Draining Week or Two

This has been a draining week or last week somehow drained in to this week. Grades are coming out and it is not pretty. How does this reflect on me? Am I a bad teacher or are my students lazy? Considering the fact that most of the grades are reading logs for some strange reason or art work worked on in class, I would blame the students. Are reading logs are simple, you read in-class for ten minutes then fill out the log. A one sentence summary a day, with a five sentence summary at the end of the week. Pretty simple, blasted children can't do anything right! But, I still like them!

Then there is the student who was standing next to his friend who was shot in the head and died. How do you deal with that? He realizes that he is a lucky person, but is beginning to slip into depression. He can't sleep is having a hard time focusing and all the other things that go with an experience like that.

The next student actually had a drive-by shooting at her house, in which her brother was shot and she was grazed on the arm. Her family has decided to leave for a few weeks with the hope of an arrest, so that they don't live in fear. I'm assuming that the brother is okay because they were gone three days after the shooting.

The worst part is that some of these things I experienced myself as a teenager and I do know that it gets easier with time, but how do you explain that to traumatized teenagers. I don't know how to relate my similar experiences, so that they learn that you sort of loose feeling. I sometimes think that my heart has hardened to things like this because they no longer shock me the way they used to. I've become desensitized in a sense. But these two experiences have brought back memories that I thought were in my past.

What a student teaching experience?

Interesting Day, Month, Semester

So far I have to say that my experience is so different from last semester. I actually am made to feel like an equal and not an intrusive entity. I love my placement, master teacher, other teachers, department chair, duplicating clerk, principal secretary, and most of all my students. Do you think I'm enjoying this experience? OH YEAH!

At times my class can be trying, but I'm slowly bringing them to the understanding that I have no life and am not afraid to stay in at lunch to talk to them, or keep the whole class. I wrote my first detention yesterday and enjoyed it. That worked to quiet down my two most rambuctious students. The other students are not as bad and take the lead of the wild ones. With them calmed class was pretty calm today.

The most interesting think about today is that we were supposed to have a sub and for one reason or another he or she did not show up. I don't know the whole story, but I became a sub for today. I have to say I enjoyed having my class to myself. Luckily today was a minimum day otherwise the five straight classes I taught would have been draining. In those classes there is only a small break of ten minutes. Full teachers I don't know how you do it, but I got a taste of it today. I'm lucky though most of my master teacher's students know me and respect me more than a sub. However, I had to raise my voice in one class that is used to seeing me but don't deal with me as a teacher. They think I'm cool. I had to remind them that today I was in charge. Overall they behaved well. The cool thing is that I'm getting paid as a sub for the day. OH YEAH!

The Rant: I'm annoyed that I have to create a portfolio. I understand the concept of a portfolio, but with full time student teaching, meetings, classes, two jobs, and a child of my own I don't want to do it! I just want to whine about it. I've done a pretty good job of keeping with all the necessary items for my portfolio, but I'm tired!

Just a new rant

I have finally figured out what will be the one aspect of teaching that I may have a hard time coping with. I have a student who wears the same clothes every day and these clothes are not in the best condition. He sometimes smells, but not too much. I don't know what to do or if there is anything that I can do. I don't want to ask him anything because i'm afraid it might hurt his feelings. I don't know what his home life is like or any thing about his situation. I think he is admirable because he comes to school everyday. I have to admit that he has managed to touch my heart in a way that few others have been able to in awhile. I have brought this to the attention of my new master teacher in the hope that she might be able to do something, but I don't know if she has or can. I guess the point of this is to simply complain about life. I'm not sure. I just think it is so sad.

