L to J Teaching ideas

Last year I was so pumped for L to J. Then the baby got a fever for exactly three days- the same number as the conference  So bummed.

This year was the recap. I went even though I struggled with L to J and didn't relly do any of it right. I had to start. I am glad I went. I can do this. I now realize it is NOT a way to teach. It is a way to track the key concepts I am teaching. And not all the key concepts at a time.

So, I borrowed the English book on L to J. Going to read it all and then come up with a list of all the key terms I think a freshman should know. Then I am going to go teach like I do. Except I will add the L to J random test tracker element to see how well they did. Also, I am going to find the 8th grade Lit teacher to see what key terms are her favorite and what she hits hard- because I will not do those except as questions in review.

I gotta start somewhere. Then after I do all this, I will probably get moved to Seniors. Ha for me.

Fish are Friends, not food...and teachers have lives too.

I had a situation come up today that living in a small town I can't tell the details to without back lash, but has made me so angry at how others perceive my job that I can't let it go.

Skipping the details ( and this may make this post too vague to understand, and I am sorry for that) and getting to the point of it all- teachers have lives too.



Teachers, maybe more than most, have tight, tight schedules. When those schedules get thrown out because of others' thoughtless actions, it has consequences on families, students and fellow teachers. I wear so many hats in my day that if I wanted me time I have to get up before 5 in the morning to get it. I can't stay late unless I cut my budget somewhere elese to pay for extra day care costs, I use my prep period to the fullest: grading and planning so that JoeQ Public's child has the best I can give. I dont' fool around, I don't misuse school money, but I don't use my family budget to pay for things that JoeQ's kid forgot or can't get for himself. I can't do that. My family would suffer.



And yet, JoeQ gets outraged when the consequences bit their kid in the educational fanny.



As I have polled other educators in my school I have found that my outrage is not shared by most of the other staff, leaving me to wonder why I think so differently. Should I not be an educator? or has the education field gotten so scared to stand up for what is right that they can't say NO when it is needed?



This makes me think of another conversation I had recently with an educator. This teacher was so frustrated with the level of functioning illiteracy that he/she was dispondent about teaching. After I talked with said teacher I was depressed too. I felt like I was not making a difference, my kids were suffering because I sacrifice so much of their quality time with me to give to the public who doesn't care anywhay about my level of standards and expectations.



Are teachers worthless? Could most students get an on-line education or none at all and live a better life than teachers do? Looking at most of the plant workers and their families, I might say yes.

If Scott didn't have the job he did, I couldn't afford to teach. It is like he sacrifies so that I can dabble in education.



Is it worth his sacrifice? I don't know. I just know that this fish is tired of being treated like food. Where is the shark AA program, Dory?

No Pinching, Plu-eeze

I am not a fan of dressing up show off on any occasion. When it comes to St .Partick's Day, in some ways it is worse. I am not Irish. I can't say "Kiss ME, I am Irish". I don't drink...

I don't look good in goofy outfits. They are bad news. The more foolish -the worse, I say. I love Halloween, but hate to dress up. I know, what an oxymoron I am . Maybe I am just a moron?

Who




knows.


Anyway, this lack of exuberant festing all things silly goes for all holidays. I don't wear the light up Santa shirts or bell earrings, I don't like the heart socks on Valentines day and

I don't like to wear green on St. Patrick's day.

Forget about the tall GREEN pimp hats that have cropped up like weeds at the local Dollar store. Ugg, I won't buy those on sale in a week ,no way.

And yet, PinChing?

so much
worse.



Especially if those pinches are near my BeHind area. In fact, pinching, slapping, goosing, patting AND (oh so the WORST, bouncing) my flabby hind end is OFF LiMitS.



You want to make me upset? Try doing any of those things to the jelly-cause-jam-don't shake -like-that posterior.
I conceeded, due to my work place enviroment,

TO wear olive green. but I wore an orange hoodie (it matches, just trust me).

AND?

I still got pinched!!! The first thing in my grouchy morning- how is that for irony?

