Sunday, August 31, 2008

First Week

So I've officially made it through the first week of school and honestly was not bad at all!!! It could've been a lot worse, and I think people were thinking it is was going to be worst. I got so much "advice" from different people....you gotta be strict that first day, you gotta be firm, don't smile, etc. In my mind, I swear I thought I was gonna get kids who were just gonna try and play me as soon as they got the chance. Quite the contrary....only a small minortiy are still trying to play me, the rest are that hard to get a handle on. In terms of smiling, ya'll know me--I laugh at any given moment. However, my smiles aren't all bubbly and "welcome boys and girls! Today we are going to learn about the scientific method!? Doesn't that sound GREAT!?!?" Naaaah, that ain't me. Real talk, most of the time the only time I'm smiling is when I'm laughing at one of the kids, they eiter said something off the wall, or are acting a fool and I don't understand why they keep doing wrong.

I've got a large group, LARGE. Sometimes I don't know how I manage, and its just me. This past friday, my mentor came in to see how I was doing, which reminds me, I got to ask her about areas of improvement for me. She'll probably say I need to work on my classroom management, which she is right. lol What I think is good, may not be what someone else thinks is good. Me personally, I don't mind talking, just not the point where its like there is no learning going on. I already had to make some phone calls, and I don't mind making more, matter of fact, for two people, that's their next step. I've had to separate friends, and I honestly could give to hills of beans about it. And at that this point, I'mma hit you where it hurts---you're grade. You know one girl had the audacity to say about an assignment "UH UH, you grading this??" I told "Uhm, that's my job!" These kids got it twisted, its like they don't even know the purpose of schools and teachers. Too much work is simply given a check and that's that. Of course students wouldn't take grading seriously. I was tellin' my dude, this kids nowadays is SOFT. Teachers be holding they're hand through every little step that they don't know how to do nothing. I see what my program meant by raising expectations. There's a worksheet for everything, so of course, I shouldn't have been surprised when students ask me "complete sentence?" and "you can't start a sentence with 'because'?" I'm not even going to talk about the spelling....I asked one boy "what is that word?" He paused, and was like "I don't know..." I WAS READING OFF HIS PAPER. Kids can't write legibly; it's a shame. I got my work cut off for me ya'll....

To celebrate my first week, I went to a staff fishfry. We played rockband and wii and had slammin' catfish. My lil' man was runnin' all over the place dancing all in the way. It was a good time, teachers now how to get down. I left the lady's house at about 10:20 and they was STILL goin'. There was alcohol there, so I don't know how crazy stuff got, lol. I'mma have to ask. After that, my homeboy had a function at his place, so I went to that. Again, mostly teachers lol. Only one dude there wasn't, and that's cuz the hiring is lame. As my good friend says they was "knockin' them b****es back" LOL. I ain't gon' front, I got a lil' bit enebreated and helped my team punish in some "flip cup." That was first time for me gettin' a lil' bit gone...it felt weird. I knew there was problem when I was readujusting my eyes and no one turned off the lights, and when I had to gather myself when I got up off the couch and made my may to the bathroom. Good times, good times. I went on to tell my homeboy about my teacher crush, and I went on and on, this dude passed out mid sentence. lol That's how I knew I was a lil' bit gone too---people who know me KNOW that I don't just be readily givin' up personal information. Oh, and they had Jay-Z unplugged going.

I got money to actually manage and started a savings account. I plan on stopping by best buy and putting in a sound system. Things ain't half bad down here in Texas ya'll......

Wednesday, August 27, 2008

That call and response.....

Ok, so this is the third day and it went a lot smoother than the second. For one, I got to dive into instruction, so that was great. The students don’t have books yet but please man, I don’t even NEED books. I got activities, and they got paper to take notes. BOOM, head shot. Anyways, todays objectives were to identify scientific problems, come up with problem statements/questions and hypotheses. Don’t worry, we WILL be focusing on this HARD CORE for the next three days and ALL the time during the year because we will do labs at least once a week. I got to remember to review---I was asking some of the students what they didn’t like about their last year’s science class and that was a major thing, teacher didn’t review. Which I’m like “dang...how can you not review?”

