Let me start by saying, "every action has an equal but opposite reaction." Thanks to our good friend Sir Isaac Newton, we know that everything we do has a consequence of some sort. It's a shame that the reality of this natural law has yet to register with my students.
I found out the hard way that planning for a sub for two days takes approximately the same amount of time as planning for an entire week or more of my own teaching. My detail oriented self struggles to relinquish control at time...I know, I know, I'm working on it! After leaving detailed sub plans for last Thursday and Friday, and mentally preparing my students for what was to come and how they were to act, I was confident that all would be well. Thankfully, I allowed myself to believe this enough to finally relax on our long weekend in NYC!
I was quickly shot back to reality as I returned to school this morning, and flipped through the notes left by the sub. Just as I had begun to smile, proud that the sub had been so impressed by my thorough and organized notes for her, I froze. Was I reading this correctly?! It's couldn't be....
On Thursday one of my basic math students, let's call him J, was absent. Having not been informed of this prior to me leaving, I had not informed the sub of his absence. Another student, lets call him S, who is with me for Algebra at the same time as J and 3 others are with me for basic math (yes I teach 2 classes at once...please don't ask how!), decided to take advantage of J's absence. During attendance, S happily informed the sub that he was J. Not surprising, as this is an age old trick, tried and true with substitutes. However, the difference was that on this day there was a chapter test in basic math. Well, this did not stop S...he proceeded to take the test, even signing J's full name at the top.
Despite the fact that I have baseball cards (with the names/ photos of students) on my bulletin board, the sub did not catch the blunder; though who could blame her, as my boys are quite charming and convincing when they want to be! It was not until J was back on the second day of her sub placement that she realized what had happened.
...Now imagine my surprise when I realized that not only did I have to confront both students about this...but I had to do so without laughing. This move was so cleaver and cunning that I couldn't help but laugh. Though I wanted to high-five him for pulling off such a move, I know that if I let S get away with this, students will continue to attempt moves such as this from here on out, most likely turning it into a game of some sort. My solution: to allow J, the basic math student, to take S's Algebra quiz and to give S whatever grade his underclass friend receives. Keep in mind, not only is J 3 year's younger...his math skill level is at approximately a 4th grade level. So imagine giving an Algebra test to a 4th grader. Yes, I realize that to some this is brutal, while others lenient...but I know that this will get through to my student, as will the apology letter to the substitute and a phone call home. Let's just say, I may no longer be a class favorite tomorrow : )
On a SMARTer note...my SMART Board was delivered today and will be installed within the next week. This might be the first time this semester that I have am close to tears due to joy rather than stress (though don't get me wrong, there will always be plenty of that)! I am finally bringing this classroom into the 21st century and can reach the students on their level...praise the Lord!
Well, I must finish editing an IEP, as I have my last IEP meeting of 2010 tomorrow, after school. The second I adjourn the meeting, Thanksgiving break begins. THANK God!
Yours Truly,
Ms. Phillips
Monday, November 22, 2010
Monday, November 8, 2010
Identity Crisis
I began the day hopeful that this week would have much more redeeming qualities than last week...I was quickly smacked in the face with the harshness of reality. I have come to the conclusion that this year there are likely to be more days that end with me questioning my career choice than not. In fact, recently I have decided that I must have been outside of my mind to decide that high school special ed. was my calling. I have had my fair share of doubts. Why would someone willingly chose to surround themselves with hundreds of hormonal teenagers? I daunting question that I have yet to answer...yet here I am!
I am struggling to keep my sanity as I balance needing to know chemistry, physical science, biology, Spanish, English, pre-algebra, algebra, Bible, history, etc. Planning for my own 5 classes is hard enough, let alone needing to know the content for the kids that I tutor. Oh, and then there is always the IEPs and progress reports...those fun legal documents that seem to rear their ugly heads whenever I am led to falsly believe that I have it all under control.
I find myself caught between being the strict teacher that insists on silence and surrender, verses the laid back leanient teacher. I want the kids to be held accountable both for behavior and knowledge while still feeling comfortable both with me and my classroom. Whenever I focus on fixing one problem, a heap of other conflicts seem to arise. Finding the balance between work and rest is a whole other ball of wax. I know that I need to be rested in order to best serve the students, but any time I take the time to rest, I feel as if I am two steps farther behind.
Well, my basketball player/not-so-star-student got his wish today...he just barely passed, qualifying him to play for the season. Ignoring the fact that he passed by the skin of his teeth, he lit up as I told him he was eligeable. I took this time to inform him that his hard work was far from over, as I would be communicating with his coach and if at any time he has more than 2 assignments missing, he will not play the following week. This news caused a much less animated repsonse than the first. My newly instated rule serves, if nothing else, as encouragement of sorts me for, allowing me to believe that school will still somehow be a priority...even if not by choice. I would like to believe that one day he will realize it was for his own good.
