WAVE - A Year of Writing (and then some)

2010-01-06T09:37:00.000-08:00

ASSIGNMENT: How do you feel about the fact that losing might be "the secret ingredient to success"?

ASSIGNMENT: Do you feel that losing might be "the secret to being a success"?

SOME SENTENCE STARTERS....

I feel that losing can be the way to succeed because....

I don't feel that losing can be the way to succeed because....

In my experience, I have usually learned more from my failures than my successes because...

MY SAMPLE...

I have learned the most when I have attempted something and failed because I have been forced to look at my actions and be reflective. It's great to have the sense of immediate success, however, it's the times when I have tried something that didn't work that I am more willing to try and see what went wrong. When I get it right the first time, I just celebrate and rarely look back at what made the success happen in the first place. It's only if I have been working hard, and been consciously working on improving something leading to the performance of a task, whether it be trying a new recipe or changing a system for organizing papers, that I feel like I have accomplished something.

Even if I took a test and failed, while I would be upset about the effect on my overall gpa, I would use that as a gauge as to how I was studying and preparing and would talk to the instructor to find out where I went wrong. I would also talk to my fellow students to see if I was on the right track with the material as well. The actions might not do anything to change my grade, but at least I would be more prepared for next time.

If something comes easy to me, I am less likely to ponder how I got there. If you don't lose once in a while, then it also shows me that you haven't been putting yourself out there and taking risks. As someone once told me, if you are coasting, you are actually going downhill. So every once in a while I may crash and burn, but as I am recovering and the scabs are forming, I am thinking --how can I get that same thrill and end up on my feet at the end of the run, without the scars.

Losing may at first seem like (and feel like) a bummer, but in the end, you learn more through losing that you do with an easy win.

2009-11-12T09:27:00.000-08:00

First Trimester is quickly coming to a close. You may want to review the words and definitions in preparation for the upcoming test. Click here to see the words and definitions.

first Trimester W.A.V.E. Vocabulary Schedule 2009-2010

date vocabulary word definition graphic organizer

9/15/09

PUT TOGETHER THE WAVE VOCABULARY

NOTEBOOK

9/18/09 FRIDAY

FIRST TRIMESTER PRETEST

9/22/09

1. INEVITABLE

2. ZEAL

UNAVOIDABLE; BOUND TO HAPPEN

ENTHUSIASM

PAVE

9/29/09

3. INSIPID
4. TRITE

BLAND, BORING

UNORIGINAL; DULL

DEFINITION WORD CHART

10/06/09

5. DEPRAVITY
6. ACUITY

CORRUPTION, WICKEDNESS

SHARPNESS OF PERCEPTION OR MIND

WORD UNDERSTANDING

10/13/09

7. DISCERN

8. ABHOR

DISTINGUISH ONE THING FROM ANOTHER

HATE

MAKING CONNECTIONS

10/20/09

9. EXPEDITE
10. ENGENDER

QUICKEN

CAUSE

PAVE

10/27/09

11. PERIPHERAL

12. HARANGUE

ON THE EDGE; UNIMPORTANT

NOISY ATTACKING SPEECH

DEFINITION WORD CHART

11/03/09

13. TACITURN

14. ABROGATE

QUIET; UNCOMMUNICATIVE; SILENT

CANCEL; DENY; REPEAL

WORD UNDERSTANDING

11/10/09

15. APPREHENSIVE
16. ENSCONCE

FEARFUL; WORRIED

ESTABLISH FIRMLY IN A POSITION

MAKING CONNECTIONS

2009-09-17T09:26:00.001-07:00

WAVE Schedule
Monday - no wave
Tuesday - Vocabulary activities with SAT words. We have broken them up into three sections so that we will cover them all in a child's stay here at ESMS.
Wednesday - ON DEMAND WRITING - topics are posed and student's have 25 minutes to compose a response. This day is devoted to getting students more experienced writing specifically to the prompt.
THURSDAY - CommonPlace Books - students bring in pictures or 2-dimensional artifacts that inspire them to write at least a page about the image. The goal is to get students away from just describing what is happening in the image, more towards what emotions the images evoke.
FRIDAY - SHARING/COUNSELOR's ACTIVITIES - throughout the year, we have approximately one Friday each month for an activity sponsored by the counselor.

2009-09-17T09:21:00.000-07:00

THURSDAY - Commonplace Writing

9/17/09

I miss the mountains -- the cool breeze, the smell of the trees, the sound of the rushing water, the clarity that only being away from the din of electronics can give you. I miss the solitude amongst the grandeur of nature and the soothing aspect it has on my body, mind and spirit.

I grew up camping and hiking and have seen and stayed at almost every campground, overflow campground, and national park on the west coast. It's something that is part of my culture and I started when I was just a little person. These days when weekends are usually filled with chores, bills, and other things, I miss sitting around the campfire with my family, learning to play cards, to tend a fire, to sip hot chocolate (and later coffee) without melting the cup. The many ranger talks and ranger walks are but a memory.

Today

2008-11-13T09:17:00.000-08:00

I am very happy to be with my students today. They are on task, working and writing like they should be. We have established a good routine.

2008-09-17T09:43:00.000-07:00

WAVE this week - Sept. 14 - 18

TUESDAY VOCAB: PAVE
indifferent - having no preference.
How can you be so indifferent to the sufferings of these children?

bolster - support, prop up
The worker tried to bolster the wall so it would not fall down.

WAVE WEDNESDAY: Practice deconstructing prompts and figuring out what it is that you are supposed to be writing. Example of how to break down a prompt can be found here.

Think about the teachers/coaches you have had. Was there a teacher who was special to you in some way? Pretend that you have been asked to present the Golden Pencil Award to that teacher. Write the tribute you will read as you make your presentation.

THURSDAY - Commonplace books. Bring a 2-d (flat) artifact that has some meaning to write about for 20 minutes.

FRIDAY - Counselor's Activity - Writing SMART goals that have specific, measurable, attainable, realistic and timed goals for the week.

2008-05-12T09:01:00.000-07:00

Week #28

astute (PAVE)
olfactory (PAVE)
laud (making connections)
onus (making connections)

CHOOSE ONE of the prompts to add to MOODLE under the
WEEK #29: WEDNESDAY WRITING PROMPT SECTION
May 14
On this day in 1804, the Lewis & Clark began. Their journey had them exploring unknown land in the West. Would you have liked to of been a member of their expedition party? Why or why not?

May 16
On this day in 1866, the first US nickel, called the “Shield Nickel” was minted. Over the past several years, a series of state quarters have been minted. Design a new coin for your state that highlights an important place, event or symbol. Be sure to include a description of your coin, along with a sketch. PDF

May 17
On May 17, 1875, the first Kentucky Derby was held. Using resources in the classroom, learn five (5) facts about the Kentucky Derby and summarize them in your own words.

2008-04-29T09:08:00.000-07:00

WAVE Week #27

TUESDAY -- Definition Word Chart

denounce
expatriate

Sorry, have to find your own definitions this week -- no purple sheets

WEDNESDAY WRITING:
Are you A good Citizen (in moodle).

WAVE Items #11

2008-04-22T10:22:00.001-07:00

Gabcast! WAVE Items #11

2008-04-22T09:13:00.000-07:00

Week #27 2008
TUESDAY VOCAB -- Word Understanding

STRUT - a self-important walk (there are other definitions as well -- ).
His strut along the campus shows his self-confidence and slight arrogance.

CAULDRON - a huge cooking pot (again, more than one definition for this word).
The cauldron contained a large amount of boiling stew ready to be served to the line of people.

WEDNESDAY WRITING - Complete in moodle.
Today is "Home Run Day" in honor of baseball great Hank Aaron hitting his first home run in 1954.

If someone was to create a day to honor a first for you, what would that day be called and what events of yours would it honor?

MOODLE ASSIGNMENTS:
Explain a time when you felt like "strutting" a bit -- what happened to make you want to walk a bit more confidently? Answer in mooodle - WAVE VOCAB EXTENSION: Strut

2008-04-15T09:07:00.000-07:00

Week #26

MAKING CONNECTIONS

gullible (overly trusting).
He is so gullible that he believes everything he reads in The National Inguirer.

obsolete (no longer valid).
Some computers, after only a couple of years usage, become obsolete and must be replaced by newer models.

WEDNESDAY WRITING: Done in Moodle.
On this day in 1867, aviator Wilbur Wright was born. Through a lifetime of commitment, the Wright brothers performed the first ever manned powered flight.

What types of lifetime dreams do you have for yourself?

2008-04-01T08:50:00.000-07:00

WAVE #25

PAVE

ELUCIDATE (to explain; to make clear)

Teachers mush carefully elucidate the lessons if their students are going to understand the content.

ABSTAIN (desist; go without; withdraw)

During certain holidays some religious people abstain from eating certain foods because it goes against their beliefs.

