried to assign them to my room. She is SO sweet, and it is a shame she is being worked so hard with this situation.
Teaching is going well. Resolved the monitor cable issue and showed the kids the website I developed for them (mrparry.weebly.com). They liked it, and like having the textbook online. Yay!
Bad news - on the way home I hit some sort of metal in the street. Made a huge clanging sound as it shot across at least one lane, and suddenly the rear of my bike was kind of unresponsive. Damn thing cut through my tire AND the tube. So, I take off both wheels to get it into the car, thoughtfully brought round by my spouse, and go to the bike store. Got a sturdier tire for the back, and a nice little strobe light for visibility in dark conditions. Like this morning, where ground fog adjacent to a park was so thick that I couldn't see 10 feet.
Endurance
Well, day 2 was still decent. Attendance office is using my homeroom as a temporary facility for students until they get their final schedules, so I have chaos with new kids coming in several times a day. Still, I am managing, and did some small group discoveries today, which went really well. One student from last year who was a problem, and seemed to continue his sullen attitude actually acted as a leader of his group and was involved.
On the other hand, I get massive headaches after lunch, and my most challenging class is my final one, during sixth period. Even so, I can manage to get through 50 minutes of them knowing it is over. And I was so tired when I got home I could barely stay awake. Body needs to toughen up a bit more.
My scale lies, and I hate it. It tells me I weigh less than I think I should - and not by a little, but by a ridiculous amount. I need a benchmark to track my progress, and it is denying me.
On the other hand, I get massive headaches after lunch, and my most challenging class is my final one, during sixth period. Even so, I can manage to get through 50 minutes of them knowing it is over. And I was so tired when I got home I could barely stay awake. Body needs to toughen up a bit more.
My scale lies, and I hate it. It tells me I weigh less than I think I should - and not by a little, but by a ridiculous amount. I need a benchmark to track my progress, and it is denying me.
Monday, August 11, 2008
First Day
Better than expected, for the most part. All my classes are 28-32 students, on paper. Each had up to 10 kids missing, which again is not unusual for the first week or so. Some may show up later if they can't cheat their way into a different school, some have already moved, etc.
The schedule is interesting to say the least. Three full math classes, then I get my homeroom back for something called "activity", which is broken up by lunch...Activity is maybe some exercise, maybe some reading, maybe some character building...damned if I know. Lunch is at a reasonable 11:10 instead of godawful 10:20. Then a full class again, and done. Planning period at the end of the day is pure joy.
Still waiting to have a printer connection applied to my computer, so I can, you know, actually use the damn thing. Plus the 3m monitor extension cable I bought at Best Buy turned out to be a 1.4m cord returned and repriced in the wrong packaging. bastards.
Tomorrow begins the crackdown on uniform violations. Should be interesting spectator sport.
The schedule is interesting to say the least. Three full math classes, then I get my homeroom back for something called "activity", which is broken up by lunch...Activity is maybe some exercise, maybe some reading, maybe some character building...damned if I know. Lunch is at a reasonable 11:10 instead of godawful 10:20. Then a full class again, and done. Planning period at the end of the day is pure joy.
Still waiting to have a printer connection applied to my computer, so I can, you know, actually use the damn thing. Plus the 3m monitor extension cable I bought at Best Buy turned out to be a 1.4m cord returned and repriced in the wrong packaging. bastards.
Tomorrow begins the crackdown on uniform violations. Should be interesting spectator sport.
Saturday, August 9, 2008
Ready or Not
Students arrive on Monday. My room is better than it ever has been, and I feel ready. Friday was a last minute touch up, and running through of things I need.
As part of our faculty meeting, we were shown statistics of how many students per grade and subject were below proficient. Some scary numbers for some grade/subjects. Then they handed out personalized lists, to show all students we taught. Out of over 100 students, only 8 of mine were below proficient, and at least two had emotional difficulties (basically they were rebelling and refused to do anything in class, period) that probably kept them from doing better. A good feeling.