A New Semester

Well I am getting ready for my second and last semester of the credential program. This semester i'm super excited because I already have my placement, have met with my master teacher and feel encouraged that this semester will be an improvement over last semester. Last semester's placement was not the greatest. Without going into too many details I simply felt out of place. This year's placement and master teacher have gone out of their way to make me feel comfortable and confident. School starts for us this Monday and I am already excited about the idea that I will have ninth graders. We have tried planning for our first two days, but unfortunately the copy machine is down and it looks like we won't have the materials we want on Monday, but we have a contingency plan. I hope that my enthusiasm lasts for what is going to be a long semester. I'm also excited that my master teacher is willing to let me experiment with using computers in the classroom. She admits to not being as computer literate as she would like to be, but hopes that my knowledge will help her.

Doing nothing

I have to say I thought that I would keep up with my posting for no other reason than I like to complain to no one who really cares. I just like the feeling of having a space to complain. Yesterday was the last day of student teaching and it was upsetting. Having only one class made it easier to attach myself to my kids. Plus they had begun to behave themselves much better than they had before. I like the little buggers. They were fun.

Graduation was fun. Other than my mom, daughter and best friend, my cousin managed to come for my graduation which just made my day. I thought he had forgotten when I told him last December, but he remembered and made sure that he was here. My grandparents couldn't come because my grandmother has been sick and my grandfather was worried about taking her out for a long period of time. He is a bit overprotective when it comes to her, but I think it's sweet.

Star Wars in my biased opinion was great. I'm one of those that you could have just played the music and had someone tell me what the movie was about and I would have thought it was great. I thought it bridged the gap in all the movies, and I was satisfied. I just saw Mr. and Mrs. Smith and I found it entertaining. It dragged at some points but overall it was funny. I'm one of those strange people who laugh at the most inappropriate times in movies. I thought this movie was funny. I also like watching Brad Pitt get slapped around by a strong woman ;-p.

I just got an iPod and now i'm trying to figure out how to use it. So far i'm having fun with it. It's fun. I have to figure out how to make playlists so I can have one for each of my moods. I also have to decide what songs i'm willing to put on my mini machine.

What I'm up to right now

Okay I really like this blogging thing, so for now i'm going to keep it up. Today I went to see Star Wars. I really enjoyed the movie. I was so excited I pulled my daughter out of school early to take her. There were a few parts that dragged, but overall it was worth the wait. I was suprised by the ending even though I knew what was going to happen. That's a strange thing. I knew the outcome but not the actual events that led up to the rise of Lord Vader.

Now what's next for this weekend. Well tomorrow is graduation and I'm really excited about that. I'm especially excited because my cousin is coming tomorrow and I didn't expect anyone from my family other than my mom and daughter. I can't believe that there is only three weeks left in school, for student teaching. I'll be glad when that is done and I can sleep in. That is something I haven't done in awhile.

My daughter's interest

Okay I finally managed to figure out exactly what my daughter does on her computer. Her and her friends often frequent the neopet website. Since they are getting older they are moving on to other things. This is a website that she has at deviantart.com. I know the reason why she likes it is because she's a huge fan of anime. Now I think this site also caters to adults, but from what I can tell, the posting that goes on is just between her and a few of her friends from school. This made me wonder how many of our students that have access to computers at home frequent different sites that cater to a variety of tastes. I sometimes check out fan fiction sites. But for the most part I stick with simple sites that are related to teaching.
http://sango-is-cool.deviantart.com/favourites/?type=browse&offset=96

My posts

Okay I think all my posts are great ;-p You should read all of them. No just kidding. I think my top five are:
1. 4-27 "A New View of My Students"
2.4-08 "My first Week of Actual Teaching"
3. 3-14 "Digital Natives"
4. 4-17 "Grammar"
5. 5-04 "Television"

I have replied on almost everyone's blog. My personal favorite has been Meanster's Ball. She is too funny. I haven't used one of my posts to directly comment on anyone's blog, so I don't know if I failed on that part. I didn't do that because I think it is rude. Don't ask me why because I couldn't explain it. Overall I like blogging. It's a great place to vent. Once we are done with this class I plan on continuing it so that I have some place to complain.

