September 2008
6 posts
“So they were trying to re-invent themselves and their universe. Science fiction...”
– Slaughterhouse-Five
Frustrating
On Friday, I sat through a really interesting training for the Accelerated Reader and Accelerated Math programs, which my school apparently bought and wants to use as a supplement to Houghton-Mifflin and Everyday Math.
The AR and AM programs seem really interesting and really helpful - especially individualizing instruction for students who are behind or ahead, and filling in holes that...
Hermit Weekend
Due to an injury, I’m stuck at home for the weekend. I’m just hoping that my forced hermit status is going to lead to some nice introspection and maybe some good lesson plans. But so far, all I’ve done is listened to This American LIfe and Studio 360, developed an obsession with Spore and determined that the Stock Market and Quantum Physics are similar in that in the Stock...
A few thoughts on vouchers and charters...
My dad, a pretty open-minded conservative, emailed me an opinion piece from the Wall Street Journal titled “The Greatest Scandal” in support of school voucher programs back in July asking for my thoughts. I immediately dashed back a quick reply off the top of my head, which follows below:
I don’t agree that vouchers are the answer. If school choice and vouchers helped improve...
Happy Friday! A great article summarizing... →
Early mornings
Whenever I get really frustrated at having to get up early for school, I like to think that at least I am not up as early as Steve Inskeep. He starts at 4am, whereby allowing me to wake up to his pleasant voice at 6. Although I often knock my clock radio across the room in a grumpy display of aggression, it doesn’t last long. Thanks, Steve, for helping me hate life slightly less.
August 2008
4 posts
long day
you know it was a long day the day before when you wake up on friday morning with a pen still stuck in your ponytail. and blue ink on your pillowcase. weeeeee.
Fourth Day
Feels partly like attempting to herd feral kittens… partly like scientifically-based creative cognitive developmental exercises.
And I’m completely exhausted.
But, I’m recognizing the need for structure and consistency for my students. It’s difficult, though, because the school itself is unstructured and inconsistent in its policies and procedures. Then again, the...
News Blips
Not enough time to really get into these issues, but here is a good link to an article that summarizes the news from DCPS: DCist
The drama going down is intense. It is no wonder my students have trouble sharing, taking turns, and showing respect. The adults in the system are not very good models!
That being said, I say YES to the new contract.
Happy New Year!
Exhaustion. Food deprivation. Possibly zapping my ovaries from the large amounts of Xerox copying. Staple-in-hand bulletin-board fiasco. Losing my voice from explaining procedures 8 thousand times.
Totally in robot mode: shower, dress, chug coffee, brush teeth, run out door. Then School. Then home, run, eat everything in sight, plan, drink glass of wine, plan, pass out on couch, crawl...