Today I cut down the dry erase boards into 1x1 squares, for the modern equivalent of the 19th century slate and chalk. Just need to run some sort of tape along the edges to keep kids from destroying them.
On the entertainment front, currently starting the quadrology that begins with Twilight (soon to be released as a major motion picture). So far, so good. Movie-wise, getting caught up with some recommendations from my friend the art teacher. Watched Waitress last night (alone - Olympics Opening Ceremonies won), and started watching Knocked Up today. Not finishing it, though, since somebody wanted to watch a terrible movie on SciFi.
As part of our faculty meeting, we were shown statistics of how many students per grade and subject were below proficient. Some scary numbers for some grade/subjects. Then they handed out personalized lists, to show all students we taught. Out of over 100 students, only 8 of mine were below proficient, and at least two had emotional difficulties (basically they were rebelling and refused to do anything in class, period) that probably kept them from doing better. A good feeling.
Today I cut down the dry erase boards into 1x1 squares, for the modern equivalent of the 19th century slate and chalk. Just need to run some sort of tape along the edges to keep kids from destroying them.
On the entertainment front, currently starting the quadrology that begins with Twilight (soon to be released as a major motion picture). So far, so good. Movie-wise, getting caught up with some recommendations from my friend the art teacher. Watched Waitress last night (alone - Olympics Opening Ceremonies won), and started watching Knocked Up today. Not finishing it, though, since somebody wanted to watch a terrible movie on SciFi.
Thursday, August 7, 2008
More shame
Just ashamed to be part of a group of teachers that will be remembered as refusing to fill the front of an auditorium so poorly designed that the walls were bare painted cinderblock. Terrible echoes, and the people in the back acted like there were no speakers (constantly asking for quiet) in the front. Saw a couple of pretty useful presentations, one of which I plan to use on the first day of school. Yes, I emerged motivated.
Meanwhile, in another school, I stopped to vote in our local primary. Incumbent Steve Cohen, a very responsible and respected first term senator running against Nikki Tinker. She lost to him last time, even with the local black ministerial group backing her solely on her race - - only a black person can represent a district that is primarily black. This election has been worse...her campaign adds featured pictures of a robed Klansman in front of a burning cross. Another pointed out his non-support of a bill to allow prayer in school (he is Jewish). One letter to the editor supporting her accused Sen. Cohen of "pandering to the majority." Wonder what he thinks democracy is?
A couple of races had no candidates, just write ins. If I had known, I am sure I could have scraped up 100 or so people to write me in.
Tomorrow is the last day at school before the kids arrive. Oh joy!
Meanwhile, in another school, I stopped to vote in our local primary. Incumbent Steve Cohen, a very responsible and respected first term senator running against Nikki Tinker. She lost to him last time, even with the local black ministerial group backing her solely on her race - - only a black person can represent a district that is primarily black. This election has been worse...her campaign adds featured pictures of a robed Klansman in front of a burning cross. Another pointed out his non-support of a bill to allow prayer in school (he is Jewish). One letter to the editor supporting her accused Sen. Cohen of "pandering to the majority." Wonder what he thinks democracy is?
A couple of races had no candidates, just write ins. If I had known, I am sure I could have scraped up 100 or so people to write me in.
Tomorrow is the last day at school before the kids arrive. Oh joy!
Wednesday, August 6, 2008
Efficacy Lecture
Things you kind of know instinctively, but need somebody to point out to you. Of course, if you are a "typical" Memphis City School teacher, you anticipate what the lecturer is going to tell you, and argue AGAINST it, contradict yourself several times, and ironically prove the point the lecturer is trying to make about our society.
The message was that intentionally or unintentionally grouping students by "intelligence" or "ability" is damaging to the kids in the 'dumb' class. No kidding. Also that our society has a flawed idea of learning and growth, attributing people's success to innate abilities, not hard work and innate drive. So our idiot representative teacher, who by example makes all of us look like the stereotypical reason why our state and city rank near the bottom, proceeds to argue that we don't have such a system. Another, braver, teacher says what many of us already discussed...that having Honors classes does just this, as well as things like optional schools. The original idiot then goes on to say her four kids "all have different abilities, and are at 4 different optional schools." Ironic indeed.
