I try so hard to be organized, but I am just the clutter queen. Oh, I'm so much better than I used to be, as I am always looking for ways to sort my life, but it is never enough. NEVER.
Do you know that I taught for almost two straight years before I organized my lessons, materials and handouts? I think back now and I don't know why I was so stupid. Get some file folders, girl! Duh! Some of my colleagues use binders, but I don't always use the same materials from year to year depending on the level of students I have and how much I need to build scaffolding. I wish I could only use a few binders--at this point I have enough files to fill two drawers in a filing cabinet.
Oh, but wait! That does not count the all the files on my computer and the bookmarked websites I have. Do you know that I have gone years saving files without putting them into folders? Again, duh! Use those folders! In the last few years I've been pretty good about using folders, but then I do have a "Stuff" folder on my Mac desktop. Who am I kidding? It's like the junk drawer in my kitchen.
And let's complicate this a notch. I work on three different computers. Mosly I work on my Powerbook G4 because it goes back and forth to work everyday, but sometimes when I think I'm going blind and my wrist just can't take it anymore, I use my home or work desktops, which have normal keyboards and big screens. I often start things and then send them to myself to finish on another computer, so you know I have some half completed stuff out there---or even better, I have saved myself the confusion and saved it to one of my two flashdrives. Got a handle on where my files might be found? Good luck finding it only if you're a determined detective.
So, what I'm working on this week is getting myself organized. It's not just for me, but so I can share with my colleagues, too. (I'm really just thinking those with the same grade level and subject.) My big undertaking is to create a wiki for me and my mates to use as a reference and sharing too. There are apparently many uses for a wiki, so I hope this is a good one. We often share things anyway, but this might make it easier. Now, cross your fingers we can even access it at the school. You know how locked down we are. I'll get back to you on this one, as I am still sorting through the wreckage of my files. And yes, I do have folders. Lots of them.
My minor undertaking, which is taking a while, is to move all my Internet bookmarks to del.icio.us.. Okay, if you think I had any better system for my Internet bookmarks, you are just not paying attention. I rely on the Internet as a research tool and source of inspiration when lesson planning. I'm up for sharing that information with my colleagues, so I wondered if I should limit it to only school stuff, but there isn't anything too crazy in there--and it's going to be used by ME primarily. This is a tool I am looking forward to trying out and sharing with my students, so it's likely I'll end up making another one with classroom resources if this one works out well for me.
So here's mine. I'm not quite finished as I have some huge folders on blog tips and various forms of writing. When I look at all the bookmarks I have saved, I wonder if I really need them--do I use them? Some I have, and I keep the others because I know they contain information I might need. Perhaps with the tagging features in del.icio.us, I'll be able to find them and use them more. Although, I'm not sure I'm using the tagging business right, as the more I add, the more I rethink what tags should be applied--I've really overtagged in many places. The reason for some is that the resource has more than one use, but I most honestly, when I go looking for these places again, what tag will I think I put it under?
You can give a girl an organizational tool, but that doesn't mean she will be organized...
August 10, 2006
August 9, 2006
4 Pete's Sake! Yes, It's Another Meme!
California Teacher Guy picked this up at A Clearing in the Fog, and I am passing it on to you! If you're not up to your neck in kids or classroom set-up, join in and let your bloggin' buddies know a little more about you. You can judge for yourself, but I think mine is screaming, "Happychyck is a low-brow, small-town girl!"
4 jobs you've had:
1. bookseller
2. assistant manager at Burger King
3. afternoon cleanup at a donut shop
4. oilfield laborer
4 movies you could watch over & over:
I don't like to watch movies over & over, so I'm listing some childhood favs I don't mind watching
1. Charlie and the Chocolate Factory
2. Rudolph the Red-nosed Reindeer
3. Pretty in Pink
4. Footloose
4 places you've lived:
1. Lewiston, ID
2. Orofino, ID
3. Hawthorne, NV
4. Vernal, UT
4 TV shows you love to watch or 4 books you love to read:
1. Friends
2. Oprah
3. Desperate Housewives
4. special primetime news shows like 20/20, Dateline, etc. I don't know which one is which...
