NCAE First Year Teacher

Lochness Monster, Big Bad Wolf, The Borg, and Space Mountain have nothing on the first year of teaching...

2009-05-19T13:44:00.002-04:00

Often, first year teacher's experiences are described as a roller coaster. My journey as a first year high school special education teacher has been no exception. There were days in which I felt that if I never stepped foot back into the school building my life would be 100% better. There were also the days when I left with a huge smile on my face and feeling like I make a difference. Looking back on my experiences, I am aware that there were a number of influences which kept me going this year.

What helped me through the ups and downs of the year were the many teachers who offered advice or just sat and listened to me vent. I can remember in December when I was in one of my lowest moments, one of the second year teachers told me a story about her first year. She told me about the day in which she felt that she would never teach again. She used her story to help me see that things weren’t as bad as the seemed and that I would make it through. On another day, my co-teacher gave me the best advice. I will carry this advice with me for the remainder of my teaching career and my life. She said, “when those kids walk in the next day, you give them a clean slate”. She saw that I was holding onto a number of things. By holding on to the negatives, I was trapping myself into a slump. Her advice helped me turn around my outlook on a number of things in the classroom.

Another thing that kept me going, and possibly the most important influence was my students. My students had a way of reminding me that what I do is important to them. I can recall a few months back, and I was having one of the worst strings of weeks. There was the April child count coming up soon, my graduate class was winding down, and all of the students had “spring break fever”. To say it more simply, I was overwhelmed. It was a Monday afternoon and I was rushing out the door because I had a number of things to do before I made it home. As I was passing through the hallway, one of my students said to me, “hey Miss Crutcher, I’m not going to forget to study tonight. I remember what you said about how well I do when I study”. The conversation he was referring to occurred a few weeks prior. I was amazed that he still remembered what I said. At that point, I realized that my opinion mattered to that student, and that he respected the fact that I wanted him to do well. As frustrated as I felt, I knew that if I had never stepped back into the school, that student wouldn’t have had me there to say good job a few days later when he got his test score back. No matter how frustrated I was, I wouldn’t trade that opportunity for the world!

I can’t say that my first year has been a walk in the park; however, as I look back on the ups and downs I am able to appreciate the moments in which my passion for helping my students overcame the frustrations of teaching. If it were not for the support system that I have found within other teachers at my school and my students, I would have floundered. I would have given into the thoughts that my life would be better if I never came back to the school. I am fortunate to have the opportunity to work with such great co-workers and students.

The Trial of the Century

2009-03-31T06:49:00.001-04:00

Over the past week, my students and I have been looking at differing character points of view. We read familiar stories like Cinderella and The Three Little Pigs, but wrote journal entries that expressed the feelings of the ugly stepsisters and the big bad wolf. To conclude our week, I organized a mock trial based around the Little Miss Muffet nursery rhyme.

The spider was our defendant, and he was on trial for injuring Ms. Muffet. The students got the chance to hear both the defendant and the victim state their cases, and reached a verdict based on the facts.

Before the conclusion of the case, I had the chance to talk with the children that were jury members. I discussed with them the importance of listen to both sides of the story, and not forming a bias opinion. I also asked the question, “Does anyone know what happens when half the jury think the defendant is guilty, and the half the jury think the defendant is innocent?” Without missing a beat, one of my students raised her hand and stated matter-of-factly, “Yeah, they rock-paper-scissors for it!”

If only things were that easy.

Post made by March 2009 writer, Hal Schwartz.

Add this to your List Oprah!

2009-03-11T21:08:00.002-04:00

I have a confession to make … Over the past few nights, I have taken Rick Riordan’s The Lightning Thief home with me from school. Of course I asked my students if I could borrow it first.
In the beginning it stemmed from my inquisitiveness, but each page sucked me further and further into the journey. As my students dispersed around the room during independent reading time, I heard students discussing whose turn it was to read the book. Wow I thought to myself, students are actually arguing about whose turn it is to read this book. I made a vow right then and there to investigate what constitutes a piece of literature students would quarrel over.
I have to say, I did enjoy reading books when I was younger; however, the thought of me bickering with my best friend in fourth grade over whose turn it was to read the Berenstain Bear’s series or Clifford the Big Red Dog sounds irrational. Nothing against Mama Bear or Papa Bear, but I could never really find a book series that was truly gripping.
The Lightning Thief is exactly that series. Riordan has taken my love of Greek mythology and blended it with a modern day protagonist. When I talk with my students about Percy Jackson’s adventures, their eyes light up as they retell even the most minute detail. Character motivation, setting, and conflict/resolution are discussed between students without them even realizing their powerful thinking. I can’t wait to finish the first book so I can move on through the series.
In the meantime, I will cross my fingers and hope that I get cast in the movie version of the book (perhaps the chapter, “I Accidentally Vaporized My Pre-algebra Teacher”).

Post made by March 2009 writer, Hal Schwartz.

It's a Bird, It's a Plane ...

2009-03-03T21:42:00.004-05:00

As a first year teacher, I am hoping to offer a male perspective on teaching in an elementary school environment.

Of all the interesting and exciting events that have happened in my young teaching career, I can think of one particular situation that reminds me why I love being a male elementary school teacher. It happened a few days ago, when I was out on the playground with my students. A young child came running up to me with a football. “Mr. Schwartz, can you throw the football as high as you can in the air please?” he asked. Without any hesitation, I wound up and heaved the ball straight up with all of my might. After the football returned safely to the ground, the little boy ran up to examine it. As he held the ball away from his body and up to his eyes, he looked bewildered and exhilarated. Being the slightly paranoid, concerned teacher that I am, I ran up to ask him if everything was all right. He looked me in the eye and responded genuinely, “Yeah, I was just wiping the clouds off the ball.”

Nothing makes a guy feel better than having a child marvel at his super human strength. The same child now monitors me on the playground to make sure I don’t throw the football when there are planes above.

Post made by Hal Schwartz, March 2009 blogger.

2-28-09

2009-02-28T18:51:00.006-05:00

Would someone please tell me where the month of February went? :o) Sitting at home, reflecting on this past week, I sometimes cannot believe how quickly the days fly by. We went on our first field trip this past Monday, but Monday feels so long ago that it's hard to believe it just happened! My class along with our other first grade neighbors attended a story hour at the local library to learn more about Black History Month. The students all did so well listening and participating! Because the library is right next door to the school, we didn't have to take a bus. It's close enough to walk to! I had forgotten from last year how much work it is at my school even to simply get all the permission slips signed and turned in. However, in my room, thankfully there were no problems this time around, and everyone had permission on time to go!

It is still very new and very real knowing that I am officially a teacher. It is such a strong responsibility - in one year it is my job in partnership with their parents to get these beautiful children to the level they should be on to get to second grade. I always had this dream vision in my head of what it's like to be a teacher. Singing songs, laughing, having fun, doing lots of hands-on projects, and all the hugs - and although all of that is happening, it is my goal to find the time to sit back for a few minutes during the day and truly enjoy it. I feel such tremendous pressure to get everything done each day, and to get everything done this year, that at times I wonder where my day went. I made it my goal at the beginning of this year that I would sit with or talk to each one of my students at least once each day. It has made the biggest difference for me as a teacher. Morning Meeting really helps me and the rest of the class to get to know each other, but I want to be sure that each student knows how much I'm rooting for him or for her and how much I expect from them.

I've had some recent discussions about the current children of this world, and how they are coined to be the "entitlement generation." I'm trying to figure out how to help the little ones in my room escape that label. There are so many instances where I see others upping their standards but lowering their expectations. It is a struggle to find that balance between what you expect and what they are capable of. For me, I keep my expectations as high as I possibly can, and hope that I do enough to help them reach those expectations.

Many thanks are given to all the girls on my first grade team, and to all the other teachers at school! I have such a wonderful support group there, especially after finding the several individuals who share my outlook and insights and philosophy and goals. I would not have survived this far without their amazing help and shoulders to cry on. I am amazed at the strength and patience of my family and friends as well. They always seem to have the perfect words for me when I have a great day, and also when I have the not-so-great days. With such a dependable army of guidance and love behind me, I have a great amount of hope for the future. I pray for my past students, my present students, and future students each day. I wish them the world and hope to share a piece of it with them. But most of all, if they know how much I love each one of them and know that I stand behind them, that will be enough.

This is my favorite teaching quote...it's a bit of a cliche now, but I'm in love with it always!

