Teaching The Outsiders (and more) | Middle school teaching: Five shows a day, 180 days a year.

The 12 Days of Christmas?! (Hope it’s not ALL coal.)

December 7, 2011

I don’t really make New Year’s resolutions. (I’ll wait while you go read that post. Really, you should. Then you’ll understand when I say, “Well at first I was like…”) OK. But I have made a December 7 resolution. I’m going to post 12 times between now and Christmas Eve. So here we go. On the first day of Christmas… I’m hoping we have some DEVO fans out there. I’ve been feeling a little crabby lately for various little reasons, and so the idea of ”Whipping it good” is rather appealing lately. So along comes this handy flowchart. But first you might want to rock to the song a bit before tackling the flowchart. NOW, you’re ready. Click for the full-size. Feel free to implement the procedure in your classroom. You’re welcome.

Reading and a Rerun

November 28, 2011

By mrC

I know, I know. Thanksgiving is over. Time for a new post. Well, I’ve been busy… I’ve been learning a lot about maintaining a thirty year old pinball machine. And, ummm, playing one. Digesting food. Seriously. I weighed myself TDay evening, and then again then next morning (barely–it was almost afternoon). Six pounds difference. I don’t know where it goes. Well, I guess I know where at least some of it goes. Trying to stay ahead of my video class. Since there aren’t as many hardware issues this quarter, things are moving along much more quickly. I have a couple of pairs who are two weeks ahead of last quarter. D’oh. Enjoying our 70+ degree weather. In November. Sorry. It’s one of the reasons I live here. Reading. Latest in progress: Damned (narrated from Hell by a 13 year old girl…there are certain contexts when a 13 year old girl’s perspective is the best one to have), by Chuck Palahniuk, the same guy who wrote Fight Club (never read it or seen it… I might now). Damned funny. Sorry. 1Q84 by Haruki Murakami (an epic in three parts totaling 1000+ pages — I’m about 1/4 of the way in). I love his work. It’s

An E-Mail Only a MS Teacher Could Write

November 20, 2011

By mrC

(to: my vice principal - 11/18/11) Joe, You know I was reluctant to let my room be the holding cell for your permanent lunch detention crew. At first things were pretty good, so I thought I was being a bit hasty in worrying so much, but in the last few days… There’s been some food on the floor. Mostly those large grapes from the cafeteria. A pizza crust Tuesday, but almost every day this week there has been a grape here and grape there. I think they’re mostly concentrated close to that stage area that I have by the front door. Two got squished on the floor, one got squished on a desk, and Jimmy N. ate one from under his desk today. He said it was tasty. I know, eww. But he was too quick for me and we all thought he was joking. Could you please have the wardens in charge start having the crims detail the room before the bell rings? And please start opening the doors a bit before lunch ends to air the place out. It smelled like chicken yesterday. Other than that it’s been ok. Thanks a lot. mark

mrC’s 7th Grade Report Card

November 17, 2011

By mrC

Of course my parental units also had to visit for my fittieth. (I tell the kids that as a certified English teacher, I have a license to make up and misuse words. Most of them believe it.) And here’s Mom sporting my 7th grade report card from the school year 1973-1974. So let’s deconstruct this “artifact.” First it comes in one of those tight-fitting envelopes with the little curved notches in the top for ease of sliding the card out. Mom didn’t spring for a yearbook that year, so the envelope has a bunch of signatures and a couple of “see ya next year’s.” It’s also signed by Dean Martin, right above my best friend’s signature. I don’t remember Deano hanging out at Mel’s. I think that’s the logo for the diocese. We were the Saints, but we didn’t have a logo. 1. Old school typewriting, typed by our school secretary (mom of a classmate, and as scary as the nuns). St. Mel was St. Patrick’s cousin. 2. Dunno why the COWARD is in all caps. She does that on the inside too. Now, let’s look inside. 1. There’s that all caps thing again. Must be intentional. 2. Knowledge of Religion. Catholicism from

Five-Oh

November 14, 2011

By mrC

I turned fifty last week. Or as we like to say in my room, fitty. I’d like to think that’s accurate too. Although, my sister-in-law gave me a big sticker to wear at my (surprise) party that said, “I’m 5 Today!” That’s probably most accurate. Then she went and wrote “decades” in small print under the five. D’oh. My nephew was over playing my pinball machine this weekend. My wife had told him that she got it for my 50th birthday. “I can’t wait ’til I’m 50.” He’s 21, and he was totally serious. His girlfriend said the same thing. So did another nephew. Who knew fitty could be so desirable? All it takes is the right toys. Meanwhile, I’m feeling closer to 100 after this weekend. I will see you all on Wednesday. Here are a couple of books to check out. I especially liked Downtown Owl. Downtown Owl by Chuck Klosterman. Even though nothing really happens until the end, the characters are just so great, you don’t really care about the plot. Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close by Jonathan Safran Foer. Narrated by a precocious nine-year old, who isn’t too annoying. Very touching and funny too.