4 places you've been on holiday:
1. Williamsburg, VA
2. Costa Rica (can't remember name of place)
3. Phoenix, AZ
4. Oceanside, CA
4 Web sites you visit daily:
1. bloglines.com (And from there I connect to many other magical places.)
2. hotmail.com
3. google.com
4. craigslist.com (just lately)
4 of your favorite foods:
1. mangoes
2. yogurt
3. my homemade burritos
4. Berto's Gelato
4 places you'd rather be:
I'd rather be with people I miss right now and they are in:
1. northern NV
2. CO
3. UT
or I could go for a
4. a nice beach somewhere calm and breezy...not too picky where
4 jobs you've had:
1. bookseller
2. assistant manager at Burger King
3. afternoon cleanup at a donut shop
4. oilfield laborer
4 movies you could watch over & over:
I don't like to watch movies over & over, so I'm listing some childhood favs I don't mind watching
1. Charlie and the Chocolate Factory
2. Rudolph the Red-nosed Reindeer
3. Pretty in Pink
4. Footloose
4 places you've lived:
1. Lewiston, ID
2. Orofino, ID
3. Hawthorne, NV
4. Vernal, UT
4 TV shows you love to watch or 4 books you love to read:
1. Friends
2. Oprah
3. Desperate Housewives
4. special primetime news shows like 20/20, Dateline, etc. I don't know which one is which...
4 places you've been on holiday:
1. Williamsburg, VA
2. Costa Rica (can't remember name of place)
3. Phoenix, AZ
4. Oceanside, CA
4 Web sites you visit daily:
1. bloglines.com (And from there I connect to many other magical places.)
2. hotmail.com
3. google.com
4. craigslist.com (just lately)
4 of your favorite foods:
1. mangoes
2. yogurt
3. my homemade burritos
4. Berto's Gelato
4 places you'd rather be:
I'd rather be with people I miss right now and they are in:
1. northern NV
2. CO
3. UT
or I could go for a
4. a nice beach somewhere calm and breezy...not too picky where
August 6, 2006
Oh, Those Parents!
So many times it's easy to do some parent bashing--especially why you can see how they are doing everything wrong. Over the years I've seen so many toxic parents who seem to be clueless, but I've also seen parents who aren't really toxic but more helpless. A lot of them are parenting alone--mostly mothers. When you have a parent break down in tears in front of you and release all the weight of their shoulders upon you, well, it's just pretty hard to judge--no matter how much they might deserve it. I had a pretty heavy parent breakdown earlier this summer--but after school ended--so I've been thinking about writing on the topic of parents for a while.
These emotional breakdowns have happened to me several times in my career because I will listen. Well, that's the reason I have come up with, as I don't particularly enjoy these episodes. One young mom broke down and admitted to me that she had not been a good mother and had tried to be her children's friend. She was no longer a single mother and was trying to reform her ways, but it wasn't easy. Most of the moms who break down in front of me are overwhelmed from trying to hold a family together all alone. They are doing their very best, but they recognize that it's not enough. As a struggling parent, what a terrible thing that must be to admit to yourself--let alone the teacher of your child--that you aren't doing a good enough job!
What is enough? I've also dealt with distraught parents from unbroken families who seem to be doing everything right, but the student is still going the down the path of self-destruction. Those moms are less likely to break down in front of me because they have their husbands, but they still feel compelled spill all the dirt. Sometimes poor school performance is only part of the problem, you know. I can think of several families I've dealt with like this. I don't get it. The only thing I can think of in most cases is that some kids are just born rebellious, and no amount of discipline and structure is going to change that. I hate to admit this, but I also think that sometimes strict parents produce problem children because they are overly strict--like it pushed the children in the opposite direction.
Mostly I just listen to parents when they spill their family issues, but sometimes I offer advice, which at the secondary level places a large amount of responsibility on the student--not the parent. These are the times when the parents just don't know what to do about their slacker or lost-and-confused students. The advice is academically focused, as that is what the meetings are usually about, although the conversations sometimes turn to more personal family issues. Some parents really don't have any strategies about how to structure home so students can do their homework. So I offer up my strategies how on to make home more conducive to studying and how students can organize their lives and homework better. These are basically the same tips I give to students.
