This morning, I was off to a great start. Another teacher (male this time) gave me a very flattering compliment. His exact words, "You're looking hot ." Words that any girl would love to hear.
But by the end of first period, I had managed to write on my own chin with a blue pen. And several times, I leaned against the dry erase board, ensuring that I have black marker all over the back of my pants. I remember countless math professors with chalk dust (the pre-dry erase equivalent) all over their pants.
Not so hot.
Monday, April 25, 2005
Thursday, April 21, 2005
I don't get it
Since I began teaching, I have been amazed at the simple things that my students do not know. I am not necessarily talking about math skills, though most do lack a command of even the most basic operations. Rather, it's the lack of general knowledge and common courtesy that appalls me.
Sometimes, I wonder what my students' home lives must be like. Why are they not learning the simple skills and manners that you should get from home? This leads me to wonder, what I would do differently to insure that my kids behave better and pick up on the basic ideas?
I have no doubt that I have amazing parents. (And I am not just saying that because I know that at least one of them will read this; they are really great.) But I think back on my younger years and I can't think of anything they did that was radically different. Sometimes I wonder if they just got lucky and had three great girls?
Following are two recent examples of how my students are not being taught important things at home. The first caused me to almost pull out my hair asking, "How can you not know this?" and the other is a lesson in courtesy.
1. Today, my Algebra 2 class reviewed exponential and logarithmic functions. I completely understand that they have problems with this material. It is new and it forces them to think through the problems in a different way. But the cool part is that exponential functions lend themselves to application problems and I can finally answer the question "When would you ever use this?"
A problem from today:
Dusty deposited $1400 in a savings account earning 7% annual interest compounding yearly. How long will it take his money to triple?
They were given the formula and all they had to do was plug in numbers. Pretty simple.
They understood what I was asking. They understood the concept that if his money triples then he would have $4200 at the end. They even got the idea of compounding.
But more than 5 students asked "What does annually mean?"
Being a good teacher, if a bit annoying, I answered their question with a question: "If I were to take a shower annually, then how many times a year do I take a shower?"
Their answer: "12 times?"
I am not sure that I managed to keep all of the frustration out of my voice, but I am confident that I did much better hiding my disappointment then I did yesterday when they tried to tell me that quarterly meant 3 times a year.
16 & 17 year olds. 11th graders.
2. I have this student; we'll call him Jack to protect his identity. I know that Jack doesn't particularly care for me and really, I am okay with that. Over the course of the semester he has made it clear that he thinks I lack the intelligence needed to educate his obviously gifted mind.
Recently, I was reading over some journals that they wrote. Jack writes:
"I feel that math is more boring now than before. My math classes before were more fun and now are more boring. I used to like math but now it is starting to get on my nerves because of the way my more current teachers are teaching it. It seems as though my teachers get worse and worse as each year comes."
Where was his momma to teach him that if you don't have something nice to say, then you don't say it at all?
Maybe my parents did get lucky. But as Melissa said when she sat in on my classes, "If we had done that, Daddy would have popped us on the back of the head."
Sometimes, I wonder what my students' home lives must be like. Why are they not learning the simple skills and manners that you should get from home? This leads me to wonder, what I would do differently to insure that my kids behave better and pick up on the basic ideas?
I have no doubt that I have amazing parents. (And I am not just saying that because I know that at least one of them will read this; they are really great.) But I think back on my younger years and I can't think of anything they did that was radically different. Sometimes I wonder if they just got lucky and had three great girls?
Following are two recent examples of how my students are not being taught important things at home. The first caused me to almost pull out my hair asking, "How can you not know this?" and the other is a lesson in courtesy.
1. Today, my Algebra 2 class reviewed exponential and logarithmic functions. I completely understand that they have problems with this material. It is new and it forces them to think through the problems in a different way. But the cool part is that exponential functions lend themselves to application problems and I can finally answer the question "When would you ever use this?"
A problem from today:
Dusty deposited $1400 in a savings account earning 7% annual interest compounding yearly. How long will it take his money to triple?
They were given the formula and all they had to do was plug in numbers. Pretty simple.
They understood what I was asking. They understood the concept that if his money triples then he would have $4200 at the end. They even got the idea of compounding.
But more than 5 students asked "What does annually mean?"
Being a good teacher, if a bit annoying, I answered their question with a question: "If I were to take a shower annually, then how many times a year do I take a shower?"
Their answer: "12 times?"
I am not sure that I managed to keep all of the frustration out of my voice, but I am confident that I did much better hiding my disappointment then I did yesterday when they tried to tell me that quarterly meant 3 times a year.
