too much drama

This weekend I swear I'll write something in here. Something interesting like how some of my students are magnets for drama. I'll also include how some of that drama has leaked into my classroom and involved me way too much in a few different ways. Exciting, new adventures in teaching! 

I keep promising myself I'll get better at this, but I never really know what to put. I'm not sure if I should put stories, updates on what I'm doing, more teaching or more personal, etc. etc.

I haven't had that much time to figure that out, either. Spring break was last week and my parents were here. I dragged them all around Richmond and then took them to D.C. Doing all of that meant I didn't get a lot of school work done, so this week's planning time has been mostly dedicated to grading persuasive essays. I haven't stayed after school much this week because of meetings, appointments, tornado watches or beautiful spring weather. Coming back from spring break is always difficult, but this first week flew by. I'm not really stressed about the papers because I only have about 10-14 left (out of ~80!). After those papers, I have to catch up on the little bit of grading I've accumulated from this week already. I can handle it though. Beyond family visits and grading, my GRE test date is coming up in 2 weeks, so I've been preparing for that. 

It's the time of year where I'm looking forward to summer and next year. I've got a notebook that I've started writing ideas down in, and I hope to get some work done over the summer in terms of a sketch of the year's pacing. I say that every year and it barely happens, but I'm hoping to actually do it this year to prevent more work for myself next year! 

This summer will hopefully be filled with travel and new places. There's no moving and no internships, we both have jobs, so why not? So far, we have a birthday trip (for me), my trip out west, my possible trip to Michigan (still figuring that out) and a possible camping trip out to the western border of VA. I'm not making a list (even a mental one) of things I want to do this summer because I always end up only doing a few things. This summer, I'm just going where it takes me. Hopefully, it'll be fun, interesting, relaxing, adventurous and amazing! ha!

surprise!observation

Since I'm new at my school, I have to be observed. This year, I've already had two finished, and I knew there were two more coming up. About two weeks ago, I had a lot of school-related nightmares. In those nightmares, not only would the class be completely bonkers, but my AP would walk in, ready to observe me in action. 

Last week he actually did walk in. He didn't let me know before that he was planning on it. I'm okay with observation, but I really dislike surprise ones. I ended up surprising myself though because I wasn't half as nervous as I used to be. It was a great day for him to be there, though, since I was making my seniors draw pictures as they listened to "Kubla Khan", then we started reading Rime of the Ancient Mariner. 

This week he put the observation report in my mailbox and discussed it with me. He had no recommendations for improvement, I scored above average on 4 different categories (proficient on the rest, which is the norm and where I should be), and he told me two things that made me embarrassed and speechless, but really happy: they are really looking forward to having me back next year and my classroom environment (where students feel safe enough to share when called on) is exactly what they're looking for.  

Why is this so awesome?

If you knew me during my student teaching, you might already know. It's mostly because of that whole experience that I'm always so happy to hear positive things about what they observed in my class. I told my former department chair about this, but that internship about killed any chances I had at a career. I was told by two people who decided my fate as a teacher that I would never make it, I would never be respected and I would never amount to much as a teacher, basically. One of them said I didn't have the voice for teaching, that I was too soft spoken (my students would probably laugh at that). Basically, they didn't think I had what it took.

Since I've started teaching, I have never once had a negative observation. In my first year of teaching, I had suggestions, but they always came with "It took me years to get the hang of that, so that's something that will come in time." I don't want to brag because I don't want anyone to think I believe I'm perfect at my job (I am definitely not even close!). But what they said really stuck with me and I've always wanted to send all of my observations, my letters of recommendation, and all of my letters and emails from students to those two people that never believed in me with a big "IN YOUR FACE!", "How you like me now?" or something equally ridiculous on it.

one more

I'm thinking of changing the title of this thing. Any ideas?

did he just say "pshew pshew"?

Uhh, it's been a while. 

It's been one of those times were I've had a lot happen that I could talk about, I've been busy (mostly with school), but then again, when I take a step back from it all, I realize that wow--that is really boring. Who wants to hear about how much grading I've had to do? About me getting ahead in planning? Those of you that are teachers understand and live (or lived) it every day, those of you that aren't teachers probably don't really need to know that (or want to know that), you just want the stories, right? :) It's okay, I understand.

Okay, so. Stories. 

• Today I had two boys jump up and start doing the "Jump On It" dance. I don't know if there's a name for it, but they did it perfectly in sync with each other and the song, the kids were going crazy for it. Then they sat down and continued their work like nothing happened.
  
• My 5th period is the best with listening to music and not being afraid to sing along and/or dance. Today was Michael Jackson radio station day on Pandora. There were a few kids dancing to "Thriller" and other classics.
  
• I have one student, JM, who cracks me up constantly. He'll ask me a question, I'll respond, and he'll go "THAT'S why I love you!" (in a very appropriate student-teacher manner)
• Had to give my first serious talking to to a girl who barely does anything in class. She had a 30%. Passing is 69.5%. Last Friday was the end of the 3rd nine weeks and she asks me on Tuesday, "How can I pass? I want to pass." On Friday, she had brought herself up to a 66% by finally coughing up some assignments she had partially completed and finally passing a test. She asks me, "Can you just give me the 3%?" and I snapped. Seriously. I didn't yell, but I was the most serious I've been all year in talking to a student.
• I have one kid that is seriously losing it. He's a great kid, but he's going through some troubles. It's not cool. When it's all over with, I might be able to write more about it.
• Most of my study hall kids have seen Kevin Hart's "I'm a Grown Little Man". It is hilarious and is now quoted all the time throughout their time in my classroom. Seriously, look this dude up, especially if you are a teacher and have ever witnessed a girl fight.

