Blowout Teachers' Lounge
 

Teachers and educators of Blowout, let's lounge a bit.

I'm about a month into my position as a history teacher and loving it. My 10th grade World History classes just finished up early Russia and now we're getting into early Latin America. 11th Grade U.S. History is cruising through the Gilded Age - getting to have some good discussions about reform movements and attitudes towards things like immigrants and poverty.

My Debate team though.........they can be rough. The teacher I replaced knew he wasn't coming back and my 11 students did literally NOTHING all last semester. They watched Star Wars. So trying to hammer them into shape is like pulling teeth because none of them actually signed up to debate. They viewed it as a study hour.

So what's everyone else got going on in class?

Indian Removal Act of 1830 and Nullification Crisis.....Andrew Jackson, the common man!

[QUOTE=Redsmitty03;6677473]Indian Removal Act of 1830 and Nullification Crisis.....Andrew Jackson, the common man![/QUOTE]

Andrew Jackson = Common man

Indian Removal Act = Come on, man!

Gonna talk about the drunken White House "open house" he threw?

Out of school due to the snow. Might not be going back this week. But I teach elementary PE and we are doing a dance unit.

[QUOTE=TheFrenzy;6677629]Andrew Jackson = Common man

Indian Removal Act = Come on, man!

Gonna talk about the drunken White House "open house" he threw?[/QUOTE]

My least favorite president of all time except for Nixon. His "common man" slogan was stupid, because he was rich by the time he was in office. And his hatred for Native American was also stupid, because they were there first and Jackson thought he was better than them, even thought he was a "common man"

Finishing up the 1920's and heading into the Depression

I think a lot of people know the gist of my job, but I'm a 1-8 (technically 2-8 right now though legally should be 2-7) intervention specialist at a "behavior" school. I teach the multiple disability room which is supposed to be pretty challenging and it is haha. I've had my first ever suspended kid off and on suspension the last few weeks...he was fantastic yesterday but AWFUL today and started to walk home from school (he lives like 5 miles away but he could do it) but changed his mind and decided to throw snowballs at me instead.

That wasn't the worst though. Worst was at the end of the day one of the other classrooms had their staff rile a kid up to the point that he wanted to fight anyone and everyone. It was awful...he threw punches on several staff and ended up outside with a 2x4 he found swinging at staff cars, buses, people, etc. My para knew they handled it badly and did NOT hold her tongue...was fairly certain for a bit I was going to have to have her back ina 3 on 2 (we being the 2) classroom fight. Good times haha.

Carry on teachers! We need a lot of good teachers.

Do a lesson on American Unions.

OJ can be your "special" guest speaker.

[QUOTE=johnnyd81;6677724]Finishing up the 1920's and heading into the Depression[/QUOTE]

My depression started after my 20's. :eek: I keeeed. I keeeeeeeed.

The kids started an interactive internet P.E. program that we can do in our classroom. It was awesome! They had to keep moving for 30 minutes, which included running, walking, jumping, hopping, and such. I've never seen them have so much fun while exercising.

You can die from the second hand smoke in a teacher's lounge. At least you could in the 1970's.

I'm a principal, so fittingly, I expect you all to stop talking now that I have entered the lounge....:eek:

I miss college. If I was rich I would stay in Uni and study EVERYTHING.

[QUOTE=cbcedd;6678005]I'm a principal, so fittingly, I expect you all to stop talking now that I have entered the lounge....:eek:[/QUOTE]

And when you leave, everybody will talk trash about you. Now please just microwave your frozen burrito already and get the heck out of here. :D

[QUOTE=groundhog;6677690]My least favorite president of all time except for Nixon. His "common man" slogan was stupid, because he was rich by the time he was in office. And his hatred for Native American was also stupid, because they were there first and Jackson thought he was better than them, even thought he was a "common man"[/QUOTE]

The first thing I told my students when I walked in as their new teacher was, "Rule #1 in this class: History is messy." I repeat it to them everyday. Andrew Jackson gets presented as a great guy in most lessons, but he was an a$$. He gets a bit of a pass because he at least took the next step in opening up democracy.

However, we just started discussing Christopher Columbus and his atrocities/arrest. Their eyes got WIDE when I told them Columbus sanctioned chopping off natives' hands and selling children into slavery or feeding Arawak babies to the war dogs! :eek:

[QUOTE=johnnyd81;6677724]Finishing up the 1920's and heading into the Depression[/QUOTE]

Just ahead of us. I'll se you there soon!

[QUOTE=SpastikMooss;6677851]I think a lot of people know the gist of my job, but I'm a 1-8 (technically 2-8 right now though legally should be 2-7) intervention specialist at a "behavior" school. I teach the multiple disability room which is supposed to be pretty challenging and it is haha. I've had my first ever suspended kid off and on suspension the last few weeks...he was fantastic yesterday but AWFUL today and started to walk home from school (he lives like 5 miles away but he could do it) but changed his mind and decided to throw snowballs at me instead.

