Today I received two drawings from two different students. One from a student in my 3rd period Bio class and I from a student in my 6th period anatomy class. I forget exactly what the boy in my Bio class drew but I think it had to do with them drawing their SMARFS today. Those are mythical creatures the students create to practice their learning of basic Mendelian Genetics. They learned about the genotype and phenotype and how genotype affects phenotype. This was an inquiry introduction to what we are talking about tomorrow which is probability and punnett squares. You remember the good old punnett squares, right?
I will have to bring those home so I can scan them and add them to this post. It was cute. I didn't really think I'd ever get drawings from high school students but it's nice that they bestowed gifts upon me. hahaha.
So...I really don't think the students get how this student teacher thing works. I feel like they think that I student teach at Eureka High and then become a teacher at Eureka High. One of the students (not actually mine, he's in 2nd period Bio) told me that he is going to re-take Bio just so he can have me as a teacher. I told him that he can't even if he does because I can't teach at Eureka High because there aren't any jobs available. He said, "That can be arranged." Hilarious.
Wednesday, April 3, 2013
Saturday, March 30, 2013
Remind 101
I heard about Remind 101 from a couple of my teachers in my credential program but I hadn't really given it much thought when I heard about it because I wasn't sure if I was going to be able to have enough control over my class to use it this spring. However, in light of the large number of students that have cell phones (I'm willing to bet in my bio class almost everyone has a cell phone that can get text messages and I know everyone has one in my anatomy class and even within that, they have smart phones) I think this could be a very useful tool.
This is a free service (you're charged by your phone company for text messages but most people have unlimited text plans) that I can set up to send students reminders at any time of the day I choose. I can even set reminders to be sent at a specific time (to the minute!) and day. I set up accounts for both of my classes. I can't wait to tell my students about them. It is so cool. So many of my students just don't use their planners and don't know when things are due and I am sure that they look at their phones very often....I really think it will help them to not have the excuse of "I left my planner in my locker" or "I forgot to look in my planner" or I don't like to use my planner."
It's so easy to opt in to receiving reminders. By the way, you can get reminders either as texts or emails or both. Students and parents can sign up. I think that I can get the parents more involved with this service as well and I could see some parents being happy to know what their child has due. This is a no-opt out technique because now when the parent asks what the student has for homework of if they need to study for their quiz, they can't say "I don't have any homework or a quiz." I also think that the email option is good if people don't have cell phones. I mean, it's obviously not exactly perfect but seriously, everyone has a cell phone or access to a computer with email. Ok, maybe not everyone but I feel safe saying that about my two classes.
It's also really cool because I don't need to know their invidual numbers or emails and they don't know my personal phone number. You just send a text to your classes' phone number (424) 277-6948 and in the text section where you type your message, you just write @class code (I created codes for bio and antomy) so it would be @3bioehs for 3rd period bio and @6ap for 6th period anatomy. They even have a remind101 app. I'm not sure what it does since I don't have a smart phone...
This is a free service (you're charged by your phone company for text messages but most people have unlimited text plans) that I can set up to send students reminders at any time of the day I choose. I can even set reminders to be sent at a specific time (to the minute!) and day. I set up accounts for both of my classes. I can't wait to tell my students about them. It is so cool. So many of my students just don't use their planners and don't know when things are due and I am sure that they look at their phones very often....I really think it will help them to not have the excuse of "I left my planner in my locker" or "I forgot to look in my planner" or I don't like to use my planner."
It's so easy to opt in to receiving reminders. By the way, you can get reminders either as texts or emails or both. Students and parents can sign up. I think that I can get the parents more involved with this service as well and I could see some parents being happy to know what their child has due. This is a no-opt out technique because now when the parent asks what the student has for homework of if they need to study for their quiz, they can't say "I don't have any homework or a quiz." I also think that the email option is good if people don't have cell phones. I mean, it's obviously not exactly perfect but seriously, everyone has a cell phone or access to a computer with email. Ok, maybe not everyone but I feel safe saying that about my two classes.
It's also really cool because I don't need to know their invidual numbers or emails and they don't know my personal phone number. You just send a text to your classes' phone number (424) 277-6948 and in the text section where you type your message, you just write @class code (I created codes for bio and antomy) so it would be @3bioehs for 3rd period bio and @6ap for 6th period anatomy. They even have a remind101 app. I'm not sure what it does since I don't have a smart phone...
Friday, March 29, 2013
Mendelian Genetics and more
Today is Friday, fianlly! yay! I just wanted it to be the weekend so I could sleep in and wrap up my work on my PACT. I am almost done and then I just need to carefully go through it for necessary edits. I also need to do an article review for my science teaching methods action research project because the presentation of our findings thus far is on Weds while I'm in Hawai'i. I also need to apply to more jobs as a few have deadlines in April and that is approaching on Monday.
In Bio, I was teaching a lesson about an introduction to Mendelian genetics and a student (so happens to be a member of my peanut gallery) raised his hand. When I called on him, he asked me if there is any way I can teach Chemistry next year. I told him that there are no jobs for me at all at Eureka High. This caused an outcry from the whole class! I said, I'm going to have to move. "What, where, we're all moving there!" Not even joking, those are exactly the words another student piped up with. At this point, Tera joined in and told that the students that is why I have been going to job fairs and that I'm going to be going wherever I get a job. So, then the student who first asked the question very seriously asked, "Can we get a class picture on the last day of school?" I assured him, that of course, yes we could get a class picture. I also told them that I would keep a blog of my first year of teaching and they could follow along with me and my first class. Then another member of the peanut gallery said, "No, we're your first class!" To that I said, true, and I already have a blog about you guys. Then they all wanted to know if they were in it. Then I told them that I would put up our class picture in my new classroom and then I thought about privacy rights and I said that maybe I couldn't put it up in my classroom. They were ready and willing to sign a petition (everything is solved to them with a petition) so they could be on my wall. But then Tera did say that it's probably okay if it's not on the internet so everyone calmed down and we went back to the lecture.
