Some effects of teaching...
1. Over the holidays, we've been playing games galore. When I was playing Set and Sudoku with my brother, I found myself saying, "good" quite often, assuring him he was doing it right (he's still new) as if he was a student learning a new concept.
2. I get "walk it out" in my head.
3. I get a little excited when I am watching a movie and I found out that someone is a teacher. (ex: Family Stone, Amy)
4. I have a harder time being still. I feel like I should be grading or planning or something.
5. I'm always tired.
6. I have more patience (for some things). I explain things better and more thoroughly.
7. I have no life.
a. Conversations with most friends, who are mostly teachers, mostly revolve around one
thing...
b. I get excited doing little things that have absolutely nothing to do with teaching, such as
1. Shooting cans off hammock posts with a b b gun
2. sudoku
3. chasing the dog
4. cooking/baking anything
Tuesday, December 26, 2006
Respect and Motivation
All of the required blog topics (minus the first one) are questions without answers. We all know that. Some things work for some teacher with some students, while it doesn't work for others. I'll do my best to give a few tips, but I know now more than ever that I am certainly not any kind of expert in this area.
How do you get respect from students? Well, the first obvious response would be "Give them respect." Be consistent. Stay firm, but flexible. Show you care. It's all said too often, but it really is true. Students know when teachers actually respect them and when they don't...it doesn't matter your style. The teacher across the hall from me always puts my classroom to shame, as far as classroom management goes. It's always quiet. Students are always working in some way, and she's got it totally under control. I was talking to one especially sweet student who was saying she was scared of her...but at the same time she likes her. She likes her cuz she knows she cares. She knows she is firm and "mean" because that's the way to control the the typical student at our school. On the other hand, our band director, I have heard, has some major respect issues. Band directors, I feel, are at an advantage because students can actually have "fun" doing what they want to do in that class. They love music. I loved band. I loved taking a break from class after class...getting to play music with others. Yet, our band director struggles. Why? Hmmm.... they don't respect him. Why? I could make some hypotheses, but I really have no idea. Perhaps he just isn't firm enough. Maybe he is disorganized. Most likely, he doesn't show he cares (or maybe he doesn't care).
Next question...how do we keep students motivated? Another tough question with no real answer. It depends on each classroom, each student...whether he or she is actually interested in the material or interested in getting good grades or interested in passing the class just so she can graduate. That last example holds true for many of my students. Students have to have Geometry to graduate, but Trig is just purely an elective. The majority of the Trig students really could give a flying flip. They wanted it to be easy, with little to no work, just so they can have it on their transcript and get an easy A. They're "tired," they've had all the math they need, they have a senior project to work on, and Trig is the lowest on the priorities. I cannot motivate them. Or, I guess to not be utterly negative, I haven't figured out how to motivate them. Another suggestion would be to always act like you love what you're teaching. You hear that all the time...but they have to think you live for this stuff. My students think that I do math all the freaking time. They think I have no life. They think I'm a geek, a genius, and "too smart to teach." All of this, of course, is absurd, but hey, if it helps just a few stick with it, then I've done my job. I'd rather be a geeky math teacher to them than a cool young teacher who they can hang with. I try to stay approachable, but I'm too close to their age to get too close to them. What do you think?
One more response to "What do you think about blogging?" Honestly, it feels more contrived. I can't get out what I want to, and I feel like I'm being redundant. I doubt many people read this anymore anyway, and I don't say anything very profound. Still, I've always though of it more of a release for myself and so the people I am close to can understand a little about what's going on in my life. People get tired of hearing about school all the time, but really, it is our life. By blogging, we can express ourselves and others can read it, if they want to.
How do you get respect from students? Well, the first obvious response would be "Give them respect." Be consistent. Stay firm, but flexible. Show you care. It's all said too often, but it really is true. Students know when teachers actually respect them and when they don't...it doesn't matter your style. The teacher across the hall from me always puts my classroom to shame, as far as classroom management goes. It's always quiet. Students are always working in some way, and she's got it totally under control. I was talking to one especially sweet student who was saying she was scared of her...but at the same time she likes her. She likes her cuz she knows she cares. She knows she is firm and "mean" because that's the way to control the the typical student at our school. On the other hand, our band director, I have heard, has some major respect issues. Band directors, I feel, are at an advantage because students can actually have "fun" doing what they want to do in that class. They love music. I loved band. I loved taking a break from class after class...getting to play music with others. Yet, our band director struggles. Why? Hmmm.... they don't respect him. Why? I could make some hypotheses, but I really have no idea. Perhaps he just isn't firm enough. Maybe he is disorganized. Most likely, he doesn't show he cares (or maybe he doesn't care).
