Shout out to my brother for finishing up his second officer leadership course! Congrats!
Also props to the Midd Women's Ball team for their season soon to be underway. Good luck this weekend!
Over a delicious burrito, one of my roommates began discussing her elaborate behavior management program in the form of a check system. Good checks, bad checks, x's, etc. Now her system is pretty intense - not something that I could jump into overnight. Another mild hazard is that what gets 4th graders going, doesn't exactly always get 9th graders enthused.
Back when I had my old 4th block, one day I got extremely fed up and pulled my own check system out of the air - your basic middle school jam where your name goes on the board if you are disruptive or disrespectful. I gave minuses for negative behavior and pluses for positive behavior - helping classmates, raising your hand, etc. This actually worked really well - I ended up calling a ridiculous number of parents that night, but it was helpful if I am remembering it correctly. I may give it a shot with 3rd block tomorrow.
The main piece to share: this evening my roommate related getting into trouble for poor classroom management by your principal, to being yelled at by the mayor of a town that is constantly hit by the bubonic plague for having a sick person in your house. Instead of worrying only about the sick person in my house, fix the town! Indeed, Ms. Bell seems to be determined to get on particular teachers when perhaps she should be focusing on bigger, school-wide transformations.
However, no matter how many kids curse in the halls, call each other faggots and n****s, get thrown out of school for food-fights, throwing punches, or cursing out teachers to their face or physically hitting them, I will try to make my own classroom the best it can be.
Tuesday, October 28, 2008
Sunday, October 26, 2008
heading into the week!
Thank you to family and friends for your support! Especially to my parents, aunts, and baaalllllllers! (good luck on the fitness test.) Shout out to Lani for rocking classroom management as well as for starting a blog!
As my students say, I have to be "hard" tomorrow. No room for disrespect or wasted time. This is not a democracy, it's a dictatorship - I still have to frame this essential and inspirational phrase.
Homecoming back at school has come and gone and how I wish I could have been there. True, it would have been full of crazy debauchery and mayhem among recent graduates; but it surely would have provided a needed break from my life here. As school consumes my soul.
I made my own escape from reality this weekend, traveling to the mountains with my visiting aunt to meet another aunt for some much needed R & R. The leaves were reminiscent of a fall in Vermont - yes, ok, I do miss school. I was darn ready to leave even an entire year before I graduated, but as I mentioned at dinner tonight, sometimes I would trade thinking about the challenges the next day at school will surely bring for a night in the Middlebury library writing two essays.
On another note - I fear I have been placed on the "suicide-watch list" for TFA. At the end of a recent survey I noted that TFA was likely unaware of the extent to which many 08 corps are seriously considering quitting. The very next afternoon I received not only an email, but also a personal phone call from the Charlotte retention director in regard to my comments. After a program director meeting last week I was escorted to the retention director's office to "share my thoughts." I expressed that the way TFA often comes off to corps members when directors discuss retention concerns is that TFA wants to retain its corps in order to preserve its image and respect as an organization. The director responded by sharing that this was not the way they intended to come off and was sorry that their words have been interpreted in this way. After a 15 min meeting, both she and I better understood the other's side and we began to come up with some good ideas for the future. It was fantastic to see the organization so responsive to only a few, though sharply worded, comments at the end of a survey.
Onward!
As my students say, I have to be "hard" tomorrow. No room for disrespect or wasted time. This is not a democracy, it's a dictatorship - I still have to frame this essential and inspirational phrase.
Homecoming back at school has come and gone and how I wish I could have been there. True, it would have been full of crazy debauchery and mayhem among recent graduates; but it surely would have provided a needed break from my life here. As school consumes my soul.
I made my own escape from reality this weekend, traveling to the mountains with my visiting aunt to meet another aunt for some much needed R & R. The leaves were reminiscent of a fall in Vermont - yes, ok, I do miss school. I was darn ready to leave even an entire year before I graduated, but as I mentioned at dinner tonight, sometimes I would trade thinking about the challenges the next day at school will surely bring for a night in the Middlebury library writing two essays.
