Sunday, September 25, 2011
{this moment}
finding Common Ground
I'm not a big fan of field trips. Between the organizing and the fear of losing a child, I'd always rather just stay home. But, I also know trips have value, and so I put on my big girl pants and deal. (Knowing that it's always worth it in the end helps too.)
Friday's trip was no different. I have some paperwork stuff to deal with on Monday (mostly related to attendance) but once again I'm glad we went. The kids spent an hour volunteering-- they were parking cars-- and it's always wonderful watching them outside a classroom. A couple of them took some attitude from some frustrated drivers; I told them to remember how it felt to be on the receiving end the next time they were on the giving end. But they kept their cool, and I think enjoyed the day.
My hope is our common experience helps form a stronger sense of "us"-- or at least "us" as it exists during this school year. It's human nature to divide ourselves into groups of us and them: part of what I try to do is expand their definitions of who belongs with us. My students aren't all friends with each other, and they don't have to be, but they do have to coexist. Days like last Friday help make it work for us.
Friday's trip was no different. I have some paperwork stuff to deal with on Monday (mostly related to attendance) but once again I'm glad we went. The kids spent an hour volunteering-- they were parking cars-- and it's always wonderful watching them outside a classroom. A couple of them took some attitude from some frustrated drivers; I told them to remember how it felt to be on the receiving end the next time they were on the giving end. But they kept their cool, and I think enjoyed the day.
Monday, September 19, 2011
{this moment}
Friday, September 16, 2011
settling in
We're into our third week of school, although it's only our first full week. I have not been good about blogging, which is probably more troublesome for me than for my Dear Readers. Part of what is so wonderful about blogging is it gives me a chance to think and reflect on my own and yet get feedback from people I trust. So as we start the new year (this is the 'real' one for many of us-- January is just for practice), I am going to strive for one reflective post per weekend.
This week, like most of my weeks, had it's highs and lows. We've settled into the curriculum, and I'm feeling pretty good about what we're doing. For the first time since I've been in this program, I have only 5 preps, and I'm teaching at least 4 classes that I just taught last year! (Praise God and glory be!) Yes, for most high school teachers that's a lot, but for me, who is used to 8 preps and not being able to reteach anything, well, ever... this is absolute heaven. I feel like this is the year I become better at the academic side of my practice, and I am very much looking forward to that.
Socially, we're much more balanced this year. I'm used to having a co-teacher rather than an assistant, and my colleague has a better sense of what it is we're trying to do; in short, we're getting pretty close to finding our rhythm together, which is a very good thing. We've let the Sunnies sort themselves into preferred classrooms: they still have to go to whichever class they need for credits, but they get to return to their comfort zone in between. Another huge change has our last class of each day as independent study time. Because 80% of this year's class are seniors (4th, 5th, or 4th-now-but-expecting-to-be-5th-next-year), there are quite a few of them who have needs specific to themselves and not to a full class of students. What's nice about this is they have control about how their day ends. Yesterday, my room had 10 kids all working on their own stuff. I had 2 groups of 2 kids working together and supporting each other through the chapter... and all I had to do was sit back and watch the magic. Yea, that's a good day.
So I'm back in the swing. I'm not going to lie and say my alarm clock and I are good friends, or that I wouldn't be all over working in a school that started at 10 AM.... but I feel pretty great being back in my room, pushing my Sunnies to be all that they can be.
This week, like most of my weeks, had it's highs and lows. We've settled into the curriculum, and I'm feeling pretty good about what we're doing. For the first time since I've been in this program, I have only 5 preps, and I'm teaching at least 4 classes that I just taught last year! (Praise God and glory be!) Yes, for most high school teachers that's a lot, but for me, who is used to 8 preps and not being able to reteach anything, well, ever... this is absolute heaven. I feel like this is the year I become better at the academic side of my practice, and I am very much looking forward to that.
Socially, we're much more balanced this year. I'm used to having a co-teacher rather than an assistant, and my colleague has a better sense of what it is we're trying to do; in short, we're getting pretty close to finding our rhythm together, which is a very good thing. We've let the Sunnies sort themselves into preferred classrooms: they still have to go to whichever class they need for credits, but they get to return to their comfort zone in between. Another huge change has our last class of each day as independent study time. Because 80% of this year's class are seniors (4th, 5th, or 4th-now-but-expecting-to-be-5th-next-year), there are quite a few of them who have needs specific to themselves and not to a full class of students. What's nice about this is they have control about how their day ends. Yesterday, my room had 10 kids all working on their own stuff. I had 2 groups of 2 kids working together and supporting each other through the chapter... and all I had to do was sit back and watch the magic. Yea, that's a good day.
So I'm back in the swing. I'm not going to lie and say my alarm clock and I are good friends, or that I wouldn't be all over working in a school that started at 10 AM.... but I feel pretty great being back in my room, pushing my Sunnies to be all that they can be.
Sunday, September 11, 2011
{this moment}
Saturday, September 03, 2011
{this moment}
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