On an exciting note...I'm getting a SmartBoard!!! This interactive tool will finally help bring my ancient modular into the 21st century; how exciting! I have also been blessed with some additonal funding that allowed me to go on a shopping spree for my classroom today. I stocked up on some outstanding resources that I have had my eye. Hopefully these new resources will help to engage the kids...somehow. Today the librarian informed me that he had spent a 1/2 hour on a 1 minute video presentation for his class, but that they were SO engaged, hanging on every word. I joke, saying, "If it took 1/2 for 1 minute of attention...think how much we have to do for 50 minutes!!!" We both laughed, realizing the reality that we face on a daily basis and the overwhelming obstacles that we must tackle in the process.
The WCHS boys soccer team has made it into the finals. If they win tomorrow night, the entire school is excused from classes all day on Friday to tailgate and attend the finals at the Crew Stadium Friday. Never before have I been a fan of soccer...but I could be! I am praying that this is God's early Christmas gift to the teachers!
Another humbling encounter today: One of my students, A, informed me that she had watched "Freedom Writers" this weekend, a heart-felt tale of a teacher in an urban school that changes the lives of her students from the inside out. After sharing how we both had watched the movie through our own watery lenses, she said, "You know, Ms. Phillips...that's like you. You could be that teacher some day. It just takes time..." Spoken like someone wise beyond her years; she sure hit the nail on the head. What a powerful reminder that Rome wasn't built in a day, nor would my classroom.
One day at a time,
Ms. Phillips
I am struggling to keep my sanity as I balance needing to know chemistry, physical science, biology, Spanish, English, pre-algebra, algebra, Bible, history, etc. Planning for my own 5 classes is hard enough, let alone needing to know the content for the kids that I tutor. Oh, and then there is always the IEPs and progress reports...those fun legal documents that seem to rear their ugly heads whenever I am led to falsly believe that I have it all under control.
I find myself caught between being the strict teacher that insists on silence and surrender, verses the laid back leanient teacher. I want the kids to be held accountable both for behavior and knowledge while still feeling comfortable both with me and my classroom. Whenever I focus on fixing one problem, a heap of other conflicts seem to arise. Finding the balance between work and rest is a whole other ball of wax. I know that I need to be rested in order to best serve the students, but any time I take the time to rest, I feel as if I am two steps farther behind.
Well, my basketball player/not-so-star-student got his wish today...he just barely passed, qualifying him to play for the season. Ignoring the fact that he passed by the skin of his teeth, he lit up as I told him he was eligeable. I took this time to inform him that his hard work was far from over, as I would be communicating with his coach and if at any time he has more than 2 assignments missing, he will not play the following week. This news caused a much less animated repsonse than the first. My newly instated rule serves, if nothing else, as encouragement of sorts me for, allowing me to believe that school will still somehow be a priority...even if not by choice. I would like to believe that one day he will realize it was for his own good.
On an exciting note...I'm getting a SmartBoard!!! This interactive tool will finally help bring my ancient modular into the 21st century; how exciting! I have also been blessed with some additonal funding that allowed me to go on a shopping spree for my classroom today. I stocked up on some outstanding resources that I have had my eye. Hopefully these new resources will help to engage the kids...somehow. Today the librarian informed me that he had spent a 1/2 hour on a 1 minute video presentation for his class, but that they were SO engaged, hanging on every word. I joke, saying, "If it took 1/2 for 1 minute of attention...think how much we have to do for 50 minutes!!!" We both laughed, realizing the reality that we face on a daily basis and the overwhelming obstacles that we must tackle in the process.
The WCHS boys soccer team has made it into the finals. If they win tomorrow night, the entire school is excused from classes all day on Friday to tailgate and attend the finals at the Crew Stadium Friday. Never before have I been a fan of soccer...but I could be! I am praying that this is God's early Christmas gift to the teachers!
Another humbling encounter today: One of my students, A, informed me that she had watched "Freedom Writers" this weekend, a heart-felt tale of a teacher in an urban school that changes the lives of her students from the inside out. After sharing how we both had watched the movie through our own watery lenses, she said, "You know, Ms. Phillips...that's like you. You could be that teacher some day. It just takes time..." Spoken like someone wise beyond her years; she sure hit the nail on the head. What a powerful reminder that Rome wasn't built in a day, nor would my classroom.
One day at a time,
Ms. Phillips
Monday, November 1, 2010
NO Child Left Behind topped with a Bad Case of the Mondays
It's almost midnight...I realize that I must wake up in approximately 6 hours, yet here I am. After a long Monday, I left school today discouraged and feeling under the weather with a bad case of the Mondays. This weekend I had granted myself the luxury of pretending not to be a teacher for a few days. The students had Thursday and Friday off, as most of the teachers has a 2-day conference for the Association of Christian Schools International. One of the blessings of being a state-employee, is that I am not required to go to all WCHS events; though many are beneficial regardless. Of course I went to some of it, as I felt some things applied to me as well as fed my curiosity and spirituality alike.
