From: Unknown

I reflect on my days as a teacher and some days I question if I'm good enough.  Yesterday, I received a little token of appreciation from a student.  It was nicely wrapped in printer paper and decorated with markers.  Inside, there was a book....The Happy Book! I was so excited!  I didn't even know this book existed!  However, I was so overjoyed that one of my students thought enough of me to get it for me.

I wonder how did they now I'd need this book today?  Today was ROUGH, but we made it through.  I never found out who gave me the book, but I thanked each class!

Educationally Yours,
T.W.T

It's been a while!

A few weeks have come and gone since my last post.  I've been super tired and busy with testing for the last two weeks.  Testing weeks are always hard, because our kids have to take rigorous State Assessments, and still have their academic classes in the afternoon.  This means that I have to proctor tests all morning, then teach in the afternoon.  The kids brains are fried by the time they see me.

Do you believe in magic?  Maybe not, but our kids do!  You would be amazed at what kids still believe if you make them.  100% attendance during testing is a dream.  This means no make ups and all test are collected and returned.  Our school was fortunate enough to have very little make ups.  As I finished taking attendances, I realized that two of my students didn't come yet.  I told the others to give their desk some shine, and they'll show up and will be able to take their test.  They gave the desk some shine, and low and behold in walks one of the students. The kids eyes lit up like Christmas trees and looked at me with such amazement.  I had no idea that she would show up.  I just knew I needed to say something positive about her absence.  The other student walked in within the next 3 minutes.  Now, my kids believe that we have the power to help our classmates get to school when they are not there.

What else do the believe about me?  When I think about this journey, I realize that it is all magical. I teach kids things that they wouldn't otherwise know.  I give them hope when they don't have it.  I can also take that hope away IF I'm not using my powers positively.  I shape young minds and help them realize their potential.  My kids often surprise me with the things they can do.  We ask, "do THEY expect US to perform a miracle".  Then answer is now yes....  Our kids expect us to perform miracles, because they believe we can.

Educationally Yours,
T.W.T 

Tag Team!

If you could have two of anything, what would it be?  Everything, right?  In most cases, two is better than one!

I'm currently on Spring break, but I had the opportunity to do some tutoring at school.  I team taught with another teacher and it felt great!  I wondered what would education be like if all schools implemented a team teaching model.

Some teachers are stronger in different content areas.  I've taught grades K-3, and science was never my favorite subject to teach.  We're not going to talk about the rock experiment!  I loved teaching math and reading.  Having a partner who loved teaching science and social studies would been much more effective.

So much can get accomplished by having two strong teachers in the classroom.  Let's face it, class size isn't getting any smaller.  Therefore, the more adult bodies in a room, the merrier.

Behavior management would be a breeze.  Teachers would never have to stop instruction to address behavior issues.  A realistic expectation for small groups can be made, and actually implemented.  Differentiated instruction and independent work time would be a dream!

If I was ever so fortunate to open my own school, team teaching would be my first initiative!

Educationally Yours,
T.W.T

Trayvon Martin in my class...

Trayvon Martin

I've questioned if and when I should speak to my students about this.  My first instinct was to jump on this and start talking to them about this, however, I had to stop and ask myself three questions.

1. What does this look like in my room?
2. What does this sound like in my room?
3. What does this FEEL like in my room?

Questions 1-2 will generate a particular FEELING, and that's where I want to be careful.

I have a lot of students that look like me.  I have students who look like Trayvon.  I even have students who look like George Zimmerman.  Believe it or not, I'm more concerned with my students who look like George Zimmerman.  Here's why.  My students are at the age where they are making all kinds of generalization about life, based on what's being done and said around them.  They will internalize any emotion that this conversation may evoke.  I don't want my kids to FEEL that their classmates feel a  certain way about them, or that their TEACHER feels a certain way about them, because of the horrible choice George Zimmerman made that day.

I was in fifth grade during Operation Desert Storm.  I went to an Islamic School at the time.  I was not worried about our country losing a war.  I wasn't worried about soldiers or yellow flags.  I was worried about my friends from Iraq not wanting to be friends with me anymore, because I was American.

I haven't fully figured out how to speak about this, without clear and evident emotional attachment.  I have to be objective.   I have talked to one of my boys about how we are judged.  I explained to him that I wouldn't want anything to happen to them, simply because he was judged by how he's DRESSED.

