1. Spoke too soon about the Midsummers Night's Dream thing. The superintendent called us in today and explained the projects. I was a little upset to see that it was open to 9th to 12th graders! I wanted to have a prerequisite that the students have had Shakespeare before. This years juniors have never had any Shakespeare (not even AP students!) Superintendent said I would be their introduction and I would do it well. AAAAACCCCKKKKKK! and WTF! I felt totally bowled over. Talk amongst ourselves while I scream for a couple more minutes.
Deep breath. Ok, I'm ok. Deep breath. I guess I will deal.
I guess this means I have to read the play, huh?
2. I am giving 6 weeks tests this week. The AP students have a portfolio (sort of) to finish for a semester test. The regular English students have to write an essay on their year...what they liked...what they hated (can't be me)...what they did well...what can they improve. Cheaty Squirrel wanted to blame me for her failures. I said no go, either rewrite or get a zero. I never received a new essay.
Some kids said the class is too boring and that's why they are failing.
Well, yeah, if you sit there doing nothing....that is boring. No doubt about it. If you actually worked and put effort into it and used your brain...guess what, you wouldn't be bored!
Some students had very nice things to say. I was very moved by some of them.
3. Chip was gone for about 2 weeks. When I gave him a list of make up work, he did his usual song and dance "I already turned that in!" Oh yeah, the last 5 times you said that, we found it in your bag and definitely not handed in. I'm not searching for it.
4. I brought the correcting basket home again. Why do I do this? I am not going to work. I got a lot done at school today, including filling out IEPs and making modified tests for the Special Education students. I finished all of the correcting for the 2 pre-AP classes. I copied all the TAKS essays and short answers to give to the students since they got their TAKS scores today. And...
5. TAKS essays are scored from 1 being the lowest and 4 being the highest. Shamala, who could never pass a TAKS test, got a 3on the essay.
A 3!!
The majority of my AP students did not even get a 3!
I think it is because Shamala writes like she talks...that thing English teachers call voice. Kinda airhead, kinda wise...all Shamala.
I am so proud!!!
Wednesday, May 28, 2008
Tuesday, May 27, 2008
Procrastinating List
I have tons of correcting to do and a six week test to make. I don't feel like it.
1. I think I got audited by the IRS. I got a letter today saying I owe them $163. But they sent my $600 "economic stimulus" check. Weird, huh?
2. 4 days of school left. I have inservice two days next week, in which they make clear that we will have no time to work on grades. I'm sad that I won't see all my students, but they are severely getting on my nerves. Today, they were whining about working and said no other teachers are making them work for the rest of the year. Oh, really? Do they not realize teachers talk to other teachers in the teacher's lounge?
3. Summer school is supposed to start in a week and a half. We have received no assignments. The superintendent said he'd tell us what enrichment classes would be approved by 2 pm today. Remember Midsummers Night's Dream? No email, so I guess no AP students this summer. Kinda sad, but mostly on the "thank freakin God and Oprah, I don't know what I was thinking" side. I guess I could teach it next year anyway and have the whole summer to prepare.
4. I signed up for my certification tests in History and ESL (English as a second language) in August.
5. I have two AP institutes to do this summer: Pre AP and English Language and Composition. One is in El Paso and the other is in Austin. That's two weeks out of my summer. Which is ok if it makes the school year go more smoothly. And the school pays for transportation and lodging...even food. But I worry about leaving Vada that long.
6. I don't know if I will get to correcting tonight. I don't know why I bring the papers home. This year has been bad because at 4 I go home. I check the unfiltered internet at home and watch Oprah (it has been so nice to watch Oprah again this year.) Then I eat and watch Stargate or something. Play with Vada and get ready for bed. Then repeat it so I'm ready to get to school by 7:30.
Last year, I'd stay at school till 5:30 - 6:00. I would be at school by 6:30. What happened to me? Argghh!
Besides, if I get the papers out, Vada will just try to eat them. Someday, I going to end up handing back papers with teeth marks...I just know it.
1. I think I got audited by the IRS. I got a letter today saying I owe them $163. But they sent my $600 "economic stimulus" check. Weird, huh?
