Reflections: 10/22-10/26/07

I think the best way I ever did this blog was when I did weekly reflections. It was an assignment, but it forced me to really look at the week as a whole rather than getting fixated on a single event. It helped me organize my thoughts and notice patterns better.

So, end of my second week at my new school and I'm still loving it as much as I did last week, if not more. I'm really starting to settle into the school environment and into my individual classes.

Freshmen
We finished the Odyssey in the freshman classes and have moved onto short stories, which the kids aren't too thrilled with, but it's an easy way for me to get ahead. I'm always amazed how different multiple sections of the same class can have such distinct personalities. My 1st period, for example, is a great group of kids that, while a bit chatty, get their work done and are quite engaged in what is going on. My 3rd period has several students who are too smart for their own good and I am constantly on their cases about focusing, not disrupting class, and getting their work done. My 4th period is a pretty lazy group. They are plenty smart, but they choose to waste a lot of time, go to the wrong lunch (even though the schedule hasn't changed in the 8 weeks they've been in school), and even fall asleep in class. They frustrate me a lot. Oh well - we'll do short stories through next week at least and then on to lit circles hopefully - something new and exciting!

Juniors
The juniors are working on The Crucible. They had just about finished Act I when I joined them. Together we've done Acts II and III - today we'll probably finish the play. They've got some great insights into the work and really seem engaged. In 6th period, there are some kids that dominate the conversation because they are so excited about the piece. I hate to discourage that, but I want to give the other students a chance to participate in the conversation. I've also liked the assignments I have come up with for them - two acts had some questions, but Act II concluded with a creative monologue written my a real or made up character of their choice. I got some great pieces! Today assignment is to write a newspaper article as if you are an editor in Boston, hearing all the stories. I think the students will enjoy it and I can hardly wait to see what I get back next week.

Pep Assembly today - last one of the year. I haven't been to a pep assembly since I was in high school, so this will be interesting. Not sure what I need to do, however, so I better find that out. All in all, a good week and next week will be better!

New School, New Blog Entries!

Wow, so I have not been consistent about this thing at all. I really wish I had because there is so many things I know I've forgotten that I wish I hadn't. Maybe I'll finally get on track and do better.

So, anyway, I started at a new school. I moved from the Bronx to Everett, WA this summer and it took me awhile to find a job. As of last week, I am employed by a high school which plays my old high school in athletics. It's kind of strange being here. For so long, they were the enemy, but now I am one of them.

I started so late because the teacher before me retired a month into school due to medical difficulties. I started last Monday and it's been a crazy week. The students had the original teacher for a month, then a long-term sub for two weeks, then me. I really wasn't sure what to expect when I walked in the door last week. The students are great - much more conscientious than my past school. Part of that may be because I am no longer teaching special education. Some of that is the environment as well - students in the Bx aren't always the most polite and caring because their families are the same way. Here, it seems to me, is a bit different. Most of the students are kind and really want to do well. I was surprised last week when a student asked it we were going to do work. He was honestly anxious to do something after a month and a half of doing very little. I hope he doesn't regret the comment now, because I've put them to work.

It is also very odd to come into the middle of a unit. The freshmen were working on The Odyssey, something I have very little familiarity with. The juniors, however, were working on The Crucible, which I have read before. Either way, I had to jump into the middle of the stories and try to wrap them up. Also, the grades I got from the previous teacher make little sense, so I ended up restarting the grading for the students. With so little time left in the quarter, I hope this doesn't end up hurting the students.

No Longer a Newbie

Oops. I should have updated this a little sooner, but my online access pretty much stopped when I moved from Jersey City to Manhattan. My first year was rough, but at the same time pretty good. The crazy freshmen and I reached an understanding and started working together. I taught my stagecraft class in the spring and it went fairly well - the kids liked the opportunity to do something a little different. I also taught a section of sophomores, which gave me a taste of what was to come.

This school year, I taught only sophomores all fall. It was the same kids from last year, but it was a huge difference - they grew up. We got a lot more accomplished than ever before. The semester recently ended and I was really quite pleased with how it went. This semester will be interesting. Two of my sections of sophomores were given to a new teacher who whined a lot and couldn't handle the freshmen (this was an option? I should have done it last year!) Anyway, I was stuck with his freshmen, but I complained and got two sections of juniors instead. I'm also teaching one section of Team Teaching English, but don't know my team teacher yet. Classes start tomorrow, so this will be interesting. I'll try to update this more frequently, but no promises.