WEDNESDAY WRITING: Citizenship

"The noblest question in the world is, what good can i do in it?" - Benjamin Franklin

Use the SAY (write the quote) MEAN (what does it mean to you MATTER (what implications/impact does it have on your life?) strategy with this quote.

2008-03-25T09:03:00.000-07:00

WAVE Week #24

DEFINITION WORD CHART

DISSENT (disagreement): There was a great deal of dissent among the different groups regarding how the school funds should be spent.

RUMINATE (think over something; ponder): When students take time to ruminate about their learning, they tend to do better in school.

WEDNESDAY WRITING
March 26th is "Make up Your Own Holiday Day". So, create your own holiday. Keep in mind: (1) the day; (2) the reason for celebrating; (3) special events that will take place; and (4) any type of symbols that will be associated with your holiday.

Write in MOODLE then copy to your PB WIKI page for full credit.

2008-03-20T08:53:00.000-07:00

WAVE #22 Trimester 3

WORD UNDERSTANDING RECORD

DIGRESSION - straying from a topic.
Many times a speaker's digression from the subject can leave the audience confused about the the topic

DEBUNKING - exposing false claims or myths
The counselor spent her time debunking the false idea that being skinny was the way to fit in at school.

2008-03-04T09:10:00.000-08:00

WAVE FOR MARCH 3.08
TUESDAY - Making Connections

LAVISH - on grade scale; wasteful

The parents spent a lot of money on a lavish wedding for their daughter.

BOLSTER - support; prop up

The group of friends bolsters positive energy by singing together.

WEDNESDAY WRITING:
Read the following article. Think about the definition of the word "bolster". What has done the most to bolster the campaign of Sen. Obama in the last few weeks? Write your response in your journal.

http://www.iht.com/articles/2008/02/10/america/campaign.php

2008-02-22T18:11:00.000-08:00

MY ACCESS ALERT... This coming week you will be working on MyAccess essays - that is for EVERYONE. So be sure to get your username and password from Mr. C on Monday. You will have another guest teacher from Tues- Friday. I am have been cleared to return (barring any chicken pox from the 6th graders and/or the flu from anyone still infected) the first week in March.

Be sure to do the outline and the rough drafts -- there are places in Moodle. Mr. C is working on getting all your grades done and in that he has collected and I will be adding in the other moodle and quia grades over the next week so when I come back, hope to have the grades mostly updated.

For those who have been sick, sorry - it was a nasty flu this time- however, get your work in and posted asap. Report cards are just around the corner. You may see me walking around the campus next week -- it is on my walking route. :)

2008-01-31T09:55:00.001-08:00

Periods 3 and 5 - Your exercises are in the older packets. Please help Mr. C so that all the computers can get to PB wikis. If you have a WIKI assignment and it just won't work, post on moodle -- Mr. C will be adding some and so will I when I am able.

Periods 4 - 6 Sorry about PB wikis. Will add some draft places on the moodle site.

KEEP UP ON YOUR WORK!

2008-01-29T09:20:00.000-08:00

Sorry no WAVE words just encouragement to keep up on your posts on all of the boards. They will count towards report cards. Miss you all and will see you in March.

2008-01-22T07:52:00.000-08:00

JUST AN UPDATE - Surgery went well on Jan. 16th -- was up in my hospital room by 5:00 pm. The hospital staff were terrific and I was released home to continue my recovery on Jan. 19th after my last lunch in the hospital.

First day home went well and rested. Second day went well - rested a lot. Yesterday I pushed it a little too much (who knew that stairs could be so tiring???) and paid with a bit more pain and immobility.

Doing well - just hard to take it easy. Miss my students and look forward to seeing you all when I am cleared to return. Be good and keep up with all those posts --- I am able to check my email and Mr. C has the power to look at them and grade them as well. :)

2008-01-15T09:07:00.000-08:00

Week #15

VOCAB: Word Understanding Record

DEFERENCE (a show of respect): When a scholar dies deference is shown by flying a flag at half mast.

LOQUACIOUS (talkative): The loquacious group of students sitting in the back of the room were chatting about the dance after school.

WEDNESDAY WRITING:
Today is National Be Kind to Your Teacher Day. If you could invent your own day, what would it be called? What would you want people to do on your special day?

2008-01-08T09:06:00.000-08:00

Week #14

TUESDAY VOCAB: Making Connections

PROTRACTED (drawn out; lengthy). The school year seemed long and protracted because of the extended day.

ADVERSITY (hardship). Some people take adversity in their lives and turn it into something positive.

WEDNESDAY WRITING:
Elvis Presley was born on this day in 1935. Presely is well known as "The King of Rock and Roll."

Do you have a certain song or type of music that you listen to depending on your feelings? Explain why you listen to this song or type of music.

2007-12-18T09:06:00.000-08:00

Week #13

PAVE MAP: Make some predictions based on the sentences. Then look up the word, find a sample sentence other than the one given. No definitions given today!

PONDEROUS: Ponderous, he walked slowly, thinking about the important decision he had to make.

OBLIVIOUS: The blank expression on her face showed that she was completely oblivious that there was a test today.

WEDNESDAY WRITING: "Truth is the only safe ground to stand upon." - Elizabeth Caddy Stanton

2007-12-12T08:57:00.000-08:00

Week #13
PIOUS (religious; devout). The pious nun was devoted to her work with the church.
DEROGATORY (uncomplimentary). The derogatory statement about her clothes hurt her feelings.

WEDNESDAY WRITING: On December 14, 1911, the South Pole was discovered. If you were able to travel to the South Pole, who would you want to take along with you and why? You can choose from anyone--someone you know, someone famous, someone alive, someone who is no longer living -- anyone!

This is a short, abbreviated week.

2007-11-26T09:55:00.000-08:00

WAVE TEST TOMORROW -- Use these to help you study for the test...
* WAVE T1 Words Review
http://www.quia.com/jg/1244868.html

* WAVE T1 Words Review: Hangman
http://www.quia.com/hm/366368.html

* WAVE T1 Words Review: Challenge Board
http://www.quia.com/cb/256102.html

2007-11-23T13:51:00.000-08:00

ENJOYING THE HOLIDAYS

Have spent the holidays RELAXING, RESTING, and taking time OFF from grading (sorry folks). Spent time down at my Mom's the whole weekend - heading home after spending some time down with my father as well on Saturday. Sunday will be a baby shower in Montebello starting at noon. Attended a play, finished wrapping and sending most of my Christmas presents including ordering the last few items online.

Working on catching up on reading as well.

2007-11-13T09:07:00.000-08:00

WEEK #10 November 13, 2007

MAKING CONNECTIONS - Start with the target word. Then, put the word into context with a sample sentence. Follow that with two columns: on the left, what the word is (definition and a few synonyms), and on the right, what it is not (antonyms). Next comes "I'd probably find this word in these contexts (places, events, people, situations).... list places that you would think the word might be used. Lastly, "I'll remember the word by connecting it to..." - explain how you will remember the word.

FUTILE (hopeless; without effect). To ask for more candy was a futile attempt by a toddler.

IMPARTIAL (unbiased, neutral). A referee must be impartial to both teams.

Wednesday Writing
Today is "National Clean Out Your Refrigerator Day." Do you know what's in your refrigerator? Think about all the food you keep in your refigerator. What is your favorite "refrigerator" food?

2007-11-04T07:49:00.000-08:00

WEEK #9 November 6, 2007

TUESDAY VOCAB -

DOGMATIC (stubbornly opinionated).
The highly opinionated critic gave a dogmatic review of the performance.

EXCULPATE (free someone from blame, pardon, acquit).
Juries can exculpate people accused of crimes.

WEDNESDAY WRITING...

Scientist Marie Cure was born on this day in 1867. Curie received a Nobel Peace Prive for her discovery of radium and polonium.

This discovery was a great advancement for science. Thinking about science and discoveries, what do you think has been the most important discovery? Explain your answer.

2007-10-31T09:08:00.000-07:00

Wednesday Writing Prompt
October 31
Juliette Gordon Low, the woman who started Girl Scouting in the United States, was born on this day in 1860. The Girl Scouts are an organization that helps others.
Explain why it’s important that kids get involved with helping others.
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
Tuesday Vocab

trivial
unimportant

Fighting over who got to the ball first, the players were set off the field for the trivial argument.

adulation
adoration

Because of her adulation for the singer, she had to have every CD and music video of the star.

2007-10-25T09:15:00.000-07:00

Presented the trip to weightlessness to the school board on Tuesday, Oct. 23rd. It was amazing! How did the Northrup Grumann Weightless Flight of Discovery impact me and what effect did it have on my students?

Hopefully it inspired them to do more, be more, and to reach for the stars. We talked about science and how it works and the experiments that we completed and more will be done later in the year as a follow-up. For me, it was truly a once-in-a-lifetime event and I am so honored to be been selected to fly.

2007-10-25T09:11:00.000-07:00

Week #7 - Word Understanding Record

TENTATIVE (not final; uncertain). The plan for the party was tentative until it was approved by the parents.