When a parent starts getting personal and breaks down, offering up some advice on how her student can raise his grades or focus on school is just not appropriate. It's sticky, though. What can I do? I'm not a counselor. I'm a teacher! Sometimes I'm considered the enemy. Yo, parent! Are you sure you want to expose your underbelly? So, I reinforce all the good things the parent is trying to do. Kind of give a little pep talk. Sometimes parents do have all the right strategies, but they don't have the stamina to be consistent. Or even if they do have the stamina, kids can be stubborn. It's so helpful to say, "You're doing fine. Keep up the good work! Stay strong." As teachers we need this kind of pep talk sometimes. Maybe parents do, too. I don't lie, though. I pick the positive traits--like most obvious one being that the parent cares so much.
I avoid handing out parenting advice like, "This is what I'd do...." Sometimes I help them sort out ideas, though. A few years ago I had a parent who was cross between the helpless single mom and strict parent type who was concerned about her son going into rigorous high school program to which he'd been accepted. She knew he was bright and he'd been in accelerated classes in middle school, but his recent scholastic performance made her think he should not go into the program. His poor performance was not about intelligence but about maturity. She knew he would not be happy, as his close friends would be in the rigorous program, but she wasn't sure he would succeed. I helped her line up all the pros and cons, adding some things from a teacher's point of view. In the end, I repeatedly told her, "You're the parent. You're in charge. You do what you think is best for your son." That's a good mantra for all parents, right?
I've forged close relationships with the parents of some of my most wayward students. We cling to each other as a support system as we try to guide students down the best paths. Sometimes all of our hard work seems lost as the students become lost. If you've ever taught teenagers, you know there is that certain age they reach where their parents and teachers hold no influence. So we just stand by, hoping and praying that these kids remember what they've been taught--where they've come from. The majority of them turn out okay--more than okay--and then the parents and I joke, "Can you believe the pain and suffering he put us through? But you see? He remembered what you taught him. He just needed some time to figure it out himself."
Teaching is a tough gig, and mostly we don't know what we're doing until we get some experience. Unfortunately, parenting is quite similar. Just as in education, there are parenting "best practices," but we are dealing with different personalities--not to mention social and family issues or the dreaded teenage hormones--so the one size fits all approach does not work. Teachers who are also parents can probably see both sides pretty easily. For those of us who aren't parents, it's important to remember that even though it sometimes doesn't seem like it, parents are doing their best. They sometimes make mistakes, and often they feel powerless and alone as their try to raise their children. Sometimes they do all the right things, but their children are still difficult brats. Sound familiar? I don't know about you, but I can see parallels to my own classroom...
Well, I'm no expert in parent-teacher relations, but in my experience, parents want the best for their children and they want to be heard. Oh, and some respect for bringing their children into the world. It really doesn't take much to make alliances--and sometimes life-long friends--with your students' parents. Pretty much a good ear and some understanding will do it.
Teacher + Parents = A Good Alliance
These emotional breakdowns have happened to me several times in my career because I will listen. Well, that's the reason I have come up with, as I don't particularly enjoy these episodes. One young mom broke down and admitted to me that she had not been a good mother and had tried to be her children's friend. She was no longer a single mother and was trying to reform her ways, but it wasn't easy. Most of the moms who break down in front of me are overwhelmed from trying to hold a family together all alone. They are doing their very best, but they recognize that it's not enough. As a struggling parent, what a terrible thing that must be to admit to yourself--let alone the teacher of your child--that you aren't doing a good enough job!
What is enough? I've also dealt with distraught parents from unbroken families who seem to be doing everything right, but the student is still going the down the path of self-destruction. Those moms are less likely to break down in front of me because they have their husbands, but they still feel compelled spill all the dirt. Sometimes poor school performance is only part of the problem, you know. I can think of several families I've dealt with like this. I don't get it. The only thing I can think of in most cases is that some kids are just born rebellious, and no amount of discipline and structure is going to change that. I hate to admit this, but I also think that sometimes strict parents produce problem children because they are overly strict--like it pushed the children in the opposite direction.