2. 4 days of school left. I have inservice two days next week, in which they make clear that we will have no time to work on grades. I'm sad that I won't see all my students, but they are severely getting on my nerves. Today, they were whining about working and said no other teachers are making them work for the rest of the year. Oh, really? Do they not realize teachers talk to other teachers in the teacher's lounge?
3. Summer school is supposed to start in a week and a half. We have received no assignments. The superintendent said he'd tell us what enrichment classes would be approved by 2 pm today. Remember Midsummers Night's Dream? No email, so I guess no AP students this summer. Kinda sad, but mostly on the "thank freakin God and Oprah, I don't know what I was thinking" side. I guess I could teach it next year anyway and have the whole summer to prepare.
4. I signed up for my certification tests in History and ESL (English as a second language) in August.
5. I have two AP institutes to do this summer: Pre AP and English Language and Composition. One is in El Paso and the other is in Austin. That's two weeks out of my summer. Which is ok if it makes the school year go more smoothly. And the school pays for transportation and lodging...even food. But I worry about leaving Vada that long.
6. I don't know if I will get to correcting tonight. I don't know why I bring the papers home. This year has been bad because at 4 I go home. I check the unfiltered internet at home and watch Oprah (it has been so nice to watch Oprah again this year.) Then I eat and watch Stargate or something. Play with Vada and get ready for bed. Then repeat it so I'm ready to get to school by 7:30.
Last year, I'd stay at school till 5:30 - 6:00. I would be at school by 6:30. What happened to me? Argghh!
Besides, if I get the papers out, Vada will just try to eat them. Someday, I going to end up handing back papers with teeth marks...I just know it.
Saturday, May 24, 2008
Memorial Day Weekend List 1
Yay!!!! Three days off! Wish it was more,but I will take whatever I can get. This week was tough because there was a lot of afterschool programs to go to...the band concert and awards night. Here's the list of my world this week:
1. I didn't make it to the National Honors Society's induction this week. For some reason, Mouthy made it into NHS. WTF! The kid I caught copying work more than any other is considered a scholar?
I was talking to the whole class the other earlier in the week and he got up to sharpen his pencil. He wasn't even bothering to listen. So I kinda lost it and while I was chewing him out I must have touched a nerve, because he told me to stop and he'd be good. The next day, we were discussing something about how people can act horrible but your loved ones could still love you. Mouthy speaks up and says that his mother told him that he is an embarrassment. I told him that she probably still loves him though. I wanted to laugh though...I thought back to meeting her and how horrified she looked when I told her his behavior.
2. I will be teaching summer school...but I'm not sure what I will be teaching. Last year, I taught 3 TAKS ELA classes. I'm not sure what good I did in teaching it. But all my students from last summer passed TAKS this year.
There was a call for enrichment classes for our students for summer school. I put a proposal for a Shakespeare class on "Midsummers Night's Dream" for the AP students since they have only one Shakespeare class so far in their high school career. I kinda hope and kinda don't hope it will be approved. Actually, I only know the story of the play, but I have never read it. I would be pulling stuff out of my butt again. But it sounds like fun.
3. Awards night was fun. I rewarded three basketball players from my dreaded pre-AP Sophomore class for most improved. They were in shock when I presented them with the award. I kinda think they were impressed that I recognized them.
4. I started making cuts in the dreaded AP sophomore class. I talked to 4 people this week. One was a young man who wrote in an essay that I wasn't a good teacher because I didn't teach like the teachers on "Saved By the Bell." He would not turn in work on time or with lack of effort. Sometimes I could tell that he did it 15 minutes before class. He copied and pasted work and passed it off as his. I talked to him and told him that I wouldn't be referring him for AP Language and Composition next year. He asked if he did very well on the final portfolio for the class, could he be refered? I said he will do well on the portfolio because that is what he is *supposed* to do. I also said I don't give extra rewards for work that is supposed to be done. Hard work is expected. If he had done the hard work since the beginning of the year, he would be referred. I suggested he go talk to his parents about this situation.
