I never finished

It occurred to me today I never finished. Oh, I finished student teaching, I passed all my tests, I cleaned all my stuff out of my room (I think) but I didn't really finish.

I didn't say goodbye to the students. I couldn't. I don't know how teachers say goodbye at the end of every school year.

So two days after I left, I was back to substitute. It had been arranged ahead of time; my supervising teacher was taking a class on a field trip, so in a way I didn't feel bad about not telling the kids I was leaving, since I knew I would see them at least one more time anyway.

I had mixed reactions. 1st period acted like they didn't notice I had been gone. 3rd period was mad because I was the sub and I made them do actual work. 6th period acted like they had not seen me in a year and all hugged me. No class 7th period, but it was cold and I had stragglers who wanted to just sit around and chat with me show up for the period. So that day I really did tell them goodbye. I will miss all of them, but especially those problem kids that got under my skin. Will they graduate? Some yes, some no. Some I can't help but worry about.

So now I'm just the sub, waiting for my own class to worry about. I can't wait!

The Saga of the Lamps and the Air Conditioner

This is the story of my classroom. You see, my teacher has lamps. Not just A LAMP --LAMPS. Her Junior Achievement Company Program made them last year as their product to sell. What is left in the room are the remnants. Every morning, we have to turn on all the lamps. Currently, there are 10. My teacher likes to turn off the overhead flourescent lights and operate just in the lamplight.

I come from the corporate world. I like flourescent lights. I have a hard time staying awake in the lamplight, especially since my teacher is also fond of playing instrumental mood music while the students are working independently on their computers. I turn back on the flourescent lights under the guise of students not being able to see their work. My teacher turns them back off.

Also, we have an air conditioner unit operated within the room. Two, in fact. My teacher is always hot; she is always turning on the air conditioners. I am always cold--I am always turning them off when she is not looking.

There is a point here. Everyone is different. When I turn on the flourescent lights, half the class asks me to turn them back off, the other half is happy they are on. Half the class is hot; half is cold. We need to learn to teach this way too! Sometimes lamps on; sometimes lamps off. Sometimes quiet, sometimes loud. Sometimes lecture, sometimes individual work. All the same is just...all the same and doesn't satisfy everyone's individual differences. Change it up!

Easy to say, harder to put in practice.

7 more days

Just seven more teaching days and I am out of here! 12 weeks have passed so fast.

I've learned a lot of things I never knew. Like, for instance, how to unlock doors while still wearing your keys around your neck on a lanyard (critical; I have to unlock three doors on my way in and out of school every day and the restroom also has a key). How to get them to read your announcement in the morning on the intercom. How to recite the Texas pledge by heart (Honor the Texas flag; I pledge allegiance to thee; Texas, one state ,under God, one and indivisible). How to walk up a staircase when 100 students are descending DOWN it. What not to eat in the cafeteria (almost everything, but the wraps on Wednesdays are good). How to pin up my bangs in a stylish fashion (thanks to Desiree and Jennifer in 1st period, and Vanessa in 6th). Where to buy Famous brand t-shirts (Pac-Sun, and Zumiez, thank you D'Shawn in 2nd and Luis in 1st). I have a greater appreciation for "slash heavy metal" rock (I didn't know such a thing existed). How to train my bladder when you don't get bathroom breaks for an hour and a half on block days. What's Intervention period, and what's Advisory. How to inhale food (only 30 minutes for lunch). Who is my friend. Who is NOT my friend (mean lady in office who reports everyone).

There are still some things I don't know. There are still LOTS of things I don't know. But I'd like to learn.

I have taught some kids that will stick with me when I go. Three of my particular favorites sit together in 6th period. 6th is the last period of the day but these guys keep me energized. I call them; collectively, "Rolly, Laughy, Chatty", so they call themselves "RLC" (we have kids grouped in seating arrangments i.e. "teams" of three and they sit in rolling chairs). Two of the RLC's are seniors and are bound for Houston Community College next year. One showed me his acceptance letter yesterday. Both smart boys; both without the financial resources to go right away to a 4 year university. I wish I could send them myself. What will become of them? I hope they succeed. These two; I think they will. Some of the others; not so sure. Most of the students where I teach are children of immigrants; many of their parents do not speak English.

