blurg.
We don't go on spring break for another two weeks. And I have the beginnings of a cold. Yuck.
I am very glad that we have two weeks off. But it will not get here soon enough.
The count down is on!
Monday, March 28, 2011
Friday, March 18, 2011
What was that you said?
Poetry is fun?!
Poetry in a Bag.
Topic: School
Directions -
Have students take out a piece of paper and cut it into strips. Each student needs one strip of paper. Each student will write one line about the subject. It should be the first thing that comes to mind. It can be one word or a whole sentence. When they are done writing they will fold up their strip of paper and put it in the bag that the teacher is holding. The teacher will then mix up the 30+ pieces of paper and hand them back to the groups. (I have my students in table groups of 5 or 6 so each group becomes a stanza) The groups will receive tape so they can tape their stanza together. Teacher will collect their stanzas and the whole class will decide what order the stanzas will go in.
The result is a wonderful poem that is sometimes funny, poignant, sincere, and always impressive.
Then what I do is tape all of the stanzas together and then hang the whole thing from the ceiling. The students love seeing their work dripping from the roof. It inspires many of them that might not think that they can write beautiful poetry.
Their next adventure is with a 40 line poem about a goal.
I'm excited to see what they come up with!
Poetry in a Bag.
Topic: School
Directions -
Have students take out a piece of paper and cut it into strips. Each student needs one strip of paper. Each student will write one line about the subject. It should be the first thing that comes to mind. It can be one word or a whole sentence. When they are done writing they will fold up their strip of paper and put it in the bag that the teacher is holding. The teacher will then mix up the 30+ pieces of paper and hand them back to the groups. (I have my students in table groups of 5 or 6 so each group becomes a stanza) The groups will receive tape so they can tape their stanza together. Teacher will collect their stanzas and the whole class will decide what order the stanzas will go in.
The result is a wonderful poem that is sometimes funny, poignant, sincere, and always impressive.
Then what I do is tape all of the stanzas together and then hang the whole thing from the ceiling. The students love seeing their work dripping from the roof. It inspires many of them that might not think that they can write beautiful poetry.
Their next adventure is with a 40 line poem about a goal.
I'm excited to see what they come up with!
Tuesday, March 1, 2011
"Live Forever!"
There have only been a few students in my six years of teaching that will stand out for the rest of my life.
J is one of them.
He is the kind of kid that you don't meet everyday.
He is a remarkable writer, and all around wonderful person.
Seniors at our school have to put together a senior portfolio. One of the tasks for this project is to write a letter to a teacher who has been an important roll model in their life.
J wrote his letter to me. It was three and a half pages long.
Needless to say I cried when I read it.
He also got me a book titled Listen to the Echos: The Ray Bradbury Interviews.
In the letter he explains that because of my class and the way that I taught Fahrenheit 451 changed his view of literature and ultimately, life. He explained that prior to his junior year he had felt a bit lost. Then he came into my classroom. I always hope that this will be the case. That because a student was in my classroom their life is better. I want to inspire students, and there are always days when I think that it's working. And there are always days when I feel like it's not. But to have someone look back almost a year later and say that I was a part of a life shift. I can't tell you how powerful that is.
His note in the book that he gifted to me he told me to read a story about Bradbury's childhood. The story of Mr. Electrico. Bradbury was a small child and went to the circus and saw a man called Mr. Electrico - and he looked at Bradbury as a young kid and pointed to him in the crowd and yelled "Live Forever!". Bradbury's lust for life has always drawn me to his work. His essays, novels, everything about him is full of love. I have hoped that this is also something that people - particularly my students - think about me.
I feel very lucky that I get to do what I do everyday. And feel very blessed that a student took the time to tell me that it mattered.
J is one of them.
He is the kind of kid that you don't meet everyday.
He is a remarkable writer, and all around wonderful person.
Seniors at our school have to put together a senior portfolio. One of the tasks for this project is to write a letter to a teacher who has been an important roll model in their life.
J wrote his letter to me. It was three and a half pages long.
Needless to say I cried when I read it.
He also got me a book titled Listen to the Echos: The Ray Bradbury Interviews.