Let’s Talk ADD

November 7, 2011

By mrC

1. Raise your hand if you’ve had this exchange with a parent: “L’il Einstein has not really been paying attention when I’m giving directions, and that’s one of the reasons he’s not doing well on…” “Oh, that’s his ADD again! You’ll just have to…” 2. Raise your hand if you’ve been forced to fill out one of those behavioral observational forms from a doctor who want to prescribe narcotics to an 11 or 12 year old. You know, where you circle the numbers from 1-4… “Easily distracted” 1 2 3 4 Ummm. He’s a 7th grader. Duh. 3. Raise your hand if you’ve been forced to make “accomodations” for “ADD” kids. There are only so many seats at the front of the room and only so many times I can “refocus” a kid in one period. 4. Raise your hand if you have twice as many “ADD” kids as you had ten years ago. By that I mean, “kids with a diagnosis of ADD/ADHD.” Remember, you can’t call them hyper any more. Are you tired yet? Way back in the day, I was “diagnosed” with ADD. I don’t think it went by those initials then (they just called us hyper),

My Personal Approach to BTSA Training

October 31, 2011

By mrC

I was cleaning out the back room all weekend. You might well ask why, considering that my regulars know the state of my classroom. (Here are a couple of flashbacks to last year’s picture tour: Part I, Part II.) The answer is… My wife bought me a pinball machine for my 50th birthday (still a little over a week away, but close enough when a machine goes on Craigslist only 25 miles away) and it’s being delivered on Wednesday, and I have to make room for it in the pantry/junk room. I have wanted to have a pinball machine in my house for over 40 years. Finally! Here’s a picture of the kind I’m getting. Mine’s a little more “well-used,” but plays beauty. I CAN NOT WAIT. Anyway, while I was hauling shtuff out of the back room, I came across an “artifact” from one of my BTSA training sessions a few years ago. We were supposed to be brainstorming with our table groups about what teacher behaviors we would be looking for to cover each of the California Standards for the Teaching Profession (CSTP). We were, I guess, supposed to watching our BTSA charges, and encouraging said behaviors. It

Tip o’ the Day

October 19, 2011

By mrC

Our tip of the day this time is from someone we haven’t heard from in a long while. In fact it’s been almost three years since this guest artist made his first and only appearance here. Since then he’s been spending a few years down under. And I don’t mean Australia. I mean 6th grade. But now he’s seen the light of day, and by luck there was a spot open again at our site, and so he’s back torturing both 7th and 8th graders in math (my boy included–who also had “mrJ” last year for 6th grade). And I’m back to stealing tips from him. First go read his first appearance here. Ok. On to the tip of the day. I know that when I have subs (sorry, they’re called guest teachers at our school), I always tell them to leave a detailed note about how things went. I also tell them to kick ass and take names, and I leave seating charts to make that easy. And I hate it when I get something like this: “All classes were great. Thanks for a great day. Hope to be back soon.” You are never coming back. Well mrJ had

Follow Up

October 17, 2011

By mrC

First off, the Standing Girl actually took a break on Thursday. “I just don’t feel like standing today.” “No sore toe?” “No. I just don’t feel like it.” OK. Friday was test day–she doesn’t stand for tests–but she was right back on her feet today. “I just feel like it.” One of the yahoos spoke my own thoughts today, though perhaps a bit less tactfully. “Can’t you think of anything else to say? Maybe Iiiii feel like, you know…far-” “Quiet you!” Second, another round of kudos to the brave Mr. M. He threw himself on the landmine, and it didn’t blow up. The not-missus (I couldn’t resist) was dead-on when she said that we teachers are a defensive bunch. In fact, that was my cooperating teacher’s only real beef with me as a young buck: “Does not take criticism well.” Ouch. The truth hurts, as we used to say in junior high. So Mr. M, it took a lot of guts for you to approach your colleague, AND you obviously had some tact, because she actually listened to you. That’s a one-two punch you gotta take advantage of. What else needs changing at your school? You should be working that

Victory!

