April 08, 2008

Update from me

I wonder why going to Graduate school is so expensive.  I wonder why they don’t offer more courses for graduate school study.  I’m trying to figure out what I want to go back to school for, but I can’t seem to figure it out and $800 a credit is so much money, I definitely, don’t want to make the wrong decision. 

Right now, I’m leaning towards going to Hofstra University and doing a dual program in Literacy and Special Education for inclusion birth- grade 2.  I’m not really interested in Literacy, but I feel it is important and that it will help me.  I’m interested in inclusion, but I’m not sure if I was teaching in this setting, I would want to be the special education teacher.  Although, it may help me to teach in this setting as the general education teacher. I’m waiting to hear back from a few other schools for more information, but from what I can tell, Hofstra has the program I’m most interested in. 

Other than looking into schools to better my education, I am also updating my portfolio and my resume, just in case, you never know what will happen. If a teacher comes back from maternity leave, and/or they close classes because enrollment has dropped, if coaching positions are eliminated.  I may not have a job at my school next year.  I don’t think this will be the case, but you never know.

I can honestly say, that the school year is coming to a quick end.  I can only hope it continues at the pace it has been the last month or so.  I am so ready for my summer vacation.

In two weeks, I’ll be on Spring Break and on my way to California. 

March 31, 2008

Ugh

3 more months until Summer vacation! 

I’m going to California for Spring break....

January 31, 2008

Can it get worse?

If I get moved to fifth grade next year I don’t know what I will do....I’m starting to get a little scared.  If I have to teach science for more than 2 periods a week next year, I don’ t know what I will do.... I’m starting to worry. 

Did you know that I am apparently an awesome science teacher?  Who would have thought, being as I hate science and all.  Not to mention I’ve always failed science and struggled with it my entire life. 

I thought things could only be better next year, but after meeting with my principal, I think there are ways it might be worse.  Then again I don’t really know what she is thinking.  I guess I have to wait and see what the future holds. 

January 24, 2008

Just so you know....

It’s definitely not getting better.  Five more months to go, feels like it’s too far away. 

December 07, 2007

Maybe it's getting better

I had the best day yesterday at work.  I think it may have actually been the first day this year that I enjoyed being there.  I was helping DM do his essay, I’ve been helping him write essays for about a month now, and he just wasn’t getting it.  I was getting very nervous about the ELA test in January.  So I helped and he looked at me and said, “I get it now.” I believe he has said this before.  So later in class I gave an essay to the class and off they went to write.  I went over to DM to see if I could assist and he told me again, “I think I get it now”.  So I went to help other students.  I went back to DM and sure enough, he got it!  I was dancing around the room I was so happy.  He really did get it.  Granted, he didn’t answer the correct essay question, but he did write an essay on the story we read.  Now I just have to teach him how to answer the question.  I had a teacher pushing in to my classroom to work with three of my students.  KB who can’t read well or write well, I was working with that teacher.  I was called over to read her work, and sure enough, I was able to read what she wrote.  She made a break through.  Again I was so excited.  I don’t know, it seemed like things started to click for them yesterday or something.  I also have been doing a read aloud with them, and they are so interested, that they would love it if I just read all day to them.  Every single one of my students is paying attention and with mouths opened waiting for what will happen next, a few even have tears in their eyes, I love it!  Not to mention, their behavior has been better, so I can accomplish so much more in the day. 

This was a busy week at work.  Every day this week, we had visitors come into the classroom to talk with my students.  They didn’t mind it so much in the beginning, but I think they were glad to see this group go away today.  I know I was. 

November 18, 2007

Looking forward to thanksgiving

Open school day was actually a success!  There was only about 7 parents in all who showed and no one really stayed very long.  Again the parent who I was worried about for parent teacher conferences, didn’t show up this day either.  It’s all very strange.  I only had two parents there during one of my “real” lessons.  It was a test prep reading lesson, which was actually very successful.  It was actually much better than I anticipated. 

Now I just need to make it through the next three days. It should be a pretty easy week.  I was told that I will given a substitute for a few periods to do some grading.  The good news is I have about 10 of the tests graded, which means I will probably have free time. 

