Last Wednesday was our boys' first football game of the year. Dr. Eddleman and the assistant principals offered food, soft drinks and a bean-bag toss set for tailgating. Nearly the entire faculty showed up, and the food ran low, but no one minded.
Before the game the coach brought the boys over to see their teachers, principal, assistant principals, office staff, and other employees of the school. They could not believe we all came, and even throughout the game, the boys were consistently looking over their shoulders at the crowded bleachers, from where we cheered and led chants for their victory.
The boys ended up winning 26-24 against an all-boys school. We were thrilled, as were they, of course. The two boys to make the three touch downs all happened to be my students, and I jumped at the chance for rapport building the next day. They beamed when I congratulated them.
Here's an email from the district director of athletics to our principal:
Dr. Eddleman,
Congrats to Westport on the win last night…it was a hard fought battle!! Your team looks well coached and discipline on and off the field. In talk with some of your faculty and staff, they all seen excited about the sport and what it’s done for some of the young men in your building…I hope the trend continues!!
A big shout out to your faculty and staff…the tailgating and fan support was awesome!! And a special thanks to you for my dinner…perfect timing and it hit the spot!!
Good luck on the rest of your football season and school year!! Go Westport!!
Robert E. Vinegar, CMAA
Coordinator of Activities
Jefferson County Public Schools
Character First!
Sunday, August 22, 2010
Flying High After Week One
I'm happy to say that despite nerves that drove me to shake like a leaf and even get sick, my first week at my new school was a marked success. I think I had a bit of an existential identity crisis: I'd gotten comfortable being a "good" teacher at my old school; where would I fit in now in a school of all professional, competent and bright teachers.
Happily, I feel right at home. I have identified mentors among the faculty and administration to watch and emulate, and I have become the mentor for several new, first year teachers - all of whom are remarkable and show impressive promise.
One week in and I'm waiting for someone to pinch me: who knew that such a utopia could exist? Where the faculty, staff and administration collaborate professional and with joy, as both friends and colleagues, for the best interest of the students in whom we all believe can succeed. I am blown away.
Aside from my satisfaction with the employees at Westport Middle School, I am also thrilled with the students. Economically less privileged than much of the nation (60 percent receive free or reduced lunch services), but highly skilled and positive about learning. Their optimism surprised me because I had heard horror stories about the students at Westport - all of which I now know were exaggerated and more than likely the cause of combative, less-than-supportive teachers, and a leadership vacuum of about three months last year. (The students had no principal, and the seventh grade had no assistant principal before Dr. Eddleman - the current principal - came in March.)
And Dr. Staci Eddleman is the mastermind behind Westport's transformation from a negative, under-performing school, to a professional, positive place where I have no doubt the students will exceed expectations. In keeping with the Obama administration's stance that teacher quality is the number one factor for school improvement, Dr. Eddleman asked many of the less than positive and progressive teachers to transfer out. Unfortunately, some great teachers also were lost in the shuffle, according to many of the current factory. Overall, however, those returning say the change in the culture is palpable.
Dr. Eddleman hired through an application and interview process, rather than strictly seniority, and I believe that is the key reason for Westport's success. All of the teachers are professional, competent and caring. Together, we make a positive place to work, collaborate and learn, and the students see this and emulate it. Although they came in a bit defensive the first day, I received gushingly optimistic and positive letters by day three.
It's going to be a fabulous year.
Happily, I feel right at home. I have identified mentors among the faculty and administration to watch and emulate, and I have become the mentor for several new, first year teachers - all of whom are remarkable and show impressive promise.
One week in and I'm waiting for someone to pinch me: who knew that such a utopia could exist? Where the faculty, staff and administration collaborate professional and with joy, as both friends and colleagues, for the best interest of the students in whom we all believe can succeed. I am blown away.
Aside from my satisfaction with the employees at Westport Middle School, I am also thrilled with the students. Economically less privileged than much of the nation (60 percent receive free or reduced lunch services), but highly skilled and positive about learning. Their optimism surprised me because I had heard horror stories about the students at Westport - all of which I now know were exaggerated and more than likely the cause of combative, less-than-supportive teachers, and a leadership vacuum of about three months last year. (The students had no principal, and the seventh grade had no assistant principal before Dr. Eddleman - the current principal - came in March.)
And Dr. Staci Eddleman is the mastermind behind Westport's transformation from a negative, under-performing school, to a professional, positive place where I have no doubt the students will exceed expectations. In keeping with the Obama administration's stance that teacher quality is the number one factor for school improvement, Dr. Eddleman asked many of the less than positive and progressive teachers to transfer out. Unfortunately, some great teachers also were lost in the shuffle, according to many of the current factory. Overall, however, those returning say the change in the culture is palpable.
