Hedgetoad Teaching

Is it rude for someone to put a link to your blog on their blog... but make their's password protected and not include you? I'm a little annoyed.

Summer school starts next week for me. This year the class is considerably smaller, but if they're willing to pay, I'm willing to show up. Why is the class so small? Did we suddenly get an influx of kids who cared to pass? Alas, no. This year our Superintendent decided to launch his online learning school. They're offering about 25 courses, including ones we don't normally have like "geometry" and "french". Over 90 students signed up and about 65 showed up for the orientation. Since it's online, they do not have to actually go to the school, although it is open during the day with a teacher there to help. I can tell you that yesterday (day 3), I saw 4 students... 3 of whom are masters in the art of screwing around. I'd like to believe that all of these students will be successful, but having watched them sit around for an entire school year, I don't really see any inducement for a flurry of work in 6 weeks. Perhaps they'll prove me w...

On the last day of school, the College Board approved my syllabus. I was a little stunned - I thought for sure I had forgotten the all important research paper explaination, but I guess they decided that just a quick mention was all that was needed. In looking back over the past year, the idea that seems most prominant is that it went by really fast! Although I'm very glad that summer is here, it still feels like I should be in March. Perhaps it has something to do with the fact that from October until May it does nothing but rain. Arizona is looking really good these days, even if it is 176 degrees there. The year did not start out well. Half of my AP class dumped the course when they found out that I was serious about the summer assignment. While this was going on, one of the other teachers suddenly found themselves having to take leave for the entire year. A total shake up of classes ensued and I ended up with a sophomore conundrum. Yes, they were the most annoying - but they we...

This weekend I attended a couple of foster parenting classes. In one class, the presenter mentioned "the kids we're glad to see go" and it made me think about the students I'm glad to see go. It's not the PC thing to admit that there are students you're happy to see go. It means you didn't reach them, you might have left them behind and you're just a bad teacher. However, I think that eventually every teacher has to get to the point where you realize that you can't reach every student. Sure, you can try... but you can't get to every single one. By the time a student gets to high school, they can self-select out of that situation. I know there are a few students who beg to get out of my class every semester. "It's too hard" or "She's a bitch" or whatever excuse they give... they move themselves. For whatever reason, there are always those who don't. Some of them actually enjoy my class. All of their friends are i...

This year will be the first year my students will graduate (my middle schoolers aren't there yet) ... since they haven't really been in my classes for awhile, I didn't really think I'd be that emotional about it, but the night is here and I'm choking up writing this. It's not that I'll miss them (which I will), but rather that I'm so proud of them. So many have been smacked with sucky stick, and yet they're still going on. One was awarded two 4 year scholarships! While supporting fully herself! Another got a football scholarship and is still on his way to becoming a doctor - I wonder if he can still spell Pneumonoultramicroscopicsilicovolcanoconiosis in under 30 seconds. I'm pretty sure he can still explain what it is... and I have yet to be able to pronounce it. The artists, the writer, the cheerleaders and the quiet girl; they're all so adult looking. And then there were the students who totally came through for me on the night of the sho...

The show went on as planned and was well received. Those who attended seemed to enjoy it, anyhow. I was disappointed with the number of tickets that were sold and we didn't make quite enough money as I had hoped, but there should be enough to pay for the outstanding camp bill. However, it looks like we'll holding a car wash soon. The prep for the show was a blast! A former student volunteered to do the sound and he had everyone dancing up a storm just before we let people in. My AP syllabus was submitted last week, as was the audit form. The audit form, however, has to be faxed in. So far, it hasn't been listed as "received" on their website. I'm hoping that it's just due to the rush of syllabi with the deadline looming last week. To be honest, I'm not sure my will be accepted. I think know that I forgot to make one requirement very plain and I'm not sure they'll figure out where it was to fit in. Either way, it's done for now. As for ever...

