I found this "advice" column in the opinion section of the NY Times. I plan on sharing this piece with my students. So many of my students are very bright and very talented, and yet not so many are truly thinking about college because it seems to be such an overwhelming thought and mystery. I hope to build their curiosity and excitement about the possibility of higher education for those who are interested.
You might be interested in reading, too :)
Advice for College Students
Sunday, September 26, 2010
Friday, September 24, 2010
What a feeling
My friend Kellie sent me this video because, if you know me, you know of my immense love for dance parties.
In any case, I feel like this video captures the essence of what I want my classroom to be like.
Enjoy!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lK7IzfLmyco&feature=player_embedded
In any case, I feel like this video captures the essence of what I want my classroom to be like.
Enjoy!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lK7IzfLmyco&feature=player_embedded
Monday, September 20, 2010
Vocabulary Lesson
I realized today that it would not do justice to my day-to-day experience if I did not share the colorful vocabulary that can be heard throughout the halls and classrooms of my school.
dead ass = seriously. Example: Dead ass, Miss, you gave OD homework.
OD (as in overdose) = too much.
What's poppin / What's crackin = What's up? Example: Yo Miss, what's crackin?
mad crazy (this is mad crazy) = too
"I feel some type of way" = You're killing me, smalls.
Wilin' = Getting wild. Example: We was wilin in Ms. Walters' class today.
*Note this is not a good thing.
beastin' = working too hard/being too demanding. Example: Miss, you beastin! We can't do all this work.
shawty = mother. father. brother. sister. friend. son. daughter. boyfriend. girlfriend. lover.
Typical student phrases:
Miss, that class was OD whack. You was beastin with that work miss.
dead ass = seriously. Example: Dead ass, Miss, you gave OD homework.
OD (as in overdose) = too much.
What's poppin / What's crackin = What's up? Example: Yo Miss, what's crackin?
mad crazy (this is mad crazy) = too
"I feel some type of way" = You're killing me, smalls.
Wilin' = Getting wild. Example: We was wilin in Ms. Walters' class today.
*Note this is not a good thing.
beastin' = working too hard/being too demanding. Example: Miss, you beastin! We can't do all this work.
shawty = mother. father. brother. sister. friend. son. daughter. boyfriend. girlfriend. lover.
Typical student phrases:
Miss, that class was OD whack. You was beastin with that work miss.
Wednesday, September 15, 2010
Nicknames
I am rarely called "Miss Walters" by my students. Most of my students just call me "Miss", which is very common among students throughout NY. I can't exactly figure out why the last name is dropped...?
A few kids, however, have come up with far more...creative....nicknames for me.
1. Ashley (11th grade) who I had last year and have again this year has decided to call me "Wifey Number 2". I've heard this before, but today she decided that was the only thing she would say to me. The conversation went something like this:
Ashley: Miss, Imma call you Wifey Number 2.
Me: Ok. Can I ask, why number 2?
Ashley: Because Ms. Cronan is Number 1.
The girl has a point. Ms. Cronan is an awesome English teacher. I've decided to take this as a compliment and let it go.
2. Then, Bernice and Simone, two of the seniors that I walked with during the AIDS Walk last spring, came bolting into my classroom...
B & S: SHAWWWTY!!
Me: Hey friends.
B & S: Miss, we gunna call you Shawty, because you our shawty and we go out looking for shawties. (referring to the AIDS Walk when they spent the entire 6.2mile walk searching for boys aka shawties).
On my updated resume, what name shall I put?
Miss Wifey #2 Shawty Walters? It does have a nice ring to it....
A few kids, however, have come up with far more...creative....nicknames for me.
1. Ashley (11th grade) who I had last year and have again this year has decided to call me "Wifey Number 2". I've heard this before, but today she decided that was the only thing she would say to me. The conversation went something like this:
Ashley: Miss, Imma call you Wifey Number 2.
Me: Ok. Can I ask, why number 2?
Ashley: Because Ms. Cronan is Number 1.
The girl has a point. Ms. Cronan is an awesome English teacher. I've decided to take this as a compliment and let it go.
2. Then, Bernice and Simone, two of the seniors that I walked with during the AIDS Walk last spring, came bolting into my classroom...
B & S: SHAWWWTY!!
Me: Hey friends.
B & S: Miss, we gunna call you Shawty, because you our shawty and we go out looking for shawties. (referring to the AIDS Walk when they spent the entire 6.2mile walk searching for boys aka shawties).
On my updated resume, what name shall I put?
Miss Wifey #2 Shawty Walters? It does have a nice ring to it....
Tuesday, September 14, 2010
The Walters Box of Wonder
As a kickoff into a new school year of scientific investigations, today I introduced the Walters Box of Wonder! I built the box, which is basically magic (and a system of plastic bottles and tubes) that create challenging patterns of water input vs. output. The kids had to collect the data and figure out what was inside the box while competing for the fastest time against the other sections of Chemistry classes.
I rarely have seen students so excited about something I've done in class - it was inspiring :) As of this evening, no students have solved the puzzle yet, but several are hot on the trail! The prize for the winning class = 10 extra points on the next Unit test (talk about a big money prize).
Seeing the kids get so excited about something like this makes me pretty upset that we have Regents standards/exams that ignore quality inquiry skills and make it difficult for teachers to do any quality science in the classroom. I am lucky enough to be able to teach a class when my students do not have to take the Regent at the end of this year.
I will say, for as stressful as teaching is, it was awfully nice to have my students back, hear about their summer, and see how much they grew over the last few months! Year 2, here we go!
Check out the pics to see my classroom (not entirely finished with posters), etc.
I rarely have seen students so excited about something I've done in class - it was inspiring :) As of this evening, no students have solved the puzzle yet, but several are hot on the trail! The prize for the winning class = 10 extra points on the next Unit test (talk about a big money prize).
Seeing the kids get so excited about something like this makes me pretty upset that we have Regents standards/exams that ignore quality inquiry skills and make it difficult for teachers to do any quality science in the classroom. I am lucky enough to be able to teach a class when my students do not have to take the Regent at the end of this year.
I will say, for as stressful as teaching is, it was awfully nice to have my students back, hear about their summer, and see how much they grew over the last few months! Year 2, here we go!
Check out the pics to see my classroom (not entirely finished with posters), etc.
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| The famous Walters Box of Wonder!! a total inquiry success. |
 |
| Daily plans on the board... |
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| Front of the room - yay science! |
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| Our class goals! We love goal-setting :) |
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| SFU represent in my classroom. |
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