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August 31, 2005
"Real" Teaching
Today we are finally getting into our routine. It is nice to start “real” teaching instead of just going over rules and procedures. The kids are typing their autobiographical poems up and taking pictures to be put on their poems. It is fun for me to see kids using technology, especially when most of the teachers here cannot use it yet. :-) We received our Vocabulary books today and using them really does show up on the writing test, EOG’s, and as the students mature academically. Expect to see the vocabulary grow as the year progresses.
In Social Studies we are working through the Geography handbook. We will be utilizing the Junior Scholastic unit to implement map skills. It incorporates mathematics and problem solving skills into word problems within the Social Studies curriculum. Besides all that - they are FUN!
For the parents – Please ask your kids questions about what they are doing in class. Conversations at home help bring what we are doing in class to life. We spend a great deal of energy focusing on organization, dedication, and effort and the role these attributes play in a successful life. Your thoughts can go a long way to reinforcing these classroom discussions.
I enjoy hearing your comments and ideas. Emails are appreciated as are Comments posted to our website.
Posted by hlperson at 01:53 PM | Comments (4)
August 29, 2005
Great Beginnings
The year has begun and we are working through the rough spots that show up when schedules are put to the test. A/B day has been a little confusing but the kids are working together to make sure everyone understands (including Mrs. Wooten and myself). Our new students are getting the grand tour on the fly and everyone is settling down to the procedures of how everything works.
We worked on an interesting thinking map last week entitled “How We are Similar and Different” in small groups. I assigned seating so many of the students are just now getting to know each other. The discussions were interesting and the comparisons and contrasts told us a lot about each other. In Social Studies we study other religions, customs, and traditions and the students will hear me say over and over again that it is not our job to judge others – simply to learn from them. Even though we engage in a healthy study of major world religions – we study it as academics and not practitioners. This activity also went a long way in furthering the idea of effective group work and showed the students what materials are available to them to help ensure their success.
We have STAR tested in Language Arts and are preparing to begin our AR component. Student’s goals are set and they are learning how we utilize AR on a daily basis. In Social Studies we have begun learning about the available resources and discussing how great it is that our text book comes on a CD so the kids do not have to take their book home.
We began our Autobiographical Poems today and will be using the digital camera tomorrow. We will also be looking at classroom jobs. My motto is “Everybody needs a job.” With all that is going on in class, I need all the help I can get!
Posted by hlperson at 08:27 PM | Comments (0)
August 22, 2005
Welcome Back to School '05
It is that time of year and everyone is excited. I do believe the parents are most happy. :-) Seventh grade is a huge year with the Writing Test, Reading and Math EOG's, and preparation for the North Carolina Technology Skills Test the kids take early in eighth grade.
I wanted to take just a minute to make you aware of some of the items that are available to make sure that communication is a constant two way process. I have built this website, with the generous help of an outside sponsor, so that students are more organized in their studies and parents are more aware of the goings on of class.
In the Classroom Calendar section of the page, homework will be listed out everyday, upcoming school wide events will be posted, and important dates will be maintained. This is an excellent way for students to make sure they are in step to achieve their maximum potential and for parents to make sure they stay informed and connected at school. Everything is color-coded - Social Studies is blue and Language Arts is green. Make sure you click items that are underlined; they will open up another window with even more information.
In the Norwayne Middle Section I have scanned every worksheet that correlates with our Social Studies and Literature books. This way, if a sheet is lost, misplaced, messed up, or a student is absent - the assignments are posted in the calendar and available online. You do need Adobe Acrobat Reader to view the files. Acrobat is a free resource to download. Some of the files are large and dial up browsers might be a little slow.
I want to provide every available resource for the students to be successful and the parents to be kept informed. This site gives us a great start. With the energy of the students, the determination of the teacher, and the expectations of the parents, we cannot help but achieve our goals.
I look forward to an exceptional year!
Posted by hlperson at 08:00 AM | Comments (4)
August 01, 2005
The Desk!
It all began innocently enough. Famous last words....
I was in the new Watson School of Education at UNCW doing the Teaching Fellows final interviews back in February. They have the most incredible Teacher Stations in every classroom. From the lectern the teacher can control the lights, screen, dvd/vcr, Internet, and document camera - EVERYTHING from a touch screen controller. Pamela began quickly making fun of me as I sat to draw up everything I saw and how it was situated and worked together. During the spring semester I received a $3,000 grant that put a digital visual presenter and a document camera in my classroom. This was the first document camera in Wayne County schools but it is no longer alone – Pamela Johnson of Eastern Wayne Middle and Marion Carter of Mount Olive Middle, have since purchased them for their classrooms.
I returned to UNCW this summer to show some friends around and snooped around the School of Ed until I found an open classroom. I suppose I had already decided that I had to have that idea incorporated into my desk. I used my Treo to photograph all the components so that I could share them with my dad because he tends to indulge my crazy ideas. It did not take much convincing at all. And the dream was headed to reality.
My first task was to sit down and draw up the plans. I took drafting in high school and never thought it would be a benefit. Everything in life returns again sometime. Mark took my plans and started making notes and asking tough questions. We redrew them and agreed on a final product. I consulted with Alvin about how to get the signals from multiple inputs out to my one projector that I hope to have mounted in the ceiling without having to change wires every time I use a different piece of equipment. Alvin loves a technology challenge and this one made him go to work. Everything will run through the new Dell computer we are installing in the desk and travel to the projector through one cable. No switching. Once again Alvin had delivered. Now don’t get me wrong – this desk will not control the lights or the pull down screen but I think I can manage flipping the switch and pulling the string for a while longer. That is about all it won’t do!
I spent the better part of the summer thinking about, debating, and finally ordering the components that will make this my teacher presentation station. A new Dell powerhouse computer with a DVD burner will be the centerpiece. We decided to go with a new machine rather than to update the IBM teacher computer that is already in place because it was easier and permanent. Alvin solved my multiple input problems with a Plextor Converter that I purchased from my friends at CDWG. Pamela and I picked up some speakers at Best Buy when I was in Charlotte for the Teaching Fellows Conference and added a new DVD/VCR from Sam’s Club. I already have in place the projector and the Document Camera. Everything was right and ready now the only missing piece is the desk.
We visited Lowe’s and the folks there were so helpful. I wanted to be able to lock the desk drawers but wanted one key. I thought it was going to be an expensive and timely special order but the gentleman at the desk went through the trouble of finding four lock units with the same key for the “poor schoolteacher”. Mr. Cooper went that extra mile in the Floor Vents section (these will be the hottest speaker grill covers) by searching to find the size and style I wanted. He is a genuinely helpful person and the fact that I was lucky enough to teach his son for two years didn’t hurt any. All told – the materials for constructing the desk were about $400. Now don’t get me wrong – that is an awfully expensive desk but nowhere near the costs of the lecterns I saw online.
Right now everything is stacked up in the parent’s barn. This afternoon when my dad gets home we will begin the construction process. I am excited and cannot wait to see and use the final product. Check back regularly to see the progress happening.
Posted by hlperson at 12:49 PM | Comments (0)