This is a rant… This past week was a rollercoaster. I started the week in a great mood. My students would be working on their projects, my 8th-grade Science kiddos were working on an assignment about heat and temperature, and we would be watching the student-created videos in my FLEX classes. I had fun tools… Read More That Escalated Quickly…
A week ago I was concerned with the state of how my classroom was and how my students were behaving. I was concerned with the students who were “all in” with me while being distracted by the misbehaving students. My frequent flyers were taking advantage of me, my classroom, and the other students. I was… Read More Update: Do I Have to Entertain to Teach?
This past week I have been very conflicted. It is the second year that I have been thrust into teaching Physical Science to 8th-graders. The “honeymoon” is over and I am struggling on how I can make this subject “not boring”. On Friday, I was so upset with the 4-5 boys in my classroom I… Read More Do I Have to Entertain to Teach?
Friday was an interesting day for me at school. Just to give my readers insight into my job, my position as a computer teacher I have 7th and 8th-grade students for nine weeks at a time then they move on to either Art or PE classes. 5th and 6tth grade classes are a bit different… Read More Middle School Adventures
I was reminded again today how fragile my job security is. The rumor mill is swirling and I wish I had answers. The waiting seems endless. It is easy to get caught up in the negativity of the situation and be mad and disappointed. It is really easy to finger-point and blame others. But I… Read More The Positive Role Model
When our middle son, Carter, was an 8th-grade student during the 2016-2017 school year, I had an idea of writing a note to each and every student that was in my class. There were about 200-220 8th graders that year. Many of the students who come through my classroom are carrying the heavy, heavy baggage… Read More Notes to my 8th Graders