Thinking in Bubbles

     Does anyone else think in bubbles?  I have so much on my mind all the time I have to diagram my thoughts in my  mind.  I swear I think of things at the oddest hours.  Perhaps its a sign of being older, I don't know.  Before I earned my Masters Degree I was so concrete sequential but now, look out brain, my thoughts are everywhere.  My husband found a link online that describes me now.  Check it out http://youtu.be/6oHBG3ABUJU
Anyone else feel this way?  It drives me insane sometimes.  Scares me too, but I think I'm alright.
     Stay tuned for more mixed up thoughts when I have the time to share them.  In the meantime, I'd enjoy hearing about yours.
     My purpose for this blog is for myself.  I really don't believe other people want to know or honestly care what I'm thinking.  Maybe, just maybe my goofy blog will entertain others the way other blogs entertain me.  Its all good!

It's My First Teaching Job, Where Do I Begin???

SETTING UP A SUCCESSFUL HIGH SCHOOL CLASSROOM

Today's blog is a short one in a series I've decided to write and post.  It's all about ways to succeed with students and things I have learned by accident along the way.  I feel the need to pass these on.  

Most of them won't be in any book or article but in multiple texts, articles, and conversations I've had with many wonderful educators over the years.  It will address random topics and be in no particular order...a 'brain dump' if you will.  

Visit with your administrator often.  Be open, ask questions, and ask for help when you need it.  Listen and hear those around you.  Give yourself permission to learn and make mistakes.  Try things and reflect on how they do or do not work by journaling.  Share your ideas, they are valuable, know this!!!  Let those who are mentoring you know how you learn best and focus on that mode.  If you do not know how you learn, check out one of these links or find your own:  

http://www.personal.psu.edu/bxb11/LSI/LSI.htm


or

http://www.educationplanner.org/students/self-assessments/learning-styles-quiz.shtml

As you begin your school year there are so many things to consider before your students walk through your door.  The first thing you need to do is organize your classroom so students are successful.  When they arrive, you take time to explain exactly what you expect and how things should be done in "their" room.  You build the culture of the class, so to speak.  It usually takes me a week to prepare all I need so that I can be ready to teach my students how the classroom will operate so that we utilize every moment of time for instruction.  

Things I consider first (in no particular order) are:

-arrangement of desks

     What message do I want to send the first days of school?  Do I want them in rows,

     groups, partners? 

-seating chart preparation

    Looking at the scores from last years state test I carefully place students in a

    high/low or medium/low partnership.  I create a spreadsheet, place removable

    colored dots on it and begin to write their names and scores in pencil on them. 

-student station (see below)

  Students will need a place to go that has a calendar with assignments for the six weeks written on it, a place to use a stapler, hole-puncher, and a file for make-up work for students who were absent.  In my classroom this was always a table under a bulletin board with the calendar on that bulletin board.

-Consider lighting, what they will hear, and what they will see while spending time in their classroom?   I select lamps that give the room a homy feel.  I also select classical music and list the name of the selection on the board each day so that they know what I am playing.  I find that this has a calming effect on the, especially after lunch break.  Now, what should go on the walls?  This totally depends on your students and what they need.  I do, however, always place Bloom's stem questions and ESL stem questions on my wall to remind ME of a great way to ask purposeful high level questions.


-Decide on your expectations such as your cell phone policy, tardy policy, restroom break policy,  how to ask to sharpen a pencil and when, etc.  Planning for these little things now will allow students to know exactly how things work in class and focus on learning in the classroom.  
(Be sure to check with your fellow teachers to see if the school has certain expectations.)


-You will need to keep a Tardy Log, Tutoring Log, Parent Contact Log.  (These may need to be turned in to your appraiser at the end of the year.)

-Plan to greet students at the door and shake their hand at the beginning of each class.  This allows you to read the students and head off any issues before they walk into the classroom.  It also allows you to be build the relationship with them.  

-Always, always, always plan an activity for them as they enter the room so that you can take the first 5 to 10 minutes to take attendance, talk with someone who was absent, or work with a student who is struggling.  


Housekeeping to Prepare YOU for the year:

-Prepare a plan for your absence in case of an emergency so that you do not have to depend on others to help out here.  Your school will have you prepare a sub folder in most cases.  

-Know who to call or email when you are out and what system the district uses for reporting absences.  

-Do you need a parking space?  If so, who do you go to get that?

-Where will you eat lunch?  Is there a microwave, refrigerator?

-Where's the coffee, if you are a coffee drinker?

-ISS/ISIP, where are they and how do you get assignments to your students?

-Do you have a duty?  If so, where and when?  What do you do if you are going to be out?  

-Who are your go to people besides your mentor?

-Do you need keys?  If so, where do you get those?

-How do you get into your email and curriculum?



Please comment and leave your ideas I can add.  This is a fluid post. 

My Weight Loss Journey

Since New Year's is almost upon us I feel the need to reach back to this time last year and share my personal journey toward a healthier lifestyle and weight loss. I will share the what's and how's as it pertains to creating that plan for the weight loss goal.  This is what worked for me.  Everyone has to find their own way.

