I had seen the school nurse a couple times before at Berry, but I had never really had the chance to talk to her...
After this past week I know her fairly well, as she has been at my classroom just about everyday. On Monday the nurse delivered several notes for parents to me and explained how she has been trying to do vision screening of students before school by taking students from the cafeteria (where the students wait until 7:30am when I pick them up). Several of my students have been recommended to get classes. I was a little bit excited as the fact that my students can't read the board could be a very large factor in their success in my classroom.
I had not even had the chance to consider my students vision as a hindrance to their success as I thought through the numerous challenges they had in front of them. On top of most of them struggling to read in their non-native language of English, a lot of them may just be unable to read the words because they cannot see them.
While doing vision screening the nurse also found lice in some of the students in my class. At the moment she told me about the students who would not be in class on Monday due to lice, I felt as if I had it too. Fortunately, I do not have lice, but I am still a little paranoid. I think my class is lice free now... at least for the time being. I have been told that lice can be a big problem at my school due to the living conditions of a lot of my students.
On Tuesday I was notified by the nurse that one of my students that had been absent Monday was being checked for swine flu as six members of her family all currently have the virus. I was supposed to get the results back on Wednesday from the nurse as to the condition of my student, but have found out nothing yet. The student was absent all week though...
A lot of my students have been sick lately so there is definitely something going around. It is really hard to have students missing class as most of them are already so far behind. Missing school just adds to the amount of work they will need to do to get caught up with where they should be.
Saturday, September 26, 2009
Sunday, September 20, 2009
Our Kids
Also on Monday, my last day of teaching PK-5th grade science lab I was informed that one of my students has been getting abused at home. She has always been rather quiet and kept to herself, but only seeing her for 45 minutes a day, I wasn't really able to put a finger on what was wrong.
Her homeroom teacher told me the news. The little girls' mother had previously physically abused her and she had been taken to live with her grandparents. I guess the mother was now living with the grandparents and was again starting to abuse the little girl. The homeroom teacher told me so I would be able to keep an eye on the fragile first grader to make sure nothing bad was happening to her at home.
The girl already had some strange marks on her body, but the school was not able to pin point that those marks came from her mother.
It is so sad to think that this is actually going on. I know that this little girl is not the only student having to deal with issues like this at home either. Everyday my mind it plagued with the thoughts that some of my students may be getting physically or mentally abused at home. They most of my kids have a rough enough life already and the thought of having to deal with something like this makes me sick to my stomach.
As I get to know my students and their stories I am more motivated to make a difference.
The other day I was explaining to someone about what I currently do for a living and they looked at me and said that I was brave for working with those kids.
The person I was having a conversation with did not mean any harm by the statement. I was actually at a charity fundraiser they had organized when the conversation took place so I know they have a good heart, but the comment was still very telling of our society.
I feel it is statements like these that allow many of the problems my students face to exist. Instead of tackling issues head on, and working to make things better, we quickly turn to labels like those kids. These label allow us to separate ourselves from the issue and instead of acting, look at the situation with pity.
Instead, we should think of these students and children in our country as Our Kids and begin to take responsibility for the future generations we are developing.
In reality these students are our kids, in my mind they are my kids. I am very attached and I feel that I am very accountable for their successes and failures. I work hard everyday, not for those kids, but instead for our kids and our future.
Her homeroom teacher told me the news. The little girls' mother had previously physically abused her and she had been taken to live with her grandparents. I guess the mother was now living with the grandparents and was again starting to abuse the little girl. The homeroom teacher told me so I would be able to keep an eye on the fragile first grader to make sure nothing bad was happening to her at home.
The girl already had some strange marks on her body, but the school was not able to pin point that those marks came from her mother.
It is so sad to think that this is actually going on. I know that this little girl is not the only student having to deal with issues like this at home either. Everyday my mind it plagued with the thoughts that some of my students may be getting physically or mentally abused at home. They most of my kids have a rough enough life already and the thought of having to deal with something like this makes me sick to my stomach.
As I get to know my students and their stories I am more motivated to make a difference.
