Annoyance Part II

I wrote yesterday about how I was recently criticized by another teacher because I don't stay at my school later than 3:45. 

Yes, this is/was still bothering me. 

I have been reading Anne of Green Gables and I came across a quote that describes me to a tee:

"She was as intense in her hatreds as in her loves." -Anne of Green Gables

If I feel truly wronged I have a hard time letting go, which is a bad character trait I know. 

On the other hand, if I am passionate about something I will go to the ends of the earth to protect it or make it happen. 

ANYWAY

We recently held a mock standardized writing test at our school to gauge how the kids will preform on the real test next month. 

Our students in 5th and 8th grade typed up essays. These essays were to be distributed amongst all the english teachers to grade. They were to go to different english teachers so they would have a fresh perspective on them. 

We were given a 3 day turnaround to mark up, grade, and return the essays to their rightful teachers. 

We had such a short grading time because we were going to use these essays and their graded feedback to do lessons for the following week. 

I was out with an illness the Wednesday the essays were distributed to the teachers for grading. 

When I came in on Thursday, I found out that an ice storm was probably going to prevent us from coming to work on Friday (The day the essays were due). 

I worked like a madwoman to grade and leave comments on the 30 essays I needed to grade and got them done before the end of the day!

We did indeed have Friday off for ice and I was glad that I worked hard to get them in on time. 

As I am writing this it is now Wednesday (3 school days after their due date) evening and I have yet to have all/most of my papers returned to me. 

I finally asked if I could just have the essays back to grade myself because I have lessons I planned for the whole week around them. As it is, I shuffled lessons the last two days because I was not in possession of "The Papers."

You better believe I walked out of school today at 3:45 with a new perspective and my head held a little higher. 

I might leave work at the designated time, but I always handle my business and always have everything turned in on time, especially if other teachers depend on it for their lessons. 

Even if I might not like all the people I teach with, I will still help them out and I won't criticize every little thing about them because we are ON THE SAME TEAM and fighting THE SAME BATTLES. 

I refuse to let others tear me down because they don't think the same way I do or do the same things I do. I can only worry about myself and make sure that I am giving my job all that I can. 

If you happen to be watching "The Bachelor" right now..."I won't let them take my sparkle" har har had:

To the awesome people who left comments on my blog post yesterday:

Thank you! You Rock! :)

Don't Drag Down Other Teachers

I've been getting more and more annoyed lately. 

I recently got into a conversation with another teacher in which I ended up crying. 

I was telling them that I was having a rough year. My students are, for the most part, not inclined towards learning. I go home each night and try to figure out what will interest and motivate these particular children. I usually only take 2 hours to myself each night to take a bath and watch a T.V. show on Netflix. 

 I have had success in picking out books that they LOVE. They love to read them and talk about them, but then when it comes down to actually analyzing them, they refuse to put pen to paper or think. 

They also really like my music and prezi lessons, but again, when it comes to using actual critical thinking skills, they just refuse. 

I was explaining all of this to this fellow colleague and how I feel like the focus of society is no longer on education and I just don't know how to make up the difference in my classroom (I am in tears no less)

This colleague's response was, "Oh, I'm so glad to hear you do work at home, because I always wondered. I see you leave school each day at 3:45 and I wondered if you actually did any work."

This irked me to an extreme level for several reasons:

• I spend each summer writing all my lesson plans ahead of time so I know what I am doing for the ENTIRE year 
• I spend each summer coming up with new material/lessons to try to keep them modern and fresh (which has branched out to include spending most nights creating new stuff to find more engaging lessons for this particular breed of student)
• I spend many hours at the start of each new grading period copying all my material for six weeks ahead of time
• Because of this, I am able to grade essays and written assignments during my planning period
• Because of my transparency system I am able to grade multiple choice tests in minutes, put them in the grade book, and hand them back before class is even over most of the time
• I hire students to update my board each afternoon during bus waves (bell ringer, journal question,  agenda, objective, etc...)
• I RARELY, if ever, write referrals
• I usually don't have behavior issues in my class (This year has thrown me for a loop I will admit)
• My standardized test scores have been well above the cut scores and in the 90's the last 4 years

Yet, all of that gets ignored because I leave work at 3:45? That MUST mean I am a lazy good for nothing teacher. 

