Wow. Apparently teacher happy hours are "off de chain".
Here is to a great week of teaching, learning a lot, and passing out at 9 pm.
Friday 22 June 2007
Wednesday 20 June 2007
Content-ment
So, it is three days in and I am alternating between utter contentment, total passion, lip splitting smiles, finger twitching frusteration, and the type of fatigue that makes everything seem okay -because if things go wrong enough maybe everyone will just leave me alone and let me sleep.
My class is incredible. I have 21 fourth graders (ESL students hoping to go into 5th grade) for two hours a day. I co-teach a math/literacy hour with 3 other TFA trainies from 8-8:55 every morning. Then from 8:55-9:30 I teach reading alone. After an exciting exploration of root words, fact vs. opinion, and passion for learning and work I line my students up and bring them to the bathroom. Then I bring them back into the classroom for another 22 minutes of reading work.
So far I have been having so much fun. Our room name is the Ready To Learn Champions (RTL Champs). The kids have been really invested and I have been keeping my energy level up (when in the classroom) and they have been very interested. Most of their vocabularies are VERY limited, but I am doing everything in my power to expand them. In an effort to do that I have modeled our summer reading units with a detective theme. This allows me to talk about everything they learn as a great gain into unlocking and solving the greatest and hardest to solve mystery of all time: The English Language. Instead of notebooks (which many of my students can't afford) we made case books where they have to write "clues" which involve words, definitions, pnuemonic devices, and word charts. They seem to be eating it up, and, truth be told, I am really enjoying the whole thing. Whenever I get the overhead projector I yell "To the Fact-Symbol!" and i they all start chaotically na-na-na-na-nan-na-nan-na-na-ing until the Class manager throws her hands in the air and everyone sings "knowledge" instead of batman. This keeps their energy up. They also have a class cheer which they scream with such vigor it makes me hope I am not bothering the dead let alone the classroom. But after the cheer the kids are out of breath and enter the Ready to Learn position: hand clasped together on the desk, both feet on the ground, looking at me and trying to smile even bigger than i am smiling.
So basically I am saying I am loving the whole teaching thing, but i am struggleing to cross the language barrier with the content, but WE WILL get there. The kids seem to be having fun and most of them have already read a book since we started!!!!
I have to go to a lesson planning meeting, where I will hopefully get better at teaching content that is age and knowledge-level appropriate (during the first day I got so excited I started talking about the progression of the english language as a germanic language and how Latin and Greek influence it. I had 21 very intregued, totally lost 4th graders). I wanted to just reflect real quick on how amazing everything has been. And to ask everyone to pray for a snowstorm so school is canceled, the humidty goes away, and I can finally sleep more than 2.5 hours a night.
Peace
My class is incredible. I have 21 fourth graders (ESL students hoping to go into 5th grade) for two hours a day. I co-teach a math/literacy hour with 3 other TFA trainies from 8-8:55 every morning. Then from 8:55-9:30 I teach reading alone. After an exciting exploration of root words, fact vs. opinion, and passion for learning and work I line my students up and bring them to the bathroom. Then I bring them back into the classroom for another 22 minutes of reading work.
So far I have been having so much fun. Our room name is the Ready To Learn Champions (RTL Champs). The kids have been really invested and I have been keeping my energy level up (when in the classroom) and they have been very interested. Most of their vocabularies are VERY limited, but I am doing everything in my power to expand them. In an effort to do that I have modeled our summer reading units with a detective theme. This allows me to talk about everything they learn as a great gain into unlocking and solving the greatest and hardest to solve mystery of all time: The English Language. Instead of notebooks (which many of my students can't afford) we made case books where they have to write "clues" which involve words, definitions, pnuemonic devices, and word charts. They seem to be eating it up, and, truth be told, I am really enjoying the whole thing. Whenever I get the overhead projector I yell "To the Fact-Symbol!" and i they all start chaotically na-na-na-na-nan-na-nan-na-na-ing until the Class manager throws her hands in the air and everyone sings "knowledge" instead of batman. This keeps their energy up. They also have a class cheer which they scream with such vigor it makes me hope I am not bothering the dead let alone the classroom. But after the cheer the kids are out of breath and enter the Ready to Learn position: hand clasped together on the desk, both feet on the ground, looking at me and trying to smile even bigger than i am smiling.
So basically I am saying I am loving the whole teaching thing, but i am struggleing to cross the language barrier with the content, but WE WILL get there. The kids seem to be having fun and most of them have already read a book since we started!!!!
I have to go to a lesson planning meeting, where I will hopefully get better at teaching content that is age and knowledge-level appropriate (during the first day I got so excited I started talking about the progression of the english language as a germanic language and how Latin and Greek influence it. I had 21 very intregued, totally lost 4th graders). I wanted to just reflect real quick on how amazing everything has been. And to ask everyone to pray for a snowstorm so school is canceled, the humidty goes away, and I can finally sleep more than 2.5 hours a night.
Peace
Monday 18 June 2007
The first day of school.
Well, after 3 hours of very heavy sleep and many more hours of lesson planning, investment planning, group work, diagnostic preperation, and writing of procedures I am up, dressed in a tie, listening to my party mix with my roomie, Adrian, and getting ready for day one in the classroom!
I am excited and nervouse to start learning how to teach and make the enviornment needed to get these kids the best education possible. Hopefully soon I will get more sleep.
Wish me luck.
I am excited and nervouse to start learning how to teach and make the enviornment needed to get these kids the best education possible. Hopefully soon I will get more sleep.
Wish me luck.
Sunday 17 June 2007
Happy Father's Day!
Happy Father's Day Dad!
I am in Houston today because of you. As I reflect on all the skills, values, and attributes TFA found in me and wants to foster I look back at you and realize how many of them you taught me by example. Our core values are the source of all we are doing at Teacher Boot Camp and they are:
1)Relentless Pursuit of Results
2)Sense of Possibility
3)Disciplined Thought
4)Respect and Humilty
5)Integrity
I wanted to thank you for blessing me with such a model. I will be teaching my children about Atticus Finch as a model of relentless virtue. But I could use you too. Thank you for everything you do.
I am in Houston today because of you. As I reflect on all the skills, values, and attributes TFA found in me and wants to foster I look back at you and realize how many of them you taught me by example. Our core values are the source of all we are doing at Teacher Boot Camp and they are:
1)Relentless Pursuit of Results
2)Sense of Possibility
3)Disciplined Thought
4)Respect and Humilty
5)Integrity
I wanted to thank you for blessing me with such a model. I will be teaching my children about Atticus Finch as a model of relentless virtue. But I could use you too. Thank you for everything you do.
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