Here we go...

Year #23 starts this week for me.  Year #23! As I was leaving work today, my supervisor and I were discussing our longevity in the Freehold Regional HS District (he has one extra year on me).  We were discussing how much the job of "teacher" has changed in the last 20+ years--it is almost a completely different job than from when we started.  We had smaller classes, didn't write lesson plans, and had no state or federal standards to abide by.  We typed or even hand wrote a lot of our materials. We had gradebooks that we wrote each students' name into carefully and then at the end of the marking period, carefully used a ruler across the page as we added up their grades with a calculator. Parents didn't know their students' grade until we finished "bubbling" the report cards. We made up our own midterms and finals and the only standardized test that most students took in school was the one to graduate that tested "Minimum Basic Skills".  I still used a filmstrip in my first year! (As a side note to any parents reading this--remember film strips? Remember how you wanted to be the student to turn the dial to make the image change when the "ding" of "beep" went off on the tape recorder.) There was no email or internet. When we wanted to watch something in class, I had to send a student down to go and get the TV on the rolling cart (and then hope that they did not run anyone over in the hallway!).  

So, yes, the bottom line is that teaching has changed A LOT. Most of it has made me a better teacher. I am still evolving and experimenting, and hopefully, improving  I will not sugarcoat it though; it is also a lot harder now--the expectations on us as teachers and on the students themselves has grown exponentially. I am responsible for teaching much more than just US History II.  You as students need be "College and Career Ready" in many different ways.  Just know this--we are on this path this year together.  Welcome to my class.

Post Advanced Placement Exam

Oh my gosh...the last month or so has been such a whirlwind in school as well as my home life.  I have two sons, aged 10 and 15 that are both involved in lots of activities in school and out so my free time is at a  premium. Add to that, night time review sessions for the AP review sessions, Marzano (our evaluation model for the teachers) training, completing all of our paperwork and meetings for our year end evaluations, and lots of class coverages.  Although June begins next week and for my AP students, the College Board exam is over, we are still plugging along in class.

The Academic classes have completed their research projects and are in the process of presenting them using web 2.0 applications. The AP students are in the process of reading a non-fiction historiography and writing their research papers.  Grading research papers are unbelievably time consuming but every year I assign them anyway.  There are just too many skills that need to be learned, practiced, and polished before I send these kids off to college--researching, evaluating sources, analyzing and evaluating evidence, proper citation, and thesis writing.  My colleagues in the English department are usually finishing up with their papers by the time I get around to assigning mine so hopefully, they are have already practiced many of these skills already but it is important for them to be able to transfer their skills to other subjects as well.

Here's to June though and an upcoming summer...can't wait to record the last grades in my grade book and finally get back to the book I started to read during spring break.  But first, there are 104 research papers that are calling to me.

Spring Break, Here We Come!

Two more school days until Spring Break and I think most of us are ready for the break.  It has been a loooong winter but we survived the storms, the cold, and dark days.  The daffodils and crocuses are finally up and the days are getting lighter.  The fourth marking period starts Monday, April 21st.

Many of us teachers (and students too) are feeling a bit weary right now.  But that said, I was thinking about the things that I love about teaching.  One of the things that I love most about teaching is the feeling of renewal each time we have a break or a new marking period starting. Just when you feel like it is getting too much to take, we have a break and I come back excited again. Teaching (especially History teaching) is very cyclical and I think that keeps us from going crazy sometimes.  :)

The other part I love about teaching is seeing the growth of my students.  Seeing their academic growth, as well as their maturing personalities is an amazing perk.  Knowing that I have a small part in their growth is always rewarding.  

So what are we doing in class right now? To me the fun stuff--the 50s and 60s! In ELL we are finishing the 1950s with projects about famous people.  The students are creating obituaries and epitaphs.  In the Academic classes, we have just started the 1960s and tomorrow we will be doing a simulation game about the Cuban Missile Crisis. After the break, we will spend some time on the Vietnam War, which the students usually really enjoy because they have heard about it but actually know very little about it.  

In AP, we are in the home stretch before the exam.  The 1960s test is on Friday and we come back to get ready for the exam in May.  The students should be beginning to review on their own time, especially US I material. They can use their Amsco book, online resources, or purchase on their own a review book.  There will be some after and before school review sessions in the beginning of May as well.  I told the AP students the other day--now is not the time to slack off.  They have less than a month to go in this 2 year History journey they have been on.  Put the pedal to the medal and finish strong. A "4" or a "5" on the AP exam is within everyone's grasp.

The winter that will not die...

I have been trying to write this blog every two weeks but I got lost in the snow somewhere at the end of January. The last month and a half have seemed to drag by while still managing to be an avalanche of lesson planning and grading (and snow, I might add).   Exam week(s) just never seemed to end and then the new marking period was starting before midterm essays were even in the grade book.  I thought we were finally in a good pattern--my classes had been uninterrupted for several days--and now more chaos next week with a HSPA schedule that shuts down learning for 3 days, and more possible snow.

That said, I have been very excited about what is happening in my classroom. My students are wonderful this year and most days, we get into the routine of learning right off the bat.  In my ELL class, we have been studying the Holocaust and working our way thru parts of Schindler's List. It is a long movie so we cannot watch all of it but I always make some time for it in my ELL and Academic classes because I think it is so important.  We can talk about the Holocaust and even read accounts, but seeing tears in the eyes of some of my students as they watch parts of the movie brings the learning to another level for them. It also makes them really contemplate why countries like the US did not do more to help the Jewish people or stop the Holocaust.  Will the world allow it to happen again? Have we already?  As you can imagine, it leads to wonderful writing and discussions.

