Educator on A Mission

Ok I jumped threw all the hoops and I still do not have a Job?

2008-06-27T21:22:00.002-04:00

As you all well know I was suppose to hear from the school about the job interview that I had went on today. I am not sure but no one ever called so now I am stuck for the next two week, because of the principles are on a two week break. Good greef , I am going to die if I have to wait that long especially since I had done every test this school asked me too. How many more hoops will I have to jump threw?

Until Next Time
Jenn

Interview?

2008-06-25T14:52:00.002-04:00

Tomorrow I will be going on my second interview for a position at a middle school. I am nervous and excited at the same time. I hope I do not screw it up or say something stupid.
I should be fine and I will let you know how it goes tomorrow.

Until Next Time
Jenn

I have found my true calling.

2008-06-24T22:56:00.003-04:00

I have found my true calling in life and I Thank God for it. I work with students who have learning disabilities. Yes, it a challenging at times but it is a great reward when they surpass the goals you they have set for themselves and I have set for them. Biggest thing I have found with working with students who have learning disabilities is instilling confidence in them. I will say to all those who have know idea what is like learning with a learning disability then try this take a 3x5 card place it on your forehead and try writing your name on it the correct direction right to left. That is what is like to learn with a learning disability.

One of my big pet peeves is when people have no tolerance for individuals who are mentally challenged. For those who do not have tolerance for these individuals I ask that you walk a mile in their shoes before you lack the tolerance for them.

Until Next Time,
Jenn

Summers off ? Yeah right!!!!

2008-06-19T07:18:00.002-04:00

Many of individuals think educators only work 9 months out of the year. I wish this was true. In the summer most of my time is learning about what curriculum that our district want us to teach next year and planning a head. I will say since I am a new teacher I do not have a full bag of tricks yet. I am sure the more experience you have as an educator the more time you will have in the summer to just hang out and relax. Or if your an educator like me, I am always trying to gain new knowledge so that I may contribute to my community even more so. Education is on going process and one should never stop learning. I feel if you stop learning then you stop being a good steward of your community.

He Will Be Missed

2008-06-13T20:45:00.002-04:00

Today Tim Russert has past, he was one of the journalist that I loved to watch. I always felt that he reported both side of the story no matter what his views may have been. He will be missed!!!

Until Next Time,
Jenn

OK How many test do I need to pass to get a job?

2008-06-12T22:42:00.002-04:00

Well another test down yeah. I am now certified to teach K-9th any subject and ESE. But yet I still have no job. I am working on submitting my resume all over town. So hopefully with in a week or two I will have a job. Good things will come soon enough.

Until Next time
Jenn

Did they learn any thing?

2008-06-11T16:58:00.003-04:00

This a question that I have asked a lot this year, especially being a new teacher. Well our states score for the state test came back yesterday. Although they did not look good at first until you look at the gains of the students. Since my group of student have taken the test I have been wondering how did on the test and did I do all that I could do to prepare them for the test. I about fell over today when I found out that my students had great gains with exception of a couple of students. Not only did they have gains but they had two to three grade level gains. I am so proud of them!!!
Not always dose a test show how much a student has learned from a teacher but this time it does. This was huge to me as I have only been doing this a year.

Until Next Time
Jenn

School Is Out!!!

2008-06-10T14:37:00.002-04:00

I am happy that school is out for the summer but I am not happy that I have to start all over on the job hunt again. Since I have passed the Middle Integrate Curriculum test every one says I will have no problem getting a job. The hardest decision will be deciding what I want to teach.
Ok America we gripe that our kids are behind the rest of the world in education, then why is it that when budget cuts happen education is usually one of the first things to be cut? Do not get me wrong I am not complaining about my pay but the fact is our kids should come first and education should not be cut or at least teachers.

Until Next Time
Jenn

The test from hell

2008-06-03T22:12:00.002-04:00

Well tomorrow I have to go take another test to tell me that I am qualified to teach. Does it make me more qualified to teach? Hell no, many people have taken the test and pass but yet could not manage a class of kids. We need to change this process. I will go into this on a later blog. I am to tired right now and need some sleep before I open this can of worms.

Until Next Time
Jenn

Holy Cow !!!!!