RE: Television

Growing up I watched alot of television. I grew up in the eighties. Television was so different than what it is today. I loved Happy Days, Laverne and Shirley, I Love Lucy, Gidget and the Munsters. This was a regular line up on Saturday and Sunday afternoons. I'm an only child and generally I like to be by myself. I think I have social issues. As for today, there is not that much television that I watch. I love 24, George Lopez, One Tree Hill (am ashamed to admit that one), and ER. Oh let me not forget the original CSI. I also watch A&E, HGTV and the Food Network. You'll notice I only watch serial television not that reality crap. I hate the voyeuristic feeling of reality television. I can't believe what some people are willing to do for a little bit of fame.

When it comes to movies I'm just as picky. I like horror, action, comedy, drama and everything else, but they have to have a plot or character development. I hate movies that are easily funny. The ones that use the common jokes or gross out jokes. For whatever reason they just don't work for me. So what was the last good movie I saw Saw. That was an interesting movie. I like to be surprised. I hate predictability. I think that is the problem with movies. I went to go see Guess Who, which I did not choose, for me it was too predictable. It was similar to Meet the Parents. I am usually disappointed with movies, so I don't really bother with them. Except for the next Star Wars movie. Yes, I am a fan of that franchise. I can't wait. I plan on going to the midnight showing because it is fun to see that movie with other fanatics.

As for how to incorporate this medium into the classroom, I'm not sure. I know that some shows make allusions to other things. Take Buffy the Vampire Slayer. I am a proud fan of that show. I think that it is amazing how on occasion you will find elements of literature in that show. My favorite quote was from season five when they are referencing Shakespeare's Henry V. I think with some shows you can show the connection to literature. Another great medium is music. I love Tupac. I know alot of my students like him as well. What I wonder about is how many of my students realize that he was a voracious reader. Do they know that he made allusions to novels and movies? Do they even understand what he is talking about? I think if you clean up some of his lyrics, his songs can be an excellent way to teach poetry, or better yet buy his poetry book. I think if given the chance we can find ways to make a connection from these mediums into the classroom. It will make it possible for students to understand some connections easier than the classical stuff that we tend to like.

A New View of My Students

Okay for the most part my kids are good and I am proud of them. But today I had a rude awakening. My master teacher will leave the room on a regular basis. Today I noticed that each time this happens I tend to loose control of the classroom. I asked them why is it that when she is in the class they behave. The answer "She's our teacher and your just a student teacher." This was only muttered by a few students, but it still stung. I realized that I have yet to issue a referal. I have spoken privately to some of my problem students and they have changed their behavior, and not all of my students act out. I'm guessing I'm going to have to make an example out of one of them sometime soon. Probably tomorrow and I know which one it is. I've spoken to my master teacher about this and we've both agreed that if she steps in then the kids will loose respect for me. I don't really want to do a referal but I'm left with no choice. I think this is because it feels strange at my school. I feel like an outsider. I told my students that I have the power to send them out of class, but because this is a really nice neighborhood I wonder if parents will complain. I know I shouldn't worry about parents but because I got placed late in the semester I do worry. I also wonder if my late placement has made it difficult for some of the students to accept me.

off topic rant

Okay I have spent the last four hours trying to fix my Norton AntiVirus 2005 so that it will automatically run live update and the scheduled scans. Unfortunately because I have XP with SP2 it makes it difficult. Apparently I have to go in as an administrator in safe mode and do some configuration. I did this, but it didn't work. I looked on Symantec's website and for me to get immediate help I have to pay 30.00. I want to know why are they charging me extra to help set up the stupid program. I've had my computer for two years and had an older version of Norton and never had this problem. I only bought the newer version because something about compatibility and being unable to update my virus definitions even though I had paid for a new subscription. Ordinarily I can fix what's wrong with my computer, but today I just don't know what to do. I've uninstalled, reinstalled, added passwords, and changed passwords and nothing works. I'm beginning to wonder if this is another way for me to pay an extra forty dollars for something as simple as standing on my head. I have decided no more for tonight. I'll try and think of something tomorrow. In the mean time, I should cease procrastination and get to my homework, which I don't want to do. I just keep looking forward to next month when this semester is over, Star Wars comes out and I graduate.

