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.
Showing posts with label reflection. Show all posts
Showing posts with label reflection. Show all posts
Friday, January 11, 2008
Thursday, August 23, 2007
Online Portfolios and other ruminations...
Blogs as online portfolios... Hm... I like it.
I like the authenticity and I like the availability and I like the opportunities for reflection and sharing.
But how to do it authentically while maintaining privacy?
I thought dialogue journals online... but quickly dropped that because I would hate to put something so private into an online setting.
But perhaps the secondary one... the "buddy journals" could be online... Hm... Then they comment online and do so in their own time. Here's the question: how can I be sure they're not just using an online translator? I want it to be authentic... and it won't be if they use the translator... yet the anxiety for some to put it online might force them to translate. Hm.
Needs more rumination.
So I'm working on my opener for the weekly "In der Deutschklasse" podcast! I think it's going pretty well... I'm going to shorten it up a bit. It took me a while to figure out what to podcast about, but I think this "weekly letter home" template will be a great jumping off place.
Back to the virtual grindstone (as, of course, I continue "sharpening my axe"!) ;0
I like the authenticity and I like the availability and I like the opportunities for reflection and sharing.
But how to do it authentically while maintaining privacy?
I thought dialogue journals online... but quickly dropped that because I would hate to put something so private into an online setting.
But perhaps the secondary one... the "buddy journals" could be online... Hm... Then they comment online and do so in their own time. Here's the question: how can I be sure they're not just using an online translator? I want it to be authentic... and it won't be if they use the translator... yet the anxiety for some to put it online might force them to translate. Hm.
Needs more rumination.
So I'm working on my opener for the weekly "In der Deutschklasse" podcast! I think it's going pretty well... I'm going to shorten it up a bit. It took me a while to figure out what to podcast about, but I think this "weekly letter home" template will be a great jumping off place.
Back to the virtual grindstone (as, of course, I continue "sharpening my axe"!) ;0
Wednesday, August 22, 2007
A game of Reflective Tag
Okay, I was tagged by Liesl (and I have no one to tag), but I'll do it for the fun of it... :)
1. I am a good teacher because… I really connect with kids and find ways that match for them to interact with the subject and with life.
2. If I weren’t a teacher I would be a… Hmmm... this begins the incessant list of yore. When I was young, I would make lists upon lists of "what I could be" when I grew up. Note that it doesn't say what I want to be when I grow up... just what I could be. I suppose if I weren't a teacher... hm... I can't even imagine it to be honest. So much so that when we have that "what would you do if you won the lottery" discussion, my answer is always to keep teaching because I love it. A secretary? (mindless and done at the end of the day... but I know I would be bored of that at the end of one week... so I really honestly don't know.) A politician? (I would love to find more ways to change the world...but I'm sort of an introvert...)
3. My teaching style is… changing. Some because of age (and I'm finding that perhaps I'm not meeting the kids on the same plane I used to when I first began) and some because of theory. I haven't yet decided if these changes are all for the better... but I take solace in knowing at least most of it is.
4. My classroom is… busy. Not necessarily always busy with work. Not necessarily busy with personal lives. Just busy. There's always that "hum" that makes me feel at home.
5. My lesson plans are… getting better. Understanding by Design has made such a difference in my assuredness (is that a word?) of knowing that what I'm doing is purposeful.
6. One of my teaching goals is… to increase authenticity in the classroom. More authentic language practice and usage. More authentic assessment. More authentic opportunities for students to do what they do and to do what they want to do.
7. The toughest part of teaching is… meeting everyone where they are and giving them what they need.
8. The thing I love about teaching is… the kids, the fun we have learning a language together and the relationships we share.
9. A common misconception about teaching is... one and two star schools have bad teachers and sub-par things going on. The fact of the matter is that NCLB is bad, the testing rules are outrageous, and the schools that are honest in testing (all of their kids, for instance) are the ones who are getting screwed in the stars. Our staff is just as good, if not better than, five star schools. We just have a different clientele, and we're honest on testing day. (Instead of, ahem, ahem, not having certain groups of students test, or even show up, that day...)
10. The most important thing I’ve learning since I started teaching is… to find community. I can tend to be something of an introvert... and finding community has been so meaningful for me. The thing I wished and tried to create for my students, I had been missing out on. Community gives a place of belonging as well as a place of support... both for the trying and the joyous times, and we, as humans, need that.
1. I am a good teacher because… I really connect with kids and find ways that match for them to interact with the subject and with life.
2. If I weren’t a teacher I would be a… Hmmm... this begins the incessant list of yore. When I was young, I would make lists upon lists of "what I could be" when I grew up. Note that it doesn't say what I want to be when I grow up... just what I could be. I suppose if I weren't a teacher... hm... I can't even imagine it to be honest. So much so that when we have that "what would you do if you won the lottery" discussion, my answer is always to keep teaching because I love it. A secretary? (mindless and done at the end of the day... but I know I would be bored of that at the end of one week... so I really honestly don't know.) A politician? (I would love to find more ways to change the world...but I'm sort of an introvert...)
3. My teaching style is… changing. Some because of age (and I'm finding that perhaps I'm not meeting the kids on the same plane I used to when I first began) and some because of theory. I haven't yet decided if these changes are all for the better... but I take solace in knowing at least most of it is.
4. My classroom is… busy. Not necessarily always busy with work. Not necessarily busy with personal lives. Just busy. There's always that "hum" that makes me feel at home.
5. My lesson plans are… getting better. Understanding by Design has made such a difference in my assuredness (is that a word?) of knowing that what I'm doing is purposeful.
6. One of my teaching goals is… to increase authenticity in the classroom. More authentic language practice and usage. More authentic assessment. More authentic opportunities for students to do what they do and to do what they want to do.
7. The toughest part of teaching is… meeting everyone where they are and giving them what they need.
8. The thing I love about teaching is… the kids, the fun we have learning a language together and the relationships we share.
9. A common misconception about teaching is... one and two star schools have bad teachers and sub-par things going on. The fact of the matter is that NCLB is bad, the testing rules are outrageous, and the schools that are honest in testing (all of their kids, for instance) are the ones who are getting screwed in the stars. Our staff is just as good, if not better than, five star schools. We just have a different clientele, and we're honest on testing day. (Instead of, ahem, ahem, not having certain groups of students test, or even show up, that day...)
10. The most important thing I’ve learning since I started teaching is… to find community. I can tend to be something of an introvert... and finding community has been so meaningful for me. The thing I wished and tried to create for my students, I had been missing out on. Community gives a place of belonging as well as a place of support... both for the trying and the joyous times, and we, as humans, need that.
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