Long story short though, I have not been in student mode for nearly 5 days, so this morning hit me like a ton of bricks. I felt unprepared as I drove to school this morning, thinking of all that I could and probably should have accomplished but did not. I calmed myself though by reminding myself that grades are due tomorrow and at least I have all of those in and set to go! My feeling of unpreparedness turned in to pure frustration as I realized that I left not one, both both folders for my math classes at home on the kitchen table...after specifically making a mental note last night not to do so. Some good that did; some day I am convinced I'm just like my kids. "Well guys, you'll never guess what Ms. Phillips did this morning...she left her home work on the kitchen table..." Needless to say those plans were "shot to hell in a hand basket" as my lovely side-kick says. Somehow I managed to pull some things together, though not as effectively and orderly as I'd like of course...my perfectionist self was forced to get over it rather quickly.
Despite the day's blunders, I left an hour and a half after the bell rang dismissing the students this afternoon; not bad for me! Sadly, I left in full knowledge that I must take a short run/ dinner break before hitting the lesson plans again.
.....And here I am. Having just finished the week's lesson plan for my 5th and final class. I am continually haunted by the daunting task of meeting the needs of every child. On the eve of election day, I am reminded of the famous NO CHILD LEFT BEHIND and can only laugh. The regulations, restrictions, accountability testing, and numbers, and all other requirements were created with many flaws. Those things are so limited and I find myself constantly asking how in the world I am challenge the top student while not trampling on those still on the bottom rung. If only...
Anyways, I will step down from my soap box to tell you the good news. I am THRILLED because after completing Beowulf with my seniors, which was rough at times for the boys, I have been racking my brain for a REALISTIC way to assess the students' knowledge. I have come up with what I consider to be an exciting solution. The kids will be given a "menu" of options ranging from creating a comic, song lyrics, a powerpoint, a gameboard, and more in order to display what they have learned about the various characters, setting, events, and themes of Beowulf. Now God only knows if the students will be as excited as I am; most likely not, but there is always hope! However, I have to believe they will approve of this better than the original paragraph essay rubric I had drafted. There may be light at the end of the tunnel!
Ps...I now know why every one's first piece of advice to me as a first-year teacher was to get a hobby. Thank the Lord for running...it has become my outlet at the end of the days. I am going to attempt to train for a 1/2 marathon, so hopefully that will provide enough challenge and distraction outside of the classroom that somehow I can maintain my sanity. How ironic...running a 1/2 marathon to maintain rather than lose sanity...who would have guessed?!
Here's to shaking a bad case of the Mondays!
Ms. Phillips
Long story short though, I have not been in student mode for nearly 5 days, so this morning hit me like a ton of bricks. I felt unprepared as I drove to school this morning, thinking of all that I could and probably should have accomplished but did not. I calmed myself though by reminding myself that grades are due tomorrow and at least I have all of those in and set to go! My feeling of unpreparedness turned in to pure frustration as I realized that I left not one, both both folders for my math classes at home on the kitchen table...after specifically making a mental note last night not to do so. Some good that did; some day I am convinced I'm just like my kids. "Well guys, you'll never guess what Ms. Phillips did this morning...she left her home work on the kitchen table..." Needless to say those plans were "shot to hell in a hand basket" as my lovely side-kick says. Somehow I managed to pull some things together, though not as effectively and orderly as I'd like of course...my perfectionist self was forced to get over it rather quickly.
Despite the day's blunders, I left an hour and a half after the bell rang dismissing the students this afternoon; not bad for me! Sadly, I left in full knowledge that I must take a short run/ dinner break before hitting the lesson plans again.
.....And here I am. Having just finished the week's lesson plan for my 5th and final class. I am continually haunted by the daunting task of meeting the needs of every child. On the eve of election day, I am reminded of the famous NO CHILD LEFT BEHIND and can only laugh. The regulations, restrictions, accountability testing, and numbers, and all other requirements were created with many flaws. Those things are so limited and I find myself constantly asking how in the world I am challenge the top student while not trampling on those still on the bottom rung. If only...
Anyways, I will step down from my soap box to tell you the good news. I am THRILLED because after completing Beowulf with my seniors, which was rough at times for the boys, I have been racking my brain for a REALISTIC way to assess the students' knowledge. I have come up with what I consider to be an exciting solution. The kids will be given a "menu" of options ranging from creating a comic, song lyrics, a powerpoint, a gameboard, and more in order to display what they have learned about the various characters, setting, events, and themes of Beowulf. Now God only knows if the students will be as excited as I am; most likely not, but there is always hope! However, I have to believe they will approve of this better than the original paragraph essay rubric I had drafted. There may be light at the end of the tunnel!
Ps...I now know why every one's first piece of advice to me as a first-year teacher was to get a hobby. Thank the Lord for running...it has become my outlet at the end of the days. I am going to attempt to train for a 1/2 marathon, so hopefully that will provide enough challenge and distraction outside of the classroom that somehow I can maintain my sanity. How ironic...running a 1/2 marathon to maintain rather than lose sanity...who would have guessed?!
Here's to shaking a bad case of the Mondays!
Ms. Phillips
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