How did today go? 9
Three Good Things:
1. I got all my copies done for the 2nd week of school! Now I have tons of time to set up my class and get the small things done.
2. I got my keys to my room and CLOSET. I went the entire year without the keys to my closet and lived in constant fear that I would have all my valuable things stolen when a sub was in my room. Not anymore!
3. I got rid of the awful mammoth desk that took up half of my classroom last year and replaced it with a super retro awesome small desk (pictures tomorrow if I remember) and now have tons of room in my classroom.
4 and 5. I got to play soccer in the hall with Ms. Massey (turns out she just really wanted to hit Bradfield with the ball), and got to have lunch at Chris Madrid's with Jessie and the rest of the awesome "young teacher crew", that will now be referred to as the YTC.
Wednesday, August 17, 2011
Tuesday, August 16, 2011
Getting Ready...
How did today go? 8
Three Good Things:
1. Our math department head bought us breakfast this morning (raspberries, strawberries, yogurt, oh...and cinnamon rolls).
2. I found out that my scores weren't so incredibly low in comparison to the other teachers as I thought they had been.
3. I love working with my school's Geometry team...we got all of our lessons, assignments, homework completed and ready to be copied! We work with a real sense of urgency and are being product-driven with our time, I think it will be really effective this year. Shout outs to Mr. Alvarez, Ms. Massey, Ms. Oropez (the Geometry guru) and Ms. Delacruz!
Three Good Things:
1. Our math department head bought us breakfast this morning (raspberries, strawberries, yogurt, oh...and cinnamon rolls).
2. I found out that my scores weren't so incredibly low in comparison to the other teachers as I thought they had been.
3. I love working with my school's Geometry team...we got all of our lessons, assignments, homework completed and ready to be copied! We work with a real sense of urgency and are being product-driven with our time, I think it will be really effective this year. Shout outs to Mr. Alvarez, Ms. Massey, Ms. Oropez (the Geometry guru) and Ms. Delacruz!
Monday, August 15, 2011
Year 2
So year 2 began today...but honestly, I feel like it started a couple weeks ago. For those of you reading this after having listened to me talk about my experiences over the past 8 or so months since I posted on here may be surprised. All I will say is that summer was a blessing, and it really allowed me time to think and figure out my priorities and get the right mindset going into my second year. This time around I am much more confident (though still nervous and realize I am not going to be perfect by a long shot!), much more prepared, and feeling much more optimistic.
So today was the first official day back at school. Though I love writing out my thoughts and general feelings about my teaching experiences, I think that my blog this year will be used as a tool to track myself. Everyday (hopefully), I will post on here how my day went on a 1-10 rating. Obviously 1 will mean it was the worst day of my teaching career and 10 will mean it was the best day of my teaching career. I will also write three things that went well. On certain days I may find myself writing a bit more than what I've prescribed, but in order to keep y'all (yes I said y'all) updated on my year more frequently, I am going to really try to make this happen.
Today 8/15/11
How did today go? 8
Three Good Things:
1. I was really excited to see some fellow teachers I hadn't seen all summer (shout out to Mr. Sanchez across the hall telling me about the 4 goals he scored this summer in a summer soccer league).
2. I got to stand up in an all-teacher meeting when my principal asked that all coaches stand up and be recognized for Edison High School being the All-Sports Champions of the district this year (that means that overall our varsity sports teams advanced further in playoffs/had more championships on a points system than any other school in the district)!
3. I got all my copies made for the first week of school...and I didn't even waste a single click (a 'click' is a copy, and we only get a certain number of 'clicks' every 9 weeks/semester)!
Have a great day!
Monday, November 22, 2010
Special Right Triangles and TTF
**Note: Sorry if this entry is so scattered, it is a combination of attempts to write it over a 3 week span. But please please please, stay with it.