Stinky? Is it a sin or just annoying

One question, and I need need responses...

How do you tell someone delicately, firmly. ( who has been told many times before) That he/she stinks?

'Cause I have someone that I NEED to tell this to, because he/she has not gotten it the last 100 times anyone has told this person.

Grammar, Grammar and more Grammar

This week I had a choice to teach Grammar or writing. Now I love to write. But grading writing?



dare I say it?

(sucks)



Sorry most of those kids out there tuned me out for a week and then turn in crap: no brainstorming, peer editing, details, transition words or spell checking was used. AKK



It brings to mind a young man who will forever be in my memory the first year I taught who, after I graded his D worthy paper, said in a very very indignant voice



"I am not a D writer!!"



"Well," I said in my scarkasta snark voice. "This is a D paper:)"



Yea, they are such genius' at 9th grade.



I know writing is a state standard and that is why they will write a paper in the middle of Rand J.



SO we are reviewing (because the should have learned this stuff the first time in 3-6th grade) nouns, verbs, subject/verb agreement; pronouns both singular and plural and review prepositional phrases from 7th grade

Thank you thank you Mrs. 7Th grade teacher for that!!



I have remembered that I love Grammar....

Gosh I am a geek.

Pearls from M'bird

When I first started teaching, I inherited a novel, To Kill a Mockingbird. Before teaching, (BT) I had read it and loved it, I had even been very pleased when I received a copy of the book as a present. However, I related to the book on a surface level; as a Southerner, I could identify with what she was saying.

I never lived and breathed it. I never delved into the hidden meanings of the book and truly feasted up its words. Until I became a teacher and had to do so or go crazy from the repetition of the book, I didn't have to think that deeply about this or any book once I had graduated from college.

However, reading and re-reading passages 5-6 times a day for years on end, I discovered that this book has many layers like an onion. This book and its messages need to be taught- to be given as grains of sand to the little oysters to make pearls.

And so I began to research every facit of the book, the history, our culture, the author-anything that would heighten the learning experience of a budding mind. I've discoveredso many things to share, exciting tid bits of pearls.

Why can't others see it as I do? Why can' t others glean from it the pearls of wisdom and then try to make their lives better? Why do so many people think this book should be banned? I know the answer to part of that, but I don't to other questions.

I think I am ever learning and changing, but I don't think I will ever grow to see how this book and it marginal use of the n'word should over shadow its message of tolerance.

It does have a message,which I teach prolifically to my students every day of every hour that they can stand to listen about it. I find lessons and activities and bits of trivia to enlighten them on their journey to maturity.

I know they won't magically wake up at the end of htis book and be prejudice free. But as the book says, these are steps-baby steps, but still steps.

Seeing and being the change

The future belongs to those who believe in the beauty of their dreams. -Eleanore Roosevelt. As we enter a new age of a presidency. Remember one woman who tried to make things better in a time when people worked against the idea of freedom for all.

I read a loud to the kids today, willing them to see what I can see of this small town life in the 30's. I wanted them to have the epiphany that I all ready know about. That life HAS changed for the better, in some ways. That good men don't get strung up on an everyday basis in our country just for the sole color of their skin, that those kind of good men can become president.

(Hey, I don't agree with most of Obama's political views, I'm just saying he is not swing from a noose out there some where for daring to raise his head and voice to make himself heard). YOu got to admit, he is personable.

This book we read every Jan/Feb commemorates Black History Month, but I want it to do something MORE.

I want them to see with new eyes and hear with new ears the world around them. I was raised and shaped by the South- a place that has out in the open racism alive and well today. ( I think other parts of the country hid it better). It shaped my thinking, what I loved, hated, and feared. Although going to college redefined who I was as a member of our country, my roots were grown in southern soil.

I fight against the first impulse of prejudices. I don't think you every totally erase what you were taught as a small child. I think you get away from(or more entrenched) in those beliefs as you get older. I can see change in me-there are things I embrace now that I wouldn't before. I rarely see things with the old "southern" glasses I did as a younger person.