The first thing I did was to sign up for Weight Watchers online.   (http://www.weightwatchers.com/index.aspx)  My husband decided to join in with me and having someone to work with makes it much easier.  We tracked our food together each evening after dinner.  After signing in he began to search for low calorie, low fat recipes.  He found most of them on Pinterest.   (http://www.pinterest.com) Those he found are quick and delicious.  We ate out only on Friday nights. We made this our date night and got into the ritual of eating out and then grocery shopping.  We'd choose places to eat out that had a good low fat, low calorie entree and green and yellow veggies.  I became that lady carrying her own fat-free shredded cheddar cheese in a baggie and her tiny container of fat free salad dressing.  I never understood why people would go to that trouble but after watching every morsel that went into my mouth, I learned to do this with grace.  Water, we drink lots and lots of water.  I have two full 8 ounce glasses before I ever leave the house for work in the morning.  I carry two bottled waters with me to work and make sure I drink those before lunchtime.   Then there is exercise.  We bought an elliptical and have a nautilus center and created a workout room.  I began to stay on the elliptical 15 min, then increased it to 20, then to 30, then 45 and worked my way up to one hour on that thing a day.  I attended a workshop this past summer and learned that if I don't schedule it within my day/week it doesn't happen so that's what I did.  I scheduled the time to work out and protected it, committed to it.  Since I am in education and have summers off, I got on that elliptical and worked out each day at 6:30 after my hubby left for work.  Yes, I even work out on weekends.  Eating low calorie, low or no fat foods and cardio exercise are what helped me take off the weight.  There are days when I do not have time to do the one hour of cardio so I do 30 minutes at least.  Hey, 30 minutes is better than none.

My goal was to feel better and get off my blood pressure meds.  I've accomplished both but I am not done yet.

3/11/15 Update time.  I've backtracked but maintained.  Yes, over the course of a year I've gained about 20 and I am working on getting it back off.  I'm still eating healthy but increased my portions as I landed a different position in education which affords me less time to work out on some days.  It's a numbers game, yes those dreaded calories.  I am still following Weight Watchers (I do it online) but now my hubby has gone off the tracks a bit.  I am determined though.  I still work out about 4 times a week.  He and I take dance lessons one night a week, and go dancing for about 3 hours on the weekends most all weekends so I get it in one way or another.  I have found the key to maintaining but the losses each week are not as drastic.  The scales show losses of 1/4 to 1/2 lb a week now whereas I was losing a pound a week when I began.  Oh well, down is down huh?

I've gotten bored with some of the regular foods I ate and have found others.  My good ole Smart Ones Ice Cream Candy Bars get me through some rough times though.    Really, its a mindset.  I have my mind made up I will reach my goal of 140 lbs.  It will happen but I won't lie, I struggle every single day.  I'm just used to it.  I reach for grapes or a banana or an apple in lieu of candy like I used to.  I do feel better and have a more positive outlook when I am in the zone (working out and eating right.)

I also enjoy cooking veggies as my hubby cooks the meat during the week.  We only eat out one day a week.  If I find I need to eat out its a salad and water.  I do still drink a full glass of water before dinner.  This helps a bunch.

My next goal is to wake ONE morning a week and workout for at least 15 to 20 minutes.  Due to early AM meetings two days a week this will be a challenge but it will pay off and I will be happier when I do.  We'll see how that goes.  If I don't write it and commit I'll never do it.

12/31/16 Update - well, I cancelled my weight watchers subscription some time ago and just signed back up last night.  Weight watchers works for me.  I'm committed to get it all off.  I'm at 177.7 and want to get to 14- by years end.  I am determined because I feel so much better when I take it off.  Eating right gives me energy.  We are still dancing and much has changed.  Our family is growing.  More grandbabies to run after so here I go.  My cholesterol is also up so I need to find ways to address that so that I don't have to take medication.  My husband is not as pumped about this as I am this time.  I will need to work harder to lose it as he is not going to be the same help he was three years ago.  Oh well, no matter.  I'll get it off.  Nights are the most difficult and I know it.  Now, how am I going to keep from eating after dinner?  I decided to try hot tea before bed to see if it helps fill me up.

Things I miss about being down in weight:
-feeling my hip bones
-Fitting into size 8 clothing
-confidence of meeting a goal
-having energy
-more attention from the hubs
-having NO sugar in my body

So, here I go, 3 years later to try and get it all off.  I will do it.  Stay tuned.

What Great Teachers Do

Great teachers.......






-teach students, not math, reading, english, history...etc...
-greet students at the door to read their moods, head off behavior issues, and talk to them about things that interest them
-use humor and laugh at themselves and LOVE what they do
-are aware of EVERYTHING going on in their classrooms at all times
-modify for each and every student that shows a need for it whether they have an IEP or not
-contact parents on a consistent basis until they have talked with all of them throughout the year
-differentiate instruction to teach one concept many ways to reach all learners
-create a classroom climate that is inviting and accepting
-NEVER, EVER, EVER give up on any student at any time for any reason
-try new ways to motivate their students, even if they fail and have to try a different way again
-inform students of their progress/grades once a week
-hold students accountable for their own learning
-use positive presuppositions with students, for example:  as students walk into the room, greet one who normally has issues with this statement:  I can see that you are having a tough day today.  I know you will do great in class today and I cannot wait to see what you will learn."

To make a mother happy.....

all you need to do is gather her family and just BE.  There's nothing like having all of the family under one roof healthy and happy, especially when the kids are grown and have moved away.  The sounds of several conversations taking place at one time, one talking over the other, the laughing, the chaos, the kids walking around listening to everyone trying to join in...mom's love it all and are in complete heaven.  When asked what I want for Mother's Day or my birthday, Christmas, or any other day I can get away with it, I always give the same answer; I'd like all of my family home, together, for as long as possible.  There is no greater joy!