16 & 17 year olds. 11th graders.
2. I have this student; we'll call him Jack to protect his identity. I know that Jack doesn't particularly care for me and really, I am okay with that. Over the course of the semester he has made it clear that he thinks I lack the intelligence needed to educate his obviously gifted mind.
Recently, I was reading over some journals that they wrote. Jack writes:
"I feel that math is more boring now than before. My math classes before were more fun and now are more boring. I used to like math but now it is starting to get on my nerves because of the way my more current teachers are teaching it. It seems as though my teachers get worse and worse as each year comes."
Where was his momma to teach him that if you don't have something nice to say, then you don't say it at all?
Maybe my parents did get lucky. But as Melissa said when she sat in on my classes, "If we had done that, Daddy would have popped us on the back of the head."
Wednesday, April 13, 2005
LaGrange- Smart Move
That's what the water towers in LaGrange say.
Daddy called me in the middle of the day to give me a warning that my friends may soon have more ammunition in their relentless mockery of my hometown.
It seems that a lake had to be drained today because the sheriff’s office is hot on the trail of the murder body of a 22-year old Auburn student with the last name of Clinkscales. Here's the thing- this murder took place in 1976. The primary suspect in the case died in 2001. One of the accomplices died several years ago. And this is the second local lake that they have drained.
I think that Daddy thought I might be embarrassed by the inefficiencies of the Troup County Sheriffs Department. However, it is stories like these that make me love home more.
To read the full drawn out account: Arrest made in Clinkscales case
This link will probably become inactive in a week, but I am sure that if you called the newspaper, they would be glad to send you a copy. It's what small town newspapers do.
Daddy called me in the middle of the day to give me a warning that my friends may soon have more ammunition in their relentless mockery of my hometown.
It seems that a lake had to be drained today because the sheriff’s office is hot on the trail of the murder body of a 22-year old Auburn student with the last name of Clinkscales. Here's the thing- this murder took place in 1976. The primary suspect in the case died in 2001. One of the accomplices died several years ago. And this is the second local lake that they have drained.
I think that Daddy thought I might be embarrassed by the inefficiencies of the Troup County Sheriffs Department. However, it is stories like these that make me love home more.
To read the full drawn out account: Arrest made in Clinkscales case
This link will probably become inactive in a week, but I am sure that if you called the newspaper, they would be glad to send you a copy. It's what small town newspapers do.
Tuesday, April 12, 2005
Do people think?
So it is true that over the last several months, I have lost a pretty significant amount of weight. It has been so gradual that sometimes, even I have trouble noticing. However, I am at that point where people whom I don't see everyday, suddenly realize that something has changed. Overall, everyone's reaction has been positive.
Today, one of my team teachers walks into the room and says, "Wow, you are looking good. How much weight have you lost?" (This is the first time I have seen her in two and a half weeks.) I thank her, answer her questions, and think that we are at the end of the discussion.
But no. She continues with, "I am sure that now, you will just snap up a husband."
What?!? Did she really just say that? Was it a compliment? And even if it were, what was it suppose to mean?
Here's the translation I heard: "Wow, you use to be fat and ugly and so there is no wonder that you are single, but now, you should be able to get a guy with no problem." Or maybe even, "Your personality sucks and so it is a good thing that you are working on improving your looks because now you should be able to find some sucker to marry you."
And what is she saying about my future mate? That he would be so shallow as to not like me when I am a few pounds overweight? Thanks, but I will pass on that.
Funny thing is, she is in great shape but also unmarried. Hmm.
Today, one of my team teachers walks into the room and says, "Wow, you are looking good. How much weight have you lost?" (This is the first time I have seen her in two and a half weeks.) I thank her, answer her questions, and think that we are at the end of the discussion.
But no. She continues with, "I am sure that now, you will just snap up a husband."
What?!? Did she really just say that? Was it a compliment? And even if it were, what was it suppose to mean?
Here's the translation I heard: "Wow, you use to be fat and ugly and so there is no wonder that you are single, but now, you should be able to get a guy with no problem." Or maybe even, "Your personality sucks and so it is a good thing that you are working on improving your looks because now you should be able to find some sucker to marry you."
And what is she saying about my future mate? That he would be so shallow as to not like me when I am a few pounds overweight? Thanks, but I will pass on that.
Funny thing is, she is in great shape but also unmarried. Hmm.
teaching woes
I will be the first to admit that there are amazing benefits to teaching that are not found in the corporate world. I hesitate to complain because I fear the backlash from those of you who will be quick to point out that in a mere 6 weeks, I get two months off. (If you are one of these people who are going to get annoyed with my complaints, then I suggest that you stop reading here.)
