Let’s be honest…I’m tired and it’s only November. We’re on the 2nd 9 weeks of teaching. Students are getting real comfortable, too comfortable in my classroom. I’m trying every classroom management trick in the book: signals to get quiet, behavior narrative, writing names on the board, sending students to the office, one-on-one conversations, moving seats, calling parents….EVERYTHING. Ok so maybe I haven’t tried everything but I’ve tried a lot. Another teacher blames it on my age. Saying that because I’m so young, these students don’t respect me as much as they respect the “grandmother” like figure of the other teachers. I think that’s a bunch of crap. What I know is this: my test scores are good but they could be better if I had better classroom management. And how can we prepare for classroom management? I’ve got no answers for you….only questions.
I have a question about the dedication of…
Today is Parent Teacher Conference Day and since my school requires the parents pick up their child’s report card – the school is packed. Parents are streaming in and out of my room. It’s interesting to finally meet the people who are responsible for my students. With meeting the parents I am forced to think…
read more »The best part of the school day for me is walking into my empty classroom. If the class that has just been released was rowdy and overwhelming, it’s so calming to hear nothing but the quiet hum of my 1990′s computer. It’s midterm week and I’m not following the exam schedule. And my principal knows…
read more »As Florence put it, my regrets since the start of school are starting to haunt me. I have officially been teaching high school English for 13 (school) days and already I am constantly wishing I had done things more to the book. The book which I am referring is “First Days of School” by Frank…
read more »“I would change the three class system to just two classes. I would change this because I am tired of seeing poor people homeless on the street. If I could change that people would have homes and have jobs so they will have money to live.” 11th grade student, male “If I had the power…
read more »I had the pleasure of staying in Greenwood for a few days. Greenwood is a friendly town with lots of culture. There is clear segregation in the city; once you cross the bridge you enter a whole new world. But I will miss waking up to the elephant herd
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The Rev. Jesse Jackson spoke at the Jackson Public School’s opening convocation earlier this week. I am a big admirer of the Rev., dating back to when my group of friends in high school starting calling ourselves “The Rainbow Coalition.” Anyways, he was truly inspiring. I felt privileged to be in the same room as him. Rev.…
read more »My goal for this evening is to be in bed by 9:30. Today was the first day I felt like crying. It had nothing to do with my students, they are improving on a daily basis. It had nothing to do with the hour bus rides. It had nothing to do with the long (sometimes…
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We had an early day on Thursday so I had a chance to visit Helena, AR. My friend, Mickie, is placed there so I thought I would tag along for a ride. Here are some photos I snapped. Enjoy!
read more »The reaction to my video from corps members in TFA has very encouraging. Each person who spoke to me about it said that they really enjoyed knowing they shared the same sentiments with other people. It was comforting for them to know that their experience was shared and yet still unique. Reactions from other people…
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