The Death of the Writer's Notebook?

Our new quarter started on November 10, and since then we have not done a single writer's notebook entry, which accounts for my absence.  

A few things have happened, however, that are certainly noteworthy.  One, I was observed by my instructor in my 2nd period Junior class.  It went great - my kids were wonderful (that is probably my favorite class) and my teacher loved them, as well as me.  I was very excited.  I have my observation of my Freshmen tomorrow, so we shall see how that goes.  Discipline is something that may be an issue with them, because as I have previously noted, they are very immature.

I guess the only other exciting thing is that I am writing a test for my Juniors on The Crucible.  I think I am done with it, but I need to maybe cut out 3 questions, so that it is easier to assign point values.  Stupid logistical stuff, but it is weird how important that kind of thing can be.

Goals for this week (it is only a 3 day week...):

1.  Have a good observation.

2.  Finish Night with the freshmen.

3.  Give a successful test that the kids don't fail horribly.

Entry #17 - My Reflection on the First Quarter

Although this isn't my first quarter of high school ever, it is my first quarter of high school in this role.  I'm trying to decide whether or not it is more or less than I expected, and what sorts of ideas I have had to put behind me.  It has been interesting for me - but more importantly, it has gone extremely fast.  I am shocked that the first quarter is already done, and that means that after this next quarter, these classes will be my classes.  That is almost as exciting as it is terribly frightening, because I will have sole responsibility over the minds of about 100 students.  I have the opportunity to make a huge impact or to do nothing at all - and it is not all up to me, because the students have so much to do with what happens in the classroom.

I am also coming to a close on my first semester of classes in the credential program.  Those classes have been far less stressful than I would have originally imagined, and I am overall pretty happy with what happened... except I somehow feel that they left me under prepared.  But I always have a looming fear of being under-prepared.  I suppose, come February, we shall see.

As far as a reflection on my students from this first quarter, I am overall pretty pleased with the amount of diversity that I have and the very different personalities represented in my classes.  Although I wish I had more students that fell into the exceptional category, I do have to remember that most of them are doing their best, and as long as I know that, that is all that matters.  They are far more complex than they let on, which I only know because of things like their writer's notebooks and, for my juniors, their journal entries.  

I look forward to the next quarter, and seeing what I can do.

A Day in History.

One of my juniors asked my master teacher who she was voting for.  Of course, she can't answer that question - but it lead me wondering two things.  One, who was she voting for?  And, two, why didn't anyone ask me?  I only ponder the first question because I think, in California, who you vote for really does say a lot about your beliefs, because we are a guaranteed blue state.  And, of course, because I am nosy and think that kind of thing is my business.

But two really intrigues me more, because do they assume that because I am a young person that I would vote a certain way?  Generally I have no qualms about stating my political affiliations, as I do not believe I should have to hide my beliefs.  But, the position of teacher holds an interesting conundrum for me on that level.  We have been taught repeatedly in our education classes that our beliefs - political, religious, etc - must be checked at the door.  This, I have observed through seeing so many of my fellow credential candidates, won't be such an easy thing for many people.  But how easy will it be for me, too?  

What the most important thing to realize, on this day, is what a great day in history this is.  This is regardless of whether or not you think Obama should have won this election.  Think:  it was September 22, 1862 when Abraham Lincoln made the Emancipation Proclamation.  Today, November 4, 2008, an African-American has been elected to be the President of that same United States of America.  This is a day in history, no matter if you are a supporter of Obama or not.

Tonight, I am proud to be an American.

Entry #16 - My Role Within The Family

In my immediate family, I am the baby.  When I lived at home, I didn't really have chores or many responsibilities, because my mom didn't work.  I was also the annoying little sister - a part I played all too well for my mean older brother!  Now that I don't live at home, my role is to get done with school and get a job so that I can pay my parents back someday.  Not something I look forward to (the paying back part, I mean).