I nearly cried afterwords. I don't like cutting students, but I have a ton still to talk to about me not referring. I really don't like this part of my job.
5. I am very tired of hearing Puht Boy ask for the past week, "If I do this assignment, will I pass your class?" I always say, "We'll see," but really...what does he expect? That I should be giddy that he even does an assignment. Frankly, (and I told him this) I cared for 170 days. For the final 10 days of school, as long as he stayed out of my hair, I don't care. He will fail English 2, there is nothing I can do about it at this point. I'm out of options.
But the gall of the kid. First of all, he accused me of not caring if he passes. Again, I cared for 170 days. I'm out of options.
Second, registration for summer school came out. He says he refuses to go to summer school. He now has to make up English I and English 2. I asked him when he expects to make it up. He says he doesn't have to make anything up. I asked him if he thought just sitting in the classroom and annoying the teacher counts as passing English.
6. Kids are crabby at this time of year, no? I had 6 kids have old fashioned six year old like melt downs in my classroom this week. Smarty Squirrel is getting her old mouth back and tells me to get off her case when I complain she is behind in school work. I tease her about it, because I gave her the best English 2 student award the next night at award night.
7. Vada escaped yesterday. I usually wake at 5 am, start to get ready for work by 7 am and I am at work at 7:30 am. Yesterday, I slept until 7:10 and I couldn't get going. I couldn't figure out what to wear, Vada kept getting in the way, etc. etc. Good thing I have prep first period. Then, as I went outside to get in the car, Vada made her run for freedom. She shot out between my legs. She galloped across the teacher compound a couple times. I can't catch her. She barked at anything that moved, including a couple teachers. I kept telling her to go inside and tried to tempt her. Finally, after a half hour, I got behind her, pointed to the open door, and demanded "Go inside!." Then, she walked in, pretty as you please. I closed the door and jumped in the car and arrived at school as the first bell for first period rang.
Well, more later.....
1. I didn't make it to the National Honors Society's induction this week. For some reason, Mouthy made it into NHS. WTF! The kid I caught copying work more than any other is considered a scholar?
I was talking to the whole class the other earlier in the week and he got up to sharpen his pencil. He wasn't even bothering to listen. So I kinda lost it and while I was chewing him out I must have touched a nerve, because he told me to stop and he'd be good. The next day, we were discussing something about how people can act horrible but your loved ones could still love you. Mouthy speaks up and says that his mother told him that he is an embarrassment. I told him that she probably still loves him though. I wanted to laugh though...I thought back to meeting her and how horrified she looked when I told her his behavior.
2. I will be teaching summer school...but I'm not sure what I will be teaching. Last year, I taught 3 TAKS ELA classes. I'm not sure what good I did in teaching it. But all my students from last summer passed TAKS this year.
There was a call for enrichment classes for our students for summer school. I put a proposal for a Shakespeare class on "Midsummers Night's Dream" for the AP students since they have only one Shakespeare class so far in their high school career. I kinda hope and kinda don't hope it will be approved. Actually, I only know the story of the play, but I have never read it. I would be pulling stuff out of my butt again. But it sounds like fun.
3. Awards night was fun. I rewarded three basketball players from my dreaded pre-AP Sophomore class for most improved. They were in shock when I presented them with the award. I kinda think they were impressed that I recognized them.
4. I started making cuts in the dreaded AP sophomore class. I talked to 4 people this week. One was a young man who wrote in an essay that I wasn't a good teacher because I didn't teach like the teachers on "Saved By the Bell." He would not turn in work on time or with lack of effort. Sometimes I could tell that he did it 15 minutes before class. He copied and pasted work and passed it off as his. I talked to him and told him that I wouldn't be referring him for AP Language and Composition next year. He asked if he did very well on the final portfolio for the class, could he be refered? I said he will do well on the portfolio because that is what he is *supposed* to do. I also said I don't give extra rewards for work that is supposed to be done. Hard work is expected. If he had done the hard work since the beginning of the year, he would be referred. I suggested he go talk to his parents about this situation.
I nearly cried afterwords. I don't like cutting students, but I have a ton still to talk to about me not referring. I really don't like this part of my job.