On another note - I fear I have been placed on the "suicide-watch list" for TFA. At the end of a recent survey I noted that TFA was likely unaware of the extent to which many 08 corps are seriously considering quitting. The very next afternoon I received not only an email, but also a personal phone call from the Charlotte retention director in regard to my comments. After a program director meeting last week I was escorted to the retention director's office to "share my thoughts." I expressed that the way TFA often comes off to corps members when directors discuss retention concerns is that TFA wants to retain its corps in order to preserve its image and respect as an organization. The director responded by sharing that this was not the way they intended to come off and was sorry that their words have been interpreted in this way. After a 15 min meeting, both she and I better understood the other's side and we began to come up with some good ideas for the future. It was fantastic to see the organization so responsive to only a few, though sharply worded, comments at the end of a survey.
Onward!
Sunday, October 19, 2008
quick update
Here is a 2-minute update on the last few trials and tribulations.
Trouble with the principal: of course, the principal has to walk by my door when things are kind of crazy. Granted, I have had kids leaving class through the window, throwing trash (paper balls, wrappers, etc.) out the same window, launching tennis balls across the room, fights breaking out...you know, the first-year-teacher struggles. Anyhoo, now the principal is fixated on me as someone who must improve classroom management. After a long explanation of how I need a seating chart in the form of a sports analogy that I would frustrating and a tad condescending, I felt the need for action...however, it did not come as I wanted it to that day.
Last Tuesday I finally broke down. I had refrained from letting the tears flow until this fateful day. After second period I was ready to throw up my hands and say, hell, I am no good at this, it's beating me down to a pulp each day, why am I still here?? But I made it through the remainder of the day. On my way home I relayed to my mom, "Mom, today was a new low." "How could that possibly be true?" my mom questioned. True! How could the days get rougher? Well, indeed they could.
Wednesday was another rough day. But these tough times were nothing strong parental support couldn't pull me out of! After a supportive phone call and a beautiful floral arrangement to brighten the day from mom and a strong, much-needed pep-talk from dad I woke up on Thursday ready to put the craziness to an end!
Looking myself in the mirror I pointed to my face and said, "YOU! Are going to write 4 referrals today!" I was on pace to reach my goal, but ended up writing 2. However, on Friday I reached it, writing 2 more. By the end of class on Friday I felt good about the end of the week.
I have created a pump-up cd for the morning this week entitled, FSKU! I will refrain from going into detail regarding the meaning of this acronym - however, I'll let on that it includes the opposite of down and a synonym for children.
Anyhoo, I will persevere and damn it, they'll learn! Whether in ISS (in-school suspension), at the back of another classroom, or in my room.
Time to rock it this week.
Trouble with the principal: of course, the principal has to walk by my door when things are kind of crazy. Granted, I have had kids leaving class through the window, throwing trash (paper balls, wrappers, etc.) out the same window, launching tennis balls across the room, fights breaking out...you know, the first-year-teacher struggles. Anyhoo, now the principal is fixated on me as someone who must improve classroom management. After a long explanation of how I need a seating chart in the form of a sports analogy that I would frustrating and a tad condescending, I felt the need for action...however, it did not come as I wanted it to that day.
Last Tuesday I finally broke down. I had refrained from letting the tears flow until this fateful day. After second period I was ready to throw up my hands and say, hell, I am no good at this, it's beating me down to a pulp each day, why am I still here?? But I made it through the remainder of the day. On my way home I relayed to my mom, "Mom, today was a new low." "How could that possibly be true?" my mom questioned. True! How could the days get rougher? Well, indeed they could.
Wednesday was another rough day. But these tough times were nothing strong parental support couldn't pull me out of! After a supportive phone call and a beautiful floral arrangement to brighten the day from mom and a strong, much-needed pep-talk from dad I woke up on Thursday ready to put the craziness to an end!
Looking myself in the mirror I pointed to my face and said, "YOU! Are going to write 4 referrals today!" I was on pace to reach my goal, but ended up writing 2. However, on Friday I reached it, writing 2 more. By the end of class on Friday I felt good about the end of the week.
I have created a pump-up cd for the morning this week entitled, FSKU! I will refrain from going into detail regarding the meaning of this acronym - however, I'll let on that it includes the opposite of down and a synonym for children.