The other day I was explaining to someone about what I currently do for a living and they looked at me and said that I was brave for working with those kids.
The person I was having a conversation with did not mean any harm by the statement. I was actually at a charity fundraiser they had organized when the conversation took place so I know they have a good heart, but the comment was still very telling of our society.
I feel it is statements like these that allow many of the problems my students face to exist. Instead of tackling issues head on, and working to make things better, we quickly turn to labels like those kids. These label allow us to separate ourselves from the issue and instead of acting, look at the situation with pity.
Instead, we should think of these students and children in our country as Our Kids and begin to take responsibility for the future generations we are developing.
In reality these students are our kids, in my mind they are my kids. I am very attached and I feel that I am very accountable for their successes and failures. I work hard everyday, not for those kids, but instead for our kids and our future.
Wild Dogs
Although it has only been a week, it seems as if it has been forever since I have written.
I should be going to bed, but I feel it is only fair to write something quickly for the people who check my blog (hi mom) and so I can get a few things recorded before I forget them.
Monday was my last day teaching PK-5th grade science lab. Even though it was my "last day" it was still very eventful...
I got to school early on Monday to make sure I was prepared for the day ahead. I was going to have the 5th grade teacher that I will be replacing shadowing me all day so he is able to learn some of the procedures and how I interact with my kids throughout the day. I was a little nervous about him being in my classroom all day. I was hopping there would not be any conversation about the switch or anything that would put my in an awkward situation.
Anyway, I got to school early, it was still dark outside. I signed in at the front office as I do everyday and began to walk to my classroom. I was about 50 feet from my classroom / trailer when a huge German Shepard mixed dog came running at me. The dog barked and growled as if it was protecting the door to my classroom. I quickly slipped into the door of the trailer that is attached to mine and slammed the door. I am sure I mumbled a few curse words as the fear of the dog coming out of no where almost made me have to go home to get new pants before school started.
I peeked my head outside again to see if the dog was still there and it was laying in front of my classroom door. I closed the door and decided to walk through the connected classroom and begin my work for the day. I would call the office in a little bit when I knew someone would be up there to answer.
About thirty minutes later I looked outside again and the dog was gone. I walked around and couldn't find it anywhere. Once the teacher whose room connects to mine got to school I told her all about my morning encounter. She explained to me that the dog was probably a stray, which I agreed with, as there are dogs all over the area where my school is located. On my way to and from school I see a couple stray dogs everyday. It is pretty strange to see so many dogs just wandering around the streets, but after a few weeks at my school I guess I have gotten used to it.
Anyway, at the end of the school day, the dog was back again. It was at the side of my trailer, barking and growling at students as they quickly walked by on the other side (outside) of the school's fence (chain link with barbed wire on top) on their way home. Usually this would be taking place the other way around, with the dog outside the school grounds and the kids on the inside, but fortunately school had just let out and most of the students had already left by the time anyone noticed the dog again.
The Houston Animal control officer showed up about 10 minutes later and shot the dog with a tranquilizer. I was happy he was going to get the dog out of the school area and that all the students would be safe, but once he shot the dog it ran underneath my classroom (which is up on blocks with an aluminum skirt). The animal control officer waited a little bit and then decided to crawl through the same hole the dog did to go underneath my classroom. I was very impressed by his bravery, or craziness, as I would not have crawled under the building into the darkness where the dog had just ran.
The animal control officer could not find the dog under the building, which is something I still don't understand. Either way, he packed up a little bit later and we haven't seen the dog since. He thinks the dog had babies underneath my building but he could not find them either so I guess I will just have to wait and see. So far, there have been no sighting though. lots of stray dogs, just not that one.
I should be going to bed, but I feel it is only fair to write something quickly for the people who check my blog (hi mom) and so I can get a few things recorded before I forget them.
Monday was my last day teaching PK-5th grade science lab. Even though it was my "last day" it was still very eventful...
I got to school early on Monday to make sure I was prepared for the day ahead. I was going to have the 5th grade teacher that I will be replacing shadowing me all day so he is able to learn some of the procedures and how I interact with my kids throughout the day. I was a little nervous about him being in my classroom all day. I was hopping there would not be any conversation about the switch or anything that would put my in an awkward situation.
