Wait...we have a test today?

Yes, indeed, this was a response that a student shared as I began going over their test before passing them out. HA! The rest of the class responded with an uproar of laughter. Another student asked me why my study guide didn't give them any answers for the test. What do I say to that?!

I have never thought it to be wrong to ask students to think for themselves and use the brain that God gave them and I refuse to start doing that now. I KNOW my students can do the work and I KNOW that they are smart kids, but I think they will start putting effort into their learning when they realize that, too.

I think that kids today honestly expect the work to be done for them. I don't want to say ALL kids are that way, but something our society has done has taught them that they don't have to think for themselves. It kills me. Some of my students did very poorly on their first test because they are not putting for the effort required to do well. The bad part is that they think that it's my fault, not theirs. We spent the first few weeks discussing, doing group activities, partner activities, and independent work to learn about how the author develops characters, conflict, and setting, learning first person, limited-omniscient, and omniscient points of view, and how to make inferences and draw conclusions for literary texts. Those words may sound fancy, but I can assure you that by time the quizzes and test came around we were all about to cross-eyed because we had talked about it so much. And yet, some students still did not do well. I spent two days reteaching the material and students that spent the weekend studying, and could prove that they studied, were able to take the test again. As a part of our policy at Pelion Middle, students are required to provide evidence that they studied (i.e. flashcards, notecards, rewritten notes, etc). Less than half of my students provided this evidence on Monday morning so they were the only ones that were able to improve their grade. Why would you NOT do something to study so that you could improve your grade?! And in fact, the students that did study, were the ones who did well the first time but wanted an even better grade!
Again, I KNOW that my students can do the work and I KNOW that they are smart kids. If they put forth the effort to study and learn the material the first time, I KNOW that they will succeed on future tests. But why would they wait for a bad grade to get in gear?

This is another realization of the change in society and the vast difference in homelife than when I was in sixth grade. These kids make me thankful every day for the home- both homes- that I had growing up and the parents, church, and community that supported me.

The adventure continues...

These Wascally Wabbits...

Oh boy! The true colors begin to show...

Most of my children are the sweetest kids, great students, care about others, and respect each other. Some...not so much. I believe that, at heart, all children really want to be good. Some, just have a hard time showing for one reason or another. The majority of my students have a rough home life that is vastly different than mine was growing up. At my school, you have to be a compassionate and passionate teacher to reach these kids- Otherwise, you'll get nowhere.

That being said, the few that are giving me such a hard time are doing so to impress someone in their class of the opposite sex. Yes, HORMONES~ sooo not used to this. They think that getting in trouble is a way to show the other that they are tough, and they are. These kids are wise beyond their years because of what they go home to. I just wish they didn't have to be so stubborn and like getting in trouble- that NEVER impressed me.

Ironically, I married an older version of the kid in the my class who gives me the hardest time! Every time I tell him a story about little "Bob" (not his real name), Rob says "Oh yeah, I did that." When I talk about calling little Bob's parents, he says "Oh yeah, my mom and teacher were on a first name basis". WHAT?! I have come to realize just how bad he was through confirmation every time we see one of his teachers around town. One teacher had us both (at different times) and about croaked when she realized we were together. It's funny how the Lord works!

Hormones, drama, broken homes, and desperately in need of love- that's my kids! I'm learning...they're learning...it's a process and I guess that's all that matters...

And so it begins...

It has been an amazing journey thus far...and it's only the fourth day of school!! I absolutely love it!

The rest of the classroom preparations were simple and not too tedious but here it is...

All of my students walked in on the first day of school to a star with their name on it!

From my desk...

From the door...

I asked them to help me make up our classroom rules! I got some interesting responses :)

For the STAR STUDENTS in each of my four classes!

The Super Star Student calendar :)

Mrs. Brannan's area...all others, keep out!

The billion forms to go home on day one and the turn in bins for each class!

Thanks for the cute clock decorations, Auntie Karen!!

Love some Dr. Seuss quotes!

Quote for week one...loved discussing the meaning with my students!

Classroom Preview!

I had the choice between the old ELA classroom (orange) or the Math classroom (bright yellow). Of course, I chose Yellow!! Without even realizing what I was saying, I told the principal I wanted the yellow room because "it will go better with my burgundy diploma frame". WHAT?! Thankfully she still gave me the job :)

Without further ado...

Come on in!

This is what I started with...

Literary Genres

Oh the joy of sorting books. And books. And more books...

Finished product! *sigh of relief*

After a lot of hard work...

For all newsletters and school events...



And the star lights!

Well that's all I've taken so far but there's more to come when everything's finished!

Where did this come from?!

Where in the world did this come from?! I'm a TEACHER in Lexington One! I am still in shock...

I can't wait to meet all of my 90ish "STAR" students next week! I love getting to know all of my Pelion Middle family and getting my room set up just the way I've always dreamed it'd be. I am almost done setting up my room and I'm working on getting my parent letter and information sheets (all the stuff that parents hate on the first day of school) typed and ready to go home to my students. Next Monday night is Open House so I'll have to let you know how it goes!

 I'm going to have to get used to the fact that my students have lockers! I never expected to have "locker duty" during the day and have rules about students going to lockers at certain times.

My room is decorated with tons of stars and my students will be '"shooting for the stars" all year! I hung a string of star shaped lights at the back of the room and I am going to make a wall display that says Learning Is A Blast decorated with a rocket headed toward the stars. I am going to have a Star Student of the week for each of my four classes, which will be an earned title based on behavior. We are using PBIS, or Positive Behavior Intervention System, in our school which is designed to increase desired behaviors and decrease unproductive ones through positive reinforcement.

Pictures to come soon!