I can't fix everything. I wish I could. These kids have taught me so much about so many things. I still have so much more to learn.

This is SO HARD!! I have to think

Yes, you do. My BCIS students are working on a project that is a synopsis of all of the skills they have learned thus far in Word Processing Skills. They are creating a job description booklet for five different jobs at a movie theater. They had to "interview" five fictious characters (in a computer simulation) to discover their job duties and requirements. They have some written lists of tasks given to them by the "manager". In the corporate world, this would be a classic "inbox" task duing an interview. They were provided with a checklist outlining the different elements that should be included--a template, a table of contents, a cover page, subdocuments, a table, a bulleted list.

The problem is, they have to assimilate and THINK. They don't want to think. They want to be told step by step what to do. In education, we call this "higher order thinking" and "critical reasoning". It's a real world exercise.

A few of them take right to it. Most of them sit and stare at the computer for awhile. Then they call me over--"I don't understand how to do this" We go over the task again. I walk away, they sit for awhile, do a little input and the computer, and then call me over again--"is this RIGHT?" I explain there is no RIGHT. Each of their booklets will look different. They look at me as if I am from another planet.

Its frustrating--because in education we have not taught them these thinking skills. What will happen in real life job situations?

Another teacher here told me her husband has his own architecture firm, and the young adults he hires right out of college sit and wait to be told what to do and how to do it. IT'S SO HARD TO THINK!

Old School Friday

Today we played "classic" rock CD's while the students were working. By classic, I mean Supertramp "Breakfast in America", Boston, and some Lenny Kravitz. Perked me right up! Some of the students knew Boston; nobody knew Supertramp and this was an "album" that everyone my age (now, I am dating myself) had in their collection.

What will be "old school" when these kids are my age? Ipods? Cell Phones? Rap Music (one can only hope)?

They say you get stuck in a music mode; you just keep listening to whatever it was you listed to in high school for the rest of your life. Must be true. My mother still likes big band music and "crooners"; my dad still likes Elvis. I still like 70's classic rock and, don't tell anybody, the Saturday Night Fever soundtrack. Does that mean my students will be listening to Rap when they are 70? Smile. It will be a sight to behold.

Will teachers in a classroom be "old school"? Will we all be replaced by virtual classrooms--some schools are already going that route. What's the future of teaching?

I think it is apparent that we as teachers need to keep up, even be one step ahead, of trends in learning styles and education today. Kids live in an MTV world. They expect lights and whistles, instant gratification, lots of technology, alternative ways to receive information, individualized, customized instructional methods. They didn't teach me this in my teacher prep classes. I have so much to learn.

So off to Twitter, read other's blogs, discuss in online chatrooms (we have Flat Classroom meetings in Elluminate!), monitor group projects in Wikis and maybe set up my Facebook page. Time for me to stop being "old school". But maybe I'll listen to some Pink Floyd while I'm doing it....

College Letters

This week my BCIS (Business Computer Information Systems) classes have been working on a project using mail merge. Their assignment was to research five colleges, universities, or career training programs they might be interested in attending, find the addresses of the Admissions Office, and write a letter requesting admissions information. This turned out to be a much harder project than expected--but not for the reasons I expected. Turns out "mailing addresses" in this day and age of e-mailing and Iming, is an alien concept to our teenagers. They had a very difficult time even recognizing the mailing address when I pointed it out to them. Is mailing a letter becoming an obsolete function? I had a student ask me why we even wanted to send a letter instead of an e-mail. When I asked her why, she told me letters weren't "real". The students were surprised that we were ACTUALLY mailing the letters. I received envelopes written in pencil, envelopes addressed to themselves with the mailing address in the return address spot, addresses that included phone numbers, e-mail addresses, and smiley faces. A skill not taught? A skill not practiced? A skill needed in the real world?

We spend a lot of time in education in Texas talking about the need for stronger math and science programs, about AP Tests, about writing skills, about TAKS. But are we failing our students when 15, 16, 17 year olds can't address an envelope?

Perhaps we are at the point in Web 2.0 world where communicating by mail is obsolete. Maybe I am just of another generation. What do you think?

Mail me a letter :) 1618 Cottage Landing Ln. Houston, TX 77077

From a Sea of Faces, Individuals Emerge

T minus just over a month left in my student teaching assignment.

