All in all, I'm very happy with how my first year is going. I recognize the short comings that accompany my inexperience, but I strive to do my best in spite of that. With Thanksgiving break just a few days away, I'm happy to say that I have had some great successes and I still like all my students :) I'm finding a balance and figuring out what works for me. And, you know what? I'm still excited, I still love what I do, and I'm looking forward to the rest of the school year. So bring it on, first year! I survived October!!!
It is now three months into my first year as a middle school English teacher, and I am doing it! I remember seeing the "Phases of First-Year Teachers' Attitudes Toward Teaching" graph before I had this job and thinking to myself, That'll never be ME! And while I am happy to say that I am not (very) disillusioned, I certainly found myself in something akin to survival mode for nearly all of October. One day, I called my husband and admitted that I was beginning to feel overwhelmed by it all: the planning, the grading, the management, the discipline- all of it! He sweetly reminded me that I was NOT overwhelmed, but merely "whelmed," that I was tired and busy and frustrated but NOT drowning or desperate or disillusioned. So that's what I remind myself when things get busy. All in all, I'm very happy with how my first year is going. I recognize the short comings that accompany my inexperience, but I strive to do my best in spite of that. With Thanksgiving break just a few days away, I'm happy to say that I have had some great successes and I still like all my students :) I'm finding a balance and figuring out what works for me. And, you know what? I'm still excited, I still love what I do, and I'm looking forward to the rest of the school year. So bring it on, first year! I survived October!!! Image Source : http://www.blog.mgraffin.com/tag/substitute-teaching/#.VGygAoepq50
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Since we were covering character analysis this month, these renderings by Isaiah Stephens of Disney characters dressed up for Halloween got me thinking about a fun and effective characterization project for this bewitching hour. 1. Writing Assignment (mandatory): Choose a favorite character from literature, tv, or cinema. What character (from literature, TV, or cinema) would that character be for Halloween and WHY??? Provide evidence for your opinion. Answer this question in AT LEAST 2 sentences. Please write in complete sentences using paragraph format. Spelling, punctuation, grammar, and capitalization all count! Response should be submitted HERE as this week's discussion post. 2. Contest (optional): In addition to the writing assignment, create a picture of your character dressed up as another character. You may draw it or make a collage or use photoshop, etc. All submissions must be turned in AS A HARD COPY to Mrs. Robertson by the end of school on OCTOBER 30th. Voting will take place on Halloween.
Eowyn and Faramir (from the Lord Of The Rings) have dressed up as Robin hood and Maid Marian. The independent and willful character of Marian is similar to the fiercely independent Eowyn, just as the just and strategic character of Robin Hood matches Faramirs' fairness and leadership.
Day from Legend would probably dress up as Han Salo from Star Wars because Han Salo is an outlaw and Day is an outlaw. They are also both self-reliant until another character changes them.
My character is Ida from the book The Lost Children dressed up as Florida from the book Ruby Holler. I think they are similar becaause they both act rough and tough on the outside, but are soft at heart. They also want to stay young just a bit longer, but are unable to, due to their current situation. They also both have annoying, dreamy companions who are silent to no end. Ida has Fargus, Florida has Dallas. They are both rebellious, and don't like to be told what to do. That's why I think Ida would dress up as Florida for Halloween. I loved seeing what my students came up with for this activity. It was kind of an experiment this year, but their end products showed so much higher level thinking and application that next year I want to better utilize the writing portion as a method of characterization.