Anyways, the example I used to go over the Scientific method was the story “me and my dog roscoe” I went through all the motions of saying that everyday after school, when I come he is barking. I then go through EACH step of the method using that example, making sure I hit those key vocab words. I was like “I think he is hungry” THAT IS MY HYPOTHESIS, and i made sure I pointed to hypothesis on the board. Of course, I made my story very colorful and they were really into it (I was actually kinda surprised) And you know me, I’m a comedian, and a GOOD comedian just feeds off her crowd....so I rolled with it. lol I would be like “So I walk through the door, and what do I hear!?” and the class was like “WOOF WOOF!” lol That’s that call and response for ya. But don’t trip, they were learning. I explained to them that I was now in the “re-test” phase...whenever your hypothesis is wrong, you go BACK and try something else. After I took my problem question/statement “Why is Roscoe barking when I get home” thru the scientific method, I made them come up with their own, which the MAJORITY did. Matter of fact, I was supposed to take their folders home and provide feedback on ‘em, my bad. Today was a really good day, so tomorrow their warm up will be straight away to come up with a problem statement and a hypothesis. In fact, for those who didn’t do it in class---that was their homework. Anyways, all of periods were able to get through the lesson and I made some good timing. With my GT class I made REALLY good timing and they actually have a leg up on the other classes and did it in less time (class is cut in half by lunch, and they take 5 mins for a bathroom break). I think its because I started them straight out with a problem statement for a warm up instead of definitions like I did for the other classes.

Ok now for discipline issues---I had to son a couple of kids, but it was really just for minor stuff, ain’t nobody cussin’ or throwing chairs or tellin’ me what they ain’t gon’ do. Just kids who have a hard time not making side comments, which I understand---shoot, that’s me all the way lol. One lil’ boy I had to send him out for a a minute or two to regroup, and when he came back he was straight. he go try and play me about the scientific method, which about that, CAN WE COME UP WITH ONE UNIFIED METHOD!? Why some places its 7, others its 4, some its like 10, I”m like “wtf?” At one point I said “Well this ain’t last year...in MY class, these are the steps you need” lol I was tired of goin’ back and forth, then they can’t even come to agreement on what the steps are. Gon’ roll they eyes like I’M wrong...ha! Anyways, my crazy periods were still my crazy periods (3rd and 7th) lol 7th period just has a problem in the hallway...in the class it ain’t really an issue. Now other teachers, namely this sweet old lady are havin’ issues wit’ people IN the classroom. One lil’ boy, who I heard was bad in other classes yesterday, was straight in mine today AND yesterday. He said to me “I’m being good Ms. Brown” and I’m like “yea, in MY class but you need to be good in everybody’s class” One lil’ boy, which I was surprised, already had a call home. Again, he be pretty straight in my class, he’s called out a couple times, but it was to answer a question. (which if I have to tell someone to raise their hand one more time to answer a question, lol I’mma.....eh, I’mma tell him to stop callin’ out lol. I just be glad they involved, I honestly don’t care if they call out. Long as its about learning....can I even be mad?) Anyways, I’mma have a chat wit’ him when he come to my class tomorrow and express my disdain in what I heard.

Dr. W---I had to have a lil’ pow-wow wit’ him today as well. Actin’ a fool in the line, tryna be the class clown.....eh, he ain’t trying, he is. Cuz what he says gets a rise out of the line, so he does something, they laugh, and they stand in the hallway. Stressing to these kids to TAKE responsibility and NOT do what is expected is hard. It’s like “ok, if he is talking to you, look away and don’t respond” “if you know he tryna be funny, DON’T LAUGH” It’s hard though...so, I just made him my line monitor, so now he GOT to be quiet cuz he has to set the example. I'll let ya'll know if this works or not. Other than that, he is cool. He reminds me of myself, STAY wit’ a joke on lips and an excuse right after it. I told him that I was picking on him...he know he be doin’ wrong and he still do it. This girl Dr. D, she got a lil’ temper---A LOT of these kids do, be always gettin’ buck wit’ somebody tellin’ them “you NEED to not” it’s like, ok.....so you think you bad. lol ALWAYS especially the girls....rollin’ the eys, rollin’ the necks....I just laugh lol.

what else, OH, why I leave my room keys at home this morning? I discovered this at 7:20 and school starts at 7:45. Thank God I don’t stay far away and was SPEEEEEEEEDDIIIIIIIN’ down the road. 20 mph in a school zone? SIKE. lol People who know me, I KNOW ya’ll ain’t surprised. I also forgot to tell my class to switch and they got to PE about 10 minutes late lol. Of course I was like “why ya’ll ain’t tell me ya’ll had to switch!?” LOL I hope I didn’t say “ain’t” but I’m pretty sure I did. lol I gotta work on that.......