I'm going to miss those little boogers when I leave.
In Bio, I was teaching a lesson about an introduction to Mendelian genetics and a student (so happens to be a member of my peanut gallery) raised his hand. When I called on him, he asked me if there is any way I can teach Chemistry next year. I told him that there are no jobs for me at all at Eureka High. This caused an outcry from the whole class! I said, I'm going to have to move. "What, where, we're all moving there!" Not even joking, those are exactly the words another student piped up with. At this point, Tera joined in and told that the students that is why I have been going to job fairs and that I'm going to be going wherever I get a job. So, then the student who first asked the question very seriously asked, "Can we get a class picture on the last day of school?" I assured him, that of course, yes we could get a class picture. I also told them that I would keep a blog of my first year of teaching and they could follow along with me and my first class. Then another member of the peanut gallery said, "No, we're your first class!" To that I said, true, and I already have a blog about you guys. Then they all wanted to know if they were in it. Then I told them that I would put up our class picture in my new classroom and then I thought about privacy rights and I said that maybe I couldn't put it up in my classroom. They were ready and willing to sign a petition (everything is solved to them with a petition) so they could be on my wall. But then Tera did say that it's probably okay if it's not on the internet so everyone calmed down and we went back to the lecture.
I'm going to miss those little boogers when I leave.
Wednesday, March 27, 2013
Who cares if it's a choice?
Today in my science teaching methods course, we were talking about controversial topics. We got on the subject of AIDS/HIV and how it is becoming more prevalent in people ages 13-24 because of a lack of knowledge of it and the risks for contracting it. As many people are aware, it is more prevalent in men who have sex with men. OK so now we're on the homosexual topic. My teacher asked us how we would respond to a student who asked, "Why are people gay?" My immediate knee-jerk reaction was to respond with, "Why are people straight?" However the context of the question is that it was asked in an information-seeking manner.
We read this article:
http://www.nabt.org/websites/institution/File/pdfs/american_biology_teacher/2000/062-05-0326.pdf
I challenge everyone reading this blog right now to go to this link and read the study. It is written in pretty plain English and doesn't have too much embedded vocabulary. I think the implications are clearly understood without a biological background. If you think this is bogus, do your own research and comment below your findings refuting this articles claims.
When I get my teaching job, I am going to make a class set of copies of this article and if the question comes up or students are picking on other students for being gay, we're going to read this article not only to dispel any misconceptions but also to practice reading scientific literature.
We also talked about within this context, the difference between advocacy and information. It is important that in giving students information, you are not advocating something. For example, showing students a brain scan comparison of a meth user vs non-meth user is information but showing them a picture of an extremely emaciated person is advocacy. My job as a science teacher is to give my students the information they need to make informed decisions, not make their decisions for them. If you give them a right and a wrong choice, that's advocacy.
That's what I learned today and whether or not this research sways anyone's opinion who is reading this, I really don't care. I don't care becasue, even if being gay is a choice, who cares? M.Y.O.B. is what I have to say, not to my students but that's how I feel off the record of the classroom. How much does it really affect straight people? Also, if it's a choice, then when did you decide to become straight? When did you tell your parents you were straight? (see how ridiculous those questions are from the other side?)
We read this article:
http://www.nabt.org/websites/institution/File/pdfs/american_biology_teacher/2000/062-05-0326.pdf
I challenge everyone reading this blog right now to go to this link and read the study. It is written in pretty plain English and doesn't have too much embedded vocabulary. I think the implications are clearly understood without a biological background. If you think this is bogus, do your own research and comment below your findings refuting this articles claims.
When I get my teaching job, I am going to make a class set of copies of this article and if the question comes up or students are picking on other students for being gay, we're going to read this article not only to dispel any misconceptions but also to practice reading scientific literature.
We also talked about within this context, the difference between advocacy and information. It is important that in giving students information, you are not advocating something. For example, showing students a brain scan comparison of a meth user vs non-meth user is information but showing them a picture of an extremely emaciated person is advocacy. My job as a science teacher is to give my students the information they need to make informed decisions, not make their decisions for them. If you give them a right and a wrong choice, that's advocacy.
That's what I learned today and whether or not this research sways anyone's opinion who is reading this, I really don't care. I don't care becasue, even if being gay is a choice, who cares? M.Y.O.B. is what I have to say, not to my students but that's how I feel off the record of the classroom. How much does it really affect straight people? Also, if it's a choice, then when did you decide to become straight? When did you tell your parents you were straight? (see how ridiculous those questions are from the other side?)
Monday, March 25, 2013
Oh, Monday how soon you come around again...
Today was so hard to wake up. I got home from my drive back up from the bay a little bit after 12:15 in the am. I'm finally getting better. It felt like I was sick forever!
Today was kinda cool. I helped one of my favorite students with her math homework (really they're all my favorite, just some of them behave in ways I'd rather them not) . She's in Algebra I and I know that she struggles with it. We worked for the whole lunch period while I helped another girl who was absent all last week make up a meiosis simulation. After school, the girl with the math came back in and I helped her through almost all of her homework, another girl who was absent last week as well made up her meiosis simulation and I helped a 3rd student clarify the difference between haploid, diploid, chromosomes, doubled chromosomes, chromatids, tetrads, crossing over, and mitosis versus meiosis. I do feel for them on this unit, mitosis and meiosis together can be a little bit confusing but I think that the two go together. Sometimes I think that if my students were paying attention the first time I taught things it would be easier. I mean I re-explain it to them the same way and then they just "Ahhh...I get it!" Miraculous! Hahahahaha!!!
It was cool helping that student with her math homework because I was able to explain it all to her and she really seems to be getting it. I hope she does well on her test. I mostly just emphasized that you need to write down all the steps. When it says to use slope and a point on the line to make an equation in slope-intercept form, write slope-intercept form y = mx + b so you know what you're going for.
