Keeping it positive

The past couple days, I've found that things are generally good for me until my prep hour (4th), which is when I seem to get a bit crabby about even some of the little things. I'm wondering if it is part of having 4th hour prep... because I know that I won't have kids anymore to really brighten my day, so I kind of allow myself to go into that spiral of despair. Sooo... after a couple days of being (probably something of a drama queen) crabby, today I ended with a few exciting things that made it easier to keep it positive.
First, I spent a few extra minutes before fourth hour to plan out a skills-based split-level class that went really well. we took the skill of comparatives, reviewed it as a class, then used the level-specific vocabulary within the comparative lens in order for them to have meaningful practice for their level of german. Then they had a brief essay to write... practicing their skill... and it made sense and they did a nice job. I had a couple kids ask why we weren't watching the news. Some really seem to want to... others I get the "yucky" vibe from... but it's not about their (ever-changing) attitudes... it's about their learning. And I feel like a number of them recognize that.
Then, during my prep, I was in with BR and KT walked in. We got our numbers today. My numbers went up! I even have enough that, theoretically, there could be an extra class... which could mean an extra German teacher for one hour a day (for one semester) at my school! Awesome. It feels good. It was called something like "Rock solid" by the powers that be. Which maybe makes sense after she dropped in and asked how many kids I had in my room (37, by the way).
I still can't shake this feeling that I'm missing something... something hanging over my head that I haven't remembered... Aaah. It's simmeringly frustrating.
Next week is going to be CRAZY busy... so I'll keep it real (short) for now!

Frustrations

My natural circadian rhythms must be toward the bottom of the roller coaster right now. I feel like everything is piling up again... and that everything is super stressful right now.

Then I got an e-mail from our tour company.
They are increasing the price.... by more than $200.

I know that the Euro is so much stronger than the dollar right now... but some of my kids were already scraping bottom to get what it cost to begin with. I hate this. I wonder if this happens with EF.

So I need to set up that meeting for my trip kids. Soon.
Just one more thing on the plate.

And then there's this...

Friday we had a fantastic conversation in class...
All spurred on by the German news.
It began with a discussion of stem-cell research that morphed briefly into abortion and then into war. Wow. Three of the biggest, most controversial topics out there. Yikes.
I was proud of the kids, though. They all remained really composed and shared some really interesting ideas. (Like, "Shouldn't we worry more about prescription medication than stem cells? Stem cells occur naturally... they are cells our bodies already make; just waiting for a purpose. Prescription medication is something unnatural we are putting into our bodies and messing with our brains... which we know very little about.")
I was also proud of myself because, in essence, I stayed out of it! I just got to call on the kids who were raising their hands (to maintain some sort of civility) and one time I summarized what someone said for clarification... otherwise that was it.
Toward the end, a couple students asked for a game instead... they were getting frustrated. They were also the students who weren't sharing. So their feelings and frustrations were just getting pent up.
So I shared how proud I was with the class and how these are essential conversations to have while remaining calm and open-minded. And then we went on to a quick round of 20 questions auf Deutsch.

This weekend I looked back at their moodle entries as well. They responded to each other, made new discussion topics and really had some interesting thoughts! They are making it their own and really delving into some of the deep political issues that adults question (electoral college, what is truth, etc.). It makes me ache for a philosophy class.

Influenza A

Ugh.
So I've got the flu... and after talking with the school nurse this morning, I found out that the earliest I can come back is Thursday. (and even that hinges on whether or not I've been without fever for a while)

I hate being gone from school.

I think I'm going to try that recording on the SMART board thing, though... then my sub could just push "play" and it's like I'm there... that would be cool.

I suppose it's good that they have these policies against communicable diseases... otherwise I might show up to work before I really should. Check that. I know I would show up before I really should.

Shouldn't it be easier?

Have you ever had that feeling that you're just fully missing something? That you've been working just too much and there is that sinking feeling that somewhere out there... someone has already figured out exactly what you're struggling with? In fact, maybe a TON of people have already figured out how to deal... how to do it and how to do it well (and easily).

Hmph.

That's my fear.