Tuesday, August 26, 2008

Ya'll gon' learn...

I swear I told this to EVERY period I had today, something must've happened last night cuz we had to get BUCK on a regular basis. Why the teacher down the hall got in some boy's face THAT WASN'T EVEN IN HIS CLASS!? He stay talkin' crazy to his kids tho, and its funny cuz he is the NICEST person on our staff probably lol. Well, from my experiences at least. And that's the dude I have a crush on? That was sexy as hail....lol. But anyways, like I said---they were ackin' a stone cold FOOL today! hmmm hmmm hmmm so lemme go thru my classes.

1st period
this is my homeroom period, and actually, they were pretty good. Oh wait, so they came in, and they were talking, then some lil' boy said "ya'll talk to much" WELP, that was it---they had to go back outside and get it right....and (and this was alreayd after they had to go back outside to try agian) when they go back outside, they stand there for like 5 mins. And me, I just walk up and down the line, tellin' them what they did wrong, stuff like that. Got inside the class, it was cool. They got kinda irrate when it came to choosin' a group name, and some girl got called fat. You know I don't tolerate that, so I had pull lil' homie to the side and let her know put downs WILL not be tolerated, and they are necessary. Of course, I had to throw in "the only person allowed to laugh at ANYBODY is ME" but then i was like "but I won't do that, cuz I respect you" SIKE. Nah, I'm just playin', I don't be laughing at them....unless they just do something straight ridiculous, in which I hide my laughter in a question. Then, some lil' girl got MAD when another group snickered at their group name. I was like "uh, uh, apologize" And I got the WHOLE class to apologize. Then just to make it seem like me I was like "And to be honest ALL YA'LLS GROUP NAMES IS FUNNY" and proceeded to sit at my desk and continue assigning group names and seats. One chick said she ain't like working with boys....which I felt bad, cuz she was the only girl. But I have two groups like that, I told she gon' have to work it out and try. She did, so I made sure I gave her props. And for some reason, she always cover her mouth when she talk...I don't quite get that.

2nd period

PLANNING AKA CHILL TIME

3rd period

WHOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO. Boy, ok, LOL, and I'm sittin' here laughing just thinking about it. So, we have very STRICT hallway procedures and rules. Absolutely NO talking, and hands must be by your side. You must be facing forward and there should be a square separating each student. First of all, they walked in my class actin' hella crazy, talking and stuff. So i'm like "hmm, let's take it BACK outside." Why we had to do this three times though???? Did they think the Kid was playing or something??? Not I said the cat.....and of course, there were so many different colorful things I said in the hallway. I can't even describe the tone of voice I use when I talk to them....I sound like a basketball coach or something. I was grabbing the space between my eyes. at one point I said "the only person that should have an attitude is me" and I said "ya'll gon' learn" AT LEAST 3 times. Then, we they did get in the class, they were straight....SIKE. I had to move this chick from her homegirl because they were joking. In fact, at one point, they were in their seats----but I heard some talking, so I made them stand back up and go outside to start over. Oh yea, that's how we get down. So yea, they did their work, that was cool, had a cool lil' discussion, so then its time to go. I comment and look at the clock and say "it's almost 10:50" and one lil' boy is like "huh" and somebody else said "what?" And there was a convo about what time it was......And I"m like..."HOLD UP" "quite frankly, you need to be ashamed you can't read this clock, but just go on' head and get a digital" and I tapped my wrist. Then I said to the lil' boy "It's 10:50 bruh" and that was the end of that. That's a dam shame, but this ain't math, and I ain't got the time to teach people how to read clocks. Talking out of turn? I don't tolerate it. One lil' girl had her hand raised, I was like "you can go on' head and put your hand down cuz I'm not gon' acknoledge it" WHAT? Dam, that was a lil' harsh---but I can't take it back.