I also spent a lot of time, the entire evening, applying for jobs. Or at least making sure I know what each job I'm applying for needs. It's so much easier with all of it being online. However, staring at the computer is a problem! I applied for I think 7 summer school jobs in the central valley, east bay and south bay regions. I found a job in Vista, San Diego. I applied to Los-Gatos Saratoga Union (Saratoga High). I am almost done with my app for Palo Alto Unified (of course they can't use ed join like everyone else!) lol. Basically just searching and applying to as many places as I can. My job wish list on edjoin has 17 schools. Oh yeah, I applied to a job for Chico Unified yesterday that was due today. It says that the "district viewed" so that is sort of exciting. Even though obviously they're going to view all the applications...
Today was kinda cool. I helped one of my favorite students with her math homework (really they're all my favorite, just some of them behave in ways I'd rather them not) . She's in Algebra I and I know that she struggles with it. We worked for the whole lunch period while I helped another girl who was absent all last week make up a meiosis simulation. After school, the girl with the math came back in and I helped her through almost all of her homework, another girl who was absent last week as well made up her meiosis simulation and I helped a 3rd student clarify the difference between haploid, diploid, chromosomes, doubled chromosomes, chromatids, tetrads, crossing over, and mitosis versus meiosis. I do feel for them on this unit, mitosis and meiosis together can be a little bit confusing but I think that the two go together. Sometimes I think that if my students were paying attention the first time I taught things it would be easier. I mean I re-explain it to them the same way and then they just "Ahhh...I get it!" Miraculous! Hahahahaha!!!
It was cool helping that student with her math homework because I was able to explain it all to her and she really seems to be getting it. I hope she does well on her test. I mostly just emphasized that you need to write down all the steps. When it says to use slope and a point on the line to make an equation in slope-intercept form, write slope-intercept form y = mx + b so you know what you're going for.
I also spent a lot of time, the entire evening, applying for jobs. Or at least making sure I know what each job I'm applying for needs. It's so much easier with all of it being online. However, staring at the computer is a problem! I applied for I think 7 summer school jobs in the central valley, east bay and south bay regions. I found a job in Vista, San Diego. I applied to Los-Gatos Saratoga Union (Saratoga High). I am almost done with my app for Palo Alto Unified (of course they can't use ed join like everyone else!) lol. Basically just searching and applying to as many places as I can. My job wish list on edjoin has 17 schools. Oh yeah, I applied to a job for Chico Unified yesterday that was due today. It says that the "district viewed" so that is sort of exciting. Even though obviously they're going to view all the applications...
Saturday, March 23, 2013
VIP at the Job Fair
Today was the Santa Clara County Office of Education Job Fair. There were districts from Santa Clara, Saratoga, Mountain View, San Jose, Los Gatos, Gilroy present. It was a very productive event in all.
I had my packets all set for the 11 districts that had high schools. My packets included a cover letter, resume, printed ed join app, letter of rec from Tera, Ron (my supervisor), and Daryl (my Bilingual methods teacher), my letter of good standing (that I will finish my credential in June), CBEST and CSET passing cards with a business card on top. I left mom and dad's about 8:20 am and was pulling up at the County Ed Office just before 9am. A friend who is a fellow candidate in HSU's program is going for math and is from Campbell also went. We met up before going in and that was nice to walk in with someone. She really wants to work and live in Monterey (who doesn't?) but her mom dreams of her moving back home and working for the Union School Dist. like she does. She left the fair rather early, around 11am.
There were so many people there! It was overwhelming at first! A lot of people were multiple subjects and the Single Subject people were mostly Social Science and English. While I was waiting in line for the Morgan Hill School Dist, the lady in front of me was a Special Ed person and she told me that she knew a science teacher for Campbell Union Dist who was retiring and so I gave her my business card and also went and had a short (5 minute, 5 question interview) which I think went well. Morgan Hill didn't have a job but the lady actually "chased" me down (I was in heels so it was like a slow speed chase...) and pulled me back to get me an interview slot. She told the interview scheduler that I was "dynamic, interview her." I ended up cancelling that interview because I got one at the same time with Santa Clara Unified and they actually had an opening.
I waited for Fremont Union for about 30 minutes and had a short screening. The lady looked at my resume and wanted to know about PEERS (Switzerland research proj).
So back to my job interview...I stood in line for the Santa Clara Unified School District. Ok, so I'm at the front and the guy came to me, shook my hand and brought me over to the corner where he was interviewing people over a cow. Not a moo-moo cow, I mean, yes a moo-moo cow but a moo-moo cow replica (it worked as a table for him). He said, "I hope you're not afraid of cows." Of course, I said that I grew up in Livermore, so no, I'm not. lol. He looked at (my cover letter was on the top) and he literally only read where I wrote my address. He asked me, "Are you a lumberjack?" I promptly answered, "Yes, I am." Turns out, he went to HSU and even did his student teaching at Winship Middle School which I was able to say that it is reopening for the fall.
Get this small world thing....the girl standing right across from me, talking to a different recruiter was also and HSU alum (class of 2011 Enviornmental Science). The guy started talking about HSU and his wife went there, one of his girls, and and his son currently plays football there.
Summary: he gave me the final interview for the district of the day. I interviewed with the vice-principal of Wilcox High School. They have a biology opening. They even have a school garden! It was a good interview for a preliminary one.
So that's the long, short version of my day.
Oh, I completely forgot! Dad's friend, Lee, is the HR director for the entire county. I found him and got to talk to him for a bit. He even was walking by where I waiting for my interview and came by and personally congratulated me and wished me luck. I felt pretty cool, having the HR director of the entire county come by and personally wish me luck on my interview.
I had my packets all set for the 11 districts that had high schools. My packets included a cover letter, resume, printed ed join app, letter of rec from Tera, Ron (my supervisor), and Daryl (my Bilingual methods teacher), my letter of good standing (that I will finish my credential in June), CBEST and CSET passing cards with a business card on top. I left mom and dad's about 8:20 am and was pulling up at the County Ed Office just before 9am. A friend who is a fellow candidate in HSU's program is going for math and is from Campbell also went. We met up before going in and that was nice to walk in with someone. She really wants to work and live in Monterey (who doesn't?) but her mom dreams of her moving back home and working for the Union School Dist. like she does. She left the fair rather early, around 11am.
