Read all instructions before you start

I start with an apology to everyone in the Monday night class. We were assigned the task to outline character traits that we find in out students Yes, I said "outline." I on the other hand wrote an entire page paper on the term "honesty". I am sorry that I made many of you endure reading this lengthy page; when if I simply would have continued to read the directions I would have found that it was only to be and "outline" Thanks to an e-mail I received form Jim - thanks Jim- I realized my mistake and reorganized my paper with an attachment of the outline of the term at the end.. I left the original paper, not for your reading enjoyment, but for me to use as an example in the blog as to what NOT to do. No excuses can be made for this- except I now know - as I should have - to read all directions before I start. Spring Break is just a few days away.

Grandma's advice???

Just when I thought I had things going well another discipline issue came up. Yes, with the same student that I have been dealing with all semester. This time an incident occurred while I had a guest speaker from Erlanger Medical Center in my room. The student started eating chips while the speaker was talking. I quietly went up to her and asked her to stop. She blew up like fireworks on the 4th of July. I asked her to step into the hall. She continued. ( The funny thing was a simple incident involving chips now escalated into an office referral due to her yelling at me)This time I offered no discussion, I promptly escorted her to the office. Once there, she preceded to say that I am holding a grudge against her and blaming her for things that she isn't doing. At a loss for words I asked for a conference with the Vice Principal. I chose to offer a conference since the 2 previous write ups, lunch detention and ISS have done no good. We held a conference, where she sat in silent. The conference lasted for ~20 minutes.

I am doubtful that she is going to change. Her negative attitude has changed the entire dynamics of my class. It seems as though the students are watching to see what she will try next. It is not that I have lost control because the class is productive, it is just that by her having such a negative tone, the rest of the students are just going through the motions. Their enthusiasm is gone.

HELP!!! Does anyone have suggestions on what I can do with her? I am planning an interactive group activity involving food and nutrition in hope to generate the fun back into learning. As my grandmother used to say "No one can stay mad while eating good food"

NOTE: I have spoken to her parents too and offered a conference with too.

A Fisherman who casts a net reeps many

Last week I had a brand new experience with my 3rd block class. I had the opportunity to write up a discipline report on 12 of my 16 students. I was the "end all" for me. They had pushed me to the max. After many little antics the last being changing the time on my clocks, erasing key items off of the board and adding names to the missing assignment list on the board ( in the matter of just ~ 2 minutes while the rest of the class was finishing up a bathroom break and I was in the hall waiting for them). When confronted all denied doing it, so I wrote 12 students up for 4 hours of lunch detention. By 4Th block the rumors were flying that I had given them all ISS or that I thrown a desk. How funny. I had 3 parent telephone calls before the buses pulled out of the parking lot at the end of the day. I really started the fireworks. The next day as I stood at the time clock I was called in the office. The relief finally came when I was praised by my administration for standing my ground. My Principal actually called me a fisherman. A fisherman I asked?...I was told that I cast my net out and the fish just came jumping up and in. The guilty party was discovered that day and all write ups were disregard except the guilty party. I am so glad that my administration stood by me. That was a comforting feeling. I have fewer students who like me and I guess I will be receiving a few less Christmas cards ( hahahaha), but I think I will be fine. I have successfully calmed by classroom antics with one swipe of the pen. A pen is a powerful tool.
It is a sad thought that the actions of a few really change the dynamics of a class. These are great kids and up until now had been well mannered. This one student has really caused a discipline overhaul in my room.