4th period

science prep, basically a tutorial class. Two kids. I asked them some science questions and they asked me some random science questions, then commenced to talkin' about who talking to who and I heard "but they didn't hook up or nothing" SIXTH GRADE PEOPLE.

5th period

GT, gifted and talented class. They were pretty straight. No real issues. With this class, their period is cut in half by lunch, so I really have NO INSTRUCTION time. lol I remember some lil' boy in the lunch line was gettin' ready to say something and as I was listenin', it was starting to sound like an EXCUSE, so I just held up my hand and said "save it" I swear I be cuttin' off excuses. So one girl said that I should get them early, I said "that's perfect, and that's what I'm going to do" When I saw her classmates tryna get one her I said "Oh, and don't get on her because I was gonna do that anwyay---I was just looking to see if one of ya'll would come up with it first" So yea, that was the only issue for that class.

6th period

PLANNING, met with my team to go over some house rules and such

7th period

WHOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO. THESE LIL' sumama's was actin' IG'NANT!!!!!!!! lololol It was so funny though, I couldn't help but laugh. The one lil' dude--straight up, he remind me of homies I had in middle school. Let's call him Dr. W. Dr. W STAY wit' an excuse on the edge of his lips....."it wadn't even meeee" "aawww what I do" "he hit me" "i ain't say nuttin'!" "why you pickin' on me" And it's like dawg....I CAN SEE YOU! You don't even have the sense to talk when I leave, you talk smack dab in front of my face. So he was my talk while we were outside, and I had to send him to the other homie teacher for some "attitude readjustment" Then, whatever he does, the others think is funny. So the one lil' boy, I was like "young man, what is your name? (which I didn't ask him to remember, just to call him something, cuz I forgot it) Ok, I don't think anything he did was funny, YOU should be looking forward right now" Lil' man looked EXTRA shook LOL. Then, there was something else where I was like "You're last name is NOT brown I do NOT need to hear any commentary from you." This class actually got a chance to sit down in their seats too, but I heard some gigglin' and I made 'em get up. At this point, I was not doing so well to contain my laughter. Straight up hilarious. I mean, I wasn't hee-hawin', but I was definitely chuckling. I was like "shoot, ya'll might as well stand here 'till 7th period" By that time, I was askin' them questions I didn't even want answers to. I was like "Do ya'll like standing out here? DO NOT answer that question" I did at least 3-4 of those. Real talk--they ain't answer it either, and it was funny, cuz you know that face on a kid's face when they gettin' ready to answer a question wit' an excuse? You know it looks when they get cut off? That face is golden. Mr. W had it on his face one time and I just had to laugh. I told 'em they broke the record, they had to do it 4 times. That whole lil' ordeal wasted like 30 MINUTES....but I gotta do it now so into the 3rd week we can use up the 50 mins they give us to learn.

Man, it's a good thing I didn't get observed today--it woulda been a WRAP. My sarcasm was through the roof today. Man I hope I don't get any phone calls from parents...... lol

8th period

They were even more rowdy, and I was rowdy wit' em. This one lil' girl was funny as hail and had me dying. She reminded me of myself. But I just found out I won't have them in 8th period anymore !(but I have them during other times of the day) 8th period was our lil' laid back chill class. That kinda broke my heart when the teacher told me that...dam schedueling mishaps.

Random comments:
"You should be looking forward---if I see your eyes that's a problem" of course, this was in the hallway. I be gettin' on kids I on't even know....and don't let 'em have been in my class earlier. I be like "Dr.____ what's the issue? " I'm going to say MOST of our "plays" take place in the hallway cuz these kids act brand new like that don't know about these rules. At one point, I wanted to say that..."why ya'll actin' brand new?" lol Maybe tomorrow.....

I said something in class and the homie came in and was laughing. I don't know--I think some of them maybe though I mighta been soft, cuz I smile alot and joke during meetings. On the first day, I was like in super teacher mode, and I'm only gettin' more and more into it. So by reading this, I hope you don't think I'm crying and extra mad or sad and doubting my decision to teach. When I tell you today was HILARIOUS....trust, I am NOT kidding. These kids had me dying; it's like "do you enjoy me playing your life??" Dang, this blog was long as hail, but seriously---I wish ya'll could been there. I swear you woulda thought it was like the funniest thing ever.