The first week I was here, I had trouble distinguishing any of my students. They all looked alike, and generic. They are mostly hispanic, they dress like your typical high school students in jeans and t-shirts. I had to have my seating chart out every day to take roll. I teach 5 class periods; all but one has 24 students. How do you keep them all straight?

Little by little, the individuals emerged. There is Shane the tuba player in first period, sharp as a tack but with attitude. Always the first one done, but never done completely right. Bored, all the time. Started giving him extra work! There are the Anas, now "Ana Basketball" and Ana Tigrette" who sit in the same seat in first and third. There is Jose the talkative in sixth and Jose the quiet in first. There is Carlos, who gives me free sandwich coupons, and Lauren, who wants to be a cosmetologist. There are the sad stories-the girl in first period who is in the hospital with uncontrolled diabetes, who takes care of her baby, her mother who is on dialysis, and her younger brother. The very pregnant 16 year old in sixth period who has just been put on bed rest, her baby is due in 2 weeks. How do they cope and stay in school? Some of them have obstacles I can't even imagine.

In short, they've become people to me, not just faces. I am going to miss all of them when I leave in a month. I have heard high school teachers say they don't really "know" their students, that it is hard to form relationships when you see them for only 50 minutes a day. These students of mine WANT to have personal relationships with their teachers. They are so pleased when I remember that they play the drums, or want to be a fireman. it's definitely a lesson I will take with me when I leave.

So here's to Yuvanelli the Spanish poet, Mario who is a flirt and wants to be a teacher, Steve who owns 44 pairs of sneakers, even Ryan who threw his cell phone across the room and stomped out of class a couple of weeks ago (bless him--PLEASE--he transferred schools after that episode). They are all unique, special, and important in this world. They deserve to be treated as such by teachers.

Happy Homecoming/Happy Halloween/Happy Teaching

Happy many things.

It is Homecoming week here at my school; many girls (and boys) walking around with mums bigger than their bodies on today! Also Halloween--had to take away a mask last class period. Distractions, distractions! How do we teach with so many distractions?

What is distracting to one is not distracting to another. In all my classes, we are using computers and Web 2.0 tecnologies to enhance the learning experience. For example--in my Sports Marketing Class, they are working on a big 9 weeks project; 12 different assignments. My cooperating teacher has posted the whole assignment on a "wiki"--it's a web based technology, like wikipedia. The students are actually creating this project on the web--you can see it at http://springwoodshs.wikispaces.com/ and by navigating under S & EM Project, then the Team Pages. Is it distracting for them? NO!! They love using all of the new technologies; they are better at it an more interested in it than a lot of long time educators, and they are all (well, most)working very hard.

No, it is not your traditional paper and pencil make a poster activity. It's innovative! I am learning so much from my cooperating teacher about keeping things new and fresh in the classroom. But there are many teachers aout there who would not attempt a project like this, out of fear and something new. Also it is "a distraction" for the students to have internet access, according to some teachers. What if they are on My Space? Facebook? You Tube? At school? Bad?

Picture this--in my Business Education Independent Study Class they are partcipating in an internet based global project called Flat Classroom http://flatclassroomproject2008.wikispaces.com/, based on the book "The World is Flat" by Thomas Freidman. As part of this project, they have created a social network (called a Ning) that looks a WHOLE lot like Facebook--the kids immediately relate to it, and are using it to connect with other students in the project all over the world. See it at http://flatclassroomproject.ning.com/ Bad? No--REALLY good!

So a long story to make a point--"distractions" can be positive. And what is a distraction to you or me is an educational opportunity for someone else.

Here's to all of life's distractions

But Miss-Why do I have to blog?

I was asked this question today by one of my students. Why do I have to blog? I can express myself many other ways, he said. This is very true. We are using blogs in the classroom as a way to promote communication, of all types, by our students. Our students today do not do enough writing, and I am finding with my own high school son that he considers writing a chore, or a punishment. We, as teachers, are not doing enough to promote writing as "fun", or a creative outlet. So I sent my students to Ms. Cuellars blog. It's writing, but it's fun! It has links to interesting places, and even a video of her face on an M & M singing that she created. One student asked--I can make my blog fun like that?? That's the beauty--a blog can be anything you want it to be. The sky is the limit. Blog on........

