Well, that sums it up.

Yesterday was my last day of student teaching. I honestly will miss my students at Ramapo High School. I will miss all the banter and joking nature they brought. I love being sarcastic with them. I love that I got to joke around and be silly. It's just something I know I will miss. I know a few student in my 8th period will miss me since some proposed to me the day I left. (Gotta love high school boys!!!)

One strength I had in the classroom was my spirit. I have a natural way about teaching. I know how to be flexible and change up an assignment. I know how integrate different techniques and different attributes. I saw that every day with my regents classes. They aren't as skilled as the honors kids. Most of the regents students will probably have to take 10th grade English again. However, I think the regents kids benefitted from my flexible lesson planning.


One weakness in the classroom was my organization. I'm not the most organizational person in the world. I aspire to be organized. I have great intentions about being organized... but I worry that one day, I'll be that teacher with the classroom of papers everywhere and losing student's assignments. I don't want to be that way. I notice when things go crazy in my personal life, it affects my work life... in organization. When I get overwhelmed, it shows. And I don't want that to happen anymore. I just need to figure out how to be less unorganized and more... organized.


Student teaching taught me a lot about myself. I learned that I like it when people like me... and that's not possible for the whole world to like you. I learned that I love being at teacher. I would rather be with students than adults most of the time. I learned that all that work we all have done for the past 4 years (or more) to get this degree... that it will work out in the end. It's all worth the battle.

I hope to look back on this blog and say, "Wow. I grew up so much!" This was definitely a growing experience.

SICK WITH THE FLU

Just a short blog of frustration. Work is irritating me. I can't handle this job for long.... especially while sick.

I've been out for two days with the FLU! I hate being sick. But, something I have learned... even when you're sick, you have to do work. You have papers to grade and things to do online. You have to keep working. I had to go to work still with my 17 Chinese children. (!!!) I guess, I just hate being sick and miss those days when I could be fed soup and watch bad TV shows or Judge Judy all day until I felt better. I have to keep working.

This sucks!!!!!

One Week

ONE WEEK UNTIL WE ARE DONE, FOLKS! I am beyond excited. Plus, I just learned that I'm going to Florida for Christmas break! HOORAYYY! I haven't been home in a year. Such a great motivator to get stuff done!!!

Anyways, the bee situation is now over. Mrs. Matthew's is in one classroom for periods 1,4, and 5. For periods 7 and 8, we're in another classroom. For most of the time I've been here, the room has been infested with BEES. And well, I'm allergic to bees. So, the room has been in limbo for a bit while they clean out the bees. Well, today... they're finally gone! However, if you look up in the ceiling light, you can see their burial ground. Someone's going to want to clean that....

Anyways, with my honors class, we've been talking about A Separate Peace. If you don't know much about it, click here. Basically, it's a book about a boy named Gene searching for his identity... and in his search, he hurts one of his closest friends and his dreams. I had a great lesson during 7th period. I was completely blown away by how well it went! I got a great class discussion. I just loved EVERYTHING that happened today.

Now, period 5 is another story. They've made it known that they HATE me. They hate everything about me since the moment I walked in the classroom. I guess they'll be cheering in the streets when I leave. HAHA. But, I am glad for tough students who vocally show their disgust for me. It reminds me that no every student will love me and connect with me... that's the beauty about high school. It's beautiful to see young minds so enthused to use their own mind.

That sounds ridiculous.

EXCUSE ME? Pardon your french.

Today, I was called a "bitch." (Sorry, Prof B for that....) See, my regents classes were doing a project for their book Right Behind You. They had to do a summary, do some quotes, and other things of that nature. One student in my period 8 class seems to be emotionally and mentally disturbed. I told him he had to turn in his project that day. He did not. He called me a "bitch" because I assigned the project with little time to do it and I expected students in high school to do work over the break.

Nothing irritates me more than having a student call me something I don't deserve. I hate it when people don't like me. I hate when I'm not given a change to show who I am. He just shut me out and it hurt. I didn't cry in the classroom. I had the support of my cooperating teacher, which was a great thing.

What do educators do when students call them rude and obscene things such as a "bitch"?

NO TECHNOLOGY!?!?!

Well, that's it. I'm throwing my hands up in the air! I don't know what to do!!!! I love technology. I love every second of using technology in the classroom. I think it activates those who have short attention spans like myself. WHY AM I PLACED IN A CLASSROOM WITHOUT ONE?!?! BUHHH!!!!!!!!!

Well, this week, I began something fun in my 4, 5, and 8 period English 10 regents classes. We played an interactive jeopardy game where they made the questions up. It was rather fun. Well, period 4 and period 8 liked it. I don't think period 5 likes me. The class is made up of a lot of 2nd year 10th grade English students who just can't seem to pass 10th grade and the regents exam. Sadly, some of them will give up soon. I am trying to catch their attention, but nothing seems to work. Perhaps I'll try candy?

See? NO SMARTBOARD! NO NOTHING!

Pep Rally and MORE.

Well, today was the pep rally. I honestly miss that part of high school with all the pep rallies and all the excitement. Mrs. Matthews and I walked on the field together. The school wanted to keep all the students in one place because there was still school to be had afterward. I'm not sure if the administration was thinking straight, but I don't think one can calm 1500 HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS down after a huge pep rally.

Anyways, they didn't. It reminded me of classroom management. Student teaching at Ramapo High School has certainly taught me a few things about classroom management. I am used to everyone liking me always. I am a very likable person. However, with classroom management, I have to gain respect, not likability. I can't scream. I can't throw everyone in detention. I have to be respectful and mindful... and say things like, "I can wait." or "This is affecting your grade."

I'm not sure how others are dealing with classroom management but I know that in Ramapo, if you have to constantly tell the students, "Do it because I said so. I'm the teacher." Then, you've lost your students.

First week at the new place

This week has honestly been one of the worst. I got into a car accident over the weekend because of the snow. Ok, well, I was driving in the snow and hit some ice, whipped around, and hit the curb instead of another car. It could have been worse, but my car troubles put me out of my first few days along with the days of school that were cancelled.

I am teaching 10th grade English Regents and 10th grade honors at Ramapo High School. Oh, boy, is it different than Rockland Country Day. Not only in size, but it's different in attitude. The students here do NOT want to be at school. There are security guards at every turn in the halls. Students need passes to walk through the halls. There are fights and threats. This is a very different high school from that of which I'm used to. Man.

Let's see if I last....