Today my class began taking notes over plagiarism. Their warm-up asked, "What is plagiarism? Describe the meaning in your own words?"
As I was walked around my classroom and began taking up their sticky notes, I walked over to a student furiously writing down something on his sticky note. Ironically, he was copying down another students definition. I couldn't help but make that very moment a teaching moment. I asked the student if he realized what he was doing and how it was the very example of what we were going to be talking about during class.
Unfortunately, the poor kid didn't get it; however, I got a pretty good chuckle and so did my student teacher. I believe some of the students even got a good laugh out as well!
So funny; yet, so sad!
Friday, April 15, 2011
Tuesday, April 5, 2011
No Guts, No Glory!
I am not going to lie, I was ready to change careers at the beginning of the school year.
Seriously, I researched a new career path and was ready to start my journey in the medical field. I sent an application into a local community college and enrolled myself into courses to begin my new journey. I was ready to leave my school and never look back!
I cried everyday the entire two weeks of training and first few weeks of school. I suffered anxiety attacks like never before and became seriously depressed. I was a total basket case and dreaded every morning I had to get up and enter the school building.
I won't annoy you with all of the reasons why I cried or why I had taken such drastic measures, but I will tell you that I was MISERABLE!
Things continued to get worse before they got better! Students were running the school and the teachers had no say in anything. Teachers were being forced to teach a curriculum that needed major improvement. I could go on and on!
As the year progressed, things got better and I became a happier person and teacher. I started to get excited about what I was being forced to teach and actually forgot that the new curriculum that had been implemented was total crap!
Over the last month I have decided to not only take on Varsity Cheerleading sponsor, I am also considering a new grade level!
I know I am a total rebel!
Many of my friends believe I am on something, but I am simply ready for change and I have decided to go all the way! The funny thing about all of this change is that I am not a change kind of gal. I have never liked change. Even as a child change made me crazy!
I am so happy that I didn't decide to give up on teaching because teaching is what I do best. I love inspiring young minds, I love mentoring and I love seeing eyes light up when something registers upstairs! Teaching is what I do and I can't imagine doing anything else!
Seriously, I researched a new career path and was ready to start my journey in the medical field. I sent an application into a local community college and enrolled myself into courses to begin my new journey. I was ready to leave my school and never look back!
I cried everyday the entire two weeks of training and first few weeks of school. I suffered anxiety attacks like never before and became seriously depressed. I was a total basket case and dreaded every morning I had to get up and enter the school building.
I won't annoy you with all of the reasons why I cried or why I had taken such drastic measures, but I will tell you that I was MISERABLE!
Things continued to get worse before they got better! Students were running the school and the teachers had no say in anything. Teachers were being forced to teach a curriculum that needed major improvement. I could go on and on!
As the year progressed, things got better and I became a happier person and teacher. I started to get excited about what I was being forced to teach and actually forgot that the new curriculum that had been implemented was total crap!
Over the last month I have decided to not only take on Varsity Cheerleading sponsor, I am also considering a new grade level!
I know I am a total rebel!
Many of my friends believe I am on something, but I am simply ready for change and I have decided to go all the way! The funny thing about all of this change is that I am not a change kind of gal. I have never liked change. Even as a child change made me crazy!
I am so happy that I didn't decide to give up on teaching because teaching is what I do best. I love inspiring young minds, I love mentoring and I love seeing eyes light up when something registers upstairs! Teaching is what I do and I can't imagine doing anything else!
Friday, April 1, 2011
April Fool's Day!
Today has been a GREAT day! For some reason I am in the best mood ever!
Last year some students and I started a tradition; we decided to hot glue loose change on the floor in the hallway and watch people pick it up. I know it's immature and silly, but it is absolutely the funniest thing ever!
Students, teachers...it doesn't matter who it is, eventually someone will look down and see that shiny quarter and go for it! As I watch this take place I laugh, shout April Fool's Day and laugh some more. The victims of my innocent prank shake their heads and laugh as they walk away empty handed.
It is an innocent prank that makes all my neighbors laugh and a moment, I hope, that my students will never forget!
Happy Friday People!
Last year some students and I started a tradition; we decided to hot glue loose change on the floor in the hallway and watch people pick it up. I know it's immature and silly, but it is absolutely the funniest thing ever!
Students, teachers...it doesn't matter who it is, eventually someone will look down and see that shiny quarter and go for it! As I watch this take place I laugh, shout April Fool's Day and laugh some more. The victims of my innocent prank shake their heads and laugh as they walk away empty handed.
It is an innocent prank that makes all my neighbors laugh and a moment, I hope, that my students will never forget!
Happy Friday People!
Thursday, March 31, 2011
First Blog and a Little Nervous!
Please don't think my name means all of my blogs will be angry and negative! I am actually a pretty happy and optimistic person (most of the time). However, there will be times when I express my opinion very openly. Adults can be idiots and so can teenagers, the only difference between the two is that one "should" know better! Sadly, it is hard to tell which should know better at times!
I have been teaching in a high school setting for a while. I have taught smart kids, kids who act smart, kids who have the ability to be smart and choose not to be, and kids who are just plain...I don't think I need to finish the sentence. I am not trying to be rude or pessimistic, but the reality is that a lot of people aren't so smart!
I am simply keeping it "real."
I will never claim to be the most intelligent person and I will be the first to admit it; however, there are people out there that are simply stupid and make bad choices.
