So many changes have occurred since my last post. Of course, since the last post was in August, there should have been some changes.
Most of my students bought into Class-Yes! but were becoming a little bored. I did well with lower my voice to a whisper for them to mimic me, but other voices I am seriously uncomfortable with. However, when my new class came along about 9 weeks into the school year, I simply just didn't feel like or have the time to "train" them.With all the common core and my alter "perfectionist" persona, I also begin to struggle with even remembering Class-Yes! I always push my students and myself. With common core implementation I am wanting my students to meet and surpass the standards with minimal effort. AND, guess what? Yep, seventh graders just aren't buying it! Mostly, they just are not academically motivated. They are happy to pass. They do not want to take their knowledge to a higher level. Thankfully they are not high in the misbehavior department.
The scoreboard never took off for me in the classroom. I tried all the possible/ suggested ways and a few of my own. I think so many of my students have either (a) burned out on any type of reward because last year they were rewarded for everything or (2) are apathetic to most positive motivation. After 20+ years of classroom management being done one way, it sure is hard to make a consistent change. The scoreboard is still up (I tried to erase it before Christmas Break and the ink is dried to the board!). Maybe I will try it again...or wait until next year.
Mentioning next year, I was informed that I will be teaching eighth grade next year. My principal really liked me implementing Genius Ladder. We call it the Genius Paragraph since we are in middle school. So new common core, new textbooks, BUT the same students. So I am being careful with what I use for presentations because I do not want a repeat for the students next year.
Another change was the school dropped a couple of teachers because our numbers did not qualify us for the number of teachers. So no longer do I teach language and reading but only language. Now if you don't know common core doesn't differentiate. Reading and language go hand in hand. Also, once my classes had settled down ( We have a lot of transition until September), and I had learned just about everyone's name, I received a whole new class of 30 students! Initially, the students were bucking me and my ways because I am "old" school. Naturally, they wanted to return to their former teacher. Secretly, I wanted them to return also! Time was cut by 15 minutes in all classes. Stressful because now I teach only language arts, yet I help with the lesson planning for the reading also since the teacher has NEVER taught middle school (and shhhhh!doesn't want to learn)
Finally on a personal level my husband's 3rd vertebrate has slipped and we have been driving almost every other month to a hospital 3 hours away for various tests etc. to convince insurance that the only solution is surgery. That or him living with his head chopped off!
Now a reflection on the words "on a personal level". Exactly what effective teacher out there has a personal life during a school year?
I have done a couple of wholebrain implementations with a little twist. I will talk about at least one of them this weekend. Don't want to share without pictures.
Have you tried http://www.learnzillion.com ? Great site offerring support for common core teaching! AND, as always meeting my standard...... FREE!