Anyhoo, I will persevere and damn it, they'll learn! Whether in ISS (in-school suspension), at the back of another classroom, or in my room.
Time to rock it this week.
Wednesday, October 8, 2008
2nd Referral
Well yesterday was awesome. Students actually learned! Conversely, learning was a true challenge today. In a moment of transparent frustration, I heard a student ask, "Ms. Fisher, are you giving up on us?" I responded firmly, "No, Antonio I am not giving up on you. I will never give up on you."
Thennn 4th period happened. Dallas, a challenging student, to say the least, fails to perform any work every day. He takes medication in the morning and therefore is quite focused in his classes earlier in the day; however, by the end of the day, his meds significantly fade. Ultimately, this afternoon as I stood about 4-5 feet from this young man, he flung a pencil in my general direction, and it "happened" to hit me. In all honesty, I don't think he was really trying to throw a pencil at me...but indeed, a pencil from his hands no doubt made contact with my stomach. I said, "Dallas, did you really just throw a pencil at me?!" To which he complained, "Ms. Fisher, do you really think I would throw a pencil at you?" with a smug, self-content expression across his arrogant adolescent face. "See me after class." At the end of the period, after multiple reminders to stay, Dallas walked out. Frustrated and unsure of the next appropriate move I asked my lead administrator who informed me that to walk out when asked to stay is an automatic referral. Thus..my second referral. Good times. It turns out that he shouldn't even have been in my class because he had gotten in trouble in an earlier class. He will be in ISS (in-school-suspension) for the next two days - great for the learning of my 4th block, but rough on his academic chances in Algebra.
Grad school will likely be a breeze compared to this.
Thennn 4th period happened. Dallas, a challenging student, to say the least, fails to perform any work every day. He takes medication in the morning and therefore is quite focused in his classes earlier in the day; however, by the end of the day, his meds significantly fade. Ultimately, this afternoon as I stood about 4-5 feet from this young man, he flung a pencil in my general direction, and it "happened" to hit me. In all honesty, I don't think he was really trying to throw a pencil at me...but indeed, a pencil from his hands no doubt made contact with my stomach. I said, "Dallas, did you really just throw a pencil at me?!" To which he complained, "Ms. Fisher, do you really think I would throw a pencil at you?" with a smug, self-content expression across his arrogant adolescent face. "See me after class." At the end of the period, after multiple reminders to stay, Dallas walked out. Frustrated and unsure of the next appropriate move I asked my lead administrator who informed me that to walk out when asked to stay is an automatic referral. Thus..my second referral. Good times. It turns out that he shouldn't even have been in my class because he had gotten in trouble in an earlier class. He will be in ISS (in-school-suspension) for the next two days - great for the learning of my 4th block, but rough on his academic chances in Algebra.
Grad school will likely be a breeze compared to this.
Sunday, October 5, 2008
Looking forward to the week ahead!
I must sleep but must say this: So pumped for this week!
I began my new Algebra 1-A class this week with a entirely novel group of students during 4th block. I must say that I am less than grieving the loss of my previous 4th block - things had gotten a little out of control and it had become difficult to teach. After a conversation with an EC teacher (North Carolina's Spec Ed.) I have a better understanding of where my school fits into the school district. According to my informer, we have a suspiciously large population of students with 504's, Personal Education Plans, and Individualized Education Plans - basically a large number of kids who have a noticeably difficult time with some or all subjects in school.
Some of the schools in the area have entrance exams - we do not. Therefore, these schools weed out students who would not be successful between their walls and send those students to schools like ours. At the same time, we are expected to produce test scores that are just as high as theirs...or face the budget consequences. Really fair...not.
On another note, school is much better! One student, Terry, who is usually a challenging one to keep on task actually stayed after the bell rang on Friday to finish his homework for Monday! Additionally, the Algebra class is awesome, mainly because the students are more motivated, I love algebra, and I have the opportunity to actually teach students something they don't know! Something new to me and my students. The intro class consists of teaching students material that they failed to demonstrate their mastery of on their 8th grade end of grade exam. My plan is to go easy on the standard content of the intro class, and instead push the class to be more like an Algebra 1-A prep class. I hope to discuss this idea with the principal this week. This woman of extreme power is scheduled to observe my intro class 2nd block bright and early tomorrow morning - should be interesting.
