Photo Challenge: Day 14

“Letting go has never been easy, but holding on can be as difficult. Yet strength is measured not by holding on, but by letting go.”
-Len Santos

Day 14 (05/31/11): A photo of whatever you please.

At 2:45 this afternoon I walked away from the school I've taught at for two years. I waved good-bye to good friends who I will truly miss. I packed my car with the last few mementos from my teaching experience. 

I'm not really sure where I go from here. I hear that we may be moving out of state (note the sarcasm!), but we're still waiting on a date, so it doesn't feel quite real yet. I have applied for a couple of design jobs in South Carolina, but have heard nothing back. I have itty-bitty dreams of freelancing full-time, but I have no idea where to start. 

I’m putting on a strong façade, answering inquiries with “We’re excited to take this next step in our lives,” and “I’m confident that this is moving me where I need to be.” I'm trying to take it easy and enjoy these first few days of summer vacation. But I'm much better at being nervous and scared than I am at being patient and go-with-the-flow.

Photo Challenge: Day 10

“Celebrate endings – for they precede new beginnings.” 

-Jonathan Lockwood Huie

Day 10 (05/27/11): A photo of whatever you please.

The day has finally arrived. The day that I've been waiting for since school started. The last day of school for the students. This has been a tough year for more reasons than one, and I have to admit... I was not the least bit sad to wave goodbye to the buses.

And, after the final bus call, I drove my car up to the bus lanes and started packing my boxes in. The first of many moves I will make this summer!

Photo Challenge: Day 9

"The breakfast of champions is not cereal, it's the opposition."

-Nick Seitz

Day 9 (05/26/11): A photo of something from a distance.

To celebrate awesome standardized test scores and the end of the school year, the seventh grade classes walked over to the park for a giant kickball tournament. Homeroom vs. homeroom. When I wasn't running around trying to corral the girls who were too cool to play, I played catcher for our team, helping them win two out of three match-ups. We got hot, sweaty, and covered in dirt, but it was fun to see these boys in their element... on the field. And, it totally wore them out; they came back into the air conditioning and just laid there for about half an hour. 

Photo Challenge: Day 8

"Life beats down and crushes the soul, and art reminds you that you have one."

-Stella Adler

Day 8 (05/25/11): A photo of something close up.

After my students finished their final exam on Monday, I promised them videos for the rest of the week. (Don't even ask me why their finals were scheduled a week before school gets out!) I worked really hard to find videos that were math-related, but still interesting. Yesterday my history of numbers documentary didn't go over very well. Perhaps they're still a little young to get the narrator's dry humor.

I was cautiously excited about today's offering. I rearranged our Netflix queue to immediately ship Between the Folds, a recent documentary that showcases the artistic, cultural, historical, mathematical, and technological aspects of origami. I also offered a stack of colored paper, available for the students to experiment as they watched. Although third period was "too cool" to fold paper and kept telling me how those people "don't have lives," the two other classes were really intrigued. And, creative! The picture above is a close-up of my favorite creation from today: a peacock with a cute little beak.

Btw... I totally recommend both of these documentaries, if you enjoy that kind of thing. I found both of them fascinating!

Gratitude, Week 4...

"Who does not thank for little will not thank for much."

-Estonian Proverb

Looking back, I noticed that there are several repeats this week. But, I'm grateful for good repeats. It kinda feels like I've been a zombie this week anyway. Wake, drive, school, drive, dinner, sleep, repeat.

March 22: A published book of memories. Came home to find a package on my doorstep. Last week I took advantage of a big sale at MyPublisher.com and finally had my first digital scrapbook pages (circa 2003-04) printed as a book. Rob and I loved flipping through and remarking about how young (and skinny) we were back then. I also find it interesting to watch my progression of digital scrapping skills, even though they were all created in the same summer.

March 23: A much-needed good laugh. Wednesday night we put all work away and turned the computers off early (always a good thing!), and curled up to watch the Netflix movie Due Date. Now this is totally a guy's guy funny movie, but I've lived with a guy long enough that I get all of the jokes. I have not laughed so hard in a long time. It's so random and crazy.