Anyway, I got to school early, it was still dark outside. I signed in at the front office as I do everyday and began to walk to my classroom. I was about 50 feet from my classroom / trailer when a huge German Shepard mixed dog came running at me. The dog barked and growled as if it was protecting the door to my classroom. I quickly slipped into the door of the trailer that is attached to mine and slammed the door. I am sure I mumbled a few curse words as the fear of the dog coming out of no where almost made me have to go home to get new pants before school started.
I peeked my head outside again to see if the dog was still there and it was laying in front of my classroom door. I closed the door and decided to walk through the connected classroom and begin my work for the day. I would call the office in a little bit when I knew someone would be up there to answer.
About thirty minutes later I looked outside again and the dog was gone. I walked around and couldn't find it anywhere. Once the teacher whose room connects to mine got to school I told her all about my morning encounter. She explained to me that the dog was probably a stray, which I agreed with, as there are dogs all over the area where my school is located. On my way to and from school I see a couple stray dogs everyday. It is pretty strange to see so many dogs just wandering around the streets, but after a few weeks at my school I guess I have gotten used to it.
Anyway, at the end of the school day, the dog was back again. It was at the side of my trailer, barking and growling at students as they quickly walked by on the other side (outside) of the school's fence (chain link with barbed wire on top) on their way home. Usually this would be taking place the other way around, with the dog outside the school grounds and the kids on the inside, but fortunately school had just let out and most of the students had already left by the time anyone noticed the dog again.
The Houston Animal control officer showed up about 10 minutes later and shot the dog with a tranquilizer. I was happy he was going to get the dog out of the school area and that all the students would be safe, but once he shot the dog it ran underneath my classroom (which is up on blocks with an aluminum skirt). The animal control officer waited a little bit and then decided to crawl through the same hole the dog did to go underneath my classroom. I was very impressed by his bravery, or craziness, as I would not have crawled under the building into the darkness where the dog had just ran.
The animal control officer could not find the dog under the building, which is something I still don't understand. Either way, he packed up a little bit later and we haven't seen the dog since. He thinks the dog had babies underneath my building but he could not find them either so I guess I will just have to wait and see. So far, there have been no sighting though. lots of stray dogs, just not that one.
Saturday, September 12, 2009
Suprize! Changing Classes...
I will no longer be teaching PK-5th grade science lab.
I found out on Thursday afternoon that my administrative team was considering moving me to be a 5th grade homeroom teacher where I would teach both math and science to all of the 5th grade students (I currently teach one section of 5th grade science lab - they get science twice a day). They felt the switch was necessary as a current 5th grade teacher was under performing in his role.
By Friday morning, my fate was sealed. As I walked to breakfast to meet my Pre-kindergarten students for breakfast I was stopped in the hallway by my mentor and told that I would be moving to 5th grade.
I am not sure how to feel about the change. On one hand, it is a compliment. Fifth grade is a year in which the students and tested by the state. These tests are very important for the school because the state views the 5th grade students as a product of what the school can produce (even though most of our students come and go... which means they aren't really a PK-5 product of our school). The state bases the school's funding, support, and overall ranking based on 5th grade scores so teachers in this position are usually there because they are effective and good at what they do. They are also usually not first year teachers.
I am a little bit sad about the change as well. I am not excited to be leaving the great team I am currently on in science lab. There are five science lab teachers and we have been working together really well over the first couple weeks of school. Although we all have our own classrooms and students, we have been able to collaborate on lesson plans and setting up labs to make the schedule more manageable. We have also begun to develop very good systems that would have been great to have been a part of moving forward. I really like all of the people on the science team and am sad to leave them.
Another reason I am upset about leaving the science lab team is the enormous amount of work I have done to prepare myself for this school year and my role as a science lab teacher. Preparing for the amount of different students I saw everyday was very time consuming and I had spent a lot of time working on long term plans and systems for my classroom. I had put in countless hours getting my room ready and making sure it was inviting for students...