Earlier in the day she was an advocate for teachers who gave 110% but their kids still couldn't demonstrate proficiency. She refused accept the difference between capacity to teach, and demonstrating the capacity to teach (demonstrated by kids doing well on state tests). She goes further (embarassingly) to say she can't teach effectively without seeing the state test to know what will be on it.
I enjoyed one of the speakers, who, having taught for 35 years in Boston, and grew up in Dorchester, had a nice thick Yankee accent, but it annoyed me to hear several teachers near me parroting his accent...kind of rude and unprofessional.
If our teachers can't accept suggestions for growth, but cling to the old way of doing things - that don't work - then we are doomed.
The message was that intentionally or unintentionally grouping students by "intelligence" or "ability" is damaging to the kids in the 'dumb' class. No kidding. Also that our society has a flawed idea of learning and growth, attributing people's success to innate abilities, not hard work and innate drive. So our idiot representative teacher, who by example makes all of us look like the stereotypical reason why our state and city rank near the bottom, proceeds to argue that we don't have such a system. Another, braver, teacher says what many of us already discussed...that having Honors classes does just this, as well as things like optional schools. The original idiot then goes on to say her four kids "all have different abilities, and are at 4 different optional schools." Ironic indeed.
Earlier in the day she was an advocate for teachers who gave 110% but their kids still couldn't demonstrate proficiency. She refused accept the difference between capacity to teach, and demonstrating the capacity to teach (demonstrated by kids doing well on state tests). She goes further (embarassingly) to say she can't teach effectively without seeing the state test to know what will be on it.
I enjoyed one of the speakers, who, having taught for 35 years in Boston, and grew up in Dorchester, had a nice thick Yankee accent, but it annoyed me to hear several teachers near me parroting his accent...kind of rude and unprofessional.
If our teachers can't accept suggestions for growth, but cling to the old way of doing things - that don't work - then we are doomed.
Tuesday, August 5, 2008
Registration Surprises
12 hour days are not fun. 8am to 8pm, but really not a straight shot, since they kindly gave us from 3-545 free. But, when you commute via bicycle, and it takes 20-30 minutes each way, you aren't going anywhere fast.
Registration is usually an exercise in idiocy. Parents don't know what grade their child is in. Parents can't follow simple instructions, or fill out forms completely. Parents who want to argue that they shouldn't have to provide a shot record, since they provided one last year, and the school should search for it.
In the midst of all this, I got my room pretty well set up and decorated. There are still a few things I want to do, but bulletin boards are papered (paper arrived this morning - previously we had only two nasty colors), desks arranged (33 desks, which is 5 more desks than they highest number of students I want), supplies stored, computers set up.
Then the surprises. Some electronics fairy gifted us with DVD players, so I nabbed one for my room. Even better, though, is the computer projector. In the past we had the ability to show our computer screens on the class TV. Resolution sucked, the TV still isn't big enough. I had wished over and over for a projector so the whole class could see a short video, a cool picture, or even a powerpoint presentation. Now I have that ability, and I never dreamed of even asking for such a tool. It really will change the way I teach.
A final surprise was finding sheets of laminated particle board (also known as dry-erase board) at Home Despot for $6.50 a 4'x8' sheet. They are somewhat damaged on corners, but I should be able to produce 30 1'x1' dry erase boards for my class. Hearkens back to personal slate tablets and chalk, doesn't it?
Registration is usually an exercise in idiocy. Parents don't know what grade their child is in. Parents can't follow simple instructions, or fill out forms completely. Parents who want to argue that they shouldn't have to provide a shot record, since they provided one last year, and the school should search for it.
In the midst of all this, I got my room pretty well set up and decorated. There are still a few things I want to do, but bulletin boards are papered (paper arrived this morning - previously we had only two nasty colors), desks arranged (33 desks, which is 5 more desks than they highest number of students I want), supplies stored, computers set up.