I want this conversation to be much more meaningful than "black unarmed boy gun downed, by white/hispanic male".  I want this to be about the injustice.  Most of my kids' family fled from a country that was full of injustice, and now this.... I want the conversation to be about how we should be cautious, but not quick to judge and demonize others.  I want them to know that regardless of his skin color, Trayvon did not deserve to die. I want them to know that regardless of his skin color, George Zimmerman should be in jail.

I'm going to have a conversation with my Principal about how do we bring this awareness as a SCHOOL. This has to be more than teachers saying this in one classroom, and something else in another classroom.

So, there it is.  I have't talked to them.  This doesn't mean that I will not.  This means that I want it to be appropriate and meaningful.

Educationally Yours,
T.W.T

What I learned from a SECOND grader!

I was teaching my class when somebody from the office staff told me to step out to meet my new student.  I thought to myself, "oh Lord, ANOTHER NEW student".  It was common in this particular district to get a new student in the middle of April, with less than two months left in the academic year.  Reluctantly, I went out and saw this the smallest second grader ever!  He was full of tears.  He was holding on to his mother's legs for dear life.  I introduced myself to him, and his mother told me his name.  He didn't speak a word.  I tell parents to leave crying kids, because the longer the stay, the more they cry.  I took him into the classroom, and showed him to his desk.  I went to my desk and I started working on something.  Did I mention I was a terrible teacher that year?  I don't even own a desk now.  About 10 minutes later, I hear some sniffling behind me.  I turned around, and it was HIM!!  I said, "you're STILL crying?"  How long are you going to cry.  He informed me until his mother came to pick him up.  I said OH NO BUDDY!  My principal knew that I was not going to let him cry ALL day.  I ended up tuning him out after a while.

Dismissal!  Yes, the cry baby is going HOME!  He returned the next day, still crying.  I asked him, "when was the last time you've been to school?".  He said, "a long time".  Well, a long time to a 7 year old could mean ANYTHING.  I said well, if I've been off work for "a long" time and had to go back, I'd probably cry too.  He finally stop crying long enough for me to test his reading.  Surprisingly, he was a GREAT reader!  He was breezing through each level with ease.  He didn't cry any more that day, but I was the only person he would talk to.   He was the most articulate second grader I ever met.  I thought he only spoke cry, but he spoke English very well.   The day ended and this time he gave me a hug and ran to his brother.

After about a week, his personality started to shine.  He was the most caring, respectful, happy, and excited second grader I knew.  He was happy to come to school once he realized it was "ok".  He was always excited and smiling showing off his missing front teeth.  He was excited when he saw his older brother, he was excited when he saw his younger brother, he was excited when he saw his mother, and he was even excited when he saw me.  I mentioned to his mother that he is always excited, and he really makes me smile. We both laughed about how he cried on his first day.  She mentioned that he's always  thankful for whatever she does.  She cooked eggs, and he'd say "YAY EGGS!!" 

Not only was my little cry baby excited and grateful, he was homeless.  At the end of the day, he went to a home that was provided for him.  He wore clothes that were donated to him.  But, he came to school every day with his head held high and a smile on his face.  

I think about him a lot when I have bad days.  I hope he's still that same happy little boy.  

Educationally Yours,

T.W.T

Tray 1 or Tray 4?

It's only Tuesday, but I feel like it's Thursday!  Teacher work HARD!  Today was a good day.  I started the day very sleepy, but still had enough energy to do what I do best (according to me).

Teaching middle school students can be tough.  I've taught kindergarden, second grade, and third grade.  They all are different and tough in some way.  However, middle school is when kids are getting to know who they are and what they will and will not stand for.  So they think...  However, I walked in on a 7th grade class yesterday and was quite intrigued by what I heard.  The teacher was obviously upset.  I only caught the tail end of the conversation, but I did catch, "you haven't learned anything, because you talk too much".  I heard more that I will not repeat.  I was curious as to how the conversation started.  Did the kids complain about not learning?  I always tell my kids to be mad about failing, or about not learning.  Did somebody tell these kids this before?  Were they trying to take a stance, or be disruptive?  I didn't ask any questions, because the situation seemed pretty tensed.  But, we have to teach kids to stand up for the right things.  Teach them to not be a disruptive force, but an effective force against what isn't working for them.

