Pick up line for Teacher

"I saw this pencil and it was tall and handsome, and made me think of you."

The Ex's

-Running into an ex-student in the halls is like an unexpected run in with an old friend. I almost wanna ask them out for a sit down and a cup of coffee to catch up. Almost.

-My doors are always open to visiting students.

-I will always be willing to give an ex-student my full support, even if it means spending lunch tutoring an ex-student enrolled in another teacher's class.

-Backfire occurs, though, when students visit w/ hidden fundraising goals in mind. $15 so you can get to Madrid this summer? Gah.

Embaressed

Dear Ms. S,

I'm so very sorry about my language in the hallway. A kid of my age or anybody for that matter. The reason I cursed is because Jahron slapped me so I was pretty angry. I'm really sorry and it will NEVER happen again. I embaressed myself and I am sorry.

Sincerely,

Nicholas

Only one word is misspelled. Good job boy. But I better never hear you curse again.

Keep 'em full, keep 'em focused

Another snapshot from my classroom...

my laptop (check out what's opened up on my desktop) + fuel for the day

"Keep 'em full, keep 'em focused." That's the Frosted Mini Wheats motto, and doesn't it apply as much for teachers as it does for the kids?

Since two of our lovely teachers/SupTeach bloggers were out sick this week, I thought perhaps I'd write a post on a few essentials that I hope will help you people stay strong and healthy in the classroom this year.

A few things I always have on hand are:

1. an apple or orange, or some other type of fruit (sliced up peaches, pineapples or mangoes)
2. Frosted Mini Wheats or some other carb (like Graham crackers or pretzels)
3. a calcium (yogurt, milk, cheese, etc.)
4. a protein (turkey/ham/roast beef sandwich, chicken, eggs, peanuts, roasted/smoked almonds, etc.)
5. Emergen-c or Airborne
6. lots and lots of water
7. hand sanitizer (I use it between every single period... nevermind the chances that I'm just lowering my own immunity.)
8. at least ONE bathroom break between the start of school and the end of the day (raise your hand if you've found yourself going the ENTIRE day without having gone to the bathroom at least once? [raises hand... I totally did not go to the bathroom since 6:20AM today, and it's now 3:23PM EST])

Post on lunch-making and packing tips tomorrow! :)

As we care for the mind, so must we care for the body!

mmm... dericious <3

occupational hazards

I know I've only got one year's experience in the classroom but from my observations teaching is a dangerous job.

The Top Teaching Related Injuries/Ailments (unofficial)

1. head aches/migraines
2. paper cuts
3. laryngitis
   
4. UTIs
5. fatigue
6. the list goes on...what do you have to add?

Due to the limitations of my voice I was forced to stay home from work on Monday and Tuesday. Contrary to general belief the day at home is not completely relaxing. Whenever I stay home I feel immense amounts of guilt and am never really able to be away from school.

Tomorrow I will return to the classroom with or without my full voice. Keep your fingers crossed for me!

Whine Fest

Today, I'm going to jet out of school ASAP. I dropped my grad school classes because... because eff that man. I just can't do it this year, not with 3 weekdays of grad school and 1 Saturday to boot. AND I'm teaching a new grade with an added class. It's too much. Too much to grade, too much to plan, too much to study, too many research papers to read, too many papers to write, too many textbooks to comb through...

I don't want to turn this blog into something through which I vent, but gosh, I feel like in this profession, you just have to vent sometimes. You just have to let it out somehow or else you'll go crazy.

TFA you've done a bad job with this grad school partnership. You've let me down.

The Assessment Scheme to Rule them All

Here's the assessment scheme I've used since midway through my first year. For me, it has done all of the following:

-Provides differentiation for every students.
-Identify skills to remediate.
-Has xtinguished student test anxiety and has replaced it w/ student buy-in.
-Eliminates the need for students to make-up tests when absent.
-Significantly reduced the amount of time I spend grading.
-Creates an overarching picture of what the year looks like for myself and my students.

Enough from me, however. If you're out of the know and are still stuck using the 'old way' of testing, read it from the source:

How Math Must Assess (dy/dan)

Further, check out a walkthrough by Kate:

The Assessment Scheme to Rule them All

As she well puts:

-Reflects current course knowledge
-Provides clear path to remediation
-Rewards progress

For the remainder of my teaching career, this is what will drive my course and my teaching.