Blowout Teachers' Lounge

[stripedbass91]

Snow day here too...The past few weeks have been awful with all the snow days/delayed openings putting us behind. Already have 3 days from future vacations taken away. Planets/Seasons quiz tomorrow...Hope the study extra hard today with all that time they have

[stera8]

Originally Posted by TheHeel

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.

I'm currently getting rain, my work is getting snow as of now. Local district is closed too I think because of the storm status.

It's getting nuts in elementary but pretty cool to see. While my one first grade class was lined up waiting for their teacher they were telling me "9x9 is 81" "5x5 is 25" lol

I remember when I went to start kindergarten and the school wanted to delay me a year because I drew a circle the wrong way. My grandma just had huge surgery and wtf it's a circle! Eat my shorts school because this little kid was in gifted and talented! haha

[tjenkins]

Cool post! I am a teacher in South Dakota. We are currently going over the Pacific Front of WW 2 in American History. Kids are really getting into the Manhatten Project debate. Government class is about understanding the Constitution. Looking forward to moving into the Legislative process with Government. In Geography we are rifling through population statistics and relating them to various countries. I have been doing the education thing for 29 years and man has the process of education taken a huge metamorphosis since I began doing this.

[TheHeel]

Originally Posted by tjenkins

Cool post! I am a teacher in South Dakota. We are currently going over the Pacific Front of WW 2 in American History. Kids are really getting into the Manhatten Project debate. Government class is about understanding the Constitution. Looking forward to moving into the Legislative process with Government. In Geography we are rifling through population statistics and relating them to various countries. I have been doing the education thing for 29 years and man has the process of education taken a huge metamorphosis since I began doing this.

Very cool!

I give you props by being an educator for 29 years. I am in my tenth year considering an eventual career change at some point.

[nephinfan]

I'm in my 10th year as a middle school science teacher. Right now, we are reviewing forces & motion. This year, our department was able to purchase interactive labs the students can use to get more "hands-on" experience with all things science related. They really like it so far, but it does challenge them, (which is great, obviously).

I also coach middle school football, girls' basketball, boys' basketball, and triple/long jump for the track team. This is great for being able to work with the kids, both academically & athletically.

[nephinfan]

Originally Posted by TheHeel

Very cool!

I give you props by being an educator for 29 years. I am in my tenth year considering an eventual career change at some point.

I'm in the same situation as you, where I'm thinking of a career change at some point. If you have an idea of what direction you're heading or ideas that you're mulling, I would appreciate it if you would PM me. Right now, I don't know which direction I'd like to head.

[tjenkins]

Middle School is always an interesting age to teach. All those changes and I have always said, they are in the gray area of life, "Want to be treated like adults but still act like children." It is part of the process I guess. I also teach Computer Aided Drafting and Machine Tools. I team teach with another teacher and I love the hands on part of education in this class.

Originally Posted by nephinfan

I'm in my 10th year as a middle school science teacher. Right now, we are reviewing forces & motion. This year, our department was able to purchase interactive labs the students can use to get more "hands-on" experience with all things science related. They really like it so far, but it does challenge them, (which is great, obviously).

[nephinfan]

Originally Posted by tjenkins

Middle School is always an interesting age to teach. All those changes and I have always said, they are in the gray area of life. Want to be treated like adults but still act like children. It is part of the process I guess. I also teach Computer Aided Drafting and Machine Tools. I team teach with another teacher and I love the hands on part of education in this class.

Yes! I couldn't have described them better myself. Their childish behaviors still get in the way of wanting to be treated as if they are more mature than they really are.

Hands on lessons make it more enjoyable for me as well. How do you like the team teaching part?

[jusdukky]

Originally Posted by chipmaster

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

Pics or it didn't happen.

[TrueNE_09]

Cool thread idea!

For better or worse, the only thing I can think of is:

Edna Krabappel

[mjones6]

"Ms krabappel..... Is mr Lincoln going to be okay ??"

[clarkzac]

I don't know if I'm allowed to post here yet since I'm still in school. I'm on my way to becoming a teacher though. I'm working on getting field endorsements in social studies and health/PE. Because I started off as a pre-med student, and decided to get two field endorsements I have an extra year or two to go. I'm currently a junior, but I will not graduate next year by any means. I was considering dropping one of the endorsements so I could attempt to graduate sooner, but I decided that it would be worth it in the long run to get both endorsements right now.

Originally Posted by tjenkins

Cool post! I am a teacher in South Dakota. We are currently going over the Pacific Front of WW 2 in American History. Kids are really getting into the Manhatten Project debate. Government class is about understanding the Constitution. Looking forward to moving into the Legislative process with Government. In Geography we are rifling through population statistics and relating them to various countries. I have been doing the education thing for 29 years and man has the process of education taken a huge metamorphosis since I began doing this.

Its nice to see somebody from South Dakota on here! I grew up in Pierre until I was 16, and moved to Western Nebraska. I go to Chadron State, which is probably 2-2.5 hours south of Rapid. My dad currently lives in Sioux Falls. The closest I've ever been to Clark, SD was when I was in Aberdeen for state soccer

[TheFrenzy]

Glad to see people enjoying the thread. I'd noticed that "teacher" seemed to be a pretty common profession on the board. We played "Logical Fallacy Bingo" in Debate today.....Team Freshman beat Team Sophomore. But they started paying attention!