November 15, 2007

stress

One more day of hell and then two wonderful days.  This was one stressful week and the most stressful day is yet to come.  Parent teacher conferences actually went pretty well.  The one parent I dreaded the most didn’t even show, she says she’s was “sick”.  The other parent who I thought it was possible, I was going to have to ask her to leave, actually was overly nice.  I heard today she’s been on her best behavior and staying away because she yelled at a teacher and was given some kind of a warning.  This is the kind of crap I am dealing with everyday.  I had four parents not show so now I have the pleasure of rescheduling.  It’s very annoying. Yesterday, one parent came and I was with her for about 45 minutes.  Everything this year is so time consuming.

Tomorrow is open school day.  It think I have about 9 parents coming.  I just hope they didn’t take the day off of work and plan to spend the whole day with us. 

November 04, 2007

Hello November and goodbye too.....

My report cards are almost done!  I typed up all the comments and pasted them on the backs.  Tomorrow, I have to write in the attendance and the number of books read.  Other than that, they are finished!  (Unless of course, my principals sees something she doesn’t like and I need to make changes.)

I’m pretty excited, Tuesday, the students have the day off for Election day. It would be much nicer to have the day off, but a day without students is pretty stress-free too.  Next Monday we have off for Veterans day. Next Tuesday, I think are the parent teacher conferences (which sucks).  Next Friday is open school day, where parents are allowed to invade the classroom for an entire day.  Then before we know it, it is Thanksgiving. 

I’m living month to month.  I just try to make it through the month and look forward to the following month ending, just waiting for June to arrive.  This is by far my worst year so far.  Everyone tells me that this is the year that I will grow as a teacher and this is the year where I will learn a lot.  All I can think is, this is the year that I wish was over. 

October 25, 2007

Headache

Every day is worse than the one before if that is at all possible.  I got home from work today and just typed up all of the crap that was going on in my classroom the last couple of days. I need to make sure that I don’t forget what happened and how I’m handling each situation.  I think my principal feels really bad because she keeps meeting with me and apologizing to me for everything that is going on.  None of which is her fault.  I just want to keep her updated because I don’t want anything to come to back to me that I didn’t do what I was supposed to do.  So I keep having meetings.  I must looked so stressed out and miserable because I am. 

Today I went in and told administration that they needed to split two kids in my class up for their own safety.  I thought they were going to have a real issue with this but they are going to talk to the parent and see what they can do. So I’ll wait a few days see if anything happens and if not I’ll ask again, and wait a few days and then I’ll go to my union rep.  I really don’t think that will be necessary, the administration really seems to want to get this sorted out.  They really seem like they are trying to work with me, so that’s good. 

Now I just have to try to make it to Thanksgiving break.

October 21, 2007

A new week

Friday, I have two informal meetings with my principal.  The first one was to add someone to extended day and we got to talking about everything that has been going on this year with my parents and some of my students.  I left feeling a lot better about things.  I asked her about the grade meeting I was hearing about and she said she wants to talk to us on Monday.  Apparently parents are complaining that different classes are doing different things.  She just thinks with the parents we are dealing with this year, it’s best to not do that.

I had a feeling where this was coming from.  I gave a read aloud essay and science quiz and the other classes didn’t. They gave out a social studies project and I didn’t.  I explained to my principal that I didn’t think it was a good idea to give the social studies essay to my class.  They are having a lot of difficulty with the topics and they don’t understand it well enough to do a project.  I really think it would be to much. I felt that a science quiz was important because they need to know the meaning of the words for our state test and the read aloud essay was like ELA practice.  So my principal didn’t seem to have a problem with anything I said.  She just wants to be sure we are all on the same page.  She thinks if we can’t agree on project we shouldn’t send it home.  So basically projects and tests will be lessened as the year goes on, if i had to guess.

The second meeting was about a parent who decided to come to my classroom again to be sure her son had everything he needs.  I can’t take it.  So I complained.  I tried working with them, but they are making my year like hell, they won’t be coming to my room for anything. I was told to send a note to the office or call the office if I see her and someone will come up and ask her to make an appointment to speak with me.  They also have to watch better to make sure she’s not sneaking up after she gets into the building.

So both of my meetings went well and I really walked away feeling much better.  I think coaches must have told her I was stressing out. 

Now we have to wait and see what this week has in store for me.