PRECIPICE (steep slope). After reaching the precipice of the mountain, the beginning rock climber glanced below at the distance he had come.

Wednesday Writing:choose one to write about for this week.
Prompts courtesy of http://www.theteacherscorner.net/daily-writing-prompts/october/index.htm

October 23
Brazilian soccer player, Edison Pele, was born on this day in 1940. In order to become such an incredible soccer player, Pele had to practice. What is something that you would like to become better at? Explain what you will need to do in order to improve your skills. (This doesn’t have to be a sport.) PDF

October 24
Today is National Bologna Day. Explain to someone how to make your favorite type of sandwich. PDF.

THURSDAY - Commonplace books.

2007-10-11T09:08:00.000-07:00

HOW AWESOME! Ready for take off on the weightless flight over Long Beach, CA on Monday, Oct. 8th. We flew with Bill Smith, channel 5 reporter in our "Go for the Gold" section of the plane. First, we watched a video to get us prepared for the flight including do's and do not's. Then we finalized all of our experiments and turned in our cameras to our flight coach.

After getting our anti-"motion-sensitivity" medication, we were screened for security and boarded a bus to the Zero-G plane. After a few more photo ops, we ascending through the rear of the plane for our flight.

Regular instructions were given - safety instructions, seat belts, etc.- then we were off. Only real difference? No overhead compartments, no carry on luggage, and we had to give up our shoes. Then, we were up to our section of the plane where we collected our cameras and got positioned for our MARTIAN then our two LUNAR parabolas before the first of 12 weightless parabolas.

To be able to experience the same sensation as the astronauts and to be able to share it with my students to inspire them to reach for the stars was a true blessing. When the first weightless parabolas approached, most of the rules were sort of forgotten. You learned how to deflect people (with a gentle push with the fingertips) and when they say "feet down" they really mean it (landing on your head is not such a fun experience).

At least once or twice you would end up stuck in the middle of the plane and you would not be able to move until someone grabbed you. For an earthbound person who has been around aerospace engineers for over 20 years, it was incredible to be able to see and experience the environment where they work on a daily basis.

2007-09-10T08:57:00.000-07:00

WEEK 1 - 9/11/07
affable
patronize
Using the Word Understanding Record.

2007-05-31T09:09:00.000-07:00

Week #33 (held over)
7th Grade = SQUANDER (to waste). The man will squander so much money over the year that he could buy a car with the money he wastes.
8th Grade = LAUD (to praise). The parents laud the singers for their exceptional performance on stage.

WED WRITING - Citizenship
Citizens have rules to follow. Students are citizens in their classes. Write about a set of rules from any class that you have been enrolled in during your educational career. What were the rules and responsibilities? How do or did you feel about them? Would you change any of them? Why or why not?

2007-05-23T17:51:00.001-07:00

WHEW! You are in for a treat we will be working with many new items and will work on many new things that are coming up. Hope testing went well for you all today -- I know how you feel on the first day of school -- whew! Will gently make them available to you so that you will have some things to work on over the summer and then be able to come back (if you take my class again).

2007-05-23T11:51:00.000-07:00

Building Innovators: Google Training
INTRODUCTION
Card activity and finding innovations, build the tower and then find a way to use things in your classroom

Resources	Comments
Snapz Pro X and ishowu	screen captures
gaggle.net	free keyboarding site with blogs and chats as well
landmark.com	free web-logs; many items
www.digication.com	online collaboration

www.voice.paly.com

Ten Top Things that Google has found to be true? (reflection)

find what works for your students
push for what you want for your students and have people to work on things
information that we still don't have is endless

Ancora Imparo - Always Learning

GOOGLE EARTH]

Deactivate Pro if it locks up
create video and then you can also put in on the ipod
Look into preferences (3D View)

change the elevation, speed, terrain quality to adjust to what you are doing
TOURING - speed set for how fast you fly

.1190
.1190
1.7

halls settings

Placemakrs

show the tour with the captions

Movies

not your settings when you change them
not infinite loop can be used for open house to keep it going
start them at their own homes moving towards school
Take screen shots with data markers

use flickr/delicious files

Pay attention to your clicked items when you play - may end up at weird places
When you are working, goes into temporary files and you save to other places when you exit
Pictures can be from the web or specific location on your computer (name a folder that you don't move) - will not work on the other machine wihout re-locating the information
http://www.googlelittrips.com
snapz Pro X ; ishowU (mac screen shots, etc.)

COPA Compliance Act (all students)
Must be sure to keep their names safe and off their work

GOOGLE DOCUMENTS and SPREADSHEETS -
TO FIND

can type in his/her name and find all the work that they have done that semester - ELECTRONIC PORTFOLIO
Revisions History - shows the work that they are starting with; cannot do the footnoting as well
ACCOUNTS

gmail account = access to all the tools that are available google based
google account = can enter the clary the fairy account that will give them access to the email

Beginning ASSIGNMENTS

personality profile
moview reviews
restaurant reviews
book reviews
product reviews
peer editing built into program
collaborate work on investigative stories
easy to publish work to webpage
etc

ADVANCED JOURNALISM

all students submit articles
editors edit articles at night
save as many different items

SAVE AS > P2LAST NAME FIRST INITIAL_title
TAG the documents
CHANGE DISPLAY NAMES so that you know what is going on and how you know what is going on.
PLACE A COMMENT

2007-05-15T08:46:00.000-07:00

WEEK #32 - Word Understanding Record = do both 7th and 8th grade words.

7th Grade = philanthropist (someone who benefits mankind).
The philantropist gave the majority of his money to poor countries so schools and hospitals could be built.

8th Grade = denounce (to speak against publicly). As the war in Iraq continues more politicians are beginning to denounce it.

WEDNESDAY WRITING = Citizenship
The Statue of Liberty has represented fairness, equality, opportunity, and freedom. Rank and list these in order of importance to you and explain your reasons.

2007-05-08T08:19:00.000-07:00

Wave #31

7th Grade = eccentric (odd; out of the ordinary; quirky).

Her eccentric and unusual clothes made her stand out in a crowd.

8th Grade = strut (a self-important walk)

His strut along the campus shows his self-confidence and slight arrogance.

Wednesday Writing
Citizenship... How do you define who you are as an individual? How do you answer when you are asked, "Who are you?" is there more to who you are than you let people know? Give details. What are some characteristics that you would like people to remember you for? Why?

2007-05-01T10:45:00.000-07:00

Week 28 Making Connections
7th Grade -= benign (kindly, good-natured). The benign dog had a loud bark but would never hurt anyone.
8th Grade = dissent (disagreement). There was a great deal of dissent among the different groups regarding how the school funds should be spent.

WED WRITING: What values matter the most to you in your life? Why? Do you expect your friends and family members to have similar values? Do you believe it is possible to get along with people who do not share your values? Why or why not?
\>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
Week #29 Word Understanding Record
7th grade = credulous (gullible; ready to believe without proof.)_. The credulous young child still believed in fairies and witches, while having no proof of such an existence.

8th Grade = elucidate (to explain; to make clear). Teachers must carefully elucidate the lessons if their students are going to understand the content.

WED WRITING: Think of a time that you have cared for someone or something. What did you do to take care of it/them? What did you learn from that situation? Explain.
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

WEEK #30

7th Grade = disparage (to speak poorly of). The parents disparage of the students efforts because they have forgotten how hard it is to be a student.

8th Grade = gullible (overly trusting) He is so gullible that he believes everything he reads in The National Inquirer.

WED What is the nicest thing you have every done for your best friend? What made it so nice? What is the nicest thing your best friend has done for you? how did it make you feel?

2007-04-26T09:22:00.000-07:00

Thank you's are becoming a dying art. Just a little note to let someone know that you are appreciated, have made some type of positive impact, some action was appreciated -- with so many in the digital age, those who still take pen to paper are now in the minority. For me, I send notes all the time. The discounted paper suppliers are my friends and I usually keep a set of notes in my purse so that if I am at dinner or just sitting in a meeting, I can jot down a note, and send it off to the person I am thinking about.

With time being so short, you just never know when you might not be able to say all that wish to those you care for and have in your heart.

2007-04-24T09:01:00.000-07:00

Week #27 - Word Understanding Record (do both definitions)

7th Grade = credulous (gullible; ready to believe without proof)
The credulous young child still believed in fairies and witches, while having no proof of such an existence.

8th Grade= elucidate (to explain; to make clear)
Teachers must carefully elucidate the lessons if their students are going to understand the content.

WEDNESDAY WRITING - CARING
Think of a time that you have cared for someone or something.

What did you do to take care of it/them?
What did you learn from the situation?
Explain.

2007-04-19T09:09:00.000-07:00

Time.... is on my side....

I am having a GREAT TIME. We are working on some newer material and amazingly enough, it seems to be holding up pretty well. Today is a catch-up day (think tomatoes) for the students since there have been, well some folks not doing homework on a regular schedule, hence, some of our discussions have been lacking a bit of participation.

