blah blah blog

I really enjoyed doing a blog.  I consider it a digital journal.  I have kept a journal since 5th grade so it is something I am used to doing.  The biggest difference I see is that other people will view this so I had to be careful with what I wrote.  I am used to letting loose in my personal journal so I had to read and re-read, checking it over as if I were soemone else viewing it.  Another difference would be how I had to monitor what I wrote to keep out family references.  I am used to writing anything and everything as it crosses my mind.  I have been so busy with teaching, clooege work and life in general that I have let the blog replace my regular journal to some extent.  I will probably do this again with my students.  I think it would be something they would enjoy and a way for me to receive feedback from them about class and school.

My side of the Mountain

This is the book I did the original book talk for.   It's by Jean Craighead George.  She has written over 100 books for youth.  She was awarded the Newberry Medal for another of her books, Julie of the Wolves.  She grew up in a family of naturalists and she wrote this book putting that knowledge to good use.  When she was little she dreamed of running away from home and living out in the woods.  This book is a fulfilllment of her long ago dream and  for others who may have had a similar dream.
The book is about a teenage boy named Sam Gribley who ranaway from New York City and his time out in the woods of New York State over a several months time span.  It describes how he caught food, trapped animals, used natural resources around him to make clothes, utensils, housing, and more.  It is a great book for middle school aged students.  I read it to my son in 4th grade and he enjoyed it as well.  He is a real life Sam who likes to go out to streams to catch crawdaddies and bugs, and so on.
You can apply it to science of course for the naturalist aspect, but also to literacy for the writing style, colloquialisms, for social studies to discuss the differences from New York City where he ranaway from and compare it to the woods where he lived for almost a year.

How Time Flies

The semester is quickly coming to a close for my classes in Greenland and the graduate classes.  It has been such a learning time for me.  I am a mother of four of my own, but then I have 120 other kids.  These are my science kids.  I wish I coud get to know them all equally well.  There are definitely some I have a good rapport with.  Others not so much, but I still want them to succeed.  I get so frustrated when they just give up and seem so apathetic.  My superintendent wants us to pick one student to pay particular attention to and take under our wing.  There are too many for me to choose just one.  I hope and pray that I can continue to improve my own learning and that it benefits those of my science kids too.

pipe cleaner babies

My biology kids have an engaging lab today where we did a genetics lab.  They got to play the role of parents and had four pipe cleaner babies.  I think it really got the idea across of genetics for independent assortment, alleles, chromosomes, and more.  I had several comments from kids saying they liked it because they were so involved and hands on.  It was such a simple lab with simple materials, but they were asking questions, talking about it, doing calculations from it, collablorating, etc.  They were funny to listen to as they talked about their "kids."  I hope they dont get their parents upset when they tell them about what they did in school : )  I will deifinitely use this lab again.

FINALLY!

I have been struggling with my 8th grade classes all year because I have to run over there from the High school.  I am always several minutes late.  They have had no supervision, so some have been out in the halls, etc when I walk down the hall.  They are up and not doing what I have left on the board for them to do.  Progress reports came out yesterday and I have had two conferences with parents about why their students are doing so badly in my classes.  Well, if I have spend a third of my class trying to get them calmed back down and on track, I cant cover as much material.  They must have complained to the principal because he told me today he would get someone to watch my classes until I got there.  YES!!  I had asked and the teacher across the hall from me had asked for someone to do that and we were told there was no one to watch them.  I guess someone is available now.  Those moms seemed no nonsense to me and can help keep their darlings in line so that I hope the class will go smoother since they know how their students are doing.  It has been a good day!

"Mark of the Lion"

One of my favorite reading genres is historical fiction.  I have read a powerful trilogy of books called The Mark of the Lion.  It's set in first century AD in Rome dealing with the persecution of Christians.  It follows one slave girl in the first book and then other lives that she touched in the rest of the series.  It is full of suspense and tension.  The author, Francine Rivers, does not shy away from sensitive topics.  She has written other good books such as Atonement Child dealing with abortion and The Scarlet Thread dealing with prostitution.