Mostly I just listen to parents when they spill their family issues, but sometimes I offer advice, which at the secondary level places a large amount of responsibility on the student--not the parent. These are the times when the parents just don't know what to do about their slacker or lost-and-confused students. The advice is academically focused, as that is what the meetings are usually about, although the conversations sometimes turn to more personal family issues. Some parents really don't have any strategies about how to structure home so students can do their homework. So I offer up my strategies how on to make home more conducive to studying and how students can organize their lives and homework better. These are basically the same tips I give to students.
When a parent starts getting personal and breaks down, offering up some advice on how her student can raise his grades or focus on school is just not appropriate. It's sticky, though. What can I do? I'm not a counselor. I'm a teacher! Sometimes I'm considered the enemy. Yo, parent! Are you sure you want to expose your underbelly? So, I reinforce all the good things the parent is trying to do. Kind of give a little pep talk. Sometimes parents do have all the right strategies, but they don't have the stamina to be consistent. Or even if they do have the stamina, kids can be stubborn. It's so helpful to say, "You're doing fine. Keep up the good work! Stay strong." As teachers we need this kind of pep talk sometimes. Maybe parents do, too. I don't lie, though. I pick the positive traits--like most obvious one being that the parent cares so much.
I avoid handing out parenting advice like, "This is what I'd do...." Sometimes I help them sort out ideas, though. A few years ago I had a parent who was cross between the helpless single mom and strict parent type who was concerned about her son going into rigorous high school program to which he'd been accepted. She knew he was bright and he'd been in accelerated classes in middle school, but his recent scholastic performance made her think he should not go into the program. His poor performance was not about intelligence but about maturity. She knew he would not be happy, as his close friends would be in the rigorous program, but she wasn't sure he would succeed. I helped her line up all the pros and cons, adding some things from a teacher's point of view. In the end, I repeatedly told her, "You're the parent. You're in charge. You do what you think is best for your son." That's a good mantra for all parents, right?
I've forged close relationships with the parents of some of my most wayward students. We cling to each other as a support system as we try to guide students down the best paths. Sometimes all of our hard work seems lost as the students become lost. If you've ever taught teenagers, you know there is that certain age they reach where their parents and teachers hold no influence. So we just stand by, hoping and praying that these kids remember what they've been taught--where they've come from. The majority of them turn out okay--more than okay--and then the parents and I joke, "Can you believe the pain and suffering he put us through? But you see? He remembered what you taught him. He just needed some time to figure it out himself."
Teaching is a tough gig, and mostly we don't know what we're doing until we get some experience. Unfortunately, parenting is quite similar. Just as in education, there are parenting "best practices," but we are dealing with different personalities--not to mention social and family issues or the dreaded teenage hormones--so the one size fits all approach does not work. Teachers who are also parents can probably see both sides pretty easily. For those of us who aren't parents, it's important to remember that even though it sometimes doesn't seem like it, parents are doing their best. They sometimes make mistakes, and often they feel powerless and alone as their try to raise their children. Sometimes they do all the right things, but their children are still difficult brats. Sound familiar? I don't know about you, but I can see parallels to my own classroom...
Well, I'm no expert in parent-teacher relations, but in my experience, parents want the best for their children and they want to be heard. Oh, and some respect for bringing their children into the world. It really doesn't take much to make alliances--and sometimes life-long friends--with your students' parents. Pretty much a good ear and some understanding will do it.
Teacher + Parents = A Good Alliance
August 3, 2006
He Loves Me So Effortlessly
Several times over the last week my sweetie has been on the phone with some tech people trying to fix some techie issue he's having. A few times I overheard him say my name to the person on the other end. We have different last names, so it stands out. At first I thought it was because he used my credit card, which is our online-buying card. But then tonight I heard him do it again, and the real strangeness is really how he said it. He said, "Ms. [my name]." That's weird! Why not my first name somewhere?
So, I asked him about it. He told me it was the answer to his security question.
So, what's the question?
"Who's your favorite teacher?"
Wow! That is just so sweet!
So, I asked him about it. He told me it was the answer to his security question.
So, what's the question?
"Who's your favorite teacher?"
Wow! That is just so sweet!
August 2, 2006
The One Book That...