When I am introduced as a teacher, I am usually asked what I teach. When I say, “First grade,” I generally hear a very flat, “Oh.” I have never been certain whether that is an expression of pity, disgust, or perhaps disinterest. Always I wish I had time to explain to them like this:

Yes, I teach first grade. Where else would a handsome and very young man put his arms and me and ask, “Do you know I love you?”
Where else could I see a fashion show daily and keep up on the latest trends for the very young?
Where else could my limited wardrobe be complimented or my earrings thought beautiful?
Where else could I eat a soiled piece of candy from a grimy little hand and not become ill?
Where else could I have the privilege of wiggling loose teeth and receive the promise that I may pull them when they’re loose enough?
Where else could I guide a chubby little hand that some day may write a book or an important document?
Where else could I walk around the room and have little warm hands reach up to touch me?
Where else could I forget my own aches and pains because of so many cut fingers, scratched knees, bumped heads, and broken hearts that need care? Where else could my mind stay so young as with a group whose attention span is so short that I must always keep a bag of tricks up my sleeve?
Where else could I feel so close to my Maker as I do each year because of something that I have done to help one of His little children learn and grow.

Yes, I teach first grade and I love it!
Source: Unknown

-Post made by January - February writer Brenna Logan

2-15-09

2009-02-15T18:34:00.004-05:00

My main struggle in teaching first grade is definitely writing. I had NO CLUE what I was doing up until my second observation this year. I grew up in a family that immersed me in the English language – both reading and writing have always been strong for me. I’ve been slowly learning how to teach reading, and I feel like I am getting the hang of it (plus I really enjoy it), however, writing is one of my weaknesses. It is very difficult for me to break down writing into parts, because I see it as a whole. My students have our Writer’s Workshop routine down (as you can probably tell, I am ALL about routines and structure), but they were not showing the progress in their writing as I had hoped they would. One of my first grade teammates who is almost eligible for retirement opened her classroom door to me and allowed me to observe her teach a lesson. She was amazing with her students! They were writing creative stories in “books” that she had made for them (she staples 3 pieces of paper to make a book to help them discover how to write a story with a beginning, middle, and an end).

I took my observation and made some drastic changes in my writing lessons. I adopted the books, and almost immediately, even my students who really struggle with writing were amazingly already writing actual stories. I try now to put major emphasis on the books we read for Shared Reading, and try my best to have them tie into my mini lessons in Writer’s Workshop. We’ll see how things go from here! :o)

By the way, our kindergarten and first grade classrooms have the Lucy Calkins book sets. They are an amazing guide for teachers with relatable and scripted lessons for all aspects of writing all year. If you take them and make them your own, it is a tremendous resource!!

--Post made by January - February writer Brenna Logan

2-12-09

2009-02-12T18:30:00.002-05:00

2-12-09
At the end of most days, after my students have lined up in their “bus line,” “van line,” and “car rider line” and headed off school grounds, I check my box in the office, say hello/cya later to the coworkers down the hall, and come back to my room. I have to keep one set of lights off because I discovered this year that I get sensory overload from the florescent lights. I usually turn off all the lights in my room when the day is done and I am alone in the room for the first time in 8 hours. With chairs up off the floor and the calendar board wiped clean by the Star Student, some days it’s hard to tell that students have even come and gone. It is so peaceful and relaxing to sit down at my desk and reflect on the day.

Today was a great day! I am in love with my students. I was blessed with a group that gets along (for the most part, most days), and that I can put into small groups or partners without having to worry about arguments or power struggles.

One of the teachers at Eastern, whom I adore and dream of one day being as wonderful a teacher as she is, lent a book to me this summer called “Morning Meeting.” The author describes a morning routine that is based upon problem solving, listening, teamwork, and other wonderful life skills that students seem to miss out on these days. I immediately adopted this routine into my classroom on Day One of this school year, and will use it until my teaching days are over.
Here’s my interpretation of it:
After the announcements are over and the tardy bell rings, I play a simple song on the CD player that signals the students to stop and turn in their morning work. They stand up, clear their desks, and sit down in a circle together at the front of our classroom. They are encouraged to sit next to someone different each day. On Mondays we introduce a new “Morning Greeting” such as Bonjour, Hola, Good Morning, Top of the Morning, Konnichiwa, etc. My favorite is “Namaste” which in a loose translation means “I see the good in you.” I like to have the Morning Greeting in a different language, so we point out the country on the map, talk about where the language is spoken, and what the word(s) mean. The Star Student (this is the helper of the day) starts Morning Greeting. S/he turns to the person beside him/her and shakes that person’s hand while saying the greeting (for instance, “Namaste, Ms.Logan). The two shake hands and the person says it back to the Star Student. Then the person turns to the next and they exchange the greeting with each other’s names until we get back around the circle to the Start Student (I hope that makes sense!!).
Next, we sing our good morning song with the help of our CD player. After the song, we have our share time. This is basically Show and Tell. Each student has a designated day to have his/her Share Time. There are three to four students per day. The students may bring in an object from home or share important news. The key to this Share Time is that you have to describe the object or news you are sharing. Meanwhile, the classmates listen to the details. When the person who is sharing is finished, s/he asks “Does anyone have any questions.” S/he then picks 3 people to ask a question. The question may not have a yes or no answer. It has to be a thoughtful question based on the information provided. Surprisingly, the entire Share Time only takes about 5 to 8 minutes everyday.
When we have time, we will do an activity after Share Time. The activity is a team building song or game. We started off the year introducing a new “Cheer” from Dr. Jean’s website (Kiss Your Brain, Lookin’ Good, “Round” of Applause, “Micro”wave, etc.). Now we do songs that have to do with student names or a word family.
I cannot express enough how much of a team builder this has been for my class. My favorite parts are the Morning Greeting and Share Time. It is so cute the way the students shake each other’s hands! We discussed what makes a “good” handshake (ie, a firm but gentle grip, looking each other in the eye, and speaking clearly with a smile). Also, during Share Time, their questions have become very in depth. There is almost a competition to have the best question! One day a student was talking about getting a toy from his grandmother. One of the questions asked was “did your grandmother give the toy because she was visiting or was it for a special day like Christmas?” Wow! :o)

--Post made by January - February writer Brenna Logan

2-2-09

2009-02-02T18:21:00.001-05:00

February…here we go! A month of black history, dental health, Super Bowl ((GO STEELERS!)), Groundhog Day, Valentine’s Day, Presidents’ Day, Happy Birthday Mr. Lincoln, Happy Birthday Mr. Washington…I don’t know if I even need to say more!

I remember last year in first grade – I started teaching in January and had no earthly idea what February would bring. I am the type of teacher that wants to “do it all.” I think we’re all like that. I learned so much when I was in school, and now there are even more resources thanks to the Internet, so I want my 6 and 7 year-olds to get it all in while they are with me. Stepping back and telling myself, Brenna, you can’t do it in one year, proves to be very difficult. I’ve learned a lot even in one short year, but looking ahead to this month I’m back in “do it all” mode.

PS: I’m VERY disappointed that Mr. Punxswaney Phil saw his shadow – they are calling for snow next week…

I learned today that I cannot view or add to my blog from school (Pitt County Schools has blocked all “blogs”), which is where I spend most of my computer time (after school of course!), so I want to reflect at the end of the day a few days this month and transfer it over to home in order to post. Bare with me!

Here is a video that really helped me with Guided Reading and managing my centers this year:

http://www.teachertube.com/view_video.php?viewkey=8b9e5ddcf83489018a5d

--Post made by January - February writer Brenna Logan

Love It!

2009-01-28T22:49:00.005-05:00

This is a website geared towards mainly the primary grades...and is my favorite! If you visit it, look at the top and click on the link "click here for monthly activities." I love it because not only are there AwEsOmE ideas, but also because most of the activities have pictures to show you exactly what they mean! Awesome!

http://www.drjean.org/

...Pretty much the best thing since sliced bread for this teacher! :o)

Here is a picture of my favorite spot in my classroom.

It's where we meet on the carpet for Morning Meeting,

Calendar, Read Alouds, math sometimes, Social Studies,

Science, and Writing. (I just realized now that my students

are rarely at their desks...) Oh, and this picture was taken

back in October right after an experiment with pumpkins

so it normally looks a lot cleaner/neater than this! :o)

--Post made by January - February writer Brenna Logan

And all will be well, and all will be very well!

2009-01-27T20:49:00.006-05:00

I counted three briefcase-sized bags tonight when I finally closed my books and packed up my crayons for tomorrow. There is always a bag in my room filled with books that have wonderful ideas and crafts I'd like to try someday. There is a bag in the back of my car containing the latest yard-sale purchases for my classroom. And last is the large quilted, pink elephant and paisley covered tote that is always glued to my side at the end of the day as I walk out of school and is still there in the morning when I'm seen walking back in!
Just to clear things up, my dad is a high school English teacher, and he passed down to me a passion for writing. I didn't say he passed down a skill of good writing, just a passion! :o)

A little about me... I graduated in December 2007 with my Bachelor's Degree from East Carolina University. I also have a K-12 reading license. I grew up in Greenville, NC, and am still here, but would love to move to at least one other state in the near future. I want to see the world and experience all it has to offer me! My family is very supportive of my career path - I mentioned before that my dad is a teacher; my mom was a preschool teacher for a few years when I was much younger as well. I like to read, be outside, and I love listening to music. I have a cat whose name is Hank - he likes to sit right on top of my computer when I'm trying to work.