I learned a new way of seeing as I grew bit by bit. Hopefully, I give my students that bite of a new way of seeing the world as we read. Maybe not. I don't know. There are teachers who I can't remember, I will be that same thing for most of my students.

But there will be one or maybe two who remember me and the life lessons they learned about racism, prejudices and respect in good ole' room #3.

The final is written

Ahh Hahh, The final is written... 135 questions.

Now we will see if those little darlings studied. They certainly won't be the kids who didn't pick up their study guides left in the basket on the way out the door. Some? They will spend most of their night trying to find ways to cheat. Like writing it all down on a rubber band or on their legs.

I can't remember what I use to do. Did I study for finals? I think so since I graduated in the top 15 of my class. But maybe not. Maybe I was just lucky.
So, then, are kids in AZ dumber? I don't know if the kids in Texas were smarter, but kids don't seem like they are trying to study these days.

Can you live Pioneer Style? St. Johns Goes Unplugged

Today, as many St. Johnians (or is it Johnites? Whatever) will know, the power was out. I don't mean for a few minutes in isolated homes, but the entire town.
Crazy huh?
It had something to do with transformers, old lines, weather, I don't know.
But it got me to thinking...

How many of us can live Pioneer style?

I think I could. At least, for a while, but most of the bratty over indulged kids at school were freaking out. They kept checking their cell phones as a link to the outside real plugged in world.

It didn't bother me, but there are so many things we can't do without because we have painted ourselves into an electronic corner. Food, medicine, school, heat, time. We use electricity for all those things.

Crazy how dependent we are on it. So I ask, Can you live without it?

Me? I am going to the library to check a book out.

You too can have a child like this.

Don't ask me why I teach. I don't know the complete answer. The short, scarcastic version goes like this: I have worked with grown-ups and children. You can send the children to the hall for a time out when one of you have crossed that line. I wish I could have done that to my last boss, Gerry. I helped train his little darlings right out of BYU and then I ran and fetched for them for 1/2 their pay. I couldn't even tell them to shut up. I may not get paid much as a teacher but the laughs are worth it-most days. You know this kid will be making more money than I do when he graduates! I crack myself up:)

Crank Snippy

This is my first week back to school. I know I was a little more worn out, but
I didn't know how it looked to others-more importantly Scott,

Until Last Night.

We were going to Show Low and he asked,

"What is wrong with you? You have been in a bad mood all week."

I denied it, then I got to thinking -I have. I remembered a fit when he wasn't home and breaking a glass candle thing-y.

What is wrong with me?

I am stretched too thin.

Moms are not really made to nurse a baby, get up at night, clean house do laundry, cook, run errands, and work.
I didn't ever think it was affecting me, but when Scott said he has like me so much in the last few months and then tells me I have been in a bad mood all week,

it was a dose of cold reality in the face -a bucket of ice water over my head.

So now, what?

I can't quit my job and stay home, (when I say can't, I mean Scott thinks a family can't make it with just 1 pay check and I am very scared he is right)

but it makes my family run better...
I don't want to go back to the way it was between Scott and I. Just having him realize that I don't Suck as much as he thought, is a sign that we are both living a better life.

but...
how do I keep it that way and not regress back to uglier times? How do you force yourself to see what you can't see and fix it?

You know, by the time he realizes that moms should stay home, all our kids will be grown and I won't need to stay home for our mental well-being.

so bass-ackwards.

Do you love them or hate them?

While I was on leave, I had a substitute teacher. She was going to teach all of one unit and part of another. I planned to be gone until Thanksgiving Week.
I felt really guilty at first because I didn't meet with her over the summer.

She sounded like such a organized, contentious sub that I didn't want to let her down by letting her see how un-that I was.

I tried to make amends by asking her to come in and see me the week before I had Kelsey.
She came in during one of my classes stayed for 5 minutes and then said she had to go to the bank.

I thought it was ... but, maybe I didn't understand what we agreed upon...

She said she would come back later,

but never did.

