Recommendations

You what I hate writing?!!? Letters of recommendations!!

Usually the directions are so vague that it is hard to focus on something that I think the readers would like to read. I try to always include the normal good attributes, but also focus on a way they have overcome a difficulty to show their hard work ethic. But, sometimes it is just hard to write them for some kids, you know?

Well, I have had this one boy in my class three times now. (Let's call him Cameron) He is an 18 year old who is still classified as a junior and has a whole year and a half until he can graduate. He has had some rough times with trying to support his mother (so he dropped out for a year), breaking ties with his mother, and getting to know his dad whom he didn't know the first 16 years of his life. His dad does not have much, so Cameron has even less. But, we have built a raport between us where he tries his best in my class and I keep tabs on him to make sure he is alright in his other classes and at home.

So, when Cameron told me he had started his own tree trimming company, but work isn't steady I thought about a family friend who owns a farming supply and fence building business. And for the first time, I verbally recommended someone for a job.

I was so nervous. I didn't want our friend to think I was nagging him, but I really wanted him to giveCameron a chance. AND HE DID!!!

Cameron went in the next day and my friend hired him on the spot. So, then, of course, I am even more nervous! Will he perform like I know he can? Will he act like a moron like some teenagers do? Will he abuse the fact that I recommended him and think he can get away with things? Will he not mesh with my friend and will that put a strain on the friendship?

Well, the day came when he started work. I was so nervous, I spoke with my friend that night after the store closed. And you know what, he reported that my student came to work 20 minutes early and worked like a dog the whole 5 hours he was there!

I was so proud of Cameron! He has had rough breaks in life and when he got a good one he has taken full advantage of it and run with it. He now works every day after school and for the 5 hours they are open on the weekends! He is also coming to school more regularly and has put an effort in to his English class which he hasn't done all semester!

So, here's to verbal recommendations! They may be much more nerve racking and put your neck out on the line more, but when they work out well it is such a rewarding feeling!!!

My Favorite Day :)

As a math teacher who has taught Algebra for 7 years now, I have many "favorite days". These include the day we learn the "Function Song", the day we learn about the "Matrix Shop", and the day we learn to use our "Spider Store" to investigate the important parts of parabolas without hassle.

But, my favorite favorite day is what is happening tomorrow!!

I have baked (from scratch I might add) 130 cookies, iced and sprinkled every one of them so that I can pass out two to each one of my 65 students. I have also written a form letter thanking my students for a great semester and wishing them good luck on their EOC next week. BUT it is not just any form letter. In the middle of the letter, I write a personal paragraph to each and every student. This takes a LOT of time, but is so worth it.

There are so many things that I notice and want to acknowledge about each student. Like that I hear the little smart comments Alyssa makes in the back of the room and she has no clue. I LOVE this. I love to hear another person in the room thinking what I am but cannot say. And like Brandon, who sits in the back of my honors class and is making a C, but I am so proud of for taking on the challenge of an honors class even though he was not sure of it.

These letters are my way to show the students that I truly notice something special in each and every one of them. The cookies are fun too, but are mostly just a way to hand out the letters without being too mushy gushy about it.

I have done this since I was a first year teacher and plan to do this until I am no longer teaching. It goes so far for some of these kids to just hear a good, personal comment from an adult. I feel that it has actually helped some students pass the exam and that it has given some students the boost in self-esteem to get them through a hard time.

So, here's to helping others feel good about themselves! Get out there, praise your students, praise your kids, praise your spouse, and send some cheer in the direction of all those you encounter. A little good goes a long way!

EOCs Are Coming to Town

It is that time of year again... EOC exams are here! 

And now that we have new Common Core standards, we have new tests for our youngin's to take. And if your state is like North Carolina, then your tests are horribly, unrealistically, tremendously difficult. I have been blessed with the opportunity to prepare my Integrated students to take the new Algebra I/Integrated I Common Core EOC. So, I taught my heart out and waited with anticipation for the new released test to be officially released to us. Oh how I looked forward to that day. I was so excited to see how prepared my students were going to be. How much this integrated curriculum that I truly believed in had prepared them ti kick this new test in the booty.

And oh how I was so disappointed... THIS TEST IS RIDICULOUS!! ESPECIALLY for a freshmen in Algebra or Integrated I!! 

BUT... I am not one to back down for a challenge. I took this as an opportunity to prove to the state that my kids can do this. So I have worked for three weeks to prepare my students. Next week we will know how well this preparation has worked. I have reviewed concepts with them with mini lessons and assignments, played games, made foldables, and did three practice tests. There is nothing left that I can imagine I could do to help them except to pray.

So I pray that what they have given us as an example to study from is what the actual test will look like. I pray that my students will trust themselves and their abilities. And I pray that the state will put a HUMONGOUS curve on this test should my kids falter under pressure :)

So here's to you, new EOC exam! May your answers be easily identifiable and your problems be easy!

P.S. If any one of my readers desires some study material for your classes, please check out my store! I have several review materials and two 50 question practice tests all based off of the new standards and what our released test looked like. They have all been classroom tested as well! The exact pages are listed below and feel free to forward and pin if you feel others you know may be interested!
Grab Bag Review Game
Review Cards
Problem Solving Guide
Statistics Practice
Linear Equations Review
Practice Test #1
Practice Test #2

Celebrate!!