For Red Ribbon Week, our school had a door decorating contest. I, of course, wanted my door to be book themed, so this is what I came up with: The only thing we're "addicted" to is READING! I went back and forth about whether my theme was taking addiction to lightly, but ultimately decided I was ok with it. The kids loved it, and although we didn't win anything, I was really happy with how it turned out. In case you're interested, here is what I used to create for our classroom Red Ribbon Week door: “Book collecting is an obsession, an occupation, a disease, an addiction, a fascination, an absurdity, a fate. It is not a hobby. Those who do it must do it. Those who do not do it, think of it as a cousin of stamp collecting, a sister of the trophy cabinet, bastard of a sound bank account and a weak mind.” ―Jeanette Winterson “Deprived of their newspapers or a novel, reading-addicts will fall back onto cookery books, on the literature which is wrapped around bottles of patent medicine, on those instructions for keeping the contents crisp which are printed on the outside of boxes of breakfast cereals. On anything." -Aldous Huxley, The Olive Tree The 14 Stages of Book Addiction 1.You buy a book you’ve heard a lot of buzz about and figure you’ll just try it out. 2.You’re a few pages in thinking “I mean, I don’t really see what all the fuss is about.” 3.Fifty pages in and now you need to know what happens. You NEED to know. 4.You look forward to even a few minutes of downtime because that is precious reading time. 5.Sleep is no longer important since these late hours in the night are when no one disturbs you and asks “what are you reading??” as if holding a book in front of your face is not enough of a ‘please do not disturb’ sign. 6.An internal conflict starts to develop as part of you wants to know how the story ends and the other part of you can’t bare the thought of life without this book. 7.You become unhealthily attached to the main characters, especially if the narrator is in love with the novel equivalent to your prince charming. 8.You think you might love a character more than you love your actual boyfriend. 9.You start to become the book’s biggest marketing tool as you preach about the literary masterpiece to your friends. 10.Reality is no longer of importance. Your taxes can wait, the main characters are in danger!! 11.If something tragic happens to the main character or your book boyfriend, you cry for your loss and because literally no one around you cares about your mental anguish. 12.You finish the book and your heart aches as you say goodbye to those characters forever 13.Walking into a bookstore afterwards is like being thrown back into the dating world after getting dumped. 14.You find a flaw in every book you pick up and realize you’re just not ready to get back out there. But wait… IS THAT A SEQUEL!!!! Repeat steps 1-14 Signs You’re Addicted to Reading: Do you read multiple books each month? Do you read multiple books at a time? Do you prefer books to people? Do you usually fall asleep with a book? Do you take a book with you everywhere you go? Do you have multiple library cards? Do you ever laugh out loud when reading a book? Cry? Have you ever fallen in love with a book character? Do you ever miss characters after you finish a book? See more on my "I Heart Reading" Pinterest board
Our curriculum calls for a unit on Mythology, but I have to admit I was worried about making it interesting for my 7th grade students. It didn't take much exploring online to find some excellent resources that made this one of my favorite units to teach this semester. Introduction | If I were a Greek god... I love to start new units with a little bit of humor- especially something like mythology that my students might think they have no interest in (imagine what I have to do for grammar!). When I saw this skit by Studio C, a clean comedy group from my Alma mater, I decided I had to find a way to use it for my mythology unit. After watching this clip, I asked my students to do the following writing assignment on their blogs: If you you were a Greek god –Where would your Mount Olympus be? Why? –Which Greek god would you be best friends with? Enemies? Why? –What would you be the god of? Why? –What would your symbol be? Your weapon? Your animal? Why? Write in complete sentences in paragraph format. Their responses not only got their interest in mythology peaked, but also were turned out to be a fun way to get to know them a little better. Part of me wants to find a way to make this more academic, but part of me likes that it's just fun. Besides humor, I have also found that if I can EVER effectively use a video clip with these kids, I definitely should. And so, in talking about Theseus and the Minotaur, I really liked this artistic rendering as an accompaniment to the text. Characterization & Allusion | Theseus & Katniss After discussing the story of Theseus and the Minotaur and assessing student understanding, I then asked if the story sounded at all familiar to them. Inevitably, someone would make the connection to The Hunger Games, solidifying the the timelessness of Greek mythology and leading right into the idea of Allusion. Bringing pop culture into mythology with such a high interest novel really grabs their attention, and including the following clip brings it all together. Some students thought these similarities were still coincidence, so I also like to show them parts of the following Prezi to acquaint them with the author's background and intent. The movie clip of Suzanne Collins drives home the idea that the themes from Greek mythology are still relevant and eternal truths that we acknowledge and enjoy hundreds of years later. Having hit on allusion and theme, I then like to tie everything back into characterization. Using a Venn Diagram, I had my students compare and contrast Katniss and Theseus using S.T.E.A.L. (Speech, Thoughts and emotions, Effect on others, Actions, and Looks). It is interesting to see how Suzanne Collins was able to take basic plot and character elements but ultimately make them her own through the implementation of modern ideas and interests and through her own creativity and imagination. And that's what it's all about! It's got to apply to these kids; they have to appreciate it. And yes- they also prefer to be entertained throughout the process, so I do my best. Admittedly, I do my best and STILL have students who won't engage, but it is what it is. It's actually quite humorous that these 7th graders form such immediate negative impressions about a lasting form of literature that has proven itself over hundreds of years. Aren't we all SO glad to be done with adolescence? ...And yet here I am, right back in it of my own free will :) No better job in the world.
