I am ready to be on a break from my students and I'm sure they are ready for a break from me. I really liked the fact that I didn't have to see them last friday because they sold enough tickets to get out of school (and the football team won).
But Thanksgiving break is slowly approaching and that makes me happy that I have 5 days of not seeing my students and having some time to get some of the grading done. I am right where I need to be with the grading, but there are a few things that I want to go back over and take a look at.
The upcoming weeks are kind of interesting. Usually I would be looking forward to christmas break, but this year I'm trying to decide if I want the students to take their state test before the break or after it. I would vote for after it that way I wouldn't have to grade anything over christmas break, but then they wouldn't get their results back in a timely manner. We'll see what the state has to say because ultimately they are the ones that schedule all the tests and since the testing in online this year, they may schedule a day to make sure that the system doesn't overload.
Monday, November 23, 2009
Thursday, November 19, 2009
Day 63
You would think that students who listen to music all day and believe that they can't live without their music players would be able to tell a story with audio. It is amazing how many of them can't even come up with ideas for that. I had my film students tell a story using just audio. They couldn't narrate it (that'll come later), so it had to be like they turned off the screen and all they can hear are the sounds. They have had about 4 days to try and do it and I still have students who can't finalize it.
Friday, November 13, 2009
Day 59
I am at the end of my rope with some of my students. That is really bad considering there is the second half of second term still. We haven't reached semester yet and I already want some of my students out of my classes.
There are times I wonder if I give them too much time to complete things in class instead of giving homework. I thought I was being nice by giving them time to finish stuff in class, but apparently they are taking advantage of me because of that. I'm to the point of giving a deadline and only giving them a day or so in the lab to work. They just end up playing online instead of working. I'm watching my class right now; half of them are actually working on the assignment and getting a good start on the assignment. The other half are just talking or surfing the web and my program that kills the web in this room isn't working. I can't just go and pull the plug on the internet in here either because it is connected to the rooms adjacent it. I'm really going to love it when I have my control over the computers again and I can take snapshots of their computers, shut them off, take over their computers or turn off their ability to go onto the web.
I love being a technology teacher at times because I am learning things from my students as well as them learning something from me. But there are times that I am sick of all the technology available to the students and the way that they take advantage of it. The few students who are actually interested in this are the ones who are working and those are the ones that I tend to get the best work from. They are willing to ask me for my opinion and for my help. Then I have the other half of my class that just want to play on the internet and then they wonder why they get poor grades on assignments and overall.
But I'll say that I had a good time yesterday during my last computer technology freshman class. It was really quiet. They all worked. I didn't have to ask any students to get back on task. And this class is usually the class that I have a hard time with because they are rowdy. I think it may be because 2 of the Giggle Girls weren't there yesterday and the Strutting Senior didn't have anyone to strut his stuff to that would actually pay attention to him.
The football team just got into the final game so I am hoping that the school can sell enough tickets to warrant getting out of class next Friday for the state game. If they can then we have an abbreviated schedule and they go to the game and I have the day to myself. It would be nice to be able to have a day of planning and getting things together and then just being able to have my weekend for myself instead of planning.
There are times I wonder if I give them too much time to complete things in class instead of giving homework. I thought I was being nice by giving them time to finish stuff in class, but apparently they are taking advantage of me because of that. I'm to the point of giving a deadline and only giving them a day or so in the lab to work. They just end up playing online instead of working. I'm watching my class right now; half of them are actually working on the assignment and getting a good start on the assignment. The other half are just talking or surfing the web and my program that kills the web in this room isn't working. I can't just go and pull the plug on the internet in here either because it is connected to the rooms adjacent it. I'm really going to love it when I have my control over the computers again and I can take snapshots of their computers, shut them off, take over their computers or turn off their ability to go onto the web.