Next question...how do we keep students motivated? Another tough question with no real answer. It depends on each classroom, each student...whether he or she is actually interested in the material or interested in getting good grades or interested in passing the class just so she can graduate. That last example holds true for many of my students. Students have to have Geometry to graduate, but Trig is just purely an elective. The majority of the Trig students really could give a flying flip. They wanted it to be easy, with little to no work, just so they can have it on their transcript and get an easy A. They're "tired," they've had all the math they need, they have a senior project to work on, and Trig is the lowest on the priorities. I cannot motivate them. Or, I guess to not be utterly negative, I haven't figured out how to motivate them. Another suggestion would be to always act like you love what you're teaching. You hear that all the time...but they have to think you live for this stuff. My students think that I do math all the freaking time. They think I have no life. They think I'm a geek, a genius, and "too smart to teach." All of this, of course, is absurd, but hey, if it helps just a few stick with it, then I've done my job. I'd rather be a geeky math teacher to them than a cool young teacher who they can hang with. I try to stay approachable, but I'm too close to their age to get too close to them. What do you think?
One more response to "What do you think about blogging?" Honestly, it feels more contrived. I can't get out what I want to, and I feel like I'm being redundant. I doubt many people read this anymore anyway, and I don't say anything very profound. Still, I've always though of it more of a release for myself and so the people I am close to can understand a little about what's going on in my life. People get tired of hearing about school all the time, but really, it is our life. By blogging, we can express ourselves and others can read it, if they want to.
Sunday, December 03, 2006
Back from Thanksgiving...and ready for Christmas
Last week I wanted to not work at my school four out of the five days. What made me happy and kept me going? Knowing my brother is at home and that I might be teaching next year in Indiana, living with my grandmother. But that 5th day...Friday...was the first time in a long while that I actually wanted to keep doing what I'm doing...I saw again the willingness to learn, kindness and goodness in others, that makes me love some of these kids... so here are some of the highlights of the week back from Thanksgiving...
1. One of my students talked to me after class, apologizing for her poor behavior (and not paying attention or trying in class), saying she's been having a hard time. She showed me her face- huge welt on the top of forehead and a bruise on her cheek- that was from her father's baby. I was sympathetic, telling her she would have to stay after another day so that I could work with her. I even felt the need to hug her. But really...what can you do? What can you say?
2. Two of our students' mothers passed away this week, one from an enlarged heart and the other from being in the wrong place at the wrong time. I'm sure others have heard about the black boys from Yazoo and the white boys from Belzoni...to make a long story short, the white boys were "getting back" at the black boys and were gonna shoot their tail lights out. So they shot at a car they thought was the Yazoo boys, and the bullet went right through the backseat and into the back of a mother from Belzoni. Students collected money for both of these families Friday, and the students and faculty alike were amazingly generous.
3. Geometry has gotten better...although I don't feel like I'm really teaching all the time, just drilling them. I need to work on that. But...students are doing their work, paying attention, and all but 6 passed the last (freaking easy) quiz.
4. Trig kids drive me crazy daily. With the exception of 5, the rest could care less to be in there. I have to fight and yell every day to get them to do anything. Friday was better, though.
5. Algebra II were simply adorable Thursday and Friday, diligently working on their Linear Programming worksheets, helping each other understand, asking me over and over to check their work, trying to correct their mistakes. They get it, so they want to do it.
On a totally unrelated school note: we have a beautiful 12 foot christmas tree again that we (again) got from south of Jackson and had sticking out of my accord all the way back home. It's fully decorated, and our living room has those "old school" lights. It's silly, but it makes us all happy.
1. One of my students talked to me after class, apologizing for her poor behavior (and not paying attention or trying in class), saying she's been having a hard time. She showed me her face- huge welt on the top of forehead and a bruise on her cheek- that was from her father's baby. I was sympathetic, telling her she would have to stay after another day so that I could work with her. I even felt the need to hug her. But really...what can you do? What can you say?
2. Two of our students' mothers passed away this week, one from an enlarged heart and the other from being in the wrong place at the wrong time. I'm sure others have heard about the black boys from Yazoo and the white boys from Belzoni...to make a long story short, the white boys were "getting back" at the black boys and were gonna shoot their tail lights out. So they shot at a car they thought was the Yazoo boys, and the bullet went right through the backseat and into the back of a mother from Belzoni. Students collected money for both of these families Friday, and the students and faculty alike were amazingly generous.