So...it's been almost a month since I last updated this blog. Shame on me. But I won't lie, it has been insanely busy at school and in my life in general. There are a lot of things I could complain about with fights at school, students being annoying, or the insane amount of work I find myself doing constantly, but, as I sit in a room of my fraternity house at the wonderful William Jewell College in Liberty, Missouri, I reflect back on what I am thankful for (as you can tell, I'm not longer at Jewell...but in San Antonio).
So, while I'd love to describe to you all the top highlights of my past month (way too many to recall), I will use this blog entry to let you know what I'm thankful for (and maybe I'll include some stories).
- I am extremely thankful for my family. They have loved me unconditionally through everything. I am so incredibly thankful that they have given me the life I have so far and held such high expectations of me and pushed me to do my best and then to be even better. They never pushed me too hard so that I would dislike success and always supported me through all of my decisions. It is parents like my own that have really made a difference in my life for the better. I wish every one of my students had parents like my own. I am thankful for all the little stupid arguments Erica and I would always get into (and still do). I am extremely lucky to have a sister like Erica. She is amazing at losing (sorry Erica) since I am so stubborn and competitive. She is my idol and I look up to her and have striven to follow in her footsteps in everything I do. I love her so much and am thankful for all of the times that she has brought a smile to my face when I was really upset (think of when I was in Mexico, Ertica). I am eternally grateful and wish that I could be with them more than just a week at a time scattered throughout the year. I miss and love you Mom, Dad, and Erica!
- I am thankful for my friends. I have been blessed to meet and have the friends I have in my life. Jillian Melanie Otis, my fake twin, fake sister--scratch that, she IS my sister, too. Jillian has been my best friend since I can remember and has been there for me through everything. I thought when she moved to the other side of Blue Springs that it was the end of the world...now we are hundreds of miles apart. Jillie Butt and Alberto Butt for life.
- I am extremely thankful to have a job right now. I know too many people that are struggling to get a job, get into school, or maintain either of the two.
- Ugh. The next thing I'm grateful for is actually my students. As much as they really really anger me, I am thankful to have the opportunity to mold their minds every day. Yes, they push my every button. Yes, some days I leave school furious. Yes, I may have uttered "I hate them" sometimes. But that is a lie. I love them, they are like my children. They listen to me (most of the time), they look up to me (sometimes), they think I'm smart, and they depend upon me to help give them the opportunity to do more with their lives than they ever imagined. Though it is a great responsibility, I treasure it. A 10th grade student died at my school over Thanksgiving Break. I was not aware this had happened, none of my students were either. The news was broken when I received a letter in my 3rd period on Monday asking me to read it to the class. Of course I read it beforehand, and immediately my heart sank and I started sweating all over. They wanted me to read it to my class in 15 minutes, but my students could already tell that something was wrong, I can't hide my emotions that well. I did not know the student, but still I struggled through reading the letter. I heard rumors of how the student died, and was immediately saddened and at the same time extremely pissed off. It is not fair what these students go through. It is not fair at all. Put that student in my shoes growing up and he would still be alive. Why is this allowed to happen?
- Man, I would be nowhere without my education. Blue Springs High School with some of the greatest teachers, greatest mentors, greatest opportunities, and greatest memories. Then going on to college to chase my dreams. Yeah, I complained about Jewell a lot, but I learned to love it. Yes, William Jewell College may be one of the best things to have ever happened to me. I am extremely grateful for the opportunities for learning, for becoming involved, and expanding my horizons at Jewell. Thank you. And P.S. Go men and women soccer teams! Both have advanced to the Elite 8 in the National Championships!
- My fraternity--Phi Gamma Delta. Teaching me to persist through hard times. Teaching me that friendship IS the sweetest influence, that knowledge will open up many opportunities for my future, that serving others is the most rewarding act, that having morals and sticking to them through tough times shows true character, and that when I strive for excellence in all that I do I can live with no regrets. It has also given me some of the greatest and most reliable friends a man can ask for.
