11.26.2008
11.23.2008
11.19.2008
Inspiration
I've recently realized how much I rely on words for inspiration. Song lyrics, books, poetry, and conversation are all places that I find inspiring words to keep me going. There are so many people demanding my time, support, and work--bill companies, 75 students, parents, bosses, mechanics, friends...oh, and me! I say "demanding" not because these are bad things, but because they are things that must be addressed. Here's a famous Langston Hughes poem that is especially important to me:
Dream Deferred
What happens to a dream deferred?
Does it dry up
Like a raisin in the sun?
Or fester like a sore--
And then run?
Does it stink like rotten meat?
Or crust and sugar over--
like a syrupy sweet?
Maybe it just sags
like a heavy load.
Or does it explode?
Dream Deferred
What happens to a dream deferred?
Does it dry up
Like a raisin in the sun?
Or fester like a sore--
And then run?
Does it stink like rotten meat?
Or crust and sugar over--
like a syrupy sweet?
Maybe it just sags
like a heavy load.
Or does it explode?
11.17.2008
I taught you better...
Today, a student stole my iPod. Yup. I play music for them during their reading time to help them focus, and I didn't put it away after the reading class. I went to play some jams after school, and discovered it missing. I'm depending on a tattle note in my mailbox tomorrow and will promptly make the thief's live miserable. Is that vindictive?
11.09.2008
I'm in love with these kids
every last one of them.
Thanks to Lauryn and Betsy for showing me this video :-)
Thanks to Lauryn and Betsy for showing me this video :-)
11.03.2008
Stress Situation to the Max
I was reading a book about classroom management and found this amazingly insightful bit about what teachers do. If you're ever wondering why I'm stressed, just refer here.
"The Litany" by Carolyn Warner
Give specialized instruction for the hard of hearing, the blind, the developmentally disabled, the mentally challenged, and the gifted (and be politically correct while doing so); develop special programs for at-risk students; build respect for the worth and dignity of the individual; do eye testing; schedule inoculations; assist bladder control; maintain health records and age certification data; attend faculty department/grade meetings; attend professional workshops; work on an advanced degree; volunteer to supervise extra-curricula activities; participate in fund-raising; collect money to rebuild the Statue of Liberty; stress the prevention of drug, alcohol, and tobacco abuse; promote physical fitness and good nutrition habits; eradicate head lice, scabies and other diseases; inculcate morals, ethics and values; maintain order and teach self-control; provide pregnancy counseling; monitor restrooms, playgrounds, hallways, parking lots, and the cafeteria; discourage food fights; break up fist fights; pray that there are no knife fights; develop individual and civic responsibility; eliminate gender bias and sex discrimination; promote ethnic and racial tolerance; develop an appreciation of other people and other cultures; protect civil rights; help develop political know-how; teach sex education and AIDS prevention; provide suicide counseling; give First Aid instruction; train students in pulmonary-coronary resuscitation; teach the principles of free enterprise; teach management of money, property, and resources; assist in career planning; develop skills for entry into a specific field; teach etiquette and telephone manners; do job placement; serve hot breakfasts and lunches; dispense surplus milk; teach driver training; stress bicycle, automobile, and pedestrian safety; keep up with the latest educational trends and be ready to implement them; know the latest education “buzz” words; assist with bilingual language development; instruct in speed reading; encourage metric education; promote computer literacy; purchase enrichment materials with your own money; counsel students with small problems; counsel students with major problems; protect student privacy; communicate with parents; detect and report child abuse; follow due process procedures; unteach the 4 food groups; teach the pyramid and that broccoli is good; build patriotism and loyalty to the ideals of democracy;instill an understanding of our country’s rich heritage; develop the ability to reason; encourage curiosity and a thirst for life-long heritage; develop the ability to reason; encourage curiosity and a thirst for life-long learning; develop skills in the use of leisure time; promote a feeling of self-worth; teach pride in work; avoid religion; and teach reading, writing, and arithmetic.
"The Litany" by Carolyn Warner
Give specialized instruction for the hard of hearing, the blind, the developmentally disabled, the mentally challenged, and the gifted (and be politically correct while doing so); develop special programs for at-risk students; build respect for the worth and dignity of the individual; do eye testing; schedule inoculations; assist bladder control; maintain health records and age certification data; attend faculty department/grade meetings; attend professional workshops; work on an advanced degree; volunteer to supervise extra-curricula activities; participate in fund-raising; collect money to rebuild the Statue of Liberty; stress the prevention of drug, alcohol, and tobacco abuse; promote physical fitness and good nutrition habits; eradicate head lice, scabies and other diseases; inculcate morals, ethics and values; maintain order and teach self-control; provide pregnancy counseling; monitor restrooms, playgrounds, hallways, parking lots, and the cafeteria; discourage food fights; break up fist fights; pray that there are no knife fights; develop individual and civic responsibility; eliminate gender bias and sex discrimination; promote ethnic and racial tolerance; develop an appreciation of other people and other cultures; protect civil rights; help develop political know-how; teach sex education and AIDS prevention; provide suicide counseling; give First Aid instruction; train students in pulmonary-coronary resuscitation; teach the principles of free enterprise; teach management of money, property, and resources; assist in career planning; develop skills for entry into a specific field; teach etiquette and telephone manners; do job placement; serve hot breakfasts and lunches; dispense surplus milk; teach driver training; stress bicycle, automobile, and pedestrian safety; keep up with the latest educational trends and be ready to implement them; know the latest education “buzz” words; assist with bilingual language development; instruct in speed reading; encourage metric education; promote computer literacy; purchase enrichment materials with your own money; counsel students with small problems; counsel students with major problems; protect student privacy; communicate with parents; detect and report child abuse; follow due process procedures; unteach the 4 food groups; teach the pyramid and that broccoli is good; build patriotism and loyalty to the ideals of democracy;instill an understanding of our country’s rich heritage; develop the ability to reason; encourage curiosity and a thirst for life-long heritage; develop the ability to reason; encourage curiosity and a thirst for life-long learning; develop skills in the use of leisure time; promote a feeling of self-worth; teach pride in work; avoid religion; and teach reading, writing, and arithmetic.
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