success story
Okay, two stories:
First, I co-teach two math classes with another teacher (Ms. M to the students - I am Ms. L)and both of us were assigned to proctor state tests today. We'd tried to make sure that there were subs covering our classes until we were done with the proctoring.
Ms. M finished up first and headed upstairs to our classroom. Already about halfway into the period, but she figured she'd take over from whoever had been assigned to cover for us. She came into the room to find the kids all there, playing Uno. But no substitute. No adult at all. The kids had come in the room, turned on the overhead to see the daily drill exercise. They'd done that work and then found the assignment for the day and then DID THAT. They also wrote their names down, for attendance. The kicker is that all of these kids are in the Special Ed program!
Even the playing Uno is, in fact, a regularly assigned activity in this class because all of the students need a couple of things that are outlined in their IEPs that are often difficult to address directly. One needs help with following rules and working with others, another needs help with trying new things; all of them need constant infusions of positive reinforcement and being able to do a whole lot of grade-level work so that they earn 'break time' is a means to that end ("Since you guys are so sharp and able to do so much work, we can't put together enough work to keep you busy!") I've always been so jealous of how well other teachers manage students and now I've finally got a success story of my own!
Second, I am FINALLY getting somewhere with my massive backyard landscaping project. Not that anyone but me can tell, but the retaining walls are pretty much done, paths laid out (though not paved or mulched yet) and some major-sized plantings are in. I've discovered the fabulousness of purchasing plants via ebay and it's been so dang warm that I'm fine with planting stuff now and I have. We've been so broke while I've gotten through grad school that buying plants wasn't exactly a high priority plus this yard is so huge that we've needed a helluvalotta plants in order to make any kind of visual impact. For example, I've planted probably ten ferns in just one of my back beds and could hardly tell they were there - hopefully the 25 I planted this week will make it and show up by summer. Plus eight shrubs in addition to the ten I'd already planted. And more on the way, many many more.
Global warming looks just fine here in Baltimore (unless you live right on the Harbor, I guess!)
First, I co-teach two math classes with another teacher (Ms. M to the students - I am Ms. L)and both of us were assigned to proctor state tests today. We'd tried to make sure that there were subs covering our classes until we were done with the proctoring.
Ms. M finished up first and headed upstairs to our classroom. Already about halfway into the period, but she figured she'd take over from whoever had been assigned to cover for us. She came into the room to find the kids all there, playing Uno. But no substitute. No adult at all. The kids had come in the room, turned on the overhead to see the daily drill exercise. They'd done that work and then found the assignment for the day and then DID THAT. They also wrote their names down, for attendance. The kicker is that all of these kids are in the Special Ed program!
Even the playing Uno is, in fact, a regularly assigned activity in this class because all of the students need a couple of things that are outlined in their IEPs that are often difficult to address directly. One needs help with following rules and working with others, another needs help with trying new things; all of them need constant infusions of positive reinforcement and being able to do a whole lot of grade-level work so that they earn 'break time' is a means to that end ("Since you guys are so sharp and able to do so much work, we can't put together enough work to keep you busy!") I've always been so jealous of how well other teachers manage students and now I've finally got a success story of my own!
Second, I am FINALLY getting somewhere with my massive backyard landscaping project. Not that anyone but me can tell, but the retaining walls are pretty much done, paths laid out (though not paved or mulched yet) and some major-sized plantings are in. I've discovered the fabulousness of purchasing plants via ebay and it's been so dang warm that I'm fine with planting stuff now and I have. We've been so broke while I've gotten through grad school that buying plants wasn't exactly a high priority plus this yard is so huge that we've needed a helluvalotta plants in order to make any kind of visual impact. For example, I've planted probably ten ferns in just one of my back beds and could hardly tell they were there - hopefully the 25 I planted this week will make it and show up by summer. Plus eight shrubs in addition to the ten I'd already planted. And more on the way, many many more.
Global warming looks just fine here in Baltimore (unless you live right on the Harbor, I guess!)