Now that I am switching with another teacher I will be leaving all of my hard work behind for someone else. I am going to have to start over and develop new systems and plans for my 5th grade class. I will be able to use some of my experience in science lab for the science classroom portion, but will be starting from scratch in math.
I spent this morning trying to move some of my materials from my current classroom to my new classroom. I already think I liked my old classroom better. I have put so much time into making it a good place for learning; it is hard to let it go. The room I will be moving into was a mess. The teacher I am replacing has put some effort into getting his room ready, but it is by no means where I would like it to be. There are lots of books, copies, and materials unrelated to math or science in all of the shelves around the room. I spent three and a half hours there this morning and am not even close to having my new classroom how I want it... I have a feeling the upcoming week will be long!
I will be teaching my last day of science lab on Monday. I am really going to miss my students. Even though they were bad at times, they quickly grow on you. From the "I love you Mr. Swartz's" and "bye's" when they leave the classroom; to the loud yelling of "Good morning (or afternoon) Mr. Swartz" when they first come into the classroom, it will be hard to have new classes already. I will be modeling my procedures and what science lab looks like to the teacher I will be replacing in 5th grade, as my old job will be his new role.
Tuesday will be my first day teaching science and math to 5th grade. I will have my own homeroom of 5th grade students and will have a completely different schedule for my school day.
I am a little bit stressed right now...
I found out on Thursday afternoon that my administrative team was considering moving me to be a 5th grade homeroom teacher where I would teach both math and science to all of the 5th grade students (I currently teach one section of 5th grade science lab - they get science twice a day). They felt the switch was necessary as a current 5th grade teacher was under performing in his role.
By Friday morning, my fate was sealed. As I walked to breakfast to meet my Pre-kindergarten students for breakfast I was stopped in the hallway by my mentor and told that I would be moving to 5th grade.
I am not sure how to feel about the change. On one hand, it is a compliment. Fifth grade is a year in which the students and tested by the state. These tests are very important for the school because the state views the 5th grade students as a product of what the school can produce (even though most of our students come and go... which means they aren't really a PK-5 product of our school). The state bases the school's funding, support, and overall ranking based on 5th grade scores so teachers in this position are usually there because they are effective and good at what they do. They are also usually not first year teachers.
I am a little bit sad about the change as well. I am not excited to be leaving the great team I am currently on in science lab. There are five science lab teachers and we have been working together really well over the first couple weeks of school. Although we all have our own classrooms and students, we have been able to collaborate on lesson plans and setting up labs to make the schedule more manageable. We have also begun to develop very good systems that would have been great to have been a part of moving forward. I really like all of the people on the science team and am sad to leave them.
Another reason I am upset about leaving the science lab team is the enormous amount of work I have done to prepare myself for this school year and my role as a science lab teacher. Preparing for the amount of different students I saw everyday was very time consuming and I had spent a lot of time working on long term plans and systems for my classroom. I had put in countless hours getting my room ready and making sure it was inviting for students...
Now that I am switching with another teacher I will be leaving all of my hard work behind for someone else. I am going to have to start over and develop new systems and plans for my 5th grade class. I will be able to use some of my experience in science lab for the science classroom portion, but will be starting from scratch in math.
I spent this morning trying to move some of my materials from my current classroom to my new classroom. I already think I liked my old classroom better. I have put so much time into making it a good place for learning; it is hard to let it go. The room I will be moving into was a mess. The teacher I am replacing has put some effort into getting his room ready, but it is by no means where I would like it to be. There are lots of books, copies, and materials unrelated to math or science in all of the shelves around the room. I spent three and a half hours there this morning and am not even close to having my new classroom how I want it... I have a feeling the upcoming week will be long!
I will be teaching my last day of science lab on Monday. I am really going to miss my students. Even though they were bad at times, they quickly grow on you. From the "I love you Mr. Swartz's" and "bye's" when they leave the classroom; to the loud yelling of "Good morning (or afternoon) Mr. Swartz" when they first come into the classroom, it will be hard to have new classes already. I will be modeling my procedures and what science lab looks like to the teacher I will be replacing in 5th grade, as my old job will be his new role.