Kelsey was born and she and I didn't ever talk, I was busy with a baby

and she?

never called either.

We kept in contact via email, that I thought was ok. (Now I hear that she called them nasty grams) I thought that I was masking; guess not. She was not teaching the materials I wanted. She said I gave too much homework, she did other things ...

I slipped in on her 2 times and each time the classes were

-roaming around the room, talking and sitting in my chair -my chair- kids shouldn't do that.

Then she seemed like she started doing what she wanted -disregarding my unit plans; she took a week to review a 50 question test. Who does that?! Maybe a person without a teaching degree! (can you hear the frustration in my voice now?) or deciding to read the stories she wanted to read even though I gave her a list 2 times of what to read and told her verbally when I came in to visit, or

just not grading assignments and leaving grades blank...

Well, ok fine.. I would be the bigger person. I am not perfect,

I shouldn't judge too harshly.

Then

she started printing off the emails, saving them as proof of some kind of battle of wills that I didn't know we were having.

AND talking about me behind my back;

Kinda like what I am doing right now to her.

I had students tell me at church, in the grocery store, at dance practice, what she would say in class

It wasn't
nice...
or pretty...
or kind....

totally unprofessional.

It was rude-hurt my feelings and made me mad. Where does she get off telling a bunch of high school kids, who exaggerate and lie, things that should be worked out between the two of us or kept to herself?

Every day that I am back the kids let slip another rude thing she has said while I was gone.

What the HECK MAN?

What have I done to her? Was I really that unprepared and hard to work for? IF SO>>>
WHY DIDN'T SHE JUST TELL ME AND I WOULD FIX IT?
So now what do I do? How do I get over IT?
Cause it's not that easy. I am not confrontational

yea - not me.

I am passisve-agressive

SO

What I am doing is dwelling, AND stewing, AND daydreaming of things to say to her face to cut her down. I would never never say to her face

'Cause I CAN'T

Then one of the office staff asked me if I have thanked her yet.

" Ha, Ha, FOR WHAT?!!" the voice in my head screamed, as I put on what I hoped was not a fake smile.

"Stabbing me in the back?", the voice questioned again.

"Making me seem stupid to my students?", said the innner voice.

(I do that enough on my own thank YOU)

But I heard my outer voice say, "I will, she doens't have an answering machine, and I have not gotten in contact with her."

My inner foot wanted to kick my inner butt.

Am I an idiot? Did I bring this on myself? I feel like the employee who always has a problem with others. Did my report card in kindergarten say,

"Does not play well with others."

So I leave it to you. America, You Decide.... AM I??

Crush on Jax and liquid gold

I have been watching the series Sons of Anarchy.

It goes against everything I teach and preach about in school.

Shhhh, don't tell, but I love the freedom of what their lives represent.

However, they are always in a drama, drama situation. My whole life I have longed for that type of lifestyle. I remember hanging out with that type of kid in high school. I secretly loved it. Who wouldn't want to make their dad angry with trashy friends? They were the BA's of the school and I was the juxtaposition as the goody-goody Christian girlfriend. I guess I am a closet wanna be rebel, without the guts to really hang up my morals and live that life. I went to the Y after high school and they? Well, lets just say that as a teacher, I still make more money than some of them do. Yet, some? they are rocket scientists,
(yes really, alums from Texas A&M)
they were the smart misunderstood kids...they make more than I do as a teacher. And others? they make more money selling drugs.

Still, the show really has me hooked. So much so, that last night I had a dream about the main character, Jax. He has greasy mid-length hair, a leather jacket, and no compunction about doing what he needs to do to get his way and take care of those around him. I dreamed we were together, and just as we are about to kiss, I wake up to Scott kicking me. I don't know if I felt more guilty for the dream or angry at being awaken. :) To ease some of my guilt, I started smooching on my honey. I don't really want to be with Jax. Who could take the blood, guts, lying,and hiding stuff from the cops? Besides, I think I wouldn't make a good biker chick... I can't stay up late and party and I am a terrible lier. Scott isn't Jax, but he is my BA rebel in his own way. I secretly like that about him, but it makes it hard to live with sometimes.

