- Today's Thought for the Day: "Procrastination is opportunity's deadliest assassin." Me: "Okay, what do ya think about this one?" Student: "Well, it's like my favorite pitcher, Tim Lincecum. He's really good, but people always think he's not very strong because he's really skinny. So yeah, those people are procrastinating Tim Lincecum because even though he's skinny, he's a really good pitcher." Gotta give him an A for effort!
- I made it a point to not smile during the first five minutes of class to prove a point--you are more approachable and people feel better around you when you have a pleasant look on your face. (There's a back story to why I was doing this, but that's not really important.) So when I asked the kids to raise their hands if they thought I was in a bad mood when they first walked in and half of the class raised their hand, I was very satisfied that the point I was trying to make was made. When prompted with the question, "Why?", a student says, "because of your outfit." Several of the kids nod their heads in agreement. (I was wearing black pants, solid grey shirt, messy pony tail, and glasses.) So I'm thinking (a) my point actually wasn't made, and (b) what the heck is wrong with my outfit? So, of course, I had to inquire what the problem was. They said, "Well, you normally dress really cute. Like yesterday, you had on a pretty dress. Today, you look like you just don't care about anything." Well, alrighty then. Haha! Guess I asked for it :/
- I asked a child about his mother coming to eat lunch with him in the cafeteria. He said he wasn't a fan of that. Another child says, "I wish my mom could come eat lunch with me." I agree and say that would be cool. He continues, "Unfortunately, she naturally repels children." I die laughing because he's totally serious. "From the moment I step off the bus to the moment I open the door and walk inside my house, I have this intense sense of fear." (Mommies and Daddies, beware of what your children will say about you when you're not around.)
Wednesday, September 28, 2011
Out of the Mouths of [Semi] Babes Part Deux
So I have a whole new batch of kids for the 11-12 school year, and they are continuing to crack me up with their comments and logic.
Monday, September 26, 2011
It's all about Connections
I always knew I wanted to do something that involved math, but I had originally thought engineering would be the career for me. After babysitting five incredible kids throughout college I finally saw the light and switched my major, and I couldn't be happier with my decision!
I have two main goals as a teacher: (1) to get kids to fall in love with math (or at least in like), and (2) to make a difference in a child's life. While it's possible to manage the second without the first, it's virtually impossible to manage the first without the second unless the child doesn't already like math.
(1) Most people fall into one of two categories--they either love math or they hate it. By the time kids get to high school they have a general idea of whether they like math. Those that like it are good at it, and those that do not like it usually aren't very good at math. I have the privilege of teaching 7th graders. I consider it my job to catch those who think they're not "good at math" and build their self-confidence, thereby changing their opinion of whether they like math or not by the time they get to high school. It's hard to like something you're not good at. I know--I hate playing most sports because I know I have no athletic ability, and therefore, I don't even really try. Most people that know they're weak in math usually stop trying to "get it" somewhere along the line. However, if you have self-confidence, well, that changes everything. I want kids to believe in themselves when it comes to their mathematical ability. I want kids to at least like math. It's going to be in their daily lives forever.
(2) An effective teacher makes connections with kids. Sure, you can teach your content area until you're blue in the face, but bottom line: most kids aren't going to listen and pay attention to you unless they like and respect you. I know there are some people that I don't particularly care for, and I generally do not care to hear what they have to say. (I know that's not nice, but I'm just being honest.) I want to connect with these kids. Being a teacher sometimes feels like you're the warden of a madhouse. Things get crazy! The kids can drive you crazy! You can drive yourself crazy! If you do not genuinely care for them, the madness isn't worth it. Period. You don't become a teacher for the money, and you don't become a teacher because you get summers "off". You become a teacher because you love children and want to help them grow into adults who are positive contributors to society. You cannot make a difference without connecting. Children, as well people of all ages, know the difference between someone who genuinely cares about them and someone who's there for a paycheck.
(1 & 2) Teachers can make or break a class. We've all experienced this at some point in our education. Why else do sites like http://www.ratemyprofessor.com/ exist? I know I certainly tried my best to plan my college courses around the teachers of the classes. Some teachers are just easier to learn from. It may be the way they explain it, it may be their grading style, or it may be a personality issue. We learn best from teachers we like.
Now I'm not saying I'm trying to win a popularity contest. Of course I want my students to like me, but that's not always going to happen. Anytime someone is in authority over you, you're going to butt heads. You're going to have a difference of opinion. You're going to disagree with how they handled something. I'm not saying I will do anything for them to like me. I'm saying that I'll do (almost) anything to connect with them. Going to one of their extra-curricular activities. Asking about something that's going on in their personal life. Pretending that I think Justin Bieber is the coolest. Anything that makes them feel like I'm interested in them. Because I am, and when they know this is true, the material just comes easier to them. Trust me.
