quote of the day

ummm....is she one of those barfers? -- my dearest george

do i work at planned parenthood?

i was putting some items together to post on my door, and i came across this advertisement for our on-site health center.

  i wonder what gets them more traffic...the free wristband or the condoms & birth control?  as a parent i'd be bugged if i was left out of that discussion with my teenager.  just sayin. 

passionate parents, vocal cords & hyrdoponics

back to school night was a total success.  i actually enjoyed myself quite a bit, and i felt like the biggest dork on the planet because of it.  it was totally a different feeling having the students there with their parents.  i really don't have any problem students at all, and so it was nice to sing their praises and answer course questions for their parents.  i also started answering questions for other parents, which was interesting.  one parent said he needed help getting his son to school.  and he suggested maybe he should call the police.  i almost started laughing, but i didn't.  i told him to call the school and set up an appointment with the boys counselor and possibly the health center to try and figure out what the problem was.  i mean, i know that teenagers don't like waking up in the morning (who does, though, really) but he seemed pretty desperate to help his son.  i also had a very passionate parent talk with me about her son.  i can appreciate her passion, however, i feel like one of us is WAY off on our estimation of his capabilities.  for example, everyday, i reteach, re-explain and reassign most items for him.  and he has never verbally responded.  not once.  and we are 6 weeks into the term.  i feel a bit at a loss for how to help.  she suggested setting aside some time for us to privately collaborate on how to help her son, and like i said, while i appreciate her passion, i also don't know how helpful that will be.  anyhow,  by the end of the night my vocal cords were exhausted, and they've been pretty tired today as well.  which is unfortunate, because today was the day i went over their packets and was talking the entire period.  the bell just rang a few minutes ago, and i'm kind of praying no one comes in or needs anything of me or asks me any questions at all.  i just don't want to talk, at all.  ha.  what a baby.

 

today was good.  we talked about all the symptoms, sources and preventions of food bourne illnesses.  which was particularly interesting with the recent outbreak of listeriosis.  we talked a lot about the whys and hows and they had a lot of questions which made for some good discussion.  its one of my favorite days to teach, because while they get so grossed out by hearing about diarrhea and vomit, they seem genuinely concerned to learn how to prevent such nasty illnesses.  its awesome. 

 

during my prep i ran over to el pollo loco, which was absolutely delicious, as usual.  i am a bit bothered by the new hydroponic shop that is opening across the street.  while i don't really know a lot about hydroponics, from what i've heard, my guess is that shop will draw quite an interesting clientel.  it is not a small shop, by any means, and there are lots of bars on the windows and a huge metal fence around the parking lot.  like i said, interesting.  i may need to find a prep/lunch getaway.  we shall see. 

 

there is a football game in a few minutes.  and while i would love to go, i think i would love to be in my pajamas, at home with george before 6 oclock, more.  sorry high school football.  you used to win any battle.  now pajamas & george win out over most everything else.   

no breaks, biscuits & back to school night

monday & tuesday of this week i had the kids do their first "mastersheet."  i LOVE the mastersheet assignments.  i think they are so useful and worthwhile.  i think the process itself helps students filter through and retain info.  its like it tricks them into learning...and i love that.  i love watching them "get it."  to be a part of the process that goes from "ihavenoideawhatyouaretalkingaboutandthatannoysmeandidontwanttodothis" to "i get it" is magical.  there is no other way to explain it.  but please don't be fooled...i still have a few that haven't quite "gotten" it yet, but they are coming along.  i used the completion of the mastersheet as a "pass" to be able to cook.  and because i told them, warned them and rewarned them that if they didn't have a finished mastersheet to submit to be prior to class on wednesday/thursday they would not be cooking.  despite the repeated warnings i still had many that did not "get" that part of it.  more freshman than anything else.  and they were SHOCKED when i allowed the rest of the class to move into the kitchen and start cooking, and they were stuck completing their work.  it kind of hurt my heart a little that when they started to rush to get their work done i had to remind them to take their time, and that because they weren't done at the beginning of the period when it was due, they would not be able to cook during that period.  they were quite sad by this, which in turn made me sad.  teenagers minus any food opportunity equals the widest puppy dog eyes, ever.  