In our school district, we're asking our students to participate in a 25 Book Challenge, our own way of implementing Donalyn Miller's famous 40 book challenge. Every ELA class across the district is encouraging their students to read 25 books of their own choose from a variety of genres. No grades or projects are attached with the reading assignment; our goal is intrinsic motivation, increased love of reading and reading stamina, and all of the positive side effects that will follow. I have committed to do the 25 Book Challenge along with my students. If I can make time, then they certainly can! As a busy first-year teacher, I am trying to set aside one hour each night before I go to bed for reading. It can be a sacrifice, but the reward has been worth it. Here are the five books I read during September: If I Stay |
This book was recommended to me by several of my students (I ended up borrowing it from one of them). This is a good book, a real tear-jerker, but the author has a habit of laying the emotion on pretty heavy-handedly. It follows the easy TFIOS formula of tragedy and romance, but it offers a unique perspective and original story. I can definitely see why adolescent girls are loving it. It's not a book I would keep in my class library because of language. |
Lady Almina & The Real Downton Abbey
by Fiona Carnarvon, the Countess of Carnarvon
As someone who has enjoyed Downton Abbey, learning more about the real characters and history of Highclere Castle was especially interesting. The true legacy of these people and this place is quite remarkable. Their contributions and generosity during WWI were incredible. They played vital roles in history throughout the war and with the financing and discovery of King Tut's tomb. This is not a book I think my middle schoolers would enjoy, but I was completely captivated! |
Colin Fischer
By Ashley Edward Miller
A lot of my students read this as part of their summer reading, but I just wasn't a big fan. I think the authors did a great job of portraying Asperger Syndrome, which is an excellent topic for a YA realistic fiction novel; however, I found the plot and characters unbelieveable. I simply felt they were trying too hard. |
Persepolis
By Marjane Satrapi
This is a very interesting representation of the Iranian Cultural Revolution told in graphic novel format from the perspective of a child. I was drawn to it because of Maus, and ultimately thought this book did a better job of portraying non-fiction through a graphic novel. I am still not a huge fan of this format, but I appreciate the art and the potential it presents to reach new audiences. Language and some content are probably too mature for YA Lit |
The house on Mango Street
by Sandra Cisneros
The use of figurative language in this book made the prose feel more like poetry- there is so much heart in the writing that you feel as if you are experiencing each short narrative through the eyes of the author as a child. While this book was beautifully written, I didn't enjoy the flow and couldn't get into her storytelling style; however, I understand why it is a celebrated piece of literature. |
I've had a REAL slow start this month, but I am looking forward to my personal reading time this month!
I had considerably less time to read this month with all the end of summer trainings and new hire orientation and decorating my classroom and (oh yeah) getting ready for the kids to show. Nonetheless, I still read a few great books!
Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children
by Ransom Riggs
Disclaimer: Do not read this book alone late at night. The pictures are creepy! But FYI- adolescents LOVE that about this book :) I only have to show them a couple pictures and tell them about the plot, and they're lining up to read it. Jacob grew up hearing his grandpa's ghost stories and tales about the peculiar children he grew up with as a Jewish WWII refuge in England. But when Jacob's grandpa suffers a horrific death, Jacob starts to think that maybe there is truth to these stories. He returns to Miss Peregrine's Home to learn what he can and determine the truth. |
All the Truth That's in Me by Julie berry
Judith returns after having been missing for four years with no explanation for her absence, no tongue, and no explanation for the death of her best friend who also went missing at the same time. Her town fears her and she become a quiet, lone outcast, distrusted by her own family and ignored by her former friends. But while the truth is dangerous for Judith and those she loves, it could also be the only means of saving them. This was an interesting idea for a book. I didn't love it, but it was an interesting story. Because of the way the story is told, you never really know the whole story until the end. |
Maus by Art Spiegleman
As a graphic novel, this is a unique and unexpected format for a historical fiction book about the Holocaust, but it definitely reaches an audience that otherwise would not read similar genres. As you can imagine, this is especially powerful for students. But don't be fooled by the comic book feel of this book- the topic is no laughing matter and the story is as real as any other book on this topic. The author write his father's story as a Holocaust survivor. As a Jew in Poland, Spiegelman's parents and older brother had been caught in the turmoil of WWII. They hid, finding refuge from the sympathetic, but eventually ended up in a concentration camp. |
Flora & Ulysses by Kate DiCamillo
After being accidentally vacuumed up, a squirrel is brought back to life by a cynical and lonely little girl. Much to their surprise, he finds he now has superpowers- incredible strength, the ability to fly, and a new found knack for poetry. The girl, Flora, names him Ulysses, and the two begin to look out for one another and to seek out a worthy purpose for Ulysses' new powers. This is a very sweet story. As an English teacher, I love the appeal of the pictures throughout, and I appreciate the vocabulary and the themes of friendship, empathy, and heroism. |
I'm very interested to see how much time I have to read now that I am teaching full-time. I hope to continue to read at least one book per week. I read with my students when I can and try to make time to read at home. And that's the thing- I feel that if I make time, I'll have time!