I had planned one lesson (well thought about it); however, after speaking with a fellow teacher at school (without whom I would be somewhat disoriented) we decided on a different lesson for my observation.
Best news for last: two of my roommates and I went to the beach this weekend! We left yesterday morning for the coast where we spent a beautiful day splashing in the waves and relaxing on the beach under a warm sun, a combination that washed away all negative remnants of school and brought in its place a positive energy that I carry with me now. Although we all were forced to scramble lessons together for tomorrow, we feel infinitely refreshed.
A day with the Atlantic, rushing sand between our toes; a night under a clear, star-speckled sky, roasted marshmellows over a nurturing flame in the company of supportive friends. Few other settings and characters could have brought a better ending to this weekend chapter.
I began my new Algebra 1-A class this week with a entirely novel group of students during 4th block. I must say that I am less than grieving the loss of my previous 4th block - things had gotten a little out of control and it had become difficult to teach. After a conversation with an EC teacher (North Carolina's Spec Ed.) I have a better understanding of where my school fits into the school district. According to my informer, we have a suspiciously large population of students with 504's, Personal Education Plans, and Individualized Education Plans - basically a large number of kids who have a noticeably difficult time with some or all subjects in school.
Some of the schools in the area have entrance exams - we do not. Therefore, these schools weed out students who would not be successful between their walls and send those students to schools like ours. At the same time, we are expected to produce test scores that are just as high as theirs...or face the budget consequences. Really fair...not.
On another note, school is much better! One student, Terry, who is usually a challenging one to keep on task actually stayed after the bell rang on Friday to finish his homework for Monday! Additionally, the Algebra class is awesome, mainly because the students are more motivated, I love algebra, and I have the opportunity to actually teach students something they don't know! Something new to me and my students. The intro class consists of teaching students material that they failed to demonstrate their mastery of on their 8th grade end of grade exam. My plan is to go easy on the standard content of the intro class, and instead push the class to be more like an Algebra 1-A prep class. I hope to discuss this idea with the principal this week. This woman of extreme power is scheduled to observe my intro class 2nd block bright and early tomorrow morning - should be interesting.
I had planned one lesson (well thought about it); however, after speaking with a fellow teacher at school (without whom I would be somewhat disoriented) we decided on a different lesson for my observation.
Best news for last: two of my roommates and I went to the beach this weekend! We left yesterday morning for the coast where we spent a beautiful day splashing in the waves and relaxing on the beach under a warm sun, a combination that washed away all negative remnants of school and brought in its place a positive energy that I carry with me now. Although we all were forced to scramble lessons together for tomorrow, we feel infinitely refreshed.
A day with the Atlantic, rushing sand between our toes; a night under a clear, star-speckled sky, roasted marshmellows over a nurturing flame in the company of supportive friends. Few other settings and characters could have brought a better ending to this weekend chapter.
Monday, September 29, 2008
New Game Plan
A curve ball from the public school system:
Because of high numbers in Algebra (the superintendent is getting on our principal's arse), I am being moved around. I will keep my 2nd and 3rd block Intro to Math classes and will lose my 4th block. Instead of ending the day feeling shat upon, I will take an Algebra 1-A class which, in theory, should have better behaved students. I actually got to hand pick (we have yet to see whether it will actually go through or not though) which students from my current 4th block will transfer to my 3rd block and I may even have the opportunity to bring some with me to Algebra 1-A. There are about 6 kids that would be just fine in this class I believe.
Saturday brought a high point to my experience thus far. Bridgette, a 3rd blocker who painfully fails to grasp nearly all of the material, randomly texted me while I was grading tests. "Hi, Ms. Fisher, this is Bridgette." Hmm, strange, I thought, let's see how she did on her test...a 54, o dear. The previous week I had asked this student if she could ever come in after school for tutoring - she said that she would inquire about the possibility. I texted her back, "Hey Bridgette! Great to hear from you. Have you checked with your mom about tutoring?" A short series of texts later and we have a tutoring date Wednesday from 2:30-3:15pm! I hope that 1, she will actually come, and 2, that I can help her.
