I don't know about anyone else here, but I have taught for an EOC oevery single semester of every single year I have taught. My first year I was expected to teach 70 seventh graders to pass a grade level EOC when only 47% of them had passed 6th grade math. Then, as when I moved to high school, I was put in the Algebra I spot. And since then, that's been my place. I love it, but I hate it.
I love to see the students push themselves to their highest capabilities in order to successfully jump through the hoop that our state makes them go through. I love to see the success they have as they grow from their previous year through their hard work.
But I hate seeing the pressure that these poor teenagers feel just for the sake of a test. I hate that when we took our first practice test today, most of my students left deflated and one even cried. I hate that this one test can make or break their grade that they worked so hard for through the entire semester.
But, through the past six years, I have developed a method (some think it is based in madness). My method takes my most hated parts of the test pressure and turns them around. This method involves three weeks of review - each ending with a practice test. So yes, this takes 15 days out of my teaching, but I feel that it is a great way to bind all of the information together while "training" the students on what the EOC asks of them.
So today is the worst day of this review period - the first practice test. I have been holding their hands all week long as we reviewed and today they had no assistance. So, of course it was hard. Of course it was a shock. Of course their scores were horrible.
But, next week is confidence building week. We will work through the easier problems and make sure that we are all solid in our capabilities with those. So practice test two will go much smoother.
Then, by the end of week three the kids are so prepared they are sick of it. The third test goes swimmingly and they have full confidence in their abilities to ace the actual test during finals week.
Now this is no way is to say that all of my students pass. That is definitely not the case, nor can it be when you teach mostly low level students. But, growth occurs both academically and in mathematical confidence and that is what is most important to me.
So here's to the worst, most frustrating day of the semester. May next week be better and may confidence be built with each passing day!
Friday, November 30, 2012
Thursday, November 29, 2012
Germs, Germs, Germs
This week is the week I dread every single year. It is the week of the GERMS!!!
Not only are we all coming back from a weekend of turkey comas, but now it seems that half of the students (and my family) have the flu or some other wretched sickness. I walk around the classroom feeling like I am swimming in thick germ filled air. I feel like everything I touch is infecting me with the yucky little buggers.
Now, I am not a big user of hand sanitizer and I have been known to allow my kids to eat off of the floor to avoid a fight. I have even been known to work on the cow farm and haul logs one minute and eat a snack the next with nothing but a hand wipe on my pants.
But when this week hits, I change. My alternate, germ fearing ego comes out. My desk gets lysol'd daily, my hand sanitizer runs low, and my hands begin to chap from the overuse of the handwashing practice.
So here's to you, fellow teachers! Good luck with the flu/strep/bronchitis/laryngitis season that has come upon us! May our bodies be healthy and should we get those dreaded germs, may our days off be restful and our comings back be non-stressful!
Not only are we all coming back from a weekend of turkey comas, but now it seems that half of the students (and my family) have the flu or some other wretched sickness. I walk around the classroom feeling like I am swimming in thick germ filled air. I feel like everything I touch is infecting me with the yucky little buggers.
Now, I am not a big user of hand sanitizer and I have been known to allow my kids to eat off of the floor to avoid a fight. I have even been known to work on the cow farm and haul logs one minute and eat a snack the next with nothing but a hand wipe on my pants.
But when this week hits, I change. My alternate, germ fearing ego comes out. My desk gets lysol'd daily, my hand sanitizer runs low, and my hands begin to chap from the overuse of the handwashing practice.
So here's to you, fellow teachers! Good luck with the flu/strep/bronchitis/laryngitis season that has come upon us! May our bodies be healthy and should we get those dreaded germs, may our days off be restful and our comings back be non-stressful!
Monday, November 26, 2012
Who Needs a Worksheet?
Who needs a worksheet when you can have a GRAB BAG?!?!
Thanks to the parallel thinking my EC inclusion teacher, the wonderful Ms. BriAnne Church, and I have we no longer need to put together a review worksheet with EOC problems on it!
Instead, we created a worksheet with the problems we wanted on it, cut it into problem strips, folded the strips, and put them into a paper bag. Who knew it could be so easy?!? Now, nistead of our kids sitting there doing a boring 24 question worksheet, they will be putting their hand into the brown paper bag to summon up a question to complete. Just makes it more fun, don't ya think?!?
Now, the kicker... we secretly placed 4 colored stickers on 4 of the problems in each bag. When they pick out a color they get a prize and BAM, the fun is now doubled!