I love and teach the first grade at Eastern Elementary in Greenville, NC. Currently there are 19 students in my class with several different nationalities, and they all add up to be a sweet, fun-loving group of 6 and 7 year-olds. We have survived the first half of the school year together, and it amazes me how much they have grown academically, physically, and emotionally!
First grade is a tough year because you are no longer in kindergarten where everything is new and simple and fresh, and you have to be prepared at the end for the fast pace of second grade. Finding a balance for my little ones has proven to be challenging as I am a very nurturing person. I want to give them the same amount of love and support they received from their kindergarten teachers while still pushing them full steam ahead.

I am very grateful to all the teachers around me at school. So many have given me supplies for my classroom (furniture, books, manipulatives, posters, boarders, files upon files of lessons and ideas, note pads, and most importantly chocolate!, and so many more have ideas to offer or projects to try. I have so many ideas myself, but the struggle I have is the fact that it's not possible to try them all this year. I have to be picky - and pick and choose the best for right now and try the rest in the years to come. Many teachers and friends tell me that your first year is all about surviving, but I don't like that saying. I feel that if I have that kind of an attitude towards this year, not only will I not enjoy it, but I will also be letting my students down. I don't want them to suffer academically or in any way just because this is my first time teaching. It's not fair to them. So I am slowly getting better at choosing activities and lessons that I like, but also keeping tabs on how much time to spend on them.

We are "Team Logan" in room 105, and we use music and partner/group work to help us learn. We use music to transition in the morning, to sing our Good Morning song, to sing about the days of the week and the vowels in the alphabet and the holidays...you name it, we have a song for it! Yes, surprisingly, the boys love it more than the girls! :o) Our favorite classroom tool is the stack of 10" square dry-erase boards that sit at the front of the room on the floor. We use these white boards to solve math problems, practice tough words, and we use them a lot in our reading groups for word work. Hand-held dry erase boards have definitely been a plus and a time/paper saver this year. They come highly recommended!

--Post made by January - February writer Brenna Logan

The Field Trip is Over

2008-10-24T16:14:00.005-04:00

My first field trip is officially over. It was a very interesting day. We got started forty-five minutes late and got lost on the way there. Everyone was not at the designated meeting location and we left the fair late. We arrived back to school over an hour late. So now that it's over I am truly relieved.
The rest of my week has went pretty well. On Thursday my students took the 1965 Alabama Literacy Test to determine if they would have been given the right to vote. No one in any of my classes would have been able to vote. Today the students voted in the 2008 National Mock Election hosted by Pearson.

- Post made by October's writer Shannon Nutting.

First Field Trip

2008-10-20T20:21:00.003-04:00

I am getting ready to take my students on my first field trip ever as a teacher. I have sixteen out of twenty one students attending. We will be attending the State Fair. It will be the first time some of my students have attended the state fair or for that matter traveleved outside Robeson County. I am excited and a little hesitant. We are currently learning about Geography. However over the next week or so we will be taking a break from Geography to learn more about how the election works. As I said last time so far things are going great.

--Post made by October's writer Shannon Nutting.

October

2008-10-16T23:05:00.003-04:00

Hi everyone. Sorry I am so late getting started. This month has been extremely busy so far. I am a 6th grade social studies teacher at Pembroke Middle School. My school has approximately seven hundred students in grades 6 through 8. I am a graduate of UNC-Pembroke with a bachelor's degree in Criminal Justice. I also have a Juris Doctor in Law from North Carolina Central University. I am originally from Robeson County and have lived here my entire life with the exception of the three years I attended law school. I was a student at my school just fifteen years ago. Some of my colleagues were my middle school teachers. I have always loved kids. Most days I enjoy going to work. However, like with any job there are bad days. Thankfully I have not had very many of those. Hopefully this trend will continue.
My curriculum includes Geography, South America and Europe. If anyone has any helpful hints or ideas please feel free to let me know.

--Post made by October writer Shannon Nutting.

Parent-Teacher Relations

2008-09-24T14:38:00.002-04:00

I have always dreaded the mystical "parent-teacher" conference. To begin....strangers make me nervous. Parents, by nature, are the most lethal form of stranger. They, by nature, have the best interest of their children at heart, and this passion can manifest itself in a multitude of ways. Hopefully, your parents will come to conferences with an open mind - willing to listen to your opinions without becoming defensive - and able to offer suggestions as to how to support their children in becoming more successful. But behaviors tend to oppose the ideal in varying degrees, including complete denial of problem behaviors or total exasperation on their own part, each of which can result in less than productive conferences.

So far - I've found the following helpful:

Bring an agenda to the conference. Having even a basic outline will allow you to get back on track, even if the conference gets a little....emotional. (The presence of an outline also helps to eliminate the chance of you getting emotional, which will help keep the parent calm as well)
Keep minutes. Give the parent a copy. Have a copy for yourself. These can be quite helpful for administrators if discipline issues happen to snowball in the future.
Whenever possible, meet as a team. "Mr. So and So just doesn't like me" won't carry quite the same weight when parents hear that the same kinds of problems are recurring in several classes.
Bring the student's progress report.
Listen to what parents have to say. No matter how you feel about them, they have known your student for far longer than you have. Their comments maybe insightful in several ways. And finally,
Find something positive to say. Don't set yourself up in the parent's eyes as the enemy of his or her child. Dig deep. "Johnny" has done something praiseworthy. Find it.

2008-09-12T10:24:00.001-04:00

Saw this video at the STAY seminar yesterday, and thought it was inspirational enough to share with the group. Enjoy.

An Introduction

2008-09-09T11:22:00.003-04:00

So.

When I originally agreed to be NCAE's first, first-year teacher blogger this year, I imagined spending some of the spare moments during my planning period, pouring wisdom out into cyberspace for my fellow first-year colleagues.

I can already hear your snickers.

Here we are, diving into the third week of the school year, and I am just now able to steal some time away to begin writing. By able, I of course mean that I am procrastinating; progress reports go out tomorrow, and I have not yet finished setting up my grade book in NCWISE. Stop. I still hear you snickering.

In any case, I thought that I should at least take a moment to introduce myself to all those who'll be reading my reflections for the rest of the month.

I am a recent graduate of Wake Forest's Secondary Education Program, and I currently teach Algebra at an NC school that shall remain nameless. Before that, I was an undergraduate at Hampton University, and before that, doing whatever it was to my teachers that require, karmaicly , the stress of this year. To my students, I'm "that crazy math teacher that loves quotes and poems and drama and stuff."

To you, I promise not to be too preachy. To sound like as if you all are the ones struggling through, while my days are filled with movie moments. For the English teachers who are cringing as they read, I promise to pay closer attention to all of the rules of grammar that I am currently breaking, and I promise to not talk...too much...about math.

And that is all for today; I've got papers to grade.
--

Quote of the Day
~Never walk away from failure. On the contrary, study it carefully and imaginatively for its hidden assets."
~Michael Korda

Polly Wanna Cracker?

2008-05-24T13:14:00.000-04:00

Coming from a science background I tend to have a cost-benefit perspective. This basic biological concept states that an action will be taken if the benefit outweighs the cost. The difficult job in teaching is trying to present the case to students that the benefit of day-to-day education outweighs the cost of boredom, difficulty, or whatever terms they associate with school. In dealing mostly with freshmen, it is difficult to get them to see past the day. The problem with temporal vision is that education is an investment, which may not gain interest until years down the road; without immediate application, many students see no benefit. When one asks Polly to do a trick for a cracker, she may do it, but trying to convince Polly that if she does a trick now she will get two crackers tomorrow is a difficult task. Few, if any, of our students go home and immediately reap the benefits of science, math, history, and literature.
Physical rewards can be helpful, but they are temporary. Unless those AR points hook them into wanting to read for nothing more than personal pleasure or development, then at the end of the day they are useless. The other dark side of the coin is penalties.
As the year comes to an end, our students (and I admit some teachers) slowly turn into some kind of wild, summer-induced animals, in which issues of discipline in the classroom become more difficult. For students who care about grades and finals, the reins are still held, but those who have discovered the fact that they will not pass, school has become nothing more than a place to hang-out. How do you control a student who fears no repercussion? Their grades? They don’t care. Time-Out? They don’t care. Phone call home? They don’t care. The only way to avoid this scenario depends on what you have done from the start—structure, consistency, and relationships. Structure and consistency gives the students the groove to move in, and a caring relationship makes them not want to leave that groove. Trying to discipline now is like trying to make a horse stop bucking by hitting it with a stick. The great thing about teaching, though, is that with each day and year we have a new opportunity.