Things that seem to work best:

energy from the teacher (shocker)
having LOTS of little things planned to break up the day
many different TYPES of things to do rather than just sitting in one spot forever
giving lots of time for REFLECTION on the work

I am also enjoying being able to plan things --- it is something that I have found that suites me. If it involves a system for getting something done, I will be able to figure out a plan that most likely will work.

I am also being inspired by the students' enthusiasm for the work, the material, and how willing they are to work and to try. I have also been getting back into the habit of reading again and that is providing additional inspiration. I hope to inspire some students to come to the realization so eloquently stated below.

" What she showed me today is that a truly self-reliant person takes action, leaving nothing to chance and everything to themselves. She showed me that excuses will not bring about success and that adversity is not something you walk with, but something you leap over. The only obstacles ar the ones you allow. A chain is only as strong as its weakest link. A truly self-reliant person finds his weak leak and strengthens it. I want to be a self-reliant person, now and forever."
>>>from CONVERGE MAGAZINE, Winter 2007 edition, pg. 12 in M. Leights column. Quote is from one of Erin Gruwell's students.

2007-04-03T17:40:00.000-07:00

READ the following poem by Sandra Cisneros - MY NAME.
Write a memoir about your family and discuss the influences your grandparents, parents, and siblings have on you using concrete details. Why have these individuals and their influences been important to you?
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

MY NAME

In English my name means hope. In Spanish it means too many letters. It means sadness; it means waiting. It is like the number nine. A muddy color. It is the Mexican records my father plays on Sunday mornings when he is shaving; songs like sobbing.
It was my great-grandmother’s name and now it is mine. She was a horse woman, too, born like me in the Chinese year of the horse—which is supposed to be bad luck if you’re born female—but I think this is a Chinese lie because like the Chinese, like the Mexicans, don’t like their women strong.
My great-grandmother. I would’ve liked to have known her—a wild horse of a woman, so wild she wouldn’t marry until my great-grandfather threw a sack over her head and carried her off. Just like that, as if she were a fancy chandelier. That’s the way he did it.
And the story goes she never forgave him. She looked out the window her whole life, the way so many women sit their sadness on an elbow. I wonder if she made the best with what she got or was she sorry because she couldn’t be all the things she wanted to be. Esperanza. I have inherited her name, but I don’t want to inherit her place by the window.
At school they say my name is funny as if the syllables were made out of tin and hurt the roof of your mouth. But in Spanish my name is made out of a softer something like silver, not quite as thick as sister’s name—Magdelena—which is uglier than mine. Magdelena who at least can come home and become Nenny. But I am always Esperanza.
I would like to baptize myself under a new name, a name more like the real me, the one nobody sees. Esperanza as Lisandra or Maritza or Zeze the X. Yes. Something like Zeze the X wil do. From Sandra Cisneros poem, MY NAME.

2007-03-29T09:16:00.000-07:00

RELAXING
Today is a better day. Still sad about my last grand passing (grandmother) and am getting adjusted to the idea that all I have left are my aunts and parents in the grand scheme of family order and such. Looking for ways to stay connected to that part of the world since it is such a big part of my existence and who I am. Sure, never lived there yet there is a strong connection.

Trying to find ways to get students inspired about learning in general. So many seem genuinely disinterested in anything having to do with finding out about things that they haven't gotten to see/understand. Wondering where is the sense of adventure that comes from just listening to something and then allowing it time to percolate and develop into a new sense of the world. For instance, watched a Discovery Channel show about water -- would have been great to have that clip to show to students -- really very interesting to see what water goes through before ending up in your water from the tap.

Where is that sense of adventure and desire to learn in our students? Maybe we need to look at different ways of getting the material across - hard to cheat if you are doing an experiment and presenting the results to a national and or local regulatory agency or presenting in front of the board of directors. Hard to get a "cheat list" for something like that... Just ideas.

2007-03-15T09:13:00.000-07:00

MICHIGAN MEMORIES
Central Michigan University is the closest major landmark to where my Grandmother and Grandfather made their lives together. It is also the place that I go to find my center -- my connection to the grander scheme of things beyond the cars, the concrete, and the hustle and bustle that is the norm in Southern California.

Why Michigan? It provides a release from the ever pounding need to answer cell phones (no and/or limited reception), needlessly staring at TV for hours (only three stations since my grandma's house never had cable and was ruled by the antennae box that literally moved the antennae on the top of the house -- advanced rabbit ears), and no internet access (she still had a pulse phone line the one that makes the sound like it used to when they still had phones that truly DIALED numbers).

Literally connecting with the earth and watching the cycle of life, especially the crops literally growing in front of your eyes -- my version of paradise! To hear the birds, sit in front of the fan and read, ponder, write, play solitaire and do the daily routine of common meals and washing and putting away dishes -- heaven.

I wonder where I will find that now that the center is gone. Sure, I still have relatives in Michigan, but not a place near the lands that created me and has given me my main roots. When I am back in the places where the elders still pretty much refer to the plots of land with the original land deed owners (aka the Smith Place, the Getchell Farm) and where people still bring food when someone is sick and/or in the hospital, and they listen to scanners so they know how to help their neighbors --- I feel a sense of belonging that I get no where else. It is a connection stronger than even family -- it is where I began and when I am there, both physically and mentally (I have learned how to leave the stress at the last big airport before the smaller one that usually is accessed by a 30 seater plane), and where I know what makes sense.

It is not a place to hide -- you face who you are, what you are, and how you live your live in a much more forthright manner. No hiding behind facades, phone calls, schedules -- just you and mortality. How you live your life is reflected back in how you are when you are there. I have a place up in Ossineke as well, but somehow, it is not going to be the same...

Where will my heart be? In the woods and the home that came to symbolize universal, unconditional love and acceptance. Come as you are and you will be loved -- that was the motto. Check your hubris at the door and get your hands dirty doing what needs to be done. No lallygagging allowed...

2007-03-12T20:16:00.000-07:00

Week #24 MAKING CONNECTIONS
7th Grade = incessant (non-stop).

The incessant crying of the baby indicated that the child had a severe and on-going sickness.

8th Grade = didactic (intending to teach)

The didactic teacher intended to teach the students what would be on the test.

WEDNESDAY WRITING PROMPT:
"Be kind. For everyone you meet is fighting a harder battle."

Describe what this means. Give an example of how this may be true. How would this quote change the way you interact with others. Explain.

Good work on your PBJ and Presentations (so far). We will be starting a new unit next week.

2007-03-06T08:02:00.000-08:00

PAVE Map - Sorry no definitions on this one! You have to predict with a prediction sentence first, then figure out the definition of the word based on the sample sentence.

7th Grade = IMMUTABLE
ex. The immutable program remained the same for over 20 years.

8th Grade = CONTRITE
The contrite child apologized for kicking his mother.

WEDNESDAY WRITING PROMPT:
How do you think life would be different as the opposite sex?
How are boys treated differently than girl and vice versa?
Is this fair or not?
Why or why not?

REMEMBER - Write until 9:25 then check grades and the bulletin on PowerSchool.

2007-02-27T13:01:00.000-08:00

Working my way Back to You!
On a later flight tonight, but weather permitting should be back in class tomorrow (Wednesday). The funeral for my grandma was held on the 22nd and the internment at the cemetery was mercifully brief as the Michigan winds were kicking up. We had a lunch afterwards with about 100 people in attendance - most were family. Been helping box and ship and clear out the house the past few days.

Weather is open for today, but another strong storm is expected later tomorrow and hoping to get the next connection before any more delays. It's a balmy 35 degrees or so today and although my grandma's rented house got lots of snow, the roads were clear today. We'll see! Weather around here changes often.

Get your WIKIS updated and Period 2 take the background off from the front page that was added please :). Hope to see you soon. Have pictures of the snow to show you!

2007-02-25T17:55:00.000-08:00

It's been snowing all day to day off and on. About 4 inches or so -- hard to measure from the window! Looking forward to catching a plane and making all the connections to get home. Look forward to seeing all the progress made on your projects and stories while I have been gone. Be sure to update your WIKIs -- look forward to the presentations when I return.

2007-02-23T12:27:00.000-08:00

BRRRR.. It's cold and sunny here. A balmy 13 degrees with a slight wind chill. Yesterday at the internment at the cemetary it was about 0 degrees with the wind chill. Hope all is going well with your guest teacher and I look forward to seeing you next Wednesday. Send me some messages through your WIKI's so I have something nice to read! Thanks for being so understanding and working so hard to impress our guest teachers with your incredible ability to adjust and adapt. If you want to check the weather where I am look for Saginaw - Sheperd- Mt Pleasant areas. The only other big city close is Lansing and/or Midland, Michigan.

2007-02-18T11:59:00.000-08:00

The land of the tundra -- high yesterday was 32 Degrees. Be good for the guest teacher. Will send more news when I have it and thanks for all your wishes and support. You all are wonderful and I will see you when I return.