When I first saw this meme over at California Teacher Guy's place, I wanted to do it, but it's hard for me to make definitive decisions about "the one book" that did whatever to my life. ONE! Seriously! Then I saw Mrs. Bluebird tackle this and Mindful Teacher, too. So, what the heck. I ought to embrace the opportunity to talk books like I used to back in the day when I was a bookseller.
1. One book that changed your life: My Posse Don't Do Homework by Louanne Johnson. I read this before becoming a teacher--before it was made into a movie. Perhaps you know the sell-out title, which is the same as the movie: Dangerous Minds. I just remember in the early years of my teaching, it made me feel like I could do this job.
2. One book that you’ve read more than once: As if! As a teacher, I have had to read several books more than once--classroom novels and pedagogical books that I review each year. I had to consult my bookshelf for this one, and I decided on Cowboys Are My Weakness by Pam Houston. (Ugh! The new cover is terrible!) She's one of my favorite contemporary Western authors from the 90's. In fact, I think I might reread Cowboys this summer.
3. One book you’d want on a desert island: Is it fair if I say a blank book? If not, then I'd take The Complete Works of Shakespeare. It would keep me entertained for a long, long time. Plus, it's so big, I could probably find other uses for it...perhaps as a table or something.
4. One book that made you laugh: I wish I read more funny books. I think the The Stupidest Angel by Christopher Moore is the last one that comes to mind.
5. One book that made you cry: I cry easily...this one is tough. I bawled throughout the The Christmas Shoes by Donna VanLiere. It was a gift from a friend, but I decided to pass it on to my mother so she could bawl her eyes out. It's one of those short little gift book that you see at Christmas that you know will make you all warm and weepy.
6. One book that you wish had been written: I'm thinking something fun like a POP-UP Betty Crocker Cookbook. That would be a hoot!
7. One book that you wish had never been written: Diet for a New America by John Robbins. How much simpler my life would be without thinking about the dangers of the food we eat. Or shouldn't eat. Uhm, ignorance is bliss?
8. The book you are currently reading: I'm currently reading more than one: The English Teacher by Lily King, The Power of Grammar by Ehrenworth and Vinton, and Adored by Tilly Bagshawe. I'm having focusing issues. I might juggle two books, but not usually three.
9. One book you’ve been meaning to read: Not that I really want to, but I've been meaning to read The Three Musketeers. I have 10 boxes of them in my classroom. I think someone intended the IB 8th graders to read it at one point. When, how, and why--I'm not sure. It just seems like a waste not to use them, so I better figure out a way to git er done. On a personal level off the top of my head I cannot think of one title, but I do have a list of potentials.
10. The original instructions say that I should tag 5 people, but that's not the way I roll. If you would like to try out this meme, knock yourself out. Let me know so I can check out your version!
1. One book that changed your life: My Posse Don't Do Homework by Louanne Johnson. I read this before becoming a teacher--before it was made into a movie. Perhaps you know the sell-out title, which is the same as the movie: Dangerous Minds. I just remember in the early years of my teaching, it made me feel like I could do this job.
2. One book that you’ve read more than once: As if! As a teacher, I have had to read several books more than once--classroom novels and pedagogical books that I review each year. I had to consult my bookshelf for this one, and I decided on Cowboys Are My Weakness by Pam Houston. (Ugh! The new cover is terrible!) She's one of my favorite contemporary Western authors from the 90's. In fact, I think I might reread Cowboys this summer.
3. One book you’d want on a desert island: Is it fair if I say a blank book? If not, then I'd take The Complete Works of Shakespeare. It would keep me entertained for a long, long time. Plus, it's so big, I could probably find other uses for it...perhaps as a table or something.
4. One book that made you laugh: I wish I read more funny books. I think the The Stupidest Angel by Christopher Moore is the last one that comes to mind.
5. One book that made you cry: I cry easily...this one is tough. I bawled throughout the The Christmas Shoes by Donna VanLiere. It was a gift from a friend, but I decided to pass it on to my mother so she could bawl her eyes out. It's one of those short little gift book that you see at Christmas that you know will make you all warm and weepy.
6. One book that you wish had been written: I'm thinking something fun like a POP-UP Betty Crocker Cookbook. That would be a hoot!