5. I am very tired of hearing Puht Boy ask for the past week, "If I do this assignment, will I pass your class?" I always say, "We'll see," but really...what does he expect? That I should be giddy that he even does an assignment. Frankly, (and I told him this) I cared for 170 days. For the final 10 days of school, as long as he stayed out of my hair, I don't care. He will fail English 2, there is nothing I can do about it at this point. I'm out of options.
But the gall of the kid. First of all, he accused me of not caring if he passes. Again, I cared for 170 days. I'm out of options.
Second, registration for summer school came out. He says he refuses to go to summer school. He now has to make up English I and English 2. I asked him when he expects to make it up. He says he doesn't have to make anything up. I asked him if he thought just sitting in the classroom and annoying the teacher counts as passing English.
6. Kids are crabby at this time of year, no? I had 6 kids have old fashioned six year old like melt downs in my classroom this week. Smarty Squirrel is getting her old mouth back and tells me to get off her case when I complain she is behind in school work. I tease her about it, because I gave her the best English 2 student award the next night at award night.
7. Vada escaped yesterday. I usually wake at 5 am, start to get ready for work by 7 am and I am at work at 7:30 am. Yesterday, I slept until 7:10 and I couldn't get going. I couldn't figure out what to wear, Vada kept getting in the way, etc. etc. Good thing I have prep first period. Then, as I went outside to get in the car, Vada made her run for freedom. She shot out between my legs. She galloped across the teacher compound a couple times. I can't catch her. She barked at anything that moved, including a couple teachers. I kept telling her to go inside and tried to tempt her. Finally, after a half hour, I got behind her, pointed to the open door, and demanded "Go inside!." Then, she walked in, pretty as you please. I closed the door and jumped in the car and arrived at school as the first bell for first period rang.
Well, more later.....
Tuesday, May 20, 2008
Oh, I forgot....
I have a mountain of correcting to do....
Last night was a district meeting and the band concert...out till 9 pm...
The English 2 kids hate me because I am making them do graded projects for their semesters tests...and giving them a six week test....
The freshmen hate me because I have been requiring deep critical thinking discussion questions...with textual evidence...to back up their arguments.... and giving them a six weeks test and a semester test....
The AP sophomore class hates me because I will be making cuts to their class in the next week....
Vada, the dog, hates me because I am not home all the time and won't let her eat 1. books 2. cash 3. my stockings and 4. my cheesecake and wine coolers (or the bottles to the wine coolers)....
Everyone is mad at the math teachers and I am trying to remain positive....
And Grouchy Teacher is mad because I let my 5th period class wander the halls and irritate him. He can bite me.
..housework barely gets done...I have a stack of fun books to read and calling my name....
....and Vada is shedding immense amounts of fuzz and she won't let me brush her.
...that's why I'm exhausted.
Last night was a district meeting and the band concert...out till 9 pm...
The English 2 kids hate me because I am making them do graded projects for their semesters tests...and giving them a six week test....
The freshmen hate me because I have been requiring deep critical thinking discussion questions...with textual evidence...to back up their arguments.... and giving them a six weeks test and a semester test....
The AP sophomore class hates me because I will be making cuts to their class in the next week....
Vada, the dog, hates me because I am not home all the time and won't let her eat 1. books 2. cash 3. my stockings and 4. my cheesecake and wine coolers (or the bottles to the wine coolers)....
Everyone is mad at the math teachers and I am trying to remain positive....
And Grouchy Teacher is mad because I let my 5th period class wander the halls and irritate him. He can bite me.
..housework barely gets done...I have a stack of fun books to read and calling my name....
....and Vada is shedding immense amounts of fuzz and she won't let me brush her.
...that's why I'm exhausted.
Hi, I've Been Exhausted
I finally tell my Mom about the site and I don't post for awhile. End of school stuff. Sorry Mom.
I just wanted to post TAKS results. My mom keeps asking and it takes so long for us to get writing results. My writing instruction worked!! Around 96% of my students passed. (Keep in mind my half my students are advanced this year, so it's not as impressive as it looks or seems.)