3. Geometry has gotten better...although I don't feel like I'm really teaching all the time, just drilling them. I need to work on that. But...students are doing their work, paying attention, and all but 6 passed the last (freaking easy) quiz.
4. Trig kids drive me crazy daily. With the exception of 5, the rest could care less to be in there. I have to fight and yell every day to get them to do anything. Friday was better, though.
5. Algebra II were simply adorable Thursday and Friday, diligently working on their Linear Programming worksheets, helping each other understand, asking me over and over to check their work, trying to correct their mistakes. They get it, so they want to do it.
On a totally unrelated school note: we have a beautiful 12 foot christmas tree again that we (again) got from south of Jackson and had sticking out of my accord all the way back home. It's fully decorated, and our living room has those "old school" lights. It's silly, but it makes us all happy.
Last week I wanted to not work at my school four out of the five days. What made me happy and kept me going? Knowing my brother is at home and that I might be teaching next year in Indiana, living with my grandmother. But that 5th day...Friday...was the first time in a long while that I actually wanted to keep doing what I'm doing...I saw again the willingness to learn, kindness and goodness in others, that makes me love some of these kids... so here are some of the highlights of the week back from Thanksgiving...
1. One of my students talked to me after class, apologizing for her poor behavior (and not paying attention or trying in class), saying she's been having a hard time. She showed me her face- huge welt on the top of forehead and a bruise on her cheek- that was from her father's baby. I was sympathetic, telling her she would have to stay after another day so that I could work with her. I even felt the need to hug her. But really...what can you do? What can you say?
2. Two of our students' mothers passed away this week, one from an enlarged heart and the other from being in the wrong place at the wrong time. I'm sure others have heard about the black boys from Yazoo and the white boys from Belzoni...to make a long story short, the white boys were "getting back" at the black boys and were gonna shoot their tail lights out. So they shot at a car they thought was the Yazoo boys, and the bullet went right through the backseat and into the back of a mother from Belzoni. Students collected money for both of these families Friday, and the students and faculty alike were amazingly generous.
3. Geometry has gotten better...although I don't feel like I'm really teaching all the time, just drilling them. I need to work on that. But...students are doing their work, paying attention, and all but 6 passed the last (freaking easy) quiz.
4. Trig kids drive me crazy daily. With the exception of 5, the rest could care less to be in there. I have to fight and yell every day to get them to do anything. Friday was better, though.
5. Algebra II were simply adorable Thursday and Friday, diligently working on their Linear Programming worksheets, helping each other understand, asking me over and over to check their work, trying to correct their mistakes. They get it, so they want to do it.
On a totally unrelated school note: we have a beautiful 12 foot christmas tree again that we (again) got from south of Jackson and had sticking out of my accord all the way back home. It's fully decorated, and our living room has those "old school" lights. It's silly, but it makes us all happy.
1. One of my students talked to me after class, apologizing for her poor behavior (and not paying attention or trying in class), saying she's been having a hard time. She showed me her face- huge welt on the top of forehead and a bruise on her cheek- that was from her father's baby. I was sympathetic, telling her she would have to stay after another day so that I could work with her. I even felt the need to hug her. But really...what can you do? What can you say?
2. Two of our students' mothers passed away this week, one from an enlarged heart and the other from being in the wrong place at the wrong time. I'm sure others have heard about the black boys from Yazoo and the white boys from Belzoni...to make a long story short, the white boys were "getting back" at the black boys and were gonna shoot their tail lights out. So they shot at a car they thought was the Yazoo boys, and the bullet went right through the backseat and into the back of a mother from Belzoni. Students collected money for both of these families Friday, and the students and faculty alike were amazingly generous.
3. Geometry has gotten better...although I don't feel like I'm really teaching all the time, just drilling them. I need to work on that. But...students are doing their work, paying attention, and all but 6 passed the last (freaking easy) quiz.
4. Trig kids drive me crazy daily. With the exception of 5, the rest could care less to be in there. I have to fight and yell every day to get them to do anything. Friday was better, though.
5. Algebra II were simply adorable Thursday and Friday, diligently working on their Linear Programming worksheets, helping each other understand, asking me over and over to check their work, trying to correct their mistakes. They get it, so they want to do it.
On a totally unrelated school note: we have a beautiful 12 foot christmas tree again that we (again) got from south of Jackson and had sticking out of my accord all the way back home. It's fully decorated, and our living room has those "old school" lights. It's silly, but it makes us all happy.
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