7. One book that you wish had never been written: Diet for a New America by John Robbins. How much simpler my life would be without thinking about the dangers of the food we eat. Or shouldn't eat. Uhm, ignorance is bliss?
8. The book you are currently reading: I'm currently reading more than one: The English Teacher by Lily King, The Power of Grammar by Ehrenworth and Vinton, and Adored by Tilly Bagshawe. I'm having focusing issues. I might juggle two books, but not usually three.
9. One book you’ve been meaning to read: Not that I really want to, but I've been meaning to read The Three Musketeers. I have 10 boxes of them in my classroom. I think someone intended the IB 8th graders to read it at one point. When, how, and why--I'm not sure. It just seems like a waste not to use them, so I better figure out a way to git er done. On a personal level off the top of my head I cannot think of one title, but I do have a list of potentials.
10. The original instructions say that I should tag 5 people, but that's not the way I roll. If you would like to try out this meme, knock yourself out. Let me know so I can check out your version!
August 1, 2006
Teachers I Could Blame: Honoring My Mentors
After reading California Teacher Guy's take on some harsh words by Linda Chavez, the devil in me realized that if we have inadequate teachers in our classrooms, we only have their teachers to blame. If I'm ever blamed for being inadequate, I think I'll try pointing my finger at my teachers. Ha! That thought just cracks me up!
Yes, in my opinion, I've had some terrible teachers. Mostly I can't even remember their names, so over the years I've spent most of my energy appreciating the teachers who've influenced. I'll gladly blame each of them for the positive influences they each contributed to my life.
In college, there was Dr. Davis, with whom I had at least one class each quarter. Sure, I took some useless classes from him (like an entire class on Yeats), but I spent years in his round table-like classes discussing the craft of teaching writing and literature. I avoided disappointing Dr. Davis and respected his opinion above all. The best thing about him was that he practiced innovative techniques himself, and we all learned through trial and error together. If he hadn't retired, he would have certainly been one of the first to use the technologies educators are experimenting with now.
In high school, Mrs. Forsgren conducted her classroom with a casual yet commanding air. She convinced me to join the debate team, and although I was never successful in any event or competition, I believe her encouragement released me from my shyness, and that has...well, just helped me in life. (Years later Mrs. Forsgren and I were in a community play together. That couldn't have happened without her years before.)
In high school there was also my newspaper advisor, Mrs. Johnson, who taught me a lot on the bare bones level and managed to make a cohesive staff with a wide range of personalities. I learned to accept people for who they were. Oh! And let's not forget Mr. Gillman, a crazy chemistry teacher, who taught me more chemistry than my right-leaning brain thought it could handle. In fact, about 7 years later when I took it as an entry level college class, I was surprised how much I already knew.
During my junior high experience (things are starting to get fuzzy here), Mrs. Murphy really stands out. She was such a great teacher that we kept in touch while I was in college, and neither of us could wait for me to do my student teaching with her. Of course, she was a great mentor to me as a teenager and as a practicing teacher.
In elementary school, I had two old cowboys, Mr. Redden and Mr. Gamble, who were both strict and a little scary at times. I can still see in my mind's eye Mr. Redden's paddle displayed prominently on the chalkboard. I wouldn't call these two teachers passionate about education--they were certainly not your average Ron Clark--but they were serious about it, and they expected the same from us. Plus, when we students were good, these good ole teachers could tell some good stories and jokes.
Oh, and I cannot forget Miss Heeney, who contained a nice balance of control and fun. She had interesting ways of dealing with us when we were bad. I'm digging pretty deep into my past here, so I cannot remember many details of her class, but she also turned out to be a life-long mentor for me in my heart.
I have expressed my gratitude to some of these teachers, but to others I've never had the opportunity. Nonetheless, they helped shape who I am as a person and as a teacher. If I'm ever blamed for being an inadequate teacher, it wouldn't be because of these great mentors!
Yes, in my opinion, I've had some terrible teachers. Mostly I can't even remember their names, so over the years I've spent most of my energy appreciating the teachers who've influenced. I'll gladly blame each of them for the positive influences they each contributed to my life.
