I've been really bad at blogging...as in I haven't written in three weeks bad blogging! It's not that I don't have time to blog (most days) or that I don't want to (most days). It's more that I worry about what I can share and what I can't. Obviously I wouldn't share any real names of students, but I still hesitate to share specific stories and assignments. A lot of it has to do with the teacher that got in trouble for blog bashing her students. Obviously I would never do anything like that, but I still worry about how much is actually okay to share over the internet. Especially when what you put on the internet is available for anyone and everyone to see. Anyway, now that I have explained myself, let's get to what has been going on.
My freshmen just finished up a Greek Mythology unit. I created the entire unit by myself, and I'm actually pretty proud of how it turned out! Of course there are things I will change next time to improve it, but overall, I think it went very well. I heard from numerous students how much they enjoyed it, too. That's the big plus right there. Knowing that the unit actually made a difference for them! I had lots of students do well on the final test, but I also had a handful do pretty poorly. They all wanted a test redo. As a teacher, I don't really believe in test redos (unless, of course, it is due to my teaching that they did poorly on the test). However, I do believe in improving your score and showing me you know the information in another way. Therefore, I created an alternative assignment for them to do which I will average with the test grade, for a new final grade. Some of the students were a little peeved at how much "work" the new assignment was, but I believe they should have to earn their grade, especially being the second time around.
My juniors are just finishing up a unit over The Crucible. Unfortunately, they did not enjoy the play very much. However, I didn't enjoy it the first time I read it either. It took me three or four times to actually enjoy it. So much happens so fast that it's just hard to wrap your head around it. Although you can imagine the looks of horror I would get if I told the students we were reading it three or four times! I have yet to find a way to teach the power of rereading effectively. That's something for me to work on...Anyway, we are watching the film version next week, so I hope they enjoy that, and in turn, better understand the play.
For The Crucible unit, I created a series of assignments to complete during the reading of the play. Meaning the students had almost a month to complete these assignments...three easy, completion graded assignments. However, I had a handful of students turn them in blank. I was very disappointed. And it definitely showed in the test scores who completed the assignments and who didn't.
Anyway, that's just a small overview of what we've been doing in my classroom lately. If you are a teacher and would like to borrow any materials for Greek Mythology or The Crucible, please let me know. I'm always willing to share :) Enjoy your weekend!
Friday, March 25, 2011
Thursday, March 3, 2011
Feeling the Pressure
I'm finally starting to feel the pressure of this whole student teaching thing. Up until now, I've had a good hold on things. However, Monday my students turned in their research papers. That leaves me with 75 papers to grade over the weekend. At a pace of 5-6 an hour, it is taking me quite some time. I am getting quicker at it, though.
Not only do my papers leave me with a busy, fun-filled weekend of grading, they also leave me with a messy house and a hamper overflowing with dirty laundry. The papers aren't completely to blame, however. We also had two long, grueling days of parent teacher conferences. We had our regular school day, followed by 4 hours of conferences. That resulted in getting home just in time to go to bed, and do it again the next day.
Conferences were a good experience. It is interesting, though, that the parents that attend are really the ones you don't need to talk to. I think we saw all the parents of our A students, but hardly any of the parents of our struggling students. The parents had no complaints, only good things to say, so that is a plus.
This weekend will be a busy weekend. On top of the research papers, I also have a wedding shower to attend, a concert to attend, and a baby shower to attend. It should be busy, but fun-filled. I'm looking forward to shopping for the baby shower. I love picking out baby clothes, especially for baby girls!
Not only do my papers leave me with a busy, fun-filled weekend of grading, they also leave me with a messy house and a hamper overflowing with dirty laundry. The papers aren't completely to blame, however. We also had two long, grueling days of parent teacher conferences. We had our regular school day, followed by 4 hours of conferences. That resulted in getting home just in time to go to bed, and do it again the next day.
