Sunday, February 27, 2011

A Fond Farewell

I’d like to apologize for the state of this blog. This was never the blog I intended to write. This blog started out with my ideals and ideas, but over the past several months, it has deteriorated into a center for ridicule. I’m disappointed in myself.

I have also noticed that a prominent Philadelphia education blog removed me from its blogroll. It could have been a mistake. But I think it is more likely that they felt I was no longer writing anything of substance.

As a result, I am going to close my blog until the end of the school year.

My school has gone through many changes over the past year. The lack of stability has been very difficult for me. I am losing my energy, and fast. I wake up feeling sapped, and I crave sleep by the end of the school day. I no longer smile and skip through the hallway. I’m less creative, less humorous, less engaging, and less loving to my students. I honestly think I was a better teacher at this time last year.

And the little thing that has been nagging me since the fall is becoming a bigger thing: Maybe I’m not cut out for urban teaching. Or urban public school teaching. Maybe. Maybe not.

I plan revive this blog over the summer, when I have more time to write about serious issues in education. But I don’t want to feed negativity to my friends and supporters. My priority is the education of my students. For the rest of this year, I will make a larger effort to reclaim the energy and love for teaching that I know is latent within me. I’ll be back in a few months.

Thursday, February 24, 2011

Food for Thought

Me: Hey, Loves Candy, why are you wandering the hallway during your lunch period? You should be in the cafeteria.

Loves Candy: No, miss, I'm bored with eating.

Hobbies

Alphabet Soup: Yo, I keep getting all these emails from Barnes & Noble... as if I read.

Tuesday, February 22, 2011

Snow Day #4!

I'm sorry for the lack of posts lately. We had off yesterday for Presidents' Day, and today was our fourth snow day!! There wasn't really that much snow on the ground, but it was very nice to have a four-day weekend. Hopefully, we won't pay for this relaxation in June...

Saturday, February 19, 2011

Fun on Google Docs

In an effort to make my students more literate in professional technologies (since they have already mastered Facebook and texting), I am now requiring them to submit their projects to me on Google Docs.

Asking my students to "explore" Google Docs or "play around" with it was definitely not going to work, so I created an assignment. Students each had to follow my step-by-step instructions to create a Google Doc Presentation about something they love:


9. On your new presentation, make your title “Why I Love _____” (Put something you love in the blank.)
10. Make your subtitle “by [Your Name]”.
11. Click on “Slide” on the blue bar at the top. Click on “New Slide”.
12. Choose the slide you want, and add some text.



The submissions were fantastic! I received presentations entitled "Why I Love Money", "Why I Love Air-Brushed Cars", "Why I Love Cheese_Stakes", "y=mx+b", and "Why I Love Girls So Much". (This last presentation was Super Student's, obviously.)

The best presentation was entitled "Why I Love Tacos <3".

Adorable Terror wrote,
This is why i love tacos! First because they are so juicy and good! Second because when you get them with extra beef and cheese they really hit the spot! Last because i love soft tacos from taco bell they are so delicious and tasty, as a matter fact i want some after school! You can get tacos from taco bell! Also from mexican restarants in downtown! I have a serious obssesion with tacos from taco bell! I just love tacos! <3 I can talk about tacos for days but im gonna stop right here. :)

Quote of the Day - February 18, 2011

Super Student: I'm calling your classroom the "Sex Room". I know we can't do any of that stuff in here, but, you know, we're always talking about animals mating.

Thursday, February 17, 2011

Unattended Children?

This post on Richard Wiseman's blog is laugh-out-loud funny. Since my blog is essentially about children, I feel the need to link.



Wednesday, February 16, 2011

Quote of the Day - February 16, 2011

Little Miss Negative: I'm gonna become the best forensic scientist ever, you hear me?

Speaks Louder Than Jet Engine: No.

Little Miss Negative: I'M GONNA BECOME THE BEST FORENSIC SCIENTIST EVER. CAN YOU HEAR ME NOW?

Tuesday, February 15, 2011

Change of Heart?

Sourpuss: I'm gonna study hard for the quiz tomorrow. I'm getting my master's degree. In science.

Valentine's Day

School was CRRRRAAAZZZY yesterday. I had always thought Valentine's Day was a cute holiday but ultimately too kitschy for people to really take it seriously. Boy, was I wrong! My kids were more excited about Valentine's Day than they were about Halloween or Christmas. Girls walked around ALL DAY with flowers, balloons, and giant stuffed animals. Rather than put those items in their lockers, it was important to show them off to every other girl, all of whom where carrying the EXACT SAME THINGS. And then --

"Miss, where's my Valentine? Did you get me one?"

(in my head) Did you get me one? Probably not.

The biggest problem was that students somehow felt that Valentine's Day constituted a holiday from classwork and learning. The halls were full of students, students would walk out of class unannounced and return with loads of goodies, and students told that they definitely would not do their homework, I guess because they have to go out on Valentine's Day dates from 3:04pm to midnight.

Sigh. I hate to be the one to tell them that, in the real world, February 14th is not a federal holiday.