That wasn't the worst though. Worst was at the end of the day one of the other classrooms had their staff rile a kid up to the point that he wanted to fight anyone and everyone. It was awful...he threw punches on several staff and ended up outside with a 2x4 he found swinging at staff cars, buses, people, etc. My para knew they handled it badly and did NOT hold her tongue...was fairly certain for a bit I was going to have to have her back ina 3 on 2 (we being the 2) classroom fight. Good times haha.[/QUOTE]

Yeah! Before I went back to school to get my M.A., I worked at an RTC with troubled kids. On a week, off a week. about 100 hours when I was on. Glad you were able to handle it!

[QUOTE=TheHeel;6677915]Do a lesson on American Unions.

OJ can be your "special" guest speaker.[/QUOTE]

Haha, I had to bail on that thread. I do my very very best to keep things objective and evenhanded in my class. Today we actually discussed Texas and how its "individualistic" ethos has led to some booming economies and protection during the Recession, but it's ranked 2nd to last in social and mental health services. I told them it was like designing a character in a video game - so could set the levels how you wanted, but if you maxed out one attribute, it usually leaves another very weak.

[QUOTE=ilovethelakings;6677923]The kids started an interactive internet P.E. program that we can do in our classroom. It was awesome! They had to keep moving for 30 minutes, which included running, walking, jumping, hopping, and such. I've never seen them have so much fun while exercising.[/QUOTE]

Got a link? On Wednesday, I have my three classes for an hour and a half. I'd love resources for during our breaks.

[QUOTE=cbcedd;6678005]I'm a principal, so fittingly, I expect you all to stop talking now that I have entered the lounge....:eek:[/QUOTE]

.............

[QUOTE=Nicnac;6678156]I miss college. If I was rich I would stay in Uni and study EVERYTHING.[/QUOTE]

I second this.

Was it OK that I banged one of my teachers in high school, being that she was hot and wanted it?

[QUOTE=chipmaster;6678479]Was it OK that I banged one of my teachers in high school, being that she was hot and wanted it?[/QUOTE]

Only if she gave you an A after you gave her the D.

[QUOTE=chipmaster;6678479]Was it OK that I banged one of my teachers in high school, being that she was hot and wanted it?[/QUOTE]

[QUOTE=ilovethelakings;6678488]Only if she gave you an A after you gave her the D.[/QUOTE]

It depends.

If you were her student and under 18, then no.

If it was a few years later and you gave her the big ol' chipper, then yes.

Good to be back in the lounge...kids get here in 35 minutes haha

[QUOTE=SpastikMooss;6679898]Good to be back in the lounge...kids get here in 35 minutes haha[/QUOTE]

I got the district call last night. No school today due to the impending 14 inches.

How many more days until retirement?

Just playing

Have a great day

[QUOTE=TheHeel;6679902]I got the district call last night. No school today due to the impending 14 inches.[/QUOTE]

Haha lucky! We had like 7 snow days already this year though so I can't complain :D

[QUOTE=preakness;6679915]How many more days until retirement?

Just playing

Have a great day[/QUOTE]

Lol! There's less than 75 days left in this school year, that's all I'm focused on for now!

Snow day today as well.

I teach elementary computers and typing is a big influence this year because of the new testing next year all on the computer for grade 3 and up.

This year Kindergarten is full year so they are working on the same lessons as first grade. Mainly art programs to learn the movement of the mouse and location of letters on the keyboard.

Second- typing typing typing.

Third- basics of Pages, will probably write a letter soon

Fourth- Microsoft Word, also will probably write a letter soon as well.

Fifth- PowerPoint project. Next week they start a project on what they are learning in class.

[QUOTE=stera8;6679973]Snow day today as well.

I teach elementary computers and typing is a big influence this year because of the new testing next year all on the computer for grade 3 and up.

This year Kindergarten is full year so they are working on the same lessons as first grade. Mainly art programs to learn the movement of the mouse and location of letters on the keyboard.

Second- typing typing typing.

Third- basics of Pages, will probably write a letter soon

Fourth- Microsoft Word, also will probably write a letter soon as well.

Fifth- PowerPoint project. Next week they start a project on what they are learning in class.[/QUOTE]

If I recall correctly, you are in South Jersey? In the North Jersey area, the snow is starting to come down hard.

I was speaking to several people about Kindergarten. The curriculum is much more advanced than it was when I went to K in 1985/86. I remember more emphasis on developing social skills (playing, sharing, etc.) in a half day setting than what my son is learning now (reading, writing, math) in a full day setting.