 

i went to the grocery store during my prep and spent $176 on milk, cheese, butter & cream, loaded it into my car and brought it back to campus and then had to shuttle it into my room via the shopping cart that mysteriously belongs to my department.  i was so grateful for it.  grateful, and sweaty by the end of all the loading, unloading and reloading of the refigerator with all things dairy for the next two cooking labs.  (on the agenda for the next two weeks:  cornbread muffins, fresh churned butter and macaroni & cheese.  thrilling, i know.)

 

after school i rushed over to one of the other sites in our district.  they closed down their home ec program, and so all their equipment was being disseminated between the remaining two schools.  it was hot, sweaty and quite overwhelming.  i set a lot of stuff aside, and then i sent an email to the district asking them to move it for me.  ever since i fell down the stairs, and then the bleachers, my poor back can't handle my lifting much more than my purse.  so lame.  

 

today was another round of biscuits.  they loved it.  during 1st period, one lab group used baking soda instead of baking powder and the biscuits tasted horrible. totally gag worthy, horrible.  that was the excitement of the day. 

 

the honey butter was a total and complete hit, as well it should be. 

 

i had a number of upperclassmen that did not complete their work, and so they were not allowed to cook.  their responses were a bit different.  one was milling around the classroom, clearly NOT trying to complete his work.  when i told him to get started he said, "ill get to it.  i've got plenty of time."  i told him that no, actually he didn't.  he countered that actually he did, he had an hour and a half.  i told him if he needed something to do, i had plenty of things to get him started.  "like what?" "more work," i answered.  he was not pleased with that answer and got started, and finished with his assignment. 

 

i reminded students that when they did not cook they were responsible to prepare the recipe at home, bring a note from mom or dad, and take a picture with the finished product on their phone.  they were annoyed by this.  "what if you don't have an oven?"  "do you?"  "yes, but i just wondering."  "you could go to your gramma's house," another student offered.  "perfect, " i replied.  "damn.  you don't give no breaks." "ha.  i guess not."   

 

i updated grades and i'm happy to report that more students are passing than failing, which is not always the case.  i'm happier to report that most of my students that have recieved an "F" have either never shown up after the first week of school, or have vowed to do MUCH better next term. 

 

tonight is back-to-school night, which should be eventful, i'm sure.  i rarely get student/parent visitors.  in the past, our site is not known for high parent involvement.   for example, previous back-to-school nights i may meet with 10 parents or less.  here's to hoping for lots of happy, supportive visitors tonight. 

 

quote of the day

we are here to make things --tag line of a construction company, written on the bumper of a truck i passed on my commute this morning

quote of the day

i....i just don't feel comfortable if i don't do my work.  --dear student in my room at lunch trying to get caught up

week recap: FIDM, referral & pudding

monday--i only taught the first 2 periods of the day, and then had a sub for the remainder of the day so that I could hang out with my mom, sister, kyra, cass & the babies, and then get them on their flight.  having a sub is quite a bit of work, most times.  i requested a specific sub, and she accepted, but i still have to clean and then lock down the classroom and prep the classroom for any unforseen outbursts of student defiance.  if i'm ever feeling sick or considering getting a sub, most often i reconsider, because it is MUCH easier to show up and do my job than to prepare both my students and sub for my absence. i had 2 students leave early from class on friday, and a dozen have "emergency" bathroom passes, as well as one that seems to have gotten lost on his way back, as the sub reported he was gone for 1/2 hour.  i always ask my subs to leave very detailed notes as to who does NOT behave, and then they are dealt with very sternly upon my return. 

tuesday--guest speaker from FIDM.  most of my students are not interested in FIDM as a college choice.  a few might be, but almost all were interested and engaged on in the presentation he was sharing about making decisions now that will effect their lives.  namely, their education and career choices.  it may have helped that he was a tall, well spoken, good looking black man who was not afraid of teenage antics.  it was a nice day for me to listen to his presentation instead of talking, as my voicebox needed a little rest after this weekend. 

