Blog Reflection

It is really hard to believe that this semester is almost over. It seems like only yesterday that I was starting this blog and wandering how I was going to get through it without a teaching job. My life has changed in so many ways over the past 14 weeks that I am still trying to catch up. I have learned so much, and I couldn’t be more grateful for the opportunities I have been granted.

I have enjoyed writing this blog even though it has been difficult to keep up with. I enjoyed being able to journal my feelings for others to read. I have enjoyed reading my fellow classmates’ blogs more, however. The other blogs have given me ideas and insights. They have also helped build my confidence by showing me that I am not the only teacher that has struggled this first semester. It is very helpful to know that others are dealing with the same issues that I am and that I am not alone in the fight to become the best I can be.

I would really like to incorporate blogging into my classroom, particularly with my Language Arts class. I would really like to get rid of their traditional writing journals and allow them to set up blogs to use as their journals. This would provide the students a feeling of accomplishment and motivation since each student would be able to publish their writing for others to read. Unfortunately, this is not a project that I can set up in my classroom this year. Our school has very limited technology, and the majority of my students have little to no internet access at home. It is definitely something that I will hold on to for possible implementation in future classes.

Raps, Posters, and Mobiles, Oh My!

I have really been struggling to motivate my Pre-Algebra class to do, well, ANYTHING. They were not doing their homework, participating in class, or studying for any type of quiz or test. So, I decided to try a different approach. I assigned them a project that, I hoped, would motivate them enough to take some initiative to learn the material.

The project was all about choices for them. They got to choose between 4 different projects: rap, poster, poem, or mobile. They also were able to choose their groups and to choose between 5 different topics. These topics were: GCF of monomials, LCM of monomials, combining like terms, solving multi-step equations, or solving multi-step inequalities. I provided all the materials they would need and let them work on them during 2 class periods.

I have to say that the kids were thrilled about the projects and really put a lot of effort into them. Each student worked hard and put a lot of individual effort into making their projects fantastic. Most of the students chose to do posters, but I had 1 group do a mobile and 3 groups do raps.

All of the students grasped the topic of their projects, and they had to present and explain them to the class. This provided a great review of all of the different topics we had discussed. All though all of the groups did a fantastic job, there was one group that shined above the rest. This group called themselves “The Big Nerds”, and they presented a rap explaining multi-step equations. One of the members even dressed up with big glasses with tape and suspenders. It was fantastic.

Here are some pictures of the projects that the kids presented.

I also had my 7th grade Math classes create different types of graphs using different types of data. They did such a good job, I just had to make a bulletin board out of it! Here is the "graphtastic" bulletin board.

On a different note, a few of my 7th period students left me a beautiful picture one day while a sub was covering for me for professional development. It warmed my heart, so I had to take a picture of it!



Frindle by Andrew Clements

Last Monday, my literacy facilitator walked into my classroom with a book in her hand and a huge smile on her face. The was Frindle by Andrew Clements. She opened the book to the title page, handed it to me, and said, "This is for you!" I looked down at the page to see that it was a brand new autographed copy! Being a first year teacher that is struggling to make sense of my one Language Arts class, this gift meant so much to me! I read it in one sitting last Wednesday, and I really enjoyed it! This book is silly and funny, but it does have some very good lessons weaved through it. I will definately be recommending this to my students from now on.
This book is about a very imaginative 5th grader named Nick Allen. Nick has always found ways of letting his creativity and imagination get him, along with others, into trouble. Now that Nick is in Mrs. Granger's 5th grade Language Arts class, those days seem to be over.
Mrs. Granger is a no-nonsense type of teacher. She has eyes like a hawk and a quick wit. Mrs. Granger also has a love for words. It is this love of words that gives Nick his best idea ever.
One day, Nick's attempt at distracting Mrs. Granger from the lesson back-fired, and he was required to write an essay about words. While doing his research, Nick came up with the idea to create a new word. To Nick, a pen was no longer a pen...it was a frindle!
Frindle takes off like a race horse with Mrs. Granger right on its hills trying to stop it. Yet, it doesn't take long before the war of the word really kicks in. Is Mrs. Granger able to stop the spread of Nick's new word? Does Nick get in serious trouble? To find out, you must read Frindle by Andrew Clements.