2007-02-16T17:13:00.000-08:00

WAVE - Week of Feb. 19 - Feb. 23

Tuesday - VOCAB for Week #21 - WORD UNDERSTANDING RECORD ( do both grade levels to fill in both halves of the sheet).

7th Grade = cacophonous (harsh sounding)
The cacophonous clatter coming from the kitchen was harsh to the ears.

8th Grade = profuse (very abundant; flowing)
Her friends gave many profuse compliments after her amazing performance.

WEDNESDAY WRITING
How is it possible to meet someone new and not judge them? Why or why not? Give examples. Remember writing until 9:25 THEN check grades, bulletin.

2007-02-13T14:45:00.000-08:00

WEDNESDAY WRITING for Feb. 14th

Read the Prompt and you have until 9:25 to complete your writing then work on checking your grades from 9:25 am until the WAVE bell rings.

We all want to be treated fairly.

Write about what you feel is fair and unfair in your home, your school, or your life in general. . Use details to support your reasons why or why not.

Would others consider your opinion to be fair or unfair? Explain who would or would not and why.

2007-02-08T09:12:00.001-08:00

TECHNO WOES

When things go wrong with tech, life can be very frustrating. Like needing to unplug an overhead projector because somehow it interferes with a grading program? Very odd. I like logic. If A is not working, it's because of B, C, or D. However lately, that has not been the case.

Grading program won't boot up? Check to see if you used blue fonts last! Have to reset a password once every 45 days? Just do it daily and it seems to work. Technology frustrations abound... and when it doesn't make sense, it's that much more irritating.

Cannot get hi-speed modem to connect even though it's one, plugged in, and the lights are blinking? Then just unplug everything reboot! If only life were that way... cluttered house? Just have the magic people take everything out and only put back in what is necessary. Scrap your car on a metal pole? Just have someone re-finish and re-paint it for you. The problem with all these little tasks is that they take TIME.

Sure, most people think teachers have all this "free time". This includes meetings before and after school, grading and responding to over 150 papers-- over 200 for some and this is supposed to be informative comments so that the students can improve-- not just a score. Then entering the grades, updating the homework site, sitting on at least one or two committees, responding to parent/teacher/staff emails (preferred), phone calls and notes. Differentiated instruction for EVERYONE in class above those who have formal plans and accommodations in place, managing the classroom network (for techies) and that FREE TIME for organizing? There are only 24 hours in the day. There is not a teacher I know who does not bring papers home (or stays very late to get them done the next day).

Do I love my job? Absolutely...is it very misunderstood by the public as to what the responsibilities of teachers are in this day and age? ABSOLUTELY!!! Higher pay is one aspect that would be helpful and I would love to have an expense account so that I could have things that personally help me be more organized. Give me Paris Hilton's or another high-paid athlete, or personalities income for a week and I would probably make more than two or three years' work of salary.

The incredible amount of time that is required to prepare, reflect on the day, then adapt for additional learning experiences is phenomenal. It's a great job... just some days the technology that we have to make life "easier" ends up making it that much more difficult and cumbersome. There are days I enjoy just unplugging and reading a book. Anything without wires.

2007-02-08T09:12:00.000-08:00

2007-01-31T09:10:00.000-08:00

How do the choices you make shape your/our future, fate, or destiny? Why or why not?

Fate or destiny? I am a believer that everyone has a path... if you listen to that little voice inside you when you are still, in nature, away from the din of the electronic, you will hear and know what path and which decisions to make. One can go NUTS analyzing every choice, so the way it works for me is to pause before committing to anything or saying anything that seems out of character for someone who is polished, serene and happy with where they are in life.

If it's not right-- it just doesn't SIT right. I see most people as having spiritual, mental (i.e. business, etc. ), and health aspects. If everything is working and the decisions are honoring all of the three, then you have a sense of peace, accomplishment, and that everything is somehow right with the world. If you make a choice that is not right for you -- you feel it.. It may be a few minutes later (like when you yell at someone and you really didn't mean it -- you were just having an extremely awful day), a week later, or sometimes years later as you look back and reflect.

Sometimes, at least for me, the choices seemed rather inconsequential -- just a computer purchase, a car, etc. and yet those decisions for me ended up making all the difference -- it helped put me on my path and allowed me to become who I am and led me to the things that I love to do. Would one choice along the way have changed all that? Probably not, but it might have changed the level, the depth and the intensity of the shape of my life. If I had moved from this area, who knows? If I had gotten the job with Stars and Stripes in Europe right out of college -- my locale and life experiences would have been different. However, I think I would have always ended up teaching in some fashion.

How have my choices influenced/shaped my future, fate and destiny? They have led me to where I feel I am meant to be. Are there still things that I would change and/or alter? Of course, but those decisions didn't lead me away from my true path-- just took me on some deadends that I had to re-trace my steps to get back. Sometimes they took me through some briar patches and I had to fight to get back on track, but I am where I am supposed to be--- for now.

2007-01-25T09:35:00.000-08:00

Thank you for your patience this week. A grandmother of mine passed away on Sunday and I have been trying to help with arrangements and locate a missing item in my house for someone all week on very little sleep.

Thanks for all the kind words and patience. The five week projects require you to read and to be confident in what you are doing. For some of you this is the first time that you have been asked to fly solo and interpret the instructions. It may be a bit stressful for you. Hang in there.

See you on Tuesday when I return.... I will be out on Monday as well for school business (sorry!). Check the website for the lesson plans.

2007-01-19T16:27:00.000-08:00

WARMING UP--- The weather has changed, but not that much! Please check the weather reports.

Week #17 WAVE VOCAB
7th Grade
anecdote (a brief, humorous story). The speaker told a short anecdote to make the audience laugh and get them interested in the speech.

8th Grade = protracted (drawn out; lengthy)
The school year seemed long and protracted because of the extended day.

2007-01-19T16:23:00.000-08:00

WEDNESDAY WRITING - Week #17

Write about a time when you or someone you know was bullied and how it was or could have been better handled.
Write about a bullying incident from the video andhow you would have handled the situation if you were the victim or observer
Reread the speech (attached-- copy will be made available for everyone in the class) that Bobbie gave for the "No Name Party".
Have students write down comments or questions that could be used for discussion - or - develop a prompt for studens from this FRIDAY's DISCUSSION activity.
STUDENTS work in small groups to come up with slogans or posters to display in the classroom or school to prevent bullying.
Students share a piece of writing, discussion topic, poster, etc., related to NO NAME CALLING week.

2007-01-10T09:12:00.000-08:00

An older sibling or friend, invites you to an "R" reated movie and plans to use a fake ID (to get a ticket). Explain why you would or would not go. Take into consideration the repercussions from the law, your parents, and the theatre employees in your response.

I would wait for the movie to come out on DVD and then ask my parents to pick it up so that they would be able to make the decision. Personally, I would not want to be embarrassed at the ticket counter with someone telling me that I was too young or the possible contact to my parents. Why would I want all that drama?

My parents (when I was a teenager) trusted me to do the right thing and to be responsible so I never did anything to violate that trust. It worked out well for my family. I was usually also just able to set my own bed times (even when I was little) so I never wanted to do anything that would require my parents to be more worried about me and what I was doing. I liked my freedom and wanted to keep it -- going to a movie with somone I knew was going to use a fake ID would not have been something I would have done.

2007-01-06T07:48:00.000-08:00

Enjoy your weekend!

To help get you back into the school groove:

WHAT DID YOU DO? If you have a moment, send me a schoolnotes email about what you actually did over the holidays and copy a post to the blackboard account -- it will get you ready for the writing that is coming
THINK ABOUT IT - What Do You Believe? As part of our January unit we will be preparing some entries for a National Public Radio program called This I Believe. Start reflecting on what makes you tick!
WAKE UP! Start getting up and ready at a slightly earlier time than you normally do. Get that alarm ready and your system back into the swing of things.
BAG CHECK- Check through your backpack to make sure that you have everything that you need for Monday! Pencils, pens, paper and especially any reports, papers, etc. that you were given a grace period to complete.
LEAVE THE TOYS AT HOME! While all those new gadgets are cool and all, please leave them home and get used to setting your phone to off during school hours. If you received some generous presents, set up a time off campus to share them.
BODY BREAKS: Start to each on school schedule and get your body used to taking care of needs according to the school clock.
REST - Get some extra sleep and due to the weird weather, drink some additional water and take a walk or two to get back into the swing of things.

Looking forward to getting started on your five-week projects, the yearbook (once we get the necessary CD-rom) and welcoming in the New Year at ESMS.

2007-01-03T09:01:00.000-08:00

HAPPY NEW YEAR!
Hope you have had a grand vacation and have been enjoying time away from school :)) Looking forward to getting started on our five week projects and for those wondering about your proposals, we will be talking about them on the first day back. Prefer that you only work with one other person and your items will need to be very well defined.

I have been reading, walking, catching up on videos (love the mail in system!) and spending LOTS of time with my family. Found some new technologies that we are going to be using to enhance our journalism department and we will be hitting the yearbook assignments hard to meet our first deadline. So, get your photo and uploading skills ready--- here we go.