In college, there was Dr. Davis, with whom I had at least one class each quarter. Sure, I took some useless classes from him (like an entire class on Yeats), but I spent years in his round table-like classes discussing the craft of teaching writing and literature. I avoided disappointing Dr. Davis and respected his opinion above all. The best thing about him was that he practiced innovative techniques himself, and we all learned through trial and error together. If he hadn't retired, he would have certainly been one of the first to use the technologies educators are experimenting with now.
In high school, Mrs. Forsgren conducted her classroom with a casual yet commanding air. She convinced me to join the debate team, and although I was never successful in any event or competition, I believe her encouragement released me from my shyness, and that has...well, just helped me in life. (Years later Mrs. Forsgren and I were in a community play together. That couldn't have happened without her years before.)
In high school there was also my newspaper advisor, Mrs. Johnson, who taught me a lot on the bare bones level and managed to make a cohesive staff with a wide range of personalities. I learned to accept people for who they were. Oh! And let's not forget Mr. Gillman, a crazy chemistry teacher, who taught me more chemistry than my right-leaning brain thought it could handle. In fact, about 7 years later when I took it as an entry level college class, I was surprised how much I already knew.
During my junior high experience (things are starting to get fuzzy here), Mrs. Murphy really stands out. She was such a great teacher that we kept in touch while I was in college, and neither of us could wait for me to do my student teaching with her. Of course, she was a great mentor to me as a teenager and as a practicing teacher.
In elementary school, I had two old cowboys, Mr. Redden and Mr. Gamble, who were both strict and a little scary at times. I can still see in my mind's eye Mr. Redden's paddle displayed prominently on the chalkboard. I wouldn't call these two teachers passionate about education--they were certainly not your average Ron Clark--but they were serious about it, and they expected the same from us. Plus, when we students were good, these good ole teachers could tell some good stories and jokes.
Oh, and I cannot forget Miss Heeney, who contained a nice balance of control and fun. She had interesting ways of dealing with us when we were bad. I'm digging pretty deep into my past here, so I cannot remember many details of her class, but she also turned out to be a life-long mentor for me in my heart.
I have expressed my gratitude to some of these teachers, but to others I've never had the opportunity. Nonetheless, they helped shape who I am as a person and as a teacher. If I'm ever blamed for being an inadequate teacher, it wouldn't be because of these great mentors!
Teachers I Could Blame: Feeding the Blame Beast
After reading California Teacher Guy's take on some harsh words by Linda Chavez, the devil in me realized that if we have inadequate teachers in our classrooms, we only have their teachers to blame. If I'm ever blamed for being inadequate, I think I'll try pointing my finger at my teachers.
Lordy, have I known some crappy teachers! I will not be changing names to protect these foolish educators. They had such an impact on my life that I have forgotten their real names.
My college experience was rife with poor instructors. Toward the end of my long college career I had to take yet another science class (I guess to balance out my liberal arts major?), so I chose metereology. Weather affects us all, right? My friends and I thougtht it might be a fascinating class, but what we found was that Professor Blowhard's nostrils were the most fascinating part of the class. If we showed up late, we'd be stuck sitting in the front row where we had a wide-angled view of, well, everything. How in the world could we be expected to focus with that distraction?
Professor Blowhard had nothing on Mister Principal who taught a series of education history and theory classes to all education majors. He was a nice enough guy, but his delivery was so boring and all that theory was so pointless that I opted to sit in the back row so I could study for my other classes. Strangely, I had the sense that although he could drone on about his own school, he wasn't a good administrator. Yea, like he knew what he was talking about. Whatever.
In high school, I had two really terrible math teachers that made my math experience so awful that I almost backed out of going to college when someone told me I had to take calculus. I was ready to go to beauty school instead. The first math teacher, Mr. Happyhour, had chalk-stained fingers, the worst dandruff ever, and a travel mug of "coffee" that was always nearby. We loved to catch him losing his place in solving problems on the board. Obviously he didn't know what he was doing. I tried to explain that to my mother when it was suggested that I report to his office for extra tutoring, but she just didn't believe me. So, off to tutoring I went. It was rather creepy.
