I'm So Glad We've Had This Time Together...

Just to laugh or sing a song or two... (Yeah, you DO remember the Caroll Burnett show!)
Hello all! Well the time has come to blog again. My spring break was very productive. I got a lot of work done toward my Bibb County portfolio. Of course I completed my portfolio for NTI. I plan to continue valuable lessons for my students in the weeks to come. I have been told that students have a tendency to want to slack before Summer break. In order to maintain the level of management and discipline my little lovlies are use to, we must press on into our lessons. I would not want to disappoint them!!!
I don't feel like saying goodbye to my NTI family...so I won't! At a later date when I feel up to it I will write and tell you guys how much I have learned from you... instructors included! :-)
I will also let you know how I can not see myself teaching without the wealth of knowledge I have gained at GSU's NTI.
I'll blog at you later...
In His Grace,
Lin

Gimme' a Break!!!

I am finally going to say: "I'm on Spring Break!" I'm excited about it. I am not taking a fabulous trip like some of my coworkers, however, I will have a full agenda. I will rest, get extra sleep, catch up on school and NTI assignments. On a few nights I may even stay up late, fall asleep on the sofa and let the TV watch me! WHEW-WEEE...NOW THAT'S LIVIN'!!!
I hope you have a wonderful week...I will!!! :-)

Ahh Spring...Fists are in the Air...

Hi All!
I am not on Spring Break yet...I just wanted everyone to know. Any who- I think that the students as well as the teachers are ready for Spring Break. We made the local paper. We had about 2-3 student fights on last Friday the 30th of March. We had 1 fight today (4-6-07) . This fight was after school at 2:57 p.m. "Can't we all just get along?!?!"
Our school is having lockouts now. All students that are tardy to class must sit in the cafeteria for a full 90 minutes. Of course there are students (about 10%) who want to miss class so they are tardy on purpose. For the other 90% of students this plan is working. They do not want to miss class so the are 'bookin' (running fast) to get to class on time. WOW! See how they run...see how they run! Our school plans to carry out this procedure 'til the end of this semester.
Oh, by the way, my Spring Break starts week after next... Those that know the words of prayer... pray my strength in the school system! HAHAHA...for real now!
PEACE! (smile)

School Equipment

I am very excited for those that were able to secure new equipment for your labs of any kind. I now see how resourceful my students and I have been to work with and make the best with what we have. I am thankful for what we have, however I am looking forward to receiving broadcast quality tools that are desperately needed for my classes. I hope that the equipment I have requested will come in before school lets out so that I may practice and become familiar with it before Fall. You guys have a great Spring Break...you deserve it!

Let's Play a Game!

Hello all! I have had a productive week. I finally used the Jeopardy game Ms. H. sent us last semester. My kids ate it up! They absolutely loved it. This was our way of reviewing for our Progress Check on Tuesday. My students know what to look for on the Progress Check. I didn't let them use their notes and they did really well without them! I was amazed at what they had committed to memory and how well they could guess! HAHAHAHA! That's it for me tonight. You guys have a wonderful weekend! -Lin

Another week down... ___ to go!!!

This has been a good week. It was like Christmas in March! The whiteboard I requested last semester got installed on Friday! Hooray! I used an old green chalk board and yellow chalk. The chalk board was kinda old and it was a little difficult to read what I had written on it because it was old and worn. I am looking forward to Spring Break!

Broadcasting = Controversy (sometimes)

This has been an interesting week. I am going to make this blog short and semi-sweet. There was an e-mail sent to the whole faculty/staff concerning 2 students that were out of dress code on a pre-recorded video segment which aired on our Morning Show. The e-mail stated that these students should be suspended for being out of dress code and not wearing their ID's during this recording. Well first of all the punishment should fit the crime. These guys are totally talented! They dance and do back flips like the pro's on tv that dance behind well-known vocalists on tv and in concerts. I was so impressed with these guys and most of the school was delighted with their performance. Well, I responded in a professional e-mail stating how I have this super opportunity to meet students throughout our school and tell them good things about themselves and their talents that they may not hear all day. I also mentioned how the ID's would have been restrictive with the demanding dance moves and the shirt tails being tucked, well, they didn't stand a chance! I had well-wishers congratulating me on the successful e-mail I sent in response to my co-worker's concerns. I was not offended with the person or the e-mail sent to me, even though some of the other teachers took the e-mail as a personal attack. I am just glad that I was able to address the concerns of my colleague in a kind and professional manner.

Yes Sir, That's my Baby!

I have a well behaved group of kids this semester. Some are a little more spirited than others, however no complaints overall! There is this student in one of my classes who is usually very well mannered. He will tell you that he is lazy. I have to motivate him to participate in group activities. On Thursday of this week, he refused to communicate with his group. He also refused to do a workbook/reading assignment I had given him (after he refused his group work). I counseled him outside the classroom to make him aware of his choices. "Do your assignment or get written up." He stands outside the door and tries to debate: " Ms. W-, how do you know I'm not brain storming? I could be thinking about my next project." My response was simple:" Listen, C-, This is not up for discussion. Choose ye this day." He chose to get written up. I wrote him up. I started thinking how he is just really so well mannered and had never put up a fight before.
I called his mom on her cell. She was very receptive. She agreed that his behavior was strange. She told me that he likes my class because he talks about the class (in a positive way) quite often. She agreed to speak with him to see if anything was bothering him. I suggested that he speak with his school counselor. I told her not to worry about the after school detention on Friday (today).