Look forward to seeing you when we return -- enjoy your break and welcome to 2007!

2006-12-20T09:14:00.000-08:00

"Character is what you are in the dark" - UNKNOWN

What does this mean to you? How do you act when no one is watching? How do you act when your parents, teachers, or friends aren't watching? Explain.

What happens when you get home and reflect on the day? Do you remembe the kind words that encouraged a person in need of some uplifting or were you trying to impress your friends with words that damage the spirit, but made your clique of friends laugh? Each day, I try and take some time to reflect on the person I was during the day -- am I proud of every action, word, and deed? If I find myself lacking in some way, I work to make amends immediately and to change my path the next day to improve on who I am and how I am everyday.

It's hard to be the best person I can be on a daily basis. It takes constant reflection, monitoring and focus. In the dark, when I am alone with just my thoughts and the silence of the night, I hope that I act as I believe and make mental notes of how to change something that doesn't sit right with who I am, and what I believe in.

It is a never-ending process. I have seen people who, alone, are caring, protective, and supportive turn into angry, hurtful people trying to impress. I wonder how much damage is done by not following and acting in a manner that is consistent with who you really are when the silence of the night envelopes you and you are face to face with the power that is in charge of the universe.

2006-12-12T13:30:00.000-08:00

OFFICE WORK
If you ever want to know why it is that things always seem to take so long to process at a school site, come and spend time in the office. There are many things that go on - parents dropping in, phone calls about things that seem quite random, student issues with behavior and un-wise choices -- it's been an experience. Sitting in the office for a day or shadowing an administrator will give you a diferent idea of what it takes to be successful. You need to be able to juggle, multi-task and have very strong boundaries so that you can tend to your own family at home. It's amazing what happens in one day!

2006-11-15T09:19:00.000-08:00

WHAT KIND OF PARENT DO YOU THINK YOU WILL BE? Why? What responsibilities do you face? What responsibilities do you think your parents face?

Prompt for the 11/15/06 WAVE Journal Entries

Since I parent students all day long, I am not sure how I would react with children at home as well. Deaaling with students asking the same questions, five times a day, with over 250 students going through my room during one school year -- not sure if the patience needed to tend to my own children would last after days spent teaching. Some days are better than others - and I leave with a sense of wonderment at seeing the world through a child's eyes, while other times I leave just wanting to go and live like a hermit in the mountains where I don't have to answer one more question ever again.

My parents' faced the responsibilities for two kids who were very easy to deal with. No big problems, we both liked school, enjoyed being involved but not too much, both liked doing things together as a family. Parents today with separate familes and sometimes both parents working and children scheduled to the max, often means that I as a teacher am spending more time with some people's children than they are. That is a tough balance -- kids need time to talk with their parents or in the case of adolescents, sometimes NOT talk with their parents. They are listening, they just don't necessarily like to show it.

2006-11-02T09:24:00.000-08:00

Graduation Day is coming soon! May 19th (or close to that Saturday) is my long awaited graduation day for my masters' degree. It's been a long haul and I have learned more through that program than in years of working on my own. The hours of studying, working, writing, reading, and researching have finally paid off.

So enjoying having my life and my mind back so that I can work on things that I have been putting off for a long time-- my life is finally off from hold so that I can work on things for my own life. One day and one assignment at a time.

2006-11-01T09:17:00.000-08:00

WHAT IS THE MOST IMPORTANT THINK A STUDENT SHOULD LEARN WHILE GROWING UP? WHY? Convince parents and teachers about passing this information on to the next generation.

I believe the most important thing a student should learn while growing up is how to learn. There are many different ways to view a situation, an event, a novel, a news story -- it all depends on your perspective and what lens you are using to put the items into context.

I never learned much about how to look at the world from the perspective of a historian or a scientist. My history and science education was serverly lacking. It is not that I didn't take the courses or do well in them - I did. It was just that I did not appreciate how to look at things from the scientific and historic perspective. What variables might have influeced A so that it ended up at Z? What observations can I make to help form a guesstimate about what is happening. Where do I go next to test out my theory? What do the theories say to support or negate my claim? This type of thinking has only come to me later in life.

Same can be said for the historical perspective. I learned facts, figures, names, and places but was never shown the big picture of how it all tied together. I never got that history is something that you are making and living everyday -- and I never felt that I got a lot of the cultural and global perspectives necessary to better understand current events. We used to "do" current events -- cut out an article, wtite about who, what, when, where, why, and how -- but we were never encouraged to look beyond that to see how things were tied together or the impact that A might have on B.

Now that I am older (not old, just older) I wonder what my life might have been like had I had those additional lenses to look through at the events in my life. I am excited about learning more, now that I have some tools about how to do research and how to look through different lenses. Wish I would have had that when I was traveling and going to school - if I had encountered one teacher who looked at things through patterns or changes over time-- how different my world view. I feel like I am playing catch-up. I feel a bit cheated. Maybe I can help my students to see that world as well, while they are still on the path of discovery rather than at the stage of reflection.

2006-10-19T09:17:00.000-07:00

Ending and a New Beginning

I am finishing an extended journey. I have been living and breathing an incredible time with a courageous group of twelve. We have struggled, cried, triumphed and learned more in 15 months than can be easily put into words. We have been through two weddings and a baby, countless hours of work away from our families, and mountains of books and papers.

We have been reading, writing, pursuing understanding of new concepts and the integration of those already slightly familiar into our existing schema. We have been writing and reading and researching. We have been questing to find what it takes to make sense of the material for all of us. We have been learning.

I have learned that what makes me a better teacher is also being a continual student. Whereas some instructors inspired through example, as Miles Horton put it, some of my best teachers were the worst teachers. I also learned what NOT to do and what it must feel like when I am not clear with directions, when I change requirements at the last minute, have no clear goal for assessments, other than as a grade to put into a book, and what happens when the experience of my students is TOTALLY ignored and make no attempt to start from where my students are rather than with the same lessons the same handouts, the same method of attacking the material.

I have seen this incredible group of intelligent folks become behavior problems out of self-preservation, so we would not lose our minds in classes that did not adapt to our needs, our experience, our collective knowledge and find a way to push us to learn more. I have seen those who have struggled meet the challenges of technology and wrestle with concepts that are the antithesis of their core values and come through as more enlightened educators.

I have also learned that through it all, I can perserve -- one page, one paper, one assignment at a time. I learned that I can rise to a new level of expectation and meet it even when I have only had three hours of sleep. I miss the time to spend with family and nature and I know that this too shall pass and soon those simple pleasures will be available to me again.

2006-10-18T09:20:00.000-07:00

The Task: Read "No Sweets, Please" about a girl who shares food with a friend who has a pre-existing condition that on a restricted diet. The goal is to finish the story taking into consideration Marsha's concerns that she may have contributed to an adverse reaction and what she would do to change her behavior to help her friend.

Marsha decided to go to the library and do some research on diabetes to find out if the food she had been sharing with Jergen might have had an impact on his condition. When she found that diabetics need to monitor their blood sugar carefully and that Jergen was known for not following those directions, Marsha decided to change her ways.

Part of Marsha's plan including starting to say "NO" to things that she really didn't feel like doing, but did anyway so that people would like her. Marsha let her friends talk her into many things that she didn't quite feel right about, but again, she didn't want to make anyone mad at her or to upset anyone.

When Jergen returned from the hospital, he once again, asked Marsha for her desserts. However, Marsha was prepared. Since she didn't like sweets anyway, she had asked her father not to put any sweets in her lunch. She explained that she didn't eat them anyway and that they usually got squished in her lunch bag.

So, when Jergen asked for the dessert that he knew Marsha would not eat anyway, he was suprised when Marsha told him, "Sorry, Jergen. I don't really like sweets, so I just asked my dad not to spend the extra money on them. Instead of the Twinkies and other sweets, I am getting the money that would have been spent buying those things that I wasn't eating anyway in my allowance.Why don't go and take a lap when we are both done with our meals and after you have checked your blood sugar."

From then on, Marsha's friends noticed that she was a "pushover" no more. She only did what she really enjoyed and often offered alternatives rather than just going along with whatever anyone tried to get her to do. Marsha and Jergen made walks at lunch a regular event and eventually set up a walkathon fundraiser for the whole school for the American Diabetes Association and donated the monies in Jergen's name.

2006-10-04T23:17:00.000-07:00

http://www.desertusa.com/mag98/sep/stories/whitney.html picture source
I long for the mountains! The last one that touched my soul was Mt. Whitney that I climbed with an honored group. It was incredible to see the sunrise , to hike higher and farther than I ever imagined that I would ever be able to achieve. I have yet to summit -- there was blasting that day and I had many issues including battery issues (when you start at 12:01 am it is a bit dark). It was incredible.

I am so happy to be able to get back to the mountains and to get to the outdoors yet again. Soon!