Run down:
Flirty passed for the first time. I am so proud of her because she came in last year as a newcomer and not knowing much English. We wouldn't even let her take it last year. Of course, she will be retaking English 2 next year because she will fail my class from attendance issues and not making up work. But she writes well enough to pass the TAKS essay portion....Wow!
Another of my students that I taught last year and this year....Shamala....hasn't ever passed the ELA exam. Ever. Guess what? This year she did...including the essay!! I'm so proud of her.
Gangsta passed, BIOB passed, ISTBMG passed, Puht Boy passed (OMG???? and WTF????), Chip passed, Angel passed, Smarty Squirrel passed with commended (AP anyone?), Mouthy passed.
All my Freshmen angels passed (though lately they have been acting like devils!) and all my dreaded Sophomore AP class passed. About 8 freshmen and only two sophomore students received commended performance.
This does not mean our school is out of the woods with TEA. Our math scores were horrible. Not even half of the sophomores passed math. There is talk that we will be sent a committee from TEA to "help" us next year.
This fact is not lost upon the sophomores. ISTBMG and Shamala and many other sophomores complained that they thought their math teacher was horrible and that is why they failed. I told her that their education is their responsibility and if they are not learning it from their teacher, they could always go to another teacher or demand some tutoring. Or work with other students who are better at math than they are. Students seem to think teachers and the administration are in charge of their learning, not the students and the parents. They need to stop being so passive and expect us to zip open their heads and pour information in there.
Then again ISTBMG told me today that it doesn't make her work any harder if I call her parents and complain about her performance. ISTBMG doesn't realize her behavior changed immediately after I called and her grades are way up. I really don't know what color the sky is in her world.
I just wanted to post TAKS results. My mom keeps asking and it takes so long for us to get writing results. My writing instruction worked!! Around 96% of my students passed. (Keep in mind my half my students are advanced this year, so it's not as impressive as it looks or seems.)
Run down:
Flirty passed for the first time. I am so proud of her because she came in last year as a newcomer and not knowing much English. We wouldn't even let her take it last year. Of course, she will be retaking English 2 next year because she will fail my class from attendance issues and not making up work. But she writes well enough to pass the TAKS essay portion....Wow!
Another of my students that I taught last year and this year....Shamala....hasn't ever passed the ELA exam. Ever. Guess what? This year she did...including the essay!! I'm so proud of her.
Gangsta passed, BIOB passed, ISTBMG passed, Puht Boy passed (OMG???? and WTF????), Chip passed, Angel passed, Smarty Squirrel passed with commended (AP anyone?), Mouthy passed.
All my Freshmen angels passed (though lately they have been acting like devils!) and all my dreaded Sophomore AP class passed. About 8 freshmen and only two sophomore students received commended performance.
This does not mean our school is out of the woods with TEA. Our math scores were horrible. Not even half of the sophomores passed math. There is talk that we will be sent a committee from TEA to "help" us next year.
This fact is not lost upon the sophomores. ISTBMG and Shamala and many other sophomores complained that they thought their math teacher was horrible and that is why they failed. I told her that their education is their responsibility and if they are not learning it from their teacher, they could always go to another teacher or demand some tutoring. Or work with other students who are better at math than they are. Students seem to think teachers and the administration are in charge of their learning, not the students and the parents. They need to stop being so passive and expect us to zip open their heads and pour information in there.
Then again ISTBMG told me today that it doesn't make her work any harder if I call her parents and complain about her performance. ISTBMG doesn't realize her behavior changed immediately after I called and her grades are way up. I really don't know what color the sky is in her world.
Saturday, May 10, 2008
Random Things Again
1. Mentor teacher just asked me to go help him put the finishing touches on the prom.
Ah, considering...really don't want to....NO.
I'm really not looking forward to next year when I'm junior class sponsor and they expect me to plan prom. Considering I almost killed the sophomores this year just over the fact that they could not even chose a class shirt...prom is going to be...
a nightmare.
I will pay real money for the other sponsors to take care of this. I wonder how much it would cost. I wonder if I have enough money. Maybe a summer job....
2. On the last King Arthur test, only one kid put Great Britain near Bulgaria on the map test. Last time, I had at least five.