- Finally I am thankful for having my health. I just recently found out some very very heavy news about a family friend, Jake Cavanaugh. Those of you who've known me for a while know that the "Jake Can" bracelet NEVER leaves my wrist. Well, I can just say that I am not big on praying or any of that stuff, but I swear I'm going to be praying/hoping/wishing/thinking of Jake and his family a lot. Again, it's unfair. Why is this happening to Jake? Why does it happen to anyone? Why the hell does cancer even exist? I hate being so far away right now. I can't even think clearly enough to write anything profound except that I love you Jake, Jane, Curt, and Ali and I'm thinking of you guys through these hard times.
Special right triangles and TTF...eh, maybe I'll be thankful for them one day, too. But not tonight.
So...it's been almost a month since I last updated this blog. Shame on me. But I won't lie, it has been insanely busy at school and in my life in general. There are a lot of things I could complain about with fights at school, students being annoying, or the insane amount of work I find myself doing constantly, but, as I sit in a room of my fraternity house at the wonderful William Jewell College in Liberty, Missouri, I reflect back on what I am thankful for (as you can tell, I'm not longer at Jewell...but in San Antonio).
So, while I'd love to describe to you all the top highlights of my past month (way too many to recall), I will use this blog entry to let you know what I'm thankful for (and maybe I'll include some stories).
- I am extremely thankful for my family. They have loved me unconditionally through everything. I am so incredibly thankful that they have given me the life I have so far and held such high expectations of me and pushed me to do my best and then to be even better. They never pushed me too hard so that I would dislike success and always supported me through all of my decisions. It is parents like my own that have really made a difference in my life for the better. I wish every one of my students had parents like my own. I am thankful for all the little stupid arguments Erica and I would always get into (and still do). I am extremely lucky to have a sister like Erica. She is amazing at losing (sorry Erica) since I am so stubborn and competitive. She is my idol and I look up to her and have striven to follow in her footsteps in everything I do. I love her so much and am thankful for all of the times that she has brought a smile to my face when I was really upset (think of when I was in Mexico, Ertica). I am eternally grateful and wish that I could be with them more than just a week at a time scattered throughout the year. I miss and love you Mom, Dad, and Erica!
- I am thankful for my friends. I have been blessed to meet and have the friends I have in my life. Jillian Melanie Otis, my fake twin, fake sister--scratch that, she IS my sister, too. Jillian has been my best friend since I can remember and has been there for me through everything. I thought when she moved to the other side of Blue Springs that it was the end of the world...now we are hundreds of miles apart. Jillie Butt and Alberto Butt for life.
- I am extremely thankful to have a job right now. I know too many people that are struggling to get a job, get into school, or maintain either of the two.
- Ugh. The next thing I'm grateful for is actually my students. As much as they really really anger me, I am thankful to have the opportunity to mold their minds every day. Yes, they push my every button. Yes, some days I leave school furious. Yes, I may have uttered "I hate them" sometimes. But that is a lie. I love them, they are like my children. They listen to me (most of the time), they look up to me (sometimes), they think I'm smart, and they depend upon me to help give them the opportunity to do more with their lives than they ever imagined. Though it is a great responsibility, I treasure it. A 10th grade student died at my school over Thanksgiving Break. I was not aware this had happened, none of my students were either. The news was broken when I received a letter in my 3rd period on Monday asking me to read it to the class. Of course I read it beforehand, and immediately my heart sank and I started sweating all over. They wanted me to read it to my class in 15 minutes, but my students could already tell that something was wrong, I can't hide my emotions that well. I did not know the student, but still I struggled through reading the letter. I heard rumors of how the student died, and was immediately saddened and at the same time extremely pissed off. It is not fair what these students go through. It is not fair at all. Put that student in my shoes growing up and he would still be alive. Why is this allowed to happen?