In my history classes, we planned out something I am SUPER excited about: a student-directed learning day! The way our school does its block time, we're left with nothing but 35 minute class priods all day on the Friday before Spring Break. So we'll finish our big exams on Thursday and have nothing for the next day. So I let each class pick one topic they were interested in and I'll put together a lesson on it. Right now, the day before Spring Break, I'll be teaching classes on:

- History of Mental Health in America (insane asylums and bizarre treatment they used.)
- History of Caribbean religions (Zombies and their origins)
- History of Public Suspicion and Conspiracy Theories (the illuminati/aliens/reptillians)
- History of Strange Phenomena (the Gable Goat/sleep paralysis/haunted locations)

I am PUMPED!

[bd3d86]

I'm in my 12th year teaching 4th grade. Right now I am teaching my class how to do equivalent fractions and how to understand the themes in adventure/survival stories. Valentine's Party tomorrow!

[preakness]

I'm on my 18 or 19th year in education and I sleep with a Jim Beam bottle

I kid I kid.......













its actually Crown Royal

[tjenkins]

I would certainly think you would be more than welcome to post here. I went to college in Aberdeen. Awsome to here from another South Dakotan. Pierre, our state Capital, great place. Education is an interesting occupation, to say the least. South Dakota is still a pretty good place to teach kids because they are still mostly down to earth but you certainly won't get rich teaching here since we are 51st in the nation in teacher pay. I teach Social Studies, PE and CAD/Machine Tools, that's another thing about South Dakota. You have to wear many hats since our larger schools are pretty limited. Good to here from you. I like the post. This post make take a little bit different direction than a lot of posts on BO.

Originally Posted by clarkzac

I don't know if I'm allowed to post here yet since I'm still in school. I'm on my way to becoming a teacher though. I'm working on getting field endorsements in social studies and health/PE. Because I started off as a pre-med student, and decided to get two field endorsements I have an extra year or two to go. I'm currently a junior, but I will not graduate next year by any means. I was considering dropping one of the endorsements so I could attempt to graduate sooner, but I decided that it would be worth it in the long run to get both endorsements right now.



Its nice to see somebody from South Dakota on here! I grew up in Pierre until I was 16, and moved to Western Nebraska. I go to Chadron State, which is probably 2-2.5 hours south of Rapid. My dad currently lives in Sioux Falls. The closest I've ever been to Clark, SD was when I was in Aberdeen for state soccer

[tjenkins]

Great stuff, creative, I like it!

Originally Posted by TheFrenzy

Glad to see people enjoying the thread. I'd noticed that "teacher" seemed to be a pretty common profession on the board. We played "Logical Fallacy Bingo" in Debate today.....Team Freshman beat Team Sophomore. But they started paying attention!

In my history classes, we planned out something I am SUPER excited about: a student-directed learning day! The way our school does its block time, we're left with nothing but 35 minute class priods all day on the Friday before Spring Break. So we'll finish our big exams on Thursday and have nothing for the next day. So I let each class pick one topic they were interested in and I'll put together a lesson on it. Right now, the day before Spring Break, I'll be teaching classes on:

- History of Mental Health in America (insane asylums and bizarre treatment they used.)
- History of Caribbean religions (Zombies and their origins)
- History of Public Suspicion and Conspiracy Theories (the illuminati/aliens/reptillians)
- History of Strange Phenomena (the Gable Goat/sleep paralysis/haunted locations)

I am PUMPED!

[IndyKMB]

Just starting Ancient India, Hinduism, & Buddhism.
7th graders just love this stuff ....

[stera8]

Ugh school closed again due to bad roads....

[TheFrenzy]

Three day weekend!!!

Had to report a girl for talking about shooting up the school. 99.999% sure she's joking, but she'd made some really angry comments about the school last week, all the other students knew the exact day she'd talked about, and she mentioned specific targets....so had to meet with the administration today and fill out a report. yay!

On a lighter note, I managed to corner 3 students who missed our major exam on Tuesday and had been avoiding me all week. I caught them after school sitting around and pulled them into the library. The looks on their faces was pure terror.

[Jsims20]

Currently finishing up my university work to become a teacher...

So I will see you in a few years (: haha

[TheFrenzy]

Any thoughts on curving grades? I'm shaking my head over one of my 10th grade classes.

18 students:

6 F's
2 D's
2 C's
2 B's
6 A's including two perfect scores.

[TheFrenzy]

I think I'm going to curve it this way:

Subtract their score from 100, divide that number by either 3 or 4 (still playing around with it), and add it to their score.

[dlab85]

School vacation this week in MA. Gotta love it

[ilovethelakings]

Originally Posted by TheFrenzy

I think I'm going to curve it this way:

Subtract their score from 100, divide that number by either 3 or 4 (still playing around with it), and add it to their score.

How many of the students would actually benefit from the curve? If it is only two or three, screw it. They earned the grades they earned unless you feel that the test was unfair.