New Blog!

Due to a need to have blogging connected to our PHR6 email, we have a new blog (since blogger is such a gripe to connect to our email)! I sent you an invite to our WordPress blog on your school email.

To access your email from a school computer, open a web browser and type
//fs2/exchange
in the URL spot.

From home, go to mail.phr6.com/exchange. When it prompts you to enter your user name, type:
phr6.com\username and enter your password.

If you have trouble with the process, come see me.

Here we go again

The kids seem to keep getting crazier and crazier as each week passes. It's fun to watch each kid get more and more comfortable with me. i love the fact that they are starting to open up but i am afraid they will get too comfortable. The more laid back they get the more obnoxious they become. It still drives me crazy when they randomly yell at the top of their lungs but then i have to remember that they are only 6th grade boys. i hope that it will get better here pretty soon.

this week was a good week, we are getting ready to start personel developement and Mrs. Keck said that I can start to make a lesson plan and teach soon!!

It's still hectic!

I'm not sure if these kids will calm down. They are still very loud and disruptive. It seems like all I do is complain about them, but it's really not all that bad. I think they will calm down eventually. I still have hope for them. :) All together they do get their work done, so I guess that's good. They are working on drawing storyboards explaining Native American Legends. They are working in partners. I just drew their names out of a hat to figure out their partner. The next project is making dream catchers. She's going to start integrating me into the teaching stuff. I think I am going to help teach the embroidery unit and the mask making unit. It seems like we are emphasizing a lot on the Native American culture. I'm excited to get to learn more about the Native's culture and teach about their art. Thanks for reading my lovely post! :D

Good Week

I'm starting to work with the students on my own more and more. The new boy that starts with a K is warming up to me. Unfortunately he can't go to tutoring and he really needs it. I wish I could drive him but I know I can't. I found out that even if a child is being lazy you can't take away his recess or P.E. to catch him up on his work. I think we should be able to take that time and use it!

Refreshing my memory!

This week was another 4 day week for me because our of softball tournament. We've started on the job section. They typed their letters and worked on job applications. They had to write as if they were applying for a job at Walmart. I got to go around and help them with their formatting of their letters. I mainly helped with the way that they should address the owner (aka Ms. Kelly). I also went around and read a few of their papers and helped with some of their sentences so they would sound more professional. They also filled out job applications. I only helped a little with these though. I think that they are learning alot from doing both of these. I know that it is for sure refreshing my memory from last year. It will definitely help me when applying for a job, and I know that it will help them alot too. I really like how many different things we are covering in this class. I also like how much all of the students are learning and they don't even realize how much this will help them once they graduate.

Journal 4

Yes! Finally, first week Cadet Teaching! I started on Wednesday. The Horizons schedule is all kinds of screwed up this year at the elementary. First grade has Horizons for block 4 in the afternoon on Monday and Tuesday, block 2 on Wednesday, block 1 on Thursday, and block 2 again on Friday. Second grade is block 2 on M-T, and block 3 on W-Th-F. Third grade has it worst. They actually start before anyone else does on M, block 1 on T-W, and block 3 Th, but no Horizons on Friday. Fourth grade has it block 3 on M-T, then block 4 on W-Th-F.

You probably didn't understand all that after only reading it once, so let it suffice to say that I will be dealing mostly with first grade on Mondays and Tuesdays, and mostly fourth grade from Wednesday to Friday. I will also have the very end of the 3rd block on all days, so that means more 4th grade and a little bit of 2nd grade.

Anyway, the kids are already warming up to me a lot, particularly the older ones. I still have to learn all their names, but I'll be working on that. My first day I didn't do much, but I've been integrated more since then. Thursday I played a brain game with them, and Friday I helped them with their new logic puzzles. My homework was to teach my little sister how to do the 2nd grade logic puzzle. She didn't quite understand it the first day. They're kinda hard for the really young ones.

All in all, it's looking like it will be a lot of fun! I look forward to next week!

DOT LEADERS

I got to teach for the first time this week! It was a pretty short lesson probably around 3 minutes and I think I was just up in the front to stand my the smart board but i was pretty excited. I was a little nervous but it was good!!!!! ready to teach another 3 minute lesson! WOOT WOOT

journal whatever number we are on!

this week was pretty boring there wasnt much to do. they took a test on wed and just about everyone of them failed it. none of the kids in my class listen to anything that the teacher says, so the rest of the class we are running around trying to help everyone with their questions so they dont end up having every long to do their homework and none of them take it home to do it so none of them know the material and do good on tests.

Monday Mrs. Lee wasn't here so I helped in the office. I sorted papers and put papers in new students files.
Tuesday I was at the middle school. I checked in and out books. I also shelved the books that I checked in.
Wednesday I was back at the high school and I helped blow up balloons, put paper down, and make punch for Mrs. Andrew's birthday.
Thursday I was at the middle school and a class came in. Mrs. Lee gave a lesson and I checked out books for the 5th graders.
Friday (today) I helped hang up ribbons from the ceiling for all the students who got 80% or higher on their AR tests. It was kinda hard hanging them.