There were so many people there! It was overwhelming at first! A lot of people were multiple subjects and the Single Subject people were mostly Social Science and English. While I was waiting in line for the Morgan Hill School Dist, the lady in front of me was a Special Ed person and she told me that she knew a science teacher for Campbell Union Dist who was retiring and so I gave her my business card and also went and had a short (5 minute, 5 question interview) which I think went well. Morgan Hill didn't have a job but the lady actually "chased" me down (I was in heels so it was like a slow speed chase...) and pulled me back to get me an interview slot. She told the interview scheduler that I was "dynamic, interview her." I ended up cancelling that interview because I got one at the same time with Santa Clara Unified and they actually had an opening.
I waited for Fremont Union for about 30 minutes and had a short screening. The lady looked at my resume and wanted to know about PEERS (Switzerland research proj).
So back to my job interview...I stood in line for the Santa Clara Unified School District. Ok, so I'm at the front and the guy came to me, shook my hand and brought me over to the corner where he was interviewing people over a cow. Not a moo-moo cow, I mean, yes a moo-moo cow but a moo-moo cow replica (it worked as a table for him). He said, "I hope you're not afraid of cows." Of course, I said that I grew up in Livermore, so no, I'm not. lol. He looked at (my cover letter was on the top) and he literally only read where I wrote my address. He asked me, "Are you a lumberjack?" I promptly answered, "Yes, I am." Turns out, he went to HSU and even did his student teaching at Winship Middle School which I was able to say that it is reopening for the fall.
Get this small world thing....the girl standing right across from me, talking to a different recruiter was also and HSU alum (class of 2011 Enviornmental Science). The guy started talking about HSU and his wife went there, one of his girls, and and his son currently plays football there.
Summary: he gave me the final interview for the district of the day. I interviewed with the vice-principal of Wilcox High School. They have a biology opening. They even have a school garden! It was a good interview for a preliminary one.
So that's the long, short version of my day.
Oh, I completely forgot! Dad's friend, Lee, is the HR director for the entire county. I found him and got to talk to him for a bit. He even was walking by where I waiting for my interview and came by and personally congratulated me and wished me luck. I felt pretty cool, having the HR director of the entire county come by and personally wish me luck on my interview.
Thursday, March 21, 2013
"Taking the Day off" Thursday
I have been sick now since last Weds...I've just had this hacky, seal/dog cough thing. I lost my voice over the weekend/earlier this week it was really bad. I finally took today off to rest. Of course I couldn't just sleep all day so I actually made my day off rather productive. I spent most of the day preparing things for the job fair this weekend in San Jose. There are a ton of high schools in the Santa Clara County school system! I am also working on getting my resume finished up and looking fabulous...Quite the task! In addition, I was able to clean out my car. Impressively enough, I only had 4 jackets, a few loose papers, a chip bag, 2 diet coke bottles, a diet coke can, and lots of sand in all. That's from not cleaning out my car since probably the beginning of Feb. That would include 2 trips to and from the bay and many days of teaching, and a week of running a kids camp.
So my day off turned more into a work day but at least I got things done that I needed to. Still need to tidy up my room. Just odds and ends mostly a few clothes on the floor and that sort of thing.
So my day off turned more into a work day but at least I got things done that I needed to. Still need to tidy up my room. Just odds and ends mostly a few clothes on the floor and that sort of thing.
Monday, March 11, 2013
Monthly Monologue
Today was an early-out for students so teachers could collaborate. What this boiled down to today was what Tera calls, "Monthly Monologues." I had such a hard time staying awake as I was already tired. Basically the principal gets up in front of us and rambles about stuff. I'm not really sure what he was talking about...Could not pay attention.
On a more positive and much less boring note, I am enjoying presenting my prezi to my students. They are in total awe. They think it is so cool! I love it. They all want to know why I made it and why I'm not using a power point and I was like, because this is like 1,000 times cooler. :)
I think that my students are starting to get a little bit too comfortable like they are trying to ask me questions to derail me and get me off task. I need to rein them back in so we can get down to work and focus on them learning what they need to.
Here's an example of one of my student's work. This is their weekly bioterm assignment. They have to define, copy a sentence from the textbook, create their own sentence and draw a picture to represent the bioterm.
On a more positive and much less boring note, I am enjoying presenting my prezi to my students. They are in total awe. They think it is so cool! I love it. They all want to know why I made it and why I'm not using a power point and I was like, because this is like 1,000 times cooler. :)
I think that my students are starting to get a little bit too comfortable like they are trying to ask me questions to derail me and get me off task. I need to rein them back in so we can get down to work and focus on them learning what they need to.
Here's an example of one of my student's work. This is their weekly bioterm assignment. They have to define, copy a sentence from the textbook, create their own sentence and draw a picture to represent the bioterm.
Friday, March 8, 2013
Introducing my students to prezi
Today was a pretty good day and after this week, I'll settle for ending on a pretty good day. I got to present the prezi I made for my Bio class about meiosis. It was really cool because the kids were really excited. Many of them had never seen a prezi before and they were like, "whoa, this is cool, or what is this?" It felt good to get to use something I've made, finally. I didn't get much further than the introduction of the presentation but I think it went well and I'm finally starting to feel much more comfortable.
Thursday, March 7, 2013
15 minutes of fame
The last 2 days have consisted of filming for my PACT teaching event = nerve-wracking! I'm so glad the filming part is over!!
Wednesday: I had to film the first clip of my 2 part series. I have to show my students collecting data. I chose to do this on the mitosis lab. Students were looking at prepared slides of mitosis in the onion (Allium) root tip.
