Spring Break Hangover

April 10, 2007

Back to the workplace...enough said? If not, I'll explain some more. This week felt so long each morning as I got up, got a shower, and got dressed in the dark while my roomie could keep sleeping. I loved getting to be a college student for a week, but now I'm missing it. Since this is the last part of my last semester, I'm trying to balance spending more time during the week with my friends and doing the activities that have made my W&M college experience amazing: working at the Rec Center and doing Phi Mu events are a couple; however, I also need sleep. Another aspect of this week is Marci's return. It's taking a little bit to get used to her back in the room because I had gotten used to it being "Ms. Owen's classroom" even though it was really only a week and a half.

7th period: We read 001 from Poetry180. I had students read their found poems aloud without writing them on the board. I also wasn't as clear with my expectations or directions regarding found poetry. Collectively, we deemed it "Spring Break Hangover." I still don't feel 100% better yet, so I think that my performance isn't up to its usual.

4th period: We read 001 from Poetry180. Marci suggested that I have students write their poems on the board and then write a found poem from the found poems. This instruction took much more class time than I had planned, so I couldn't get to all that I had planned on the informational materials with gas prices; however, I think that it was a good activity for the students, and I'm glad Marci was here to suggest it.

April 11, 2007
Today is the last day that grades may be turned in. They were due at noon. My grades were finished and in the computer before I walked out the door for Spring Break on Friday. Marci's however, some of them from before I started teaching in February, did not make it into the computer until this morning. I realize that we are all really busy, but this is really showing me not to get behind. All seventh period she stayed upstairs entering grades. Anthony dropped off a paper after 7th and asked if it could count, so I told him I'd check during lunch/duty/planning. I called her at 10am and asked; she said, "Sure," so I said I'd grade it and call her back. She said, "Why don't you come on up and give it to me and we can discuss comments." I hadn't eaten breakfast that day (running late, bad move for me, as I was feeling shaky). I told her that I wanted to grab some lunch first and would be up. When I got up there, she was in a terrible mood and told me "Do you know what time it is? Get your head on straight." I just sat there. I know that when Daddy was sick, I often jumped on people more (especially the people that I was closer to) but it's still really hard because I take everything to heart.

1st period: We were not able to discuss plagiarism. We need to do that later. Some of my 10th graders were too immature for the NewsHour clip, which was gone really well in 12th grade. Marci gave me a really good idea of having students bring poems to class. I'll bring one on Friday and students will begin bringing one a day on Tuesday.

7th period: I began with 002 from Poetry180 and then read "How Gas Prices Work" (15 minutes). We wrote a found poem keeping all sentences and then we wrote one "not about gas prices" using words from the article, which we wrote on the board. I'm really glad that Marci's back; however, I know I feel most comfortable when I'm teaching the students alone. One of my students, Chris, looks like something is wrong - sad, rough day, something.

5th period: Read 001 from Poetry180. I wanted to do gas prices article, but Marci said "No, keep 4th and 5th at the same point."

April 12, 2007
I think that Marci is somewhat annoyed by how much the students like me. She was discussing grades with me and said, "The seniors are going to love you. Only three of them failed." I was worried at first that my test had been too easy and the grades were somewhat inflated (I'm not completely sure that they are not.) I looked at how much they did though, and it drove me crazy, but I stayed on their backs until they did their work. It seems like the people who failed were those who did not do work. When we got to the tenth grade, she said "Yes!" and told me that more of the 10th graders did worse. I know she was teasing, but I'm glad that I won't have to do the grades at the end in her class again.

7th period: Read 003 from Poetry180. I think the "Mad Lib Poetry" was a good way to sneak in a grammar review; however, the class really needed an example before trying to create a poem. I got some really interesting found poems. Also, Marci wants my portfolio to have students creating more poetry (instead 1 of 5 kinds, she wants 3 of 5 kinds), summarizing author info and submitting sources, and giving lots of support for the reader response. On a slightly different note, I handled the Ashleigh infraction notice badly by not speaking to her before she had to go to the A.P. and she was pretty ticked off with me when she returned from the meeting. I guess I would have been angry as well. I only talked with Ankit because he asked about his grade on Friday before we got out for Spring Break. For the future, I need to make sure that the infraction notice does not come as a surprise to my students. Later in the day, she came and talked to me and she left not as angry as during class.

4th period: Read 003 from Poetry180. Chauntielle's having a rough day; she said her house was broken into last night and she didn't feel safe sleeping. They did the gas price article and created two found poems, and we talked about poetry portfolio and plagiarism. For homework, I gave them the plagiarism worksheet.

April 13, 2007
Today I had one of the experiences that make up for not being paid (at all now). Elizabeth looked at me after I gave her report card and said quietly. "Ms. Owen, will you stay the rest of the year?" "What?" I asked. "I've done so much better because I understand what's going on and you grade our papers. I really don't want you to leave." I know that when I think about my first class, it really won't be next year's class -- it'll be these kids.

1st period: We are still not able to discuss plagiarism. Next class, we'll complete the internet sampler. The students were WONDERFUL for Prof. Abdalla. They loved him and loved the show and tell. I'm so glad that I got him to come. I also gave him a Barnes and Noble gift card of $25 that I paid for myself. I really loved having people come in to show my students how much I think of them.

7th period: Read 004 from Poetry180. We discussed plagiarism, completed the worksheet, and I gave back the report cards during their worksheet (at 9:42). They were working quietly and asked if they could get them back. Class ends at 9:52. Marci came in at 9:46 or so, and she asked if I had given back their report cards. I said "Yes" and she replies, "I don't do that until the end of class." I replied, "Do you want me to take them up and hand them out again?" "No" and she walks out again. The students looked at her like she'd gone crazy. She later tells me, "They won't work after you hand out the grades or they want grade sheets, etc." The funny part of this I kept to myself. Today, the students kept working and only one asked for a grade sheet - at the end of class. Maybe it's all in how they are treated...

5th period: We had a pep rally for spirit week. Marci said not to start anything new. I wound up talking to the student I thought had been dipping in class. I told him that I was disappointed that he lied and I didn't appreciate it; however, I thought he'd learned his lesson. He replied "Yes, and Ms. Owen, I will NEVER do that in your class again. I got so sick by the time I got to the truck." That particular day, Marci had told me she thought it was gum (I disagreed) but it's her class. I was glad I didn't have to write him up, but I'm really glad that he learned his lesson. I think the students really respect me.