On top of that even if I DIDN'T go home and do work, how does that make me less of a teacher? If I am getting everything done at school because I am organized, efficient, and have planned my time wisely that is somehow something to feel ashamed about? 

I was still stewing about this comment when I went to a conference yesterday with various teachers. We drove a school vehicle to a location about 2 and a half hours away. 

The two elementary teachers that were with us kept complaining about teachers at their school who leave work to go to the gym at 3:45 and said, "I sure wish I had the time to leave work right at 3:45 and go to the gym. *I* have to stay at work until after 5 most days to grade papers and work on lessons. Sure would be nice to have such an EASY job."

I stewed for the whole 2 and a half hour ride back towards home. 

I have never understood why other teachers want to tear one another down in this way. 

Aren't we all fighting the same fight?

We are all in the trenches together. Why can't we cover each other's backs instead of tearing each other down with friendly fire?

Classroom Organization- Material Bags

I know every teacher HATES the statement, "I don't have anything to write with." 

I came up with an idea three years ago that has worked out pretty well. 

That idea is to velcro material bags to each student desk filled with everything they will ever need. 

My bags include:

• Pen 
• Pencil
• Red, Green, Yellow Highlighters (For step up to writing)
• Scissors
• Post it Notes
• Eraser
• Glue Stick
• Inventory Card
• Number

The Number Serves several purposes:

1. 

I tried to come up with a way to make sure the items don't get stolen and my mother is actually the one that gave me the idea that worked. 

Because each bag has a number inside of it, the last 2 minutes of each class I hold a raffle and pull a random number out of a cup. I check that person's bag and sign off on their inventory index card. If they have all the supplies they are given a piece of candy or pencil of their own. If they do not, they get nothing. 

I keep a refill station in the classroom where students can replace worn out/down items when needed.

2.

I bought two sets of numbers and on the first day of school I give students a number and they find the material bag with the same number (I like to randomize seats the first day of school).

3.

If I want to change seating arrangements later in the year all I need to do is un velcro the bags and move the students' numbers to the desk I wish them to occupy. So much easier than name tags! 

This has actually worked out better than I thought it would!

Odd Couples

I've written a few times about how I have one class that is just AWFUL to one another this year. 

Every Friday we have to spend 36 minutes doing the Olweus Bullying Prevention Program.   

The class that I have to meet with is the class that treats each other like crap (Which I suppose is fitting for the topic at hand). I think that a lot of the "activities" provided for us are extremely dated and very juvenile for 8th graders so I try to come up with some of my own activities to fill the time slot. 

If you know anything at ALL about me by now you know I love animals so I thought I could tie the two themes together!

I found a collection of clips about animals working together or odd animal couples I thought I could show in class:

I thought I could have a discussion with the students after showing the clips about why they think these odd couplings and teamwork work. 

I could maybe tie in the idea of different colored eggs.

Even though they are different on the outside, they have a lot of the same feelings inside.

One of the clips ends with the quote,"It seems that survival in the animal kingdom hinges not only on being the fittest, but also being a friend." 

I LOVE this quote because I think a lot of my students focus on being the "Fittest" rather than being a "Friend."

If we have time after the videos and discussion I think I would like to have students write about why being the "fittest" doesn't mean not being a "friend."

***On another note I have a student who is OBSESSED with the weather and I was trying to think of a way to incorporate a bully lesson in with the weather, but I am feeling stumped.....any ideas out there? 

Organizing Exit Slips in Middle School

This is an idea that I have been toying with and decided to try to create today since we had an early closing. 

I took a section of my chalkboard and I cut and pasted fun duck tape squares the size of post it notes. 

At the bottom I left a large rectangle

See example:

I plan to place exit slip questions in the rectangle on the bottom. 

Each student will get a post it note and will have to answer the question and post it on the board before they leave. 

I can either use the exit slips I have already created or write new ones in the square using my favorite:

I have used other brands (cheaper brands) and TRUST me, they do NOT work as well!

