School-Wide Reading

We've started a new school-wide reading program at school, due to some teachers becoming inspired by a book study they took part in last year. I must admit that when I was told the we would do a school-wide Sustained Silent Reading (SSR) for 15 minutes everyday, I was a bit wary. I could only imagine the teeth gnashing from the students every time the bell rang to begin reading. I could see them not being able to read because they don't have books, or that they couldn't keep their eyes open long enough to read. I have always loved to read, and so I was really excited about the opportunity to get paid to read for 15 minutes. I told my students to think of it as a 15 minute break. No teachers talking, you aren't writing, and plus all of your classes were shortened to get this time. I must say that all of my fears and reservations were assuaged after the first week. many teachers went to th local used bookstore where they offer teachers FREE books every Saturday. We picked up probably 6 or 7 hundred! I have a small little library where students are able to grab a book if they "forget" theirs. The 15 minutes is awesome. I never am able to find the time to read like I want, and now I have a designated time to do it. Everyone is reading, and I love to see when the students find a book that they like, and are completely into it. It is a really interesting change, because many of our students have never really read a novel, especially if it was a novel that was not a part of required reading for an English class. Kids and teachers always have books with them, I see people reading at their duty stations, at the bus, and in the cafeteria. I think that the program is a success. I have almost finished One Hundred Days of Solitude, and I have another 4-5 books in the pipeline!

About Volunteerism

I'm beginning to think that volunteerism might be overrated. I had grand visions for the upcoming school year. I joined 2 committees (staff development and campus improvement) that hopefully will help me to decide my future Master's degree plans. In addition, I asked if I could help write the District French benchmark exams (last year I helped to rewrite the French curriculum). Normally, when committees are formed, or things need to be done, my name never gets called. Except for my first day on campus, when I was told I was the French Club sponsor (of the non-existent French Club), I have not been asked to do anything else. I thought that it was a slight against my performance in creating French Club, or maybe something else I wasn't aware of. At the end of the year I was talking to my best friend that teaches Spanish if she was in agreement with my assessment. She thinks that it more has to do with they think I do too much already. A quick rundown led to me to concur: French Club and French National Honor Society (created both), attend football games, the one dance required, AP teacher, attend district meetings, and I guess the list goes on. Imagine my surprise when I get an email yesterday congratulating me on being "selected" to participate in the Welcome Back breakfast in front of the faculty and staff. Welcome Back (or whatever it's called) usually involves dancing on stage to some musical number that one of the assistant principals has choreographed. Luckily, I think I can get out of it by telling her I am already writing a Benchmark during practice times (please work, please work)!

Has It Been A Month

Very interesting. I think that it has been nearly a month since my last semi-attempt at posting. Things have been humming along this year, and it's almost (surprisingly) the last day of school. I can't believe that this thing I call a job is almost over. To say that this year has been more or less smooth would be an understatement. Despite the fact that I was moved to a portable without technology--Internet and a projector--I seemed to make it through. This summer, I have having to do more planning for next year, when I will be teaching French IV AP. I am really excited! In about 35 days, I and another teacher are headlining a group to Spain and France for 11 days, after which I will be voyaging to Philadelphia. Gotta study at some point for that ratty GRE exam. Anyone wanna make $5

Back!

Ok, so I took a break...I had a lot of things going on that did not allow me to think a blogging for a while. But now, I have (somewhat) successful moved classrooms, begun a new term, and have glided more or less effortlessly into Spring Break. I have been putting a lot of thought into the next two years; whether or not to stay here in north Texas, or move and persue my Master's Degree elsewhere. It is still a difficult decision, because I do (most days) love my job. Where my portable classroom sits, I am pretty much disconnected from everything going on in the building. I must walk outside and across the parking lot to use both the restroom and talk to others--this is a best lonely. For some reason things seem to be getting more difficult instead of easier in teaching. I think because we are on trimesters, the third term is most always something you've already taught 12 weeks previous, leading to a feeling of bordeom. I will leave it at that, and add more later.

The Week...

So this is it. This week is probably going to be the hardest of the year. Although it's only February, it seems as though "Spring Craziness" is already afoot! That wasn't the topic of my post, so I digress... This week is 3 things: the state ELA (English/Language Arts) exam, term finals, and the end of a term. To boot, next Monday, I get all new classes and students. This is going to be an exercise in keeping my sanity. The only break between terms is a weekend...Ce n'est pas de tout une bonne idee.

Winter Break

I'm pretty much perplexed by the lack of issues that I am having at school lately. Besides random chattiness in class (which I can handle...it means the students are more or less engaged), the biggest issue I've had to face was the arrival of a fluent French speaker in my French III class. She's been utterly bored because we are reviewing the past tense, directions, and other random things that are good to know. If this class were taught in English, it would probably be like being 14 years old in a 4th grade class. The other French teacher and I somewhat made the executive decision to put her in the AP French class, that way she could have some semblance of a challenge. The highest level she could officially be in is III, because II is the highest level offered for credit by exam. So right now, she's not struggling, but at least she's not in a class with 8 year olds. I had my Professional Development Assessment recently, and I was pretty I was worried because this year our department got a new head and principal over foreign languages. I wasn't sure how the principal rated her evaluations, so I wasn't sure what to be in store for. Luckily, she came to one of my French III classes, and I spoke French for just about the whole time, so she had no idea what was going on (a fact relayed to me later). I felt really good about the evaluation, and knew that my kids were speaking back to me in French and asking questions, so it was a waiting game. I pulled out the typed evaluation form from my box, and I almost fell over. I had rated exceeds expectations in every category! The rating system is Doesn't Meet, Meets, Proficient, and Exceeds. Proficient is a bit of a misnomer, as it actually translates to an A. Things are falling into place and looking good. Hopefully, getting his marks these last 3 years will help me on my grad school apps. Who knows? Christmas Winter break begins Thursday afternoon after the Faculty Talent Show. The kids are ready, and I am right there with them. I'm hitting the road running with some eggnog. Only 11 days until I leave for Montreal!

Continuing Studies

I'm getting ramped up about going to Graduate School. I know that my plan is to get a Masters in Education in either Education Policy or Education Leadership. The only problem is where to go. I've been looking at a number of schools, but as I examined them, I noticed that I probably need to find a few "safety schools". Of course,there are some Ivy-league schools that have the "dream program" for me, but I have to try not to place all of my eggs in one basket, as it were. To further complicate matters, this morning I was using instant messenger to talk to a friend in France, who is now a lectrice at a university in Metz. It's been 3 years since I've lived in France, but I find myself missing it quite a bit. I know a guaranteed position that I could get there, but I've become far too Americanized. I have too many bills and loans that I must pay that surely would not be paid with the French salary. So, for now I am going to throw myself into researching schools, and hope to go to France during summers...