I didn't really like how the clip went because I felt super rushed to get the video done by the arbitrary timeline that HSU has set...Like, I had to push my class faster than Tera's class just to make this video.
It's all done and uploaded and now I just have to analyze it) It went fine...I'm just a perfectionist and have ridiculously high expectations of myself and obviously as all you reading this know, I am my own worst critic. I was just so stressed...I can finally relax now. I have a prezi all ready that I made myself (it's a model of Tera's power point) I'll include it if you want to look at it. It's about meiosis. I'm not finished because we're not going to finish it tomorrow (Friday) and then I'll have the weekend to finish it.
Thursday: Today went much better...I got to have the class share their data using a data table I created. I have found that when I create something, I feel much more comfortable teaching it. That's why I'm excited to use my meiosis prezi because it will be the first thing I created that I get to teach. We'll see how it goes....lol
I have to say that watching videos of my class/teaching is hilarious!! So much goes on that I see and either can't react to or don't see at all. Like I needed a volunteer to help me and I had so many hands raised. I chose a student and then in the video you hear at least like 10 students go, "Ah man!"
Meiosis Prezi:
http://prezi.com/2kjw5ylqfxxk/meiosis/?kw=view-2kjw5ylqfxxk&rc=ref-9863803
Wednesday: I had to film the first clip of my 2 part series. I have to show my students collecting data. I chose to do this on the mitosis lab. Students were looking at prepared slides of mitosis in the onion (Allium) root tip.
I didn't really like how the clip went because I felt super rushed to get the video done by the arbitrary timeline that HSU has set...Like, I had to push my class faster than Tera's class just to make this video.
It's all done and uploaded and now I just have to analyze it) It went fine...I'm just a perfectionist and have ridiculously high expectations of myself and obviously as all you reading this know, I am my own worst critic. I was just so stressed...I can finally relax now. I have a prezi all ready that I made myself (it's a model of Tera's power point) I'll include it if you want to look at it. It's about meiosis. I'm not finished because we're not going to finish it tomorrow (Friday) and then I'll have the weekend to finish it.
Thursday: Today went much better...I got to have the class share their data using a data table I created. I have found that when I create something, I feel much more comfortable teaching it. That's why I'm excited to use my meiosis prezi because it will be the first thing I created that I get to teach. We'll see how it goes....lol
I have to say that watching videos of my class/teaching is hilarious!! So much goes on that I see and either can't react to or don't see at all. Like I needed a volunteer to help me and I had so many hands raised. I chose a student and then in the video you hear at least like 10 students go, "Ah man!"
Meiosis Prezi:
http://prezi.com/2kjw5ylqfxxk/meiosis/?kw=view-2kjw5ylqfxxk&rc=ref-9863803
Tuesday, March 5, 2013
Tired Tuesday
Today was a tough day. I was so tired! I don't even really know why, I blame the weather. I am very photosensitive. I also think it's kind of the slump before Spring break. I'm so ready for a break, the week of April 8th can't come soon enough for me. I have so much to do in the next 4 weeks. Luckily my PACT is due on April 7 so I will have that all done. yay! Can't wait for that to be over.
I just felt like I was super off today. We're working on a quick overview unit of the skeletal system in anatomy and I really don't like it because I'm not comfortable with this part because this is definitely something I never learned in any of my schooling. It's hard because students were working on a lab packet that had 4 different skull views and cross sections to label which of course I am nowhere near close to memorizing and the students just want the answers given to them and then they ask me things about the packet like why is this page number missing and I'm like...um, I don't know...lol Luckily they're pretty understanding but it's just an uncomfortable feeling to not know something they expect you to know but they're students and they don't know that a biology degree in the generalist category that I have has very few classes I had to take about animals, let alone humans.
I'm filming for PACT tomorrow so I gotta decide what to wear tonight. I had a dress all picked out but now I'm not sure because I was having static cling issues but that could have been due to the fact that I hadn't shaved my legs in a Humboldt County minute and so maybe the hair was collecting static electricity.
I just felt like I was super off today. We're working on a quick overview unit of the skeletal system in anatomy and I really don't like it because I'm not comfortable with this part because this is definitely something I never learned in any of my schooling. It's hard because students were working on a lab packet that had 4 different skull views and cross sections to label which of course I am nowhere near close to memorizing and the students just want the answers given to them and then they ask me things about the packet like why is this page number missing and I'm like...um, I don't know...lol Luckily they're pretty understanding but it's just an uncomfortable feeling to not know something they expect you to know but they're students and they don't know that a biology degree in the generalist category that I have has very few classes I had to take about animals, let alone humans.
I'm filming for PACT tomorrow so I gotta decide what to wear tonight. I had a dress all picked out but now I'm not sure because I was having static cling issues but that could have been due to the fact that I hadn't shaved my legs in a Humboldt County minute and so maybe the hair was collecting static electricity.
Sunday, March 3, 2013
PACT teaching event
Tomorrow will be the first day of my PACT teaching event...oh boy, here we go. I have to film 2 x 10 min video clips to show my students 1) collecting data and 2) analyzing data. I'm filming tomorrow. They are going to be working on a mitosis lab. Wish me luck!
Friday, March 1, 2013
Close Calls
Today at lunch a student was hit by a car. It was pretty bad, bad enough to send her to the hospital. She was in a crosswalk and other cars had stopped and this lady didn't stop. We received confirmation from the administration through email during 6th period that she is conscious talking with the doctors and after initial tests, she appears to have minor injuries. It's already on our local news...along with a stabbing that occurred last night near the plaza in Arcata.
Last Sunday afternoon, a girl who also goes to my school was almost abducted. She was able to get a rather accurate and specific-sounding description of the man. She was walking near the high school and a man in a van tried to get her to get in his van. She fled to a church and he attempted to follow her.
I hate hearing about this stuff because I am always so afraid it's going to be one of my students...