EUST, LISP, and HOFI

2008-05-15T16:43:00.001-04:00

Now if you are looking at the title of this Blog and your brain has immediately begun to decipher the meaning of this acronym, then I am quite assured that I am talking to a teacher. When I entered the profession I was amazed at the language- IEP, IGP, ESL, AP, ILT, BED, ESOL, etc., with training most of these acronyms can be picked up within one’s first year. In my opinion, though, the more difficult type of communication is that with the students. The skill needed in dealing with students is staggering. I am not just talking about what they say and what we say, but how they say it and how we say it. The right word with the right tone can diffuse a volatile situation; the opposite will make it erupt in your face like Mt. Pompeii.
Due to the nature of my y chromosome, I have come to accept the fact that I am not inclined to speak good. On top of that I have also learned that I tend to be introverted unless we are close or I am writing. This makes it very difficult for me to make the move to communicate with students. However, one day I got the guts to “make the move.” One of my young ladies came in late and tried to turn in her homework, well knowing that my policy is no homework is accepted after the late bell. Well eruption ensued and she got into it with my inclusion teacher, with me of course playing the mute. When it had died down, and the quiz for the day was passed out, this student wanted nothing to do with the quiz, so I asked her to speak with me in the hallway. I expressed my concern for her and explained why I had the rules I did, and though there was now smiles, laughter and, “Hey, Mr. B you’re the greatest”, she did return and take her quiz.
I am currently reading a book entitled “Boys in Crisis”, one of the 7 books that I have been “required” to read this year. I wasn’t thrilled, but have actually found it quite interesting, and it really explains the behavior of many of our male students, and how their lack of communication leads to behavioral problems, and academic distress. Finally if you are wondering about the title, any ornithologist would know these acronyms as European Starlings, Lincoln Sparrows, and House Finches; do your new teachers know yours?

Carolina Wrens

2008-05-05T18:54:00.005-04:00

Since I am to be the blogger for May it seems best that I should tell a little of my background. Those who know me will usually identify me by several methods 1) Spiky hair (which I must admit does not come naturally), 2) Skinny (Students have been known to call me "Mr. Bones" as well as saying I am anorexia, and the humor prevented me from telling them that "anorexia" is a noun not an adjective), but those who know me best will say, "Oh, the Birdman, he makes awesome bird noises." I'm not sure of the exact time and place my fetish for birds began, perhaps when I did that Alliteration Book in 5th grade and mine was on birds, nor when this fettish became a passion.

I entered UNC-Chapel Hill, the school which you will undoubtly love or hate, but have some opinion of, with the intention of becoming an ornithologist (professional bird brain). I loved science and soon found that I equally loved teaching others about it. During my Senior year at the last possible moment I decided teaching might be the thing for me to do. I had thought of becoming a professor, but somewhere along the way giving to the student became more important to me than than giving to the scientific community.

Within these students in this my first year, I have found a resource that I am quite familiar with-passion. Many of you may be laughing, because like my students, some of your students have a demeanor and face that is anything but passionate, and you fear that one day you will come in and it will have become so stagnant that it is growing pond scum. However, beneath that surface there is a passion, though suppressed by 90 minutes classes, television, and too much texting, it is present. When it bubbles to the surface it usually takes the form of "Can it really...", "I heard that..", or "What if..." WARNING: Do not burst this bubble too soon, this is engagement, this is what we want, though I admit sometimes the What-ifs can become a little extreme, but please take care. I encourage you, enlarge this passion, guide this passion, it make be the solution to our educational energy needs.

Adam Byerly, May Blogger

If You're Lucky...

2008-04-30T12:40:00.005-04:00

Well, as my first year is coming to a close I've learned:

simple is best,
to keep records of EVERYTHING,
be prepared that no matter how many hours you planned, something unexpected will happen,
sitting 5 hours in a gym watching your students play basketball will pay off in the classroom,
making a positive phone call to a parent will make their day,
smiling is contagious,
being a teacher is a HUGE responsibility and worth it,
if you have a question - ask,
your faculty and staff are your second family,
technology is your friend,
fractions CAN be taught,
students will go the distance,
teaching is the most rewarding job ever.

I like telling my students, "If you're lucky, you learn something new everyday!" My students have made me the luckiest person in the world because they have taught me soooo much! I can't wait for my 2nd year! I will miss them, but they have taught me well so I'll be ready to face whatever my next class has in store for me!

Have a great last month of school! Remember, if you're lucky...you'll learn something new today!

Blog posted by April writer Sheri Hale, 5th grade teacher at Fred Anderson Elementary School in Bayboro, NC.

Good advice for a first year teacher

2008-04-29T08:10:00.003-04:00

I was fortunate enough, along with the other first year teachers from our county, to go hear Harry Wong at Chapel Hill this year. He was wonderful! I brought back many classroom management tips from him along with some great ideas that I have been able to incorporate in my classroom. My favorite one is posting every goal and objective in the classroom where everyone can see them from all over the room. After posting them, read them or have the students read them (I do them 9weeks at a time) and then we check them off as we complete them! They don't ask me "Why do we have to learn this?" because they know the answer is "because North Carolina says you do!" This give them a visible goal and they love it when I take down the goals and objectives that we've learned so they can see what's new for them.

If you ever get a chance see Harry Wong, please do. He is funny, inspirational, and full of ideas. He was a teacher at one time and he gives us all permission to "steal, steal, steal!" He says his classroom was full of "stolen" ideas! Talk to your coworkers, visit their classrooms and steal their ideas! Ask veteran teachers what they wouldn't or couldn't live without and "steal" it! Almost every teacher I've ever known was ready to lend a helping hand and any extra copies of items they have. Harry Wong is great...so look him up online and try to see him if you can.

Blog posted by April writer Sheri Hale, 5th grade teacher at Fred Anderson Elementary School in Bayboro, NC.

The possibilities are endless!

2008-04-28T22:18:00.005-04:00

Boy! The end of our first year is drawing to a close and I'm very uptight about the EOGs. We finished our math book a couple of weeks ago so I am now trying to find fun ways of reviewing and assessing the kids. I want to keep them interested but I also don't want them to forget what we've worked so hard to accomplish. My morning class was 100% proficient and my afternoon class was over 92%! I am very proud of them and what they have done this year.

Some of the things I've done with my students for interesting math has been:

Fraction Bingo
Math Vocabulary Bingo
Jeopardy!
Multiplication/Division Bingo
Multiplication Board Games
Wrap-UpsStations (like centers using plotting coordinates, time, area and perimeter, fractions, probability, etc...)
Flash cards
Are You Smarter Than a Fifth Grader? (they LOVE this)
Card games
Dice games
Sidewalk math (give them a peice of chalk with an EOG practice problem and let them work it out on the sidewalk! This gets us outside and reinforces the goal and objectives!)

The possibilities are endless! I just think they will give us more if they are having fun, their minds are fully focused, and they have confidence that learning all this "stuff" is important.

Have fun!

Blog posted by April writer Sheri Hale, 5th grade teacher at Fred Anderson Elementary School in Bayboro, NC.

Not giving up!

2008-04-25T12:00:00.005-04:00

Sorry it's taken me so long to get this done, that's one thing I'm learning during my first year of teaching...not giving up! If there is one important thing I've learned it would be not giving up. Not giving up on myself and my capabilities and my students and theirs. I am team teaching with a wonderful partner and it has enabled me to focus really hard on math and science. I am also teaching two totally different classes. One is half AIG and the other is an inclusion class ... so I am learning how to teach the same lesson many different ways. I even have one student who has MS and a severe vision problem (she sees two different things - one with each eye)and I have to come up with a way to teach her along with my other 33 students. There have been days when I look up and it's close to 6 o'clock and I still need to get ready for the next day! I've finally found a routine and it's working for my students and myself. I'm very flexible and ready to take on whatever the student's throw at me but I do love the fact that I FINALLY found a routine that works.