a tale of two classes

I have had two observations done so far.  One was by my mentor in my high school science class.  He said I was doing a really good job teaching a new topic to the kids, establishing a good rapport with them, etc.  I was on cloud nine.  Today I had another observation by the middle school principal in my 8th grade class....it was a total opposite.  The kids were on their worst behavior.  He told me based on that observation he should recommend me for classroom management training.  I was upset but then I looked at it from a different perspective.  I know I'm not the only teacher who has a tough class to deal with.  I have several special needs kids in this class--behavior and learning problems.  I will have to come down a little tougher on these kids and do more to keep them engaged.  He may come observe my other 8th grade class which is better behaved.

big set backs and small victories

The first nine weeks is in the books--the grade book that is.  I knew some of my kids were having a hard time, but after getting the last few grades in, I found out just how many.  I had such high expectations but I need to seriously rethink how I am doing things.  I had been adjusting as the weeks went, giving second chances, extended times to get work in, etc.  They just never took advantage of the chances, or very few did.  I have been amazed at the uncaring attitudes from some of these kids.  I cracked down hard on some of them trying to get them to see how their inaction will affect themselves and those around them.  I told one boy in the class with the most failing students that he was contributing to the problem.  He heard what he wanted to and then tried to deflect balme for his part in the situation in the class.  Oh, yeah.  I am to blame too, in part, because I let them get to this point.
The bright side, there is one girl who has tried so hard but continued to struggle.  I modified her tests, but she improved too, especially in her writing.  She got a good, solid A on this last test.  I was happy for her and couldn't help but chuckle when she saw her grade and gave a little cheer for herself.  I wish that attitude would rub off on some of the others.

rethink, revise, retry

One thing I have come to realize is that these kids have not had much exposure to science equipment, or haven't been challenged throughout their school careers in the subject of science.  I am teaching skills that they should have had since 5th, 6th grades.  I mean my high school students.  My 8th graders will be in a lot better shape when they get to 10th grade biology.  But having to start with such basic skills is taking a toll on pacing.  There is NO way I will get through the material that I am supposed to cover for the EOCT by April.  Then there are other hinderances like having to take two days of class time to take a pre-ACT test.  One day for the paperwork and one day for the test.
Not only have I had to rethink things, I have needed to give that opportunity to my students too.  We took a test which very few passed.  It was due to their lack of writing skills.  Those that passed did the short answer and essays.  The others didn't even attempt it.  We took a different version of the test and they did much better on it.  It didnt have so much writing on it though.  I will have to build up to the essays, and have their English teachers help with that one.

Field study

I took my biology students out to a gazebo our school has that is in some woods.  I wanted them to undertake a major project where they make observations of one plant throughout the year.  Of course I told them they had to pick a large plant like a tree or bush that would be there and not die away like wildflowers and grasses.  I walked around taking pictures of them at work, making sure they are getting thie sketches done, etc.  I am off near the end of the boundary I let them have checking on some students.  I hear a girl scream and I take off running as quick as I can over the rough field.  When I get there I find out a boy had scared a girl by saying there was a snake.  It was a relief that no one was hurt but I sure gave him an earful.  He meant it as a harmless joke but you never know what consequences can occur.  I could laugh later when my heart went back where it was supposed to.  I got some good photos of nature and the kids out in it.  They liked being out there and want to do it more often.  I wish we could too.

science fairy

This week is homecoming week and so they have theme days each day.  I teach at high school and middle school.  Of course they cant have the same theme each day.  Well, yesterday I combined the two days into one.  I think I was successful and got a bit of science into it too.  The high school had Superhero day and middle school had Disney day--I went dressed as the Science Fairy.  Some of them asked for pixie dust and I told them I didnt have the kind that could magically make them know everything about science.  They still had to study.  One student said she was surprised I would join in and do something like that.  It's good to surprise them--it keeps them on their toes.

science experiment gone awry

Have you ever wondered what it would smell like to put your head in a trash can that reeked of rotten eggs that had been sitting in a heated enclosed small tight space?  That is exactly what my 8th grade classroom smelled like Monday when I went there for 5th period.  I had my 8th graders make a 3D model of a cell. I told them to use craft or recycling items to make it.  One girl said her mom told her to use a plastic container, cracked raw egg, peanuts etc. instead.  Needless to say she won't get full credit because she didn't follow directions.  WOW!  What a stink.  I had to hear all about it until the room aired out.  Those kids need to get a stronger stomach too.  : )