Last Sunday afternoon, a girl who also goes to my school was almost abducted. She was able to get a rather accurate and specific-sounding description of the man. She was walking near the high school and a man in a van tried to get her to get in his van. She fled to a church and he attempted to follow her.
I hate hearing about this stuff because I am always so afraid it's going to be one of my students...
Thursday, February 28, 2013
Carpool Confessions
So today was the first day of carpooling with another student teacher. He teaches history. It's cool because we are in separate cohorts. They have divided us into cohort 1 (science, math, english, music, IT) and cohort 2 (PE, social studies and another subject I can't think of) and we have separate class meetings. It's kind of weird because we're so isolated by being online in the first place and then we're even more segregated and forget about even knowing the elementary ed majors...
So, I have it super good in terms of placement and also students...My carpool buddy told me almost his entire class (except for 8 students) cut class the Friday before break in protest. They were apparently protesting him being their student teacher! Ridic! cray cray I said! And get this, it was also this student teacher's birthday. None of those students better be in one of my classes...AND his MT didn't even do anything about it! When I told mine she said that everyone who cut would be in BIG BIG trouble and that if she had to, she would sit in the back of the room everyday to make sure that people showed up and also behaved. So, while this situation was appalling, it was nice to know that my MT has my back and would support me. I can just imagine her calling in all their moms to have a "little chat."
It really put my problems, or lack of problems in perspective...Like for instance today my Anatomy students brought up the word madam (as in the head of a brothel) and decided they would use their newly expanded vocabulary to refer to me. Funny. Harmless. And I was like, well at least they're in class...
Overall, I like carpooling so far but I think that one day might be a small sample size to make any strong conclusions. It was nice to have someone to talk to instead of singing to the radio or trying to eat breakfast on the way.
carpooling in the 21st century...
So, I have it super good in terms of placement and also students...My carpool buddy told me almost his entire class (except for 8 students) cut class the Friday before break in protest. They were apparently protesting him being their student teacher! Ridic! cray cray I said! And get this, it was also this student teacher's birthday. None of those students better be in one of my classes...AND his MT didn't even do anything about it! When I told mine she said that everyone who cut would be in BIG BIG trouble and that if she had to, she would sit in the back of the room everyday to make sure that people showed up and also behaved. So, while this situation was appalling, it was nice to know that my MT has my back and would support me. I can just imagine her calling in all their moms to have a "little chat."
It really put my problems, or lack of problems in perspective...Like for instance today my Anatomy students brought up the word madam (as in the head of a brothel) and decided they would use their newly expanded vocabulary to refer to me. Funny. Harmless. And I was like, well at least they're in class...
Overall, I like carpooling so far but I think that one day might be a small sample size to make any strong conclusions. It was nice to have someone to talk to instead of singing to the radio or trying to eat breakfast on the way.
Tuesday, February 26, 2013
Clinical Observation
During the semester, my university supervisor will be making several (okay only like 6) visits to observe my teaching. Today was the first day that he got to see me teach anatomy. What perfect timing because we are beginning our learning of the skeletal system. I purposefully say we because this is one of those human anatomy topics that I never learned. I am learning it to teach it which in reality, is good training for me. My MT came up to the front of the classroom at the beginning of 6th period to silently whisper to the two boys in the front whom I refer to as my peanut gallery. I asked them if she told them to behave because my supervisor was in the back of the room. We didn't tell the students who he was or introduce him to any of them I think because we weren't really thinking of it and we'd already introduced him to bio earlier in the year...One of my girls about halfway through the period raises her hand and when I call on her she motions for me to come to her and whispers, "Who is that old guy and why is he in the back of the classroom?"
These kids! They seriously crack me up!! That reminds me that I have to do some research on color-blindness because somehow they got on to the topic of it and I'm only familiar with red-green colorblindness and they wanted to know about loss or lack of color vision. I am thinking it would be someone without functioning cones (which are for color vision and rods are for black and white vision (so they give you your "night vision")).
I have learned to come prepared with factoids to distract the kids from asking me questions I don't know. Today my factoids were about bone marrow and its use in different cultures in cuisine. I also told them that the human body is 4% bone marrow by mass. So far, this technique seems to be working out all right. I am also becoming more comfortable not knowing the answer to questions because it's not like they think I'm a total idiot. Although I do wonder what they say because one of my students was talking about his Spanish student teacher and he said, "He's really old." I couldn't think of anyone in the program who is "old" so I asked, "Really?" He said, "Well, he's like 40, he already has kids and everything!" BAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!!
These kids! They seriously crack me up!! That reminds me that I have to do some research on color-blindness because somehow they got on to the topic of it and I'm only familiar with red-green colorblindness and they wanted to know about loss or lack of color vision. I am thinking it would be someone without functioning cones (which are for color vision and rods are for black and white vision (so they give you your "night vision")).
I have learned to come prepared with factoids to distract the kids from asking me questions I don't know. Today my factoids were about bone marrow and its use in different cultures in cuisine. I also told them that the human body is 4% bone marrow by mass. So far, this technique seems to be working out all right. I am also becoming more comfortable not knowing the answer to questions because it's not like they think I'm a total idiot. Although I do wonder what they say because one of my students was talking about his Spanish student teacher and he said, "He's really old." I couldn't think of anyone in the program who is "old" so I asked, "Really?" He said, "Well, he's like 40, he already has kids and everything!" BAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!!
Monday, February 25, 2013
Job Interview Hiatus
This past Monday I had my final interview for Teach for America. I am not sure exactly how it went because the interviewers seemed puzzled by my presence. I was the only person who is earning a teaching credential which isn't really surprising as you don't need one to be in their program. I was the one of two people who wanted to teach high school and one of two people who wanted to teach science (the other wanted to teach elementary science). This is out of the total applicants present which was 12. It was a rather long morning and I'm not allowed to share specifics but I honestly have no clue how it went. Luckily I'm not relying on this as my sole opportunity. I have two other job fairs I will be going and I am trying to watch edjoin and research districts I might want to work.