Dr. Eddleman hired through an application and interview process, rather than strictly seniority, and I believe that is the key reason for Westport's success. All of the teachers are professional, competent and caring. Together, we make a positive place to work, collaborate and learn, and the students see this and emulate it. Although they came in a bit defensive the first day, I received gushingly optimistic and positive letters by day three.
It's going to be a fabulous year.
Sunday, August 15, 2010
Meeting My Boys...
Although I won't meet my new students until Tuesday, it was exciting to see their enthusiastic faces on the news after their first football scrimmage. Can't wait to meet them all!
Saturday, July 31, 2010
Designing my (New!) Classroom
Have I mentioned how thrilled I am to be at my new school, working for Dr. Staci Eddleman, my new principal? Aside from her professionalism, intelligence, tact, respectful demeanor and passion for rigorous, best practice education, she's also won my heart through more material channels. She emailed me just last night that a new SMART Board will be installed in my room as close to the beginning of school as possible. And my room--- it takes my breath away. So clean! So big! A closet! A sink! So much storage space, I don't even have to get creative.
Here it is, in all its yet-to-be-organized glory:
Here it is, in all its yet-to-be-organized glory:
Sunday, July 25, 2010
New Year, New School
As a busy, completely re-energizing summer draws to an end, I'm excitedly planning my renaissance at Westport Middle School. The school has a reputation for being a "rough" school - one that does not seem entirely fair or deserved, especially when I consider the lack of a reputation my last school had at all, despite its challenges. Several people have looked at me wide-eyed when I've told them about the change, slowly shaken their heads and said something along the lines of "Good luck; you're gonna need it!"
Maybe it's just the teacher in me, but I find this not only rude, but also unnecessarily demoralizing and discouraging. When I hear about people going into tough situations - whatever the field or circumstance - my initial response is: "Oh, you can definitely handle that," - without a touch of sarcasm. On the phone yesterday, my brother said "competence is ninety percent of the battle in life." I totally agree, and it all starts with believing you can do it, believing you can become competent. A rhyming teacher refrain comes to mind: "If you believe it, you can achieve it."
There is research to support this notion as well. Children who are repeatedly told they will go to college, who are told they can achieve at high levels, who are told they can be resilient in the face of adversity, do just these things: they go to college, achieve at high levels and overcome obstacles in life. Those who are told the opposite, believe the opposite and are far less successful.
So when I hear adults pontificate negativity and discouragement, it really strikes a nerve. I believe I was lucky to get hired at a school that's undergoing reformation and complete restructuring. The faculty and administration is something like 75 percent new to the school, hired based on merit and not seniority, a mix of seasoned veterans and fresh, energetic first year teachers. Beyond the good fortune of joining a school that's undergoing positive change and appears to have a fighting chance at successfully moving forward, I don't need luck this year. My kids and I will do just fine on our own merits.
Maybe it's just the teacher in me, but I find this not only rude, but also unnecessarily demoralizing and discouraging. When I hear about people going into tough situations - whatever the field or circumstance - my initial response is: "Oh, you can definitely handle that," - without a touch of sarcasm. On the phone yesterday, my brother said "competence is ninety percent of the battle in life." I totally agree, and it all starts with believing you can do it, believing you can become competent. A rhyming teacher refrain comes to mind: "If you believe it, you can achieve it."
There is research to support this notion as well. Children who are repeatedly told they will go to college, who are told they can achieve at high levels, who are told they can be resilient in the face of adversity, do just these things: they go to college, achieve at high levels and overcome obstacles in life. Those who are told the opposite, believe the opposite and are far less successful.
So when I hear adults pontificate negativity and discouragement, it really strikes a nerve. I believe I was lucky to get hired at a school that's undergoing reformation and complete restructuring. The faculty and administration is something like 75 percent new to the school, hired based on merit and not seniority, a mix of seasoned veterans and fresh, energetic first year teachers. Beyond the good fortune of joining a school that's undergoing positive change and appears to have a fighting chance at successfully moving forward, I don't need luck this year. My kids and I will do just fine on our own merits.
Friday, May 14, 2010
Tuesday, April 20, 2010
Publishing Poems as Movies with Windows Movie Maker
For the last unit of the year, my students will be creating movies from their poems and publishing them on YouTube. Here is the initial planning guide I created for them to get started.
Publish Your Poem as a Movie
I'll be creating my own movie this week to show as a model for my students.
Publish Your Poem as a Movie
I'll be creating my own movie this week to show as a model for my students.
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