I just got final confirmation that I have been GRADUATED from the American College of Education with a Masters in Educational Leadership!!!!!

Now it is time for me to get up, do a little dance, scream a little in excitement, and get my paperwork through the state department to get that pay raise!!!

So here's to all of the people (especially my awesome husband!) who helped me/put up with me for the year and a half I was working on this. If it wasnt for ya'll I would not have stuck with it through my pregnancy and new born stage, horrible research class, and all of that monotonous paper writing!! Thank you, thank you, thank you!!!

Thank Goodness for Light Bulbs!

Thanks GOODNESS It's FRIDAY!!!

As we wind down our semester, I wind up on my activity in class. Not only am I spending 90 minutes - 3 times a day working to prepare my students for their EOC that is 5 classroom days away now, but I have also given up my lunch/planning to help the kids that want extra review/tutoring. In addition, I stayed late two extra days to help others as well!

Phew... I am one tired girl now that I have finally sat down to rest! 

But, at the same time it is one of those things like "the more things you have to do, the more things you actually get done". It seems that even though I am busy all day long, I have more energy than if I were sitting giving a test and having my planning all to myself. It is as if the students' "light bulbs" are giving me more energy!The more I see them understanding these difficult EOC questions and how to approach them, the more excited I am to continue working with them. I only pray that I am doing enough to help them in the long run.

So here's to light bulbs... may the energy that stems from them continue to push me through one final week of classes :)

Works Like a Charm!

A few posts ago I wrote about using a Grab Bag activity to help my students prepare for their EOC that they will be taking in a week. Well, when I initially wrote about it, I was still in the planning stages of the activity but two days ago I actually did it and IT WORKED LIKE A CHARM!!!

It worked so well that when the kids left they said they liked the activity and there was NO sarcasm in their voices!

But, to give a little props to myself, I think it was my presentation of the "prizes" that was the kicker. As mentioned before, I cut up a 24 questions, randomly placed four colored stickers on 4 of the problems and labeled one a freebie, folded the problems, and put them in a brown paper bag. 

Then, as the students began working through their grab bag they would pull out the stickered questions and wonder what the sticker was for. Once they completed the question they got their prize. But I didn't just give them the prize, I cheesed it up with a silly little phrase and they got so into it they couldn't wait for me to say the phrase to them!

        Red = Smartees  = "Ya'll are such smartees!"
        Blue = Dum Dums  = "Ya'll ain't no dum dums!"
        Yellow = Bathroom pass = "Get out of here... enjoy a bathroom break!"
        Green = 5 mins of cell phone time = "I know ya'll are itching to play with those cell phones of yours!"

Now, it may just have been that they all lacked sleep that day or there was a new moon or something. But whatever it was, I was extraordinarily pleased with the way the Grab Bag Activity worked!

So here's to a new, fun way to do a worksheet! Sure it took ages to cut and fold all of those little papers, but for one day of an all-star activity it was soooooooo worth it :)

Cupid's Arrow

Usually high school romance is frankly just annoying and gross. The drama that goes along with high schoolers' dating is ridiculous and I have seen WAY more PDA in our hallways than I have ever wanted to see in a lifetime and I am only 29!

BUT... cupid's arrow has hit two sweet little girls this past week and I have to admit I am enjoying watching the innocence that these girls still have!

One freshmen girl is very quiet. She seldom talks to anyone besides me and two other shy girls in her class. But, I have recently noticed her being a bit giggly when one boy talks in class. (Now, he is freaking HILARIOUS and I have complimented him on several occasions on his humor, but she has never shown her appreciation for this until about a week ago.) And then today, she was in the middle of a game of Mancala (they are allowed to play this when they are done with their classwork) and as soon as the boy asked for help on directions for his activity she stopped her game and said she would help. She then proceeded to stand back by him and his buddies to "help" them as needed giggling the entire time!! SOOOOOOOOOOO cute!! I think I have just witnessed this girl with her first crush and it just brings me back to the George Salloum and Kirk Oswald days... oh to be 14 again :-P

And then, in my second period I assigned new partners and one girl came out to me during my hall duty upset because I "put her with the cutest guy in the class." When I looked astonished she further explained that he was so cute she got shy and couldn't talk or focus on her math work. Again... SO CUTE!! Especially because this girl is 17 and is still so innocent that a cute boy makes her nervous!

I LOVE the naivety of these girls! I love to think that there is still some innocence in the teenagers of today and these two girls have given me hope!

So here's to these girls and all the others out there! May they stay sweet and innocent as long as possible :) 

30 and counting!

No, no ya'll. I am not thirty years old. I still have a wonderful 355 days before I hit that milestone :-P

But I just hit the 30 sales mark on my TeachersPayTeachers page!!! And in just a month and a half! I know it doesnt seem like much it has paid off one month's electric bill (or paid for a night out with the hubby)!! It also gets me even more excited to keep working on it, devloping more stuff, and keep networking. It is hard to not get down when sales aren't coming in, but this 30th sale just perked me up!

So here's to all of you followers and purchasers out there... THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU :-)