My Teachers

The more time I spend in Mr. Conklin's Pre-Algebra class, the more I realize that my students have just as much to teach me as I do them. While doing problems on the board, I noticed some of the students were only paying attention when I asked them a question directly. So instead of continueing on with what I had been doing, I decided to improvise. I realized that the problem was something Mr. Conklin had adressed before; they were getting too comfortable. To bring them slightly out of their comfort, I turned our board work into a game. When solving a problem the student would get a point for eventually reaching the correct solution, and I would also give them a chance for a bonus. Their bonus would be anything from dancing around each time they added or sharing a fun fact for each opperation. Quickly, I realized exactly where their comfort zones were, because while one of my students was ready to make a fool of themself, another became incredibly uncomfortable and nearly shut down.

Lesson learned: Change is good, but you just need to know how much and what kind.

I'll et eventually, though. I have to.

I'll get it eventually

This week i really saw the modd swings of some of the kids. one day they would be all happy go lucky and the next day they would be so angry and defiant to everything you asked. there is one student who is bound and determined to not do anything other than what he wants. how do you handle those situations? the one girl i work with is slowly getting better, and it is so cool to watch her develop throughout the weeks. and i think she is starting to grow used to me now because she isn't so timid around and that makes my heart happy. we did a little expiriment where we did one assignment together and answered questions and did the same assignment the next day seperately and it was surprising the difference in the grades. it was a cool way to see how each kids learns differently. :)

I remembered! :D

So my kids are still kind of crazy, so Mrs. Cogorno put them in a seating chart this week. Last week I worked on my own art project more than I helped them. It was very helpful for myself to get that extra work time, but the kids weren't very appreciative of me working on my own work. They want my attention all of the time, it began to get annoying. They would keep asking me what I was working on and wanted to look at it all of the time. I understand that it could have been helpful for them to see a high schooler's art work, but it became a distraction. Don't get me wrong, I love my class, but it's hard to remember that they are only middle schoolers and get distracted easily. By the way I did have permission to work on my own project.

I am having trouble commenting on others' posts on the school computers. I can do it fine on my iPod and computer at home. However, I can't make a post from my iPod. It's very weird.

Any ways I really hope this new seating chart will help calm my class down and they can be more focused. They just finished a project on implied lines and are going to start Native American Art. I think they are going to make a dream catcher and work on weaving. I am excited to see how everything turns out.

Journal 4

Well, I have been grading lots of papers, and its somewhat enjoyable, but I also assist the students who need it, English is one of my better subjects... I feel good about cadet teaching, I really do, but sometimes even I get hung up on a question. Even though I do my best, I still feel bed that I get Stumped. Last week, the freshman had a vistior from OTC, and recieved a new seating chart.
I havent gotten to do much more than that.... But, I enjoy it!

good week

This week I just worked with the kids individually. There is a girl that has become attached to me and it makes me nervous because I am afraid she's going to become to attached and not focus on school. All the kids are starting to get more comfortable when I come in.

Journal 3

Mrs. Stanek is almost done testing! I feel like a loser for not really doing anything during last block. I try to work on Science Research stuff when I can, but I am ready to actually DO SOMETHING.

Last week went really well. I did some independent testing with all the kids. They are wroking on all the letters and the sounds they make. We are also working a lot on math while i am there. They are learning all their numbers, and how to spell them. We play little games with them to help with memorization, i think it is working. I am not sure what my teacher wants to do this week, i will find out today. I love Cadet teaching :)

Cadet Teaching

Last week I helped the 5th grade class. I answered any question that they had along with checked in and checked out their books. At the high school I helped Mrs. Lee with any paper work that she needed help with. I also decorated bulletin boards. I enjoy working in the library. At the high school it is very quiet and I feel like I get a lot accomplished that Mrs. Lee has not had the time to do. When Mrs. Lee is gone I help in the office with whatever needs to be done.

Game Plans...

This was also a short week, but again productive. In this class we have a basic game plan every week. First they do their worksheets, then grade them, then go over them, then review, then they have their test. I usually help with the worksheets and review in some way and then help a few students with their tests. This week we played a different review game. I think that they really enjoyed this one. I also got to grade my first paper the other day!! :) Ms. Kelly already had all of them graded and handed back to the students so that they could go over them. Then another paper just kind of showed up. While Ms. Kelly began reviewing I graded the lone paper and then handed it back. This week went very well again and I like how I know kind of how the week will go ahead of time. I really enjoy this class and know that it will be a great year!