If kids start trying to be sneaky and leave without posting a post it I can put numbers in each square and give each student a number so I can easily see who has and has not answered the question!

If you are interested in my bell ringers and exit questions click HERE

Classroom Library Checkout System

I recently wrote about the books that I like to keep in my classroom library. 

My book check out system was getting confusing so I decided to come up with a new system

I created little strips of paper (See below) that I cut out and placed one inside each and every book in my classroom library. 

They are a like a cheap and easy version of the library cards that used to go in the backs of books!

I then created a book checkout rule sign (Also see below) that I posted above some pieces of cork board that I glue to a section of my chalkboard. 

I won't insult your intelligence by explaining the checkout sheet to you! :)

Book Check Out by

Books with the check out slips inside them

Books with the check out slips inside them

Students put their book check out sheets on the cork board and I keep extra slips pinned to the board as well!

I just started doing this a few days ago, but I have really high hopes that this system will basically run itself and be easy!

Book Collage Poster Art

At the end of the school year when the students are taking standardized tests I never know which kids will be testing and which kids will actually be in my class. 

Because I this there is a certain assignment that I like to do at the end of each year. 

I am sure this has a name, but I just call it book cover collages!

The concept is that you take a picture of a book cover and you dissect it into SMALL even squares. 

Each student gets a small square and re creates it onto a full sheet of copy paper. 

When you put all the large squares together it creates an abstract looking book cover collage.

Here are some examples from previous years:

They are fun to decorate the classroom with from year to year!

Here is how it is done

First, you need to determine what book cover you would like to choose. 

I usually do 4 book covers each year (one per block)

Copy and paste this image into Word and have it fill up a large portion of the screen. 

Insert a table of 4x5 and place the table on top of the image.

Play with the margins of the table so that it fits nicely over the image. 

(See example below)

Print 2 copies of the picture out in color if you want the cover to be less abstract.

Print 2 copies of the picture out in black & white and have the students choose their own colors if you want the cover to be more abstract.

Cut the squares out neatly of ONE of the copies and number the backs of the squares

Place a piece of clear tape at the top of each square and tape it to your wall or chalkboard. (I would even go so far as to suggest putting a little dot at the top of each square so the children know which way the square should be facing. This is IMPORTANT. Every year one of my kids turns the squares all topsy turvy and their square has to be re-done)

Place a copy of the original intact picture next to the squares. 

Have each student choose a square from the book cover of their choice.

Explain that they will be taking this little square and blowing the image up on a large sheet of paper. 

Make sure that their sheet of copy paper is facing up (portrait) and that their square is also facing right side up before they begin. 

When they are complete have them write their name and square number on the back of the copy paper and that they also tape their square to the back of their sheet of copy paper. 

When everyone is complete I usually have students put the pieces of the collages together and tape them up as neatly as possible!

If the laminator is working I laminate them and save them from year to year to decorate the classroom!

Here are some of the ones that I have hanging in my classroom this year and their original pictures:

J.K. Rowling (I did the square in the center, and apparently felt she should be VERY tan)

Edgar Allen Poe- I love his extra tall forehead and hairdo haha

Night by Elie Wiesel

The Hunger Games and Catching Fire (Sorry about the glare from the florescent lights!)

***Fun add on: Have each student place their name in their image in some subtle way, like signing their artwork!

Easy Test Grading Method

What teacher doesn't hate grading hundreds of papers? It is ultra time consuming and boring!

I came up with a way to grade multiple choice tests quickly! I recently graded 75 of my students' 25 question mock SOL tests in 5 minutes!

Here is how I do it!

I am sure that your school has stacks and stacks of these transparency papers laying around:

I take one of these sheets and place it over top of my multiple choice bubble sheet, securing it with paper clips. 

I then use these pens:

But you can also use sharpies or overhead markers (if you still have of those laying around!)

I use these pens because they really show the difference between the answer key and the students answers. 

I create my own answer key by filling in the correct bubbles. (I also like to write what test it is and draw a line and the top and bottom of the bubble sheet so it is easier to line up)

When the kids turn there test in all I need to do is slide the transparency on top of there answer sheet, count the incorrect answers, and input their score (We go over the answers as a class later)

I am a self proclaimed math idiot so I like to use my handy dandy easy grader:

Here are some picture examples (I apologize that they are a little blurry!)

