As I think about summer vacation and a trip to the beach, I am reminded that this is just one of many journeys I will take in the coming years. We, in Pinnacle, have journeyed together to learn about technology and integrate it in our classrooms. Our journey is far from over.
Next year, I want my students to be more active on the journey with me. We are going to plan virtual literary trips and use all of the tools at our disposal. We are going to continue to "go green" with our assignments and maybe even our notebooks, who knows? After all, the fun part of a journey is the unexpected part of the adventure. I am going to take my roll on the "side" and see what my students can do. I can't wait to see where they take me!
It's been an overwhelming year for all of us, no questions asked. But, we've made it and, I believe, I am a stronger teacher for the challenges that have been placed before me. I think next year is going to be even better.
Friday, May 11, 2012
Thursday, April 5, 2012
Staff Development
I took a more practical approach to my staff development. Since at some point we, as educators, will be asked to identify the NETS we use, I decided to introduce ISTE and NETS to our faculty. My benevolent principal hired me a sub for the day and I did my sessions during planning periods. Fellow faculty were supportive and said they learned. My goal was to convince teachers that most of them were already fulfilling their requirements. The presentation and other info is on the AHS Pinnacle site
http://www.tinyurl.com/ahspinnacle
I was pleased with the feedback and felt I had given my fellow colleagues information they needed.
http://www.tinyurl.com/ahspinnacle
I was pleased with the feedback and felt I had given my fellow colleagues information they needed.
Tuesday, March 20, 2012
I think the implementation of Google Apps has the potential to be of great benefit to our students. Google Docs offers collaborative possibilities that are a real plus. However, there are still some kinks to work out. Last semester, my students used their Google accounts to complete two separate projects. They had trouble with email, despite several attempts to "Work around the issues." The formatting in Google Docs was not as conducive to longer documents as MS Word is. And, when students tried to cut and paste from one document in Google to another document also in Google, things just didn't quite work correctly. The biggest problem was for a student who has a Mac at home For some unknown reason, his documents didn't show up at school, even though Google is web based. I'm sure it was just a glitch but we never did figure out that problem.
On the up side, I did hear students talk about working from home but working together and they seemed to enjoy the possibilities. With my large classes, we have not had the opportunities to work with Google as much as I would like. I think, eventually, it's all going to be great.
On the up side, I did hear students talk about working from home but working together and they seemed to enjoy the possibilities. With my large classes, we have not had the opportunities to work with Google as much as I would like. I think, eventually, it's all going to be great.
Wednesday, February 29, 2012
Monkee Memories
I'm about to date myself, but I don't care.
I sit here at my desk with a sad heart at the news of Davy Jones death. I used to watch "The Monkees" faithfully every afternoon as a child and, yes, I just bought the DVD releases of the entire series. I have several CDs and can sing most of the hits by heart. Somewhere in my closet is a videotape of the Monkees reunion movie that aired several years ago. I'm going to go home and find it so I can watch it.
My children even know the Monkees and, especially Davy Jones. He appeared on "My Two Dads," one of our favorite old TV shows that, yes, I also own on DVD. He was featured on "The New Adventures of Scooby Doo" and sings a song on that sound track, as well. They'll be sad, too.
In the late 1980s, I dragged my best friend Matt to a Monkees reunion concert. I don't know how much he enjoyed it, but I was in heaven. Davy, Mickey and Peter were fabulous. It's a memory I carry in my heart.
As you take that "Last Train to Clarksville" Davy, know that several generations of women are crying for you. Heaven will be happy to have you as you join that great Rock and Roll Band in the sky.
God speed, Davy Jones.
I sit here at my desk with a sad heart at the news of Davy Jones death. I used to watch "The Monkees" faithfully every afternoon as a child and, yes, I just bought the DVD releases of the entire series. I have several CDs and can sing most of the hits by heart. Somewhere in my closet is a videotape of the Monkees reunion movie that aired several years ago. I'm going to go home and find it so I can watch it.
My children even know the Monkees and, especially Davy Jones. He appeared on "My Two Dads," one of our favorite old TV shows that, yes, I also own on DVD. He was featured on "The New Adventures of Scooby Doo" and sings a song on that sound track, as well. They'll be sad, too.
In the late 1980s, I dragged my best friend Matt to a Monkees reunion concert. I don't know how much he enjoyed it, but I was in heaven. Davy, Mickey and Peter were fabulous. It's a memory I carry in my heart.
As you take that "Last Train to Clarksville" Davy, know that several generations of women are crying for you. Heaven will be happy to have you as you join that great Rock and Roll Band in the sky.
God speed, Davy Jones.
Thursday, February 23, 2012
Apathy Run Amok
I have had students that didn't have much to give, but gave me all they had. I can work with that. What troubles me nowadays is the students who have plenty to give and choose not to give it. It's not about the types of activities, types of literature, etc.. It's a simple case of apathy.
"Aren't you going to turn in your work?" I ask hopefully.
"Nah, I'll just take the F," students respond.
I feel like a failure, because I am invested in my students. I want them to succeed. I ask them to keep notebooks to increase their organizational skills, thereby edging them toward success in the future. (Yes, I have explained this.) Many of them see no future for themselves, many of them don't care, others, I just don't know.
I pray everyday for success in the classroom and success for these students.