I feel like I'm getting somewhere. Maybe I should give them a hint that it is an *island* and maybe they won't put it in France anymore.
3. Plague kinda over. But my voice keeps going out after talking in class for an half hour.
4. I had a very guilty weekend last week. I finished The Time Traveler's Wife. O.K. That ended sad, but it was very good.
5. That said all correcting and grading is not done. Lesson plans have not been done in ...oh...two weeks. Did I say I am incredibility lazy?
6. I finally realized what was wrong with the dread pre ap Sophomores. They don't know how to read. They know how to read words...but they don't know how to read for information. So, I set out to do that by modeling how to do close reading...basically taking notes while you read. About half the class is cooperating with this...and discussions of Morte d'Arthur on their end has never been better. Finally, I am getting somewhere with them!
Too bad it is three weeks before the year ends.
7. I had a meeting with Blow it off Boy's (BIOB) mother. BIOB has been sleeping in class and not turning in anything. I have been considering just pouring water over him next time he sleeps, but all I have had handy is coffee or Dr. Pepper. I tried writing on him, but they wake up too fast. I am too noisy.
The result of the meeting with BIOB mother is at least he has stayed awake. Not much done....but we must take our little successes when they come.
8. I also called Puht boy's mom again. But he will be a junior next year making up freshman and sophomore English plus a reading class. You would think if you were taking freshman English for the third time, you could at least barely pass. Especially if you are almost sixteen years old!
9. My 5th period class has been considerably quiet the past week...especially considering I have called 9 out of 11 of their parents!! Again, sad that they finally allow me to teach 3 weeks before school ends.
10. I have done nothing today, but fight Itunes. I got a bad update in software and it stopped working with my ipod. It took me 4 hours to completely delete the old system and get a new version. Then I would try to buy music and it is not downloading correctly. Then none of the old music would download to the ipod.
Finally, got it all situated and email Apple and hope they refund the songs that didn't download. But I would really like to get my Saturday back. Listening, Steve Jobs?
Ah, considering...really don't want to....NO.
I'm really not looking forward to next year when I'm junior class sponsor and they expect me to plan prom. Considering I almost killed the sophomores this year just over the fact that they could not even chose a class shirt...prom is going to be...
a nightmare.
I will pay real money for the other sponsors to take care of this. I wonder how much it would cost. I wonder if I have enough money. Maybe a summer job....
2. On the last King Arthur test, only one kid put Great Britain near Bulgaria on the map test. Last time, I had at least five.
I feel like I'm getting somewhere. Maybe I should give them a hint that it is an *island* and maybe they won't put it in France anymore.
3. Plague kinda over. But my voice keeps going out after talking in class for an half hour.
4. I had a very guilty weekend last week. I finished The Time Traveler's Wife. O.K. That ended sad, but it was very good.
5. That said all correcting and grading is not done. Lesson plans have not been done in ...oh...two weeks. Did I say I am incredibility lazy?
6. I finally realized what was wrong with the dread pre ap Sophomores. They don't know how to read. They know how to read words...but they don't know how to read for information. So, I set out to do that by modeling how to do close reading...basically taking notes while you read. About half the class is cooperating with this...and discussions of Morte d'Arthur on their end has never been better. Finally, I am getting somewhere with them!
Too bad it is three weeks before the year ends.
7. I had a meeting with Blow it off Boy's (BIOB) mother. BIOB has been sleeping in class and not turning in anything. I have been considering just pouring water over him next time he sleeps, but all I have had handy is coffee or Dr. Pepper. I tried writing on him, but they wake up too fast. I am too noisy.
The result of the meeting with BIOB mother is at least he has stayed awake. Not much done....but we must take our little successes when they come.
8. I also called Puht boy's mom again. But he will be a junior next year making up freshman and sophomore English plus a reading class. You would think if you were taking freshman English for the third time, you could at least barely pass. Especially if you are almost sixteen years old!
9. My 5th period class has been considerably quiet the past week...especially considering I have called 9 out of 11 of their parents!! Again, sad that they finally allow me to teach 3 weeks before school ends.