So, if you think you'd like to try this, go for it! And if you want this already made with an answer key, head on over to my TpT page and pick up mine! Cyber Monday/Tuesday sale is happening NOW!!
Thanks to the parallel thinking my EC inclusion teacher, the wonderful Ms. BriAnne Church, and I have we no longer need to put together a review worksheet with EOC problems on it!
Instead, we created a worksheet with the problems we wanted on it, cut it into problem strips, folded the strips, and put them into a paper bag. Who knew it could be so easy?!? Now, nistead of our kids sitting there doing a boring 24 question worksheet, they will be putting their hand into the brown paper bag to summon up a question to complete. Just makes it more fun, don't ya think?!?
Now, the kicker... we secretly placed 4 colored stickers on 4 of the problems in each bag. When they pick out a color they get a prize and BAM, the fun is now doubled!
So, if you think you'd like to try this, go for it! And if you want this already made with an answer key, head on over to my TpT page and pick up mine! Cyber Monday/Tuesday sale is happening NOW!!
Saturday, November 24, 2012
Crime Shows and Christmas Lights
What a wonderful Saturday night! Sitting here in my family room lit up with only Christmas lights and watching 48 Hours Mystery. There is just something about real life crime tv shows that pulls me in. But, yet again, the teacher in me pulls part of my thoughts to my students.
One year, I had a transfer student put into my room a few weeks after the semester started and just put him randomly in a cooperative group. He got very upset and did the typical "I cannot work with her" pout that students do. Come to find out though, this was nothing close to a typical scenario. It turned out that one of the girl's mothers and the boy's father had previously had a relationship that ended with the girl's mother stabbing the boy's father so badly he was in the hospital for an extended period of time.
WHAT?!!? That only happens on the crime shows on TV and not in the real life of my students. But, lo and behold, they do happen in real life. And we must learn to help our students work through that as best we can. Due to other circumstances both students had to remain in the class, so my inclusion teacher and I did our best to meet the needs of both students. There were never any issues and both students handles themselves well, but could you imagine?!?
I had a luxury of growing up in a two parent household, full meals three times a day, participated in sports and band, and was in a warm comfy bed at my bedtime every night. Not every student is that lucky, though. These kids I see day in and day out have so much more on their plates than any high schooler should. I just pray that I do enough to give them a little light in their lives when they are in my classroom. Using group techniques, friendly banter, active classwork assignments, and no homework, I hope that each student feels that they can be successful in this area of their lives regardless of whatever else life is throwing at them.
Sure I am in education to teach the curriculum, but if I can make my students' chaotic lives a little better through being in my class, then I feel I am truly doing my job right!
One year, I had a transfer student put into my room a few weeks after the semester started and just put him randomly in a cooperative group. He got very upset and did the typical "I cannot work with her" pout that students do. Come to find out though, this was nothing close to a typical scenario. It turned out that one of the girl's mothers and the boy's father had previously had a relationship that ended with the girl's mother stabbing the boy's father so badly he was in the hospital for an extended period of time.
WHAT?!!? That only happens on the crime shows on TV and not in the real life of my students. But, lo and behold, they do happen in real life. And we must learn to help our students work through that as best we can. Due to other circumstances both students had to remain in the class, so my inclusion teacher and I did our best to meet the needs of both students. There were never any issues and both students handles themselves well, but could you imagine?!?
I had a luxury of growing up in a two parent household, full meals three times a day, participated in sports and band, and was in a warm comfy bed at my bedtime every night. Not every student is that lucky, though. These kids I see day in and day out have so much more on their plates than any high schooler should. I just pray that I do enough to give them a little light in their lives when they are in my classroom. Using group techniques, friendly banter, active classwork assignments, and no homework, I hope that each student feels that they can be successful in this area of their lives regardless of whatever else life is throwing at them.
Sure I am in education to teach the curriculum, but if I can make my students' chaotic lives a little better through being in my class, then I feel I am truly doing my job right!
Friday, November 23, 2012
Life is GOOD!!!
Life is good. No matter how much it may test us or our students may push our buttons we must remember that LIFE IS GOOD!
Once this begins to be foremost in our brains we can begin to focus not on ourselves, but on our real purpose for teaching... the kids. Once we look past the duty that we were unfairly assigned, the inequities of our teaching schedules, the stress of the new standards we are all expected to teach (which are all on top of everything else our "real lives" put on us btw), we can focus on our students and work to help them academically, socially, emotionally, and every other need they may have while they are under our care at school.
But we must remember that even though we deal with difficulties in life and at work we are there to enrich the lives of our students and help them to realize that LIFE IS GOOD!!
