The first week is “officially” over

Though someone in the finite wisdom made Friday a Staff Development/Comp Day. Someone hunt that person down and punish them, because guess where 50% of the teachers that DID their staff development day this summer will be. Yep, right where I will be, in my clssroom.

I’m taking a carload of stuff that is designed to make my life more comfortable and I’m going to finish cleaning my room.

Here’s what I have — a rough plan in my head for what I am going to do the first week. A solid plan for Algebra I, and a fuzzy plan for ESL. I will be doing the fuzzy plan for a few days with ESL called alternative ways to evaluate my students next week.

I have a room I like. Okay, it’s a long ways to the bathroom. I’ve got 3/4 of a white board and 1/4 of a chalk board. I may get ambitious and make a whole white board. I’ve got it up with double sided carpet tape and the drill is in the car with screws as I want to fashion it down harder. One of the other math teachers helped me with it.

I took down the two year old black paper off the corkboard and found a prestine cork board. Two of my former students put yellow paper on it and I have a cute “quilted” border, since that’s something I want to do. I’m going to print out two cool pictures, one of each dog, from my pro agility photos and put them up. I’m going to start putting notices up, and reserve an area for work.

I’ve got a “measuring station” started. I need measuring things — shameless begging. I want measuring cups, spoons, themometer, balance, and even a gallon jug and quart sized jar. Send things to Hillcrest High School in Dallas addressed to Kathleen Weaver. 9924 Hillcrest Road, Dallas, 75230

I have workbooks for the ESL kids. I’m supposed to be getting a projector — it’s in the building they say, and I’m flat out supposed to be doing agile mind with as many kids as possible. I’m supposed to have internet access by the end of the month, but I’m going to confess that I have very slow dialup right now, that I can get buy with.

I’ve got brackets to fix the shelves and some posters for the ESL kids. I need to find Algebra posters.

I’m getting there.

Okay, in case you haven’t figured it out, I’m teaching ESL English for Math and Algebra I kids who have flunked it at least once. I have seniors in this class.

Comments

2 responses to “The first week is “officially” over”

  1. Jan Avatar
    Jan

    Sounds like you’ve gotten an ambitious start. Tomorrow will be my 3rd day with kids! Wow – that’s an EARLY start to the school year. Problem is another whole set of kids will arrive in about 3 weeks – the migrant workers whose families are still out in the fields. I’m not quite ready for starting school AFTER Labor Day – I like those breaks scattered through the year – but this is definately the opposite end of the spectrum.
    I’ve avoided the Symlin shot problem by eating tiny lunches. Salad with grilled chicken and a handful of grapes the first few days and a sandwich made with very thin whole wheat bread today. For tomorrow I have grilled chicken and sausage with green peppers and onions – all from tonight’s supper made on the George Foreman. None of that hits anywhere near the 250 calories/25 g of carb that are necessary before the Symlin comes out. It’s worked so far, but I’m already tempted by the cafeteria lunches – very high carb, but at least hot and filling. oh well. I’ll hold off as long as I can and then treat myself one day. I have a longer lunch time 2 days a week and could fit in a shot on those days.
    English for Math sounds fascinating! I went on a mission trip to Del Rio this summer and came back with a whole new perspective on our kids who are “straight over the border”. Such gracious people we met down there! And such poverty as I’ve only read about before.
    Hope you’re getting a lot done and have a great start to next week. Personally I like starting mid-week with the kids – 3 days is plenty before the weekend. I need some recovery time!
    Jan

  2. Jan Avatar
    Jan

    Sounds like you’ve gotten an ambitious start. Tomorrow will be my 3rd day with kids! Wow – that’s an EARLY start to the school year. Problem is another whole set of kids will arrive in about 3 weeks – the migrant workers whose families are still out in the fields. I’m not quite ready for starting school AFTER Labor Day – I like those breaks scattered through the year – but this is definately the opposite end of the spectrum.
    I’ve avoided the Symlin shot problem by eating tiny lunches. Salad with grilled chicken and a handful of grapes the first few days and a sandwich made with very thin whole wheat bread today. For tomorrow I have grilled chicken and sausage with green peppers and onions – all from tonight’s supper made on the George Foreman. None of that hits anywhere near the 250 calories/25 g of carb that are necessary before the Symlin comes out. It’s worked so far, but I’m already tempted by the cafeteria lunches – very high carb, but at least hot and filling. oh well. I’ll hold off as long as I can and then treat myself one day. I have a longer lunch time 2 days a week and could fit in a shot on those days.
    English for Math sounds fascinating! I went on a mission trip to Del Rio this summer and came back with a whole new perspective on our kids who are “straight over the border”. Such gracious people we met down there! And such poverty as I’ve only read about before.
    Hope you’re getting a lot done and have a great start to next week. Personally I like starting mid-week with the kids – 3 days is plenty before the weekend. I need some recovery time!
    Jan

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