Hatchet by Gary Paulsen

I read this book right after my Language Arts class was added to my schedule. I was searching for a book for my class to read as a whole. I was only a few chapters into the book when I decided not to use this book in my class. Now that I have finished it, I wish I had decided on this book instead of the one I chose. The underlying messages in this book are very deep and could really create some intense class discussions. The story ends kind of abruptly, but that could be beneficial to a creative writing assignment. I have already decided that my class will be reading this book next.
This story details the journey of a 13-year old boy named Brian who survives a plane crash only to be stranded in the Canadian wilderness. Brian is alone and terrified with only the clothes on his back and a small hatchet. Wild animals and unpredictable weather are just a few of the dangers Brain has to face in his struggle to merely survive. To find out what becomes of young Brian, you must read this book!

It has been a long 3 weeks.

The last three weeks have been long and exhausting. I have had multiple schedule changes, including losing one of my math classes and gaining a language arts class. I now teach four different subjects every day: regular math, Pre-AP Pre-Algebra, finance, and language arts. I have really been struggling with time management. Between writing lesson plans, grading papers, filling out paperwork, calling parents, attending required training, and my own school work, I feel like I have barely had time to eat and sleep. Time keeps marching on, and I am racing as fast as I can to keep up.

Despite the difficulties of my first five weeks in the classroom, there have definately been some shining moments. I had a parent thank me for teaching her child. I had a student that I thought really couldn't stand me as his teacher come by between classes to say hi and give me a hug. I have seen massive improvements in student behavior, motivation, attitude, understanding, and dedication.

And the ride continues!

What a week this has been! My roller coaster ride is still going at full speed, but I think I am finally starting to find a balance between all of these ups and downs. Well, I was starting to. Unfortunately, I was thrown for a HUGE loop today.

I was informed this morning that I am losing one of my 7th grade math classes. This class is being replaced with a 6th grade language arts class. This terrifies me! I am a math/science kind of person. Language arts is definitely not my strong point, and these kids are coming from 2 different classes. So, I am at a loss as to where I should even start. To make matters worse, I had less than a days notice since the switch takes affect tomorrow. Also, this makes 4 different lesson plans to create for each day. EEEK!

My poor math class was none too pleased with this bit of news either. This is the third teacher change this class has had to deal with since the beginning of school. After the news was broken to them, one of my students asked me why I was abandoning them. Despite the rough patches I have had, this was the first time I have struggled to hold back tears in front of my students. It broke my heart that these kids thought I was giving up on them. Of course, I made sure to reassure them that I am not abandoning them and that I will be there if they need me. This was actually my roughest class period, and it has been a struggle to spend more time teaching than disciplining. Despite the troubles, these kids have all touched my heart in one way or another, and I feel as though I am in mourning.

I absolutely love what I am doing, and I can't imagine ever doing anything else. However, it has been a real struggle for me to come to terms with some of the distractions and unnecessary obstacles some of these kids have to go through just to get an education.

One of the bright spots, however, is the wonderful group of teachers that I am working with. I have had so many fellow teachers go out of their way to help me get settled, and I don't know what I would do without them. I can already see what a special bond teachers share with each other. I am so proud to finally be able to stand among this wonderful group of professionals and to be able to call myself an educator!

My rollercoaster

Well, I have survived my first 3 days of teaching! Yay! I have to say that I have had my moments of doubt, though.

One thing that I did not expect in this choice of professions was the constant rollercoaster ride. The ups and downs that I have felt in the course of one school day, or even the course of one class period, have been a twist that I did not expect. I feel that I am on the world's longest rollercoaster, completely in the dark, with no idea what is going to happen next. Will there be a great hill to climb? A long, and twisty loop? Or a deep and seemingly endless plummet?

I have to admit that there have been moments over the past 3 days where I have questioned myself. Did I choose right? Can I actually teach these kids? Thankfully, these kids remind me, at the most unexpected times and in the most unexpected ways, that I DID choose right and I CAN teach them.