wednesday--1st day cooking for the first block of students.  not all students had paid their fee or their time for the work fee program, but i got it to less than 5 in every class.  the 5 that did not pay did not cook, but worked on other work instead.  this is after i sent 20+ notices that read, "congratulations! because you have NOT completed paying your culinary skills $20 lab fee, you have been assigned a cleaning day tomorrow 9/20/11 after school.  please report at 330pm and plan to stay until 530pm or submit your donation of $20."  one student looked at his notice and kind of laughed and looked at me like i was kidding.  i was not.  1st day of cooking went by without a hitch.  i explained lab procedures and each of the recipes and then turned them loose in the kitchens to prepare pancakes and waffles.  they. were. so. happy.  it was a great day.  at the end of it i was tired and smelled like burned pancakes, but it was still really fun. 

thursday --1st day of cooking for the second block of students.  they were equally as thrilled to be cooking.  it was darling.  one of my ESL students (who understands english, but speaks very little) even approached me and asked me a few very simple, basic questions in english.  that made my heart sing.  another student was SO excited to be cooking that she went up to the main office and shared her culinary treats with the front office staff.  she was giggly and giddy the rest of the day, and even stopped by in between class to say hello. she is so cheerful, and has been since she got into my class i about fell over when the office staff mentioned that she came up and shared her waffles.  i nodded and told them how much fun it was having her in class.  they looked a little incredulously, and then said, "you do know she was suicidal last week, right?"  i still can't believe it.  i've had LOTS of interactions with suicidal teenagers, but it still kind of blows my mind.  which was her normal?  which was out of character?  she is part of the emotionally disturbed program they are running on our site, apparently, but she has been nothing but a joy and a help in my class.

friday --today the students worked on the chapter from the textbook about safety and sanitation.  they were less than enthused, but did it anyway.  today i sent my 2nd or 3rd referral out of all my 5 years of teaching.  this student has been having issues, and was the student i spoke about in the "group home" entry last week.  i get it.  he is having issues and acting out.  but really, in one period he refused to do his work, gave me attitude, ignored me, left class, didn't follow directions and then threw a binder.  it was awesome.  at least he was out in the hallway when he threw his tantrum.  but still.  like i said, i get that he is having issues at home, but so are 75% of the other kids i deal with on a daily basis, and they have no problem keeping their attitudes, voices and binders in check.  there was the fall sports rally at the end of the day, which i actually just snuck away from because i was so hot & thirsty.  i snuck away AFTER they had the "give me some sugar" game, where they take a sheet of clear plastic, coat both sides with pudding and then have a boy and girl on each side from each graduating class and have them lick it off in a speed competition in front of the entire student body.  not the classiest game i've ever seen, but the kids liked it.  shocking, i know.   also, i just found a nasty, dirty white ankle sock in the middle of my classroom floor.  gross.  it reminded me of the time 2 weeks ago when there was an unwrapped, (unused, thankfully) tampon in the middle of the floor.  awesome.  happy friday to me.  i'm ready for the weekend. 

quote of the day

were we bad? --from a dear freshman girl, as to why they were not cooking today.  she is SO darling and quiet.  i about died when she asked me.

daily updates and a purse deep clean.

so i had a little time at lunch today, but instead of catching up on my daily updates i cleaned out my purse instead.  i'm sure you'll understand the necessity of that when i tell you what i foudn:

 

10 pens

3 highlighters

5 fast food reciepts

4 grocery lists

many quarter sheets of recycled paper (make shift post its.  minus the sticky part)

my "j" post its

2 to do lists

1 wallet

1 check book

1 checkbook cover

purchase order

wedding timeline

handrawn venue map sketchings

bill envelope

straw

tweezers

various feminine products

benadryl

4 binder clips

a bottle of motrin

a head band

pennies

bobby pins

happy snappy

frequent diner cards for every self serve frozen yogurt place within a 50 mile radius of my home

a packet of nuts from the mcdonalds hot fudge sundaes. 