Once this begins to be foremost in our brains we can begin to focus not on ourselves, but on our real purpose for teaching... the kids. Once we look past the duty that we were unfairly assigned, the inequities of our teaching schedules, the stress of the new standards we are all expected to teach (which are all on top of everything else our "real lives" put on us btw), we can focus on our students and work to help them academically, socially, emotionally, and every other need they may have while they are under our care at school.
But we must remember that even though we deal with difficulties in life and at work we are there to enrich the lives of our students and help them to realize that LIFE IS GOOD!!
Thursday, November 22, 2012
Breaks for Teachers? I Think Not!
We always look forward to the next break. We get tired of the run around that the work week brings, the students get tired of working, and let's face it, we look forward to sleeping in if even for a day or two!
But... I don't know that since I have become a teacher I have ever truly had a break from the job.
For instance, when we had fall break last month I spent it worrying about two of my students that are always being crazy boys and hurting themselves. I wanted to check up on them and make sure they were making good decisions and not poor ones like blowing gasoline out of their mouths onto a blow torch and burning their face off. (Sadly that is not a made up story.) I worried about the girl in my class that has to take care of all of her siblings day in and day out so both of her parents can work to support them. I wonder how well my video game addicts are doing on their games. I wonder how my band nerds are doing at their competition. I pray that my good kids are still being good and are not getting pulled in bad direction while we are out. And on top of those stories that stand out, I think about all of those
But this break has an added stress to it in the form of END OF COURSE TESTS... duh, duh, duuuuuuuuuuh.
We are now under the new common core and North Carolina has just recently released what the new test will look like and it is HARD. No, forget that, it is nearly IMPOSSIBLE for freshmen students that have been through just one math class. But, regardless of my opinion, my students will still be taking this test just 15 days after we get back. And even though I feel that this upcoming measure of my students learning and my teaching is not fair, I still have that glimmer of hope that "I can do this. They can do this. We can do this!" It is like a challenge and I want to prove that me and my sixty odd students are up for it!
So, I will be enjoying this Thanksgiving at home with my family stuffing my mouth with all of the goodies that come with this holiday. But I will always have that test and my students in the back of my mind. And I will have it on my finger tips as I create more Common Core review materials for my kids and my TpT Store. That way we can all work to attain the most success possible as we go through our first round of new standards.
Happy Thanksgiving to you and yours!
But... I don't know that since I have become a teacher I have ever truly had a break from the job.
For instance, when we had fall break last month I spent it worrying about two of my students that are always being crazy boys and hurting themselves. I wanted to check up on them and make sure they were making good decisions and not poor ones like blowing gasoline out of their mouths onto a blow torch and burning their face off. (Sadly that is not a made up story.) I worried about the girl in my class that has to take care of all of her siblings day in and day out so both of her parents can work to support them. I wonder how well my video game addicts are doing on their games. I wonder how my band nerds are doing at their competition. I pray that my good kids are still being good and are not getting pulled in bad direction while we are out. And on top of those stories that stand out, I think about all of those
But this break has an added stress to it in the form of END OF COURSE TESTS... duh, duh, duuuuuuuuuuh.
We are now under the new common core and North Carolina has just recently released what the new test will look like and it is HARD. No, forget that, it is nearly IMPOSSIBLE for freshmen students that have been through just one math class. But, regardless of my opinion, my students will still be taking this test just 15 days after we get back. And even though I feel that this upcoming measure of my students learning and my teaching is not fair, I still have that glimmer of hope that "I can do this. They can do this. We can do this!" It is like a challenge and I want to prove that me and my sixty odd students are up for it!
So, I will be enjoying this Thanksgiving at home with my family stuffing my mouth with all of the goodies that come with this holiday. But I will always have that test and my students in the back of my mind. And I will have it on my finger tips as I create more Common Core review materials for my kids and my TpT Store. That way we can all work to attain the most success possible as we go through our first round of new standards.
Happy Thanksgiving to you and yours!
Wednesday, November 21, 2012
Half Days
Half days as a student are amazing! You go to school, usually don't do much in class, and go home for the afternoon off.
Half days as a teacher are no fun. You must babysit your hyper students, eat a quick lunch out at a busy restaurant full of teachers in a hurry just to go sit in a long meeting all afternoon that usually does not help with anything but raising your blood pressure.
That has been my story until today. This half day started out with a student rushing in to my room to get me to help a sick student in the bathroom. We ran to the bathroom only to find that there was no student. By the time we got back, my class had set up a surprise birthday celebration complete with birthday cake, a signed card, and singing! I have never felt so loved by a group of high school students than I have today.
