i think she really means it…

10 Happy Things

Friday, February 27th, 2009 | Sara the Teacher | No Comments

As mentioned in my previous post, this is a tough time of year in the classroom.  I am weary and I find myself focusing on the negative things that happen each day with my students.  Today during lunch, however, I had a change of heart and realized that there are many, many wonderful things happening in my classroom these days.  So, here are 10 things, in no particular order:

1.  I have 10 boys and 2 girls who hang out in my classroom every day during lunch.  They are a sweet bunch of kids.  As of late, the boys (8th graders, by the way) have been building forts and other structures with my “linking cube”  and other math manipulatives.  The have brought their little lego guys and made up whole story lines.  It is pure bliss (and quite funny) to listen to them “playing.”

2.  My special student (from a previous entry) has had a fabulous past 2 days.  She has been rational, quiet, and cooperative.  I like that side of her.

3.  The spinner puzzles project was a hit.  I taught my students about probability using spinner puzzles (think “Twister”) this week.  The last 2 days have been spent making up a puzzle of their own.  The puzzles now look fabulous hanging on the back wall of my classroom.

4.  I got a great review from my Vice Principal this week.  She observed me teach my students a lesson about interest last week.  I taught them all about buying a car and how interest rates vary according to your credit score.  I proceeded to give them a dose of reality by giving them a credit score based on their current grade in my class.  She said she *loved* it and was especially impressed that not one student asked to leave the classroom to get a drink  or go to the restroom during the entire 90 minutes!

5.  My lesson plans are made through the next two weeks (I guess you have to be a teacher to appreciate that one).

6.  Some of my students are really taking their goal-setting journals seriously.  It’s encouraging to see them reflect on their responsibility and hold themselves accountable for their work habits and behavior each week.

7.  I’ve had several students call me this week for help on their homework (I give them a special number to call me directly when they need help).  It’s taken a while, but I’m convincing them that teachers really do want to help them learn…they just have to be responsible and make the effort to ask.

8.  Open House is next Thursday and my room is pretty much ready (again, you kinda have to be a teacher to appreciate such a thing).

9.  I’m not on the list of teachers who will probably loose their jobs at the end of the school year.  I’ve been at CCMS for 4 years and have “tenure” status.  I am so grateful for my job.

10.  It’s Friday!  And…I don’t have any homework this weekend.

A Tough Time of Year

Wednesday, February 11th, 2009 | Random Thoughts | 2 Comments

We are beginning one of the most challenging times of the school year.  And this year seems to be worse than ever.  This is the time of year where math gets hard…fractions, decimals, percents, multi-step problems.  I teach a group of students who don’t like math and really, really struggle with general math concepts.  Most of them have very little number sense and can’t understand that 1/4, 0.25, and 25% are all the same.  The lessons this time of year are fun (I think) as they seem to relate a lot more to real life than most math lessons.  We just did an activity last week where the students discovered what proportion of their day they spent sleeping, going to school, doing homework, and playing with their electronics.  Yesterday, I taught them how to find percent increases and decreases and we did a “shopping” activity.  Next week, I will show them how to get a loan for a car, what an interest rate is all about, and they will be given credit scores based on their performance in my class.   It’s all very interesting stuff, but the kids this year just seem so uninterested.  Many of them don’t put much effort into their learning and it’s very discouraging as their teacher.  Poor Nate, he’s gotten quite an earful these days.  He’s such a supportive husband.

I guess I’m just feeling so discouraged.  I really care about my students, and I go out of my way to modify lessons, make them interesting and appropriate to “real life,” and offer my time to help students outside of class.  I’m just not getting much in return right now.  And with talks about budget cuts, no “cost-of-living” raises for another 3 years, and larger class sizes, it’s quite demoralizing being a teacher!

Yet, I am so grateful for my job.  I really do love being a teacher.  I care deeply about my 8th graders and wonderful things happen daily.  I want to focus on the positive.  Perhaps a 4-day weekend will help rekindle my spirit and renew my energy for this time of year.