Enough teaching stories. You want to know about the non-teaching me, right? 

...right?

• Only a few more days until spring break! I'm looking forward to seeing my parents! When it's not 90 degrees outside! And in Richmond instead of Williamsburg! AHH!
  
• Spring break also means being able to read my own books!
• David quit smoking!
• The weather is finally staying consistently warm! This means two things: Planting and riding. We planted a few different things outside and I hope they all survive. It's been a while since I've planted/grown any sort of garden, so this is kind of experimental. As for riding, I'm getting new wheels for my Varsity so I can actually ride it. I need to fix up my moped soon so I can start riding that again, too. 
• We are going to see Mates of State tomorrow night! We were supposed to go see Matt & Kim on Friday night, but it was postponed/canceled. Bummer.
• I am going to San Francisco and Eugene this summer! I'm excited, but I kinda hate planning things so far in advance cause then I'm all excited NOW to go, so I want to go NOW instead of months from now, you know what I mean? But anyway, I'm excited to see friends, meet new additions to their lives, to see Oregon for the first time, and to see SF! It's nice to have a vacation to look forward to during the long stretch of summer. 
• I registered for the GRE. I'm still not sure what I want to do though.
• I've been listening to some new music and realized this always seems to happen during the spring. Strange.

Wow. That was more than I planned to write when I remembered I had a blog. Anyway, it's almost time for Lost. I actually stay awake during most Lost episodes now since it's finally gone back to being interesting enough to keep up with.

If you feel up to it, leave me some suggestions:

1. Something funny I should watch/listen to

2. A book to read

3. A band to listen to

4. Something to take a picture of

5. Have you read Lord of the Flies before? If so, suggest some activities that would be fun for my 10th graders (I have from April 20th to the beginning of June to teach the novel. I've got time.)

your dose of poetry for today

I've rediscovered Lucille Clifton. I forgot I had her book and I forgot how much I liked her.

photograph

my grandsons
spinning in their joy

universe
keep them turning turning

black blurs against the window

of the world

for they are beautiful

and there is trouble coming

round and round and round

wishes for sons

i wish them cramps.

i wish them a strange town

and the last tampon.

i wish them no 7-11.

i wish them one week early

and wearing a white skirt.

i wish them one week late.

later i wish them hot flashes

and clots like you

wouldn't believe.  let the 

flashes come when they

meet someone special.

let the clots come

when they want to.

let them think they have accepted 

arrogance in the universe,

then bring them to gynecologists

not unlike themselves.

haaaaaaaaalp

I need your help!
The last 9 weeks of school for English 10 is scheduled to teach a novel. Our choices are: Lord of the Flies (yes!! Already decided!) or A Separate Peace (NO!). I asked my department chair if I could do literature circles or another novel instead of choice #2. She understood and said I could probably pull it off because I definitely do NOT need 9 weeks to teach LOTF. I'm coming up with a list of books I've read for her to go over and see if the students will read or have already read them in other classes.

So far, I have:
Ella Minnow Pea: Mark Dunn
1984: George Orwell
Animal Farm: Orwell
Brave New World: Aldous Huxley
To Kill A Mockingbird: Harper Lee
The Bell Jar: Sylvia Plath (mostly because they've read a few Plath poems already and some were really interested in this book)
Things Fall Apart: Chinua Achebe
Beloved: Toni Morrison
Poisonwood Bible: Barbara Kingsolver
The Kite Runner: Khaled Hosseini
Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time: Mark Haddon
A Tree Grows in Brooklyn: Betty Smith
Speak: Laurie Halsie Anderson
The Things They Carried: Tim O'Brien (felt like I needed some "manly" books on the list)
Nervous Conditions: Tsi Tsi Dangaremba
The Secret Life of Bees: Susan Monk Kidd
Life of Pi: Yann Martel
A Lesson Before Dying: Ernest Gaines
One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest: Ken Kesey
Water for Elephants: Sara Gruen

I need suggestions! What are books that you think every high schooler should read? Hopefully you suggest some that I've also read, so I can put them on the list!

Covered

My room is filled to the brim with posters and projects. There are Macbeth projects and then there is 2 full walls of Black history month projects. The kids did a great job on them. There are pictures up on my flickr, you should check them out. A lot of the students have commented that they really like the room this way, that it gives it character. I agree with them.
I'm hoping that next year, my room will look better as a whole, seeing as how I'll A) be hired before school starts, and B) have more time, since I won't be teaching a whole new curriculum and course. Whew.
I've been trying really hard to get ahead. Last week, I kinda slacked off, there were after school meetings, and just not enough time, so everything caught up with me and I almost got behind again. This week, I was determined to remedy that.Monday and Tuesday I was at school until 5PM (Monday I had students with me, though), yesterday I left at 4:40, and today I finally left at 4:10. I hope tomorrow to be able to leave between 3:30 and 4 feeling like I've accomplished something. I've never stayed this late before.
Coming up are Midsummer projects, new plays, the Romantic era, research papers and novels. Wow.

By the way, ever checked out wordle.net?
For example, my 12th graders read "A Vindication of the Rights of Women" by Mary Wollstonecraft, and will read Defoe's essay on the education of women tomorrow. Both on similar topics but different at the same time. I was playing around with wordle.net, and put in both pieces. We'll do an activity tomorrow where they have to guess which one is which based on the frequent words.