When I am at my lowest, I remember what my mother, also an English teacher, used to tell me. "If you reach just one student," she would say with a grin, "You are doing a good job." She would go on to remind me that oftentimes teachers never know what effect they have on young people. (Oh, the stories she would tell after reunions)
So, I take a deep breath and sigh. I pray a little harder and plow ahead. As long as I am doing the best that I can, that's all I can do.
"Aren't you going to turn in your work?" I ask hopefully.
"Nah, I'll just take the F," students respond.
I feel like a failure, because I am invested in my students. I want them to succeed. I ask them to keep notebooks to increase their organizational skills, thereby edging them toward success in the future. (Yes, I have explained this.) Many of them see no future for themselves, many of them don't care, others, I just don't know.
I pray everyday for success in the classroom and success for these students.
When I am at my lowest, I remember what my mother, also an English teacher, used to tell me. "If you reach just one student," she would say with a grin, "You are doing a good job." She would go on to remind me that oftentimes teachers never know what effect they have on young people. (Oh, the stories she would tell after reunions)
So, I take a deep breath and sigh. I pray a little harder and plow ahead. As long as I am doing the best that I can, that's all I can do.
Thursday, January 12, 2012
High School from both ends
This year I have the unique opportunity to view high school from 3 different perspectives - teacher, parent of a freshman, and parent of a senior. It has been an enlightening experience to say the least.
I, myself, have now been "in high school" for the past 13 years. I've watched tests come and go and come again. I watch as the curriculum is reworded and "updated," although it still means the same thing. I've changed my methods to accommodate various learning styles. However, to me, high school is still high school and teenagers never change.
As a parent of two vastly different children, however, my second high school child experience is a great deal different from my first. My son, the senior, has been one big ball of stress this semester with College Apps, 3 SP courses and the worry that no school will want him (3 do, by the way). He hasn't been having a great deal of fun and that, of course, sends my stress levels through the roof!
With my daughter, the freshman, I am reliving all of the freshman experiences - EOCs, learning the ropes, etc. - I've found the second go round to be a little easier. However, she hasn't. My son's stress has affected her and she is just now getting it together. She worries about her tests more than I do. I have much more confidence in her abilities than I did when her brother was a freshman, because I realize they will survive and even thrive, despite what happens in the classroom.
So, this year is interesting. We'll see how it all goes for the rest of the year. I'm going to try to stay calm and just help them do the best they can. That's good advice for all of us!
I, myself, have now been "in high school" for the past 13 years. I've watched tests come and go and come again. I watch as the curriculum is reworded and "updated," although it still means the same thing. I've changed my methods to accommodate various learning styles. However, to me, high school is still high school and teenagers never change.
As a parent of two vastly different children, however, my second high school child experience is a great deal different from my first. My son, the senior, has been one big ball of stress this semester with College Apps, 3 SP courses and the worry that no school will want him (3 do, by the way). He hasn't been having a great deal of fun and that, of course, sends my stress levels through the roof!
With my daughter, the freshman, I am reliving all of the freshman experiences - EOCs, learning the ropes, etc. - I've found the second go round to be a little easier. However, she hasn't. My son's stress has affected her and she is just now getting it together. She worries about her tests more than I do. I have much more confidence in her abilities than I did when her brother was a freshman, because I realize they will survive and even thrive, despite what happens in the classroom.
So, this year is interesting. We'll see how it all goes for the rest of the year. I'm going to try to stay calm and just help them do the best they can. That's good advice for all of us!
Tuesday, December 13, 2011
Ruining Movies
Today was a good day. I got to "ruin" yet another movie for my students. You see, one of my jobs is to make the literature I teach relevant to today's culture and today's young people. Since, according to Thomas Foster's How to Read Literature Like a Professor, there is really only one story, this is much easier to do than people think.
The movie I ruined today was "Roxanne," starring Steve Martin. My gullible students believed that, yet again, I was just tired of teaching and had decided to show a movie. Alas, as usual, they were wrong! Today, I informed them that they, in fact, had just expressed their enjoyment about "Cyrano de Bergerac." I had previously shown "10 Things I Hate About You" before we began our Shakespeare Through the Ages Unit.
I asked, "How many of you loved that movie?" All hands shot in the air.
I replied, "That's fantastic. It's so much easier to teach Shakespeare once everyone has decided how much they enjoy his work." All faces then fell.
After today's pronouncement, one student told me, "The trust is gone." They told me they'll never believe me again when I tell them we're "just going to watch a movie." My work is done!
Yes, today was a VERY good day!
The movie I ruined today was "Roxanne," starring Steve Martin. My gullible students believed that, yet again, I was just tired of teaching and had decided to show a movie. Alas, as usual, they were wrong! Today, I informed them that they, in fact, had just expressed their enjoyment about "Cyrano de Bergerac." I had previously shown "10 Things I Hate About You" before we began our Shakespeare Through the Ages Unit.
I asked, "How many of you loved that movie?" All hands shot in the air.
I replied, "That's fantastic. It's so much easier to teach Shakespeare once everyone has decided how much they enjoy his work." All faces then fell.
After today's pronouncement, one student told me, "The trust is gone." They told me they'll never believe me again when I tell them we're "just going to watch a movie." My work is done!
Yes, today was a VERY good day!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)