I'll say it.  I absoutuley, under no circumstance, do not like copy machines!!  As copy machines become more technologically advance, they become public enemy #1 to teachers! I often envision myself pulling an "Office Space" on the copy machine in my school.

Today it was the projector!  The projector's bulb when out.  My kids had to learn in a way that they may have never learned before.  I had to write on the board, as they copied and worked hard at listening. Technology was not my friend today!

Educationally Yours,
T.W.T

Are you Smarter Than a 5th Grader? I'm Not.... o_O

Sometimes kids have to know that everything is going to be "ok".  Sometimes my kids get so worked up, and I just have to give that "It'll be ok, I promise", and they calm down.  I took my iPad to school a few weeks ago, and one of my students touched it.  The other kids got so worked up! I explained to them that it was "ok", and it was not a big deal at all.  Just don't drop it!  A student touched the document camera yesterday.  He was actually trying to fix it, and another adult got super worked up.  He started pleading his case, and I told him "It's ok", I understand that he was just fixing it.  I want my students to understand that material things mean absolutely nothing to me.  They are going to be super curious if they see something they don't see often.  They are going to touch things.  They are going to "fix" things.  I remember being a kid, and I wanted to touch the copy machine so bad.  I wanted to staple papers.  I wanted to write under the over head projector on what I called "plastic paper".  And when I did those things, my teachers let me know that it was "ok".

I was driving home after hanging out with a few of my coworkers, and I heard the adhan, the islamic call to prayer.  I immediately went back to being a fifth grader.  I went to a private islamic school for a year.  My father always dreamed of sending me there, and he finally had the means to to do.  This was during his final year with us.  I hardly ever think about my fifth grade year, because that was a difficult time in my life.  However, I thought about it today and tried to remember some of my teachers.  I remembered two.  One, who taught me to speak just a little bit of Arabic, and another who used to let me spend the night at her house on the weekends.  I remembered nothing about my homeroom teacher, except her name.  I didn't remember any of her instructional or management strategies.  I didn't remember anything I learned.  I quote things I learning in 3rd grade all of the time, but nothing from fifth grade.  I talk about how I got a lot of my management ideas from my fourth grade teacher, but nothing from fifth grade.  Although I was going through a difficult time, I can't say my fifth grade teacher impacted me in any way.  I wonder what my kids are going to remember about me.  Am I making an impact?  We don't see the impact right away.  It's when they're 31 and writing a blog that you find out how much of an impact you made, or lack thereof.  Realizing that Sister C didn't make much of an impact in my life, I now understand why I'm not smarter than a 5th grader!

I won't see the kids tomorrow, because we have professional development.  I sure hope they complete their homework!

Educationally Your.
T.W.T

Party of the YEAR!

Yesterday one of my students was severally distracted by playing with lanyard string.  I'm one of those teachers that throw things like this into the trash as soon as I find it.  I actually slam dunk it in the trash if you're playing with it while I'm TEACHING.  Needless to say, everything spiraled out of control after that.  She asked me for her lanyard at the end of the class, and I explained to her that I threw it in the trash.  She rushed out of my room in RAGE!  

The kids on my block love to talk to me and my dog.  Yes, they speak to my dog by name every time they see her.  I doubt if they even know my name.  One little boy informed me that he was selling lanyard.  He was selling it by the foot!  However, I had to explain to him that 6 feet of lanyard would be taller than me, so I doubt if it's that long.  He and another little girl that he was in competition with wanted to cut me a deal on how much I could buy for less.  His selling point was that his was already made.  Her selling point was that I might not like his design, and I could make my own with hers.  I was AMAZED.  These kids were really selling this lanyard.  I actually thought about what would be the be option for me.  I don't know how to start it, so I went with the pre-made option.  I decided that I was going to purchase both.  I put my dog in the house and came back out with 4 singles.  My plans was to give both of them $2.  Well, according to one boy, the girl got so frustrated, that she went in the house.  So that left the boy to make all of the money.  I gave him the $2, he gave me the "cobra", and I took the rest to the bodega to get ice cream...a small cup of Haagen Daz.  

The Middle School Dance!