I love being a technology teacher at times because I am learning things from my students as well as them learning something from me. But there are times that I am sick of all the technology available to the students and the way that they take advantage of it. The few students who are actually interested in this are the ones who are working and those are the ones that I tend to get the best work from. They are willing to ask me for my opinion and for my help. Then I have the other half of my class that just want to play on the internet and then they wonder why they get poor grades on assignments and overall.
But I'll say that I had a good time yesterday during my last computer technology freshman class. It was really quiet. They all worked. I didn't have to ask any students to get back on task. And this class is usually the class that I have a hard time with because they are rowdy. I think it may be because 2 of the Giggle Girls weren't there yesterday and the Strutting Senior didn't have anyone to strut his stuff to that would actually pay attention to him.
The football team just got into the final game so I am hoping that the school can sell enough tickets to warrant getting out of class next Friday for the state game. If they can then we have an abbreviated schedule and they go to the game and I have the day to myself. It would be nice to be able to have a day of planning and getting things together and then just being able to have my weekend for myself instead of planning.
Monday, November 9, 2009
Day 55
I'll say this, my students are getting bolder and bolder. Before they would try to do things behind my back, without my knowledge. Now they either don't care or they don't think I'm looking because they are beginning to do things in front of my face. I can't believe some of the things that I am seeing. . . or reading. The notes that they pass to one another and then just leave them on the ground. It makes me sick! There is no way that I would have done half the stuff that they do now when I was in school. Yes, I was a bit of a rebel, but I wouldn't disrupt the classroom or be disrespectful to the teacher. They don't think twice about being disrespectful to me or their fellow peers. They just go ahead and do it.
I've done something since the beginning of the school year that I thought would help and while it has helped in some student's cases, in most it hasn't. I gave them 100 Professionalism points at the beginning and told them what they were for and how their attitude in the class would reflect their grade as well as the assignments that they completed in class. A few of them took it to heart and I saw some change in them, but for the most part, many don't seem to care at all. There are about 5 students who cannot get an A in the class anymore. It doesn't matter if they end up getting 100% on everything else, they will not get an A. But I don't think they care. They already think this is a "bird course", but there is no way that I am going to allow that to happen. I've already had a few students ask if they can transfer out at semester break and I told them that they are welcome to do what they please, but I always ask them why they want to transfer out. I had one student tell me that last year all the teacher did was teach them a bit about some of the aspects, but they were just playing behind the camera the rest of the time. I don't let them do that; not yet anyway.
I'm just frustrated with this all. I really wish that I could send students out of my class when they are being disrespectful, but it takes more than just sending them out of the class when it happens. I can send them down to the office, but how many students would just walk down there. I would have to call one of the assistant principals down to my classroom and have him escorted down. That takes time and I have precious little as is.
I've tried the Video Tape approach, but most of them just don't care anymore. It'll be interesting if I need to call in some parents and see what they say. I'm not doing that without an administrator near by.
I've done something since the beginning of the school year that I thought would help and while it has helped in some student's cases, in most it hasn't. I gave them 100 Professionalism points at the beginning and told them what they were for and how their attitude in the class would reflect their grade as well as the assignments that they completed in class. A few of them took it to heart and I saw some change in them, but for the most part, many don't seem to care at all. There are about 5 students who cannot get an A in the class anymore. It doesn't matter if they end up getting 100% on everything else, they will not get an A. But I don't think they care. They already think this is a "bird course", but there is no way that I am going to allow that to happen. I've already had a few students ask if they can transfer out at semester break and I told them that they are welcome to do what they please, but I always ask them why they want to transfer out. I had one student tell me that last year all the teacher did was teach them a bit about some of the aspects, but they were just playing behind the camera the rest of the time. I don't let them do that; not yet anyway.
I'm just frustrated with this all. I really wish that I could send students out of my class when they are being disrespectful, but it takes more than just sending them out of the class when it happens. I can send them down to the office, but how many students would just walk down there. I would have to call one of the assistant principals down to my classroom and have him escorted down. That takes time and I have precious little as is.
I've tried the Video Tape approach, but most of them just don't care anymore. It'll be interesting if I need to call in some parents and see what they say. I'm not doing that without an administrator near by.