That. Was. Crazy!
This week required constant reassessing- talk about thinking on your feet! While there were a few moments of near panic, I'm happy with how things turned out. The first day of school was a blur- It went by so fast! It was a good day, but I realized I needed to plan less for each class so I don't feel so rushed.
Twice on Tuesday it seemed like things were close to falling apart. First, the set of laptops I had for the day would not connect to the network and my first period was nearly wasted. Plus, my students couldn't remember their usernames or passwords and class was at a literal stand still. I just had to stop and think of what else we could do. Quick. Luckily, I realized I could make Friday's activity work instead, so we adapted.
Then, after nearly 40 students had already turned in permission forms I had sent home, I realized that I not only had forgotten to remind them to put their names on their papers, I had also neglected to put a place on their paper for their name! Now I had a stack of permission forms, turned in a day early, only identifiable by their parents' illegible signatures. So I took a breath, reminded the rest of my classes, and was happy to see that most of my students had written their names without my hope. Problem averted. I'll tell you what- I'll never make that mistake again!
The next day, I got to school early, got all of the laptops working (well, several wouldn't work no matter what I did), and was able to make up for lost time. Now, if only all my students would listen carefully when I give directions or read the thorough directions I provided on our class website, things would have gone smooth as butter! Ultimately, we got it all done without undue blood, sweat, or tears- and it was a lot! I'm proud of my kids.
There was a moment when everything was going perfectly. With too few computers, some students were registering for the websites we would be using, and those who were waiting were quietly reading. This time, when I took a moment to stop and assess, I found myself thinking, "I'm doing it! It's working!" And you know what, it was awesome! So I took a picture :)
Twice on Tuesday it seemed like things were close to falling apart. First, the set of laptops I had for the day would not connect to the network and my first period was nearly wasted. Plus, my students couldn't remember their usernames or passwords and class was at a literal stand still. I just had to stop and think of what else we could do. Quick. Luckily, I realized I could make Friday's activity work instead, so we adapted.
Then, after nearly 40 students had already turned in permission forms I had sent home, I realized that I not only had forgotten to remind them to put their names on their papers, I had also neglected to put a place on their paper for their name! Now I had a stack of permission forms, turned in a day early, only identifiable by their parents' illegible signatures. So I took a breath, reminded the rest of my classes, and was happy to see that most of my students had written their names without my hope. Problem averted. I'll tell you what- I'll never make that mistake again!
The next day, I got to school early, got all of the laptops working (well, several wouldn't work no matter what I did), and was able to make up for lost time. Now, if only all my students would listen carefully when I give directions or read the thorough directions I provided on our class website, things would have gone smooth as butter! Ultimately, we got it all done without undue blood, sweat, or tears- and it was a lot! I'm proud of my kids.
There was a moment when everything was going perfectly. With too few computers, some students were registering for the websites we would be using, and those who were waiting were quietly reading. This time, when I took a moment to stop and assess, I found myself thinking, "I'm doing it! It's working!" And you know what, it was awesome! So I took a picture :)
I'm excited to get back on Tuesday... and grateful that a three-day weekend followed the first week of school. I love my students, my classes, my classroom- I'm living the dream :) Now to finish up lesson plans for next week and finalize my preparations for Back to School night!