The part of my job that I hate the most is the daily reminder that really I am just not making a difference. My self-esteem is pretty healthy, yet I have students who make me feel like an abject failure on a daily basis. For the most part, I am not talking about that warm and fuzzy, "All that will matter in 50 years is that I made the difference in the heart of a child" nonsense. I am speaking of just making an indention upon their gray matter in regards to basic math. They just don't get it.
An example from today- For the three weeks leading up to spring break, I have covered problems like the following (and I promise that these are not simplified for the sake of illustration):
x(2x+3) and (4x-8) + (-5x+2)
Not difficult. I lectured. We practiced. We played games with it. I gave homework. Everything. For three weeks.
And what do I get today? "Ms. Cleaveland, how do you do this?"
I had to completely re-teach the whole thing. I am not making a difference.
It is times like these when I just cling desperately to that 2 month vacation.
The part of my job that I hate the most is the daily reminder that really I am just not making a difference. My self-esteem is pretty healthy, yet I have students who make me feel like an abject failure on a daily basis. For the most part, I am not talking about that warm and fuzzy, "All that will matter in 50 years is that I made the difference in the heart of a child" nonsense. I am speaking of just making an indention upon their gray matter in regards to basic math. They just don't get it.
An example from today- For the three weeks leading up to spring break, I have covered problems like the following (and I promise that these are not simplified for the sake of illustration):
x(2x+3) and (4x-8) + (-5x+2)
Not difficult. I lectured. We practiced. We played games with it. I gave homework. Everything. For three weeks.
And what do I get today? "Ms. Cleaveland, how do you do this?"
I had to completely re-teach the whole thing. I am not making a difference.
It is times like these when I just cling desperately to that 2 month vacation.
Thursday, April 07, 2005
on flying
Every time I walk down the jet way, I think that this will be the time that I am not scared. That my stomach will not start with the acrobatics. That my breathing and heart rate will stay within normal bounds. That I will not be the one who grasps at the armrests for dear life. I dare even think that I might catch up on a nap.
Yesterday wasn't the day. Wendy told me that I looked calm and I guess that is what matters. But inside I was fighting a battle to not reach up and place my hand on my shoulder blade, the feeling of skin on skin, to not retreat into my inner world of silent prayers and a desperate hope that we would land soon.
The rationalizations for our less than smooth flight are numerous. Perhaps it was the bad weather that was moving into Atlanta. Maybe it was just the small size of our 45-seater plane that made it prone to being tossed around. Maybe it was the fact that our pilot was only 4 feet tall and could only reach one control at a time.
And maybe it is just that we weren't meant to go screaming through space in an aluminum can.
Yesterday wasn't the day. Wendy told me that I looked calm and I guess that is what matters. But inside I was fighting a battle to not reach up and place my hand on my shoulder blade, the feeling of skin on skin, to not retreat into my inner world of silent prayers and a desperate hope that we would land soon.
The rationalizations for our less than smooth flight are numerous. Perhaps it was the bad weather that was moving into Atlanta. Maybe it was just the small size of our 45-seater plane that made it prone to being tossed around. Maybe it was the fact that our pilot was only 4 feet tall and could only reach one control at a time.
And maybe it is just that we weren't meant to go screaming through space in an aluminum can.
Tuesday, April 05, 2005
2nd Day of Spring Break
Today started out like any other Tuesday holiday from teaching. Daddy and I set off for the auction. After a few hours breathing exhaust fumes and trying to fit in with the majority good ole boy crowd, we called it a day.
My nearly 80 year old great uncle, Uncle Chief, had an appointment at the Emory eye clinic to have a shot... in his eye. As if this knowledge wasn't gross enough, Uncle Chief used the trip into Atlanta to regale us with tales of all of the eye injuries that he has sustained over the years. Sawdust in the eye. A small piece of iron shaving in the eye. Grease in the eye. The last was remedied by the doctor taking his eyeball out of the socket, washing out the grease, and then replacing the eyeball. Aren't you glad I shared?
On what is bound to be the most gorgeous day of my spring break, we spent 4 hours sitting in the waiting room of an Emory eye clinic. Even with daddy pointing out the resemblance of our waiting room peers to Gilmore Girls characters, it was a little on the boring side. As we neared the end of the long wait, I noticed the fire escape plan on the wall.
Let me remind you that this is an eye clinic. These patients have trouble seeing details, that is why they are there. I don't think that I could have gotten out according to this plan. Thank goodness there wasn't a fire.
