Tuesday, May 11, 2010
One year ago, this week
DANG I am uber jealous of my college buddies right now. It's graduation week in Minnesota! The events, the people, the celebrations - ahhhhh too jealous right now.
This week last year my family (including my brother-awesome!) came up to visit me for my ceremony. We went out to dinner with some close friends which was tons of fun and totally relaxing. Then after the ceremony and formalities we got to have a great night out and my favorite college bars in Dinkytown with my closest friends around. My brother was great and my friends loved him too!
Family time, friend time, celebration time - doesn't get much better. AND it certainly beats coming to work for these crazy high school students (the alternative that I am facing this year). Yuck!
This week last year my family (including my brother-awesome!) came up to visit me for my ceremony. We went out to dinner with some close friends which was tons of fun and totally relaxing. Then after the ceremony and formalities we got to have a great night out and my favorite college bars in Dinkytown with my closest friends around. My brother was great and my friends loved him too!
Family time, friend time, celebration time - doesn't get much better. AND it certainly beats coming to work for these crazy high school students (the alternative that I am facing this year). Yuck!
Book Fair!
I am so impressed. When I was in high school I think I checked out ONE book for personal reading the entire time I was there. ONE book...mostly because the librarian could have EATEN me, she was not my biggest fan. (Which I of course took in stride and mocked her in our senior skit. Maturity.)
At C, we are making huge strides though, I feel everyday. Kids compete to check books out of our library. We had over 50 students take online reading tests to reach over 1,000,000 words each. To give you an idea: the second book of the Twilight series is worth around 100,000 words (and that's a thick book). Our librarian has done an excellent job of getting a library full of different genres, lengths, and levels of difficulty. This has really led to some great things for the school and for the classroom.
I am happy to say I had 14 out of 35 students reach their goals this year regarding words. Now that might not seem like a lot, but from the beginning I can say it is a great thing. On top of that, out of the 40 students I have had this year - 39 out of 40 students have taken a test and passed on at least one book....a GREAT accomplishment in my opinion. That means that every single student (the 1 out of 40 that didn't pass did try) has picked up a book or some type of reading outside of class and attempted to achieve.
What a great feeling! Pats on the back to all literacy teachers and the librarian! :)
At C, we are making huge strides though, I feel everyday. Kids compete to check books out of our library. We had over 50 students take online reading tests to reach over 1,000,000 words each. To give you an idea: the second book of the Twilight series is worth around 100,000 words (and that's a thick book). Our librarian has done an excellent job of getting a library full of different genres, lengths, and levels of difficulty. This has really led to some great things for the school and for the classroom.
I am happy to say I had 14 out of 35 students reach their goals this year regarding words. Now that might not seem like a lot, but from the beginning I can say it is a great thing. On top of that, out of the 40 students I have had this year - 39 out of 40 students have taken a test and passed on at least one book....a GREAT accomplishment in my opinion. That means that every single student (the 1 out of 40 that didn't pass did try) has picked up a book or some type of reading outside of class and attempted to achieve.
What a great feeling! Pats on the back to all literacy teachers and the librarian! :)
the last few moments
It is the seniors last week of school! I am trying to reflect on that experience, and I can't really place the excitement and anticipation that these seniors have. For me, their experience is so different. I feel sad for many that are not moving onto something else. Whether that be a job or schooling of some sort, many of these students are not moving onto anything. So, why are they so excited to get out? To go home and not do anything?
This is something I can NOT compare to my experience. First, I was beyond sad to leave my friends, staff, and memories associated with DSHA. Then from there my excitement was huge to have a summer job and relax in the warm weather. Finally, beyond those few months of relaxation I had something else to look forward to: COLLEGE! How exciting were all of these things to come in the future - a new place to live, new friends, new life experiences, new learning.
For me, these students that are graduating and not taking these steps have been failed. They are not failing, but someone along the way did not give them that interest or invest them in that ultimate experience. College, especially at the ages of 18-24 are HUGE! FUN, hard, whatever it is....it's college. And that is something not everyone necessarily needs to have...but then they need to move onto a great JOB or a great STARTER SCHOOL. SOMETHING. There needs to be that feeling of accomplishment or working towards something that will inspire these students for their years in high school.
