I love teaching!

This week is Spirit Week. I was sick on Monday which was Super Hero/Villain Day. Tuesday was Wacky Tacky Day. I tried my best. Today was Time Warp Day, and I dressed like the 1940s. I had my 6th graders guess what era I was from, and I received guesses ranging from Little House on the Prairie to Montezuma.

I love teaching. A lot. Today was especially good. I feel more comfortable with my students. I'm trying really hard to have a good relationship with them because that helps with classroom behavior. So, on Tuesday while I was on recess duty, I played soccer with all of the middle school boys. It was pretty hilarious. I was SO bad. They were really respectful though even though I was no help to them. Every time my ear muffs would fly off, they'd run and go get them for me. They are good kids.

Teaching drama is so much fun. My students are so funny some times that I'll be crying in class because they make me laugh so hard. They do/say the most ridiculous, hilarious things.

I've also really been enjoying teaching literature. In the 8th grade, we are reading To Kill a Mockingbird. We had such a good discussion today. We talked about social stratification in the south, childhood innocence, and self-righteousness. It was so good because the students were responding to one another -- not just to me. The setup of the classroom helps because the desks are in a U, so they are facing one another. I want them to talk to one another, to answer each other's questions and their own questions, and to not be dependent on me to respond "Yes, that is correct." Usually when I give prompts, they answer directly to me, but I try to respond only in questions and not give too many answers.

Seventh grade is reading Treasure Island. Personally, I am not a fan of this novel. It has its moments of excitement, but for the most part, it doesn't capture me. However, I have to teach it, so what can I do?

For an activity, I created a blank Facebook profile template and had my students divided into groups. Each group was assigned a character from the novel, and the profile had to reflect the characterization in the novel. If the character was a pirate, the profile had to have pirate language. If the character was educated, the profile had to use correct grammar. The students had to choose the character's interests, activities, hometown, religious views, political views, favorite movies/music, etc. They had to pick what kind of groups the character would be in and who his friends would be on Facebook. There had to be four friend posts on the character's wall too, and each of these wall posts had to reflect the novel's characterization. It was a lot of work, but I think they really enjoyed it! Here are some examples of their work:

I don't know how effective it was in increasing their understanding of characterization, but they sure had fun with it regardless.

Here are pictures of my students. They are awesome!

My 6th grade boys on Wacky Tacky Day

My 6th grade girls. Glory & Haesl were not tacky at all.

Robert....he's crazy!

David...I know you're not supposed to have favorites, but.....

Jesse...I love this kid!

David L. I have to get on to him a lot for singing at the top of his lungs in class and in the halls. He doesn't know how to hum quietly.

David C. and David C. This often presents a problem when calling their names in class. :)

Glory & Hanna on Time Warp Day

My 7th grade girls on Wacky Tacky Day

Tessa & Ali are joined at the hip

Somebody walked all over Eun-Chung's face!

My 8th graders

Hye-Rim and Masie on Time Warp Day

Phil on Time Warp Day...in his words, "Peace, love, and cookies!"

Tomorrow is School Spirit Day. That means we get to wear jeans. I am starting to feel like a real teacher because I get really excited when we get to have a jeans day! :)

Much Love,
Meredith