Apathy

I don't understand the apathy from some of the students. Basically I don't understand apathy.

Yes AR is due,and I have listened to you, tried to make changes that would help you, but still, it doesn't seem to be enough.

So you tell me; what does it take to get some people to actually work?

The world is a strange place

In some ways I feel sorry for my students. There were no school shootings when I grew up. In many ways as I look back, I remember a kinder and gentler time. Of course I also remember integration of schools, and businesses in the South. That seemed very far away. The Viet Nam War was a big part of my growing up years. But that too seemed far away.

So my question for you is, how do you feel about the recent shootings?

Also grades recently went out. I wish they had been better grades. I really want to see all of you do well. My other question to you is what does school do for you?

I know that many of you disagree with the rules, what one rule would you change if you could?

As long as I'm asking lots of questions, what would you like to see done different in our classroom?

A Great Day

WOW! Today you all made me feel like a real teacher! Behavior was great! Focus on the poem of fables, superb. Great questions were asked & I could see the light bulbs turning on over your heads. I almost needed sunglasses.

I don't know why it happened, or what made these selections the ones that you seemed to understand,so please leave me some feedback on what was happening. Why did you enjoy either "The Road Not Taken" or the two fables.

Thanks for a great day!

School is back in session

Well, we've all survived the first few days of school. It's a struggle for me to make that transition from summer fun, back to the business of education. But I'm getting there.

I've enjoyed these first few days and feel like this will be the best year ever. I am delighted to have so many of you in classes for the second or third time.

I'm curious to know how you spent your summer vacation. Let me share with you about mine.

I read a lot of good books. I went on a road trip with a friend to Breaks, Virginia. The park is in both Virginia and Kentucky. The scenery was beautiful, but the roads were some of the steepest with the tightest curves I have ever driven. It was in coal mining country and that was a new sight for me.

My friend and I were able to go to the Vanderbilt mansion in North Carolina. WOW! What a beautiful mansion! It took us four hours just to see all of the house! Then we wandered around the grounds and shopped.

We also visited with friends in Alabama and because we spent so much time in the car, we talked a lot. My friend is also an educator, in another state.

I was able to attend several great workshops to learn about more technical stuff with computers and be more computer savvy.

I was able to go to Houston and visit with my sister and her husband and be there for my nephew's open house. He got married in another state. So we hosted an open house down here. He married a reading teacher, so she and I got along very well as we discussed our favorite books.

Now that school is in session we've had some pep rallies, reviewed the rules, been to the library and done some good work.

So tell me how you think your school year is going? What are you looking forward to?

Remember the rules about posting here:
1) no names only APPROPRIATE screen names
2) no names of school, city or state
3) appropriate language
4) all posts are sent to me and I have final approval over what appears here.

I am hoping this will be a good place to express your thoughts and ask good questions and share ideas. As we discussed in class, we don't have to agree, but we do need to understand the thought processes used on a topic we discuss.

I thnk we're off to a GREAT year!

What have you learned this year??

The year is winding down. The tests are over. The field trips are in full force. We are all ready for summer.

I hope you had a tolerable year. I tried to make it interesting. I've learned a lot about all of you. I wonder what you have learned, and I don't mean just the subjects.

The Fight and Uniforms

As most of you know there was a fight this past week at school. It seems like everybody had an opinion. I don't believe fighting solves anything. The one who "wins" may feel better about whatever. The one who "loses" feels worse and wants to feel better. People pick sides for a variety of reasons. It solves nothing. In a week or two will anybody remember what the fight was about?

Tell me, what purpose did it serve?

We've had discussions on uniforms and I am hugely in favor of uniforms. I've stated my opinions, so here is your chance to state yours.

I believe uniforms are good for the following reasons:
They save money- fewer school clothes need to be purchased
They solve hassles- dress code is simpler for everyone
They save time- I promise you can sleep later
Research shows improved grades and a decrease in discipline problems
People are judged less on their clothing and more on who they are

So post and opinion.

Test Time

Yes, it is that time of year again as we prepare to take the state tests. You all know the test I mean.