In the letter he explains that because of my class and the way that I taught Fahrenheit 451 changed his view of literature and ultimately, life. He explained that prior to his junior year he had felt a bit lost. Then he came into my classroom. I always hope that this will be the case. That because a student was in my classroom their life is better. I want to inspire students, and there are always days when I think that it's working. And there are always days when I feel like it's not. But to have someone look back almost a year later and say that I was a part of a life shift. I can't tell you how powerful that is.
His note in the book that he gifted to me he told me to read a story about Bradbury's childhood. The story of Mr. Electrico. Bradbury was a small child and went to the circus and saw a man called Mr. Electrico - and he looked at Bradbury as a young kid and pointed to him in the crowd and yelled "Live Forever!". Bradbury's lust for life has always drawn me to his work. His essays, novels, everything about him is full of love. I have hoped that this is also something that people - particularly my students - think about me.
I feel very lucky that I get to do what I do everyday. And feel very blessed that a student took the time to tell me that it mattered.
Monday, February 21, 2011
6:45 am
I typically leave the house at 6:40 - If I'm running late it will be 6:45.
Friday I woke up at 6:45.
AHHHHHHH
Typically I would be freaked out but know that it would be okay.
Friday I was being observed by my principal. Blerg.
Thank goodness I have a wonderful husband. While I was in and out of the shower, blow drying my hair and brushing my teeth, he was getting together shoes socks and clothing out of the dryer.
I made it out of the house in 11 minutes. When I gave my hubby a kiss goodbye he reminded me that the principal was not going to be looking at my hair, but watching my teaching.
Great.
While I was driving to work I looked in the rear view mirror. To add to the wonderful morning my mascara had smeared all over my face when I put my sweatshirt on.
Great.
I got to school with 10 mintues before the 7:30 start time. A Christmas Miracle!
The funnies part of this whole thing was that my lesson he was coming to watch was part of the Autobiographical Narrative. And the narrative prompt I was giving was to have students 'write about their morning'.
Ahh the irony.
At least I had a great story to tell my students. And the lesson went really well. I was pleased with how it went. And the principal smiled a few times. That is always a good sign.
Friday I woke up at 6:45.
AHHHHHHH
Typically I would be freaked out but know that it would be okay.
Friday I was being observed by my principal. Blerg.
Thank goodness I have a wonderful husband. While I was in and out of the shower, blow drying my hair and brushing my teeth, he was getting together shoes socks and clothing out of the dryer.
I made it out of the house in 11 minutes. When I gave my hubby a kiss goodbye he reminded me that the principal was not going to be looking at my hair, but watching my teaching.
Great.
While I was driving to work I looked in the rear view mirror. To add to the wonderful morning my mascara had smeared all over my face when I put my sweatshirt on.
Great.
I got to school with 10 mintues before the 7:30 start time. A Christmas Miracle!
The funnies part of this whole thing was that my lesson he was coming to watch was part of the Autobiographical Narrative. And the narrative prompt I was giving was to have students 'write about their morning'.
Ahh the irony.
At least I had a great story to tell my students. And the lesson went really well. I was pleased with how it went. And the principal smiled a few times. That is always a good sign.
Monday, February 14, 2011
Love
Here in no particular order are some things I'm currently in love with.
- Today is a school holiday. So I'll be spending some quality time with a fat stack of papers. But I'll also spend some time at TJMax with my dear friend Nicole.
- My friend Kristine (Of Blog stalking fame) has started her own blog. Go check her out. She's witty and a bit sassy. You will be able to tell that from the fact that she started a swear jar to help her cut down on her wide vocabulary.
-The crockpot dinner that is currently basking in some amazing saucy goodness. Asian chicken is happening in my life tonight, and tomorrow for lunch!
- Girl Scout cookie time. I have had a thin mint and it was just as good as I remember. I currently have a little purple box sitting on my kitchen table. Yes friends you know what they are, Samoas. None of this Carmel Delight bologna. Yes, I know, it is slighly politically incorrect to call them Samoas. But when I was a girl scout* they were Samoas and therefore what they will be called.