Thursday, November 5, 2009
Day 53
Why do students feel the need to steal? I have had 3 Computer Technology booklets taken out of my classroom and 3 or 4 Premiere Pro Classroom In a Book books taken out as well. I have already warned students about taking the books, but they just don't seem to listen. I think I may have to start assigning students places again and see if that makes a difference. We'll see.
Also, just because they are in my computer technology class they feel that they can print things for other classes in this class using my paper without having to ask or tell me about it. I've had a few students who have come up and asked if they could print something out for their next class and when they ask I usually say sure! No problem. But not today. I went through a ream of paper in 3 days! How is that possible! I mean, yeah I get the occasional "ghost paper" (a paper from another classroom) sent to my printers, but that doesn't happen all that often.
Anyway, it is getting to that point in the year that a lot of the students are sniffling and sneezing and coughing all over the keyboards. I'm almost to the point of wearing latex gloves when I have to work with my student's computers because I'm sure they haven't washed their hands. Gross!
But today is my afterschool lab and I've only had 1 student take advantage of it so far. I'm thinking that near the end of the semester it is going to start being fuller and fuller because I have a lot of stuff due and I'm hoping that they use it. I have no sympathy for students who say that they didn't have enough time to work on assignments when I am here after school Tues and Thurs for open lab and then near the end of the semester I open my lab up every day after school. Plus they have intervention. But they just slack off.
Arg.
Also, just because they are in my computer technology class they feel that they can print things for other classes in this class using my paper without having to ask or tell me about it. I've had a few students who have come up and asked if they could print something out for their next class and when they ask I usually say sure! No problem. But not today. I went through a ream of paper in 3 days! How is that possible! I mean, yeah I get the occasional "ghost paper" (a paper from another classroom) sent to my printers, but that doesn't happen all that often.
Anyway, it is getting to that point in the year that a lot of the students are sniffling and sneezing and coughing all over the keyboards. I'm almost to the point of wearing latex gloves when I have to work with my student's computers because I'm sure they haven't washed their hands. Gross!
But today is my afterschool lab and I've only had 1 student take advantage of it so far. I'm thinking that near the end of the semester it is going to start being fuller and fuller because I have a lot of stuff due and I'm hoping that they use it. I have no sympathy for students who say that they didn't have enough time to work on assignments when I am here after school Tues and Thurs for open lab and then near the end of the semester I open my lab up every day after school. Plus they have intervention. But they just slack off.
Arg.
Tuesday, November 3, 2009
Day 51
It is slowly approaching the half way point and it isn't getting any easier. To be completely honest I never wanted to teach in a public school. There are just too many things that I don't agree with that happen and that I have little to no control over. I don't like to play the politics game and I don't like to not have control over my own classroom. For instance, I can't send a student out of class because he/she is being disruptive. I can't ask a student to leave my class because he/she is being disruptive or rude or disrespectful. I just have to sit there and take it or try to angle it in another direction.
I had one student today that has tried my patience one to many times; we'll call him Football Helmet. Right before class even started he came over and said that he needed to go talk to his counselor on a personal matter and that it had to be now. I told him that he needed to be in class and that it could wait until after school or during the break. He said no and he really wouldn't let me finish a sentence saying that it had to be now. I told him that I was going to mark him absent until he came back with a note from the counseling office but I would like him to be in class unless he gets a summons from the office. He called me "insensitive and not-understanding" and that I "was getting all rude and huffy by not letting him go". Finally I just said "Football Helmet, go. I'm not going to argue with you any more." Let me give you some background on this student. He misses a lot of class because of sports or because he just doesn't come back from lunch or is constantly late. Also, he tries to leave class constantly by saying that he is sick or doesn't feel well or asking for the hall pass and then comes back 20 minutes later. I've notified the counseling office about it but it doesn't seem to do anything. It just bugs me that because he is in sports it seems like they are letting him get away with anything. And just because I said "No, you cannot leave my class" he gets all upset and now just sits and glares at me. I wasn't sure how to handle the situation and when I contacted someone from the counseling office about it, they told me that it is a tough situation and that I should handle it how I see fit. Yeah, but how I see fit isn't what the schoolboard wants.