Teacher workday tomorrow! YES. I have to move classrooms because of this big move in the Algebra department. I get to sleep in a bit and work leisurely tomorrow. Sweet day.
Because of high numbers in Algebra (the superintendent is getting on our principal's arse), I am being moved around. I will keep my 2nd and 3rd block Intro to Math classes and will lose my 4th block. Instead of ending the day feeling shat upon, I will take an Algebra 1-A class which, in theory, should have better behaved students. I actually got to hand pick (we have yet to see whether it will actually go through or not though) which students from my current 4th block will transfer to my 3rd block and I may even have the opportunity to bring some with me to Algebra 1-A. There are about 6 kids that would be just fine in this class I believe.
Saturday brought a high point to my experience thus far. Bridgette, a 3rd blocker who painfully fails to grasp nearly all of the material, randomly texted me while I was grading tests. "Hi, Ms. Fisher, this is Bridgette." Hmm, strange, I thought, let's see how she did on her test...a 54, o dear. The previous week I had asked this student if she could ever come in after school for tutoring - she said that she would inquire about the possibility. I texted her back, "Hey Bridgette! Great to hear from you. Have you checked with your mom about tutoring?" A short series of texts later and we have a tutoring date Wednesday from 2:30-3:15pm! I hope that 1, she will actually come, and 2, that I can help her.
Teacher workday tomorrow! YES. I have to move classrooms because of this big move in the Algebra department. I get to sleep in a bit and work leisurely tomorrow. Sweet day.
Thursday, September 25, 2008
O the weekend is near!
Shout out to mom for the delicious reminder of home in the form of cinnamon bread and to Ann for an amazingly uplifting card! You guys rock.
Riot this morning. Result: "Restricted Movement" - all students must have an escort when moving about the campus = no bathrooms, amazing.
Today I gave my students an A by letting them cheat...well almost. In front of them on their slanted, somewhat broken desks lay the key to their success on our exam tomorrow. It was the exact same test - just with different numbers. Some chose not to complete the task despite my repeated reminder that there was no excuse for not getting a 100% tomorrow because they were exposed to the precise test prior to their official attempt.
A glimpse into the chaotic and dangerous lives of some of my students - one young man failed to complete his homework the other day - when I asked why, he informed me that his brother had gotten shot the night before and he had spent the night in the hospital with his family. "I told him not to mess with selling drugs, but he didn't listen!" Concerned, I asked Ricky today how his brother was doing - still in the hospital but recovering well.
To the end of day: two of my students decided they had had enough and departed class through the window. In short, I had asked them to step outside the window for a quick second in order to collect the trash that someone in a previous class had thrown out. A student inside promptly closed the window, however, and Eberson and Oziel peaced out 5 minutes before the bell despite my requests that they regale us with their presence for a few more minutes.
Tomorrow I will administer a re-take with a little more material than last time. I hope they rock it and master these objectives!
Riot this morning. Result: "Restricted Movement" - all students must have an escort when moving about the campus = no bathrooms, amazing.
Today I gave my students an A by letting them cheat...well almost. In front of them on their slanted, somewhat broken desks lay the key to their success on our exam tomorrow. It was the exact same test - just with different numbers. Some chose not to complete the task despite my repeated reminder that there was no excuse for not getting a 100% tomorrow because they were exposed to the precise test prior to their official attempt.
A glimpse into the chaotic and dangerous lives of some of my students - one young man failed to complete his homework the other day - when I asked why, he informed me that his brother had gotten shot the night before and he had spent the night in the hospital with his family. "I told him not to mess with selling drugs, but he didn't listen!" Concerned, I asked Ricky today how his brother was doing - still in the hospital but recovering well.
To the end of day: two of my students decided they had had enough and departed class through the window. In short, I had asked them to step outside the window for a quick second in order to collect the trash that someone in a previous class had thrown out. A student inside promptly closed the window, however, and Eberson and Oziel peaced out 5 minutes before the bell despite my requests that they regale us with their presence for a few more minutes.
Tomorrow I will administer a re-take with a little more material than last time. I hope they rock it and master these objectives!
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