Okay, I thought it was time to start a new thread! So, tell me everyone who made a part in the play and how did/is homecoming go/going? (depending on when you get around to reading this post.)
I am heading up to the Lelenau Penninsula for a weekend/day/night out with some of my close girlfriends. I am so looking forward to a weekend away before the real madness of wedding plans ensue.
On another note, I started reading Freedom Writers with my English II classes yesterday. I am reading out loud, and boy is that fun! Especially Diary 3! I sent a letter home this time around, but mostly becuaese we don't have a complete class set yet, and I have to do most of the reading out loud and in class. I think it's different when a teacher's reading some of that out loud versus when kids are reading it to themselves. The words seem to hold a different sort of weight.
It's been kinda cool too, 'cause I pulled up the Rodney King video on YouTube and showed them what happened (believe it or not, many of my kids had never hear of the "Rodney King" incident.) I also talked a lot about California Proposal 187 (brought up in diary 10). Since there's been so much in the news in the last year as far as immigration reform, I thought it would be another cool way to add to the discussion. I have the Wikipedia page printed out for them now (after we discussed what it was in basics today). Monday we're going to write "Dear Abby" letters from the author of Diary 10's perspective, then give advice as well.
We're also presenting (me and the kids) to the school board Monday night about FW and all the things we want to do. We want to get there support because...WE ARE BRINGING ERIN AND A FW TO MUSKEGON TECH! Don't worry, I will let you know when!
Okay! Talk to you all soon (or just Matt and Mike who seem to be the only ones here anymore)
Friday, September 21, 2007
Friday, September 14, 2007
Friday, September 7, 2007
What a DAY!
So, here's my WOW...I have been using FW stuff with my 9th and 10th grade Eng students...we did the coat of arms where they had to create a sheild with stuff about them: goals, favorite things, what makes them unique and people they admire. I gave them all big pieces of poster board in the shape and took all of their pictures the first day of school in order to put them on the shields (some liked, some are still super apathetic), we did Getting to Know you Bingo, again, similar to coat of arms, some liked, some were apathetic..then we did Myself as a Crayon today. This activity starts with a graphic oranizer with a box of crayons drawn in the middle of a blank sheet of peper. The students are asked to write the sentence "Ms. Capy's students think outside the box and color outside the lines" outside of the box of crayons. Inside the box, the students are to write, "Our classroom is as colorful as a box of Crayola Crayons." Then, I pick up a color crayon and make it represent me, tear some of the paper, put some nicks in it etc. and then describe to the kids how that crayon represents me. I then read them the example written by a Freedom Writer:
"I would be purple. I fit in with no group. I felt rejected by white people, but talked "like a white girl", alienating me from black people. I was raised to know I was a daughter of the King, a beloved child of God. Instead of projecting my feelings of not belonging, I projected that I was smarter/better than everyone. They didn't reject me. I'd reject them. I can be cool, go with the flow of things, or be defiant, fiery and strong-willed, sometimes changing from one moment to the next."
I then asked the kids to write the sentence: "What kind of crayon would I be?"
So, we started that out...first and second hour wereOK...but not great.. in that they were chatty, didn't take it at all seriously and no one would share...It was probably my delivery...but fifth hour...WOW! This is the hour with all of MY Sharauds (there are about 5 in that hour like that "trouble" student. When I told them they could do anything they wanted to make that crayon represent them, kids were pounding them on the desks, scratching them, tearing off the paper, breaking them into little pieces, dulling them etc. I then had them write about what it all means and then asked for volunteers! WOW again! Most of the hands went up, and ALL of my Sharauds' hands went up! One by one, they talked about their crayons...they talked about their scars, the missing pieces of loved ones who are no longer there, their hardships etc, and all came back with "but I can still color"...I was almost in tears! And wait, get this, so many of them didn't know each other before this and so many had talked about losing their moms, one girl asked if we could have a moment of silence for all of the moms that were gone. These kids were so respectful! It was just one of those moments! So, I have made one of those five my "top Sharaud"...I pulled him aside after class and told him I would like him to be MY teacher in all things Muskegon Teenager...since I am this little White girl who's taught in Howell for five years! He's super geekd (he told me on the first day that he hates school, could care less about me, and was only in this class for one semester and then going to gym)
Just thought I had to share! I know not every day is going to be like this, but man, it will make the tough days better when I remember how well it can go!
"I would be purple. I fit in with no group. I felt rejected by white people, but talked "like a white girl", alienating me from black people. I was raised to know I was a daughter of the King, a beloved child of God. Instead of projecting my feelings of not belonging, I projected that I was smarter/better than everyone. They didn't reject me. I'd reject them. I can be cool, go with the flow of things, or be defiant, fiery and strong-willed, sometimes changing from one moment to the next."
I then asked the kids to write the sentence: "What kind of crayon would I be?"