In Academic and AP history, we have finished up World War II.  World War II is a topic that I could spend months on because there are just so many interesting stories and events, particularly to show how much that war changed the US and the world forever. Hopefully, after a month of studying it, the students have a sense of the sacrifice that Americans made and the horrors that many around the globe lived through. Next up is my favorite unit of the year--the Cold War! I love the intrigue and espionage of the "chess match", especially now since so many new documents have been released so that historiography of the period is still changing.

I am looking forward to getting some full weeks in a row to get back to our routines in the classroom. At this point, I am also looking forward to days over 40 degrees!

A New Year?

We teachers sort of see time marching on differently than others.  The new year for us starts September 1st so January 1 means that our year is almost halfway done. I make my resolutions before the school year starts---like I will not let my grading pile up, I will make the time to compliment my students more (and to let their parents know when I do), I will try blogging with the students, etc.  So how am I doing? Pretty good. I started a new tradition this year of picking a "Student of the Week" from my five classes each week.  I take a picture of the Student of the Week sign and email it to that student's parents and I have tried to email parents whenever I "catch" their child doing something kind or nice. My classes have been blogging with each unit.  It has gone pretty well but we still need to continue to work on the students' interaction with each other's blogs. I also have found that they are time consuming to grade, even with a rubric.  I still need to tweak how I have the students blog but I am glad that I have introduced them to it.  As for the grading piling up...yeah that still happens.

So what's happening right now in the classroom?  In my ELL class, we have just started to learn about the Great Depression.  In the Academic classes, we are finishing up studying the New Deal.  The students did a project where they followed the stock market for over a month and they got to invest an imaginary $10,000.  They seemed to enjoy it and I think I successfully scared many of them away from day trading. Most of them lost money. In Advanced Placement, we have started the chapter leading up to WWII and will begin to debate the mistakes the free world made in dealing with the Axis powers.  Midterms are creeping up on us--ours will be on January 28th for all classes.

Using What the Teacher Gives You...

I think back to the way I taught 20 years ago, even 10 years ago and I think..."How did my students learn anything?"  I was working hard and teaching the way I knew how (and how I was trained and evaluated) but I don't think I was as effective as I am now.  The expectations on us as teachers are so much higher in every aspect than ever before but most of those expectations make us better professionals.  It is almost a completely different job than when I started in 1991!  People that were students in the 70s, 80s, or 90s would not recognize the classroom of today and the resources that are available to our students. And it isn't just the internet and other technologies but even the rubrics, and syllabuses, and reading guides.  Students have more ways than ever to learn successfully. But..they need to use the things that are available.

In my history classes, each major assignment has requirements spelled out along with the grading rubric. Those items are always handed out way in advance of due dates.  However, it is very frustrating to have a student complain after a project has been returned because they did not look at the resources given to them ahead of time. You can lead a horse to water but you can't make him drink, I guess.  Please, please, please students--look at the rubric and requirements before the due date. Think of the rubric like a checklist---"What do I need to do to get an A or a B?"

On another note, Ms. Kirchmer is leaving this week and I know all of you join me in wishing her well.  Student teaching is a tough gig--lots of work but no pay.  She worked hard though and I am sure you will agree that she possesses many of the attributes necessary to be a successful teacher. Maybe we will see her again in CNHS!

To all of you--enjoy your break and happy holidays! Recharge your batteries and come back in January ready to work hard!  My job is to get you ready for college and I take that job very seriously.

Marking Period 2, here we go!

One week until Thanksgiving and one marking period in the can...this year is moving along. I have to admit that I was loving the milder weather and I still don't feel ready for freezing temps. Sometimes I think it might just be easier to hibernate for the winter months but then I would miss out on a lot of fun like the holidays, Battle of the Classes, holiday concerts, and winter sports. There are lots of fun things to look forward to.

I continue to be pleased for the most part with the way all five classes are going. Students have gotten used to the routines and have learned to rely on the Edmodo page for guidance and resources.  We are continuing to work on important research and informational skills while learning interesting content. The AP students have been writing a lot and we continue to work on improving thesis statements.  They finish up WW I with an essay and a test this week.  We have had the opportunity to really discuss Woodrow Wilson as a leader and a visionary while being critical of some of his values and political skills. We compared and contrasted the League of Nations to the United Nations and debated the possibility of whether World War II could have been avoided. It is so wonderful to be able to discuss historical content on such a high level.

In ELL, they have just started to learn about WW I.  We will have a chance to discuss the causes and outcomes, as well as trench warfare and other strategies.  In the Academic classes, they have moved onto the 1920s and have started a fun group project that will have them research social and cultural events in the 1920s to create an electronic presentation.  They have been reading some primary and secondary documents about immigration restrictions and the Ku Klux Klan.

Our student teacher, Ms. Kirchmer, is with us until December 13th.  Although I have enjoyed her company and presence in the classroom, it is almost time for her to graduate and move onto her own classroom. Meanwhile, Happy Thanksgiving. I hope everyone is able to enjoy their family and friends!