March 24: Good quiz scores (and a quiet day!). The kids worked hard to complete the quiz (and quietly!), and it paid off because most of them did really well. That's good, considering we're all exhausted and disgustedly tired of being at school. [Wooden KIT of PINS from STUDIO FLUDD's Etsy shop]

March 25: Another reason to laugh. Today one of the kids in my 2nd period class said something really random (and rather inappropriate), but really funny. It was refreshing just to have a second to stop and laugh with my students. And, it was even better when a kid said, "well, now you've got a story to tell the other teachers at the lunch table." ["Live Laugh Love" print above from MeganRene's Etsy shop]

March 26: Officially springtime. I finally changed out the wreath on the front door--from gold Christmas decor to pastel spring flowers. Makes me smile every time I drive into the driveway.

March 27: A sweet, sweet breakfast. Rob promised me doughnuts for breakfast this morning, so we hit up the local Krispy Kreme, and waited for a dozen of the warm, melt-in-your-mouth treats. I only ate four. You can do the math to figure out Rob's share. That is, if you can stomach it!

March 28: Another package on the front step. This time was a baby gift for my friends Collin and Julia. These canvas growth charts are my new go-to baby gift. They're a beautiful and personalized heirloom. You, too, can buy one from GrowthCharts Galore. But be forewarned, don't buy one if I also know the person!

Gratitude, Week 3...

"God calls you to the place where your deep gladness and the world's deep hunger meet."

-Frederick Buechner

Another week down. Another week closer to Spring Break. Another week closer to summer. I'm exhausted. I'm losing motivation. I'm simply running out of steam. There were good moments this week, but they were few and far between. Although I remain grateful, it was difficult to remain optimistic and enthusiastic.

March 15: Study session over lunch. Instead of the usual make-up work detention I usually hold on Tuesdays, I decided to have a volunteer study session before the nine weeks interim. I had seven students stay with me, and we were able to review some of the most confusing concepts. Not sure that they learned a whole lot, but it’s always refreshing to see students who WANT to do well.

March 16: An inspiring email in my inbox. I look forward to the weekly quote from Compendium, Inc., and this week it seemed to be sent just for me: “God calls you to the place where your deep gladness and the world's deep hunger meet.” -Frederick Buechner. I’m still looking for that place, but the promise that there is such a place leaves me hopeful.

March 17: Last day to teach an extra class. All nine weeks I’ve been teaching a math extracurricular class in addition to the other four classes. While it really wasn’t too difficult and I got paid for my effort, I’ll be really glad to get my planning periods back!

March 18: That they threw out that awful question on the 3rd nine weeks Interim. It raised my class averages. I’m ahead of the county average, and pretty darn close to the school average. 36 students who made 80% or greater! I say that’s worth celebrating.

March 19: Blueberry muffins and country music for breakfast. Give me a break... I was in the mood. And it was good!

March 20: My husband in the kitchen. Tonight we made turkey bacon club sandwiches together. He taught me the “correct” way to make a sandwich, and plated our food like true stylist in preparation for the Iron Chef Sisters photos. It certainly didn’t hurt that our sandwiches had avocados on them!

March 21: A box of Peeps hanging out in my car. Even though I planned to have this sweet treat waiting for me at the end of the day, it was still a nice surprise. Colored sprinkles and marshmallow bunnies are one of the best parts of spring.

I am...

"To the question of your life you are the answer, and to the problems of your life you are the solution."

-Joe Cordare

Inspired by the Advisement lesson on Friday at my school, I wrote my own poem.

I am…

I am older daughter, older sister, and [only] wife.

I am Northwest Louisiana, too far north to be Cajun, but not afraid to celebrate Mardi Gras.

I am suburban Georgia, less traffic and less smog.

I am fabric sewn together, scrapbooks pieced together, and stories woven together.

I am a Ramblin’ Wreck from Georgia Tech, but I’m not an engineer.

I am courage in the face of family crisis.

I am a career change to pursue my desire to teach.

I am family reunion vacations at national parks and outdoor destinations.

I am fast food and dinners out on the weekends.

I am steak and mashed potatoes, or just a peanut butter sandwich.

I am Scrabble, Boggle, or any other word game for that matter.

I am straight A’s on report cards, the evidence of hard work.

I am dorm-life and dining hall meal plans all the way through college.

I am Friday night Netflix and curling up on the couch.

I am journals of family stories, albums of family photos.

I am quotes that speak wisdom, humor, and love.

I am the back of the store clearance racks, but only if it’s less than half off.