 

i'm kind of a mess lately, but daily updates will resume soon.  at least now my purse is a little neater. 

 

ps--i just found 2 more pens.

sub ready and a group home.

today and yesterday have been crazy days.  yesterday was the duplicate block day of wednesday, so they watcfhed food inc, and took notes, and i gave them additional information throughout the film.  a few heads were bowed, and i had to wake up a few students, but overall, everything moved along nicely.  i had another after school meeting, and i was in a rush to get home so george & i could get ready for the train, maroon 5, matt nathanson show.  i was on the road by 335, and so that wasn't too shabby. 

 

the concert was good, but a little cold & wet.  we got home at midnight and i remembered i needed to scrub the bathrooms so they were "guest ready."  i finally got to bed around 1am.   

 

i dragged myself out of bag, packed all my photo gear and got to school just in the nick of time. 

 

today the first half of the day the students watched the last bit of food inc.  the first time i paused it one of my students whined..."but you said you weren't going to talk!"  i laughed a little.  i told them i just have a hard time not talking.  we finished out the movie and i prepared them for my possible absence on monday.  

 

one student came in during my prep to let me know his mom was putting him in a group home.  when i asked him if he informed his counselor and his case manager, he said he didn't like them bc they were mean.  while that didn't answer my question, it was interesting.  i have no legal sway in anything.  i guess he just wanted me to know what he was going through.  truth be told, i don't know much of anything about group homes, but i guess that doesn't matter. 

 

after the first two periods it was my prep period.  i got my room sub ready, so that i could leave to go pick up my mom & tami from the airport, who will be in town for cassandra's wedding.     

 

my kids will have a sub the rest of the day and im off into wedding weekend madness.  hooray for cass & shawn!

quote of the day

that be scanalous.  --dear student whilst watching the rest of "Food, Inc."

1000 posts, food inc and dropped highlighter

in the past, i've loved "movie days."  the kids get to listen to someone other than me, and i get to caught up on grading & organization.  that works great when we are watching cake boss or man vs. food.  today we watched food inc.  which, if you haven't seen it, i highly recommend it.  its a shocumentary, much life supersize me, and in fact, morgan spurlock is one of the co-producers.  anyhow, it discusses factory farming in america, and for the most part i feel like its really informative.  i always plan to just let it play and have the kids listen and take notes, but then i always feel like they are missing important information if i don't stop it and clarify and reiterate certain points.  so i did a lot of that today, but it was still good.  out of 60 children that watched the movie, not one of them was sleeping or with their heads down.  that is a small miracle during an hour and 45 minute class period.

a few things i forgot to mention yesterday.  as i was walking to the main office yesterday after school i saw a teenage boy, pushing a stroller with his skateboard on top of the visor, with a small child in the passenger area.  thinking back now, i should have said something about how that wasn't a great idea.  epic missed opportunity fail.

additionally, as i was locking up my classroom before going to the aforementioned meeting yesterday, i had 2 notebooks in my hand, a pen, a highlighter and my purse.  i dropped the highlighter right after putting my key in the door.  one of our teenage girls looked at me, looked at my dropped item, quietly came over, without making eye contact, picked up my highlighter and walked away.  didn't say a word.  even when i said thank you.  it was a little odd, but very much appreciated. 

 

***this is my 1000th blog entry. holy smokes. i'd say this calls for some sort of commemoration. maybe for entry 1001 instead. ***

want to make my heart oh so happy?

...then pulease, please, please add this button to your bloggie

                               

Just add a link/javascript widget to your sidebar and then copy and paste this code right in: (but be sure to remove all the*s)


<*a href="http://thejumpsite.com/"><*img src="http://i1212.photobucket.com/albums/cc441/TamalynKay/Jump%20Photography%20images/fancy1.png" />


hows THAT for somewhat shameless self-promotion?