Tuesday will be my first day teaching science and math to 5th grade. I will have my own homeroom of 5th grade students and will have a completely different schedule for my school day.
I am a little bit stressed right now...
Tuesday, September 8, 2009
Time to Breath
I never thought I would be happy to say that my school started before Labor Day, but it worked out great.
I am finished with my first two weeks of teaching, which are getting a little bit better compared to day one, but still not too great. In teaching, there are "good days" and "bad days," "good classes" and "bad classes," I am just hoping I can continue to have them all shifting more towards the positive. It seems as if it only takes one student to dismantle a classroom that is seemingly going perfect... as I become a better teacher, I hope this isn't always the case.
It was great to have the extra day this weekend. I was able to get some of the paper work that has been piling up on my desk at home sorted out. I am taking night classes at the University of St. Thomas in Houston on Tuesday nights and have to take an Alternative Certification Program (ACP) course on Monday nights so I had all kinds of information from both of them. My week is pretty full between school, St. Thomas graduate classes, the ACP program, and random Teach For America (TFA) events/workshops.
I still don't feel like I have a very good system down for managing all of my work, but hopefully, over time, I will be able to organize everything so I can be efficient and effective with my time. I am sure many of you have noticed that I have not been keeping up with my blogging, but that is mainly due to my inability to manage my workload right now.
Well, I have to get back to planning for the rest of the day. It is 9:15 and I have already been at school for about 3 hours. I got here a little earlier today to try and get organized for the week. At 7:30am I ate breakfast with my preschoolers (PK) class. We ate and then sang a few songs before their homeroom teacher picked them up at 8:15am. That is the only time I see PK now during the day.
Our schedule has been adjusted so they have "science" at the same time they are eating breakfast. Today I taught them "Head, Shoulders, Knees, and Toes" to help them learn the parts of the body. We sang in both English and Spanish. Thanks to two years in Mrs. Entzi's Spanish class I was able to teach them in both languages without any problems. I think the other teachers were pretty impressed since they know I don't know any Spanish... haha
Back to work... 5 classes left to teach today, and then class tonight. I should be home around 8:30pm.
Take care,
- Joe
I am finished with my first two weeks of teaching, which are getting a little bit better compared to day one, but still not too great. In teaching, there are "good days" and "bad days," "good classes" and "bad classes," I am just hoping I can continue to have them all shifting more towards the positive. It seems as if it only takes one student to dismantle a classroom that is seemingly going perfect... as I become a better teacher, I hope this isn't always the case.
It was great to have the extra day this weekend. I was able to get some of the paper work that has been piling up on my desk at home sorted out. I am taking night classes at the University of St. Thomas in Houston on Tuesday nights and have to take an Alternative Certification Program (ACP) course on Monday nights so I had all kinds of information from both of them. My week is pretty full between school, St. Thomas graduate classes, the ACP program, and random Teach For America (TFA) events/workshops.
I still don't feel like I have a very good system down for managing all of my work, but hopefully, over time, I will be able to organize everything so I can be efficient and effective with my time. I am sure many of you have noticed that I have not been keeping up with my blogging, but that is mainly due to my inability to manage my workload right now.
Well, I have to get back to planning for the rest of the day. It is 9:15 and I have already been at school for about 3 hours. I got here a little earlier today to try and get organized for the week. At 7:30am I ate breakfast with my preschoolers (PK) class. We ate and then sang a few songs before their homeroom teacher picked them up at 8:15am. That is the only time I see PK now during the day.
Our schedule has been adjusted so they have "science" at the same time they are eating breakfast. Today I taught them "Head, Shoulders, Knees, and Toes" to help them learn the parts of the body. We sang in both English and Spanish. Thanks to two years in Mrs. Entzi's Spanish class I was able to teach them in both languages without any problems. I think the other teachers were pretty impressed since they know I don't know any Spanish... haha
Back to work... 5 classes left to teach today, and then class tonight. I should be home around 8:30pm.
Take care,
- Joe
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