So, we started that out...first and second hour wereOK...but not great.. in that they were chatty, didn't take it at all seriously and no one would share...It was probably my delivery...but fifth hour...WOW! This is the hour with all of MY Sharauds (there are about 5 in that hour like that "trouble" student. When I told them they could do anything they wanted to make that crayon represent them, kids were pounding them on the desks, scratching them, tearing off the paper, breaking them into little pieces, dulling them etc. I then had them write about what it all means and then asked for volunteers! WOW again! Most of the hands went up, and ALL of my Sharauds' hands went up! One by one, they talked about their crayons...they talked about their scars, the missing pieces of loved ones who are no longer there, their hardships etc, and all came back with "but I can still color"...I was almost in tears! And wait, get this, so many of them didn't know each other before this and so many had talked about losing their moms, one girl asked if we could have a moment of silence for all of the moms that were gone. These kids were so respectful! It was just one of those moments! So, I have made one of those five my "top Sharaud"...I pulled him aside after class and told him I would like him to be MY teacher in all things Muskegon Teenager...since I am this little White girl who's taught in Howell for five years! He's super geekd (he told me on the first day that he hates school, could care less about me, and was only in this class for one semester and then going to gym)
Just thought I had to share! I know not every day is going to be like this, but man, it will make the tough days better when I remember how well it can go!
Wednesday, September 5, 2007
Day Numero Deux...
Okay, so the second day is over and wow! I had my kids do this shield project. I cut out a shield from posterboard. They then had to put their photos on it (I took them yesterday and had them developed so they were there when the kids got here today) and then they had to divide the shield into four parts: Goals, Favorite things, people they admire, and uniqe things. They also had to come up with a motto along the sash. Some were more creative than others (I gave them magazines, markers/crayons, glue etc. My fifth hour was the most amazing...they really got into it and I can't wait for them to present tomorrow. I really hope they let me hang them on the walls in the hallways.
So, about my classes...They're pretty cool. My biggest class is 24 kids, but it will probably be about 22 once everything shakes out. My AP kids don't start coming to that class until next week, which is nice for me becuase I can get my feet wet this week before havign to actually teach at 7:15. There are only three kids enrolled in that class, too, which is awesome, but also makes me nervous since it's my first time teaching it and none of my collegeboard materials have come in yet. Neither have my French textbooks, which would be okay, except I forgot to order dictionaries so the activities that I have planned won't work very well with three dictionaries to split between 22 kids!
So, that was my day in a nutshell. Still have kids hasseling me about my height, have kids harping me about my heels, and I think I have found my "James/Mike"... no Matt yet, though. Definately found my "Veronica/Katie" team and my Ashely Vaughen. I can't wait to decide who my other kids are and send you all photos of them!
Capy (for six more weeks!)
So, about my classes...They're pretty cool. My biggest class is 24 kids, but it will probably be about 22 once everything shakes out. My AP kids don't start coming to that class until next week, which is nice for me becuase I can get my feet wet this week before havign to actually teach at 7:15. There are only three kids enrolled in that class, too, which is awesome, but also makes me nervous since it's my first time teaching it and none of my collegeboard materials have come in yet. Neither have my French textbooks, which would be okay, except I forgot to order dictionaries so the activities that I have planned won't work very well with three dictionaries to split between 22 kids!
So, that was my day in a nutshell. Still have kids hasseling me about my height, have kids harping me about my heels, and I think I have found my "James/Mike"... no Matt yet, though. Definately found my "Veronica/Katie" team and my Ashely Vaughen. I can't wait to decide who my other kids are and send you all photos of them!
Capy (for six more weeks!)
Tuesday, September 4, 2007
First Day at Muskegon Technical Academy
Wow! What a first day! You wouldn't believe how different my classes look. The diversity within them is amazing. So far the kids seem really friendly and open to me, but we'll see once my Teacher-Capyness comes back in full swing. They are all really excited to work with Freedom Writer stuff too and they love the wall. I will post photos when I can, but I painted the USA etc. on one of my walls so I can post photos of my other FW Teacher friends in their classes. We're going to start a shield project that I learned at the FW training this summer tomorrow and I am super excited for that. I took all of their photos today during class and they are printing right now. I have so many FWT things that I can't wait to use.
Anyway, I hear today was a little chaotic...just remember that it will all work out in the end. And cut your teachers/administrators some slack!
Mikey, how is college? (That's your name now, btw)
Anyway, I hear today was a little chaotic...just remember that it will all work out in the end. And cut your teachers/administrators some slack!
Mikey, how is college? (That's your name now, btw)
Monday, September 3, 2007
It's THAT time! Whoo Hoo!
Well everyone, it's that time of year again. Are you all ready to head back to classes? What are your schedules like? You have to post and tell me what the new school is like too! And, how about your new administrators and teachers! I know you are going to just love all of them, especially all of you with ADV AM LIT! Hosner, Ash and Web are great. And, is Miller teaching a section or two?
I am so nervous about tomorrow! I have so much planned and so little time and of course, I have no idea what these kids are going to be like! My AP class doesn't start meeting until next week, which is kinda nice since they don't know that I have changed the class to AP Lang. and comp instead of Lit and comp!
Well, I can't wait to hear how it's all going. Please, whoever is checking this, tell my breakfast boys to start blogging here! I miss them too!
Capy (for only another 6 weeks!)
I am so nervous about tomorrow! I have so much planned and so little time and of course, I have no idea what these kids are going to be like! My AP class doesn't start meeting until next week, which is kinda nice since they don't know that I have changed the class to AP Lang. and comp instead of Lit and comp!
Well, I can't wait to hear how it's all going. Please, whoever is checking this, tell my breakfast boys to start blogging here! I miss them too!
Capy (for only another 6 weeks!)
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