May 2012
60 posts
3 tags
A Faster, More Efficient Way to Grade Papers →
world-shaker:
The author proposing this idea points out how rubrics have expedited the grading process for many faculty and also clarified expectations for students, but when the paper is returned, the student gets the rubric with a check next to quality level attained and maybe a few brief remarks squeezed into a small space provided for comments. What this assumes is that students will look...
April 2012
65 posts
iamlittlei:
girlwithalessonplan:
Since we’re all counting: 18 school days.
What! I have 29.
I also have 29. This is the first time I counted. That’s good, right?
1 tag
Sun, you win this time
Things I did instead of my work this weekend:
- helped the hubs with yard work. I rarely do this, and I’m glad I did this weekend. I received many genuine thank yous, and got to enjoy the fruits of our labor when …
- had in-laws over for some backyard BBQ time.
- purchased and tried out Jillian Michaels’ “yoga” DVD. I put yoga in quotes because yoga has never...
3 tags
2 tags
Fit Teacher Challenge
By the end of the school year I will:
Work out at least three times a week, preferably four.
Be able to run an entire mile without walking.
Huge thanks to the other Tumblr fit teachers for the support and inspiration. :)
3 tags
1 tag
Dear MyFitnessPal
Why is yard work not listed under strength exercises?
Sincerely,
Me
2 tags
4 tags
Things that should be high on the list of things...
1. District evaluation processes that mimic the state’s new teacher program evaluation processes. WE HAVE ENOUGH PAPERWORK THANKYOUVERYMUCH. (This happened to me today. Evaluation, then meeting with new teacher program mentor.)
2. Students who shout “That’s GROSS!” when you explain that some scholars believe Shakespeare wrote many of his sonnets about a man. (This...
3 tags
Today was a good running day (and other ramblings)
I actually felt an improvement while running. Like I’m actually getting somewhere.
Today I had a “slow clap” moment in one of my classes, and it was awesome.
Yesterday I wrote my first referral of the year.
Yesterday a student told me he had attempted suicide a few weeks ago and had been in the hospital. He was explaining why he wanted to make-up so much missed work.
Today I...
World Book Night has been and gone. So, what are...
incognerdo:
thinkbrit:
hisnamewasbeanni:
positivelypersistentteach:
texasfirstyearteacher:
englishteachingtoolbox:
Game of Thrones
The Associate by John Grisham
Wicked by Gregory Maguire
Tumblr.
Hisnamewasbeanni, you’re hilarious.
I’m reading Let’s Pretend This Never Happened by Jenny Lawson, aka The Bloggess. You should probably read it.
I finished Wild by Cheryl Strayed...
WHEN I REALIZED I WAS OVER SCHOOL
lhuddles:
howdoiputthisgently:
Really trying to find some shred of motivation to start one of my four final papers
Best gif ever. Also, you’re almost done! Yaaaaay!
3 tags
Happy Earth Day!
A few things are awesome about today:
Animal Planet and Discovery are showing awesome naturey documentary shows all day. Perfect background for grading and relaxing.
jbizzle and snix made the Fit Teacher tumblr! So excited!
Yoga for Runners is awesome. It’s a free app. And it is awesome.
This is enough to take my mind off of my pathetic run this morning. It is much warmer than it has...
3 tags
Lesson Plan: Conducting a Mock Trial - NYTimes.com →
girlwithalessonplan:
coolcatteacher:
How do you conduct a mock trial? This is a great way to end the school year around a topic of interest. Whether it is “is the White star line liable for the Titanic” or other question of interest to the students, with the fascination many have with shows like Law and Order or Judge Judy or other trials, this would be a good way to help students see how the...
Fit Teacher: Welcome to Fit-Teacher! →
fit-teacher:
Hello! Welcome to the brand spanking new Fit-Teacher blog!
You might be wondering why we have decided to start this blog. Well, it’s become apparent to us that many of the teachers on the #education tag are interested in a healthy lifestyle and fitness, but there was no central gathering place…
Yaaaaaaaay!
3 tags
Back on the running wagon
After a lazy couple of weeks, I finally went running. I went a week back in the C25k program because of the time gap, but also because my right hip has been aching for a couple weeks now, even though I haven’t been running. I read online that it’s a common injury when a runner tries to add too much distance too soon.
That said, the workout was too easy - yay! So I ran extra during...
“You are in contempt of court because you showed your butt in court,” a visibly...”
– Circuit Judge John Bush - Sagging pants gets man 3 days in jail - The Montgomery Advertiser (via brooklynmutt)
There are a few students of mine who need to read this.
2 tags
Twirls
Me: You’re dress is very pretty, M.
M: Thanks! I love wearing dresses and twirling around. They make me feel loose.
Me: *awkward pause, eyebrows raised*
M: Well, not like that!
I love freshmen.
YES! I just realized Netflix will stream here at...
girlwithalessonplan:
THIS MEANS WE CAN WATCH “THE SHAKESPEARE CODE” FOR OUR BIRTHDAY PARTY ON MONDAY!!!!
It will be a Who-Speare Day!
So grateful GWALP reminded me about Shakespeare’s birthday. We just started our Shakespeare unit yesterday. Must think of something fun to do Monday. :)
I would like a big stack of Pilot G2 pens.
itssnix:
0.38mm
That would make my day.
I get the huge color packs and use them to grade.
NO OTHER PEN COMPARES TO THE PILOT G2!