I am books on cd in the car, the only time I have to read these days.

I am little girls’ smocked dresses, handmade Sunday clothes and always hemmed pants.

I am Pollyanna, The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe, and Black Beauty, read aloud before bed.

I am Google Reader and the ingenious NEXT button.

I am a MacBook, with Photoshop, Illustrator, and Firefox all open at the same time.

I am cold oatmeal in the mornings.

I am handbells ringing a tune and feet tapping a rhythm.

I am Coca-Cola… can’t beat the real thing.

I am dreams of my future family.

I am me.

As luck would have it...

"I am what I am and, you know, I'm a very lucky guy."
-Michael Bloomberg

What a crazy afternoon! The power went out at school, and was out for about 45 minutes. Luckily, it was my planning period, and I had no kids around. And, then to round things out, just as the buses were being loaded, we went into an official tornado warning. I grabbed about ten sixth graders who were leaving for the bus and had them crouched in the stairwell. They were scared, but luckily we only had to be there for 30 minutes.

Afterward, the teachers who were close to the weather radio were talking about how a tornado had been located at the intersection nearest to our neighborhood. And, then had been spotted on the street behind our neighborhood. Of course, I panicked a little bit, but thought even if half my house is gone, it's already been raining for half an hour... better not rush off too quickly.

As I drove through the pelting rain, all traffic was being rerouted around our neighborhood, and I had to ask a police officer to let me through. As I drove through the subdivision, I couldn't really see any damage in the dark. Luckily, I arrived to find our house was fine, and the power was even on!

But when I searched for the local news, I was unnerved again, just seeing how close it really came. The neighborhood right next to ours was hit pretty hard. Just across the field. Not 2500 ft away.

We are so lucky. And, I'm not taking that for granted tonight!

A written reminder...

"Act as if what you do makes a difference. It does."
-William James

Today was the first day back to school after a long break. I lost my voice during first period. I lost my patience during second period. And after school, when the school lost power, I decided to call it a day.

But because I have a new resolution to think positively, I want to share a note that I received from a student last week. She's a really low-level, ELL (English Language Learner), so I haven't made any changes to her grammar. And, even though I'm still a little unclear of whether she is actually leaving our school (she was at school today)... this is a reminder of why I teach.

"Dear Mrs. B--,
You are very nice when I first meet you. Mrs. B-- I am telling you all about me and my heart because I am smart because of you who has been trying hard to get me through all the works or all the troubles that I don't know. You are the BEST Mrs. B--, I um I just want to tell you that whenever I say good bye then that's my last day of school. I was wishing that one day I could stay at this school forever but I guess my wish didn't come truth. Mrs. B-- thank you for everything. I hope that God will guide all of the teachers that have been trying there best to help me out. Thank you so much to all of the teachers who have been trying there best to help and support me. Thank you so much.
Sincerely,
S-- T--"

File Folder games

"I saw the angel in the marble and carved until I set him free."
-Michelangelo

As daughter of a preschool teacher, I've colored and cut out my fair share of file folder games. As we are being encouraged to organize our class in the centers-model, as well as to differentiate our lessons to reach learners with multiple intelligences, I got the bright idea to adapt pre-algebra concepts to the file folder game.

I liked this idea. It's creative. It's hand-on. It's kind of "graphic-designy." However, I've learned some things that I will definitely do differently next time.

1. Don't make lots of multiples of the exact same game. And, all in one day! However, this time I was glad that I did because I was able to teach the expectations for file folder games in a whole-group setting. Next time, I'll just make one or two for a single concept, so that a small group can work with in during a centers station.
2. Don't cut out the pictures that get attached to the file folder. This time I taped down each and every question to the file folder. 10 times 6 sets times 2 different games means lots of tape and lots of time. I should have just printed them on an 8.5x11 page layout that could get taped down once!
3. Don't print in black and white. Although I used some cute graphics, I didn't think about using color to spice it up even more. It will look a lot more fun if it's colorful and has another fun theme.
4. Buy stock in VELCRO. I went through two packages of this stuff. I just probably just buy it in bulk!

Yesterday...today...tomorrow...

"Our faith in the present dies out long before our faith in the future."
-Ruth Benedict

Yesterday... after a bummer of a day where nothing seemed to go right, I had a visit from two of my students from last year. I know that you're not supposed to pick favorites, but one of these girls I felt a special connection to. She wasn't the most diligent student... in fact, she had to go to summer school for the first semester. But she kicked it into gear second semester, and she came back to tell me that she currently has an A in 9th grade math (a class which kicks many students' butts!). I'm so proud of her!