2006-10-04T09:30:00.000-07:00

WAVE PROMPT: What do you like most about yourself? Least about yourself? Why?

I listen. I have a natural ability to pick up on where people are in their life's journey and a means of connecting to the person on the inside, behind the mask. I see the core and am able to filter out the manifestations of protection that occur when one has been hurt along the journey. I enjoy that I can be a great listener, although lately, I haven't been able to process much or take the time to listen to the lives of others. I like that I "get" people and look beyond pretense and bad days, knowing that the people who are in my life are there for a reason. I have something to learn from them and if I am willing to truly slow down and listen, I will be given an invaluable piece of the my life's puzzle.

Right now, I least like the fact that I have to say "NO" and focus on myself more than I ever have at any time in my life. I am coming up on a major deadline, with parameters and requirements that seem to change daily. Frustration is the least objectionable and most politically correct term that I can use to describe the process of trying to meet the ever-changing, and rapidly-approaching deadline. I want to be able to sit and reflect and to ponder the universe. I miss having time to listen for the messages that have been left for me. I miss my time for reflection.

2006-09-29T09:44:00.000-07:00

Sharing Day
Sharing day was interesting. We used a protocol to share the writings from Wednesday. Everyone switched books and looked for a quote or a statement that they wanted to comment on. Everyone got a chance to share their quote and we moved around the circle. For the first practice done as a group, we commented on just one quote throughout the whole group before moving to groups of four and one group of five.

Some comments....
>students don't like to be passed over when asking for responses to questions
>students working in groups like to be responsible for a section of the work they can call their own
>many students expressed some very stereotypical views about people who were different from themselves indicating that additional work on tolerance and anti-bullying may be in order

2006-09-21T09:22:00.000-07:00

I spent 10 days at Space Camp and learned more about what it means to be a teacher and more about myself than I have in many years of professional development. I learned that when under incredible stress, I tend to forget to look at other options-- I develop tunnel vision. Also when under stress, I forget to just relax and this leads to that tunnel vision as well.

I learned that wonder can come regardless of the level of experience. I was one of the few non-science teachers that attended the Boeing-sponsored Teachers' in Space Camp and often felt out of place and as if I had taken someone else's spot. Yet, each night in my room I reflected and realized that you don't have to know it all to get excited about a sharing a topic with your students. It's the wonder and the passion and the excitement that you share that will inspire -- the rest is just the details. I had never made a rocket of any kind and the bottle rocket that was constructed by my group was the only one to stay in one piece during launch and "re-entry" (aka crashing to the earth).

On the last day, we launched rockets with gunpowder engines and once again, mine held together. It was amazing to sit under the trees in the 98 degree heat with 98 percent humidity (at 9am) and realize all that I had learned. I also lamented not getting into science earlier and never having found a teacher who turned me onto the wonders of nature and also never finding a history teacher who was focused on more than dates, places and battles to help me develop that type of historical thinking as well. Sad. I would have liked the journeys or to at least have that type of thinking and looking at the world in my arsenal of tools. I now wonder if I would have thought differently about the many camping trips that we had taken if I had been equipped with a more scientific and historic view.

I hope that from my experience at Space Campt that I will be able to help inspire some scientific and historical thinking so that my students will leave knowing a bit moer about a different way of viewing the world. How many geniuses have we overlooked because we didn't let them explore and didn't equip them with the necessary thinking tools to be successful.

2006-09-20T09:23:00.000-07:00

Who is your favorite/least favorite relative and why? Do you behave the same or differently with each person? Explain. Our 9/20/2006 Writing Prompt for WAVE.

When I am in the company of my blood relatives I am a different person. I laugh, smile, and most importantly, I feel at ease. I don't have to worry about saying or doing what would be thought of as a the wrong thing. I am accepted for who I am and where I am in my life with no questions asked. My Michigan family is this for me -- no worries, no need to send something on a specific day or time, just unconditional love. What is expected is to stay a piece now and then and give some of my time to hang out at their homes, sit down and enjoy a meal, and to share what is going on in my life. My grandmother is currently the hub of all this activity and she is the center of the visits in Michigan.

When I am in the company of those whose culture and social-cultural norms that are more foreign to me, I feel on edge and constantly on guard. I have to watch what I say, how I phrase my words, my actions, my tone of voice, my dress -- all very stressful. Love seems to be more conditional in these settings, based on outward apprearances and outward shows of affection rather than the internal ones. I don't have many situations like this anymore as most of my relatives have now passed away who represent this cultural group.

I am who I am and although I can always make changes in how I deal with life and those I love, I am essentially at the core the same person I have always been, although, hopefully, more highly evolved and aware. I am approaching a milestone and when people say that you become your parents -- I see it as a compliment not a criticism.

2006-09-07T10:20:00.000-07:00

Response to Writing
Schmidt, Sabine. "Trip to the site of the World Trade Center is an eye-opener for children." The Daily Breeze 6 Sept., 2006: A2.

This article reminds me that Sept. 11th may not be as memorable for my students as it is for me. I lost a friend, Ruben Ornedo, on a plane that crashed into the Pentagon. The day of remembrance is something that I take very seriously and this article that we read in class as a reading sample, helped to remind me of the many emotions of people who had different links to this day that changed history for many.

As Schmidt says: "No doubt, Sept. 11 has changed our lives forever. Now is the time to do our part. In the long run, it's going to protect our children's future."(Schimdt A2)

2006-08-13T19:38:00.000-07:00

World Trade Center
I watched the movie with my boyfriend today. Some question whether it was too soon to release it -- I would have to say, for me, no -- it was not too soon. Whereas I almost wanted to bolt due to the incredibly strong emotions that the movie was bringing up, I realized that I was beginning to forget some of the facts from that day.

Will never forget the emotion as it was one of my best and yet my worst days of teaching. I feel that I was absolutely in the right place, where I could offer what I was destined to give, however, was tough when I was touched with a personal note when one of my friends was identified as being on the plane that crashed into the Pentagon.

I remember all of that. My students and I cried a lot during that week or so as we shared news of relatives and talked as much as we needed. We gave everyone what they needed -- some needed space, others needed to be busy, some needed rest.

What the movie did for me? It helped me connect with the human-ness that cropped up as a result. Those connections with humanity that in the interim have been pushed a little farther down the list of what is truly important and the movie brought that back to the forefront for me. The movie reminded me of my time in Michigan with my mother and grandmother earlier this month, and that warm, fuzzy feeling that comes when you feel centered, aligned body, mind, and soul. That everything you are doing, feeling, including how your are living and what priorities you have are in perfect balance. It's one of those -- I am okay moments that happen so rarely.

Is it too soon? Guess it depends on where you are. For me, it was perfect as I get ready for another school year and reconnecting with my friends and family. Not sure if it may be the right time for someone else or for my students. If you do venture out to see the movie with middle-school-aged students, I would make sure to set aside time afterwards to talk about life, the event, and some of your core values. You may also need to be prepared to answer some questions.

2006-08-09T19:49:00.000-07:00

What I Believe - Summer 2006
I believe that inspiration and self-knowledge can come from the most unlikely sources. I learned to think outside the box, to trust in myself and my abilities, to handle stress and frustration. I learned that even though you ask the questions, there are times when you will not be given the answers and will be held accountable anyway. I learned to believe in myself and my instincts. I learned to fly -- to the stars and back, even if I didn't do it perfectly. I believe in family and unplugging from the grid. I learned the beauty of a mid-summer night in Michigan can illuminate more than just the sky during the frequent lightning storms. I learned that there is much more to life than "plugging in" and "turning on." I also learned that there are times when you just have to jump with the things that are thrown at you -- sometimes in the middle of the night.

I believe in the coming school year and the promise of an incredible school year. I believe in making so many memories that you just want to share then with everyone (rather they really want to hear it or not). I believe in going beyond your comfort zone, maintaining balance, and the odd healing powers of trashy TV.

2006-07-11T20:07:00.000-07:00

SPACE CAMP IS AWESOME! July 11, 2006
Day Two at Space Camp in Hunsville, AL. It has been an incredible experience, however, I am feeling very inadequate with my science knowledge and need to bone up on things and my math. Have plans to incorporate all that I am learning. If you want to see the kinds of things that we are doing this week go to http://www.spacecamp.com and look for the educator links. It's been amazing and I am hanging in there despite still fighting bronchitis. When I return, get to hit my room and clean out LOTS of stuff (been waiting for two years for the dead items to be cleaned out).

2006-04-30T22:37:00.000-07:00

I love my family-- can you tell we are related? Aunt Evelyn, me and my Mom posed for a family portrait as we do every year at my Mom's place. We have a great time together hanging out together and swapping stories and talking about things. It's so fulfilling and so nice to catch your breath and just really relax with people who care about you and who enjoy spending time with you.

2006-04-02T20:27:00.000-07:00

Third Trimester begins...

This trimester am trying a version of the five week project but with two new options. Want to make sure that we cover everything that the students want (and I know they will need to use) and also have some ownership of the class. Want the students to have some ownership of the class... we can learn together from one another rather than it always being a one-way street. I enjoy that type of learning more than the stand and deliver type of teaching.