Math Troubles

Speaks Louder Than a Jet Engine: Miss, I got a 50/50 on my Forensic Science quiz. Did I do good?

Me: Well, you tell me. Why don't you do the math?

Speaks Louder Than a Jet Engine: That's too hard. The way you do grading is too confusing.

Me: Well, if you divide 50 by 50, what do you get?

Speaks Louder Than a Jet Engine: I dunno. That's why I'm asking you.

Saturday, February 12, 2011

Follow-Up to Friday Detention Story

Decibals came to school yesterday rather than go shopping. She did serve her detention, during which I was successful in getting her to make up some missing work. So far, so good.

It gets better: Apparently, Decibals spent the whole day prior to her detention complaining to her Decibals-entourage about me. They all know now that I am the worst teacher EVER, that I give unnecessary detentions on unnecessary days, and that I reprimand students for cursing.

Not a bad reputation. I like it.

Thursday, February 10, 2011

Only in My Life

On Wednesday, I gave Decibals a detention for completely outrageous behavior. I scheduled her detention for Friday after school. Decibals was not happy, and I received reports that she spent the rest of the day complaining and cursing me out to other students.

On Thursday, during my lunch period, Decibals knocked on my door. I had never seen her act so respectfully. She asked if we could please reschedule the detention, as she was busy on Friday. I thought about it, but I realized I was busy that Thursday afternoon, as well as the following Monday and Tuesday afternoons. No, I told her, detention had to be Friday.

"But I really can't go!" she said.

I paused, pondering the myriad of possible responsibilities she might have on a Friday afternoon. Maybe she had to babysit a younger sibling? Report to work? Take care of an older relative? "Well, what do you have to do tomorrow afternoon?" I asked.

"I'm skipping school to go shopping!"

Wednesday, February 9, 2011

Quote of the Day - February 9, 2011

Me: Because of the recent craze in eating shark fins, sharks are in danger of going extinct.

Puerto Rican Girl writes "exting" on her paper.

Me: (Quietly) "Extinct" is actually spelled e-x-t-i-n-c-t.

Puerto Rican Girl: This isn't English class.

Obnoxiousness of the Day - February 8, 2011

Obnoxious Mommy, who now sits in the front of the room, is turning around every 30 seconds to talk to her friends in the back of the room. Her comments are usually loud and have nothing to do with what the class is learning.

Me: Obnoxious Mommy, stop turning around and having loud conversations with your friends across the room. I moved you to the front of the room for a reason. I want you to stop talking to your friends and start working on getting your grades up.

Obnoxious Mommy: I'm doing my work!

Me: You haven't written a single thing on your paper.

Obnoxious Mommy: You know what? Scatter.

Me: What did you say to me?

Obnoxious Mommy: You heard me. Scatter.

Me: Obnoxious, don't talk your teachers that way. Now please start paying attention.

Obnoxious Mommy: Just get out of my face.

Monday, February 7, 2011

Follow-Up to Feb 3rd Obnoxiousness

Sycophantic When It Suits Her came to class on Friday much more subdued. She asked during class if we could talk, and I immediately promised to meet with her after class. (Note: I diffused another potential conflict on Friday with that same technique. In the middle of class, "Miss, I'm so pissed at you now". "Okay, let's talk about it later.")

After class, Sycophantic and I had a productive and mature conversation. She apologized for being rude but expressed her feeling that I single her out unfairly. I acknowledged that was probably the truth. I offered to do better in the future, to deal with disapproval and discipline in ways that were less abrasive and embarrassing to her. I did, however, explain that we teachers aren't perfect, and, just like our students, we sometimes act with a hot head before stopping to think about a more rational plan of action.

I was really impressed by the way she handled the conversation. Few of my students are able to advocate for themselves so assertively yet politely. (Give me more time on the test! I don't have time to do my homework, so don't be counting it in my grade.) Even fewer students apologize for their errors. I just think it's difficult for teenagers to do, especially when they know they are wrong to begin with. I'm really happy we had this conversation, because I'm now able to view Sycophantic in a much better light.

Then again, maybe she was just being sycophantic because it suited her.

Thursday, February 3, 2011

Obnoxiousness of the Day - February 3, 2011

Sycophantic When It Suits Her: Don't tell me to stop talking! Ain't nobody want to listen to you today. We're all sick and tired of hearing you.


(later on..)

Sycophantic: You got problems, Miss Cyanococcus, you really do.

Wednesday, February 2, 2011

Quote of the Day - February 1, 2011

Decibals: Miss, how much did you pay for your phone?

Me: Um, I don't really remember.

Decibals: Okay, cuz I don't wanna spend more than $350 on my new phone. Maybe a little more if I have to.

I Should Probably Turn Myself In

Obnoxious Mommy is talking to a group of friends in the hallway during 8th period.

Me: Hey, Obnoxious Mommy! What class are you supposed to be in right now?

Obnoxious Mommy: Oh my GOD! (to her friends) This lady be stalkin' me!