As a student, I hated math! So when my principal told me he wanted me for the math and science position...I was so shocked! I had always pictured myself as a reading and writing teacher and social studies would just be a bonus. I'm sure my mother is laughing in heaven above at the fact that I am teaching math! I have really surprised myself at how much I am loving math. I love seeing the "ahhh ha"moment. We just received our 3rd nine weeks math scores and my morning students scored 100% and my afternoon class scored 94.11%! I have never been so proud of my students! They have worked so hard. We even have tutorial twice a week for an hour each with 8 of my students. All of the hard work is paying off and it's because none of us have given up...we are sticking with it and finding what works.
Another way I show them I'm not giving up on them is by being available to my students all the time. I made a magnet for every student with my name, email address, and phone numbers where they could reach me at any time with questions about homework or life in general and I gave that to them during open house. They know I care about each and every one of them and am not going to give up on them just because it's 3:00 and I'm done for the day. Some of my co-workers think I'm crazy...but it works for me so I'm sticking with it.
I think by sticking with what I have learned over 14 years as a teacher assistant and yes...a bus driver, I am a better teacher. I stuck with attending school FOREVER to become a teacher and now I'm enjoying each and every day with my students.

Blog posted by April writer Sheri Hale, 5th grade teacher at Fred Anderson Elementary School in Bayboro, NC.

Looking back.....

2008-03-31T20:46:00.005-04:00

Looking back, I can say there have been several things that have helped me as a first year teacher.

Ask for help from more experienced, seasoned teachers. They usually already have what you're looking for and can offer great advice.
KEEP RECORDS! Keep track of everything. Student work, notes home, anything you submit to licensure, etc. Keep up with everything.
Plan for the worst, but hope for the best. Your students will sometimes surprise you so always have plan B in place when things go better or worst than you think they will.
Classroom management...it works! Have rules, consequences, and rewards. Teach your students how you want them to do it (say it AND model it!) and they will do it. Even the most difficult student loves structure and consistency.
RELAX! Everyone knows your new and will help you in any way they can. Do your best and make sure you take some time for yourself.
When all else fails, just say "I'm new. I didn't know." LOL!

Being a new teacher is a GREAT experience. I love it! I've learned so much along the way and I know I can only get better with time.

Blog posted by March writer Janel Johnson, 7th grade Math teacher at Martin Luther King Jr. Middle School in Charlotte, NC.

OMG...what a week!

2008-03-31T20:25:00.006-04:00

My oh, my... what a week it has been. I've had grades due, meetings to attend, EOGs to prepare my students for, and off course the inevitable, lesson plans to write. And while I love the job it's so hard to do it all CORRECTLY all the time. After attending a long, extensive training on NC WISE, I still struggle with using it. You have to set it up and then put in all your grades. It's a very long and time consuming process, but it's one of those non-negotiables. It has to be done. The meetings...a good bit of my time each week it at meetings. I have grade level meetings, department meetings, and 7th grade math meetings. It never ends. Day in and day out...there's always something to meet about. EOGs are around the corner and based on how mt students performed on the last quarterly, there are still some objectives they need to master. So I have to meet their needs and guide them in the direction I need them to go in. How do I do that? Lesson plans. I have to write lesson plans that will meet the needs off all my students. Does Johnny need to see it? Will Sally do better if she writes it? I have to help them and differentiate learning for all students. What happens when I decide to not give all these things my best? Could I lose my job? YES! But more than that, who am I really hurting? My students! If I decide to be slack on my job and not give my all, then how can I expect more from my students? I have to go in my classroom everyday and give it my all. Even when I'm tired, frustrated, stressed, and/or in a "bad" mood. It's my job. I have to do all I can to educate my students. I have to teach what they need to know and teach them in the way that will be most effective for each one of them. It's not an option. I have to give them 150% each day and hopefully they will give me the same in return.

Blog posted by March writer Janel Johnson, 7th grade Math teacher at Martin Luther King Jr. Middle School in Charlotte, NC.

I'm more than just their teacher.....

2008-03-16T21:45:00.012-04:00

My students are my first priority. My job is to teach them the NCSCOS for 7th grade Mathematics, but what about Life Skills 101, Social Skills 101, and Goals 101? Do I just do my job and not worry about "Johnny" not being able to hold a conversation with someone without cursing? Do I not think about how "Sally" does not know what a bank account or checkbook is, let alone know how to balance one? Should I not care that "Tommy's" only wants to turn 16 so that he can drop out of school? NO!!!!! I care too much about MY students for these things not to matter.

Since I have developed a relationship with these kids, I find myself being more than just their teacher. They ask me my opinion of things they have done or are planning to do. They talk to me about things going on in their life outside of school. They expect me to be Ms.Johnson (the teacher with the strict rules and no smiles) and Ms.J (the teacher they can talk to about anything).

When I find out that "Johnny" cursed out "Mr.Doe" for not letting him go to his locker, I talk to him about it. I show him his mistake. I tell him that "Mr.Doe" is still an adult and that he should respect him the same as he respects me. I teach him that it is inappropriate to talk to adults that way and inappropriate to talk like that at school period. Will he do it again? Maybe. But hopefully he won't and if he does I'll teach him again because I am his teacher.

"Sally" may not have banks in her neighborhood. So when I'm teaching fractions, decimals, and percents, she may not be able to make connections with the things I'm talking about. I take the time to explain to her the importance of managing your money and how to maintain your finances. If she doesn't begin to learn these skills now, then where will that leave her in the future? Broke? Receiving government aide? Living check to check? I refuse to have my students become another negative statistic because I didn't take the time teach to them a simple life skill.

Why does "Tommy" want to drop out of school? Is it because another teacher along the way told him he wouldn't amount to anything because of what side of town he lives on or what his other family members have done? Has he been retained? Does he just have no other goal to strive for? Many of my students are "Tommy". They have nothing to look forward to. I ask him what he enjoys doing and show him career opportunities incorporate the things he like. After EOGs, I hope to have speakers come in and talk to my students about different careers and how they got started. I hope to encourage "Tommy" to finish high school and go to college if he wants. He needs to have a goal to motivate him through the pitfalls of life.

This week I learned that I am more than just a teacher to my students. I have to expose them to new things and show them basic life skills. I must show them how to interact with others. I must be their #1 fan even when they are losing the race. I must be a support system for them even when I'm tired or frustrated. These things are not options to me. These are the things in fine print of my teaching contract and I signed my name on the dotted line.

Blog posted by March writer Janel Johnson, 7th grade Math teacher at Martin Luther King Jr. Middle School in Charlotte, NC.

The week FLEW by...

2008-03-11T21:36:00.008-04:00

This past week flew by so fast, I didn't even get a chance to post my blog. As a first year seventh grade Math teacher, it's been hard for me to get this time management thing under control. I have meetings just about everyday of the week during my planning period and after school. I am trying to work out 4 days a week. I try to have some what of a social life because if I didn't I would be INSANE! SLEEP? What's that? I only sleep for about 5 hours each night. I spend a little time each night grading papers because I want my students have quick feedback from me about their work. (AND...I don't want to be swamped in papers to grade when grades are due!)

It's not hard to plan lessons for the 3 DIFFERENT classes I teach. I find it hard to come up with creative ways to differentiate learning. I teach 2 Standard Math classes with one of them being an inclusion class and 1 Standard Plus Math class. Even though the the students in my Standard Plus are supposed to have "higher EOG test scores" than the other. The only difference I see in the score is maybe 2-5 points! I often find it hard for them grasp concepts because they think it's "so easy". I push them to think outside the box and remember that careless mistakes can be the difference between an A and a B on an assessment. Some the students in that class believe that all they have to do is maintain their current status. I remind them that they have to reach further than the other students because they have to show growth just like the lower level classes. I always have to challenge them a little bit more but they keep me on my toes.

My 2 Standard classes ROCK! They are (usually) excited and focused about their learning. They want to move on to a higher level class and want to achieve a higher growth than they did in the past years. I never thought I would be able to teach an inclusion class my first year, but I LOVE IT! When I see that light bulb go off in their head and I see they understand how to not only use the concept I taught them but to apply it to a new concept, I smile. The feeling is overwhelming at times because I can see the joy it brings them on their face. It reminds me of why I am a teacher in the first place.

Meetings and paperwork keep me busy. I have pre-assessment data and post assessment data, homework to grade, projects to grade, licensure requirements to fulfill, parent contact logs to maintain, grade level meetings, math department meetings, and the list keeps going and going. It all serves a purpose and it has to get done. I am accountable for these students. If I am not on top of the requirements of me as teacher, then how can blame my students for not being on top of their work? I have to show them by coming to school prepared and assessing their individual needs. Then, I make modifications and provisions for the things that best suit them so that they can show they can fulfill the requirements of the state by passing the EOG.

I didn't have to become a teacher. I could have been a doctor or a lawyer, but I knew impacting the lives of children was my life's purpose. I was chosen for this career and I'm not quitting any time soon. Even with all the planning I have to do, meetings to attend, and paperwork, I love it. I enjoy the new challenge I have each day. I am not worried about what each day brings and when I am going to get time to do this and that. It will all work out. I live each day by the words of Joan of Arc, “I am not afraid…I was born to do this.” I'm here for the long haul and I plan on enjoying the ride.