I don't feel as though I have a role yet in my extended family.  I am too old to be one of the "kids," but too young to be married and have kids of my own.  I almost feel as though it is easy for me to slip into the abyss of my family and be overwhelmed by all of the large personalities therein - which I don't really mind, oddly enough.

As for now, living on my own, my role is to be a good mother to my two kittens, and a good friend and roommate, which is much harder than it sounds when I have to balance everything else in my life, too.

First Graders or Freshmen - Who is More Mature?

Today, I was late to my school site because I turned my phone on silent to watch the Obamamercial, and therefore I did not hear my alarm.  How embarrassing.

Yesterday, we gave the Juniors an open book test on Act 1 of The Crucible.  I graded them last night, and had very few A's.  Can someone explain that to me?  I am realizing constantly how jaded I am from my high school experiences in honors and AP classes, but thankful that I have managed to not hold this against my students.  It isn't their fault... well, it is some of their fault.  Like the kid that admitted to us that he wasn't paying attention, and that is why he got a 7/30 on his open book test.  I said to him, "you couldn't have even looked for the answers in the book?  I mean, really, at least learn how to fake it."  I should know, I was an expert at "faking it" and "b.s." in both high school and college.  Uh... I mean... I was an excellent student...

Now, onto my titular topic.  My freshmen class has been unbearably immature lately.  We're talking  paper throwing, giggling, poking, calling out, etc levels of immaturity.  Which has caused me to compare them to the first and second graders that I tutor, because I go through a pretty similar situation on a daily basis with them, too.  So, you ask, who wins?  I have two second graders that are definitely more mature than four or five of my freshmen.  Thankfully, the other 15 of my freshmen are reasonably more mature... but only three impress me with their maturity (interestingly enough, they are all girls).  One kid is so bad, he was suspended from school, but I am also pretty sure that he has ADHD.  

Next week, we are doing a lesson plan that I created myself.  I hope it goes well.

Entry #15 - Halloween Memories

My mom made most of my costumes as a child, so I always had really unique ones.  My favorite was Halloween was kind of a weird one for me, because my brother was really sick and couldn't go with my mom and me.

For the costumes this particular year, we did a Super Mario theme.  My mom was Luigi, my brother was going to be Mario, and I was Princess Peach.  I still remember the feel of the stuff, felt "hair" my mom made, and how it was bright yellow.  My mom looked so funny in her green Luigi outfit, but it was perfect, just like everything she made for us.  And, it was a very special Halloween, since it was just my mom and me.

Down my parents' street a little but was this old tree we called "stinky tree" because, well, it smelled awful.  Every year on Halloween, we would avoid this house, like all of the other children, because of the smell.  It only smelled bad around this time of year, too, and my mom said that it was because of the flowers that bloomed on it.  That tree is gone, now.

Halloween was always so cold by my parents' house.  Wearing that little pink dress, I am sure I was freezing, but I never would say a word to be sure that my mom didn't take me home.  My mom collected candy that year for my brother, and I have so many memories of the "plunk" of candy falling into my bucket, before we switched to pillow cases to get more candy.  

I just realized how random the "stinky tree" paragraph looks.  Whatever.  

Entry #14 - People I Can Count On

Sometimes, I am not sure who I have to count on.  Most of the people I have trusted deeply or held as my closest friends have hurt me in one way or another too severely to forgive.  Although I have a lot of friends, there are few I would ask much from.

When I think of people I can count on, my parents and my brother are the ones that really come to mind immediately.  My parents have always been the most supportive people in my life, and I know they will always be there for me when I need them.  The same goes for my brother, although it hasn't always been that way.  In April, though, when I was scared of what my future would bring, my brother was there to help m,e and made me feel like everything was going to be okay.

The other person I know I can count on for anything is my boyfriend - and yes, I do realize that sounds cheesy and gag-worthy.  The guarded, scared, and damaged little girl side of me hesitates to say that, but in my heart I know how honest he is, and he has shown me everyday that he will be there for me, and that together, we can get through anything.  Of course, that scared, guarded side of me hopes I don't eat those words in the future.