It was weird because I missed my students today. They had all last week off because this county is one of the few places that still gives a week for Presidents' Day off from school. My students were very concerned with my absence and even more concerned when they found out why. Apparently they don't want me to move away. I explained that I have to move because there are no jobs teaching science in this area. Most of them were just concerned that I am going to leave before the last day of school this year but my mentor teacher explained to them that it's for a teaching job starting next fall. Honestly I hadn't thought about how it is going to feel to leave my students but I think it will be sad...I'm going to have to make a "Ms. Henderson" facebook so I can stay in touch with them! I have only been teaching them for 3 weeks but I already feel like they are my students.
Grandma Riley sent me a very funny and very relevant email...Here are some of my faves:
we're talking about the skeletal system in anatomy so this one is perfect! We told them a fib is a little lie so the fibula is the little bone (w.r.t. the tibia)
It was weird because I missed my students today. They had all last week off because this county is one of the few places that still gives a week for Presidents' Day off from school. My students were very concerned with my absence and even more concerned when they found out why. Apparently they don't want me to move away. I explained that I have to move because there are no jobs teaching science in this area. Most of them were just concerned that I am going to leave before the last day of school this year but my mentor teacher explained to them that it's for a teaching job starting next fall. Honestly I hadn't thought about how it is going to feel to leave my students but I think it will be sad...I'm going to have to make a "Ms. Henderson" facebook so I can stay in touch with them! I have only been teaching them for 3 weeks but I already feel like they are my students.
Grandma Riley sent me a very funny and very relevant email...Here are some of my faves:
we're talking about the skeletal system in anatomy so this one is perfect! We told them a fib is a little lie so the fibula is the little bone (w.r.t. the tibia)
Wednesday, February 13, 2013
Singing Valentines: An EHS tradition
Every year, Limited Edition, the school's vocal group does a fundraiser called singing valentines. Five members of the club will serenade your valentine with the song of your choice from a selection of like 5 or 6 songs. The choices included songs by the Temptations such as My Girl and Stand By Me and other classics such as in the Still of the Night and Can't Help Falling in Love with you...You can purchase them and have them go to a person at EHS or on Valentines Day, the students travel and sing to members in the community. It was quite the show. Each person serenaded receives 1 red rose as well.
It was a nice change to hear the valentines being sung throughout the day in the science wing. Until...It's 6 period (the last period of the day) and my students are taking their exam on the skin. Most of them are done as there is about 30 minutes left of class. In file 5 Limited Edition members and I was wondering who in the class was about to get serenaded...they walk in front of my desk and 2 of them are my students (one from 6th period and the other from 2nd period) and turn the corner and congregate around me! One of the other staff members sent me a singing valentine! They then proceeded to serenade me with Stand By Me. (which has been stuck in my head ever since)...So, yeah, today was just another day at the high school....
It was a nice change to hear the valentines being sung throughout the day in the science wing. Until...It's 6 period (the last period of the day) and my students are taking their exam on the skin. Most of them are done as there is about 30 minutes left of class. In file 5 Limited Edition members and I was wondering who in the class was about to get serenaded...they walk in front of my desk and 2 of them are my students (one from 6th period and the other from 2nd period) and turn the corner and congregate around me! One of the other staff members sent me a singing valentine! They then proceeded to serenade me with Stand By Me. (which has been stuck in my head ever since)...So, yeah, today was just another day at the high school....
Monday, February 11, 2013
Looks like someone's got a case of the Mondays...
Whew! Today was a Monday if I've ever had one!! I was so tired! (Gosh, I feel like I keep saying that)...I actually had to get stern with my bio class. They were supposed to be working on their study guides. My MT went to the copy room (see a pattern here?) and I could not get them to stop talking. I was trying to remind them very gently and ask them very nicely to quiet down so that those who wanted to work on their study guides would be able to work but it was just not happening. Finally I turned off the lights...well this was sort of a fail because the light switch in the middle wants to flip back on so I sorta only succeed in creating a light show that would cause a seizure. haha! They finally got quiet and I said in a very stern and the strongest voice I could muster that everyone needed to be quiet. This worked for literally a milisecond and they were back talking. Finally, I said, "I am going to start subtracting points every time you talk." This quieted them down and they stayed silent for the duration of the class. They looked so shocked! That was the first time I had to get stern with them. They were totally testing me. I made sure this time to say that I was not talking about every student, just the ones who were talking.
Friday, February 8, 2013
week 2_getting in the groove
I am tired still from last week. I am definitely not as nervous as I was last Monday. I feel an air of, "I've got this." Not in a cocky way, just a bit of confidence to help me feel more sure of myself.
This week wasn't very exciting, we mostly took notes. I was really worried about one boy who got a 0 on his quiz last week and I asked him if I was talking too fast or if there was anything I could do to help him and he assured me there wasn't but I am still trying to figure out what to do to help him. This week he got a 3 out of 5 on his quiz so I feel a lot better. I hope he can keep this up because he got an F last semester.
Speaking of my other F student...OMG! He does NOT pay attention!! I filmed a lesson on Weds and he and his partner in crime (I've also put this pair in the front) decided it would be HILARIOUS to put their orange slices in their mouths like smiles and stare at me while I was talking. Try to concentrate while that is going on!! Hahaha! It was all I could do not to laugh.I finally asked them to finish up their oranges and then as soon as I turned around you can see one of the boys on camera put the slice back into his mouth! Seriously, still trying not to bust up laughing.
I am still not comfortable in anatomy! I get flustered and lose my place. On Friday, they were so out of hand that I stopped and got serious with them (I don't get stern and they hadn't seen me do it before). My MT was out of the room making and phone call and she came back in to see stunned faces and hear me say, "You get a 1 minute to break to talk/stretch/whatever and when the timer goes off, you will be silent and taking notes unless you raise your hand to answer or ask a question." After class, my MT was all what happened, what did they do? I told her that they were not listening and two students would not stop talking. For the future, I need to make sure that I am not being so stern with the whole class that I make sure to preface something like this with, "I know this doesn't apply to all of you, or this applies to most but not all of you, etc" My MT made a really good point that some students might have been made to feel bad even though they didn't do it. I am going to do this in the future.