Fire Escape Plan for 3rd floor Eye Clinic at Emory.
My nearly 80 year old great uncle, Uncle Chief, had an appointment at the Emory eye clinic to have a shot... in his eye. As if this knowledge wasn't gross enough, Uncle Chief used the trip into Atlanta to regale us with tales of all of the eye injuries that he has sustained over the years. Sawdust in the eye. A small piece of iron shaving in the eye. Grease in the eye. The last was remedied by the doctor taking his eyeball out of the socket, washing out the grease, and then replacing the eyeball. Aren't you glad I shared?
On what is bound to be the most gorgeous day of my spring break, we spent 4 hours sitting in the waiting room of an Emory eye clinic. Even with daddy pointing out the resemblance of our waiting room peers to Gilmore Girls characters, it was a little on the boring side. As we neared the end of the long wait, I noticed the fire escape plan on the wall.
Let me remind you that this is an eye clinic. These patients have trouble seeing details, that is why they are there. I don't think that I could have gotten out according to this plan. Thank goodness there wasn't a fire.
Fire Escape Plan for 3rd floor Eye Clinic at Emory.
Monday, April 04, 2005
The Challenge
The BBC recently did research to determine the UK's favourite book. Tolkin's The Lord of the Rings won, but in the process they created a Top 100 Book list.
Rebecca decided to see how many she had read and then to try to knock the rest out of the way. Momma and Aunt Pat were soon on board. I couldn't resist the challenge. With the completion of Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy (which I think was awful) this weekend, I am now up to 30.
Aren't you curious as to how many you have read?
The List
Rebecca decided to see how many she had read and then to try to knock the rest out of the way. Momma and Aunt Pat were soon on board. I couldn't resist the challenge. With the completion of Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy (which I think was awful) this weekend, I am now up to 30.
Aren't you curious as to how many you have read?
The List
Mr. & Mrs. Cousineau
A friend recently started a list of non-obvious and non-romantic reasons to get married. His first reason is to have someone take care of his dog when he goes on business trips. Secondly, to save money at the grocery store. (What single person can finish a loaf of bread or half a gallon of milk before it goes bad?)
I took to adding a few things to the list:
- I want to marry in order to have someone who will pay the bills. Not in the sense that I want him to be the sole provider, but in the reality that I am awful at keeping up with when things are due.
- It would be nice to have someone who could share the task of making it to the leasing office before they close. I usually have to leave packages sitting for several days before I can make it home in time for their retrieval.
- I think that the bonds of matrimony assure you a date to every semi-awkward/boring social gathering- think class reunions, holiday parties, etc.
- Hopefully, marriage will guarantee that I will never have to forgo a pickle because I am unable to get the jar open.
I am sure that the list could go on ad infinitum.
But Saturday night was different. Two of my friends stood at the front of a church in Inman Park and proclaimed their love for one another. The potential humor factor was very high. (Another friend got ordained over the internet in order to officiate the ceremony.) However, it was one of the sweetest weddings I have ever attended.
As they stared into one another's eyes, they spoke of the bigger things in life- joy, love, and a sense of finding home. Both verbally and silently, they made promises to each other. They spoke of the sovereignty of God in bringing them together and their dependence on Him to grow their marriage. In front of us, two started to meld into one.
Forgot all those other reasons. I want to get married for what I saw take place Saturday night.
Congratulations Lanette and Karl.
I took to adding a few things to the list:
- I want to marry in order to have someone who will pay the bills. Not in the sense that I want him to be the sole provider, but in the reality that I am awful at keeping up with when things are due.
- It would be nice to have someone who could share the task of making it to the leasing office before they close. I usually have to leave packages sitting for several days before I can make it home in time for their retrieval.
- I think that the bonds of matrimony assure you a date to every semi-awkward/boring social gathering- think class reunions, holiday parties, etc.
- Hopefully, marriage will guarantee that I will never have to forgo a pickle because I am unable to get the jar open.
I am sure that the list could go on ad infinitum.
But Saturday night was different. Two of my friends stood at the front of a church in Inman Park and proclaimed their love for one another. The potential humor factor was very high. (Another friend got ordained over the internet in order to officiate the ceremony.) However, it was one of the sweetest weddings I have ever attended.
As they stared into one another's eyes, they spoke of the bigger things in life- joy, love, and a sense of finding home. Both verbally and silently, they made promises to each other. They spoke of the sovereignty of God in bringing them together and their dependence on Him to grow their marriage. In front of us, two started to meld into one.
Forgot all those other reasons. I want to get married for what I saw take place Saturday night.
Congratulations Lanette and Karl.
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