Anyway, school just isn't on my priority list anymore. Which is really sad. I really don't want to be here and I'm trying to make it seem the opposite in my classroom, but I'm sure that some of the students are picking up on it because today was a really rough day. I try to sound all upbeat and positive and make sure that the students learn what they need to to pass the standardized tests and actually come away from my class learning something, but it is getting harder and harder to focus on that goal. I've tried to find guest speakers to come and talk to my students about possible careers in this field or what exactly it is that they do and how the stuff that they are learning in this class doesn't just mean absorb it and spit it out on a test and then never think about it again. I'm trying to focus on stuff that they can use in real life. I'm trying to give them assignments that don't just cover what I need them to, but also something that they want to do.
It is hard when a student comes up to me and says "Why am I failing your class?" and I look at them and ask "I don't know. Why are you failing my class?" and all they do is shrug their shoulders. Students today just don't seem to care. They want everything to be handed to them and they don't want to work for it. I was amazed at how many of my students didn't listen to the critiques that I gave them on their News Stories or they complained that the grade they got wasn't an A. I don't just give out "A"s, you need to earn them.
I had one student ask me if I was going to bring out the candy when I was asking questions and when I said no, he just shut down and didn't participate in the discussion. Every once in a while I bring out a bucket of suckers that I have and toss them to students when they answer questions correctly. I don't tell them when I am going to do it and I don't do it all that often, but it is amazing the difference between the times I have candy and the times I don't have candy. When I have the candy bucket out and they see a few of their classmates getting a piece, most tend to speak up and at least try. When I don't have it out they just shut down and then ask questions later because they weren't paying attention when I was giving out the answer.
In my film classes, I just had them finish an assignment on Film Piracy and the effects it has on the economy and on today's movies. Most didn't find any connection to the industry or anything else through Piracy. It bugs me really bad because this is something that is running rampant right now and the students just think that it is a big game and that there isn't a problem with doing that. Well, they are in for a big surprise when it comes time for me to grade their assignments and they have music that 1)doesn't follow the Fair Use Guidelines and/or 2)they didn't get permission to use that in their project. They won't be receiving a grade for that portion of their project. I had another student, Pink Pants, ask that if we do music videos for class how are they supposed to get permission for the songs they want to use for their video; because they want to use current songs. I just told him that I'd have to talk to the district about it and see what they say.
If I had enough backing and enough money to do what I have in mind, I would start a Charter School based around the Arts. Music, Film Making, Drawing, Animation, Dance, Theatre, Stage Design, Advertisement, etc. This wouldn't be an alternative school where students who "just don't fit in with the regular school" would go. The students would have to audition and/or present a portfolio to get in and they would have to continue to audition/portfolio in order to stay in the school. It would still cover the stuff that the state wants to cover, but it would be in the direction of an actual career in that field. Math would include how to work with measurements and angles for lights or billboards or film. English would still have the basis in knowledge but screenwriting, ad writing, copywriting, etc would be a big part of it. The students would have to prove that they belong in that field and continue to work on it in order to stay. I would have professionals in the field working in this school so that the students would have real-world projects for them to do and already start networking. Cross-curricular would be the norm.
.
.
.
.
What a wish huh?
