October is always such a long month. In college, I had fall break which was usually 3 days off in the middle of October. In high school, we don't have a fall break. Actually, there are NO breaks in October. It's a very long month for teaching with nothing to look forward to. In my opinion, November goes by much faster because we have 3 weeks until Thanksgiving (one of my favorite Holidays!!).
Why do I think Thanksgiving is so great?! First of all, the food is always fantastic! Turkey, mashed potatoes, pumpkin pie, stuffing.. I could go on forever!! Secondly, I love when my big family gets together. Usually we are able to put the drama aside and enjoy each others company. Being with my family is very important to me. Lastly, Thanksgiving begins the holiday shopping season! (What girl doesn't love shopping!?)
This year, J and I are traveling to his parents house for Thanksgiving. This will be the first big holiday J and I are spending together! I can't wait spend Thanksgiving with his family because they are great southern cooks and the atmosphere there is a lot more relaxed than my crazy family.
School is going well. We are half way through the first semester! Nothing, too exciting to post about but here are some highlights...
** someone pulled my safety shower and flooded my classroom floor. A big fear for many teachers turned into a great story for me! Im glad I am able to laugh about it now.
** grades are closed for Quarter one.. I am procrastinating grading by writing this blog post
** a former student told one of my former colleagues that I inspired her to become a physical science teacher! I must have done at least one thing right last year.
Until next time..
Sunday, October 31, 2010
Tuesday, October 12, 2010
Formal Observation
So every teacher has to go through the dreaded "Formal observation".. It's the 30 minutes of ONE class that the principal comes to observe and makes judgments on whether you are on the right track or need some more guidance.
I had my formal observation on Monday and let me tell you, I WAS NERVOUS! Last year I never got nervous for observations. I think that was because the standards at my old school were a lot lower. In other words, as long as my objective was posted, my students weren't stabbing each other or selling drugs during class, and they were actually doing something (or pretending to do something) then I was most likely going to get a satisfactory. At my new school, I feel like there is a lot more pressure to reach every student, assess every student and to make sure every student is reaching the objective. Furthermore if a student doesn't reach the objective how do you know and what do you do about it?! Its just a lot to think about and do! (especially for 170 students). Anyways, I was nervous. I really like this school and I wanted to impress the principal.
My principal was observing the last 30 minutes of my 2nd period Forensics class. Of course, my weakness is closure and timing lessons perfectly so that we don't have extra time at the end of class. However, I made sure to have an engaging lab that the students were working on when he walked in and then we had a discussion on the lab after we cleaned up and I had formal assessment of the students to find out who understood the lab and who didn't. Everything went well but I couldn't get a read on Mr. K's face. It must have gone really well because this morning on announcements, Mr. K said "Ms. Macary's class was well instructed and very engaging. Please congratulate her on a job well done"!! WOO HOO! It felt so good to get positive recognition. I am having a post observation meeting with him tomorrow so I can't wait to hear is feed back!
Until Next time..
I had my formal observation on Monday and let me tell you, I WAS NERVOUS! Last year I never got nervous for observations. I think that was because the standards at my old school were a lot lower. In other words, as long as my objective was posted, my students weren't stabbing each other or selling drugs during class, and they were actually doing something (or pretending to do something) then I was most likely going to get a satisfactory. At my new school, I feel like there is a lot more pressure to reach every student, assess every student and to make sure every student is reaching the objective. Furthermore if a student doesn't reach the objective how do you know and what do you do about it?! Its just a lot to think about and do! (especially for 170 students). Anyways, I was nervous. I really like this school and I wanted to impress the principal.
My principal was observing the last 30 minutes of my 2nd period Forensics class. Of course, my weakness is closure and timing lessons perfectly so that we don't have extra time at the end of class. However, I made sure to have an engaging lab that the students were working on when he walked in and then we had a discussion on the lab after we cleaned up and I had formal assessment of the students to find out who understood the lab and who didn't. Everything went well but I couldn't get a read on Mr. K's face. It must have gone really well because this morning on announcements, Mr. K said "Ms. Macary's class was well instructed and very engaging. Please congratulate her on a job well done"!! WOO HOO! It felt so good to get positive recognition. I am having a post observation meeting with him tomorrow so I can't wait to hear is feed back!
