Week 33, Day 1: Teacher Appreciation Week and STATE TESTING

Odd Block Schedule: same lesson as yesterday - organic chem lab, starch and lipid test.

I've got this lesson figured out after a rocky start last Friday.

State testing starts tomorrow. We have done a nice review over the past 10 days, I feel that I have fully prepared them for the state tests.

Frustration with talkative students in period 5. I had difficulty with one of them last week. This one student will not stop talking.  I had to remove this student and the one sitting beside to go fill out a TIME OUT SLIP. I have a pre-made time out slip that I can quickly check some behavior boxes to get the kids out of class quickly but make them have to answer some questions about their behavior. They usually sit out side but today I had them go to the 8th grade office.


I get a balloon delivered with a bag of candy ballast and a note saying how much I am appreciated. That was a welcome surprise.


As I prepare for tomorrow's class and the state test proctoring, our student councilor calls me to say the parent of the talkative student wants a conference. Now I'm frustrated (there were some accusations made about my professional ethics by the talkative student). I decide it's time for a walk home NOW


Warm weather. Hot walk home.
Can't focus on grading papers. I decide to call it a night early.
Not feeling very appreciated.

I hope this helps.

Love to Teach, and Teach with Passion!

It’s not Magic, It’s Science!

RichardKinney@cusd.com

http://qp.clovisusd.k12.ca.us/rey_kinney

Week 14, Day 5: Student planners and opening class routine.

ODD BLOCK: Crafted foldable notes (see privious post), Students graded the non-benchmark Force and Motion Test, and either Began the Astronomy slide show or watched Bill Nye Earth's Seasons.

I send a boy outside and fill out a 'time out form" for defiance, and a young lady that would not hush-focus-work and I had her call her mother immeadiatly. both of these in one class. I needed to get caught up on a few things and Bill Nye saved me.

Today's best practice: Have daily Starter Tasks/Questions (Academic openers) and make the 1st item to update a calender (or planner) beginning of EVERY PERIOD. Pictured below is my Starters board( I have 3 sliding boards up front)

Our school long ago agreed that we will have our print shop produce a student calendar planner, which includes their hall pass on the back cover, and all teachers will have the following posted for daily use: STARTERS (ACADEMIC OPENER), LEARNING GOAL, HOMEWORK, PLAN FOR THE DAY.

Hope this helps,

Love to Teach and Teach with Passion

Remember...It's not Magic, It's Science

http://qp.clovisusd.k12.ca.us/rey_kinney

richardkinney@cusd.com

Week 13, Day 2-learn from your mistakes

I over reacted day before yesterday. A student was slow to turn forward during a quiz. Instead of quietly talking to him I did it in front of the class. This brought attention to him and gave him a chance to talk back. A rookie mistake on my part. I apologized to him today. It was the right thing to do. As experienced as we get through the years we can get frustrated do something best avoided.

The CSTA Newsletter had an article about this. Wish I read it last week.

Hope this helps,

Love to Teach and Teach with Passion

Remember...It's not Magic, It's Science

http://qp.clovisusd.k12.ca.us/rey_kinney

richardkinney@cusd.com