Rearranged the room

I rearranged the room, so that I have more control, and I am enjoying the students more.

It is early in the "training process", but they seem lower and more needy that the kids last year.

I am getting comments like "You said we had to work. You didn't say anything about the right answer." So, it's ok to slop numbers on a piece of paper rather than actually working the problems?

I am getting very tired of being yelled at by the administration. When I failed to have my little darlings walk in a line (are you kidding me?), one of them started yelling about having the students under control. I thought I handled it well, but one of my students (laughing) told me I rolled my eyes.

We have failed AYP enough that I bet the administration is worried, but they are destroying morale.

Wish I could rearrange the administration as well.

Organization

Mrs. H. has been talking about organization here, here, here, and here.

Which set me to thinking about my classes and school.

Organization comes from the top. If the teacher is unorganized, heaven help the kids. There will be some that have it together, but most will flounder. Organization is one of those things they stress in teacher-school and one of those things that good principals stress in their schools. With the teaching model we are to be using, which seems onerous at times, organization is the key.

So, in my classroom, I give the students a place to store the paper I expect them to keep up with. Each class has a crate (each a different color) and in that crate are hanging folders. In their hanging folders are two file folders. One for the key concepts we cover - to help them keep that organized. (I will grade it periodically to keep them on track and this is the page they can use on their tests.) The other holds their starter (problem from the state standardized test to keep them reviewing) and their current work. I two-hold punch the folders and the work and use fasteners to keep the paper from falling out. At the beginning of each unit, they are given a list of things to turn in, which are due at the unit test.

Part of what is due is all of the quizzes - this is their opportunity to correct them to raise their grade.

I also hand out the pacing calendar so that they can know - well in advance - what is being covered when and plan accordingly.

I have a school website which I use to post schedules (tests, etc) on.

Papers are turned in plastic letter trays (one per class).

When I give a test, I write the name of every missing student on a test and file it for when they ask. (They are in high school - take some responsibility). I do not give back tests.

But organization comes from the top. Our administration is a disaster. One admin will get on the intercom and direct everyone to homeroom and another will come on 2 minutes later demanding everyone go to their first class. Teachers rarely get information in time to plan for.

If the administration is plan adverse - it impacts the teachers which impacts the students. I can do the best job in my little piece of the world but the powers that be are sabotaging me.

Doing more with less

I am expecting much less next year: less time, less money, fewer resources, and even less motivation on the part of the students.

No, I have no idea what I will be teaching.

I am finding it to be a continual struggle to get kids to work. I mean, you read this, written by top students and you see that even among the top is the realization that their generation is willing to settle and not work.

So, I am thinking about how I will teach _____.

I will ask them to provide a notebook. Since not all can/will, I will provide report covers for those who cannot/will not (available in August for about 10 cents each). I will also provide them with a crate to store them in.

I will ask for 5 dividers. (I won't provide these)

I will ask for paper and pencils. (I will provide paper until it is gone, and golf pencils)

I will ask for graph paper (and print something like this ) (source www.videomathteacher.com)

Each unit will be preceded with a "table of contents" listing the work they will be turning in at the end of the unit for a quiz grade. Maybe a test grade.

And they will need to keep up with warmups leading to the end of course test or graduation test.

Ok, gang, what did I leave out?