I had one student today that has tried my patience one to many times; we'll call him Football Helmet. Right before class even started he came over and said that he needed to go talk to his counselor on a personal matter and that it had to be now. I told him that he needed to be in class and that it could wait until after school or during the break. He said no and he really wouldn't let me finish a sentence saying that it had to be now. I told him that I was going to mark him absent until he came back with a note from the counseling office but I would like him to be in class unless he gets a summons from the office. He called me "insensitive and not-understanding" and that I "was getting all rude and huffy by not letting him go". Finally I just said "Football Helmet, go. I'm not going to argue with you any more." Let me give you some background on this student. He misses a lot of class because of sports or because he just doesn't come back from lunch or is constantly late. Also, he tries to leave class constantly by saying that he is sick or doesn't feel well or asking for the hall pass and then comes back 20 minutes later. I've notified the counseling office about it but it doesn't seem to do anything. It just bugs me that because he is in sports it seems like they are letting him get away with anything. And just because I said "No, you cannot leave my class" he gets all upset and now just sits and glares at me. I wasn't sure how to handle the situation and when I contacted someone from the counseling office about it, they told me that it is a tough situation and that I should handle it how I see fit. Yeah, but how I see fit isn't what the schoolboard wants.
Anyway, school just isn't on my priority list anymore. Which is really sad. I really don't want to be here and I'm trying to make it seem the opposite in my classroom, but I'm sure that some of the students are picking up on it because today was a really rough day. I try to sound all upbeat and positive and make sure that the students learn what they need to to pass the standardized tests and actually come away from my class learning something, but it is getting harder and harder to focus on that goal. I've tried to find guest speakers to come and talk to my students about possible careers in this field or what exactly it is that they do and how the stuff that they are learning in this class doesn't just mean absorb it and spit it out on a test and then never think about it again. I'm trying to focus on stuff that they can use in real life. I'm trying to give them assignments that don't just cover what I need them to, but also something that they want to do.
It is hard when a student comes up to me and says "Why am I failing your class?" and I look at them and ask "I don't know. Why are you failing my class?" and all they do is shrug their shoulders. Students today just don't seem to care. They want everything to be handed to them and they don't want to work for it. I was amazed at how many of my students didn't listen to the critiques that I gave them on their News Stories or they complained that the grade they got wasn't an A. I don't just give out "A"s, you need to earn them.
I had one student ask me if I was going to bring out the candy when I was asking questions and when I said no, he just shut down and didn't participate in the discussion. Every once in a while I bring out a bucket of suckers that I have and toss them to students when they answer questions correctly. I don't tell them when I am going to do it and I don't do it all that often, but it is amazing the difference between the times I have candy and the times I don't have candy. When I have the candy bucket out and they see a few of their classmates getting a piece, most tend to speak up and at least try. When I don't have it out they just shut down and then ask questions later because they weren't paying attention when I was giving out the answer.
In my film classes, I just had them finish an assignment on Film Piracy and the effects it has on the economy and on today's movies. Most didn't find any connection to the industry or anything else through Piracy. It bugs me really bad because this is something that is running rampant right now and the students just think that it is a big game and that there isn't a problem with doing that. Well, they are in for a big surprise when it comes time for me to grade their assignments and they have music that 1)doesn't follow the Fair Use Guidelines and/or 2)they didn't get permission to use that in their project. They won't be receiving a grade for that portion of their project. I had another student, Pink Pants, ask that if we do music videos for class how are they supposed to get permission for the songs they want to use for their video; because they want to use current songs. I just told him that I'd have to talk to the district about it and see what they say.
If I had enough backing and enough money to do what I have in mind, I would start a Charter School based around the Arts. Music, Film Making, Drawing, Animation, Dance, Theatre, Stage Design, Advertisement, etc. This wouldn't be an alternative school where students who "just don't fit in with the regular school" would go. The students would have to audition and/or present a portfolio to get in and they would have to continue to audition/portfolio in order to stay in the school. It would still cover the stuff that the state wants to cover, but it would be in the direction of an actual career in that field. Math would include how to work with measurements and angles for lights or billboards or film. English would still have the basis in knowledge but screenwriting, ad writing, copywriting, etc would be a big part of it. The students would have to prove that they belong in that field and continue to work on it in order to stay. I would have professionals in the field working in this school so that the students would have real-world projects for them to do and already start networking. Cross-curricular would be the norm.
.
.
.
.
What a wish huh?
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