- Man, I would be nowhere without my education. Blue Springs High School with some of the greatest teachers, greatest mentors, greatest opportunities, and greatest memories. Then going on to college to chase my dreams. Yeah, I complained about Jewell a lot, but I learned to love it. Yes, William Jewell College may be one of the best things to have ever happened to me. I am extremely grateful for the opportunities for learning, for becoming involved, and expanding my horizons at Jewell. Thank you. And P.S. Go men and women soccer teams! Both have advanced to the Elite 8 in the National Championships!
- My fraternity--Phi Gamma Delta. Teaching me to persist through hard times. Teaching me that friendship IS the sweetest influence, that knowledge will open up many opportunities for my future, that serving others is the most rewarding act, that having morals and sticking to them through tough times shows true character, and that when I strive for excellence in all that I do I can live with no regrets. It has also given me some of the greatest and most reliable friends a man can ask for.
- Finally I am thankful for having my health. I just recently found out some very very heavy news about a family friend, Jake Cavanaugh. Those of you who've known me for a while know that the "Jake Can" bracelet NEVER leaves my wrist. Well, I can just say that I am not big on praying or any of that stuff, but I swear I'm going to be praying/hoping/wishing/thinking of Jake and his family a lot. Again, it's unfair. Why is this happening to Jake? Why does it happen to anyone? Why the hell does cancer even exist? I hate being so far away right now. I can't even think clearly enough to write anything profound except that I love you Jake, Jane, Curt, and Ali and I'm thinking of you guys through these hard times.
Special right triangles and TTF...eh, maybe I'll be thankful for them one day, too. But not tonight.
Sunday, October 24, 2010
Passing the Starting Line...
So I know I missed my post last week, and I apologize. It has been a super busy, yet oddly okay week. Anyway, here goes.
1/8 (one-eighth), .125, 9 weeks, or half of the first semester. Yep, that means I am celebrating finishing my first 9 week grading period of teaching in San Antonio.
9 weeks seems like a really long time. But I still have 3 more of those to cover before I am finished with my first year of teaching and finally on summer break.
So here is the highlights of my past two weeks:
- So...I just want to start my highlights off with saying that I think I have found someone that is worth spending time on and actually like. Weird. Never thought I would say it or have that mentality. But he has actually re-energized my teaching and a lot of what happened throughout the last 2 weeks I want to give some credit to him because he has reassured me that what I'm doing is good and has given me new creative ideas that have excited my students. Thanks JGP.
- So the 9th week, was a "grade rush". I was a little ahead in the curriculum, so I had a great time allowing students to make up for all the work that they had refused to turn in earlier in the semester (district policy). Funny how the reality of failing my class really actually encouraged some students to get to work. I had a 35% failing rate at the start of the week, and ended at an 18% failing rate. I'd say I'm proud, but it's still pretty pathetic. This culture needs to change.
- I had a student who had started off as one of my most promising students who quickly slid into being one of my trouble/commonly truant students. She then turned into my student who had been discovered by the school that she was not in the school boundaries and HAD to transfer. I just happened to be by the main office when she was finalizing the transfer. She pounded on the glass and told me to come into the office and told me the news. Parting words, "I'm sorry to hear that. I'll miss you." Sounded awkward as heck, but I really am going to miss her. She was a riot to have in class, and I could tell she DID care about her work. I was sure that she was going to be my Teach For America success story. Burbank High better take care of her.
- The first week after the grading period ended I started having a lot of students tell me that they actually enjoyed my class. What the heck? The week before I heard how much they despised math and liked me but hated the subject. Talk about discouraging...but telling me that they were actually learning and liking my class after telling me how much they disliked it was really encouraging.