I hate to admit that I never thought about everything a teacher has to do to prepare for a new school year until now. Forget lesson plans, I've got to get my classroom, apps, and website set up, and my syllabus, welcome letter, and additional documentation written. I need to figure out seating charts and print a million things. And oh yeah- I've got all this equipment from my document cam to my Promethean board that I need to figure out how to set up and use. So much to do, but still a week to go- Gonna make it!
Still, you know what? I'm having fun doing it- all of it! The welcome letter below took a good chunk of my evening yesterday, but I enjoyed putting it together and I'm very happy with the final product. Thank goodness this work is so fulfilling!
Still, you know what? I'm having fun doing it- all of it! The welcome letter below took a good chunk of my evening yesterday, but I enjoyed putting it together and I'm very happy with the final product. Thank goodness this work is so fulfilling!
I do not have a digital classroom, but I am still using apps in my classroom. There are loads of apps out there specifically created to ease the life of the teacher. Here are five I plan to use:
Music Cues: $1.99
UPDATE: I bought this app, and it wouldn't even work! Looking at the reviews, it looks like other teachers have had the same problem :(
I am so excited about this app! It allows you to create musical cues for students to follow so that the teacher does not need to give redundant verbal directions; instead, students hear the music and know what is expected of them. Think of the possibilities! A cue to get their attention, a cue to quiet down, a cue to return to their seats, a cue to find a partner, a dance party brain break! The songs come from your itunes account, and the app allows you to specify which part of the song you want to play. For more information, read through the article below written by the creator (a teacher himself). |
Class Library: $1.99
I've got A LOT of books for my class library, so I needed to find an app that would allow me to keep track of them. Class Library allows you to enter your books and students so that you can check books in and out and track availability. Cool huh? Admittedly, this app could be even better with a few improvements. I wish there was some way to create a hold or wait list for popular books that multiple students would like to read. If I were being really picky, it would also be cool if you could sort/search by genre, author, or ISBN. Right now, there is no search function, and the books are simple sorted alphabetically by title. So far, I'm sill loving this app, but I keep imagining how much better it could be!!! |
Remind 101: FREE
Texting and students are two words that don't go well together. Most educators would agree that this form of communication is not the safest or most appropriate way to communicate with our pupils. Yet, texting may be the most effective way to reach the youth of this generation. Remind 101 presents a solution to this problem. It allows teachers to safely send group messages to students and parents. Everything is private and messages are one way only. I can send or schedule reminders, assignments, homework, assessments, or motivational messages. What's more, I can send photos and documents AND check who has viewed them. Definitely check this one out. |
ZipGrade: FREE
Admittedly, I haven't used this one before, but it looks cool! Your phone or ipad becomes a scanner to grade multiple choice tests and quizzes, allowing for instant feedback to your students. The answer sheets can be downloaded for free and results can easily be organized, reported, and exported. Unfortunately, this is just a demo. After 100 scans, it does cost $2.99 for two months or $6.99 for a year. Worth it? |
Pikme: FREE
I have a distinct memory during student teaching of a student crying out, "It's not FAIR! You NEVER pick me!" Now, keep in mind that I was using names on sticks to guarantee that I was being fair, but you can't win them all! There are lots of different techniques for picking students, but I recommend Pikme. This app allows you to randomly select students and establish groups of various sizes. It even allows you to rate and track responses! Easy peasy. |
Well, we're down to less than two weeks until school starts! My to-do list is getting crazy long, but with apps like these, I am feeling a little bit more like it's all coming together, and it's all going to be ok.
Deep breaths :)
Deep breaths :)
There are a million other things I should be doing with my time, but instead I've been spending time on PicCollage designing my classroom! I recently found out the official room assignment, so naturally I snuck onto campus to case the joint and start planning. Well- technically I started planning months ago on Pinterest, but now I'm actually bringing it all together!
(Have you checked out my Pinterest yet??? See my Classroom Design Board HERE)
So here are a couple of rough designs, but you'll get the idea:
Wall #1 Word wall made of book page "wallpaper," Ikea pillows for a reading corner, classroom library, and Fandom wall for book quotes, pictures, and recommendations. | Wall #2 English humor posters, white board calendar made of colorful tape, dry-erase markers, and sticky notes, and today's objectives, standards, and agenda. |
I've got everything boxed up and ready to go, but I've had to wait to move in. I'm pretty excited- this is going to be my home for (at least) the next year, after all! I've also left plenty of room for the students to leave their touch, and I've got enough shelf space to quadruple my classroom library. I'll keep you posted as I get things setup :)
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