Middle School Classroom Rules System

I recently reorganized my classroom and one of the things I decided I needed to do was revamp my classroom rules. 

I came up with the top five deal breakers in my room and gave each one a color. 

You will notice that next to each rule I have Post it Notes of the same color placed in index card sleeves. 

When a student breaks a rule I place their name on the color Post It Note of the rule they broke. 

For example, on Thursday a boy pulled out a box of Valentine's Day candy (in the middle of the lesson) and started eating it. I wrote his name on an orange Post It Note because he broke the no food in class rule. 

I created large posters and hung them on my classroom wall to place the Post It Notes on.

1. First offense is a Warning
2. Second offense is Silent Lunch
3. Third offense is a Letter Home
4. Fourth offense is a Referral to the office

Each time a student breaks a rule I look to see if they have broken that particular rule before.

• If they have: I move their post it to the next punishment level
• If they have not: They get a post it note with their name and in the color of the rule they broke added to the warning level

Students have the potential to have their name on five different color post it notes (since I have five different rules)

I have decided that students can earn Post It Notes a step back (Or removed if they are only on the warning level) if they fill out a behavior log to my satisfaction.

Behavior Log Cause and Effect by

I plan to be very clear with my students that if this sheet is not filled out to my satisfaction or  I feel like they are not actually remorseful the Post It Note STAYS. 

I have only been doing this system for two days so no one has made it further than a warning. I think it kind of reminds them of the stoplight system of elementary school and resonates well with them. 

***I am also keeping a small notebook with the students' offenses written in it in case any of my kids try to be sneaky and take their Post It Notes down ;)

Classroom Library- Top Reads

 I always tell my kids that I don't mind if they are reading below their grade level, above their grade level, or just plain junk as long as they are reading for fun! Because of this I am always looking for new books to add to my classroom library that I think will really interest my kids.

 

I thought I would dedicate this post to the books that are checked out (go missing) the most.

 

I believe that books can be unisex for anyone who wants to read them, but I broke them down based on who checks them out the most. 

Boy Graphic Novels 

The Bone Series of graphic novels by Jeff Smith are the most checked out books by boys.

  

Girl Supernatural Books

These are the most popular books in my classroom library for girls. I feel like supernatural books are completely overkill at this point, but my girls still LOVE them! I should note that some of these are only appropriate for the upper grades.

 

Bluford High -All Kids

 The kids at my school go CRAZY for this series. I cannot keep them on the shelf.

 

Cartoon/Diary-All Kids

All of my kids (boy, girl, top reader, struggling reader) LOVE the Diary of a Wimpy Kid books. For Christmas I got a set of Origami Yoda books. I was not quite sure what to think of them at first, but they turned out to be really cute. A teacher who lives in Virginia wrote them and they are similar to the Diary of a Wimpy Kid books, but for a 7th, 8th, &  9th graders.

 

Top Boy Reads

It is difficult to get a lot of my boys to read so I always try to keep the latest/popular books for boys in my room. These are the ones that get checked out the most!

 

Top Girl Reads

These are my top checked out girl books. I should note that some of these are only appropriate for the upper grades (John Green books are GREAT, but do contain some older language/situations)

Popular books for everyone!

These are the books that are popular with ALL my students!

Stories from a Middle School English Teacher: Valentine's FlashBack

Valentine's Day PTSD

Many moon ago near Valentine's Day a co-Worker and I decided to come up with a secret gift exchange. Below is the message we sent out:

Roses are Red

Violets are Blue

It’s that Time of year

And here’s an idea for you!

Hello all!!!It's that Time of year again for our favorite random commercial winter holiday. No, I'm not talking about Groundhog Day, but the ever popular VALENTINE'S DAY!!!! We, as middle school educators, deal with the raging hormones of our delightful students and need some love ourselves. What I am proposing is we have a secret Valentine exchange. Henceforth all participants shall be called “Cheery Cherubs”.