And DESPITE alllllllllll these plays that I do, kids still be like "heeeeey ms. brown!" when they se me in the hallway and smile when they walk past or say "bye ms. brown" LOL. I LOVE MY KIDS, especially the bad ones :)

Monday, August 25, 2008

Fa Real? That's It?

So today was my first official day as a teacher and from jump it was pretty straight. It was funny looking at the brand new shoes....made me think about when I was their age. They all have uniforms so basically you're shoes are you only chance to shine. One kid in my class had a shag, no lie. I'm sorry but I laughed at him...how the hail you got a shag in 2008? But apparently down here, they are making a comeback. Anyways, In the morning, I had a couple of kids who liked to talk...but honestly, I got them before it got way out of hand. As soon as they came in they had work to do---who cares if it was only the first day. This technique proved VERY successful and kept the class busy and occupied, which didn't allow for noise to arise. I also asked them questions that will actually help me with them later on down the line. I had a FULL class too...but that never became an issue. I am taking a note from a professor of mine and I address my students as "Dr.____" They liked this, and the parents did as well. Plus, it saves me from having to pronounce these crazy a** first names their parents so aptly named them. It's like "Do you or don't you want your kids to be successful in life....." I won't go into details about the names cuz I'm NOT trying to be sued. However, if you are a close friend or family member, I'll tell you some the next time we have a phone convo. Anyways, when I went over rules, they listened quietly. And it is great when someone asks a question and a student can give them the answer....best feeling in the world. It is also another way to play the life of a student....am I wrong for this? I hope not. I don't even answer, I just like "uuhm, class, did I already answer that question?"


My Gifted and talented class was actually the worst (meaning they get a 8.5 out of 10) One girl had the audacity to burp in my class--I started to play her life but I kept it cool because I didn't want to put her on blast. Little side comments and laughter was a constant. Think I care you commended (that means they scored like 95 on a specific standardize subject test)? You betta sit there and be quiet. Someone will get made an example out of tomorrow....and I already know who. But other than that, they were pretty cool. They get my sense of humor which is great. Me not using sarcasm, yea right....I don't give a dang what the "experts" say. This is actually my most diverse class. Speaking of which, pretty much every class has at least one white person, an asian, a couple latinos, and the rest are negro. Sounds like a sweet gig to me.....

Last period was my science prep class, and they are already my lil' homies. I let that get out of hand, lol my bad. It was like 5 of 'em tho, so I figured "eh, who cares?" Don't trip though, tomorrow we will actually be doing WORK so their won't be any sidebar conversations. We basically just talked about random stuff for 30 mins after I went over the rules and procedures. One girl already said I talk white....which is the first time I've ever gotten that. The other chick said I am very "proper" and I was like "yes, that's how it will be in the class." Not only will I teach science but I will teach etiqute and manners. But these are the kids who need the extra help, and are kids who I can already tell will shut down on someone they don't like, so I established an open environment with them.

My staff is hilarious, and I love them. You know how black folk are.....talkin' crazy in meetings and stuff, it's great. I've already seen some of them get ig'nant wit' kids in the hallway, ON THE FIRST DAY! That is too trill. The male teacher next door got buck with his kids on a regular, pretty much everytime I walked by. I have a crush on him too....definitely don't know why. Sike, I do, it's because he was one of the first people to actually speak to me and give me some pointers lol. This should pass as time goes by. I had to put a couple in check in the hallway---not talking means NOT TALKING. The teacher next to me was kinda overwhelmed so I had to make sure her class was quiet while she was helping a student. They were talking I was like "uh uh, why are you talking? The only voices I should be hearing right now are adults. Face forward and hands to your side." (I be gettin' them lil' suckas in check when it comes to lining up boy!) They did this and that was that, no more talking from them. See, the thing is people think kids are bad and don't know how to act and I'm like "uuuuhh, do you ever reprimand them and tell them what NOT to do?" It's not rocket science folks.


So basically, the first day was NOT as bad as people made it out to seem---I didn't have to be a mean version of myself, I was just myself. Maybe that means I am already a not-so-nice person, who knows.