2008-06-02T22:26:00.005-04:00

Holy Cow!!! Add another great memory to my teaching career. A couple of weeks ago I had a student stated he hated America. After a rather lengthy discussion on freedom and how we are truly blessed to live in America, I am pleased to say he or she is changing their way of thinking. I had asked my students to make cards for my friends unit, when I was going around the room checking to make sure the students are on task and when I passed his or her desk I noticed a nice thank you note along with a nice picture. That made my day!!!!

Until Next Time,
Jenn

Good Grief

2008-05-31T20:51:00.002-04:00

I am not sure what I was thinking but I was wrong to think this late in the school year I would get sick. The kids love to share their germs with you but unwilling to share anything else. Yes, I have caught a cold again. It would be alright if I could afford time to take off but since it is the end of the year and grades are due no time to take off.

4 days until school is out. Yeah.

Until next time,
Jenn

Six Days Left

2008-05-28T18:13:00.003-04:00

Well my first school year is coming end. I have grown as an educator and a person through out this year. I think as a I look back one of the best moments this year was when the students asked for the class work and the quiz. Yes, I did about have a heart attack. Another mild stone moment is when one of my students did not use her notes as reference on the quiz and made an A on it. I have worked with Students in ESE and Drop out prevention this year although each has its demands but I love them both equally.

Until Next Time
Jenn

THANK YOU !!!!!!!!!!!!

2008-05-25T22:18:00.003-04:00

Thank you to all the men and women who given their lives for our country. I also want to THANK anyone has served or is currently serving in our Armed Forces. Thank for all that you do.

FREEDOM IS NOT FREE!!!

THANK YOU!!!!

6th Grade Won!!!!!!!!

2008-05-24T19:54:00.004-04:00

Well the sixth graders narrowly pulled off a victory. It was only by $15.33 that we had beat the 8th graders. In all for the Leukemia and Lymphoma organization we raised a total of $ 922.60 in 5 days. This is an awesome accomplishment since our student just donated the change that they had, also even though most of our students are in a lower economical status they still know how to give back. It is a blessing to watch our students bring in their piggy banks and donate all the change they had in it.

Until Next Time

Jenn

How fast can you run?

2008-05-20T20:31:00.003-04:00

Today it was raining no big deal right, until you having a simple discussion with a student about behavior out side your door and a big bang of lighting strikes, then it is a mad dash to see which one of us can get in the class first. I did not win this race.
6th Grade team is still in the lead for Pennies for pasta with $78.50 but 8th grade is not to far behind with $54.00 and 7th grade is just sad with $18.00. I am one of the ones who teaches all grade levels 6th - 8th although I teach all the grade levels, I am assigned to the 6th grade team. My 8th graders have told me that I need to put money in their jar. I wish I could but I want lunch from the Olive Garden to much. I know they will be upset but they will get over it.
As far as thinking I blew the chance at a great teaching moment yesterday turned out to be even better one today. Yeah!!!!!!! This was after one of my students puked. Oh well it is par for the course.
Until Next Time
Jenn

The 6th Grade Team is in the lead

2008-05-19T22:45:00.002-04:00

Yeah Buddy I am on my way to having Olive Garden for Lunch. That is a blessing in it self. So far the 6th Grade has raised $34.00. I believe if you want students to participate you have to model participation. How can one expect your students to do there home work if you do not do your home work. Speaking of homework I have to find my book for this weeks Faculty meeting and read the chapter. Well next event going on for Pennies For Pasta is hat day on Wednesday which it cost a dollar to wear a hat. I have my dollar but I still have not decided what hat I am going to wear yet.
I think a University of Alabama hat is winning out but the Braves are running a close second. I have an out fit to go with both so it will be a tough decision. ( it is a female thing guys) In other word which one will look the best.
I have 11 days left of school Thank God and I did not think I would say that this early on in my teaching career but today as a teacher I let my feelings and emotion show on certain issues. First issue was a student from another country stating he hates this country. I did not keep my cool I actually lost it and said something that was not nice. I had another student asking questioning respectfully about the differences between his country and ours. The student that stated he hates our country has said this more than once and I just lost it. For give me for not turn it in to a teaching moment.
Until next time,
Jenn

Pasta For Penny's

2008-05-18T21:28:00.004-04:00

Our school is having a contest to raise money for the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society. Each day at lunch our students will be giving their change according to grade level.The grade that raises the most money wins an Ice Cream Party. Also the students will have a chance to win a Olive Garden lunch at school. I am assigned to the 6th grade team so we are going to win. I have my pennies ready for tomorrow. I hope the kids get into to this fund raiser. I will keep you posted on how our team is doing this week. Also we have hat day on Wednesday. I will have my hat on. Now which one will I wear. Tough decision but I will figure it out.
Until Next time

Jenn

Thank You to the Veterans who visited our school Today.

