The new semester begins...

This semester is off to a great start. I am teaching one class with my bestie Hayleigh which is so exciting. It has been awesome to work with her and see what a talented teacher she is. She has the perfect balance of serious, slightly playful, and warm. Our students so far are doing a really great job. It is quite a large class but thankfully we are getting through it together. I can't wait to continue working through out the semester together and learn what I can from her. <3

My other classes are off to a great start as well. I have put into place some new ideas as well as some new books to use with the class including "7 Habits for Highly Effective Teens." I loved the book and am hoping the students will learn to use the strategies as they need them in their life. I also use "Don't Sweat the Small Stuff for Teens" which by far is their favorite because I created a worksheet that goes with each one of the headers so we do a small activity after each one. I like both of these books because it makes for great transition from school to work which I am always looking for and it allows for great discussion in class about what they want from their life and how to get there.

Book 2 out of 50: 7 Habits for Highly Effective Teens

Book 2, I finished in a day... Mainly because I am using parts of it in my class and wanted to get it finished before the new semester starts. This book is great! I wish it had been around when I was a teenager because it had great tips on just coping with being a teenager and how to improve your lives. 

I am looking forward to using it in my classroom. I especially like that some of the materials I could relate to as an adult maybe I am acting like a teenager? :)

Any other teachers have books that they love to use with students?

EC Conference

I was invited to attend the EC Conference in Greensboro for two days. The conference featured topics on: Positive Behavior Support Team, Teaching Reading to Struggling Readers, and Teaching Students with Autism. I had a great time and learned quite a bit. I also was able to pick up great homemade cards from an OCS class near Charlotte.

I would love to have my students make cards like these for school based hours. What an amazing idea!

The Leap

Comparing and contrasting parts of the atom. A good example of students engaged and learning. Note: the bottom portion is not as effective with learning. 

This past week, my students have been developing powerpoints on specific topics including: air pollution, water pollution, renewable and non renewable resources and solid and hazardous wastes. One of my students googled air pollution and up came a picture of a dog which he initially used in his presentation until I informed him that dogs have very little to do with ozone depletion. Hence, my drawing. (Kids do the strangest things)

I have decided to take a huge leap and apply for my National Board certification. I am excited to begin this journey on evaluating my teaching practices and to prepare myself to reflect on the good, bad and ugly (note dog and ozone depletion comment) of my classroom. I was able to attend a seminar yesterday about the process and I began to become extremely anxious but I know that the outcome of this process will make me a better educator even if the instructions to one portion is 300 pages long. I am relieved that there are 8 other teachers from my school that are slowly easing their way into this process as well. We will be able to support each other along the way. 

End of Summer

Summer is official over. While most teachers enjoy a long break from school, I am usually itching to get back even when I work a summer part time job. Contrary to popular belief teachers are not paid during the summer so we have to budget out money from all of the months. I would prefer to be paid for twelve months but I feel I might be alone in that. The break is definitely refreshing but I am always excited to hear about how my students summers were and hope that they are looking forward to another year forward. One more year closer to our ultimate goal of graduation!

Here are some before and after shots of my classroom. It's amazing how long it takes to get a classroom ready and even then I don't feel ready.

This is the first year that I won't have some one else in my room with me. Although, it certainly is nice sharing my room with others I am excited to add a reading nook in for my students to dive into some books. 

Students always remark at how colorful my room is and amazingly enough it reminds me of my apartment. There is just something very warming and welcoming about color. I hope that all the other teachers have had a great start to the new school year!

NCCAT

This past week I was able to go to NCCAT (North Carolina Center for Advancement of Teaching). This seminar was titled, "Is DNA your Destiny?" I had an excellent time and learned many new things that I will bring back to my classroom. I went to NCCAT last year for the beginning teacher's seminar and met amazing people that I still brainstorm with and keep in touch with. My favorite thing about NCCAT is that I everyone is treated like a professional that we all are in teaching for the same reason: the students. I feel safer there than I do in my own school to be creative and innovative and to ask question of people who actually work in the field. This past week we had a cell biology professor from ECU as one of our guest fellows and she was wonderfully informative. I feel like if teaching wasn't my calling that cell biology could be a potential love of mine. I feel like I deepened my knowledge base of genetics and was able to present my pedigree on my mutation which I always love getting the word out there and quite frankly my pedigree is pretty interesting. NCCAT is such a wonderful place to go as an educator; every time I go there it renews me. I have met many people that don't know if they want to continue in this profession and then they go to NCCAT and they continue in the field because of the way they are treated. Bottom line: NCCAT is amazing if you are a teacher, go!

Building a double helix.

Growing E. Coli cultures.