With that being said, I invited the students from my homeroom to the movies this past Friday afternoon. I don't get to spend as much time with my homeroom students as I do those who are in my actual math class, and I felt like I needed to get to know them a little bit better. We are a part of the Lions team so we decided to go see the Lion King 3D. Students were responsible for their own transportation and tickets, but everyone and their families were invited to come. There were five of us, and we had a blast!!
I'm so grateful to be making connections with such great kids! I'm so honored to be their teacher!
I have two main goals as a teacher: (1) to get kids to fall in love with math (or at least in like), and (2) to make a difference in a child's life. While it's possible to manage the second without the first, it's virtually impossible to manage the first without the second unless the child doesn't already like math.
(1) Most people fall into one of two categories--they either love math or they hate it. By the time kids get to high school they have a general idea of whether they like math. Those that like it are good at it, and those that do not like it usually aren't very good at math. I have the privilege of teaching 7th graders. I consider it my job to catch those who think they're not "good at math" and build their self-confidence, thereby changing their opinion of whether they like math or not by the time they get to high school. It's hard to like something you're not good at. I know--I hate playing most sports because I know I have no athletic ability, and therefore, I don't even really try. Most people that know they're weak in math usually stop trying to "get it" somewhere along the line. However, if you have self-confidence, well, that changes everything. I want kids to believe in themselves when it comes to their mathematical ability. I want kids to at least like math. It's going to be in their daily lives forever.
(2) An effective teacher makes connections with kids. Sure, you can teach your content area until you're blue in the face, but bottom line: most kids aren't going to listen and pay attention to you unless they like and respect you. I know there are some people that I don't particularly care for, and I generally do not care to hear what they have to say. (I know that's not nice, but I'm just being honest.) I want to connect with these kids. Being a teacher sometimes feels like you're the warden of a madhouse. Things get crazy! The kids can drive you crazy! You can drive yourself crazy! If you do not genuinely care for them, the madness isn't worth it. Period. You don't become a teacher for the money, and you don't become a teacher because you get summers "off". You become a teacher because you love children and want to help them grow into adults who are positive contributors to society. You cannot make a difference without connecting. Children, as well people of all ages, know the difference between someone who genuinely cares about them and someone who's there for a paycheck.
(1 & 2) Teachers can make or break a class. We've all experienced this at some point in our education. Why else do sites like http://www.ratemyprofessor.com/ exist? I know I certainly tried my best to plan my college courses around the teachers of the classes. Some teachers are just easier to learn from. It may be the way they explain it, it may be their grading style, or it may be a personality issue. We learn best from teachers we like.
Now I'm not saying I'm trying to win a popularity contest. Of course I want my students to like me, but that's not always going to happen. Anytime someone is in authority over you, you're going to butt heads. You're going to have a difference of opinion. You're going to disagree with how they handled something. I'm not saying I will do anything for them to like me. I'm saying that I'll do (almost) anything to connect with them. Going to one of their extra-curricular activities. Asking about something that's going on in their personal life. Pretending that I think Justin Bieber is the coolest. Anything that makes them feel like I'm interested in them. Because I am, and when they know this is true, the material just comes easier to them. Trust me.
With that being said, I invited the students from my homeroom to the movies this past Friday afternoon. I don't get to spend as much time with my homeroom students as I do those who are in my actual math class, and I felt like I needed to get to know them a little bit better. We are a part of the Lions team so we decided to go see the Lion King 3D. Students were responsible for their own transportation and tickets, but everyone and their families were invited to come. There were five of us, and we had a blast!!
I'm so grateful to be making connections with such great kids! I'm so honored to be their teacher!
Tuesday, September 20, 2011
A Little Background Info and The Harvest
Most people are perturbed when they first learn that I live in Notasulga and even more so when they learn that I am not from Notasulga. They cannot understand why I choose to live in a podunk town. The truth is I never would have thought I'd live in Notasulga either. Not that it's a bad place to live; it's just that there's nothing in Notasulga.
When I was hired to teach in the Auburn City school district, I immediately started looking for places in Auburn. I lived there in college, and I really liked the convenience of living in a city. I knew that I would not be able to afford much more than a one or two bedroom apartment with my starting teacher salary. I was fine with it. The only reservation I had was living beside, above, or below college students. College students, and I can say this because I completely fit this description when I was a student, are loud and keep all hours of the night. "Professional Jamie" does not. I like my privacy; I like my solitude; and I like my sleep. Lots of sleep.
A friend of mine from Liberty City (part of Notasulga) suggested I get a house in Notasulga. I balked and asked why I would want to live in Notasulga when I'd be working in Auburn. He said he could find me a house with a yard for about the same or less than I'd be paying for a 1-bdrm apt in Auburn. Of course, this sparked my interest. Fully expecting him to fail, I told him that if he could find such a house then I'd consider moving to his hometown. Meanwhile, I continued to tour apartments in Au.
