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.