Blog posted by March writer Janel Johnson, 7th grade Math teacher at Martin Luther King Jr. Middle School in Charlotte, NC.

Looking back, looking forward

2008-02-28T18:57:00.005-05:00

This past year has been filled with ups and downs, highs and lows. The rollercoaster that is being an educator isn't something that is easily explained. I've sat through more meetings than a company CEO. I've colored with crayons and markers and colored pencils. I've discovered a new love of Dr. Seuss. I get excited over Scholastic book orders. I've been covered head to toe in shaving cream, done a stint in a dunking booth, and done the Hokey Pokey at a roller rink. I have had to file a police report, hugged crying parents, and been selected as a semi-finalist for Wake County's first year teacher award.

I cannot begin to explain my profession to anyone. You have to experience it. Every day is different, every lesson a new adventure. There is not a day that I dread going to work. There are many people in the world who hate Mondays, complain about their job, and can't wait to switch positions or careers. I am blessed to have found my calling. Is teaching for everyone? No, but it's definitely the right fit for me.

Blog posted by February writer Nichole Emond, 1st grade teacher at Cary Elementary in Cary, NC.

I Wish I Would Have Known...

2008-02-24T18:10:00.003-05:00

There was no way to predict what this year would be like, the personalities of my students, or how my conferences with parents would go. I tried my best to plan ahead for every situation, but many times I ended up thinking, "I wish I would have known that sooner!" Here are some things I wish someone would have told me before beginning my teaching career:

*Organize as much as you can, right away. I recently cleaned off my desktop to see papers that had been there for a month. Organizing them after the fact, when there were so many-- impossible.
*Invest in lots of Goo Gone, Clorox wipes, Purell, Sharpies, and Post-its. I think my kids EAT Post-its we go through them so fast.
*If the PTA holds an event, go! The kids LOVE to see teachers outside the classroom having fun, and it scores you extra points with parents and administration.
*When sending notes home, use the ones that automatically carbon-copy themselves. That way there is no questioning what you wrote.
*Do not believe the custodian when he says the elevator/door lock are broken, or that your carpets are a fire hazard and need to be removed ASAP. I learned quickly that custodians are known for practical jokes.
*Cupcakes in an elementary classroom = frosting on the floor, walls, ceiling...
*Families with the least ability to give often give the most.
*Save box tops, soup labels, frosting cans, ANYTHING that might come in handy.
*Get ONE subscription to a magazine or online reproducibles site, like Scholastic. They all basically have the same thing.
*Parents love newsletters, especially if they include weekly objectives and upcoming events.
*Become friendly with your IRTs, TRTs, secretaries, etc... they're the ones who get things done.
*Short on money? Apply for Target Field Trip Grants, ask for classroom supply donations, etc.
*Always pack a little extra food in your lunch/snack. There will be a student who forgets/isn't sent with enough.
*Leave by 6pm! Nothing gets done after that, your brain is fried and your energy is low.
*Be patient when trying to acquire special ed services for a child. The line is long, and the workers few.
*Kids will forget important forms for days, but remember to bring in their Show-n-Tell without fail.
*There are many useful teachers' websites out there, like teachers.net and proteacher. You don't have to reinvent the wheel!
*Don't be afraid to switch grade levels. Yes, it's a huge undertaking, but it can be very rewarding and you may end up right where you need to be.

Blog posted by February writer Nichole Emond, 1st grade teacher at Cary Elementary in Cary, NC.

The Balancing Act

2008-02-16T18:17:00.004-05:00

I used to be a procrastinator. Hard to believe, I know. I would write papers the day before they were due, mail bill payments right before the due date, and wait hours or even days before returning a phone call. I felt like had all the time in the world and nothing was urgent. Have those times changed!

As a first year teacher, my biggest challenge has been balancing all of my responsibilities inside and outside of the classroom. After the daily teaching duties, I also work two days at Cary Elementary's After School Care Program to earn some money for savings. As a new teacher I am also required to attend Beginning Teacher/Mentor support group meetings biweekly for several hours. Add on professional development courses, PTA events, parental contacts/conferences, lesson planning, bulletin-board making... the list goes on and on, and my days get longer and longer.

Am I complaining? Not in the least. I love my job. I truly enjoy going to outside school events like PTA carnivals and skating parties, or letting my creative juices flow while working on bulletin boards and organization. All of these extra, non-teaching hours can really add up, and do often cut into my personal time. I have struggled with finding time to see friends, enjoy bubble baths, and even read for pleasure. I often stay at the school until 6pm and then come home to work on lesson plans or create arts and craft activities. I struggle with finding time to make nutritious meals, exercise, and do more to keep myself healthy, leading to bouts of illness.

So, how do teachers manage the balancing act? How do they find the time to teach, get all of their extra duties done, and still spend quality time with their families, friends, and keep themselves healthy? I've started planning my days almost to the minute, allowing for at least one hour at night of "me time" for reading the newspaper, playing with my adorable Pug puppy, or lazily soaking in the tub. My new mantra is "Don't put off until tomorrow what could easily be done today." With time so hard to come by, there isn't time to procrastinate. By spending a little extra time to keep myself organized, I end up saving loads of time in the long run.

Do I still feel overworked? Some days! I now feel, however, that I at least have time for my personal life. I still find it hard to leave the school before 6pm, but my whole demeanor has become much more positive and relaxed, just by giving myself some time, just for me.

Blog posted by February writer Nichole Emond, 1st grade teacher at Cary Elementary in Cary, NC.

100th Day!

2008-02-03T15:40:00.001-05:00

I write my very first post here as I prepare for the 100th Day of School at Cary Elementary. I cannot believe that the year is already past the halfway point! My first year as a teacher has had its highs, lows, and everything in between. I've laughed, I've cried. I've never craved sleep as much as I do these days. It's exhausting, exhilarating, and no two days are alike.

As a first grade teacher, I have had so many wonderful experiences already. I joined a fabulous staff that has embraced the Professional Learning Communities mindset, and joined a team that gets along extremely well. My students are energetic, enthusiastic, and most of all eager to learn anything and everything. I am truly lucky to get to work there everyday.

Not that it's been easy. I've had some major behavior issues in my room. I have had parents who don't come to conferences, don't respond to phone calls, and don't help their children with their homework. I've experienced what we teachers refer to as "the full moon effect," when the children simply cannot sit still. I've caught more colds than I dare count. I take home so much work I've resorted to a rolling crate to tote it all. I haven't seen 10pm since August. There are days that I come home and fall asleep after dinner. I buy more for my classroom than for my brand new apartment.

But there are those little moments that make everything worth it. There are the moments when you see the little light bulb go on, and your heart skips a beat. Like when "Bobby" finally starts using spacing in his writing, or when "Becky" finally starts to "count on" for math. It's moments like those that make all the craziness, all the early mornings, and endless piles of paperwork worth it. Some days I feel as if I do crowd control more than anything else, but the teaching does happen. My kids are growing and progressing and achieving. I'm growing and progressing right along with them. It's amazing to see how far we've all come.

Blog posted by February writer Nichole Emond, 1st grade teacher at Cary Elementary in Cary, NC.

Farewell 2007

2007-12-28T15:18:00.000-05:00

As this year comes to an end, I realize many things about teaching...Not everything they teach you in college is relevant to the "real" teaching world. Somethings you just have to "wing it".

Each week I reflect about my lesson plans and think how to best educate my students. I've learned that the provided pacing guides don't always go with how well my students are able to grasp a certain theme. Teaching is all about learning yourself...Learning what your students respond to...Learning how to inspire your students...Learning that it's okay if things don't go as you planned.

I welcome 2008! This begins the second half of this school year! Here's to teaching, but most of all to learning for ALL!

Blog posted by December writer Angela Steele, a 2nd grade teacher at Whitnel Elementary School in Lenoir, NC.

Christmas Chaos

2007-12-21T17:43:00.001-05:00

It finally arrived...my first experience with the week before vacation! I was amazed at what I was able to get accomplished at such a chaotic time of year. Students are so willing to share their thoughts and memories of Christmas. I was truly blessed to hear how each child has and will celebrate the Christmas holiday. Each and every child is unique in what they experience...Just like teaching. Looking back at this week has already allowed me to see how easy it is to relate on such a common thing as a holiday. Through this common connection I was able to bring learning to real life. Learning about the real reason we put wreaths on our doors and how each ornament on a tree has a special meaning made learning fun for all.

I wish each and everyone a very Merry Christmas!

