first test = success!

Last week, I gave my students their first big test, and I have to say my eyes were watering tears of joy as I sat grading their exams.  My class average was a high B!  I was just very excited and proud to see that my students who trudge through some of the work do so well on their first big test.  The following class, I brought the students popcorn to celebrate the great score.  I could see the excitement that I was feeling on their faces which made it all the more rewarding! :)

DO YOUR HOMEWORK

No need for any in depth explanation of the frustration behind this post; however, I would like to vent.  Here goes.  WHY WON'T STUDENTS DO THEIR HOMEWORK!?  About 2 weeks ago, my class and I had a "come to Jesus" speech about the importance of doing homework on time.  I expressed my disappointment in their lack of effort and their neglect of their work, yet they continue to ignore my pleas.  I have passed out progress reports with the low (or missing) homework grades highlighted in electric pink and green, but alas, my wire basket still only contains 40% of my students' work.  I have students who could be making A's if they would just turn in their homework, yet they don't.  I just don't know what incentive to use to motivate them to turn their work in.  They will even admit that I told them about the work, that it was their fault they didn't do it, or even that they are just lazy, but that doesn't put the homework in my basket.

So, what now?  I am open to all suggestions.  I already take 50% off for homework turned in at any point after I ask for it.  Which makes me and my green pen sad to do.  Maybe they will be better.  Lots of thoughts and prayers towards my students' outside of class work ethic!

Long Time No Post

So, as I began to busy myself with the hustle and bustle that is high school and graduate school, I realized that blogging daily was much more difficult that I had originally thought it would be.  Then, as I got more and more off track, I found it was easier to be off track than to jump back on the tracks.

However, I am starting again!  Attempting to jump back on the horse and get at it again!  Wish me luck this time around... Being an oxymoron is tough stuff!

library days...

So today I completed my very first adventure to the library with my class.  Man was that an adventure.  Although the students seemed to work hard a majority of the time, there were the few that looked at the computer like it was an alien invader and had no inclination in the slightest of what to do.  However, I believe that it was an overall successful trip. One of the students who has lately seemed to not care in the class made a beautiful brochure today, and I am excited to see that student present on Friday!

Things to remember:  Make sure the kids clean up after themselves, or you'll have to do it.  Do not let them pack up and stand at the door with 3 minutes to go... 3 minutes is a long time! 

check your problems at the door

No matter if we have had gotten up on the wrong side of the bed, had someone dinged up our car then driven away (with no note), run out of gas on I-40, or just had an all around bad day, as teachers we cannot bring our negativity or personal problems into the classroom.  Today was one of those days for me.  The weekend had gone as far from "as planned" as physically possible, and I had to trudge in on a Monday morning and act like everything was all hunky dory!  Although I had heard that it would be tough before, I definitely learned it first hand that day.  Although some colleagues were able to read me, I believe that my students were oblivious to my personal problems which is exactly what I want.

Some of these kids only have their teachers to look to for positivity.  A few of them may have stressful home lives, and school is their refuge.  Even if only one kid in my class uses my class as an escape from negativity, I should make it a point every day to be as positive, upbeat, and supportive as possible no matter what!  So, check your problems at the door because even if you may have had a rough start, some of these kids are depending on you to help them get a good start!

shake it off

When I'm helping girls in volleyball and they miss a serve or a pass, I tell them, "Shake it off, you'll get the next one."  Well, as I learned Friday, I am going to have to do that when my lesson plans do not work out as perfectly as I had planned.  Despite my lengthy planning, the lesson I taught over geography on Friday definitely did not go as planned.  A worksheet I made had flaws, I messed up an article for a word, and even apologized too much.  It was definitely a flop.  However, after the lesson was over, I talked with my mentor teacher who reminded me that I needn't apologize, I am the teacher and that I needed to remain confident in my teaching.  She helped me remember that no teacher has a perfect day, and even veterans are going to have a really off lesson plan that we all just have to keep at it and just make it better for the next time!  So, I'm shaking off Friday's lesson and working to make this week better!

don't over do it!

So yesterday, I taught my very first 90 minute block!  It was very cool to finally be in front of the class executing a plan that I had spent lots of time organizing beforehand.  My students are great!  I know that this year is going to be great.  Surely, students who stay awake during the reading of a syllabus are going to be good kids, right?!

After the syllabus, we talked about the reasons why everyone thinks it is important to study Spanish and then what Spanish words we already know.  Because the students before the class acted terrified to be in the class where they did not know a lick of Spanish, it was cool to see them recall words that they already knew and show off to their friends!

One thing that I learned from my lesson plan on Wednesday is that if there are only a few minutes left in the class, do not try to cram in one extra activity.  I tried to fit in my last activity and ended up running out of time in the middle!  It's crazy how fast the time flew by, but I am excited and ready for another full block Friday!