This is also the trimester with the wacky schedules so should be a challenge. Looking forward to learning about podcasting (we are going to learn together) and post some podcasts for the ESMS part of the district website. One student, one assignment, one day at a time.

2006-03-09T17:15:00.000-08:00

I PROMISE to never lose faith in students and to understand the frustration that they feel when they just DON'T GET IT!

2006-03-09T12:53:00.000-08:00

FEEL LIKE A DINO
Learning the kid ipod language... eek.. Now I know how our students are feeling when they are learning new things... lots of questions... need to remember to leave time for the students to answer all their questions... keep it simple and make sure that the demonstrations are matching EXACTLY what is going on... The trip out to Palm Springs went really well. Students... enjoy TIM and then be sure to get to your postings on blackboard... The link for the quiz will be found at schoolnotes.com... if I am not able to update the website from here.

2005-12-22T07:01:00.000-08:00

Two Days to Go!
Only two days will the holiday break - YEAH! We are going long this week. This trimester is going to be tough on the students as we transition from learning skills to application which also brings more assessment of skills, rather than just credit for practice.

Notebooks also become very important and many students struggle with this transition. We have also been blessed with some new additions to our class - I am lucky that I have students willing to share what they have learned with the new students.

We are also finishing our videos from the This I Believe Project. It has been a trimester (and then some) project. Hope to have the results DONE before we leave on Thursday so we can watch a few of them --- once we figure out how to effectively burn them to DVD. Assemblies today and tomorrow... new schedule and that should be interesting -- hasn't been tried before.

Been working on assessing and giving students' feedback on work since about 3:30 am (couldn't sleep). My goal for this trimester is more formative assessments (i.e. checking to see where students are with the material and what they understand) and more feedback (aka responding to posts and responses to writing and assignments). Time for yoga and facing the day.. will be ready for the Dec. 24th shopping rush.. hope I can help my pal get shopping done EARLY and enjoy the Christmas Eve spirit. Then down to Mission Viejo for a few days and then rest and relaxation (and some chores) at home.

Look forward to seeing everyone in class again in 2006.

2005-12-03T16:38:00.000-08:00

DECEMBER ALREADY!
December sure crept up on little cat's paws this year! I love December because the holiday music is playing, it is usually chilly enough that I can wear all my sweaters (the coldest version of winter that we have) and I get time to enjoy my family. I am a Christmas person...it's what we've done in my family and there are so many other people of different belief systems, faiths and backgrounds who also share in the joy of this season

My family used to love traveling on the holidays usually skiing. When we were in town, I started a tradition of dropping off cards and small presents (cheap ornaments, trinkets) at their doors on Christmas morning. When my brother was older, he joined thefun, with me driving and him running up to the door. The idea was not to impose, just to leave something behind to let people know you were thinking about them. Kinda a random acts - sometimes I would sign things, other times I wouldn't.

I love sending out cards. I had a friend who once saw my boyfriend and asked, "Where's the Card?!! I want my Christmas letter!" That was a year that I was a bit down in the dumps and didn't get things out until January. I have written an end of the year letter, not so much family oriented, although they are always a big part of it because they are a big part of my life), but mainly about how to do some reflecting, things I've found, books, life lists, etc. ALways fun. Takes a while to get the cards ready, and I love it!

The first holiday event is happening today... a volleyball friend gathering -- people I have known for over 20 years. We all started playing Adult School Volleyball in Redondo Beach and although it's been years since most of us have touched a volleball in competitive settings, we have our own family group and celebrate birthdays and other life events together regularly. It's gotten use through some rough times, like losing a close friend on 9-11 (pentagon plane) and marriages (although not many amongst us0. It's great. This week I get to make my annual birthday milk and cookie event for the teachers at school.

When I was in college my birthday always fell the week that I as a photo major, was spending 6-7 hours in the darkroom working on my final project during study week the week before finals. So, to at least get to celebrate a little, I baked cookies, brownies, banana bread and wheeled them into the common area in the lab and set up the milk and such in the fridge and offered it to anyone who came in to work. My way of celebrating my birthday... Sometimes I told who brought in the stuff, other times, just let people enjoy it and smiled.

Time to head down south for the party... Have a great holiday season...

2005-11-17T10:23:00.000-08:00

ANNIVERSARY... Coming up (tomorrow) on the anniversary of the day that I almost lost my mom... I got the call about 2pm on the Friday before the November break (from one of my adopted mommies) that my mom was in Intensive Care and waiting for a pacemaker. I was in the middle of a big meeting at the time and after composing myself, calling for my driver to meet me at home, scooped up things to work on, rapidly packed a few bags for the week and started speed dialing the cell phone on the way to the hospital.

It's been almost a year and I was wondering why this week I have been rather pre-occupied and unfocused... Took until yesterday, during a meeting and my masters' class to realize what it was about. My Mom was fine and I spent the whole week pampering her-- putting in a shower head so she could shower without raising her arm, cleaning, cooking and collecting food.

My mom usually hosts Thanksgiving (a tradition) so she had let the pantry run down to make space for things... needless to say, we needed sustenance and did not have the energy nor was it recommended by the doctors' for her to be out amongst crowds while recovering. I joked with her that there were eaiser ways of getting me to spend time with her (she is a bit sarcastic, like me). We had a great time and my boyfriend came up every day and went back almost every night to tend to the house and the cat.

This year, I just have to plan where and when to have dinner. What a difference a year makes.

2005-10-27T09:28:00.000-07:00

NERVOUS DAY...
Have the Grad Gram workshop today and as always, I am nervous. No matter how many ways I try and get the information out to parents, I always have people very upset in March and April and even June, when they discover that the deadline was back in November (so we can plan for the rest of the book), and that they "NEVER HEARD ANYTHING ABOUT IT".

My students rock this year! We are having a good time working on authentic items for NPR, posting on the website for reference, and soon we will be working on entries for a national contest. I try and find ways to support the CA standards, using authentic items that reach beyond our classroom and school walls. Along the way we learn, and practice, the skills so that they eventually become second nature.

I wish that we could get a few new machines to round out the older ones we have been forced to use, but that is coming. Also, our ventilation system went out yesterday and well, with no windows and a door that was hung backwards (against the wind) it's a bit like a sauna in my room. Today is writing day and most of the time students are on task and writing the whole time. Today they are a little off task and not doing what they should be doing... With the Digital Generation, they are used to multi-tasking and it is increasingly difficult to have them focus on one task for more than 15 minutes, unless it is getting into trouble or something that they choose to work on.

All in all, things going well. Need some printer cartridges, and some new software -- all coming soon. Just have to find the time to get the order together and get things turned in... All about time.

2005-10-05T09:19:00.000-07:00

WHAT IS WAVE? WAVE is Writing And Vocabulary Enrichment. Every Monday, each grade level gets a new word to work with. We have students predict the definition, mark how well they know the word then rotate through three different activities designed to make meaning from the word. Each student has a notebook and we keep track of all the words we have learned. 8th Grade has the most uncommon words, 6th grade the most common and 7th has those inbetween SAT words.

Every Wedensday, we respond to a quote or a situation involving character counts in part two of the vocabulary book.

THURSDAY AND FRIDAY are saved for Commonplace Books. Commonplace books are based around student-selected artifacts which are pasted into the commonplace book and then responded to in writing on the following pages. The entries are then shared on Fridays using a variety of techniques. The commonplace books are not diaries, rather a writing that will be shared with others to help build community.

2005-09-27T11:29:00.000-07:00

FRUSTRATION RULES THE DAY....

I am not used to working and school full time. The transition has not been easy. I am shorter with my patience and myself. When things don't work, it is extrememly irritating. I am also not as tolerant of interruptions in my clas and typical middle school issues with student behaviors. I just don't have that much patience any more. It's better on Thursdays and Fridays. but Monday - Wednesday is tough... Best to just stay on task and take it easy on the teacher. Have to learn to deal with stress.

2005-09-15T09:21:00.000-07:00

My Brother

My brother is a wonder. I still remember the day that he came into my life. It was the night that I pulled my first all-nighter and couldn't sleep - I was so excited to meet him! I thought every day about how I would get to hold him in the rocking chair in his room-- how I would read to him and show him around the street in my wagon, hold his hand when we went walking on hikes, and spending time helping him learn about all the things I knew. I had to go and spend the evening with some other family as he was born, but then... I got to go to the hospital to see him. It was back when they didn't allow anyone other than the husband into the room, but my mom had an outside room, so I got to see him through the window.

I still remember holding him (briefly) for the first time in my blue, cartoon animal print dress that tied at the shoulders and posing for yet another of our infamous family photos. It was one of the best days of my life, although I slept in a lot the next day as my brain was a little bit fuzzy from the lack of sleep and the sudden feeling of responsibility and no longer being alone - I was now a big sister and I had someone else to share my families journey with.