Conferences were a good experience. It is interesting, though, that the parents that attend are really the ones you don't need to talk to. I think we saw all the parents of our A students, but hardly any of the parents of our struggling students. The parents had no complaints, only good things to say, so that is a plus.
This weekend will be a busy weekend. On top of the research papers, I also have a wedding shower to attend, a concert to attend, and a baby shower to attend. It should be busy, but fun-filled. I'm looking forward to shopping for the baby shower. I love picking out baby clothes, especially for baby girls!
Monday, February 21, 2011
Total Savings for the Year
After my last blog post, I got some giggles and some comments such as "you crazy girl!". But I take those as compliments. Until you try couponing, it probably does seem a little crazy. But once you do it, you'll understand. Getting a good deal at the checkout is a huge adrenaline rush! Getting a product for free? Ammmaaazing feeling!
Since I started taking couponing seriously at the beginning of this year, I've been meaning to track my savings. However, once I get home from the grocery store and finish putting away all of my goodies, I always forget. After the big savings today, though, I was motivated to start tallying. I scrounged up as many crinkled receipts from the bottom of my purse as I could and broke out the calculator.
Minus a few receipts that didn't make it out of the bottomless pit that is my purse, my total savings from coupons so far this year is.........$132.80!
Since I started taking couponing seriously at the beginning of this year, I've been meaning to track my savings. However, once I get home from the grocery store and finish putting away all of my goodies, I always forget. After the big savings today, though, I was motivated to start tallying. I scrounged up as many crinkled receipts from the bottom of my purse as I could and broke out the calculator.
Minus a few receipts that didn't make it out of the bottomless pit that is my purse, my total savings from coupons so far this year is.........$132.80!
Awesome Target Trip!
I posted yesterday about an awesome deal on Smart Ones at Target, but the deal gets even better! Target is running a special this week that with EVERY 7 frozen food items you purchase, you receive a free $5 giftcard. You don't even have to do separate transactions! It prompts the cashier to scan you a giftcard each time you hit 7 items. The sale includes ANY frozen food items, too. Not just the Smart Ones. So it's a great time to refill your deep freezers!
So here is how this deal worked for me today.
We also picked up a few other goodies while they had some good sales running.
Our total after the giftcards from the previous purchase was $39.04. That includes:
I recommend heading to Target Coupons to print some of these awesome deals. Remember, Target accepts 1 Target coupon + 1 Manufacturer's coupon per item, so that leads to big, big savings!
One more thing, there is a Target coupon for $5 off any women's denim. Many jeans are being clearanced out right now, so that can lead to free jeans!
So here is how this deal worked for me today.
- Purchase 21 Smart Ones at $1.80 each.
- Use 2-$5/10 Target coupons.
- Use 2-$4/10 Manufacturer's coupons.
- Receive 3 $5 giftcards good toward next purchase.
- Total paid: $19.80 or $.94 cents each.
We also picked up a few other goodies while they had some good sales running.
Our total after the giftcards from the previous purchase was $39.04. That includes:
- Swiffer WetJet Starter Kit--$19.99-$5 coupon=$14.99
- 2 Finish Dishwasher Tabs--On sale for $2.50 each-(2)$1.50 Target coupon-(2)$1 Man. coupon=FREE!!
- 4 ProGlide Razors--$9.99 each-(4)$4 Man. coupons=$5.99 each
- 2 Halls Fruit Breezers Drops--$1.39 each-(2)$.50 Man. coupons=$.89 each
- 4 Penne Pasta--$.87 each-$1 Target coupon=$.62 each
- Kraft Parmesan Cheese--On sale for $2.99-$.50 Target coupon=$2.49
- 2 Diet Dr. Pepper--$1.39 each-$1 Target coupon= $.89 each
- 2 Bertolli Pasta sauce--On sale for $1.79 each-$1 Target coupon-$.75 man. coupon=$.92 each
- 2 Target brand toothbrushes--$1.29 each-(2)$1 Target coupons=.$29 each
I recommend heading to Target Coupons to print some of these awesome deals. Remember, Target accepts 1 Target coupon + 1 Manufacturer's coupon per item, so that leads to big, big savings!