Beware of principals asking to speak to you in private

I had a very interesting thing happen this week. It was Tuesday, I was just finishing up on CPR certification with my 3rd block students. The bell had just rang and my 4th block students were coming into my room. They were followed by the school principal. He had a very blank look on his face. As he walked past the students, he commented that he needed to speak to me in private and that he would meet me in my office. My heart instantly rose up into my throat and I felt like a student being sent to see the principal. I was scared to death - not sure why, but I was. I quickly grabbed the school nurse, who was still in my room from CPR certification, and had her watch my class. I couldn't move fast enough - to go and see why I needed to be seen IN PRIVATE and IMMEDIATELY. All I kept thinking is "what have I done?" I walked into my office, the principal said "would you please close the door." I think I could feel my heart beating outside of my body. My principal was NOT smiling. I instantly said "what is wrong?" He said, you have done nothing wrong... I just need a favor from you and then began to smile. A wave of RELIEF swept through my body. I was so relieved, I actually had to sit done. My mind then went from one of being scared to one of questioning - what favor? Well, to make a long story short, he needed me to spear head a fund raising event.

But, the reason I was writing this was to relay my total fear. I still am not sure why I was so scared, but I was. I don't know if it was just the thought of making a mistake (which believe me I make plenty) or just the idea of "being sent to the principals office."

I guess the moral would be BEWARE OF PRINCIPALS ASKING TO SPEAK TO YOU IN PRIVATE - I am now the chairperson of the Make A Wish campaign and walk-a-thon for my school.

TGIF

This was one of most challenging weeks yet - not with my students, but with myself. I have been fighting this yuk and crud sickness thing - like most of you I am sure, but I was unable to stay home a get better like I wanted too. I don't want to sound like I am whining, but I really had to dig deep down inside to actually NOT call a sub this week. I guess I would have if it wasn't crunch time for me. Thursday was pretty much a stressful day - I was having my first observation since starting NTI with Dr. B, Murray Co. schools were touring our school and my program was spotlighted and I had a meeting to set up a field trip for 120 students. WOW - that was a lot for me. Well, let me say that today is Friday and I'm alive and still writing the BLOG, so I am sure you know that I survived. But, I really discovered something about myself...I can teach ( my observation went well), my program is designed really well (Murray CO. loved my program) and finding buses, printing consent forms, and arranging schedules for 120 high school students IS possible. I made it and may I say TGIF.

Swimming up stream

I am sitting here at 4:30 a.m. unable to sleep. I can't decide if I am starting to get the "creeping crude" that all my students have or am I just feeling overwhelmed as it seems we all are. Since I am on my lap top and working, I would have to agree with the later. I thought that I was going to start this semester much more organized than the previous one; which I actually did. However, thing have quickly spiraled down hill. I am in an unique situation at my school. My program is in it's first year of inception. The sister high school in my county has had a program for ~20 years. With little help from the veteran teacher, I have been placed in many unexplored areas of program planning. I am now being told that I have to implement an entire new program of medical terminology and start HOSA by Fall of 2007. I need to do curriculum and textbook adoption as well as purchase the equipment I will need to start (with very little $ I may say).HELP!! I have talked to many people and I feel that it is just expected that I understand. Don't get me wrong, my school administration is unbelievably understanding, but the whole vast picture scares me.

Any suggestions?

Anyway, enough venting. I did have an incredibly rewarding moment this week. I have a student who is mild-severely mentally disabled. She reads on a 1st grade level and has a very low level of understanding. She is self-contained all day except for my class (which she has for socialization skills). She is very sweet, but has been becoming a distraction in my class. I had to figure out something for her to do. I wanted her to learn. Her case manager was of little help. As he said "she can't even bag groceries at our work study job site." I decided to talk to her and se what she likes to do.( such a simple concept that I had been overlooking). She likes to color and watch cartoons. I had recently read an article about teaching the child not just the material. So I created her her own little work station: crayons, colored pencils, health books on a 1st grade level ( from my son's school library), puzzles etc. She loves it. I even created her a lesson plan of her own. I have a gifted student read the books and record them on tape (enrichment) and JJ listens to them with headphones. I created her little worksheets and thanks to various websites have created her coordinating color pages. She loves it. She has already started to work better in class. JJ even brought her case worker into she her new stuff. I just hope it continues to work and I can keep it up.

So, there are great moments that keep up doing what we are doing.

Barbara N.