Journal 3

This past week has been...interesting!!!!
I've been grading papers for Mr. Bauer- which takes me 5-15 minutes, its really sad to see that some students struggle...I see some students struggling sometimes, but when it comes to the grade that you have to give them, it really makes me wonder why they won't ask for help (even though I rarely ask for help...) and, I guess... I just have to realize not everyone is a perfect student.
When I finish grading, I love walking around the classroom... Every day this past week has brought me new insight.
Like Tuesday, I had "peace" wrote on my hand, and I went to assist a group of girls, and one of them said due to me having that wrote on my hand, I wasn't very "teacher-y". The girls got a kick out of it, and I did too... But I definitely realized she's correct-in a sense.
Wednesday and Thursday I was back to the same group of girls, and one of them (not the same one as before) had wanted me to help her read a story because she simply didn't understand it. The day before, she admitted, that they were goofing off all hour.
Being a cadet teacher in a sense makes me wonder about teacher-teachers. I love it, but it's taking some serious thought! And, who knew I'd need to think???
But, I'm ready for next week, and all it brings!

journal3

this week was fun i didnt do as much class work but i still helped them with there homework after they had their lecture. im glad im in a math class cadet teaching because i didnt take a math class for my sr year and i think it will help me remeber some math for college even though its 7th grade they still do things that we would do in buisiness math or one of the easier high school classes.

Journal 3

Four day weeks mess with me, but I'm glad to have this week scoot by quickly. On the other hand, this will be the last full week I teach the English III classes for a while, so that is kind of sad for me. I suppose I will survive. The highlight of me week so far has been going to the livestock show last night. Not only did I get to spend some time with my bff, some other colleagues I like, several former students, and many community members of various ages, but it was also my first experience at a hog show so it was quite the educational night.

Some of you are having trouble with the reflective aspect of the journal entries (the "so what" part of the what/so what set up), so this is my overt example. My "what" was above --> I went to the hog show. Here is my "so what" (the implications of/reflections on going to the hog show):

It is important for teachers to reach out to and participate with other groups, classes, and activities that don't necessarily involve (or in some cases even interest them). In college I had a few professors emphasize that as a teacher you should attend sporting events, but the advice stopped at that. While I agree that attending ball games is a good thing for teachers, I've attended lots of games and have seen little result from it. Student athletes or their parents might notice and appreciate your presence, but many don't seem to notice (although more probably do than I perceive). It is easy to get lost in a crowd at a sporting event. It is hard to get lost in the crowd at the hog show. I've noticed over the past few years of being regularly involved in ag classes and FFA activities particularly (although I'm a fan of other organizations as well), the kids who are involved in that program are better students for me. Part of that is changes in them (i.e., it seems like they try harder to do well in class or have a more positive attitude), but part of that is probably also me. As I come to know better students through their co-curricular activities, I can better be their instructor. And there is another bonus: the teachers involved with said activities increasingly have become active in mine. Building sets. Judging speech contests. Chaperoning activities. In the words of Martha Stewart, "It's a good thing."

A Video Link

Hi there! I was looking up a completely different poem by Taylor Mali when I came upon
"What Teachers Make" and thought you might be interested in it. Enjoy!

I keep forgetting! :/

Last week was kind of crazy because of the 4 day weekend. The kids were a little more hyper than they had been. I have a few kids who are very hyper active and can't sit down for more than 10 seconds. Hopefully they will calm down a bit. So what I have been doing is kind of floating around the classroom helping kids if they need me to. I really enjoy it though. I am learning a lot. It's really a struggle for the kids to stay quiet and pay attention to what they are supposed to be doing. I haven't started to do any kind of lesson plans or teaching yet, but sometimes I'll do an example of something while Mrs. Cogorno explains it. I hope everyone else is having a great time in their class like I am!

Bid adieu to week two

It’s the beginning of week three and I am fairly certain it is safe to say that the honeymoon is over. Students have become comfortable with me and the daily droning routines of high school. In my experience people, not just students, tend to achieve less than desirable results when they become secure and thus complacent. Being the eclectic educator and applier of theory that I am, I have come to employ Vygotsky’s zone of proximal development (ZPD) in most areas of teaching and learning. Without initiating a snore inducing composition on ZPD, I will say that by adding controlled or calculated doses of stress into various activities students achieve more by simply not being comfortable. The key is to find that small sweet spot for each student between complacency and frustration, that area where they are on slightly on edge and uncomfortable, where they flourish the most. It is a tool I utilize daily in teaching (e.g. math, science, social skills, leadership, and photography) and in my own learning.  I hope this collection of irreverence can be applied to your own teaching and learning styles.

Building Potential

My first week, the feeling I got from teaching was the same as any other I get when I get an assignment done or refrain from faling down a full flight of stair.You know, that brief moment of, "Gee, am I proud of myself.", that courses through your veins like little self esteem endorphins. Well, this week was different.