Then the surprises. Some electronics fairy gifted us with DVD players, so I nabbed one for my room. Even better, though, is the computer projector. In the past we had the ability to show our computer screens on the class TV. Resolution sucked, the TV still isn't big enough. I had wished over and over for a projector so the whole class could see a short video, a cool picture, or even a powerpoint presentation. Now I have that ability, and I never dreamed of even asking for such a tool. It really will change the way I teach.
A final surprise was finding sheets of laminated particle board (also known as dry-erase board) at Home Despot for $6.50 a 4'x8' sheet. They are somewhat damaged on corners, but I should be able to produce 30 1'x1' dry erase boards for my class. Hearkens back to personal slate tablets and chalk, doesn't it?
Monday, August 4, 2008
First Day Back
Today was the day teachers report back to school. In honor of this, I will (attempt) to post every day of the school year. And no cheating by posting just a sentence. I predict it will help my sanity immensely. Students return in a week, although my own precious offspring don't go back until a week after that.
I even got to school on time, via bicycle in an air quality alert that can best be described as "extra chunky." I had trouble breathing, both ways. Temps in the low 100s, dew point excessively high. But I made it. And back.
Lots of sitting and meeting and meetings. Lots of new faces, but only one brand-new teacher (first year teaching), and some veterans with good reputations. Emphasis today was on accountability, potential visits from the new superintendent, and new "zero tolerance" edicts that haven't worked in the past. Zero tolerance for cell phones. Zero tolerance for kids who violate or stretch the dress code. I will wait and see, although I am a firm believer in enforcing the small rules to make a statement about how big rules will be enforced.
The big surprise of the day, for me, was being named team leader of my group of 4. In actuality it isn't really an honor, as it results in more work, but at the same time it is a vote of confidence for my organizational skills and responsibility. Positive attitude - check!
And as part of broadening my social horizons, I had lunch with a teacher I am good friends with, plus a teacher on my hall who I have known, but not really socialized with, and a teacher new to the school who is on my team. Yay me! My team is also unusual in that it is 3 men and 1 woman. The downside of this - they may toss us many of the difficult students.
Test scores from last year show some very good gains in 6th grade math. From 84% proficient to 88%, or something like that. No idea if this is skewed by the one teacher on the inclusion team raising the scores of the inclusion students by 44% (I don't know whether that handful moving that far would affect the overall grade, but it probably doesn't account for all of it.) Maybe later this week I will peek at a breakdown of each class, to see how I did. It doesn't matter so much, as I changed grades, and also am changing my methods a bit. But I plan to do better.
I even got to school on time, via bicycle in an air quality alert that can best be described as "extra chunky." I had trouble breathing, both ways. Temps in the low 100s, dew point excessively high. But I made it. And back.
Lots of sitting and meeting and meetings. Lots of new faces, but only one brand-new teacher (first year teaching), and some veterans with good reputations. Emphasis today was on accountability, potential visits from the new superintendent, and new "zero tolerance" edicts that haven't worked in the past. Zero tolerance for cell phones. Zero tolerance for kids who violate or stretch the dress code. I will wait and see, although I am a firm believer in enforcing the small rules to make a statement about how big rules will be enforced.
The big surprise of the day, for me, was being named team leader of my group of 4. In actuality it isn't really an honor, as it results in more work, but at the same time it is a vote of confidence for my organizational skills and responsibility. Positive attitude - check!
And as part of broadening my social horizons, I had lunch with a teacher I am good friends with, plus a teacher on my hall who I have known, but not really socialized with, and a teacher new to the school who is on my team. Yay me! My team is also unusual in that it is 3 men and 1 woman. The downside of this - they may toss us many of the difficult students.
Test scores from last year show some very good gains in 6th grade math. From 84% proficient to 88%, or something like that. No idea if this is skewed by the one teacher on the inclusion team raising the scores of the inclusion students by 44% (I don't know whether that handful moving that far would affect the overall grade, but it probably doesn't account for all of it.) Maybe later this week I will peek at a breakdown of each class, to see how I did. It doesn't matter so much, as I changed grades, and also am changing my methods a bit. But I plan to do better.
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