Blog posted by December writer Angela Steele, a 2nd grade teacher at Whitnel Elementary School in Lenoir, NC.

Bulletin Board

2007-12-12T10:13:00.000-05:00

There is no doubt about it – Christmas is very near!! My second graders are so excited that they can hardly concentrate. We have started with several fun activities that they have thoroughly enjoyed. I have a bulletin board outside my classroom with a Christmas theme and the children and I have progressively decorated a tree. To begin with I completed the background and placed the tree in the center of the board. Each day last week, the children would make ornaments to place on the tree. Some of the ornaments looked like the old-fashioned lights with the big bulbs, others were the more traditional looking ornaments that they drew, colored and glittered. Finally at the top of the tree we added a bright star. My heart was overwhelmed when the children stepped back to look at its completion and one commented “look Mrs. Steele, we are the ornaments and that is you on top of the tree”. They never cease to amaze me!!

Blog posted by December writer Angela Steele, a 2nd grade teacher at Whitnel Elementary School in Lenoir, NC.

Mrs. Steele's Top 5

2007-12-07T11:26:00.000-05:00

John has asked a very interesting question - “What are the five things they did not tell me in teacher Ed?” I am sure there are many more than five – but here are those that come to mind instantly:

They did not tell me how to deal with a 2nd grader having a total “meltdown” over a practice spelling test….. :-)
No one told me how to communicate with a parent when their child has done physical damage to a “large, metal,” bench on the playground. (not sure how this was possible)….. :-)
They forgot to tell me about what to expect when assigned to morning and afternoon bus duty…. :-)
On the very first day in the classroom – there was a mother who chose to stay in the classroom all day!!!! No one told me how intimidating this could be or how or if I was to include her in my daily plans…. :-)
No one told me how totally consumed I would be in anticipating from day to day what my classroom would be like (it often is the opposite of what I have anticipated)….. :-)

Thanks for asking! Hope you have a great weekend.

Blog posted by December writer Angela Steele, a 2nd grade teacher at Whitnel Elementary School in Lenoir, NC.

Greeting from Whitnel Elementary

2007-12-04T15:32:00.001-05:00

Where has the past four months gone? As I reflect on them, there are many thoughts and emotions, I can hardly share them all with you – but, here is my attempt to take you inside my 2nd grade classroom at Whitnel Elementary School:

*There have been moments of frustration – having to teach even the simple task of how to read and follow directions. But without this skill the student’s progress could definitely be limited or squelched.

*Then there are those times when I am so excited to see the students have an
“ah-ha” moment, and that they finally get what we have been studying.

*Many days are filled with laughter - hearing them say something they have no idea what it means, telling silly jokes, or sharing an honest “at home” story.

*Inside my classroom I feel hopeful…many days you can almost see the wheels in their brains turning – trying to comprehend all that is being taught. It is awesome to think that what I am teaching will impact their lives forever.

*I suppose if I measured the strongest emotion or thought that I have experienced in the classroom it is “Love”. Seeing the student’s need for love, and being the one who can supply that need while they are at school, is very overwhelming. I sincerely want the students to do well…because I know their academic growth is the key to who they will become.

As my students learn, I, too, am learning and growing. Learning what works and what doesn’t and how to be the reflective practitioner! Hope you are having a great week – more details from my classroom will follow…

Blog posted by December writer Angela Steele, a 2nd grade teacher at Whitnel Elementary School in Lenoir, NC.

All Great Things must come to an end

2007-11-30T22:47:00.001-05:00

Well guys we did it! We made it through the first full week back from a couple of non-full weeks and we SURVIVED! It was so funny to see some of the students practically dragging this morning! (they were just as tired as we were!)

The month has flown by; I hope that you have had several "good" days and that the stress of the holidays will not become to overwhelming. Some times just taking it one step or one day at a time is all we can do, but as long as we "keep moving forward" it'll be okay! :-) May you have a blessed and safe holiday season.

Blog posted by November writer Charlene Broadway, middle school music teacher in Johnston County.

Parent-Teacher relations

2007-11-29T21:22:00.000-05:00

You'll find that you have some parents that are friendly and even kilter, and well others not quite so personable. This could go either way and the mention of "Parent conferences" could strike terror in the heart of any new teacher (or seasoned ones too)!
I wish that there could be more preparation of dealing with parents. I realize that it would be something hard to deal with at the collegiate level ( I only had one professor ever discuss and prepare us for parent conferences, and that was in a special education class). Maybe mentors could get together during mentor/mentee meetings and do some role playing of difficult and non difficult parents to help new teachers in this area. This could also be a great refresher for seasoned teachers alike!

Blog posted by November writer Charlene Broadway, middle school music teacher in Johnston County.

Is it really all about me?

2007-11-28T19:16:00.000-05:00

This time of the year always seems to be a whirlwind. The kids are getting excited about the upcoming holidays (and sometimes a little too excited!!) Stress levels also begin to rise around the holidays. I must admit, I was looking forward to Thanksgiving break and having time "off". Even though I did not have to go into work per se and have to deal with children in the classroom setting, I still found myself working over the break - researching material for lessons, typing up presentation slides for my lecture(s), etc.

I realize that I am a workaholic, however I wish that I could make more time for myself (especially get back into a routine of going to my fitness center). I often pull ten-eleven hour days and have a few meetings after school that I attend in regards to my profession. And in a week or so, I'll have another after school obligation with a weekly after school show choir. Not that I am complaining, I just wish I could find a better balance of having a personal life vs. professional life. However, I have found that this year has been easier and with each passing year I will become a more "seasoned" teacher and hopefully have more "me-time" versus being "married" to my career.

Blog posted by November writer Charlene Broadway, middle school music teacher in Johnston County.

New Blogger for November

2007-11-15T18:05:00.001-05:00

Greetings dear fellow educators!! I am in my second year as a middle school music teacher. This blog is typically for first year teachers, but I am still in the ILT stages. Last year had many ups and downs and many "broadening learning experiences." I had previously taught high school music in Virgina for a brief period of time and came back to NC. My work environment is a tremendous help to my over all well being! ~ I LOVE my job!
At my current school, we are constantly working on our professional development and becoming a professional learning community through a variety of ways. One example would be socratic seminars. Last month we read "High Five" which dealt with team building concerns. It is so great to work in an enviornment that we have communication and are willing to pull together! I am truly blessed to work with such great people!!! :-)
As educators we are always focusing on reflective practices. Yes, some days will be better than others but reflecting on the plus/deltas of the day will make our jobs easier! I am fortunate as an elective teacher that I have a two day rotation so that I can immediately reflect on each class and then "tweak" areas that may need adjustment.
I am looking forward to being your blogger for this month.

Blog posted by November writer Charlene Broadway, middle school music teacher in Johnston County.

A few new tricks, and lots of treats....

2007-10-29T06:03:00.000-04:00

As I look back at this past month, I realize that, thanks to so many people, I am learning a host of new teaching tricks. Classroom management, organization, assessment strategies, every facet of teaching is so generously shared with me. It is wonderful to be able to work with individuals who are so gracious in sharing their ideas, tips and techniques, extra supplies, and copies! It brings a whole new meaning to "Trick or Treat".

Fortunately for me, I also have had many treats this month. The biggest has to be the love and support I received from my co-workers, who are truly my family here, after my latest health crisis. Nothing like having to take care of yourself, 1,000 miles from your family to make you realize who you can really count on! If I did not have the support of my "family" here, it would have been impossible to stay focused and teach.

Here's hoping that you also find joy and encouragement in all you do!

Blog posted by October writer Kate Behm, sixth grade teacher Carroll Middle School in Lumberton.

Relevant and Necessary

2007-10-15T19:45:00.000-04:00

I have been struggling with making my "necessary" lessons relevant to my students. I feel so very far removed from my students' lives and experiences, that it makes it difficult to tailor the lessons to things that interest them. Don't get me wrong, I love to play video games, and I know that we all have the need to be loved and respected, but my students have such a very different life from the one I experienced growing up.

I do my best to talk to my students about what excites them, to find out what the new and "cool" things are, to ask them what music I should listen to, what all the cool people wear (you should see some of the cool new sneakers available--yeah, I know, no one left on the planet calls them sneakers anymore), but the reality is that I am older than some of their parents, and, in their eyes, even more ancient!

I do my best to show my kids how the math they are learning helps them both today, and will continue to help them in the future, as well as how much of how we teach and learn we owe to Socrates, but sometimes I feel as though I can't seem to help them make connections. I envy those teachers who have an easy knack for relating everything they teach to "real world" applications. I hope that this is a skill that I can learn, and that I become proficient in, too.

Wishing you all joy in your journey.