I wonder how you feel about these tests. Here's a list of questions that I have for you. I really want to know.

Do you think they help you? Why?
Do you think you are prepared to take the test?
If not what more do you think ought to be done?
Do you think there is a better way to determine if you have learned?
If yes, please tell me about it.
Why do you think the tests are given?
How do you know if you have learned something?
What do you want to say about testing that I haven't thought of?

My friends in Canada would say that we write tests, I think color or bubble is more correct. My Canadian friends also wonder where we take a test. Do we take it to the park? Do we take it to the zoo? Just a little humor there; okay very little humor.

Another Friday and Other Random Comments

First of all I want to thank all of you for your patience with my dental problems. I have tried to not let the discomfort I have felt for the last couple of weeks cloud my judgment. It's been a pain (pun intended). I appreciate your honesty and openness during class discussions.

Spring Fever, yes it is here and I feel it too. I do know that it is hard to concentrate, but I still have the job of trying to teach; and I want all of the students to do well on the state exams. It is challenge to try to reach everyone and make the lessons interesting. I try very hard.

Teaching is a challenging profession. Teachers rarely see the long term results of their work. We try to prepare students for the future, a future we can speculate about, but no one really knows. Teachers, like parents, have to stay a step ahead, but we do have the advantage of having once been young.

I enjoy what I do, most of the time. I hope my classes are enjoyable, most of the time. Please keep in mind that a teacher's goals are different than a student's goals. There are many things that go on behind the scenes that students are not aware of. Teachers have federal, state and local guidelines to deal with. It does not matter if a teacher agrees with those guidelines or not, it is the teacher's job to enforce those guidelines and follow them.

Education is not just about school, it is a preparation for life. Learning is a life skill, and knowing how to learn is the best preparation for the future.

Help!

I think that many of you have some GREAT ideas about what could be done to improve school. Please post some of them here. I will what I can to let the powers that be hear those ideas.

Personally I would love to spend more time reading good books and talking about them.

BTW the evil girlfriend of the frog simply got his credit card numbers and maxxed them out shopping on line! The frog didn't want to max out his ex-girlfriend's credit cards, because she had already done that; that is why she used his. She had no credit left.

I look forward to hearing your comments and seeing your questions!

The Complete Frog Story

Once upon a time there was frog who was bald. But he was an enchanted frog, he was really a nice guy who had been cursed by an evil ex-girlfriend who had spent all of his money and maxxed out his credit cards. She waited until he had paid them off before she cursed him so that she could run them up again and he would not be able to do anything about it.

The frog was a nice guy and lived in a pond by a university. Everyday he tried to talk to the students to explain his predicament. Sadly they did not listen to the evils of credit card abuse.

One day a beautiful young woman approached him and listened to his story. She asked for the name of lady who had run up his credit card. He gladly gave it and told her how to break the spell. The beautiful young woman just laughed with an evil chortle and said, "Why would I save you? You have no hair, you are bald! That makes you even uglier than a regular frog! I know her and want to get some stuff for myself on your credit card!" She dumped the frog back into the pond and ran away.

The poor frog was so sad and thought no one would ever help him. He made himself a wig from moss and local grasses that he could find around the pond. He wore the wig everyday as he hopped around, trying to get someone to help him. Most days he was laughed at for his strange wig.

Two days after graduation a cute young lady came to the pond. She noticed the frog and picked him up. She was startled when he spoke to her and told her his story. She promply removed his wig and promised to save him.

First she threw away the wig, then kissed the top of his bald head. He became himself again, and hugged her in gratitude.

"Now let me explain how to completely break the spell", the former frog began.

"Hush, my dear, you have no worries, you see I graduated in accounting and received my law degree. I've been hired by the IRS to prosecute those with illegal incomes. "

"You don't mean. . ." He gasped

"Yes" she replied "An audit every year for the rest of their lives"

Bullying

Lately we have been receiving a great deal of information about bullying. I believe we all see it as a problem; the hard part is knowing what to do about it. I ask you to make comments here, that are appropriate about dealing with bullies.