One more thing, there is a Target coupon for $5 off any women's denim. Many jeans are being clearanced out right now, so that can lead to free jeans!
Sunday, February 20, 2011
Deal Alert!
Smart Ones make great teacher meals. They are tasty, quick, and cheap! Here is a way to make them even more affordable. It is only good at Target as Target allows you to stack one manufacturer's coupon with one Target coupon. Watch closely as your cashier scans your coupons because it doesn't always work.
- Select Smart Ones are on sale this week at Target for $1.80 each.
- Go to Target coupons to print a $5 off 10 Target coupon.
- Stack that with a $4 off 10 coupon found here Smart Ones coupons.
- Final price should be about .90 cents each depending on which varieties you choose!
Friday, February 18, 2011
Teaching Vocabulary?
During my student teaching I have a lot of freedom. I have to teach certain novels, but other than that, it is pretty much up to me what concepts I teach through the novels. I think learning vocabulary is very important, so I want to include some of it in my lessons. However, as I was planning how to teach it, I thought back to how I was taught it. It wasn't very effective.
It was very traditional. Each week we were given a list of words to learn on Monday, and then we were tested on Friday. So it was essentially a memorization game, not truly learning. Sure I would remember the word for Friday, but after that I would often forget the new words. Why? We were never truly using the word. Yes, we would put them into sentences, but doing that once was easy and didn't make the word concrete in my brain.
So I'm trying to think of a new way to teach my student their vocabulary. The first idea that came to mind was letting the students pick their own vocabulary words for the novel we are reading. Since students are at different levels, different words will be uknown to them. Therefore, I am having them pick 15 words from the novel that are new to them. I'm still having them use the words in a sentence, but I need more than that. That one small step didn't do it for me, so I'm guessing it won't do it for most of them either. What else can I do?
I think that letting them pick the words will make it meaningful, but what else do I do so that they truly learn the word? And how do I test them on their new words when they all have different lists. Any ideas?
It was very traditional. Each week we were given a list of words to learn on Monday, and then we were tested on Friday. So it was essentially a memorization game, not truly learning. Sure I would remember the word for Friday, but after that I would often forget the new words. Why? We were never truly using the word. Yes, we would put them into sentences, but doing that once was easy and didn't make the word concrete in my brain.
So I'm trying to think of a new way to teach my student their vocabulary. The first idea that came to mind was letting the students pick their own vocabulary words for the novel we are reading. Since students are at different levels, different words will be uknown to them. Therefore, I am having them pick 15 words from the novel that are new to them. I'm still having them use the words in a sentence, but I need more than that. That one small step didn't do it for me, so I'm guessing it won't do it for most of them either. What else can I do?
I think that letting them pick the words will make it meaningful, but what else do I do so that they truly learn the word? And how do I test them on their new words when they all have different lists. Any ideas?
Thursday, February 17, 2011
60 Second Recap
60 Second Recap is a great resource I have found for teaching any literature. It is a YouTube channel dedicated to producing short, engaging videos about numerous literature titles. It can be found here.
Next week I am starting The Crucible with my junior classes. In addition to an introduction PowerPoint, I will be sharing these short videos to get the students excited about the play and to give them a little background knowledge before beginning. This is an engaging, easy way to get the students prepared to begin a story or play. Here is an example of one of the videos I will be sharing with my students next week...
Next week I am starting The Crucible with my junior classes. In addition to an introduction PowerPoint, I will be sharing these short videos to get the students excited about the play and to give them a little background knowledge before beginning. This is an engaging, easy way to get the students prepared to begin a story or play. Here is an example of one of the videos I will be sharing with my students next week...
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