Grammar

I keep reading that we are all in the same boat having to teach grammar, which to me is the most boring part of being an english teacher, and having a difficult time with it. So I keep searching on the internet and am open to any ideas. This is another grammar website that I found and I haven't had a chance to think and figure out what I can do with it but I figure maybe someone else can come up with ideas. http://nweb.pct.edu/homepage/staff/evavra/KISS.htm

Art and Technology

I think that technology helps in writing novels, plays and short stories. Those three creative processes need computers. I like writing on paper in my kitchen, but for something that is longer than twenty pages I use my computer. I like the messiness that I create on lined paper, but when it comes time to edit I like the neatness of computer paper. I guess i'm strange. With my writing process I will usually just start writing and when I hit a block I go and type up what I've written. Usually typing will help me to go back to the kitchen and write some more. I go back and forth like this the whole time. The only writing process that I think might be inhibitted by computers is poetry. Poetry, which I can't write, seems to be more creative and thoughtful, so I think the computer may hinder the process. I picture poets struggling over words and lines crossing out what they think doesn't work for something that may work and then returning back to their origial idea.

On to my week. This week has been pretty good. Although, yesterday my students were acting out. I spent too much time having to ask them for their attention. We were taking a spelling test and there was talking and walking around. This was unusual because my kids are usually well behaved. I almost made an example of a student by threatening to send him to the counselors office after that they quieted down. But then they started up again. We were supposed to finish watching a movie, but my master teacher stepped in and decided that we were going to continue working on grammar. The kids were upset but they had taken up thirty minutes of class time doing a spelling test.

We are still working on grammar and I have yet to figure out how to make it interesting. I search for lesson plans, but most lesson plans have to do with literature. I have found a few sites for grammar, but I think that they can best be used for mini-quizzes to check formastery. The one I like the most is http://www.dailygrammar.com/. This has the answers to all of the mini-lessons so I figure this is good way to test competency.

My first week of actually teaching

This has been the first week in which I have been actively teaching. Unfortunately it has been a passive experience for my kids. We have been working on grammar, which is not a fun subject, all week long. I have enjoyed being in front of the class, but I wish I had been able to work on something other than grammar. I know my kids are burned out about it, and this is something that we are going to focus on for the rest of the month. I think this is a passive experience because I stand in front of the class going over what the textbook says and we review the handout. They have time to work on the handout and we go over the answers together. For some of my kids, they seem to be working with the experience. Some of the kids will answer questions and will explain why they got that answer. On a couple of occassions they have proved me wrong and explained to me why my answer is wrong. I don't have a teacher's edition so I have to do the work myself. I have to say I have enjoyed being wrong, especially when a student explains to me why he thinks he is right and I see that he is. This lets me know that I must be doing a good job explaining because someone is paying attention.

Today I asked my students how many of them use IM. Almost all of them do and they encouraged me to do the same. They said they think that some things might be easier understood if they are taught on computers. I think this is true because in my class my kids have access to computers at home. They all text message because they all have cell phones. They think that it would be cool if I had a website that had links to things that I like and things that I think would help them to understand things in class.

My Voice

I looked at some of the posts that we were supposed to and I noticed that they were all able to be more honest about what they do in their classroom. The reason for this is because they are relatively annonymous. They are also able to have links to other blogs that talk about controversial subjects. Two of the blogs are very open about what goes on in their class and I think it is a good thing. First it gives them the chance to vent their frustration without the risk of censure. They don't have to worry about being told that what they are saying is wrong.

For my own voice, I guess all I can talk about is my classes and my students, but in a censured manner. I'm still amazed at how some of my students just recently suprised me by not writing how I thought they would. I expected to have the students who participate in class to be better writers, when in fact it turned out that the ones that I expected to be poor writers were pretty good. This taught me that I should judge my students by the work and not by a preconceived notion that if you particpate you must be a good student. The only other thing that I can talk about is my daughter. Since I have no life, you can tell by the fact that i'm writing this post on a Friday night during Spring Break, and she is currently my best, because I don't have time for friends, and my hot date, she is the most important person that I put up with.