Example 1: Taking Money from the Education System
What the hell is the thinking on that? Why does anyone think taking money away from the education system is a great idea? If all students are suppose to be "college ready," why is money disappearing like a cake on Biggest Loser? Shouldn't money be pouring into the schools? Without money it will be impossible to produce these kids that will "all" go to college someday?
Example 2: Teachers Being Labeled "Inadequate" Due to Their Students Test Results
This doesn't happen in all states; however, I am lucky enough to live in a state where teachers are responsible for making sure that all students are eager and ready to take in every bit of information they are given everyday! You must be thinking I teach in the state called Utopia, where all students come to class prepared and ready to learn EVERYDAY! Unfortunately, I don't!
I would also like to say that all of my students come to class with paper and pencil, but I would be lying. I would like to say that all of my students stay awake and pay attention to every word I say for 90 minutes, but that would also be a big fat ugly lie.
The truth is, not all of my students will go to college! SHOCKING! I can't believe I just said something so horrible. Come on people, we all know that not everyone is college material. It is unrealistic to think that all people will go to college. I understand the need to challenge students and expect the most out of them, but I can only do so much in the classroom before it is the students responsibility to learn.
My point being, why should teachers be labeled "inadequate" because they couldn't make all students care about their education?
I could go on, but I would be at the computer for weeks. That is why I have started this blog. I hope that you enjoy my responses and have some to share with me.
Sincerely,
The Not so Angry White Teacher (Today Anyways!) :)
I have been teaching in a high school setting for a while. I have taught smart kids, kids who act smart, kids who have the ability to be smart and choose not to be, and kids who are just plain...I don't think I need to finish the sentence. I am not trying to be rude or pessimistic, but the reality is that a lot of people aren't so smart!
I am simply keeping it "real."
I will never claim to be the most intelligent person and I will be the first to admit it; however, there are people out there that are simply stupid and make bad choices.
Example 1: Taking Money from the Education System
What the hell is the thinking on that? Why does anyone think taking money away from the education system is a great idea? If all students are suppose to be "college ready," why is money disappearing like a cake on Biggest Loser? Shouldn't money be pouring into the schools? Without money it will be impossible to produce these kids that will "all" go to college someday?
Example 2: Teachers Being Labeled "Inadequate" Due to Their Students Test Results
This doesn't happen in all states; however, I am lucky enough to live in a state where teachers are responsible for making sure that all students are eager and ready to take in every bit of information they are given everyday! You must be thinking I teach in the state called Utopia, where all students come to class prepared and ready to learn EVERYDAY! Unfortunately, I don't!
I would also like to say that all of my students come to class with paper and pencil, but I would be lying. I would like to say that all of my students stay awake and pay attention to every word I say for 90 minutes, but that would also be a big fat ugly lie.
The truth is, not all of my students will go to college! SHOCKING! I can't believe I just said something so horrible. Come on people, we all know that not everyone is college material. It is unrealistic to think that all people will go to college. I understand the need to challenge students and expect the most out of them, but I can only do so much in the classroom before it is the students responsibility to learn.
My point being, why should teachers be labeled "inadequate" because they couldn't make all students care about their education?
I could go on, but I would be at the computer for weeks. That is why I have started this blog. I hope that you enjoy my responses and have some to share with me.
Sincerely,
The Not so Angry White Teacher (Today Anyways!) :)
Why Can't I Just Teach?
This morning I received an email telling me that I was the lucky contestant of administering a field test for the new test our state will be torturing the students with in the next year or so. I am being removed from my own class to help administer a test for a grade level I wish to never be around.
This particular group of students is ruthless, immature, non-compliant and annoying! Sadly, these are nice words I have to describe them. They have caused so much chaos in the halls of our school that even the upperclassmen seemed to be bothered by their lack of consideration and respect. Don't get me wrong, I hear from some people that they are capable of acting like human beings, but I have yet to witness this.
Back to the field test! I am starting a new unit next week, a very difficult unit that allows me no time to be out of the classroom; yet, I am being pulled away from my students for two days! Seriously, two days! Two long days of sitting in a room full of students who will not give a damn about the results of this so called field test.
TEST! TEST! TEST! Let's test these little buggers until they are so tested out that when the real testing, the testing that will either label me an "adequate" or "inadequate" teacher comes along and they REALLY don't care how they do! So my adequateness will lie, partially, in the hands of students who have taken one test after another all year long!
Hummmmm......sounds like a raw deal for everyone involved!
This particular group of students is ruthless, immature, non-compliant and annoying! Sadly, these are nice words I have to describe them. They have caused so much chaos in the halls of our school that even the upperclassmen seemed to be bothered by their lack of consideration and respect. Don't get me wrong, I hear from some people that they are capable of acting like human beings, but I have yet to witness this.
Back to the field test! I am starting a new unit next week, a very difficult unit that allows me no time to be out of the classroom; yet, I am being pulled away from my students for two days! Seriously, two days! Two long days of sitting in a room full of students who will not give a damn about the results of this so called field test.
TEST! TEST! TEST! Let's test these little buggers until they are so tested out that when the real testing, the testing that will either label me an "adequate" or "inadequate" teacher comes along and they REALLY don't care how they do! So my adequateness will lie, partially, in the hands of students who have taken one test after another all year long!
Hummmmm......sounds like a raw deal for everyone involved!
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