After looking at several homes in Notasulga and not being very pleased, my friend told me there was a house that was for sale, not for rent, that he would drive me by. While I have never experienced love at first sight with another person, I have DEFINITELY experienced it with objects. And me and my home? It was love at first sight. I thought it was the cutest little thing ever! I loved that it was small and brown. I loved that it had a nice front yard. I could picture a yard full of flowers (check), rocking chairs on the porch (check), and the American flag proudly flying in the wind (check). We pulled in the driveway and I went around to see the backyard. And that was it. After seeing the back yard, I knew this was MY home. The selling point? The fruit trees. The yard contained plum, crab apple, granny smith apple, and pear trees. Anyone who knows me well knows that I adore fruit trees. This little home had a deck on the back with apple trees hanging over. Done deal. I had to have it.
So skip over a few months of pretty much begging the owner of the home to rent it to me and we get to the part when it was mine--at least for a year at a time. I was so pleased with my perfect starter home. I have more space than I would in an apartment, Skunk has room to play, and I'm less than 20 minutes from work. Not to mention my friend made good on the promise about rent pricing. Score!
Okay so there's all the background information. Here's the actual point of this post: After two years of the pear tree not producing any pears, I am proud to say I HAVE PEARS THIS YEAR!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! And not just any pears--the sweetest, crispest, most delicious pears ever tasted!! (No, I am not exaggerating.) I have harvested, peeled, cut, chopped, and cooked the pears. I am currently 4 hours in and still not finished. Tonight I have made apple pear jam, apple pear cake (hope coworkers are reading this and getting excited because it's coming to work with me tomorrow), and am currently working on preserves. So exciting! I still have an entire basketful of pears to do something with tomorrow, but I think I've put a nice little dent in them. Can't wait to make some biscuits and get to eatin'!
My sweet grandparents gave me a book about canning for Christmas 2008. That has been the best book! Here are a few pics.
When I was hired to teach in the Auburn City school district, I immediately started looking for places in Auburn. I lived there in college, and I really liked the convenience of living in a city. I knew that I would not be able to afford much more than a one or two bedroom apartment with my starting teacher salary. I was fine with it. The only reservation I had was living beside, above, or below college students. College students, and I can say this because I completely fit this description when I was a student, are loud and keep all hours of the night. "Professional Jamie" does not. I like my privacy; I like my solitude; and I like my sleep. Lots of sleep.
A friend of mine from Liberty City (part of Notasulga) suggested I get a house in Notasulga. I balked and asked why I would want to live in Notasulga when I'd be working in Auburn. He said he could find me a house with a yard for about the same or less than I'd be paying for a 1-bdrm apt in Auburn. Of course, this sparked my interest. Fully expecting him to fail, I told him that if he could find such a house then I'd consider moving to his hometown. Meanwhile, I continued to tour apartments in Au.
After looking at several homes in Notasulga and not being very pleased, my friend told me there was a house that was for sale, not for rent, that he would drive me by. While I have never experienced love at first sight with another person, I have DEFINITELY experienced it with objects. And me and my home? It was love at first sight. I thought it was the cutest little thing ever! I loved that it was small and brown. I loved that it had a nice front yard. I could picture a yard full of flowers (check), rocking chairs on the porch (check), and the American flag proudly flying in the wind (check). We pulled in the driveway and I went around to see the backyard. And that was it. After seeing the back yard, I knew this was MY home. The selling point? The fruit trees. The yard contained plum, crab apple, granny smith apple, and pear trees. Anyone who knows me well knows that I adore fruit trees. This little home had a deck on the back with apple trees hanging over. Done deal. I had to have it.
So skip over a few months of pretty much begging the owner of the home to rent it to me and we get to the part when it was mine--at least for a year at a time. I was so pleased with my perfect starter home. I have more space than I would in an apartment, Skunk has room to play, and I'm less than 20 minutes from work. Not to mention my friend made good on the promise about rent pricing. Score!
Okay so there's all the background information. Here's the actual point of this post: After two years of the pear tree not producing any pears, I am proud to say I HAVE PEARS THIS YEAR!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! And not just any pears--the sweetest, crispest, most delicious pears ever tasted!! (No, I am not exaggerating.) I have harvested, peeled, cut, chopped, and cooked the pears. I am currently 4 hours in and still not finished. Tonight I have made apple pear jam, apple pear cake (hope coworkers are reading this and getting excited because it's coming to work with me tomorrow), and am currently working on preserves. So exciting! I still have an entire basketful of pears to do something with tomorrow, but I think I've put a nice little dent in them. Can't wait to make some biscuits and get to eatin'!
My sweet grandparents gave me a book about canning for Christmas 2008. That has been the best book! Here are a few pics.
A few delicious pears
Cans waiting to be sterilized
My canning book from my Grandparents
The inscription
Cooking the Pears for Preserves
Recipes
Finished Product: Apple Pear Jam
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