Digital Natives

I haven't really noticed if my students are digitally inclined. The only experience I have is with my daughter, who I haven't seen or spoken to since she got her own computer. Since she is in middle school I guess I can use her for my subject. She and all of her friends are computer literate. They spend more time im'ing each other than they do talking on the phone. She understands HTML a lot better than I do and is able to navigate the web with ease. I think she owes this to a friend of hers. A few years ago they became obsessed with the internet. I worried that my daughter would never learn to like to read anything because she preferred being on the internet. I was proven wrong by Lemony Snicket. Thanks to those books, which she read in a week making me proud to claim her, she discovered reading. She still worships her computer, but she can become interested in books. She has the advantage of growing up in a house that has had a computer for as long as she can remember.

Replying to the prompt and other things....

First, I have to say that the only reading habit that I have acquired since entering the internet is reading fan fictions. It is amazing how some people are so creative that they take their favorite characters from books, television shows or movies and continue the story or create new stories. I read the news on the internet more often than I would from the newspaper or by watching television. The only other way that the internet has affected my reading is by recommending books. Had it not been for a few people on one of my favorite sites, I might not have read Harry Potter. The recomendations often come in handy when I've hit a wall on what to read. I visit sites because of a common like, so most sites can recommend books that I would enjoy. For me reading will always be important. I would rather lie on a bed, or sit on a couch with my Dr. Pepper on the side and a book in my hand. I don't like sitting in front of a computer to read novels. I can't get comfortable in front of a computer. I still need to feel a book in my hands that I can easily pick up and move to another spot in my house when I am being bothered.

I don't know if my students read less or more because of the internet. I have only been at my school for two weeks and am amazed at how well behaved my students are. This scares me because I think it gives me a false sense of security. I was placed in a really nice school in Rancho San Diego, far away from the area were I was originally supposed to go. I worry about expecting this type of behavior and then for my second placement getting a rude awakening when I wind up in a different school with a completely different behavior. I figure if I keep this in mind and don't expect perfect behavior, then I won't be suprised and upset. Not that i'm giving up on this expectation of a calm classroom, but more of giving myself a realistic idea that not all classes are the same.

On a side note, I found this website, http://www.iloveteaching.com/studteach/index.htm, that had interesting advice for student teachers. One thing I found that might be the most helpful is compiling a working portfolio that student teachers might use when they go on interviews for their first jobs.

How to use webpages

I think one fun way to use webpages in class is to have students create their own web pages based on anything that they like to read. First, they must choose one book and then research and reflect on the reason they like this book. Another interesting way for me is to create a web page that will direct students to specific areas that I want them to research. I'm sure that with more experience I will begin to think of other interesting ways to utilize web pages in my future classroom.

Favorite Authors

I have to say that my favorite author is Jane Austen. I have recently read and fell in love with Emily Bronte. I think I will focus on Kate Chopin for my author study because I love her short stories and I find it fascinating that she was overlooked for so many years because of one book, The Awakening, that was considered scandalous. While this book is not my favorite, I do love her short stories.

Finally Placed

I have finally been placed at Hillsdale Middle School in Rancho San Diego. I'm kind of excited because I'm finally going to start, but at the same time I'm depressed because i'm going to be busy. I haven't met my master teacher yet and have no idea what to expect. I was really excited over a presentation that I did the other day in a different class. I thought that it went better than I had imagined.

First post

This is my first post and I am currently in class. This week has been exciting in my house. My eleven year-old daughter has finally saved enough money to buy herself a computer. The computer arrived yesterday and is waiting for me to put it up. I'm happy that my daughter has enough sense to save money and understands the value of my hard earned dollar. The money that she saved up is mostly my money that I have given her throughout the last few years. She has had family members that have given her money, but it is mostly my money. However, the important thing is that she saved it.