The dance was a big hit!  The kids were SO EXCITED!  The DJ played all of their favorite songs....mine too! I told the DJ that he was great, but not to quit his day job, because I'm not so sure he could be replaced!  We had the typical "too cool for school" dudes standing on the wall.  However, a lot of the kids actually danced. They got cool favors, snacks, and to hang out with their friends.  This done all in the name of READING!  As we teach students that reading is a life long necessity, we should encourage them to set goals for their reading, and give incentives when they meet those goals.  Students don't like reading, because the feeling it's "boring".  However, reading can be fun when they have something to look forward to.  We worried all week that the kids would think the school dance would be lame.  However, I know this will be the number one topic of conversation tomorrow.  I suggested we have a dance every Friday!

Educationally Yours,
T.W.T

Pork Chops and Applesauce

I didn't get a chance to write yesterday, because I was too busy researching illegal apartments.  I have reason to believe I'm living in an illegal apartment!!

Today we had not one, but two false alarms.   We were transitioning and the fire alarm went off.  I made the kids do an about-face to head down the stairs.  We were told that it was a false alarm just as we entered the stairwell. There was a sigh of relief in my heart, because it was raining outside.  The alarm went off again later in the day, and I said "is this real?"  I started to take kids out of math and led them to the stairwell...nope, false alarm.  I couldn't stop laughing!  I thought about the very first fire drill I experienced. I was in Kindergarden, and I was attending a school named Goldberg.  My teacher explained to the class that we were going to have a fire drill, and that it was NOT a real fire.  Well, just say fire to a bunch of 5 year olds and all they will hear is FIRE!  She also explained to us that we could not go to our lockers, because we had to get out of the building fast.  Well, that infamous fire alarm went off, and out came a bunch of screaming 5 year olds.  I of course attempted to get my things from my locker.  Our school was under contraction and there were ladders in front of our lockers.  I remember jumping through the ladder and screaming, while trying to get my coat.  I wonder what my teacher was thinking.  If she was anything like me, she wasn't very happy with the total chaos.  I'm proud of my handling the false alarm today!


Easel Weasel Bo-beasel....

We received easels this week.  An easel can make modeling a lesson with anchor charts so much easier.  I also received a 1 page email explaining how to use the easel...o_O

Is School Fun?


I question if we are creating this false sense of reality that school is "fun".  I'm on the fence when it comes to school being fun.  What is a kid's idea of fun?  Is school even apart of their scope of fun?  As teachers, we get caught between teaching standards and being able to have "fun".  School is much more interactive than it used to be, but I don't now about fun.  Lessons should be engaging and kids should be interacting in a shared learning model, but how much fun can we really incorporate?  I have to think about pacing, delivering, and assessing.  Where is the fun?  I'm going to think about this a little more, and deliver a better argument.....

Pork Chops and Applesauce

Can you say that like Bobby?  They added applesauce to today's snack.  They didn't have any extras, so I didn't get a snack :(


Educationally yours,
T.W.T

My LAST Nerve!

Today was a typical middle school day.  We got our test scores back, and my kids demonstrated a lot of growth in reading.  One of my students was so excited about her score, that she literally ran down the hall and told EVERYBODY she came in contact with!  There is nothing more rewarding than seeing a student excited about excelling.  Kids want to know that they're doing well.

I realize that there are two kind of people in this world.  People who want to be effective, and people who are effective.  People who WANT to be effective are so focused on wanting to be effective, that they don't understand the art of being effective.  They do thing that aren't practical, therefore aren't very effective.  People who ARE effective, have a practical way of doing things.  They understand that you can only solve one problem at a time.  However, IF you are proactive as opposed to reactive, you will not have to do much problem solving.  People who WANT to be effective "solve" problems, with smaller problems, that will later be a bigger problem.  People who WANT to be effective spend a lot of time solving problems.  While, people who ARE effective spend time anticipating and solving problems that never really arise....

Today one of my girls said I get on her last nerve.  She said this as I was walking down the street. I didn't hear her, but the reaction of her friends told the story like a book! She then turned around and spoke to me with this enthusiastic "HELLO", as if I didn't just bring her downstairs 5 minutes ago.  She admitted to saying it, because of a consequence that I gave her.  I explained to her that I had to follow through with my promise of the consequence, because she did exactly what I asked her NOT to do.  I told her that I'll see her in the morning after we laughed, and I'll be sure to get on her FIRST nerve then!