(ps--thanks to my sister tami for this button and all her awesome design wizardry.)

behavior conferences and "other classes."

yesterday and today have kind of run together, and my poor voice is done working for the day!  i talk so much at the beginning of a new term/semester, that some days, by the time i get to 6th period, my voice is almost gone.  anyhow, yesterday we corrected their safety sanitation packets and they got to play "germ wars" and another kitchen safety based board game.  they seemed to really like that, and so did my voice. 

 

today we did a kitchen equipment scavenger hunt, which they seemed relieved about because they could be up and moving around.  i had to have two behavior conferences with two of my freshman boys, that are in separate classes.  both seem to fight me on everything that i ask or tell them to do.  one is always off task and distracting others, and one is my "constant questioner."   we talked about respect, and doing what is asked and completing work, etc.  one told me about his parents separating, and that that is why he was out yesterday.  i acknowledged that and told him i was sorry, but that i also had some things i needed to talk to him about.  he totally disregarded me, wouldn't look me in the eye, shifted his weight back and forth, rolled his eyes, shrugged his shoulders, etc.  i'm so frustrated.  normally when i chat with students separately, i feel like we leave our meeting with a better understanding of one another.  this time i didn't.  i always think about d&c 121 where it talks about following discipline with an outpouring of love and kindness afterwards, which is always the plan, and often it works.  which shouldn't be any surprise, as it is based on true principles, but it still amazes me every time.  

 

the second student i met with seemed more receptive.  when i mentioned how he seemed to be trying to get his classmates to laugh by the comments he made, and i said how it wasn't very respectful, he gave me an incredulous look.  "respect?"  he went on to explain that he has nothing against me, because i never done anything to him.  that he was REALLY disrespectful in his other classes.  holly hannah.  i feel bad for the "other classes."

 

now i'm off to a curriculum council meeting.  which often are of no consequence and last entirely too long.  thinking positive thoughts, i swear... 

quote of the day

campus security:  pull those trousers up

dear student: i got shorts on

campus security:  when you see me, you should automatically be pullin' 'em up. 

dear student: but i got shorts on!

campus security:  if i can see your shorts, you need to pull 'em up.

 

glorious friday.

fridays are glorious.  today we watched a few more safety and santitaion and food safety videos.  the kids are about at their limit on those, which is OK, because so am i.  i had 5 students stay after school for the work fee program.  some stayed for 2 hours! my room was sparkling by the end, even the custodian was impressed with their skills.  they swept, wiped down counters, cleaned out sinks, wiped tables, organized shelves, rewashed dishes and scrubbed cupboards.  george came by the school towards the end of that time so that he could help me with something on my computer, and so that we could go to the fall sports BBQ down on the football field.  i introduced him to my students, and they got a little shy and quiet.  which made me laugh, because i don't consider george to be intimidating.  anyhow, after they were done with their cleaning time, they worked on posters for the football game. i tried to tell them they had served their time and were welcome to leave, but they were happy to stay and work.  it kind of made me laugh.  once they finished their posters, they left and i changed into jeans and a tshirt to head down to the field with george.  on the way down i saw lots of students and many said hello.  half addressed me as ms. booth and the other half as ms. petty.  that made george laugh.  one student said, "hi ms. petty,"  and i said hello back.  as we walked away i heard his friend say, "um...that's a teacher?"  that made me laugh, but i laughed even harder when george answered, "yep.  she's with me."  he just said it to me, not my students, but it still made me laugh.  we got to the field, ate some BBQ, chatted with a few students and staff members and then headed home for the start of our weekend.  glorious, i tell you.  just glorious. 

sanitation, sharing and sparkling

ahhh! it hasn't even been two full weeks and i'm already slacking.  lets see.  the rundown for this week so far:

monday-labor day.  no school, and it was lovely.  i appreicate that day off, so much!  i swear, the beginning of the year is so different from the end of the year,  "i love my life decision of becoming a teacher," warm fuzziness.  the start of a new year has lots of unknowns, readjustments and relearning.  any teacher that tells you they do the exact same thing with every class is flat out lying. or crazy.  or most definitely not me.  i definitely try and keep my classes on the same schedule with the same activities (for my own sanity's sake) but year to year, things are so different.  plus, the beginning of school is stressful in it and of itself because i don't know all my students by name yet.  that makes my job about A MILLION times better, because i feel like i'm interacting with and working individuals instead of a loud, snarling, sniveling (but wonderful) mob. 

