Succcessful end to the school year

Happy Changes

The data is analyzed, the paper is written, the readers have read, now the oral presentation and defense is left. By noon on June 28 that will be done also. I'm thrilled to be so near the end of this long road. . . but not as thrilled as I am by this news. . .
Shaun popped the question, and Sarah said yes! I will be starting a new role, mother-in-law, sometime this year. How wonderful is that?!

Data analysis woes

Well,I thought I was done, but alas, I am undone. I will collect more data next week. I will get the last three students to come in for interviews. I will ask a few more survey questions, because I can and I really do need to know. I will do a lab performance assessment; complete with scale drawings, accurate colors, and a journal component explaining what each student thinks they see and how big they think it is. (I love adding a little extra math!) I will ask a critical friend to evaluate this session for me, and i will hunt him down if he forgets (again!). I will nag Shannon to evaluate my attitude. And I will make a journal entry myself (I have a renewed strength of purpose, even if I don't see other changes in myself.)
I have discovered that students' attitudes towards class and journaling have not changed, and they do not like journaling. However, they do find the process useful, even if they don't like it. It seems to be like Buckley's "It tastes awful, but it works!".
It isn't over until the fat lady sings - and she is just starting to warm up!

Last week of data collection

I wasn't sure I would ever get to this point, but here I am, just needing to collect data for five more days: one journal activity, one think like a teacher activity, one concept map, one (or two) journal entry of my own, one peer observation, one critical friend feedback, and one set of surveys and interviews. I'll be busy this week, but I think this will really happen.

writing in biology class

We are nearing the second week of the new semester, and my students and I are beginning to get back into the routines we established first semester. This really means that there is a give and take, a sense of community, and that the volume in the classroom goes up as soon as there is desk work to do.
Today we did the first long journal activity as a quiz. It was not very successful. Open-ended questions are hard for students who prefer well defined tasks, preferably those which don't require them to do more than repeat activities they have already done. I found myself quite frustrated by their lack of understanding. I'm not very proud of that. I'm supposed to be trying to help them learn, and instead I want to say "Think!, haven't you learned yet that I want you to think?!"
Tomorrow will be a better day.

Motivation to finish the semester well

My daughter, Caitlin, sent this link to me - she watched it in one of her "Nursing in the community" classes. I hope I can remember the wisdom as I teach some of my differently gifted students.

2010

Tomorrow I'm going to ask my grade 11 and 12 students to fill out a New Year's book - an activity which some of them will enjoy, but about which many of them will complain. In the interest of fair play, I thought I should answer the questions also.
The picture which reminds me of New Year's is this one of the quilt I started January 1, and which now hangs in my bedroom (I love little projects!)
I stayed up until 9:30 on New Year's Eve.
On new Year's Day I stayed home until I went to supper at my in-law's house, and then I went to the airport to pick up a friend.
Altogether I celebrated New year's Eve with 8 other people.
The first person to fall asleep at my house this year was me!
My favorite New Year's tradition is having a fire in our fireplace.
My new tradition includes making a small quilting project over the holidays. This is the second year I have done so.
My most memorable moment in 2009 was
Five places I really enjoyed going in 2009 were: Rosario Beach/ Friday Harbor with Ryan, Jody and the class of 2010; helping Randy move Ryan to Rossland - and then into his own apartment; Camp Hope with Caitlin and Shannon; the teacher's convention trip with Shannon; cross-country skiing at the Nordic club with Shaun and Sarah.
One event that will occur in 2010 that I'm looking forward to is: finishing my MSSE.
I'm going to read at least one book a week for myself. First on my list is Stones to Schools.
I think I should hire a maid to help my family keep the house clean!
I spend way too much time fretting about things I can't change. This year I am going to try to do less of that.

Happy New Year