See, as a high school teacher you spend your days trying to get the kids to like you and your lesson enough that they do their work without complaining. We must earn their cooperation, respect, and attention on a daily basis. It is not like being a kindergarten teacher where the kids love their teacher and look up to them. No, if a day goes by without a student complaining it is a miracle.
So, to see that even through the complaining and hard work I have put them through I have done something right somewhere. For my students to appreciate me enough to outwardly show me on my birthday truly makes my day, my week, heck, my school year!
So with this, I wish you all a Happy Thanksgiving and a great long weekend!
Half days as a teacher are no fun. You must babysit your hyper students, eat a quick lunch out at a busy restaurant full of teachers in a hurry just to go sit in a long meeting all afternoon that usually does not help with anything but raising your blood pressure.
That has been my story until today. This half day started out with a student rushing in to my room to get me to help a sick student in the bathroom. We ran to the bathroom only to find that there was no student. By the time we got back, my class had set up a surprise birthday celebration complete with birthday cake, a signed card, and singing! I have never felt so loved by a group of high school students than I have today.
See, as a high school teacher you spend your days trying to get the kids to like you and your lesson enough that they do their work without complaining. We must earn their cooperation, respect, and attention on a daily basis. It is not like being a kindergarten teacher where the kids love their teacher and look up to them. No, if a day goes by without a student complaining it is a miracle.
So, to see that even through the complaining and hard work I have put them through I have done something right somewhere. For my students to appreciate me enough to outwardly show me on my birthday truly makes my day, my week, heck, my school year!
So with this, I wish you all a Happy Thanksgiving and a great long weekend!
Tuesday, November 20, 2012
5th Time's the Charm
Every math teacher who has ever taught Algebra knows the drill.
Teacher: "Okay class, today we are going to do linears!"
Students: "OH MY GOSH... I HATE THAT STUFF! It is so hard!"
Well, good news is, I have just found out today that the 5th time is the charm!
I currently teach Integrated Math II, so my students have seen linears once in eigth grade, twice in Integrated I, once in Integrated II, and now we are reviewing for the new Common Core EOC making it their 5th time through the linears material.
They even completed 20 hard, EOC-type questions today successfully AND it is the day before they go on Thanksgiving break! What is happening?!? Either I simply ROCK as a teacher or the repetition of the concepts truly works. I like to think it is all my awesome teaching skills, but know that's only part of it :-P
We all know that seeing concepts multiple times truly helps, now I have just found out that it is 5 times that we must go through each concept in order for them to fully grasp the whole of the topic. So, to all of us who are trying to put Common Core stuff together, remember to do each topic 5 times while fitting in all of the new material and getting ready for the new tests and you will be all set!
Teacher: "Okay class, today we are going to do linears!"
Students: "OH MY GOSH... I HATE THAT STUFF! It is so hard!"
Well, good news is, I have just found out today that the 5th time is the charm!
I currently teach Integrated Math II, so my students have seen linears once in eigth grade, twice in Integrated I, once in Integrated II, and now we are reviewing for the new Common Core EOC making it their 5th time through the linears material.
And guess what?!?! THEY FINALLY GET IT!!!
They even completed 20 hard, EOC-type questions today successfully AND it is the day before they go on Thanksgiving break! What is happening?!? Either I simply ROCK as a teacher or the repetition of the concepts truly works. I like to think it is all my awesome teaching skills, but know that's only part of it :-P
We all know that seeing concepts multiple times truly helps, now I have just found out that it is 5 times that we must go through each concept in order for them to fully grasp the whole of the topic. So, to all of us who are trying to put Common Core stuff together, remember to do each topic 5 times while fitting in all of the new material and getting ready for the new tests and you will be all set!
Monday, November 19, 2012
Winky Faces
Problem: f(x) = 5x - 20; x = -2, -3, 4, 7.
Student raises her hand.
Me: "Yes, ma'am?"
Student: "Uhh... why is there a winky face in the middle of this problem?"
Me: "What are you talking about?"
Student (as she points to the semicolon on her paper): "Right here, there is a winky face in the middle of my problem."
Me: "Oh hunny... that is a semicolon. It is just there to separate the function from the other numbers."
Student: "Maybe that is what you people call it, but we all know that it is a winky face."
And there you have it, my dear friends. We now have winky faces in math class. I am just wondering if they see hash-tags on their classwork assignments instead of number signs (ie #3) if they will be more willing to complete it them ;)
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