Small Group Work

Small Group Work - What it looks like in my class:

Over the past month I have been experimenting with small group work in my classes. Small groupings to assist with students who are low readers. Today I categorized my groups as follows:

Group 1: Character analysis of their literature circles:
Students will write:
Book:
Author:
Character:                                      Direct Characterization                 Indirect Characterization
(name of character)                  the writer makes direct statements                     author expresses                                                                                                                                          through action

Group 2: Study Vocabulary Words

Group 3: A Long Walk to Water: Writing Prompt
              (Students will write how the Excerpt 2 relates to Salva's story in, ALWTW)

Group 4: Small Group reading with Ms. Durrance
               We will read a small short story, and examine it. Answer comprehension questions based on                the story.

The students will rotate every 20 minutes.
If someone where to take this idea, it would probably last two days. Because I have a 120 minutes with each class it only takes up one day. I liked this experience today.

Imprints on a Teacher's Heart

Realizing I had not said the Pledge of Allegiance in five years.
When I taught my first lesson and the class applauded.
When the girl who I thought didn't like me,
brought me coffee in the morning.

When the student gives me a school picture.
When the students say I'm a great teacher.

When the friends in class, end up punching each other.
When I let the seniors dance in class, because they were about to graduate.

The first day as a teacher hearing, "she looks mean."

When the thirteen year old girl
in the second row, is 6 foot
and sized me up by yelling at me.
When a girl threw a book at me because I took her phone.

When the boy travels across the world
on winter break and brings pictures to share.

When the boy moves to Germany in the middle of the year,
and says that he will miss me as a teacher.

When the girl taught the class for one period
and everyone listened to her.

When the substitute wrote a note saying how bad my students were.

When the student who failed over and over again,
came to class with a positive, motivating attitude.

That first field trip.
That first winter market place.
The time someone threw a computer at me.
That first school with a dress code.
The kid who threw up in my class.

All the homemade cards.
The conversations during an election year.
The struggles of students home life.
The way I can see how young girls look up to me.

Always wondering if I'm really making an impact.
Getting a note letting me know,
I'm a light in her day.

Career Self-Assessment

Today for homeroom, I passed out a career self-assessment, that judges your personality to deciding what career you will enjoy most. I thought it was interesting, so I decided to fill one out myself. There are six sections, (RIASEC) that is based off a theory from psychologist Dr. John Holland. R- realistic, I- Investigative, A- Artistic, S- Social, E- enterprising, and C-conventional. It asks you to box the items under the category that you think you would enjoy most. For example, under "S" there was; work with children, care for a sick person, study psychology...ect.

After you box in your choices, you add up your results and see where your interest is most high.

Now for the results...

I tied for Social and Enterprising.

I looked up what careers are under those categories and here is what is looked like:

Social Career:

• Clergy
• genetic counselor
• social worker
• dental hygienist
• physician assistant
• dental assistant
• licensed practical nurse (*)
• high school teacher (*)
• instructional coordinator
• college teacher(*)

Enterprising Careers:

• hair stylist (*)
• flight attendant (*)
• arbitrator, mediator, conciliator (*)
• paralegal/legal assistant
• lawyer (*)

I'm glad that I at least fall under the career I have chosen right now (teacher). Its is good to know my personality and choices add up. I have always wondered what I would/could  do if I wasn't teaching. Looks like I have quiet the options! I put a (*) by the choices that most intrigue me!
HEY! I am still young, I can have dreams!! :)


http://personality-testing.info/tests/RIASEC/

http://uhcc.hawaii.edu/jobcenter/riasec_multiLang.php

Small students, Big Voices

Over the last couple weeks it has been an interesting experience in the classroom. It went from bullying and debates to praises and more bullying.

Who knew how much of an impact hate can have on an eleven year old brain. It's true that most kids at this age will believe whatever their parents believe, and it doesn't bother me. What bothers me is the hate taught to them. When I was growing up, I was taught to accept people for their differences. Actually no, growing up in Saudi Arabia I realized that everyone was different from me, and I loved it. I was intrigued and loved learning culture and traditions that weren't my own. I remember wanting to be Indian so I could always wear the pretty head dresses and have henna on my hands. I remember enjoying hearing the prayer call at sunset. I just grew up in a community where we all loved one another. I realize as a child you have that accepting heart, and it's not until you go off into the real world that you face prejudices and criticizing.

Where in the world did having a political stance become the right to show hate towards other people. Love always wins, but what happens when the world is so corrupt to hate it seems to triumph over showing love and care for people?

The things that I hear in class are terrible. More than you would ever know. It's discouraging to see a generation impacted by the action and words of adults they are surrounded by. The only thing teachers can do is try and share love and try and stop hate. To teach respect is so difficult, especially if they are not learning it at home.