TeXes PPR Test

One month and then some down in my student teaching, I have until December 10 until I am "done". Actually , I have decided I will never be "done" student teaching, because I will always have something new to learn, and sometimes the students are the teachers!

I took my second certification test today--the TeXes PPR required by the state of Texas. I hope I passed. I thought I was prepared, then had some extra time this morning and went to Barnes & Noble to look at an additonal review book--those questions were a lot harder than the review book I had been using. So that made me nervous. Glad I looked at the second review book, because it was a better indicator of the test than the first (Princeton Review--bad marks from me). If I don't pass, I know which book to get for next time!

Anyway, my point, and my mentor teacher and I discussed this, is for the test you have to answer the politically correct way, which may not actually be the way that works in the classroom. I know I probably missed a few questions because of this.

A good productive day, overall. If I had been at school, my students were also testing, taking the PSAT. I hope my mentor teacher is getting a lot done without me there following her around! Sometimes it is hard to share "space"--my "space" is a corner of a desk right now! Looking forward to my own classroom....

MISS!!! I need help

The title of my blog is how my students summon me. Now, I am a casual person, but I do have a name. So now that my students are becoming more comfortable with me, we are working on proper ettiquette! My name is Mrs. Clayton or Ms. C--since both teacher in my room have last names beginning with C, that is a good way to get one of us to respond.

But it also means that more and more students are asking me for help, and I am taking a more active role in teaching the class, so I am relishing the "MISS"!!! requests.

A reason why I have been hearing "MISS" so much is that we have had a lot of technological issues this week with our classroom computers. Yeterday, they started "hiding" files that we were working in, causing the students to have to open them again and again (and again, and so on) to perform all of the necessary functions we were learning in the lesson. Some of my less than patient students were very frustrated. I was beginning to loose patience myself, especially after I sat down to work through a few lesson and had to repopen the document 22 times (I kept count). yesterday afternnon, nice Ms. Cuellar stayed late to try and fix the problem. We thought we had it fixed! Then the first class that tried it today continued to have problems. Technology is a wonderful thing, but when it doesn't work, it is a TERRIBLE thing.

Maybe tomorrow will be better... :)

Post Hurricane Ike

Well, we are long last back at school after Hurricane Ike. Many in the city do not have power, still, almost two weeks later. The first day back, we had all the students blog about their Hurricane experiences.

For me, it was much louder than what I expected. It was scary, because the hurricane came on shore at 2:30 a.m., so most of the heavy winds and rain were during the dark hours before daybreak. By daybreak, the winds had calmed down enough to go outside. Our neighborhodd did not have much damage, but there were so many trees and tree limbs blown down around us. Many roads were impassable and there was no power, so the stoplights did not work. We were lucky because our power was restored after only 4 days.

I am glad to be back student teaching and getting to know my students.

Hurricane is Coming!

My first week of student teaching was, lets just say, ATYPICAL. My first day my teacher had to leave to help evacuate her sister from Lake Jackson. So I got to Experience TEACHING right off the bat and learn that the key to teaching is..always expect the unexpected. The day went great! I enjoyed meeting the students and finding my way around. I learned what is good and bad to eat in the school cafeteria. I learned that I need to invest in more comfortable shoes!

My second day was a little calmer, but not much. You see, those of you not on the Gulf Coast may not know this, but, um, we have a little HURRICANE named Ike headed straight for us. So we were already assuming we probably would not have school today. Students can sense this a mile away--by 8:00 a.m. they were already asking if the school was getting out early. No such luck, but they did cancel today as expected. Since landfall is not expected until overnight, today is actually a pretty nice day in Houston. My younger son and I just ventured out to see what was still open. The grocery store seems to be the most popular place to be--and we did find McDonalds still open (of course). The husband and other son went off to the gym; also still open. Most everything expected to be shut down tonight, so have to get out while we can.

That's all for now!

My First Blog

Hello! This is my first blog. Tomorrow I begin a 12 week assignment which will involve a life change for me. I am finishing my teaching certificate to teach high school business after spending 25 years in the corporate world. I will meet my students and spend a couple of days observing "how things work" at my school and in my classroom. I'm so ready to begin! I am working with an awesome teacher and hope to learn a lot. More later...