Today... I'm feeling like a really naive teacher, thinking that when you teach a concept for two weeks the students should actually learn it. I'm also feeling like I've spent all week running behind the bus, trying to catch up. Deadlines are upon me. The stack of papers to grade is growing. Meetings are scheduled. I haven't even started to think about my certification assignments. Aaahhh!!


Tomorrow... is Friday! Thank goodness for short weeks! I tutor Saturday morning, and of course have to plan lessons for the week. But, I'm also looking forward to football games, dinners out, and maybe even a bike ride! And, sleeping in... oh the joy!!

I refuse...

“No matter how discouraged we get, God has not asked us to do the impossible.”
-George Grace

I refuse to do any school work tonight. I refuse!

I gave my first test today. I put up with 20 accelerated kids arguing that they weren't ready for their test. (Yet when asked what they did to study, they said nothing.) I sat through another awful math meeting.

The one thing that I dislike about seventh grade is our math meetings. It's brutal. The people are so negative and so inflexible. They argue with the administration's suggestions. They take everything personally, and by the time our hour-long meeting was over, you could cut the tension with a knife. These were teachers who I once admired, but now I'm having a hard time even respecting them. I feel like I'm going to explode, sitting there listening to them. (I've been known to do such in similar situations...) I'm not sure I can work in such circumstances.

Hands are not for hitting...

"A report of child abuse is made every ten seconds." -ChildHelp, National Child Abuse Statistics


One thing about teaching is that it certainly opens your eyes up to the world. Everyday I interact with children and parents from such a wide varieties of backgrounds. Backgrounds so different from my own.

While some days this is such a positive, multicultural, melting pot, 2+2 = 5 experience, today it just depresses me. In this one week, we've had to report 2 possible abuse situations to the administration about students on our team. It infuriates me. How can someone do that to "my" kids? How can they let it happen to "my" kids?

Just two weeks in, and those kids are already mine. It hurts me when they hurt, and these particular ones are not even what you'd call extremely "loveable" kids. But, no wonder they don't do their homework, no wonder they can't focus in class. It makes makes me mad.

Number line love!

“To love is to admire with the heart; to admire is to love with the mind”
-Theophile Gautier

Today was a good day. Almost all of my kids passed their quiz!!! Woohoo!! 'Cause I certainly remember last year's first quiz was quite an eye opener.

Today the assistant principal and principal came to my class to do walk-throughs. They're doing these quick pop-ins where they can stay no longer than 5 minutes. Both times my students were pretty well on track and those that weren't were able to be redirected.

The principal came up to me during the kids' transition time to tell me how much she loved my number line pennant hanging above the board and to ask where I had gotten it. I was so pleased to be able to say that my mom and I made it this summer. She thought it was really neat and was interested in making one for her son's bedroom.

I thought later...I should have told her that I would make her one if she'd pay for my laptop battery! :)

Catching up

"Arithmetic is where numbers fly like pigeons in and out of your head."
-Carl Sandburg


What am I up to? Well... school, school, and more school. I am really enjoying the seventh grade. They're cuter than 8th graders and still pay attention for the most part. However, by Friday of last week, they were starting to show their true colors. I've really got to work on being stern. I just don't know how to talk so "teachery."

2nd period is by far my most challenging class... lots of needy personalities... one kid who speeds through his assignments and wants additional work, another kid who takes the whole class period to write the day's essential question, another kid who follows me around the classroom, in addition to several social butterflies.

But then, 3rd period is such a breath of fresh air. They listen, they complete their work, and we always finish with extra time to scrounge around for additional activities.

But, I still don't have a very good picture of my students' foundation levels. So it seems like I've had to rework each day's lesson in order to reteach. It's bad when you're already feeling behind on the second week of school. Well... tomorrow's another day.

Good, good, good, bummer...

"Technology... is a queer thing. It brings you great gifts with one hand, and it stabs you in the back with the other."
-C.P. Snow

I had a pretty good first day. It flew by, and my voice flew away with it. Obviously it's been a long time since I talked all day. I now sound like a man.