10. I have done nothing today, but fight Itunes. I got a bad update in software and it stopped working with my ipod. It took me 4 hours to completely delete the old system and get a new version. Then I would try to buy music and it is not downloading correctly. Then none of the old music would download to the ipod.
Finally, got it all situated and email Apple and hope they refund the songs that didn't download. But I would really like to get my Saturday back. Listening, Steve Jobs?
Friday, May 2, 2008
TAKS Testing and Books
TAKS test this week. As a teacher of the sophomores, I got to test 3 out of 5 days this week. Yea for me! Not!
However, it could have been worse. Over at The Rambling Reader, Val had to read the test to the students. All I had to do is read the directions and say yes to bathroom breaks. Of course, I had the lovely young man who asked to go to the bathroom *while* I was reading directions. Word. For. Word.
Our school had the entire process very streamlined and efficient. Administrators like me went and got test books, answer sheets, pencils, highlighters, candy, and calculators before school. I would set up my classroom with spread out desks. I set up my seating chart with names on post its on the desks. I passed out all the pencils and calculators and candy on all the desks. Kids came directly to the room first period. Most days we were done by 5th period and lunch.
But it was boring to sit and watch all the kids taking the tests. After all the kids were done and I had all the paperwork done, I read some fun books. And the kids noticed me reading. They said later I was so engrossed in the book that I only looked up occasionally. (I had a proctor in the room.)
I read *Twisted* by Laurie Halse Anderson this morning in 2 hours. Since some of my kids are finishing Speak early I told them that if they passed the six weeks test over it, they could read something else for the rest of the year. One student chose *Twisted* but left it on my desk. He was shocked when he came back today and I told him I read it.
*Twisted* would seem to be even more controversial than *Speak.* It is about a senior who gets caught up in his own reputation. I liked it, and I wish I knew about it before I started this unit. I think that the guys in my classes would have liked it.
I also read *Nectar in a Sieve* by Kamala Markandaya. I found it in the library when I was looking for books for the students done with *Speak.* The book is about an Indian woman's life. It reminded me a great deal of *The Grapes of Wrath* and books by Pearl Buck.
I had been caught up on correcting and grading until now. I feel like when I was in 6th grade and I refused to do any class work (especially math problems) because I was too busy reading from the class library. Well, I will get caught up this weekend I guess.
However, it could have been worse. Over at The Rambling Reader, Val had to read the test to the students. All I had to do is read the directions and say yes to bathroom breaks. Of course, I had the lovely young man who asked to go to the bathroom *while* I was reading directions. Word. For. Word.
Our school had the entire process very streamlined and efficient. Administrators like me went and got test books, answer sheets, pencils, highlighters, candy, and calculators before school. I would set up my classroom with spread out desks. I set up my seating chart with names on post its on the desks. I passed out all the pencils and calculators and candy on all the desks. Kids came directly to the room first period. Most days we were done by 5th period and lunch.
But it was boring to sit and watch all the kids taking the tests. After all the kids were done and I had all the paperwork done, I read some fun books. And the kids noticed me reading. They said later I was so engrossed in the book that I only looked up occasionally. (I had a proctor in the room.)
I read *Twisted* by Laurie Halse Anderson this morning in 2 hours. Since some of my kids are finishing Speak early I told them that if they passed the six weeks test over it, they could read something else for the rest of the year. One student chose *Twisted* but left it on my desk. He was shocked when he came back today and I told him I read it.
*Twisted* would seem to be even more controversial than *Speak.* It is about a senior who gets caught up in his own reputation. I liked it, and I wish I knew about it before I started this unit. I think that the guys in my classes would have liked it.
I also read *Nectar in a Sieve* by Kamala Markandaya. I found it in the library when I was looking for books for the students done with *Speak.* The book is about an Indian woman's life. It reminded me a great deal of *The Grapes of Wrath* and books by Pearl Buck.
I had been caught up on correcting and grading until now. I feel like when I was in 6th grade and I refused to do any class work (especially math problems) because I was too busy reading from the class library. Well, I will get caught up this weekend I guess.
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