None of my personal bias can go into my day to day; just care and support. However; how do I not show what I believe in if the students start harassing others for their skin color, religious beliefs, and what country their ancestors are from. It's bad enough having a congress and senate that is divided, but to have students having to come to school, a "safe" place where you are supposed to be allowed to speak and share opinions, and not feel "safe", is terrible. It's to the extent where one kid will be getting bullied and then the next week that person is starting to do the same exact bullying that was happening to him/her.

Has teaching always been this way? Or was it worse back when schools were segregated? I can only hope that maybe my acceptance of all students and the belief that everyone deserves a good educator, will impact these students lives. I mean, it's just 7th and 8th grade, but who knows what they will see in the future? I barely remember those years myself.

Thoughts

As a teacher you go into work being the best actress you can be. I really do put on a face. There is such a boundary between the students and yourself. The kids see you in this "teacher" role and expect that you are the "teacher" when you leave to go home too. Faculty even dresses you in a role of professional judgments. It's crazy that based off of what your job title is, people think they know your life. Or they think that you don't have life because teachers dedicate so much of their time to the classroom. It is almost dehumanizing.
It's amazing to me the type of people we run into on a day to day basis. One teacher friend told me once, "If something happened to you, or if you didn't show up, who would REALLY care? They would have someone in here in your place in a heartbeat." It's only now that I see what she was saying. People don't treat people with "care." They expect the person to show up. Kids expect teachers to accommodate to their every need. Family expects you to do a good job. I'll admit, all these expectations push me to be a better person in all aspects of my life. However, I am having a hard time thinking, Why

And so the Crazy Begins

              It has been a busy last two weeks! I have been on the go getting all the "teacher" stuff rockin' and rollin'! Teaching 7th and 8th grade should be super fun this year, and a chance for me to grow in my career! Early mornings and late nights are in my future, but I am blessed to have this opportunity. There are a lot of similarities, but WAY more differences this year, than last. One thing I'm able to tell everyone though is that this group of students are amazing! I can't wait to see what they can accomplish. I believe the novels I am going to teach are; The House on Mango Street, The Watson's go to Birmingham, and A Christmas Carol. For 8th grade I'm thinking...lol, I'm still thinking.

              Looking for a car is another task on my list of things to do. Being in a one car family has it's challenges, but I kind of enjoy the ride to work and ride home with Travis. In good timing we will find the right vehicle for me.

             Football season!! Yay, today is the day that we've all been waiting for. Hopefully we can attend a game in Charlotte this year, while the 49ers are there! :) Yes the hullabalu about Colin Kapernick, and I totally agree with his right to express himself. Military members fight and die for Americans to express themselves and to practice those freedoms. To say that he can't do that, would be defeating the purpose all together. It all makes sense to me. It's sometimes sickening to see how people respond to others. We see so much hate now days, if you are not doing what the majority of society is doing. Any way.. the way people are reacting to him, is exactly proving his message. Off this topic, I'm super excited for the football season. Hopefully it will be more about football, and less like a soap opera!

             I'm praying that this week is successful, and that everyday I can try to get better. This post seems like a little glimpse into my thought process tonight. :) Until next time!

New Beginnings

September 1, 2016 You can call me Ms. Durrance Good News!           I've been given an opportunity to teach at a Charter School this year! I am so excited for the chance to change young people's lives again. Timing is everything. I am so thankful and relieved, that I got to start at the beginning of the school year. It will give me a chance to lay down routines, procedures, create class rules, and get to know the students! I didn't get that chance last year, and over these last four days, I have seen just how important it is to have the teacher there the first day!           I have a new set up. Tile floors, pretty rug, no lockers, glass white boards, and a huge TV. It's homey, but I hope to add a few more "warm" touches over this next week (like lamps, more poster boards, and a huge calendar for the wall).            I'm grateful to have had the extra motivation from Travis. I was just about to substitute for the rest of the year, but I'm glad to have pushed forward in my application process. These students are so impressive, and their writing has blown me out of the water! The seventh and eighth graders have already read Shakespeare's, Romeo and Juliet, Macbeth, and A Midsummer's Night Dream!All some of my favorites, and I can not believe they read it at this grade level. The students are advanced in areas of reading and writing, which is beautiful for me, because now I have the opportunity to make more rigorous lessons for them. I am looking into novels that we could read over the year, because next week is when we will dive into heavier content.              Congratulations to all my other teacher friends and family for starting off another school year strong! Keep your head up and continue to love these students! Ms. D :)

THANKFUL Thursday  Given the opportunity to teach. 7th and 8th grade  The future of the world is in my classroom.