2008-05-16T22:00:00.002-04:00

I would like to thank Sargent of Arms Allen Turk for coming to our class and sharing how we should respect the veterans and the Flag. I just hope it sunk into the students in my class. I want to say thank you to all the who have severed and are serving in our country.

Until next Time,

Jenn

Ok the lack respect for our country is about to make me puke!

2008-05-15T21:32:00.004-04:00

I am so fed up with the youth of today not respecting the flag or our country. I have to practically beg my students to stand for the national anthem or the pledge. Well for the students in my first period class will be learning from a personnel from our military about our flag and national anthem. I know this was mean but I asked them to send the toughest one to my room in the morning. I hope and pray that he lays it on thick and gives no mercy. I was taught at an early age to respect to respect our country and flag. I guess since we let just every one in they think they can disrespect our flag and country oh because they are not from here. Even better yet if we went to their country, start acting like they do here we would probably be put to death or at least told to get out.
So why can we not tell them if you don't like the do not let the door hit you where the Good Lord split hit you!!

Until next time,

Jenn

Parents Pleas Check the content of your kids Cell Phones!

2008-05-13T21:06:00.003-04:00

Today was one of the roughest days in my educational career so far. I am not at liberty to say what exactly happened but I can tell parents to start checking their kids phones and computer history.
Some parents may be surprised at what they find on their child's computer history or cell phones ie pictures and text. Parents there are programs that you can monitor the history of your child's computer and will alert you via email of any unauthorized site your child is trying to reach. I also believe the cell phone companies have a similar option.
Your child may hate you at the time but will thank you later on in life for caring.
Take the time to care!!!!

Until Next Time
Jenn

It is time to get involved

2008-05-12T19:32:00.005-04:00

There are many issues I will talk about on this site but some of the main issues will be education, military and political. It is time for our nation to take a serious look at how our education system is run and how our legislators are influenced. We need to put the educational needs our students first before any thing else. I feel that the priority list should go as follows, Education ,the elderly, military and then it is a crap shoot for every thing else.

I am a firm believer in spare the rod spoil the child. I have only been in the education system for a year and have realized how much lack of discipline there is in our youth today. Also our youth of today are lacking a work ethic. Do not get me wrong I am not saying beat the holy ***** of your child but give them a wake call you are the parent not them.Kids need structure and boundaries in their lives. I have witness this first hand, when I worked in a classroom of students drop out prevention. The students before I had arrived had basically free Raine of the class room and no respect for any one including for them selves. I had to start from scratch, with rules and expectation. I would work on one major issue at a time. As I gave the student boundaries and expectation you could start to see the change. Not to mention how the faculty and staff started to treat them. It sound simple but believe me there were many days I would have love to throw in the towel, and if I had all the hard would go to hell in a hand basket. Biggest lesson I have learned in the process was stick to your guns, if you say that is the punishment stick to it. Also believe in them and TELL them you believe in them.

I have never seen such a lack of respect more than how many students think it is a chore to stand for the national anthem or the pledge. It just gripes my butt when I have to remind the student to stand or tell them to quit leaning on the desk.. I would have to be dead before I would not stand for the pledge or national anthem. Some will say well I am not from this country I do not have to do this. I want to say then why did you come here? Yes, that right your family came here for a better life and to live in freedom. But we owe it to them to cater to their every need. Learn to speak the language and respect our tradition as a nation then I wont have a problem with you becoming a citizen of this nation UNDER GOD!!!!!!!! I put this disclaimer in that not every child or adult fits in to this Cicero that I had just painted and for those who don't thank you. For those who do well I have nothing nice to say so I wont say anything at all.

As for those who are serving, have severed or died for our country so that I may have opportunity to live freely THANK YOU!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I also want to salute Gy Sgt Jenkins as he is severing in our military in Iraq. To all the men and women severing over in Iraq I salute you.

Until next time
Jennifer