I hate being in between teaching units. Right now my 10th graders are done with Caesar but too close to spring break to start Night. So we are doing a quick little poetry unit.
Just a week and a half because they did the CAHSEE this week and next Friday begins glorious spring break. I love that my district gives us two whole weeks off!
So last class I showed them what Slam poetry is. Got an amazing example of off the website Edutopia. And found an example in one of the student work books I have. The kids were amazed that poetry could be 'cool'.
Then we made our own poem. We started with the subject. School.
Then each person wrote down a sentence on a piece of paper.
Then we mixed them up in a bag - read them out loud and figured out what order they should go in. There were some amazing statements made. One of my favorites was -
'the motivational posters don't inspire me at all'
They were excited to see how it all came together and how simple sentences could be turned into poetry.
I can't wait to see what they will create this week!
Showing posts with label state testing. Show all posts
Showing posts with label state testing. Show all posts
Saturday, March 20, 2010
Sunday, March 7, 2010
state testing
Makes me want to rip my hair out. In the next three weeks I will be a part of....
CAHSEE - California High School Exit Exam
EAP - Early Assesment Program
DWA - District Writing Assesment
And after spring break Comes the CSTs (California's state tests)
It's not that I am against testing. That's not it at all. I think that holding both teachers and students accountable is a good thing. But as a teacher it puts a lot of pressure on me. So this week I'm getting my kids ready for this full few weeks of testing.
Currently I am teaching 4 different classes. I don't mind it so much because they are classes I have taught before - but I do feel like I can't catch my breath sometimes. I think part of it is that I am now three weeks away from spring break. In our district gives two weeks for spring break. TWO WEEKS!!! two amazing weeks of sleeping in and staying up late. I can't wait.
But in the next three I need to finish teaching the research project to my juniors, prep my sophomores for the cahsee (and I want to do a slam poetry unit) - gosh once I put this down it doesn't seem like a lot. Maybe if I keep saying this it will become less and less.
And if I follow the simple and very helpful words from Creation Corner I choose happiness.
PS if you want any good craft ideas - head your little self over to Creation Corner - She is awesome! and has links to other awesome sites!
CAHSEE - California High School Exit Exam
EAP - Early Assesment Program
DWA - District Writing Assesment
And after spring break Comes the CSTs (California's state tests)
It's not that I am against testing. That's not it at all. I think that holding both teachers and students accountable is a good thing. But as a teacher it puts a lot of pressure on me. So this week I'm getting my kids ready for this full few weeks of testing.
Currently I am teaching 4 different classes. I don't mind it so much because they are classes I have taught before - but I do feel like I can't catch my breath sometimes. I think part of it is that I am now three weeks away from spring break. In our district gives two weeks for spring break. TWO WEEKS!!! two amazing weeks of sleeping in and staying up late. I can't wait.
But in the next three I need to finish teaching the research project to my juniors, prep my sophomores for the cahsee (and I want to do a slam poetry unit) - gosh once I put this down it doesn't seem like a lot. Maybe if I keep saying this it will become less and less.
And if I follow the simple and very helpful words from Creation Corner I choose happiness.
PS if you want any good craft ideas - head your little self over to Creation Corner - She is awesome! and has links to other awesome sites!
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