- On top of telling me they liked my class and jumping around showing me their grade cards and how happy they were about them and thanking me for the nice comments I wrote, my students helped me out a lot after school. I pretty much had no life, but I had to make a tracker and it was also Red Ribbon Week so we were supposed to decorate our doors in honor of being Drug Free. I had a good group of students come after school 2 days last week helping me out up until almost 6:30pm! I had a lot of fun, took some great pictures, and really had a great time. The tracker (airplanes taking off from a runway and "reaching new heights" as students reach new levels of knowledge - THANKS JGP!) and the door (a muscular bear with the slogan "Don't do drugs, give hugs" on it) look AMAZING. I was sooooo proud of my students that I took a ton of pictures. I also was really upset when I found out that my door did not even get 3rd place...but we still gave a round of applause during the announcements because everyone felt accomplished and we made the excuse that it was just because I'm a new teacher there and they don't want new teachers taking over. :)
- Bee tee dub, my 5th period class has now somehow transformed into one of my favorite classes, and they are poised to take the top spot in the class averages. Way to go 5th period, shout out to you!
Well, I'm out. Time is precious and I still have to plan! Agh, hasta luego...y pronto!
1/8 (one-eighth), .125, 9 weeks, or half of the first semester. Yep, that means I am celebrating finishing my first 9 week grading period of teaching in San Antonio.
9 weeks seems like a really long time. But I still have 3 more of those to cover before I am finished with my first year of teaching and finally on summer break.
So here is the highlights of my past two weeks:
- So...I just want to start my highlights off with saying that I think I have found someone that is worth spending time on and actually like. Weird. Never thought I would say it or have that mentality. But he has actually re-energized my teaching and a lot of what happened throughout the last 2 weeks I want to give some credit to him because he has reassured me that what I'm doing is good and has given me new creative ideas that have excited my students. Thanks JGP.
- So the 9th week, was a "grade rush". I was a little ahead in the curriculum, so I had a great time allowing students to make up for all the work that they had refused to turn in earlier in the semester (district policy). Funny how the reality of failing my class really actually encouraged some students to get to work. I had a 35% failing rate at the start of the week, and ended at an 18% failing rate. I'd say I'm proud, but it's still pretty pathetic. This culture needs to change.
- I had a student who had started off as one of my most promising students who quickly slid into being one of my trouble/commonly truant students. She then turned into my student who had been discovered by the school that she was not in the school boundaries and HAD to transfer. I just happened to be by the main office when she was finalizing the transfer. She pounded on the glass and told me to come into the office and told me the news. Parting words, "I'm sorry to hear that. I'll miss you." Sounded awkward as heck, but I really am going to miss her. She was a riot to have in class, and I could tell she DID care about her work. I was sure that she was going to be my Teach For America success story. Burbank High better take care of her.
- The first week after the grading period ended I started having a lot of students tell me that they actually enjoyed my class. What the heck? The week before I heard how much they despised math and liked me but hated the subject. Talk about discouraging...but telling me that they were actually learning and liking my class after telling me how much they disliked it was really encouraging.
- On top of telling me they liked my class and jumping around showing me their grade cards and how happy they were about them and thanking me for the nice comments I wrote, my students helped me out a lot after school. I pretty much had no life, but I had to make a tracker and it was also Red Ribbon Week so we were supposed to decorate our doors in honor of being Drug Free. I had a good group of students come after school 2 days last week helping me out up until almost 6:30pm! I had a lot of fun, took some great pictures, and really had a great time. The tracker (airplanes taking off from a runway and "reaching new heights" as students reach new levels of knowledge - THANKS JGP!) and the door (a muscular bear with the slogan "Don't do drugs, give hugs" on it) look AMAZING. I was sooooo proud of my students that I took a ton of pictures. I also was really upset when I found out that my door did not even get 3rd place...but we still gave a round of applause during the announcements because everyone felt accomplished and we made the excuse that it was just because I'm a new teacher there and they don't want new teachers taking over. :)
- Bee tee dub, my 5th period class has now somehow transformed into one of my favorite classes, and they are poised to take the top spot in the class averages. Way to go 5th period, shout out to you!
Well, I'm out. Time is precious and I still have to plan! Agh, hasta luego...y pronto!