Kids don't know forgiveness like adults.  They don't know that those little things mean nothing in the grand scheme of things.  When kids say things about me, I overkill them with love the next day.  I want them to know that they are forgiven, and that things like that don't change the relationship we've built.  I've had kid curse at me, scream, yell, and call me every name but my own.  But, I make sure I never take it personal, and continuously show them that every day is a new day, and what happened yesterday holds no weight  in the present.

Educationally Yours,
T.W.T

This -vs-That and a box of Tagalongs

I learn a lot about middle school kids when I secretly listen in on their conversations.  After testing, I allow my kids to have "talk time".  I noticed four dynamics as they began to migrate to different parts of the room.  It looked like this:

boys -vs- girls

new kids -vs- old kids

groups -vs- loners

One boy went over by a group of girls, and attempted to give them a "pound".  The girls looked at him as if he had horns growing out of his head.  I then noticed that all of the new girls were in a group.  All of the new boys were in a group.  All of the old boys were in a group, and all of the old girls were in a group.  There were maybe three students sitting and working alone.  Of all the groups, I was more concerned with the "new -vs- old".  I was wondering how they were feeling.  They were laughing and talking, but I wondered if this was a natural occurrence.  I've been the new girl before, and it can be pretty uncomfortable.  I immediately started to think about how do I merge the two groups.  Are they getting along?  Do they have anything in common?  I questioned so many thing as I saw these "groups" interact.  

As a teacher, I have to do a better job of helping new students feel about of our community.  I thought I did, but from observing those groups, I realized I didn't do a good enough job.  I'm going to talk to the new kids tomorrow and ask them if they are making friends.  I just want to get a feel on how they are feeling and adapting to being in a new learning environment.  Ever been new on a job, and hoped somebody asked you to lunch? I have.  I'm not as popular as you may think....

Speaking of lunch....I ate an undisclosed amount of tagalongs!!!  

I didn't bring any work home!! I actually read after blogging yesterday, and finished a book!  I purchased "Writing Children's Books for Dummies", by Lisa Rojany Buccieri.   This "For Dummies" franchise is really "blowing up".... I wonder if they have a "Locking your Blackberry for Dummies"....

Educationally yours,

T.W.T  

5/5

My last hour class was the first class to receive a 5/5!  They were on point today! They worked hard up until dismissal.  They didn't sigh when I explained that they had to complete both their class work and homework, for homework.  I hope they come back tomorrow with that same grit. 

I worked, after work from home today :(  I'm going to try my best to set myself up for success before leaving school tomorrow.  I didn't read as much as I would have liked to.  Didn't I tell you that I was a work in progress?  Well, now you know :)  I did purchase a book on writing outlines!  Outlining your Novel, by K.M Weiland.  It's was just $2.99 in the Kindle Store!  Gotta LOVE technology!  

One of my students told me that he had an excessive amount of paper in his book bag.  Word Choice!

Educationally Yours,

T.W.T. 

Word Choice

I would be the first to tell you that I have poor time management skills.  My boss would probably be the second, and my coach the third.  I was always a crammer.  I crammed in high school and in college.  It just worked of me.  Well, it does not work for me NOW! I thought I would have become a cramming expert, but that is not the case when you are working full time.

So, I'm trying to work on this issue of time management.  I work long hours as a teacher.  A teacher's job is NEVER done.  We have work at work, after work work, weekend work, summer vacation work to get ready for the school year work.  It's WORK!  So, when am I going to find time to read and write?? 

Here's the plan.  I can not work at home for "work".  Meaning, work can only be done at work, and reading and writing has to be done at home.  We'll see how long this last.... :/

I realize that my kids use the words that I use!  I use words, and tell them the definition immediately after.  If I use a word an unknown word, they do not hesitate to ask me what it means.  This should be happening at home as well.  If you use three syllable words, your kids while use three syllable words.  If you use profanity, your kids will use profanity.  This goes for words of endearment, and words that hurt.  Use the words that you want your kids to use.  

Today was rough, but I made it through. 

Educationally Yours
T.W.T

Can You Hear Me Now?

