Steal

I returned from my conference this past Saturday refreshed and full of ideas for my classroom. Some of which I believe will be extremely effective in my organization and classroom management skills. The one lesson I did learn was, "Steal". The speaker, Dr. Harry Wong reiterated this message during his 2 hour long talk and sold me on his book, 'The First Days of Teaching". $35 dollars later I have a book I am actually happy I purchased. The message that he gave is true, I think so many beginning teachers struggle to create something new every single day...and that may not be the best idea. The conference helped me really feel good about some of the things I am already doing in the classroom and helped me reflect on what I need to improve on.
I was kind of nice that I was put up at the Hilton for two nights too.

Old Cat

I've lost many people in my life. But the feeling that fills me these days is nothing like that I have felt before. I had to put down my cat of almost 14 years this past Wednesday. The strange thing about this is that-- it was my choice. It was my personal choice to end the life of my dear old cat. My cat was sick, to the point she wasn't her old bitchy self anymore. And that made me sad. It actually still makes me sad. This cat literally accompanied me through my childhood, teenage years and now adulthood. Sad face. : ( (A student in my third period class always says this when I tell a sad story).

I told the kids in my class that I had to complete this dreadful task... that it made me very sad. Some understood and empathized--and others have yet to experience something like this. I told them that this is real life. Real life isn't about ipods and videogames. It is about the relationships we forge with other people--and even animals. I shared this personal event with them--because I want my students to realize that teachers are human too.

Oh wear or wear did proper grammar go?

Well. My title is an intentional pun. Kids these days can't read or write. Sweeping generalization? I think not. I am teaching two sections of a Grade 12 Literacy course for students who failed a standardized literacy test, twice. Scary. This course consists of seven activities that need to be completed in 3 separate blocks of time. Needless to say, its boring as hell for the kiddos. Well as exciting as I am in person, the content I am given to work with, is not. I am teaching the kids who hate to read and hate to write. Usually you get a few of those kind of kids in your classes, but not 20 of them. My days consist of tracking down children who skip. Parents who don't care that they skip. And yelling at children who can't actually give a .... to come on time or at all. Beautiful. I also have some incredibly sweet kids who just need a lot of help. A class of 20 students is not the best environment for me to provide the best help possible. However, I do what I can. In other schools this class maxes out at 7 students. But hey... I'm a dreamer right?

Because I have not have had enough literacy during the day, I teach a co-curricular literacy study group twice a week, to make sure we don't have so many kids failing the literacy test-- and having to take the course during the school year. I am totally a literacy guru. Well I shouldn't say that. Any little grammar faux pas could get me in trouble. I take it back. Read to your kids folks. Really read to your little ones. Help them with their homework. I know we are all busy. But truly--knowledge is power-- right? It starts at home.

That's my rant.

I am also teaching media studies. Media studies rocks. I am teaching them all sorts of fun things about tv, film, radio, journalism, advertisements, etc. Send interesting links my way. I am currently teaching a unit on reality tv. SUPER! (This is not sarcasm). : )

Anyways. This weekend is the big conference I told you about a while back. I have a really short week. This rocks.

27 Days till Vacation.

Woot.