October 12, 2011

By mrC

Yesssssss, as the kids say when we’re checking a quiz or something, and they get a few in a row correct. If they’re on a streak as we go over it, it’ll be… “Number seven… D – savvy, the opposite of naive.” “Yesssssss.” “Number eight… E – none of the above.” “Yessssssssss.” It gets longer each time. “Number nine… there there… let me help you with that… C – patronize.” “Yesssssssssssss.” “You sound like you’re leaking air. Puh-leeze.” “Number ten… C – aghas–” “Nooooo!” “I mean E – none of the above. ” “Yessssssssssssssssssssss.” “Would you just stop it? Now?!” “Yesssss.” But anyway… Yesssssssss! The intervention was a success. Thanks for the update Mr. M. We are all glad to hear that your colleague has seen the light, and if she actually reads Readicide and gets it, we might see some real change. Just think how many kids we saved. (Do the math.) And I guess great minds think alike; I was just going to start blogging my way through Nurture Shock . I’m going camping this weekend, and we have a Survivor, Modern Family, Psych triple shot of tv love tonight that is like a long-awaited fix for a tv junkie

Still Standing…

October 10, 2011

By mrC

Been a while, I know… So I’m going all dot dot dot on you. It’s been almost a month–since September 14 to be exact–that the Standing Girl first decided to stand for the whole period. Not all periods. Just mine. And she’s still standing. Just for me. She still won’t say why… She does sit for tests… Finally getting into chapter 7. Chapter 6 was fun as always. I think it’s my fave. It has a lot of humor, probably more than anywhere in the book–Dally’s line, “Forget those blasted kids!” never fails to get a laugh. This year though there was a new comment. “And all the kids’ parents are right there and heard that!” I never really thought of that. And Dally cussing out Pony at the hospital is another surefire laugh-getter. I love rolling around slouched in my rolly chair waving my fist like Dally… In fact this is the chapter where we really start to like Dally. First, he’s funny. (I think he might have more funny lines than the supposed clown Two-Bit.) Second, we see that he cares about Johnny. Miss Susan Eloise is setting us up nicely for chapter nine. I read somewhere that the plot

KBAR: The Origin Story

October 2, 2011

By mrC

When I was a rookie, I was always on the lookout for some sort of regular activities that would happen every week, and give me some sort of skeleton to hang the rest of the week on. When you’re a noob, that 54 minutes show looks mighty long and hard to fill. When I started here, they already had a few of these sort of things in place department-wide. Nowadays (as the kids say) I would chafe at the idea, but back then I was stoked to have some of those minutes already filled. “OK. Monday we have a spelling pretest (the lists were even provided back in the day…and probably will be again soon…sigh), we all had to do a current events thing of some kind (I liked that one…hmmmm), we checked KBAR on Fridays…” KBAR? Wait. I just realized I already ‘splained the history of KBAR back in 2008, when this here blog first started. So here you go. (December, 2008.) When I started at my school (1993), they had an independent reading program they called Kick Back and Read (KBAR). Mostly, it was a chart with a picture of Snoopy on it. Actually there were two kinds

First Videos

September 30, 2011

By mrC

The first couple of PSA’s from my first quarter video production elective class are ready for prime-time. Amazing what can arise from amid the chaos of late-arriving equipment, unworking computers and crashing software. (Actually, the past week has been really good; we might be getting the hang of this.) PSA Videos.

Three-Word Phrases

Seventh graders “communicate” mostly in three-word phrases. If the phrase isn’t really only three words long, they can usually pare it down. “What’d I miss?” It sounds like “Wuddeyemiss.” And it always comes right as you’re starting class. Raise your hand if you have had this happen in the past week. Past three days? Today? AAAAAARGH. They want 54 stellar, well-planned and executed minutes of instruction summarized for them in 30 seconds as the class bustles in. What did you miss? “Absolutely nothing. You might as well take the rest of the year off. CHECK THE WEB PAGE! COME BACK AT BREAK!” “Oh yeah. I forgot.” LOL (These days, they’re getting it down to three-letter phrases.) “What’s my grade?” This one is usually from the kid whose grade is in the bottom 15% , and s/he finally turned something in, and wants immediate gratification. And it always happens right in the middle of something else, something totally unrelated. Yesterday we were talking about how Charlotte is finally seeing Captain Jaggery for what he really is. (Aside: If you haven’t read The True Adventures of Charlotte Doyle by Avi, I highly recommend it. I picked it up a few years ago [...]

more -->

Page 4 of 28«1...2 345 6...28 »

Previous 150

The 12 Days of Christmas?! (Hope it’s not ALL coal.)

Reading and a Rerun

An E-Mail Only a MS Teacher Could Write

mrC’s 7th Grade Report Card

Five-Oh

Let’s Talk ADD

My Personal Approach to BTSA Training

Tip o’ the Day

Follow Up

Victory!

Still Standing…

KBAR: The Origin Story

First Videos

Random Featured Post

Three-Word Phrases

Archives

Recent Comments

Links

Tags

May 2012
M	T	W	T	F	S	S
« Apr
	1	2	3	4	5	6
7	8	9	10	11	12	13
14	15	16	17	18	19	20
21	22	23	24	25	26	27
28	29	30	31