On another note, can my classes be more boring?I had volumes to say when I was at home with the kids. Now,... not so much. maybe I am the one who is boring now...I don't know anything witty to say and arguably I was not very witty before. However, Scott said to me that he has liked me more in the last few months than he ever has. Warmed my Heart. Maybe I need time to be alone to let the funny out. Maybe Scott wants me to be a stay at home honey.

Liquid Gold
I have had to pump for the baby since coming back to school. I have to be on such tight schedule to make it all work out. Each little ounce of liquid gold is precious to me. I was worried about it the first day I went back and Scott reminded me that each little bit helps. I love him for saying that; it helped me to calm down. But Yesterday, I spilt between 1 -2 ounces and let out a huge curse s word.
I wonder if anyone can tell my boobs get bigger and smaller through out the day depending upon if I need to pump or have just pumped. Do you think they can tell when one boob is bigger than the other becasue Kelsey didn't nurse as much on one side as she did the other? I already am lopsided and I think now it is noticable. I am not looking for opinions so don't go looking at my chest more now that usual. I just wondered....

I feel constricted by my schedule. I have never been one to be organized and so this has been very hard to make myself not go crazy with the order of it all. I have such a tight schedule that if I sleep in 10 minutes my day is off in a very very bad way. I become the whipping mom with a paint stick.

One day the kids just might get left at home.

I bet they would love love that.

They would watch cartoons and eat candy all day long. Would they notice that I had left them, or would they walk the 1/2 mile to my mom's house for food and fun?

My house is a wreck and I hate my closet.

So after being gone for a week, I have forgotten how to clean my own home. I know that sounds funny, but I can't get it together. So glad that Scott is being understanding about it. I am going to try really hard today to get it done becasue tomorrow is D-day. Damnit, Darn Dudes and Dudettes.

Finally, On the Road To OKC and venting

Scott has planned to go the OKC national finals of roping this year. I am proud of him, sure(ALWAYS!!!), because he qualified to go, but as a mom, I can find better things to spend the money on right now... (can you say finish the remodel).
Anyway, I helped him get ready, I use the word help very loosely- i did most of the hard work to get him ready- laundry, ironing, cleaning the trailer, packing, calling the vet... He did fix some broken things on the trailer and took a shower... If I was going somewhere, would he help me??? NO, he would pout about being alone and in charge SOLO.

Does any wife out there feel the same as I do?

So now I am in charge of the herd-the kids, cows, and horses, until he gets back. Not liking the extra chores. Should I let most things go until the day he gets back and clean it all up then? I am thinking about it.

If I could guarantee that some one, would not show up here, I would do just that. Some people can't remember what it is like to have small kids-now and now the house is always clean. And so obsessive that good things are thrown away; yes, you could dumpster dive in the trash and find treasures. It is bad enough when you do that at your own house, but if you go to clean someone elses' house-you are become like Monk. Everything is trash to these type of people. I wish I had all the money that they have thrown away. Obsessively clean by using a 96 load laundry soap in like 20 loads is funny, too.
You ever seen Mr. Mom, when the soap is coming out of the washer?; I always wait for that to happen. You can wash you dry clothes without soap on the next run because of the amount of soap used. The Downy-forget about it, the towels don't dry you and your socks feel greasy. But if you ask them, it is just clean.

Tonight is the big Homecoming game, but since I am out of the loop, I don't know anything about it. I will say that I am frustrated with **** because of her email from Tues. To be fair, I am far far from perfect too... Yet, the *** is already behind and was wanting to show a movie today-one that is not planned for. The unit started MONDAY and *** was behind by Wednesday. I told her in the email,I felt so rude doing it, that no matter what she decides, she will have to catch up because I was not going to be behind when I got back. If she is giving them a easy week , then they can have tons of homework next week to catch up. I can't decide if I think she is great or if I need to go back to work like TODAY. Maybe I just want to go back to work because I would have a valid excuse for having a dirty house.