Today is also my brother's birthday. There was a party at his house last night and we had an excellent meal of fondue fun. He is now a quarter of a century old. 25 was a good year for me, I hope it is good to him too!
*My troop had 32 girls in it. We sold so many cookies that we went to Catalina Island.
- Today is a school holiday. So I'll be spending some quality time with a fat stack of papers. But I'll also spend some time at TJMax with my dear friend Nicole.
- My friend Kristine (Of Blog stalking fame) has started her own blog. Go check her out. She's witty and a bit sassy. You will be able to tell that from the fact that she started a swear jar to help her cut down on her wide vocabulary.
-The crockpot dinner that is currently basking in some amazing saucy goodness. Asian chicken is happening in my life tonight, and tomorrow for lunch!
- Girl Scout cookie time. I have had a thin mint and it was just as good as I remember. I currently have a little purple box sitting on my kitchen table. Yes friends you know what they are, Samoas. None of this Carmel Delight bologna. Yes, I know, it is slighly politically incorrect to call them Samoas. But when I was a girl scout* they were Samoas and therefore what they will be called.
Today is also my brother's birthday. There was a party at his house last night and we had an excellent meal of fondue fun. He is now a quarter of a century old. 25 was a good year for me, I hope it is good to him too!
*My troop had 32 girls in it. We sold so many cookies that we went to Catalina Island.
Saturday, February 12, 2011
Tap into what you know.
Here is what I have discovered about teaching. I know that teachers across this country know the information I am about to present. But I think it's good enough to share again.
Tap into what a student knows about.
Example:
C comes to me and needs help with his writing. He is a very dedicated student, but his writing lacks structure. He can explain what he wants to say to me, but when he puts it down on paper there is just a disconnect.
C: Mrs. Parsons will you look at this revision I've done on my persuasive essay.
Me: Sure C, (He patiently waits for me to pick a part his essay) well. There are a few things you need to fix. I think your biggest problem is that there is no flow to what you have written. You need to take a look at your syntax and your diction choices.
C: I'm not sure how to do that.
Me: Okay. What I'm about to say may change the way your write. You love music correct
C: More Than Life. *He is in the band and is a section leader.
Me: You know how in music you have a crescendo or a decrescendo so that there is a reaction from the audience.
C: Yeahhhhhhh
Me: I want you to make your writing do that.
C: OH My Gosh. Oh my gosh. I get it. I know how to do that. I get it.
He then told me thank you about a hundred times. It made my day to know that I could help a kid look at his writing in a different way.
Tap into what a student knows about.
Example:
C comes to me and needs help with his writing. He is a very dedicated student, but his writing lacks structure. He can explain what he wants to say to me, but when he puts it down on paper there is just a disconnect.
C: Mrs. Parsons will you look at this revision I've done on my persuasive essay.
Me: Sure C, (He patiently waits for me to pick a part his essay) well. There are a few things you need to fix. I think your biggest problem is that there is no flow to what you have written. You need to take a look at your syntax and your diction choices.
C: I'm not sure how to do that.
Me: Okay. What I'm about to say may change the way your write. You love music correct
C: More Than Life. *He is in the band and is a section leader.
Me: You know how in music you have a crescendo or a decrescendo so that there is a reaction from the audience.
C: Yeahhhhhhh
Me: I want you to make your writing do that.
C: OH My Gosh. Oh my gosh. I get it. I know how to do that. I get it.
He then told me thank you about a hundred times. It made my day to know that I could help a kid look at his writing in a different way.
Wednesday, February 2, 2011
Boring Blogger
So it's been a few weeks since my last post. It's not that I don't want to blog. I do.
But I just feel like there has been nothing exciting going on to blog about.
We're back at school and I've been doing well at keeping up with all of the things I'm supposed to.
Just nothing big to report.
So I'll continue to Keep Calm and Carry On!
But I just feel like there has been nothing exciting going on to blog about.
We're back at school and I've been doing well at keeping up with all of the things I'm supposed to.
Just nothing big to report.
So I'll continue to Keep Calm and Carry On!
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