Blog posted by October writer Kate Behm, sixth grade teacher Carroll Middle School in Lumberton.

Sometimes it is all about me...

2007-10-08T18:29:00.000-04:00

I had a revelation today. I need some "me" time--not just 5 or 10 minutes of TV time, or a quick look at a magazine in the doctor's office, but some serious "This is my time!" I don't think I am being selfish, as much as self-preserving. I'm sure moms and caregivers, and those who work as care providers also have experienced this. If my energy/soul/emotional well-being is a bucket, lately I have taken out so much from my bucket, without bothering to refill it with the things that I really take pleasure in. I think that I have, with the best of intentions, neglected to do the things that bring me joy, and make me feel happy and content, since the beginning of the school year. Then I just end up with me resentful and feeling unappreciated. So, today, I think I will read a few chapters from a book, make a card, and send an email or two. Maybe I will even go to bed early tonight, and leave some grading for tomorrow. Here's hoping that you find joy in all you do!

Blog posted by October writer Kate Behm, sixth grade teacher Carroll Middle School in Lumberton.

A new month, and a new blogger....

2007-10-01T18:53:00.001-04:00

Isn't it amazing how teaching is cyclical? Good days follow bad, you build on what you taught previously, and then return to teach it again...and a new blogger replaces the old! I am a new teacher at Carroll Middle School, in Lumberton, NC. I teach a sixth grade, self-contained classroom of 25 wonderful students.

We have 12 sixth grade teachers, and 9 of us are new--new to CMS, new to NC, and new to teaching. It has been an amazing bonding experience for us--we rely on each other to get through the good and bad times. We are each other's support system, family, and friends. I have never had such a great team to work with, and am so grateful for all they do for me. I can only hope that other new teachers have the same good fortune to be able to ask all the stupid questions (I know, I know, but you and I know that some of them are stupid) you have, some of them several times, and have them answered with patience and laughter.

We have alot of challenges at CMS this year--a new team, to make AYP for the second year in a row, EOG's, creating a unified sixth grade that is consistent and tight knit, and bring our students up to the level they need to be for 7th grade. I think that those challenges are the same for all of us in education. However, we also have so many tremendous opportunities. We can do things that are not traditional, we never get told "We did it this way last year", or "We've never done it that way before", we all are committed to making this year memorable and significant for our students and ourselves, and we all love our jobs. One thing we all agree on at CMS is that life is too short to do something you hate for 70 hours a week--and that if you hate teaching, children, or if teaching is just a "job", you need to get out of the classroom!

We are all a little green, and still a little starry-eyed, but I know for me, the reality of teaching has begun to sink in. I work 15 hours a day, and most of my weekend is spent on preparing for the following week. I am heavily invested in vitamins and a great mattress, and love being able to go to bed early, and sleep late. I know what it is like, now, to cry when my students leave my class for the day because I am so frustrated and at my wits' end, and I know what it is like to feel depressed and a failure, because so many of my students did not pass a test that we spent an enormous (for me) amount of time preparing for.

Happily, I also know what it is like to be able to cry tears of joy, because a student chose to send a thank you letter to me, telling me I was his favorite teacher in the class (I laughed, too), and another sent me a thank you, telling me he was so glad that I moved all the way from Chicago to be his teacher. I also got to ride in a hot-air balloon at school, get recognized by my principal at a staff meeting for my enthusiasm (I was just being my usual kooky self), and have a variety of hysterical moments with my co-workers.

Here's hoping that everyone loves their job, has the support they need, and can find joy in their heart at the end of the day.

Blog posted by October writer Kate Behm, sixth grade teacher Carroll Middle School in Lumberton.

2007-09-30T20:53:00.000-04:00

I made it through the first month of teaching. There's been good days and not so good days.

The good: great colleagues, non lunch duty weeks, kids making an effort, pay days, kids being quiet, getting my copies made and leaving before 5pm, staying organized

The bad: kids with no respect, kids who don't try, lunch duty weeks, standing out in the hot sun during bus duty, having to wing a lesson plan, pointless meetings/training sessions, grading, progress reports, kids slamming books on the floor, kids throwing bottles at the trash can

The biggest problem is discipline, bar none. I'm going to have to elicit the help of some veterans in this area, especially for my 4th period. The only other real negative thing I feel sometimes is being too routine about teaching. I want to be more creative but I realize that will come with experience and time.

Here's to the county commissioners and hoping they get us that local supplement increase soon...every dollar counts when you are a first year teacher in NC.

Blog posted by September writer Charles Detmar, spanish teacher Glenn High School in Kernersville

2007-09-12T21:55:00.000-04:00

Progress reports...never have two words combined to make my day feel more broken. Let me say this...whoever designed NCWise was not thinking 'user friendly' when they conceived this program. Not to even mention that I had no proper training on the guts of it all, but I was literally scrambling to get my grades posted by 5pm Tuesday. Only thanks to the help of a couple kind colleagues was I able to do it. I dub thee 'NCStoopid'...

I felt bad when I saw some of my kids grades. The problem is that I haven't really given many grades so far. I don't assign homework every night, the first test didn't make it in time, one quiz and a couple of weekly participation grades, and that's all I had. Sure, I could have wore my brain cells into the ground trying to come up with all these graded assignments in two weeks time. Would it be beneficial to my overall mental stability? No.

I wish my room better represented a Spanish classroom. There's nothing really wrong with it now but it could use a couple $100 Staples gift cards. I feel like it's not setup to create the best possible learning environment, simply in terms of how many chairs I have and the limited amount of room with which to arrange them all. If I had it my way, I'd be smack in the middle of the room with the kids surrounding me...there'd be Los Lonely Boys playing each day as they entered the room...giant posters of far away places hanging on each wall...chips and salsa on Fridays...oh and one of those Smart Boards would be nice, too.

Something else has been nagging me lately. Oh yeah, sub plans. Haven't even had a chance to start on that yet. They'll be turned in when I can get to it. I'm not Superman, ya know?

Blog posted by September writer Charles Detmar, spanish teacher Glenn High School in Kernersville

2007-09-07T17:17:00.001-04:00

Week two is over...

A major struggle in my classroom is striking a balance between being fair and being consistent. I have a set of rules but can I honestly be expected to enforce them all, 100% of the time? The kids eat a little candy, somebody keeps tapping on the desk, another one is secretly texting on their phone and all this while the two or three knuckleheads in the back corner continue to chat and giggle long after the 10th time I've politely asked them to be quiet so I can hear myself think.

My inexperience is showing and I know it. I want to be friendly because that's just the type of person I am, but I have to let them know that I'm won't tolerate certain behavior. I think some of the kids believe I'm all talk with nothing to back it up with. Somebody told me to make an example of just one of them and see what a difference it makes.

On a lighter note, I've been interweaving some geography and history into my lessons. It's good to break up the grammar and vocab with stuff like this, plus I enjoy these types of subjects. So if I can get even one kid thinking about something new and interesting for that day, then it makes the hardships partially worth while.

Blog posted by September writer Charles Detmar, spanish teacher Glenn High School in Kernersville

2007-09-04T20:34:00.001-04:00

Well, I survived my first week of teaching. By survived I mean I haven't quit my job yet. I don't plan to either but it's been mentally and physically challenging for sure. Seeing that I came into this gig with absolutely no idea how to run a successful teaching enterprise, no clue how to manage 25 teenagers in one room, no idea how they would view me when I'm up there...I think I've done pretty well so far.

From what I have surmised thus far, the hard part of teaching is not the actual teaching. It's the discipline, planning, and organization that makes it rough. I had very little time from the first workday until the first day of classes to actually do any of the latter two. I've basically just had to chip away at that mountain little by little each day. I plan for tomorrow today and if I'm lucky, the day after that.

The discipline issue is a beast of it's own. The problem at Glenn is that, at least in the Spanish Dept., the previous year's program was less than stellar. This is what I've heard from various faculty and students. This translates to many of the Spanish II kids being lost, not having learned what they needed to in Spanish I. They also think that the foreign language classroom is for talking and goofing off. Spanish I kids are much better because I have no expectations of them as far as the subject knowledge goes...so this is where us new Spanish teachers can properly prepare them for level II.

The days are long, I often stay an extra hour and a half. I haven't even begun to think about substitute lesson plans, progress reports, or the myriad of other minutia that we are expected to keep up with on the administrative side. At the end of the day, it's supposed to be just me, the kids, and the classroom. The reality of teaching involves so much more though. In fact, I'd venture to say it's one of the most complex occupations on the planet. So whoever says, "Those who can't do, teach."...I say to you, "Those who've never taught, shut up."

Blog posted by September writer Charles Detmar, spanish teacher Glenn High School in Kernersville