This week I found out that I was selected for a final interview with Teach for America. I am so excited. It is in San Francisco on February 25 at 9am. :)
This week wasn't very exciting, we mostly took notes. I was really worried about one boy who got a 0 on his quiz last week and I asked him if I was talking too fast or if there was anything I could do to help him and he assured me there wasn't but I am still trying to figure out what to do to help him. This week he got a 3 out of 5 on his quiz so I feel a lot better. I hope he can keep this up because he got an F last semester.
Speaking of my other F student...OMG! He does NOT pay attention!! I filmed a lesson on Weds and he and his partner in crime (I've also put this pair in the front) decided it would be HILARIOUS to put their orange slices in their mouths like smiles and stare at me while I was talking. Try to concentrate while that is going on!! Hahaha! It was all I could do not to laugh.I finally asked them to finish up their oranges and then as soon as I turned around you can see one of the boys on camera put the slice back into his mouth! Seriously, still trying not to bust up laughing.
I am still not comfortable in anatomy! I get flustered and lose my place. On Friday, they were so out of hand that I stopped and got serious with them (I don't get stern and they hadn't seen me do it before). My MT was out of the room making and phone call and she came back in to see stunned faces and hear me say, "You get a 1 minute to break to talk/stretch/whatever and when the timer goes off, you will be silent and taking notes unless you raise your hand to answer or ask a question." After class, my MT was all what happened, what did they do? I told her that they were not listening and two students would not stop talking. For the future, I need to make sure that I am not being so stern with the whole class that I make sure to preface something like this with, "I know this doesn't apply to all of you, or this applies to most but not all of you, etc" My MT made a really good point that some students might have been made to feel bad even though they didn't do it. I am going to do this in the future.
This week I found out that I was selected for a final interview with Teach for America. I am so excited. It is in San Francisco on February 25 at 9am. :)
Friday, February 1, 2013
Week 1_initation
Well, as you can see, I survived my 1st week of student teaching. It was absolutely exhausting in the most fantastic way. It didn't go perfect but what would be the fun in that? I am now responsible for 3rd period Biology college prep and 6th period Human Anatomy/Physiology.
Day 1: Procedural. This was the first day of the spring semester so in Bio, we set up their new interactive notebooks. In anatomy, we cleared out their binders. One of the boys in the back lost his partner in crime so he moved to the front and has now teamed up with another boisterous boy in the front to cause a ruckus. It's hilarious but distracting.
Day 2: In Bio we continued disease and immunity by focusing on the immunity portion. I lectured about immunity, specifically the non-specific defenses broken down into chemical and physical barriers. In anatomy, we continued with the skin. I lectured on the functions of the skin.
Day 3: We continued the notes. I am still not getting used to them asking me questions that I don't know the answer to and it's starting to freak me out that I'm not preparing adequately. Today the two boys in the front and center of the front row were in fine form trying anything they could to make me lose focus while teaching anatomy.
Day 4: In Bio, we did a lab where students looked at prepared blood smear slides. They had to identify and draw red blood cells, platelets, and two kinds of white blood cells. In Anatomy, we continued the notes.
Day 5: I found it super hard to get out of bed today. I am so tired! Today was long for me and stressful because I feel like I am not doing as well as I had hoped I would at the beginning of the week. Being in front of the class is a lot harder than I thought.
I brought the bio notebooks home (all 25 of them) to grade over the weekend. This is the first time I am grading an entire class set of notebooks. I am starting to feel more like a teacher. Everyone who came over to my house this weekend wanted to know why on earth I have so many notebooks!
I went to a superbowl party and the host's 5 year old wanted to know why I had to do so many people's homework. I was grading the anatomy homework and she thought I had to do it for them! :) I explained to her that I was a teacher and asked her if her teacher graded their papers and then she understood. She insisted that we put stickers on their homework and asked why one girl who wrote the most had to answer "so many more questions" I told her that she was my best student and I think she put like 5 stickers on her paper!
Day 1: Procedural. This was the first day of the spring semester so in Bio, we set up their new interactive notebooks. In anatomy, we cleared out their binders. One of the boys in the back lost his partner in crime so he moved to the front and has now teamed up with another boisterous boy in the front to cause a ruckus. It's hilarious but distracting.
Day 2: In Bio we continued disease and immunity by focusing on the immunity portion. I lectured about immunity, specifically the non-specific defenses broken down into chemical and physical barriers. In anatomy, we continued with the skin. I lectured on the functions of the skin.
Day 3: We continued the notes. I am still not getting used to them asking me questions that I don't know the answer to and it's starting to freak me out that I'm not preparing adequately. Today the two boys in the front and center of the front row were in fine form trying anything they could to make me lose focus while teaching anatomy.
Day 4: In Bio, we did a lab where students looked at prepared blood smear slides. They had to identify and draw red blood cells, platelets, and two kinds of white blood cells. In Anatomy, we continued the notes.
Day 5: I found it super hard to get out of bed today. I am so tired! Today was long for me and stressful because I feel like I am not doing as well as I had hoped I would at the beginning of the week. Being in front of the class is a lot harder than I thought.
I brought the bio notebooks home (all 25 of them) to grade over the weekend. This is the first time I am grading an entire class set of notebooks. I am starting to feel more like a teacher. Everyone who came over to my house this weekend wanted to know why on earth I have so many notebooks!
I went to a superbowl party and the host's 5 year old wanted to know why I had to do so many people's homework. I was grading the anatomy homework and she thought I had to do it for them! :) I explained to her that I was a teacher and asked her if her teacher graded their papers and then she understood. She insisted that we put stickers on their homework and asked why one girl who wrote the most had to answer "so many more questions" I told her that she was my best student and I think she put like 5 stickers on her paper!
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