So, I'm trying to avoid thinking about the disaster waiting to happen show on Tuesday. I think I should have realized that I was paddling up the river when more than three people asked me if I was cancelling the show... What better way to get your mind off your troubles than to redesign your blog and completely screw it up, thus taking at least 6 hours of work to fix, restore and redesign. I am the master of wasting time. In the meantime, please note the Twitter box on the side. I heard about it on the radio the other day and had to check it out. It fascinates me - and because I'm testing new functionality for use in our school, I can access it all day long. I haven't figured out a good school use for it - yet! - but I'm still working on it. Especially fascinating is that Barak Obama and Christ Dodd are using it. CNN is too, but I can see the use of instant news updates, but notes from the campaign trail? Interesting to read, but does it bring any value? So far,...

I finished my AP Lang. syllabus and submitted it to College Board for approval... in looking at it today, I think I missed a part. Oh, well. Even though the deadline is June 1st, apparently it's not a hard and fast date. All that has been said is that if it's not submitted before that date, it won't be printed in some special book they're putting out for colleges. My question is how important is that really? For example, NYU got 75,000+ applications last year... are they really going to check this book? I can see a computer program that checks it for the admissions person, but who knows when that will be available. Anyways, it's done (for now)! The fundraiser show is going to be interesting to say the least. Over half of the girls may or may not have dropped out. Four have actually told me personally... the others just avoid me and I really can't be bothered to track them down. If that's how they want to be remembered, I say "whatever." Anyways, w...

A couple of weeks ago, my father installed a Outdoor Clothes Dryer ... and I have to say that I'm loving it! I realize that in many communities, a clothesline is akin to proclaiming poverty, but there is something to be said about the fresh smell of air dried clothes. Not to mention that whites are naturally bleached in sun, thus reducing the amount of chemicals used in the home and poured down the drain. And, of course, there is the reduction in the electric bill. I haven't gotten my bill yet, but here's to hoping! (many people with children/lots of laundry have experienced a significant drop in their electric usage with the reduction of electroic dryer use. Last year, when I first moved into my house, I discovered a stump in the back yard along the fence line. Several weeks later, I noticed that it had sprouted new branches. It looked like a Rhody, so I decided to just let it grow. Free landscaping is free landscaping, and who knew what it would become? Well, 13 months la...

I haven't really been updating at all this year... too many things going on, I guess. AP is nearly done. At least the students feel that it should be, since the test is next week. We'll have to have a discussion about that later. I really don't know how my students will do on the test. Everyone is asking how many will pass, but I really don't have a clue. Some of them are so hit and miss... others are just plain out there, but might-could if they buckled down. So far, my plan for next year is include a heavy concentration on vocabulary. For some, the multiple choice will be a killer because they're vocabulary level is so low that they cannot even use the process of elimination to find an answer. I may require more outside reading in hopes of increasing the vocabulary level or require more from a selected list (rather than the Princess Diaries). The Dance Team has been selected and we're heading to camp in July. I'm scrambling for money and we're holding ...

I'm officially finished with my pre-assessment seminar for the Pro-Cert program! Ok, maybe not officially... but enough that I can finally relax and sleep in tomorrow.

Spring definitely needs to get here quick! Everyone going a little nuts with all this cold, rainy weather... and they're all really getting on my nerves! Dance team tryouts took place last night - and that's all I have to say about that. It's done with and on with the fundraising. Yipee!

This morning I got up ready to tackle the yet unfinished group things still hanging on the to-do list... namely the Dance Team Rules, Expectations and Try-Out information packets. However, I thought I'd check the email first. There must be something wrong with gmail because I can't reach it. However, in my attempts to access it, I stumbled across my calendar with plainly highlighted Friday . Now, I was fairly sure it was Thursday, but in checking the computer clock, it also said "Friday". (completely forgetting that the two are connected... pre-coffee) So, I started a slight panic. Friday? What happened to Thursday? Did I miss it? I don't remember watching CSI last night... In fact, I'm pretty sure I watching Criminal Minds. Isn't that on Wednesday? For the next three hours I was totally bummed that my spring break was nearly over and I had accomplished almost nothing (I did take the dog out for a few walks). Crap... all that grading still left to do on ...

umm... so the Dance Team coach has to take the team members to camp. The camp they usually go to is in July. July is generally reserved for summer school. How can I be in two places at once? Teaching summer school pays a LOT more than coaching and the camp is two/three days (time hasn't been set)... argh!