Tuesday, October 19, 2010
Remembering
So...it's hard to sleep tonight. Sucktober is at its worst. But, I think I just need to remember this observation I made of myself 3 years ago:
"I don't really follow the status quo, I question everything, never take the easy way out, and I'm pretty stubborn. Other then that, I am who I am and I do what I do, and I'm proud of it."
When did I lose sight of this? I'm now lame, I do as I'm told, I take the easy way out far too often, and I roll over like a puppy who peed on the carpet.
I think it's time to get back to what makes me who I am. Not this puppet who cares what people think of me or is afraid of the repercussions. Be bold, be daring, be myself, and be proud of it. It's worked for me before, why not now?
Beware students, Mr. Hart is coming at you. And you better be prepared, or you're in for a rude awakening...
Sunday, October 17, 2010
Survival
Good news: I survived the "threat" on Tuesday!
In other news: It was possibly the strangest week ever. Only a 4 day week, but it seemed like the longest one yet.
- Last week on Wednesday we had PSAT Testing...aka pretty much no school at all. So Tuesday, no student showed up to school. Wednesday, we had PSAT testing, which means the first 4 hours of school all my students are testing and then I taught my last 2 classes. Thursday I had new teacher training, so I just had Friday with my students. Lo and behold, Fridays are hard days to keep kids focused...enough said.
- Also on Tuesday one of the highly regarded and very loved softball coaches died. She had been battling cancer for a while, and all of the school was very upset after her passing. RIP Coach V. :(
- So on my one day that I had with my students, it was also Erica's birthday. I got through my lessons pretty fast, so I decided to let my students make my very much loved sister some "birthday cards" (which consisted of large pieces of white paper, with messages written in marker all over it). Some of the messages included "Happy Birthday Week", "Your brother is cool" "Happy 25th" "Call me" and etc. Fun stuff to be doing on a Friday. Too bad one period sat in silence for the final 10 minutes of class instead of drawing. It's okay, I got to stare them down and make them very terrified of me anytime they got above a whisper.
- My weekend was made complete when Jillian came into town Friday. I needed some home down here. Jillie and I got to hang out like always and be ourselves. I love it. We went to a couple places over the weekend (Pat O's, Ale Fest, and Cowboys). I can talk more about the shenanigans and fun we had separately, but this is going to be school-appropriate.
- On the subject of school-appropriateness...there was a HUGE party at Hemisview Saturday night. Let's just say you could REALLLLLY tell which part of town I'm living in and what kind of people are living here with me... Yep. That. We woke up a couple times to yelling right outside my window.
- Sunday afternoon I finally got to see the Social Network in Uvalde, Texas. Yes. Uvalde, Texas. Quite an interesting town, and quite an interesting movie theater. But I got to spend some time with someone, and though an hour out of the way, was very much worth it.
- This week pretty much describes why October is the worst month of teaching. October aka Sucktober is the worst. End of the first grading period and 35% of your students are failing = a lot of freakin' work to do to save your own job. Lots of babying 15 year olds so that they might scare a tiny little bit to raise their grade that little bit into the passing range. More than likely, though, is that they don't. Ugh. Frustrating.
- Also this week is PLAN Testing on Wednesday. So Wednesday for the first 4 hours we are testing, then I have my first 4 periods to wrap up the day. That is tomorrow. Yikes. No. Fun. And that also means I get no break. Ugh.
- But...tomorrow is a new day. In my attempt at optimism I'll post this quote that rings sooooo true right now and I need to try my best to uphold it. "I, not events, have the power to make me happy or unhappy today. I can choose which it shall be. Yesterday is dead, tomorrow hasn't arrived yet. I just have one day, today, and I'm going to be happy in it." --Thanks Jason!
Peace out, have a good week. I'm going to have a nice Shrimp Boil dinner at Charles Butt's house (owner of HEB) Friday, and then the beach for the rest of the weekend! YES!
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