There was only one student who made himself known as "challenge student." I found out that three of my students are younger siblings of students from last year. And, I loved ending my day with my accelerated, on-top-of-the game class.

And the second annual name-counting tradition.... 3 Jacobs (in one class!), 2 Joshs, 2 Gabriels, 2 Stephens, 2 Briannas, 2 Matthews, 2 Victorias, 2 Natalies, 2 Tylers, 2 Caitlin W.'s, and a Jasmin who's a boy.

The low point of the day, however, had nothing to do with students. During my planning period at the end of the day, I realized that my laptop battery was kaput. If I unplugged it from the wall, the computer died. I put in a tech request and got the reply, "you're battery is dead. due to budget cuts we will not be providing additional batteries. you are welcome to purchase your own." Oh... just what I want to spend my first paycheck on...

Back to School Blues

"The roots of education are bitter, but the fruit is sweet."
-Aristotle

School starts tomorrow. Another year begins. I don't know that I've told the blogworld, but this year I've been moved down to seventh grade math. While that means another year of brand-new lesson plans, my fingers are crossed that the curriculum is a bit easier and more fun than last year's.
I've spent the last week up at the school, fixing up my room. And, after I found strong enough tape (on Friday, no less!), my posters are finally hung up on the walls. After rearranging a couple of times, my desks are in order. I have bulletin boards ready to be filled with student work and 28 chairs waiting for students eager to learn.
I'm sure this year will have plenty of challenges: I have a good number of ELL students, I'm teaching two different preps, this grade has a bad reputation, etc. But my fingers are crossed super tight, hoping that I've learned from my mistakes and will be able to find a better balance between home and school this year. My sanity depends on it!

Math teachers only...

“Sometimes I'm confused by what I think is really obvious. But what I think is really obvious obviously isn't obvious...” -Michael Stipe

Any math teachers that want to share in some goodies for their classroom....?? Anyone....??
As the new school year creeps terrifying close, I spent today working on some new posters for my classroom walls. Solving word problems is one of the skills that my students fear the most. When they see words in math class, their minds shut down. So, to combat that stumbling block, I've created these great posters to hang on the wall. I'll print them out as 16x20 poster prints from Sam's Photo Center, and then probably laminate them before they go up on the walls. I'll probably create a graphic organizer handout that looks similar when we reach this specific concept.
Feel free to right-click, save, print, and use in your own classroom.

Wouldn't you know...

"I do not know anyone who has gotten to the top without hard work. That is the recipe. It will not always get you to the top, but it will get you pretty near." -Margaret Thatcher

Look at this binder that we received today on our first day of Summer Teaching Institute. I've never seen anything this big!! Wouldn't you know... it doesn't even fit into my cute bag that I created last week!!

If we're going to be filling those rings, I'm in for a busy year. But, I'm actually looking forward to most of it!

Thanks Mom!

“I hope your dreams take you to the corners of your smiles, to the highest of your hopes, to the windows of your opportunities, and to the most special places your heart has ever known..” -Author Unknown

I guess a little bit of kindergarten teacher rubbed off on me.

One of my favorite creative things that I did with my students this year was to design bulletin boards around the kids' photos. At the beginning of the year, I took the kids' pictures holding speech bubbles with their name on it. (This really helped me learn their names!) Then when we began our exponents unit, I photoshopped superhero capes on students in order to create a "Powers of Ten" bulletin board. And, then to finish off the year, I took each students' photo and then placed them in a "What are we doing over spring break?" venn diagram before we learned about set theory. Of course, I didn't take a single picture of any of the bulletin boards. But believe me when I tell you that they were pretty cool.

The students loved looking at the photos. Every trip to the pencil sharpener, every class change was extended with a look at the board. Let's hope that it helped them master the mathematical concepts, too.

To celebrate the end of the year and to invite the students to reflect on how much they've grown through the year (note that I did not use the word "matured"), I made individual hybrid scrapbook pages for each students, complete with an inspirational quote and a note from me.

Of course, these are middle-schoolers and half of them are boys. So, expecting that all of my students would cherish and treasure this special sentiment was a bit unreasonable. My favorite question of today was from Anthony who asked me with a quizzical look on his face, "what in the world am I supposed to do with this?" I'd like to think that even those who tossed their souvenirs got a kick out of seeing their photos. These kids will definitely hold a special place in my heart. My first 93 kids.