3 tags
Standardized Testing Warriors
One of my students may be coming to school with Braveheart-esque facepaint to rally his class for the state test they’re taking tomorrow.
I love freshmen.
3 tags
Reasons I love that my husband is an English...
- He helps me think out my lesson plans. And they’re usually better because of him. I help him with his also.
- We have conversations like this:
Me: That’s a GREAT idea! AND it’s differentiation!
Him: Differentiation, bitches! *does a dance*
Me: Is that your differentiation dance?
Him: Differentiation jig. And I think I just pulled something.
Bring it, Monday!
3 tags
Spring Break is gone. I still hate Sundays.
I chose one more day of doing nothing over getting started on work yesterday. So Spring Break really ended for me today. It was a good choice. One last day of quality time with the hubs before we both go back into busy teacher mode.
I’ve spent about four hours grading so far, and need to lesson plan for the week. The good news is students did better on the test I’m grading than I...
John Green's tumblr: On Gratitude →
fishingboatproceeds:
I am thinking tonight of a year ago, when Sarah and Henry and I were preparing to leave for Amsterdam, huge swaths of the book that would become TFiOS still either unwritten or horrible (and still without a title).
I was sick, and I was also overwhelmed with anxiety, all these constant humming…
3 tags
A question for the Education community: block...
The high school in which I work currently has a traditional 6 period a day schedule. My principal may be looking to adopt some type of block schedule for next year or the year after. I am genuinely interested in different types of block schedules and am curious what people here have experienced with block scheduling.
My high school had a block schedule where we took four classes per semester, and...
4 tags
Going home
Visiting Mom is great when it’s just the two of us. Talking, dinner, some shopping, and more talking. I know she misses me because in one trip to Target she bought me a dress, a blouse, and beer. She hates shopping. And doesn’t drink.
It’s the best of the two worlds I straddle: daughter and adult.
And now we’re about to watch Gnomeo and Juliet. And I’m going to...
2 tags
The Eyes of a Writer: A Strategy to Improve... →
After some time, I realized that if I wanted better writers and my students wanted better grades on written assignments, then I had to teach them the qualities of effective writing and empower them to improve their written work. Now this may sound like a daunting task to some, but it’s not as time consuming as you might think. Let me explain the approach I’ve developed.
This is a great...
soak it in: I am now my mother →
lhuddles:
When I was a kid, my sister and I were latch-key kids. My mother (a single mom) worked full time, and she usually didn’t come home until a couple of hours after we were home from school.
Sometimes she’d walk into a messy home with our school stuff everywhere, snacks not put away, and my sister…
OMG, YES.
3 tags
3 tags
Love Medicine, by Louise Erdrich
So far, my favorite part of Spring Break has been reading time. Specifically, reading a book that’s not related to school in any way.
I just finished Love Medicine by Louise Erdrich. It’s a tragic and beautiful story about a few generations within a Native American tribe, the Chippewas. Each chapter is more like a vignette that focuses on one of the family members, and through their...
Real Quotes From My Students
teachingtoday:
“My mom is taking me to a doctor because she wants me to lose weight.”— Perfectly healthy-sized 13 year old girl.
“I know it’s wrong, but I’ve starved myself to try to lose weight. My mom does it.”
“My mom says thongs make you look sexy for guys.”
“I’m so fat.”
Being a Role Model for Teen Girls: The reason I need to fix my body image issues.
This is why the idea of...
A dramatic Shakespearean response to every...
When something bad happens: True is it that we have seen better days.
When something REALLY bad happens: O woe! O woeful, woeful, woeful day! Most lamentable day. Most woeful day That ever, ever I did yet behold! O day, O day, O day! O hateful day! Never was seen so black a day as this.O woeful day! O woeful day!
When people say that something is wrong because the Bible says so: The Devil can cite scripture for his purpose.
When my girlfriend abandons me for food: FRAILTY, THY NAME IS WOMAN!
When someone doesn't thank me for holding the door open for them: BLOW, BLOW, BLOW, THOU WINTER WIND! THOU ART NOT SO UNKIND AS MAN'S INGRATITUDE!
When I burn something while cooking: MY CAKE IS DOUGH!
When human stupidity frustrates me: LORD, WHAT FOOLS THESE MORTALS BE!
When someone says I'm going to hell for my sins: NYMPH, IN THY ORISONS BE ALL MY SINS REMEMBER'D.
When I'm broke: My pride fell with my fortunes
When someone turns the light on after a period of darkness and blinding light ensues: OH, SHE DOTH TEACH THE TORCHES TO BURN BRIGHT!
When someone disagrees with me: THERE ARE MORE THINGS IN HEAVEN AND EARTH, HORATIO, THEN ARE DREAMT OF IN YOUR PHILOSOPHY.
When I argue with my girlfriend: The course of true love never did run smooth.
When I'm embarrassed: MUST I HOLD A CANDLE TO MY SHAMES?!
Someone says "Good Night": Good Night, Good night! Parting is such sweet sorrow, that I shall say good night till it be morrow.
When someone asks about the weather: Storm stil!
3 tags
Yard work
“I’m not sure what I want to do with today,” he says while munching his lunch in the backyard.
“Want to take the Penn Penn for a walk in the park and then to the place place?” I ask. We can’t say dog park because she gets excited and barks incessantly, so “the place place” is our code.
“Sure.”
He finishes eating, goes into the...