Each day from February 9-12 we propose that you give your Cheery Cherub a small Valentine’s Day themed gift or scrumptious treat. These gifts should be under a dollar because, heck, its budget cut season, people. The last day, February 13, you should give your Cheery Cherub a token of your affection, or at least appreciation. Keep the gifts simple, conversation hearts, a self composed poem (Roses are red works), or something else sweet. The gift on the last day should be under $5. February 13 is a half day for students so this is the ideal Time to reveal your identity to your Cheery Cherub.

Please reply to this email or let me or Ms. Potter know that you would like to participate. We need to know by next Wednesday, February 4, 2009 by 3:30. On Thursday, we will come around for you to select someone to “Be Yours” (at least for the week).

Let’s have fun with this!!!

The Cupids of The Middle School,

E. Miller and K. Potter

I usually abhor Valentines Day but on this particular Valentines Day many moons ago I showed up to school excited about the final day of the Cheery Cherubs exchange. When I walked into school I noticed that it seemed a little more dreary than normal in school. It turns out that the entire school was lacking power and wouldn’t be on for the rest of the day. The excitement about the Cheery Cherubs exchange quickly changed into excitement that we were probably going to get to go home!

The administration, as always, had other plans. They gathered the teachers in the library and told us they didn’t want to send all the schools home and run the buses twice so they were going to put us on buses and ship us to the high school gymnasium. We asked if we could go to our classrooms and get supplies to teach with. We were told that they couldn’t allow that because it could be a liability for them. Instead we were told that once inside the gymnasium we were to find out second period students and sit with them until 3:10. The teacher next to me spoke up and said, “So, we are not supposed to teach, we are supposed to SIT with our kids for 7 hours. Basically what you are saying is that we are glorified babysitters for the day?” The administrators just stared at her before saying, “I’m sure you’ll think of something” and shooed us onto waiting buses.

When we got to the gymnasium I gathered all of my students and directed them to a row of bleachers. We spent the next 7 hours like refugees from a national disaster stuck in a hot, screaming loud, and crowded gym, but with fewer privileges. I can’t remember all of the things we teachers came up with to entertain and educate my students because I think I have blocked most of it due to the PTSD I acquired due to the experience.

In the end we did make it through the horrible experience with surprisingly little hiccups. At the end of the day the principal came into the gym with a loudspeaker and said that we all did such a wonderful job behaving that he was going to personally ask if we could have the day off from school the next day. He said to consider it a personal Valentine’s Day gift from him.

I went home relatively thrilled, aside from the PTSD I had acquired. By the time I had gotten home the school had left a message on my answering machine that said, “School will be operating as usual tomorrow, please come in 30 minutes early for a faculty meeting.”

I swore like a sailor and went to bed early with a box of chocolates in hand hoping for better luck the next Valentine's Day

Neat Teacher Templates

I found some neat teacher templates from the Microsoft website that I thought I would share!

I am a fan of planing for a lesson a week ahead of time. This weekly lesson plan template has great potential!

Weekly Lesson Plan:

I love this to do list that crosses off items as you finish them, tells you when things are due/overdue, and has the ability to rate according to priority!

To do list: 

This meeting minutes template would need to tweaking to match my needs but I like the framework!

Meeting Minutes:

I like the items that are on this lesson plan template. Essential, instructional tools, vocabulary. This would need tweaking also, but I like the fact that this would force you to make sure a topic is rounded out!

Lesson Plan Template: 

typo effects

I found this site today that I thought could be interesting in the classroom in a few different ways.

The site is: www.typoeffects.com 

You can upload a picture and it will place words of your choosing to generate your picture with words!

I like this site rather than others that I have seen a lot on Pinterest because it still retains the colors of the picture AND it is easier to read the words/see the original picture. 

I thought that it could be used at the start of the year for students to introduce themselves to the class (Instead of using tagxedo)   

I only used three words for this picture, but I was just playing around with the program. 

-or-

Students could use it with book covers or characters and write words associated with them

Harry Potter

-or-

Perhaps I could have students choose an image and write words associated with that image and then write on the following prompt:

 People say that a picture is worth a thousand words. Do you believe them? Why or why not?