I started playing around with my Moodle again a bit tonight... added one assignment... and then realized that some of the differentiation I need for my 3/4/5 class can be used right there within Moodle... just create the different class... share some assignments... and create some new and different when they need to be! It *should* be that easy, right?

But then the realist set in.


Even if it IS that easy (which it almost never is because doing something new for an extended amount of time seems to be out of the realm of possibility in my world... but I digress...), my students will never get enough time to be on the computers to actually utilize it!


Ugh.


So do I give up?
Or do I trod on?


I think I'll go to sleep for now. Figure out the plausibility on Monday.

But before I hit the sack, a quick thought I want to get down.
Thematic teaching: Yes.
First 1/3: Ich
Second 1/3: Die Welt
Third 1/3: Meine andere Kurse

Focusing in each on the skills necessary for them to move novice/intermediate/advanced... with the use of the linguafolio(?) and snapshots of learning...vocabulary built in as needed.

Formative Assessment, PGIs and UbD

I think we need an acronym for Formative Assessment... and I think that F-Ass just isn't really appropriate. :) Ha.
Actually, I'm pretty excited about the idea of formative assessment and really diving in and getting it done. I read some more today about formative assessment from Carol Ann Tomlinson and the Chappuis super team... both were good articles, however I feel that Tomlinson's seemed to be written in the manner that I better understand and am looking to use formative assessment. It's kind of in that hippy-granola sort of way... and less in that, you can still use tests, but use them formatively sort of way. (Even though the latter is a good reminder for me so I don't go re-inventing the wheel.)
Actually, this month's Educational Leadership issue is all about formative assessment and has the articles by Tomlinson and the Chappuis twins (not actually twins, but it reminds me of the "wonder twin powers... activate!" sort of thing).
Otherwise I feel pretty on top of the homework this month. I have already finished my UbD and have taken some feedback from the students... even the immer-pessimistic ones... and I look forward to really looking at that as a way to reflect and change what I think is a chapter with a lot of potential. It is also a great opportunity for me to look at using that sort of thing in my split level class. One of my students said that he scored better on this test than he has on ANY OTHER TEST so far in German class because he had the round tables, study groups and was able to work at his own pace. GLORIOUS!
So, knock on wood, here's to staying on top of things!

Reflections...

Today was mostly a good day... it was one of those days that, when i thought about it, I got overwhelmed, stressed out... and I ate unhealthy things, drank coffee and soda when i shouldn't (just to make me "feel better" in that comfort food sort of way). Yet, when I didn't think about it, things got done... almost as if on auto-pilot. Things just fell together... and in decent time and with reasonable work. I got a student the level five test she has been needing for almost a quarter... it's amazing what your brain will realize when it's down to the wire... maybe that's why I allow myself to procrastinate... I have a track record of coming up with the most amazing and meaningful things when I do it at the last minute. And up until that point, my mind will be completely void of ideas. It's crazy, really.
I am always so thankful for my friends, but it's times like today when I am so super thankful for my dear Liesl. It's just the little things that mean the most... the notes on e-mail... the picking up of the "dropped balls"... the undying support when I need it most... the threat (or promise?) of a poke in the eye...
For that, and for you, I am thankful.

Aside from that, things are wrapping up for the night for me... much earlier than I had originally imagined... and I am super proud of some of my work. And that makes me proud. I'm proud that I'm proud... is that weird? Ah well... it's probably how things should be.
I had two great interactions with parents today: one via e-mail and one at a brief IEP meeting. That's always nice.
And today we had speakers from Concordia Language Villages. They were super. They really did a great job of selling the program and keeping the kids truly interested and learning the whole time. That's impressive. My Germans were great (as usual). But one of them really made my day today. At the beginning of the presentation, they ask "Why do you take a foreign language?" During the 4th hour presentation, they asked that question (as usual)... and Fritz blurted out in front of the crowd of 150-200 of his peers, "Because we've got the best teacher!"
Awwwww.... shucks.
There were a couple fun comments about brown-nosing from other classes, but he didn't seem to care. He then turned to me and everyone else sitting around him and say, "Yeah. Come on. You know everyone was thinking it. I just said it." :)
He's such a great kid.