The million dollar question is "how will I get my kids to read MORE?" We have a 30 book challenge, and I'm pulling my hair trying to think of ways to get my students to take reading serious. I almost cried like a wuss today!  I take my kids excelling just that serious.  We have to teach our kids that they will get nowhere, and nowhere fast without the ability to read and comprehend.  I even made up a story about a person that didn't get a large lump sum of money, because they couldn't read and understand the documents that were sent to them.  I sure hope I remember that story when they ask me about it again, because I know they will!  However, I hope and pray that none of them grow up to be "that person".  I'm teaching kids to read like my life is depending on it, because their lives are depending on it!

As apart of the reading challenge, students who have read at least 10 books by now will be invited to a school dance.  Have you ever been to a middle school dance?  I've been to two.  The first one was when I was in middle school. I was in 6th grade to be exact.  A boy  came up to me to dance, and the only move I could think of was the "Humpty Dance".  I wasn't good at thinking on my toes when I was 11.  I was so shy, so school dances had me scared out of my mind.  The second one was as a teacher.  Well, those kids where doing more than the "Humpty Dance", and that had me even more scared out of my mind.  So, I will be policing readers next week at the dance.  I'll be happy if they did the "Humpty Dance".  The dances these days make the "Humpty" look like the "Charleston"!!

I told one of my students to stop making noise.  He had been making this noise repeatedly, but insisted that it wasn't him.  So, I gave him "that look", after the last time he made it.  He said, "Oh My God".  Then he said, "God help me".  I told him that I was glad that he knows who to call on when he needs help.  He replied, "Yep, because I know God".  Out of the mouth of babes!

I always joke around my school, "how can you tell a (name of school) teacher?", by the number of phones they carry.....LOL...  Well, today we got cool phones from by Verizon... We received the Blackberry Bold. I turned mine off, because I haven't figured out how lock the darn blast thing!  How many degree does it take to lock a Blackberry??

Educationally Yours,
T.W.T

Testing Testing Testing, and Otis Spunkmeyer

We're ending a grueling week of simulation testing.  Testing and instruction are like fire and ice, with testing being the fire, that burns any chance of instruction!  As adults, we do not have the stamina to focus on a long task, then be expected to focus even longer later in the day.  So, who would think that KIDS would be able to do the same.

I don't want to get into what I think about high stakes standardized testing, but I'd say that I certainly don't l.o.v.e it.

My kids were surprisingly calm this afternoon.  I was sure I was going to have to record myself saying stop talking, and just hit play when I was ready to reiterate the expectation.  However, most of them wanted to earn their points, so they stayed focused.  Each homeroom walked away with at least 3-4 points at the end of the period.  Well, I jury is still out on the last homeroom, because they went totally wild during dismissal.

My 6th grade teacher Ms. Barnes used to wear these long sweaters, with pants that looked like they came from the 70s.  I realized that I was dressed like Ms. Brown during second period, as I was conferring with a student.  My pants aren't from the 70s, but they are from the early 2000s.  I had on a long sweater with a shirt, with only the top button of my sweater buttoned.  GREAT!  Ms. Brown was the first teacher that I realized was a "real person".  You know kids believe that teachers are something other than human.  Once her brother came to see her at school, and they went behind mobil blackboard to talk.  She later told the class that she had to give him something.  In 2012, 20 years later, I still wonder WHAT did she give to him behind that blackboard.  I sure hope she isn't reading this!

The bodega across the street from my school sales freshly baked Otis Spunkmeyer cookies.  After I dropped my kids off for lunch, I swiftly ran across, wearing nothing but my long sweater, to get 2 freshly baked cookies.  Later, my coworker asked me if I wanted anything from the bodega. Of course I do!  2 freshly baked cookies!  That's a total of 4 cookies today!  The last two were fresh out of the oven, and so oooey gooey!  I got chocolate on my keyboard, as I was acting like a Pandora DJ for the kids!

Educationally Yours!
T.W.T

Same Wimpy Teacher, New Year, New State, New School!!

I'm BAAAAACCCCK!!!!

I haven't updated since 2010, but I'm committed to staying on top of my blogging this year, AND BEYOND!

UPDATE:  I'm currently teaching at a middle school in BROOKLYN!  It has been an adjustment, however one of the best adjustments yet.  These kids have PERSONALITY!  They are better than me on their worst day, than I am on my best day, in the personality department.  Even on "those days", I can at least think of 5 hilarious things they said to make me laugh out loud "lol".  Middle School ROCKS!


Educationally Yours,
T.W.T