Maybe my first and second year of high school were not as college focused...but I did know there was something at the end of this long road ahead of me. SOMETHING unattainable was there. Then my third and fourth year I knew what that something was. If we can build that anticipation in these students then I know that there could be a major difference in their production henceforth.
Now the question is....how will I do this? Suggestions? hahaah BIG GOALS
This is something I can NOT compare to my experience. First, I was beyond sad to leave my friends, staff, and memories associated with DSHA. Then from there my excitement was huge to have a summer job and relax in the warm weather. Finally, beyond those few months of relaxation I had something else to look forward to: COLLEGE! How exciting were all of these things to come in the future - a new place to live, new friends, new life experiences, new learning.
For me, these students that are graduating and not taking these steps have been failed. They are not failing, but someone along the way did not give them that interest or invest them in that ultimate experience. College, especially at the ages of 18-24 are HUGE! FUN, hard, whatever it is....it's college. And that is something not everyone necessarily needs to have...but then they need to move onto a great JOB or a great STARTER SCHOOL. SOMETHING. There needs to be that feeling of accomplishment or working towards something that will inspire these students for their years in high school.
Maybe my first and second year of high school were not as college focused...but I did know there was something at the end of this long road ahead of me. SOMETHING unattainable was there. Then my third and fourth year I knew what that something was. If we can build that anticipation in these students then I know that there could be a major difference in their production henceforth.
Now the question is....how will I do this? Suggestions? hahaah BIG GOALS
Monday, May 10, 2010
The season is over!
I know it's been a LONG time since I posted. I apologize, let's move on.
I coached softball this year (assistant) and the season (and players) were drastically different then what basketball season was like. It made me truly think about how I am going to manage basketball next year and some changes I will have to make almost immediately.
The racial difference between basketball and softball is drastic. Basketball, predominantly black, has a few white students that play each year. Softball (and baseball) on the other hand is completely white, or was at least until this year. I told my baskeball players that they had to participate in an off season sport (so either track or softball). We were joined with 3 black students on the softball team a week later.
This played no significant impact on the season, but was just an observation I had about the Delta thus far. Most softball teams that we played were either completely white or had one or two black students on them. Even in the case of schools that were 75+ percent black, the students that were white were the only people playing softball. I found this to be true at almost all baseball games I attended as well. An interesting thing to observe in my opinion.
Anyway, softball is over (it was a short season) and it was a great experience. I had a lot of fun with the girls, coach, and learning about the sport (since it is definitely not one of my top sports!). Lots of interesting things and strategies that I never knew even after playing it for a good five or so years.
Tuesday, April 13, 2010
Ambush
Great short story in class today, "Ambush," by Tim O'Brien. The story was about a father who is asked by a nine-year old daughter, "Have you ever killed someone?" What a question right! Well, the father lies to his father, and instead goes down the lying route.
Then after some person reflection, he remembers the time that he did kill a enemy soldier through the jungle in the Vietnam war. He talks about his regret and feelings of insufficiency in regard to how he dealt with it.
It was an interesting story to talk about with students who a)have a lot of family members in service and b)are high school students who regret a lot of things (because they make CRAZY decisions!). I loved it, the students were really into it and super reflective. I thought it was surprising but then once I reread the story I can see why they liked it.
It also was really helpful because I realized that with short stories you can work through them without worrying about complaining about length and lack of attention because of feeling overwhelmed. So my new mission: find GREAT short stories (2 to 4 pages long). PLEASE SEND ME SOMETHING IF YOU HAVE IT!! :)
Then after some person reflection, he remembers the time that he did kill a enemy soldier through the jungle in the Vietnam war. He talks about his regret and feelings of insufficiency in regard to how he dealt with it.
It was an interesting story to talk about with students who a)have a lot of family members in service and b)are high school students who regret a lot of things (because they make CRAZY decisions!). I loved it, the students were really into it and super reflective. I thought it was surprising but then once I reread the story I can see why they liked it.
It also was really helpful because I realized that with short stories you can work through them without worrying about complaining about length and lack of attention because of feeling overwhelmed. So my new mission: find GREAT short stories (2 to 4 pages long). PLEASE SEND ME SOMETHING IF YOU HAVE IT!! :)
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