tuesday the students worked on their safey & sanitation worksheets.  i prefaced the worksheets with, "lets get through this as fast as possible.  ready set go."  for the most part they joined in, and especially because they got to work with a partner or in groups.  worksheets are painful for them, but being able to work on it with others makes it a little more bearable, it seems. 

wednesday i stamped the completed packets, and we watched a few safety and sanitation videos.  a few of the segments were from this super dry/boring culinary arts students prepping the kids on all things related to commercial kitchens.  some of the info was great.  some of it was so boring i felt like i should periodically take my own pulse to make sure i was still alive.  what is awesome about watching, pausing and discussion a less than entertaining video or segment is all of the sudden students look at you like you are the most wonderful and interesting thing they have every laid eyes upon.  which we all know is false, but how is that for an attention activity?  eh? 

the middle of my day was disrupted by an email informing me they would be running an enrichment cooking class after school would be using my kitchen.  i was not thrilled, to say the least.  i'm more than happy that our students will have more opportunities through the grant funded enrichment program, but i am LESS than happy to share my facility.  here's the thing.  there are HUNDREDS of pieces of equipment in my kitchen.  i have 6 cooking stations that i oversee, that are normally at the mercy of 160 teenagers on any given day, and because of that, i am a cleaning nazi. they know it, and i know.  (you wouldn't know this to look at my own house, but their cleaning stations are a different story)  anyhow, i think i say the word "sparkling" like a million times on the days we cook.  "that is not sparkling."  and  "make sure everything is sparkling," etc.  and now, someone else is going to come in and disrupt all my sparkling.  and my equipment might get moved and misplaced.  and consumables will go missing, and things will be misused.  this annoys me. to no end.   and to think, i used to believe i was actually good at sharing.  i suppose you can think you are good at sharing until you are forced to do so.  i think i am just annoyed that i felt like my space was being infringed upon in an intrusive way, and i didn't really have a say in the matter, i was just told that's how it was going to be.  i started a fiery email, but then saved it in my drafts folder and went home instead. 

today was a repeat of yesterday's schedule.  which means i was an absolute pro by 6th period, after having recited everything 4 times before.  i ended up nicening (is that even a word?) the aforementioned email to the necessary parties requesting more info about the class that will happen in here.

today i also had 4 kids stay to take care of their time for the work fee program.  i was thrilled.  two at lunch and two after school.  the work fee program is a plan i implented for students who are unable to pay their class fee ($10 a semester).  instead of just excusing them from the monetary donation, i tell them they can work the time off me instead for the rate of $10/hour.  they do things like sweep, wipe counters, fold laundry, enter scores, organize textbooks & cookbooks, etc.  truth be told, it actually is a lot of work to come up with lots of little jobs for them to do to work off their time.    it's no so much the money, but the principle of the thing, i guess.  i feel like it keeps it fair for everyone, and reinforces that nothing is really "free."  at least, i'd like to believe it does.  i currently have 58 kids in the work fee program, and one finished his time today.  i'll let you know how the rest of it goes.

  

quote of the day

 he's a  creeper.  i bet he wears a gold chain.  --my dearest george whilst watching "storage wars unplugged"

quizzes, heart surgery and disorganization

today was both fast and slow.  having a prep period right next to lunch is great most days, except when the day is dragging on slowly.  having 3 classes right after one another at the end of the day can be a little much, some days.

 

anyhow, the students had a few different things due today:  a collection of all the work they have completed since school started, as well as their collage project.  i purposely eased into class today (instead of starting the second the bell rang) to try and give them as many opportunities to finish up any work they may not have completed before i came around to check them off. i still had a number of these conversations:

 

me:  where is your collage?

student:  oh, i'm not done.

me:  why?

student:  i didn't finish?

me:  where is it?

student:  in my backpack?

me:  then why aren't you working on it right now?