Every day I spend in that class, the more I realize how important the relationship between a student and teacher is. Previously, my objective was simple: Teach these kids Algebra. This week, I learned that's only the surface of being a good teacher. I want them to realize what they can do, even though they've been told over and over that they will have to struggle to just brush average. There is so much potentail in each one of them, and they don't even know it. So little Miss. Whitney has a brand new objective for her cadet teaching:

Teach these kids. Learn from these kids, because Algebra is just the tip of their iceberg.

Journal 2

Okay, mine is a little late- I'm so sorry! I talked to Mrs. Bewley, but for some reason at home my commenting doesn't work! I seriously apologize!!!!!
Well, last week was cut short due to no school on Friday, but I feel accomplished.
Monday I created a seating chart, and got many objections, however, many are accepting it. Tuesday, and Wednesday they read more short stories, and Thursday they began a worksheet.
Many of the students I cadet teach are very... opinionated. I guess thats what all senior cadet teachers feel about freshman students? I'm unsure.
Mr. Bauer is very supportive, and I feel that things are going either way, maybe thats just the person in me? But, some days I feel like I'm just existing, and other moments I can participate...but slower days are more so...but its only the end of week 2... So, again, maybe thats just me.

It was a good week last week. The kids are awesome and so nice. They always come and give me hugs, and say "hi"! Working with kids has taught me a lot. There is one boy who is kinda being a trouble. He taps his desk all the time with his pencils, which means he has to flip a card. He also talks non-stop. My Cadette teacher is showing me how to handle these situations. For right now all that i am doing is helping prepare lessons. I am ok with that. She siad in a week or two i can start giving lessons once a week. I am so exited.

Four-day-week Craziness!

Well last week was the four day week and you could definitely tell in the classroom. it just seemed like the kids were extra crazy and all they could talk about was not having school on Friday/Monday. Monday we had a sub and they acted okay for the most part. but it was definitely interesting to watch them interact with the substitue. the rest of the week we did alot of reading comprehension and independent reading and i worked with the one girl in the class. she reads very slowly and she gets very frustrated and gets very down on herself. what can i say to her to make her feel not so down on herself? i am really looking forward to seeing her develop throughout the year though, because Mrs. Flick said she was already doing 5 times better than the end of last year.

Sorry Everyone

I'm going to be honest with everyone... I went one day this week and I can't remember what we did it has been a long week and I apologize Bewley. I hope that you can understand and you can give an assignment to make up for my absences if you would like. Just let me know.

journal 2

week 2 went really well, i talked to Mrs.Keck about actually standing up in front of the class a little bit and doing some teaching she said it was fine so right now i have to decide what lesson i want to do.

Journal 2

Well, it was another fun week of going to the library for the Cadet Teaching block. Haven't got an email yet from Mrs. Stanek to say when we start, but hopefully she will be done testing soon.

To Mrs. Bewley: My fact for Thursday is that the world's fastest supercomputer is under construction in Japan. It is still only partially assembled, but is already about six times as fast as the fastest supercomputer in America.

A Productive Week 2

The second week of cadet teaching seemed to go very well. I helped them review for a test on two different days. One day I read questions off a review sheet and called on whoever had their hand raised first and then Ms. Kelly told them if the were correct or incorrect. The next day we played a review game. I split them up into teams, handed out markers and marker boards, then kept score, Ms. Kelly read the questions and then I counted out loud to 5 and then they showed Ms. Kelly their answers. I think both of these review times helped the class a lot with their tests on Thursday. I also got to help a group of students in the library on Thursday. I really like helping in this class and I think it helps that I already have a background on the students. Knowing them lets me know how to help them on their worksheets in the best way for them. I can't wait for this next week of working with this class!

REMEMBERING!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Ok still getting used to having to blog but i will get used to it. this last week was a short week and I am still enjoying my time helping out my middle school girls computer class. They are a blast I'm going to be really sad when the semester is over and i have to go from an all girls class to a all boys class that will be interesting, but I will enjoy the time that I have now with them. Last week was also picture day and they all looked very cute in their picture say outfits. i am starting to get attached to these girls.

Reminders

This is your super friendly reminder to write and post your second journal entry for the semester by the end of the day Tuesday. Don't forget the what/so what structure (if you don't know what I'm talking about, check earlier posts labeled "assignments"). Also be sure to comment here, there, and everywhere.

Cadet teaching

This week was a short week. I was at the middle school for 3 out of the 4 days. I helped with math testing on the computers for the middle school and started to make a lesson to teach. On Thursday I shelved books and helped the 5th graders with anything that they needed.

journal 2

everyday the kids do math minutes when they first come in thursday i got to go over them with them and tell them the answers so they could grade it. it is becoming more fun the more i get to do in my class.