Today was good because I entreated him like the same respectful student he is. I greeted him like I always do. I gave him a hearty smile before he left my class today. He asked me if he needed to go to the counselor today. I told him he could participate in the video observation activity or go to the counselor. He decided to stay with me and we had no problem. I am going to suggest he go to the counselor on Monday.

One of our administrators here highly recommends student contracts. Have them to sign signifying they do understand their role and expected behavior in the classroom. Should they break the contract, they have to suffer the consequences of breaking the contract. It's just that simple. Oh yeah, the parents have to sign as well. As a matter of fact, I will implement a contract for my Morning Show participants this Fall. Some of the crew that broadcasts our live 15 minute show are not on my class roll, so I have the responsibility of making their job responsibilities and school behavior expectations clear. For example, if you are habitually late to class you will NOT be allowed to work with the Morning Show. Working with the broadcast crew is a privilege, school performance is priority!

I don't bother the parents with trivial stuff, but when my 'momma radar' goes off I must contact parents/guardians to let them know about their children's peculiar behavior. Drugs, abuse, depression or any other situation could cause less than desirable behavior from our students. I would hate for one of my little lovlies to fall prey to a dire situation and their odd outbursts of rebellion were signs from them pointing to the source of their frustration. We are (like) the moms and dads of these children while they are away from home so we should entreat them as our own... proper discipline included.

Work Ethic Rubric

There were a few of us commenting (via blog) on tardiness. I forgot to mention that I had developed a Work Ethic Rubric which helps me to address this problem. I got the idea when Ms. G sent me a copy of a rubric she used with her classes. I include several areas on this rubric. Interpersonal skills, dress code, class/group participation, attendance and of course tardies. There are lots of subheadings that are attached to these topics. There are a lot of opportunities for students to excel within the parameters of this work ethic rubric. Work ethic is 20% of the student's grade.

I realize that some of my students have no desire to go into broadcasting upon graduation, however, the employability skills I teach can be taken with them into whatever vocation they strive to attain. I often tell them that I would do them a dis-service if I allow them to continually be late and let them think it's o.k. In the 'real world' frequent tardies usually lead to a disciplinary action that could include job termination. It is important to follow instructions. I tell my students that sometimes I do not like wearing my I.D. badge. It is a rule that I must abide by. I like to wear scarves and it gets in the way. Not to mention that hideous mug shot which bares my name underneath!

To sum it all up, maybe a work ethic rubric can help you address any problem areas you nay experience with your little lovlies. This rubric helps me to be more consistent in evaluating the employability skills of my students. It allows the students to see and know up-front the desirable qualities that employers seek in their employees. This rubric also gives my students a jump start on perfecting the skills that may be most challenging to them.

No Words

This has been an awesome week! I am such a blessed woman! My 4th block class gave me a birthday party! My birthday is Saturday, February 17. Students did not have to come to class today, so they gave me a party on Thursday the 15th. Earlier in the week, they asked me if they could give me a party and I said no. I told them I appreciated the kind thought, however we had work to do, yada, yada, yada. I went in the back to review an assignment and just as I was about to say "It's a wrap," they burst out with the Birthday Song! In comes the birthday cake, (with my name on it) 2 pizzas and a 2 liter of Mountain Dew! Yahoo!!! I was surprised.

After they left I thought: The last time I remember feeling this good on a birthday was at the age of 9 when I received a peach, polyester 3 piece suit on my 9th birthday!(Don't laugh! I had the vest, jacket and the smokin' hot flair leg slacks! hahaha!) My students ministered to me in such a great way. Words can not express what I feel. I am truly grateful and humbled.

The Night Before Evaluations and All Through the House...

Hello out there! It's the night before my 1st spring semester evaluation. I have been a VERY good girl today! I printed all of my paperwork before leaving school today. I set up some equipment and made sure everything would play on cue. I have to provide documentation that I have whined about the safety hazzards (cables, wires,etc.) in my room. I am looking forward to this evaluation- just to have one down and one to go! No, seriously Ms. G always has some good info to share with me. She is very resourceful.

I hope that all goes well for me tomorrow. My class started a lab earlier this week and we'll complete it tomorrow during my consulting session with Ms. G. I used to forget to "say" what the objective for the day was. Now I remember to state the objective to the class. You would think I could remember it since I'm the one who wrote it on the board! HA! Well, until next time BLOGGER NATION...blog on dude!!! Peace!!!

Student Relations

I am really enjoying my students this semester. Don't get me wrong I LOVE what I do, however last semester I had 2 challenging blocks. One of my classes was not motivated by the same things (or ANYTHING) that my other blocks were motivated by. I had to fine tune some things in my teaching style for them. This simply made me reach way down and try to tap and juggle to keep their attention. My other challenging block was very loud. You know ...the "Hoochie Crew," yeah wit' Pookie dem! Yes, I dropped the ball a few times, but they didn't know it! I learned how to 'rock with it and lean with it'! It's all gravy baby!!! If anyone has any helpful ideas for motivating "business as usual" students or have a handout for "da' Hood" please advise. Have a righteous day... PEACE!!!
**I have a sincere concern for all of my students regardless of social status.**

Everyday

I sound like a broken record. Everyday I have to say: "Tuck in your shirt, pull up your pants!"
I sound like a broken record. Everyday I have to say: " Put on your I.D."
I sound like a broken record. Everyday I have to say: " Clear the halls, let's get to class!"
I sound like a broken record. Everyday I have to say: " Names on your paper please!"
I sound like a broken record. Everyday I have to say: " Lin, hold on, with patience be true,
for someone had to repeat themselves several times for you!"