 

AHHHH!  sometimes the lack of initiative makes me so crazy.  so did this conversation.

 

me:  where is your work?

student:  i don't have it.

me:  why? 

student:  i'm not organized.

me:  ok.  so what are doing to change that?

student:  ....?

me:  yah...so you are going to magically become more organized while you sit there and do nothing.  take out your work and start going through your papers.

student:  i told you, i'm not organized.

 

this is the student i mentioned a few days ago that constantly asks "what if" and "why" questions during every in class discussion.  it is not awesome. 

 

and then we took a quiz.  i prefaced it with:  "remember.  clear everything off your desks.  we are taking a quiz, so your eyes need to stay on your paper and your mouth needs to stay shut.  not doing either of those things will lead me to believe you are cheating and you'll get a zero." 

 

during the quiz, i looked over and the disorganized student from the second coversation listed above had all his notes out on his desk, and seemed to be looking through them.  i called him by name and asked him what he was doing and told him his desk needed to be cleared off immediately because we were taking a quiz.  when i asked why his papers were out he, somewhat innocently answered...."um...you told me to take my papers out."  i almost exploded.     

 

this reminded me of the first day when i relayed to them the importance of honesty, and that if i found them to be cheating in any way, anywhere on campus, whether for my class or otherwise, i'd take their work, call their parents and let the principal know.  because honesty is incredibly important and that life is too short to cheat yourself out of stuff you need to know.  i followed it with, "because really, if i have to get heart surgery, you better believe i'm gonna be crossing my fingers my doctor didn't cheat his way through medical school."  they were silent and looked at me like i was crazy.  but it was in a good way, i think. 

 

last hour of the day, the students finished their quiz and they were passing them forward.  i noticed a student in the front row, directly in front of me reading/searching his classmate's quiz, while hiding his own under his hand on his desk.  i thought that was odd since the quiz was over.  i collected the quiz from him and then pointed to the quiz under his backpack.  he said he was still working on it?  i said he shouldn't be since he was just reading the quizzes that were being passed forward.  he said he didn't look at all.  (though i knew i did.)  i apologized profusely and told him it was my mistake and then had last call for quizzes.  he didn't turn in his quiz.  i checked the pile later thinking he may have passed it forward earlier, but, no dice.  interesting. 

5 years old.

five years ago today i made my first entry on this blog. (before blogs were cool, btw)  anyhoo, very soon, i will also be coming up on my 1000th blog entry.  holy smokes.  time goes so, so quickly.  in light of my realization that my blog's birthday was fast approaching, i began a little walk down blog memory lane.  i was going to post links to some of my favorite posts, but i forgot until just now, and well, i'd rather go to bed.  maybe my 1000th post should be a blog highlight reel of sorts.  yah.  now there's an idea.

B day and a stunning comment.

today was the "B" day block day.  meaning an absolute repeat of yesterday.  so, by the time i got to 6th period i'd given that self concept lesson 5 times.  we talked about the self concept cycle, talked about characteristics of a positive and negative self concept, how to build your own self concept, real life examples, a couple a worksheets, a story, and object lesson and 2 worksheets.  whew.  busy two hour block.  i had to kick one student out of class during the lecture portion because he was being disruptive.  i paused once and asked him, smiling, "are we OK?"  he answered yes, but then later kept chattering and laughing.  so i told him he could go outside and wait for me.  he said no, i said, "yes, thank you."  and did not start lecture again until he got up.  so he excused himself to the hallway. it makes me laugh, but i've found that thanking my students for doing something they do not want to do BEFORE they do it actually MAKES them do it.

another student, when asked to list their favorite thing about herself, raised her hand and called me over to her.  she said, "i can't think of anything?"  when i asked her to clarify, she just said, "there just isn't anything i really like about myself right now. "  i was stunned.  so i pressed her a little more, and she could think of anything.  i told her it was her job to come up with one thing she liked.  and i continued to be stunned.