I don't expect this rollercoaster ride to end anytime soon. Hopefully, I will soon gain my equilibrium and be more prepared for what lies ahead. All I know right now is that, despite my exhaustion, sore throat, and aching feet, I will continue to give my all to make a difference with my students.

The lion's den!

I was finally able to meet with the teacher who has been teaching my math and finance classes since school started. She is incredibly sweet and was extremely helpful, but I kind of feel like I am walking into a lion's den. I have 2 6th grade finance classes that have no frameworks or pacing guide. The workbooks have not been used, only one grade has been taken, and the only information I have to go by is a website she has been using to get ideas.

My math classes are pretty much the same. There are a few check marks on the pacing guide to show what has been covered so far this year, but that is about as far as it goes. My technology is quite limited, as well, but I kind of expected that. I have a computer with no printer and an overhead projector. Guess it is time for some major grant writing!

I felt pretty overwhelmed when I left the meeting, but I had a lot of joy in my heart. My pre-algebra class made beautiful posters that welcomed me and hung them up on the bulletin board. That board gave me all the motivation I need to overcome these obstacles! I love these kids already, and I have never met them. I can't wait until Monday. I have high hopes that I can do some real good at this school and with these kids.

My dream has become a reality!

Well, the past week has been eventful and full of very pleasant surprises! I came down with a very nasty cold early last week and decided to take last Wednesday off from work to try to recuperate. Little did I know that my sick day would be the beginning of something wonderful.

I received a phone call at about 12:45 from the assistant principal at Jacksonville Middle School requesting an interview. I jumped at the chance, of course, and was a little stunned when it was scheduled for 2:30 that afternoon! Needless to say, I was in a frenzy to get ready. I had no time to prepare and really felt that I was in no way ready to head into the interview. I dug deep, however, and put on my happy, confident face. The interview went extremely well, and I was told I would hear something by Friday. Friday rolled around, and I did not hear a word from the school. I started the weekend a little down, but happy that I had one more interview under my belt.

My weekend was extremely busy, and I did not have much time to be disappointed between family and school. Today started like any typical Monday with a mad dash to get my children to school and myself to work. Then, at 10:30 AM, my six years of hard work and dedication finally paid off. I received a phone call from the principal of Jacksonville Middle School and was offered a position teaching 7th grade math and 6th grade finance.

Words cannot accurately describe my feelings at that moment, but gratitude, elation, and fear were all mixed in there. I laughed, I cried, and I laughed some more. I'm not sure that it has fully sunk in yet that I will finally be realizing my dream of teaching in about one week. I have so much to do, and I can't seem to wrap my brain around any of it. Lots to do with very little time to do it in, but I am so ready for this challenge!

The last leg of my journey (hopefully)!

As this new school year begins, I am both excited and frustrated. I am excited because I am entering my last year of college courses required to obtain my teaching license which is something I have been working toward for six long years. I am frustrated because I have the opportunity to be in the classroom teaching right now, and I am not. I have wondered time and again over the past 4 months what I could possibly be doing wrong in my attempts at securing a teaching position. The only conclusion I have come to is that it is just not my time yet. That time is fast approaching, however.

Since I am not teaching this semester, I am going to make the most of the extra time I have to better prepare myself for what is to come. My fellow classmates will help me more than they will ever know by providing their own personal, first-year experiences in their blogs. I plan on slowly acquiring materials for my classroom as I have been told that the allotment provided by the schools is never enough. I feel like I am trying to furnish a brand new house from scratch!

Another thing I plan on doing is to compile a lesson plan "portfolio" of sorts. This will be a difficult task since I won't know what grade level or what subject I will be teaching. However, I feel that it will be beneficial regardless of what I will be teaching. This will be time-consuming, but I will feel better prepared at the start of my first year of teaching with some planned-out lessons already in my arsenol.

I have not given up on finding a teaching job this semester. I am still applying for open positions in my area. However, I have come to terms with having to wait at least one more semester to finally reach my goal. It has been a long journey, but I am so excited to be able to see the light at the end of the tunnel!