Apparently, I haven't been as busy as I've been writing about. Last week I was hired as the new Dance Team coach - just to add a few more responsibilities onto my daily list of things to-do . Or I may be in need of more money to support my shopping habit. Take your pick. Actually, it sounds like a fun job. What's not to like? Dancing, music, costumes... it's all good, right? It took about two days before I started hearing complaints and drama starting. I haven't even made a try-out schedule or chosen anyone for the team yet. Now, I'm a little nervous. So I'm sending all call out to what remains of my readership... Do you coach Dance? Did you? Know someone who does/did who'd be willing to answer a few emails? Seriously, I need help!

We finished the reading and writing WASL. I guess my feelings about it can be summed up as "it was wack, yo!" I would really like to hit the rocket scientist in charge of the writing prompts for having all the students write for three days straight... data collection for some nebulous result was, of course, much more important that some 15 year-old's graduation potential. As long as the data was obtained (at a huge cost that will benefit three people), it's all good. The year is winding down very quickly. Spring break is after next week (wooht!) and 2006-2007 registration will take place next week. The AP exam is in the middle of May, my AP syllabus is due in a few short months, my Pro-Cert is almost over, which means I need to create the mother of all power points. I also need to plan the Honor Society initiation ceremony, which will probably take place on a Monday night in May because of scheduling conflicts. And if I wasn't overloaded enough, I'm interviewi...

This year is just flying by - I really haven't had any time for anything lately... it feels like all I do is grade papers! I don't feel like I'm assigning more essays, but everything just keeps piling up. Even when I'm caught up, I can still feel the paperwork calling me! Next week starts the WASL. Will the students perform at a high enough standard? I really don't know. Last year, I was pretty pessimistic about it and the students performed admirably, so maybe I'm not such a good judge of what they'll do when their graduation is at stake. Of course, the current group is all set for the state legislature to bail them out and are still expressing surprise that the law has NOT changed to allow them to graduate without passing the WASL. Oy Vey!

Via Se Hace Caminar Al Andar (via Huff English ) For books that you have read, put the title in bold. Books you want to read go in italics. Books you wouldn’t touch with a ten-foot pole are struck out. Books on your bookshelf are underlined. Books you have never heard of are preceded with a ? question mark. Books you’ve seen a movie or TV version of are preceded with # a pound mark. Books you have blogged about are preceded with an ! exclamation point. Books you’re indifferent to have no text decoration. Books you loved are starred *. To sum up: * Books I’ve read * Books I want to read * Books I wouldn’t touch with a 10-foot pole * Books on my bookshelves * ? Books I’ve never heard of * # Books I’ve seen in movie or TV form * ! Books I’ve blogged about * Books I’m indifferent to * * Books I loved 1. The Essential 55 (Ron Clark) 2. In the Middle (Nancie Atwell) 3. ?Possible Lives (Mike Rose) 4. With Rigor for All (Carol Jago) 5. **The English Teacher’s Companion (Jim Burke) 6. The ...

You know, it's been a very busy year... why did no one send me a reminder that the WASL is only 3 weeks way? I'm in the middle of a novel for cripes sakes... with really slow reading classes. Who don't do homework. Thank goodness for StemStar ! Now I can torture all my students with WASL type questions that force them to show how they're thinking. I'm sure they'll all be very happy. I can see their smiling faces now...

The new semester began this past week. Unusually, there was a lot of movement... core classes do not generally experience this, but WASL has changed all of that. The new WASL inspired Math program goes in a series of courses, broken down by semester. It was decided in December that those who weren't going pass the first semester would not go on to the second semester. This meant that they had to removed from their class and placed into a newly created one. Since approximately half of our freshman fail, it was quite a shift. Yeah, half of our freshman fail their core classes first semester. Why? Middle school. In middle school, the student can sit for two years, doing nothing and move on with their class. Many assume that this policy continues in high school. For some, it's just habit to sit and watch the world go by. Others are too busy hooking up with members of the opposite sex or gossiping about those who do. Whatever the reason, they're genuinely shocked to find out...