A tale of two questions

One of my strategies for reviewing for a test is to have my students write 1 or 2 questions on a slip of paper about a topic they still need help with.  That way I know what they need as individuals and depending on how many ask about that topic, as a class in a whole.  It has to be about anything in that chapter.  They are anonymous too.  I am getting to know their handwriting though.
One of the questions from my first period was "why is my biology teacher so awesome?"  I don't know who wrote that one.  It made me smile.
Another question in my second period was "when are you actually going to teach us something?"  That one made me catch my breath.  I know who wrote that one.  She has made some negative comments along those lines in class under her breath.
They both will motivate me but in different ways.

connect the dots

When I was in school it was easy for me to memorize lots of information, but then I would try to make sense out of it on my own.  It took me a long times sometimes to do that--even in to my adulthood.  I am still making connections with stuff--especially in science now as I am teaching it.  My whole idea behind teaching is to help the kids make those connections now between the bits, or dots, of information they may be gathering.  The other day I was doing a lesson on the metric system since we will use that a lot in science.  Now it doesn't seem like most of my kids had ever used it before.  I had assumed that they had had some exposure to it.  I started off like they had some background knowledge in it and then had to back track.  One class I was explaining it and I could see the "ah ha" moment when a connection was made.  This chill hit me--I was really teaching and getting through to some of them.  Obviously that way of showing the information didn't impact everybody that same and I will need to revisit the material.  But for that one moment, with that one student or two, I helped connect the dots.

AAVALAANCHE!

      I have been buried under a pile of papers to grade for about a week and I took this weekend to get them almost caught up.  I had about 12" of papers I had to grade and am down to about 2-3".  I have GOT to figure something else out!  (I still have to finish reading the Bloom's book and write my paper for that too.)
     When I handed back the first few papers in the first week, one girl told another teacher she wasn't used to getting papers back in Biology.  She had to repeat from last year and I guess that teacher didn't make it a point to return things.  I am trying my best to not repeat that.  I look at everything or try to make comments and corrections on the most important stuff--study packets, homework.  I don't correct things like bellwork and other things that we go over together.  I just give them participation or a few points for even trying those.
I have warned them I am taking classes too and that I may not always get things back to them quickly.
     I could always give less homework but then the kids don't get the reinforcement on what we covered that day in class or a chance to cover all the material we need for the next test.  I just need to stay on top of it better--along with everything else we all have-- or I'll get buried again!

How Cool is THAT!

     I got to go to my first HS Football Game tonight as the Teacher of several of the kids on the Football Team, Dance Team, Cheer Leaders, Band, etc.  As I walked through the crowd kids would call out "Hi Mrs. De Leeuw!"  How cool is that!?!
     It was neat to get to meet parents of some of my students as we sat in the stands and enjoyed the game.  I will enjoy being able to tell the kids that I saw their performance and brag on them some.  I left during the 4th quarter since our team was up 40-14.  I wanted to try and make it to the last of my own son's football game.  And they won 35-13.  I must be good luck ~ How cool is that!?!

I feel silly--oh so silly!

There is one student in my 2nd period Biology class who has to correct me on anything he can.  He had a field day today when he got to show me how to use a feature on the laptop I use for my united streaming videos.  Obviously I hadn't taken the time to look at all of the features on the tool bar and he showed me how to make the video full-sized.  The kids had been complaining they couldn't see the videos very well.  Well, didn't I feel silly when he they asked me in all disbelief--don't you know how to do that?  No I said,  I don't know everything.  Well, you should--you're the teacher.  I told them there was nothing wrong with me learning something from them too.  I'm not sure they knew how to take that.  The good Lord is keeping me humble--that's OK.

clueless???

I started reading the Asking Better Questions book and I feel like I  have been out there flapping when I have done my lectures.  The hands on part of my biology class has been fun--sorry--engaging.  The kids have been into that, but I have been getting yawns and the shut down looks when I go over the chapter/notes portion of the material.  I look forward to learning how to engage them fully and capture their interest--especially during the dry lecture part.

WELCOME!

Welcome to my students and friends,
I hope you will all take the time to contribute to this digital journal.  Blogging has been something I have wanted to try for a while.  I have journaled in the old-fashioned way since I was in 5th grade.  Yes, I still have all of my journals too.
All I ask is that you post polite, tactful, and positive items and comments. For my students, appropriate behavior is a must to continue to have this access.
I look forward to blogging with you : )

Erin (or Mrs. D.)