Until Next time..
Monday, October 4, 2010
My favorite time of year..
I absolutely LOVE LOVE LOVE the season of fall for many reasons. The smell of the fall spices like nutmeg and allspice, carving pumpkins, going through corn mazes, making scarecrows, halloween (and being motivated to loose weight to fit into a costume), good food, pumpkin pie, cooler weather, the changing color of leaves.. There are just so many things!! Who wouldn't love this time of year?!
Although the days are getting shorter and there isn't as much day light when I get home from work, I am now into the school routine. I think most of the kids at school are also getting into the routine. October is always a great month for school. The students know what they can and can't get away with now so they aren't testing me as much. It's nice to have students who don't try to use their cell phones because they know what is going to happen if I see it. Or students who automatically take their hat off before coming to my class because they know I am going to ask them to take it off.
I know I talk a lot about how much I enjoy my new school but I have to brag a little bit more about it. Today we had a staff meeting and I learned that we made AYP (U.S and State Standards) for the 6th year in a row!! It is so nice to be part of a school that is making improvements. Our principal was talking about how proud he is of where we are vs where we came from (apparently this school was not so great a few years ago).
Now not everything is sunshine and roses around here.. I enjoy teaching 5 out of 6 of my classes... but there is JUST ONE class that drives me crazy. I don't know why I let these kids get to me but it always does. It takes me sooo long to get them quiet so that I can talk and a lot of them don't care that they are being rude they would rather talk over me. Long story short, I have a lot of parents to be calling tomorrow. UGH!
Anyway, my Forensic classes have been going really well. A good friend of mine, Kasey, came and talked to my classes about working in the field. THEY LOVED HER! First of all they were like "WOAH that hot girl actually touches dead bodies!?" and then they were like "she was sooo cool she cussed in front of us!"(she said shit... haha!). It was a great experience and I am so glad she was able to do it. In one week, I have my formal observation by my principal during Forensics. This observation is really important because it will help him decide whether or not they want to ask me back next year. Hopefully my forensic kids will do well. I will let you know how it goes!
Until next time...
Although the days are getting shorter and there isn't as much day light when I get home from work, I am now into the school routine. I think most of the kids at school are also getting into the routine. October is always a great month for school. The students know what they can and can't get away with now so they aren't testing me as much. It's nice to have students who don't try to use their cell phones because they know what is going to happen if I see it. Or students who automatically take their hat off before coming to my class because they know I am going to ask them to take it off.
I know I talk a lot about how much I enjoy my new school but I have to brag a little bit more about it. Today we had a staff meeting and I learned that we made AYP (U.S and State Standards) for the 6th year in a row!! It is so nice to be part of a school that is making improvements. Our principal was talking about how proud he is of where we are vs where we came from (apparently this school was not so great a few years ago).
Now not everything is sunshine and roses around here.. I enjoy teaching 5 out of 6 of my classes... but there is JUST ONE class that drives me crazy. I don't know why I let these kids get to me but it always does. It takes me sooo long to get them quiet so that I can talk and a lot of them don't care that they are being rude they would rather talk over me. Long story short, I have a lot of parents to be calling tomorrow. UGH!
Anyway, my Forensic classes have been going really well. A good friend of mine, Kasey, came and talked to my classes about working in the field. THEY LOVED HER! First of all they were like "WOAH that hot girl actually touches dead bodies!?" and then they were like "she was sooo cool she cussed in front of us!"(she said shit... haha!). It was a great experience and I am so glad she was able to do it. In one week, I have my formal observation by my principal during Forensics. This observation is really important because it will help him decide whether or not they want to ask me back next year. Hopefully my forensic kids will do well. I will let you know how it goes!
Until next time...
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