The other teacher, Mr. Mathsnob, never knew my name despite the fact that I had him for two years. What was the freakin' point of trigonometry? He was another one who would miscalculate on the board, but then he'd go back and make changes without explanation which would confuse us all. He also didn't require that we have our homework done until the test date when he would nail us hard if we hadn't done every little graph. I shed a lot of tears trying to figure out all that crap. Not that he would have cared. He was all about catering to the students who understood.
The most irritating teacher I had in high school was Mr. Misogynist. He exiled us girls who used to like English to the back of the room where he ignored us. He then proceeded to favor all the dumb jocks he positioned in the front row. My best friend and I ended up passing notes back and forth while doing our tedious Warner exercises. Hundreds of them. Excercises and notes.
High school was a long time ago for me, and junior high/middle school was even longer. I don't remember most of my teachers, but I do remember Mrs. Stinkybreath had the nerve to place me as the 2nd to last flute in my section. Second to last! It was obviously a personal thing because despite the fact I never stopped forging my practice log, after that year in her band, I was never lower than 3rd chair from the top. Never. Even as a underclassman in high school. I guess it's okay, though, because it was in at the bottom of the flute section where I met my best friend. We learned to deal with being losers by acting like losers. We were driven to it. What can I say?
I suppose it's a miracle that I turned out okay with some of the terrible mentors I have had. They were just so boring, indifferent, and they obviously didn't understand me. It's a miracle I learned anything.
Lordy, have I known some crappy teachers! I will not be changing names to protect these foolish educators. They had such an impact on my life that I have forgotten their real names.
My college experience was rife with poor instructors. Toward the end of my long college career I had to take yet another science class (I guess to balance out my liberal arts major?), so I chose metereology. Weather affects us all, right? My friends and I thougtht it might be a fascinating class, but what we found was that Professor Blowhard's nostrils were the most fascinating part of the class. If we showed up late, we'd be stuck sitting in the front row where we had a wide-angled view of, well, everything. How in the world could we be expected to focus with that distraction?
Professor Blowhard had nothing on Mister Principal who taught a series of education history and theory classes to all education majors. He was a nice enough guy, but his delivery was so boring and all that theory was so pointless that I opted to sit in the back row so I could study for my other classes. Strangely, I had the sense that although he could drone on about his own school, he wasn't a good administrator. Yea, like he knew what he was talking about. Whatever.
In high school, I had two really terrible math teachers that made my math experience so awful that I almost backed out of going to college when someone told me I had to take calculus. I was ready to go to beauty school instead. The first math teacher, Mr. Happyhour, had chalk-stained fingers, the worst dandruff ever, and a travel mug of "coffee" that was always nearby. We loved to catch him losing his place in solving problems on the board. Obviously he didn't know what he was doing. I tried to explain that to my mother when it was suggested that I report to his office for extra tutoring, but she just didn't believe me. So, off to tutoring I went. It was rather creepy.
The other teacher, Mr. Mathsnob, never knew my name despite the fact that I had him for two years. What was the freakin' point of trigonometry? He was another one who would miscalculate on the board, but then he'd go back and make changes without explanation which would confuse us all. He also didn't require that we have our homework done until the test date when he would nail us hard if we hadn't done every little graph. I shed a lot of tears trying to figure out all that crap. Not that he would have cared. He was all about catering to the students who understood.
The most irritating teacher I had in high school was Mr. Misogynist. He exiled us girls who used to like English to the back of the room where he ignored us. He then proceeded to favor all the dumb jocks he positioned in the front row. My best friend and I ended up passing notes back and forth while doing our tedious Warner exercises. Hundreds of them. Excercises and notes.
High school was a long time ago for me, and junior high/middle school was even longer. I don't remember most of my teachers, but I do remember Mrs. Stinkybreath had the nerve to place me as the 2nd to last flute in my section. Second to last! It was obviously a personal thing because despite the fact I never stopped forging my practice log, after that year in her band, I was never lower than 3rd chair from the top. Never. Even as a underclassman in high school. I guess it's okay, though, because it was in at the bottom of the flute section where I met my best friend. We learned to deal with being losers by acting like losers. We were driven to it. What can I say?
I suppose it's a miracle that I turned out okay with some of the terrible mentors I have had. They were just so boring, indifferent, and they obviously didn't understand me. It's a miracle I learned anything.
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