Almost half way...

So everyone... I'm such a bad blogger. I wish I could say its just out of sheer laziness, but its because student teaching has been kicking my butt. I've never experienced something so challenging, so time consuming, and yet so rewarding.

I've taken over my two classes, English 10 and Critical Writing. In English 10, we have about three weeks left of our poetry unit where I've been teaching students how to explicate poetry by using the TYPCASTT method. It's an easier way to go through a poem to mark tone, shifts, theme, connotation, and analyze the title. It has been a challenging unit because each student is required to TYPCASTT a poem and present it to the class. Some students choose not to do it or they are only looking at the literal level so they are having a hard time finding theme. And since this is in preparation for the MCAS test, I'm a little nervous that they won't do well.

In my Critical Writing class, I finished the teacher's unit on The Merchant of Venice this past Monday and started a unit on Brave New World which I developed myself. I used the same routine as my SP (supervising teacher) but created my own pace, my own study and discussion questions, and sprinkled in a few activities that go along with the text.

The next class I take over is Lit and Film at the end of March. I'll be starting the unit on The Color Purple so that should be fun.

The most challenging part of this whole semester for me was taking over the correcting from the teachers since they have more experience correcting and know what they are doing. But as the weeks pass, I've become more comfortable with correcting vocabulary, essays, and other assignments. Another issue I've been dealing with is classroom management. One class in particular hasn't liked the idea of me taking over and there seems to be an issue each week. This past week I had two girls playing sudoku during a student's presentation and I had to ask them three times to put it away. Looking back at the situation, I should have given them detention. Instead I had them stay after class and talked to them about their behavior. My SP's goal is for me to give a detention next week to show the class that I'm serious about holding them accountable. We'll see what happens.

Anyway, that's it for right now. I've started applying for jobs, but it will be a while before I hear about interviews. Keep your fingers crossed!

First, please take a look at this blog I came across about readers:

http://blogs.edweek.org/teachers/book_whisperer/2008/01/have_you_praised_a_reader_toda.html

Second, today I ventured in a giant teacher store and I had a blast. It's called Teacher's Pet and its located on the Lawrence/ North Andover line and I've wanted to go there since I was a little girl. It was a bit overwhelming since its a huge place (I'm talking bigger than Dave and our apartment combined twice). I picked up a few literature guides for Macbeth and Animal Farm since I'll be teaching them this semester and had them place an order for Brave New World. These guides are going to be very helpful this semester. They include vocabulary, discussion questions, activities, paper topics, quizzes and/or tests, and anything else you might need.

Anyway, diving into Merchant of Venice. I can't believe I have to finish teaching it next week!!!!

Life Memoir in Six Words

I originally heard about this on NPR but was reminded of it by one of the new blogs I've been reading: Classical Bookworm (see links on the right hand side).

The point is to write, in six words, your biography and an image that goes along with it. While mine has more to do with the present, I think those who really know me understand how this has to do with my past and future:

Student teacher, so much to learn.

Feel free to post your six word memoir in your blog or if you don't have a blog (Doug), post yours in the comment box!

First teaching vacation

I know this seems crazy but I was looking forward to this school break, even though I've only been "teaching" for two weeks. I'm using this break to catch up on the unit I came into half way through (Dracula and Merchant of Venice), prepare for taking over some units (poetry and Merchant of Venice) and starting a new unit in March (Brave New World). On top of all this, I have correcting for two classes (two quizes and a small pile of one page papers). I hope you guys don't think this is complaining. I'm so glad I'm doing this stuff; It will prepare me for my first teaching job.

Speaking of that, I'm going to a teacher job fair the end of the month and I'm so excited/nervous. I'm going to talk to my mentor about it and see what suggestions she has. I'm hoping it might lead to at least one interview for this fall. I know Lowell Public School has eleven high school English teacher positions. Hopefully that is an option as well.

Anyway, I'm gonna get back to American Idol and reading Dracula. Thanks for reading!

Quick update

I'm taking a break from cleaning the apartment and wanted to update the blog. I had a horrible cold this week, so that explains part of the laziness (which is now infecting the hubby). Also, I'm getting used to my new schedule (up at 5am, on the road by 5:30am, school by 6:30am, and classes start at 7:30am).

Anyways, here is the fast recap of the week:

I'm at my student teaching placement and already feel part of the group. I have my own little room to use during prep periods and before and after school. I've spent most of the time observing different teachers. I've also done a little correcting, photocopying, and unit planning. The big news is that I'm teaching one class on Monday (to get some practice in before I have to take it over on the 27th of this month). I'm really pumped and interested to see how it goes.

The plan for this week is to actively assist the teachers who's class I'll be taking over because after Febrauary vacation, I need to take over two classes. I'll be taking over a sophomore English and a Critical Writing course. I'm really excited/nervous because this so new and foreign to me. I taught a little last semester, but it was what I wanted to teach. This time, I need to finish the units they are working on and I'm assuming I need to follow the unit plans my teachers have made.

On a religious note, I had a very bad Ash Wednesday. I felt really sick between my cold and fasting all day that I broke the fasting rule and had a snack while I was at my afternoon college class. I felt like I was going to pass out. I got all sweaty, my ears were ringing.... not a pretty picture. On top of that, because of the time I got out of my night class, I missed my parish's Mass and didn't get my ashes (the one near school wasn't having Mass until 7, which means I would have had to wait around and not get home until 8pm (and not have dinner until I got home). I know.. excuses, excuses. I feel so bad. I'm going to confession today to talk to one of my priest about it and show my remorse. I feel really bummed about missing the ashes especially since last year I came into the Church and this is my first official Lent season as a Catholic.

Anway, I'm off to finishing cleaning the house, read today's devotions in my Lent book, and then lunch with Danielle.

Hope you all have a wonderful day!

A good chuckle...

You paid attention during 80% of high school!

68-84% Pretty good, you know that there are libraries and newspapers, and you remember what you've read. You were a child that wasn't left behind!

Do you deserve your high school diploma?
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What did I get myself into....

Okay folks... it's getting close. I officially start at my placement on the 4th and I'm seriously freaking out. I'll be taking over three different course: Film and Lit (12th graders), Critical Writing (10th grade honors), and Sophomore English (CP2). I've never read any of the texts I'll be teaching and at this point I don't know what my schedule will be like in terms of teaching lessons or planning units. It's very much up in the air and I hate that! Here are the texts for this semester:

F&L:
Dracula
The Color Purple
The Princess Bride
Rita Hayworth and the Shawshank Redemption

CW:
Merchant of Venice
Brave New World
Animal Farm
Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf

English 10:
Unit on Poetry (authors not yet selected)
Slaughterhouse Five
Macbeth

So that's the update for now. It should be a challenging and interesting semester to say the least. I'm hoping to make it through and not only been successful but also get hired. Those are my two fears right now and its stressing me out. I feel so jumbled and all over the place but I'm sure it will get better as I go along...