Sunday, January 25, 2009
Virtually in Qatar
All weekend I have been in Qatar, only virtually instead of in person. Ms. Cuellar and three of her students, Steve, Erika, and Karla finally made it to the Flat Classroom Conference 2009 after a whirlwind of fundraising and a 21 hour plane ride. I am the substitute "left behind" with the other 6 students. On Friday, we filmed a couple of videos. The first was a video asking questions that the students, most who have not travelled outside of the US, wanted to know about being in a foreign land. See it at http://flatclassroomconference.ning.com/video/questions-from-us The second was a funny video showing Ms. Cuellar all of the "forbidden" things her students were doing while she was gone, like texting, talking on the phone, and listening to music. Today we got our answers back from Steve, Erika, and Karla, see it at http://flatclassroomconference.ning.com/video/2410443:Video:5627. I am so proud to hear them speak about their experiences and talk about breaking down cultural stereotypes. They have made friends with students from all over the world and the girls were very surprised at the cultural norms regarding women in a Muslim country! I'm very excited to hear all the stories when they return on Wednesday.
Thursday, January 15, 2009
Last minute fundraising pictch for Qatar Trip
Hey-my former students made the paper today! Please see this link and help if you can. I am so excited for Ms. Cuellar and the three students chosen to attend the conference. I will attend virtually! Here's a link to the story: http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/nb/memorial/news/6208820.html
Wednesday, January 14, 2009
Life as a Substitute-Why it is not all bad
I liken substituting to being a grandparent. You get them for a day, rotten them, and then you get to give them back!
Yesterday I was substituting at Spring Woods-not in the classroom I student taught in. I knew a few of the kids, but not most. I had been left a note about a kid in first period being "a challenge". Well, bless this teacher, because I don't know how she gets this kid to do any work. He likes to chat and bother everyone else. Well, so we chatted for awhile and then I told him he had to get to work. He started trying to bargain with me--I'll work for 5 minutes if you...etc. Was going to resort to bribing him with candy (a substitute's best friend, even though you are not supposed to do that--but it is a GRANDPARENT thing) until he mentioned that all of his regular teachers bribe him with candy. Scratch that.
On class period told me I was the meanest sub they had ever had. One told me I was the nicest. One was surprised I knew the trick of unplugging the mouse from the computer and pretending the computer doesn't work (first thing I always check now). At the end of the day..I got to give them all back! Not all bad.
Tomorrow I go to another high school. I have shamelessly marketed myself to all of the Business Computer Information Systems Teachers in the district as "a substitute who knows how to turn on the computers". Evidently, this is in high demand, so I am busy this month!
More later!
Yesterday I was substituting at Spring Woods-not in the classroom I student taught in. I knew a few of the kids, but not most. I had been left a note about a kid in first period being "a challenge". Well, bless this teacher, because I don't know how she gets this kid to do any work. He likes to chat and bother everyone else. Well, so we chatted for awhile and then I told him he had to get to work. He started trying to bargain with me--I'll work for 5 minutes if you...etc. Was going to resort to bribing him with candy (a substitute's best friend, even though you are not supposed to do that--but it is a GRANDPARENT thing) until he mentioned that all of his regular teachers bribe him with candy. Scratch that.
On class period told me I was the meanest sub they had ever had. One told me I was the nicest. One was surprised I knew the trick of unplugging the mouse from the computer and pretending the computer doesn't work (first thing I always check now). At the end of the day..I got to give them all back! Not all bad.
Tomorrow I go to another high school. I have shamelessly marketed myself to all of the Business Computer Information Systems Teachers in the district as "a substitute who knows how to turn on the computers". Evidently, this is in high demand, so I am busy this month!
More later!
Thursday, January 8, 2009
Maybe Doha is still alive...
Got a Tweet from my Teacher saying she only needed $3,000 more to get her students to Doha for the Flat Classroom Conference, follow the blog at http://springwoodsgoes2qatar.blogspot.com. I really hope she makes it! Running out of time, alas.
I miss my/Esties students. I miss Estie, too. My house is very quiet in comparison to the classroom! I went up to my son's school today and had a good conversation with one of the CATE teachers there about Junior Achievement Trade Fair (what an experience) and Flat Classroom. I also had a talk with the principal; he is trying to get me job there, but need someone certified in Tech Ed; that test looks like a bear.
Yeah! Just as I was typing Estie called and needs a sub for tomorrow--so I will get to see the kids. She also said she is definitely taking two students, and probably two more. Good news!
More sub work for me! No, that is not the good news--the fact that the kids will get to go to Qatar is!
I miss my/Esties students. I miss Estie, too. My house is very quiet in comparison to the classroom! I went up to my son's school today and had a good conversation with one of the CATE teachers there about Junior Achievement Trade Fair (what an experience) and Flat Classroom. I also had a talk with the principal; he is trying to get me job there, but need someone certified in Tech Ed; that test looks like a bear.
Yeah! Just as I was typing Estie called and needs a sub for tomorrow--so I will get to see the kids. She also said she is definitely taking two students, and probably two more. Good news!
More sub work for me! No, that is not the good news--the fact that the kids will get to go to Qatar is!
Saturday, January 3, 2009
What did she do wrong?
Just reading a blog from my cooperating teacher-she has given up on fundraising to get her students to the Flat Classroom Conference in Doha Qatar this month. Out of the $20,000 needed only $4300 came in. She tried; she really did.
She was optimisitic and idealistic; nothing wrong with either but it is a bad time of year to raise money and a bad economic environment to raise money. Also, I really think, and I could not tell her this because she was so passionate about it, that attending the conference was a luxury and the same experience could be had without spending $20,000 to fly overseas. I would have given up long before she did, actually. Will she use the $4300 and get herself to the conference? I really hope she will. She deserves it; she works very hard for her students and is very passionate about the Flat Classroom project. But the students will able to attend and participate virtually; indeed this is part of global collaoration that sometimes you may never meet your co-workers face to face.
Sorry for the lost opportunity, but a lesson learned.......
She was optimisitic and idealistic; nothing wrong with either but it is a bad time of year to raise money and a bad economic environment to raise money. Also, I really think, and I could not tell her this because she was so passionate about it, that attending the conference was a luxury and the same experience could be had without spending $20,000 to fly overseas. I would have given up long before she did, actually. Will she use the $4300 and get herself to the conference? I really hope she will. She deserves it; she works very hard for her students and is very passionate about the Flat Classroom project. But the students will able to attend and participate virtually; indeed this is part of global collaoration that sometimes you may never meet your co-workers face to face.
Sorry for the lost opportunity, but a lesson learned.......
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