Back to the Grind. . .

Been dreaming about work the past couple of nights. . . it has to be my need to start doing some work before School starts. 

Last night, I dreamt that we were going on a field trip but I hadn't collected any money until the day of and then we weren't able to go. I also somehow showed up late and was unprepared for my lesson. 

It's funny how it's on my mind but then when I have time to work on it, I just want to do anything BUT that. Such as laundry and cooking. I know they're distractions. So I scheduled a gym class at noon today and will spend an hour to work on it. 

I'm not starting completely from scratch. I worked on a To-Do list last week. Now...have I looked at it since then? Not really. But it was worth it. 

Now to get back to it. 

Week 1: Monday Update

2:00p.m. Let's recap: 

Week 1 Goals:
Today I want to accomplish:
a) student letter to welcome students - Currently in progress, still not complete/satisfied. Perhaps I just need to stop looking at samples and just finish it up. Get it to a Staples and copy it. 
b) materials list- Haven't touched whatsoever -- Seems like a quick win...
c) copy of student schedule - Haven't touched yet...but worked on it on Friday. Another quick win. 
d) behavior management system - monopoly themed - Nope...
e) homework policy - 5% 

In addition to the above, I've been working on my Back to School Powerpoint. Thankfully I have last year's Open House as a template.

Revised Week 1 Goals: 
1. Quick Wins:
a) Copy of Student Schedule
b) Student Roster
c) Identification of SPED students
d) Student word search

2. Drafts in Progress - Final Copy Needed by Tonight 
a) Behavior Management System
b) Student Letter to welcome students
c) Back to School Presentation
d) Materials List Draft

3. Long-term Projects - Drafts in Progress 
a) Class Website

Check-in at 4:30p.m. 

A bit M.I.A. #afreshstart

I'm baaaaack.

Ok, now that I sound super creepy...just want to say hello again.

I'm starting a new chapter in my career.
Starting my 4th year teaching and after spending 3 years on the Southwest side of Chicago, I've moved on up to the Lakeview neighborhood on the North side.

Before that sounds completely bougie of me, it is a CPS magnet school that buses students in from the South and West of Chicago, so needless to say it still has a lot of South/West side problems.

Tomorrow's the first day and it's time to get to work.

It's a bit rough looking to get started since it's pretty gloomy here -- I often use sunlight in the office to get me going.

So, let's start with some ' Beginning of the Year': Week 1 goals

Week 1 Goals:
Today I want to accomplish:
a) student letter to welcome students
b) materials list
c) copy of student schedule
d) behavior management system - monopoly themed
e) homework policy

I think that's a pretty good start for now.
Check-in at 1:00p.m.

5 years to make a first year teacher?? I'm 1/5 of the way there...more like 1.25 of the way there

Today was just one of those days.

It seems like it's been more like "some of those weeks". It's that time to finish the end of the first quarter of the 2012-2013 school year.

It's hard to believe that it's been 9 weeks since this school year has just started. It seems like we just started yesterday and like the school year should be over at the same time.

It's been such a drastic change since my first year and yet I still don't feel like I'm doing enough.

Teaching is one of those professions where one strives to do everything at once.

<<Plan units>> << Backwards map>> <<Make a cozy environment>> <<Post student work>> <<Grade student work>> << Give constant assessment>> << Deal with students that hit/flirt with other students.>> << Deal with parents/grandparents that just push you over the edge>> <<Constant parent communication>> <<Call students to wake them up>> <<Identify students who need more help>> <<maintain an organized classroom>> << have engaging lessons>> <<establish clear routines>> <<check in homework>> <<provide pencils/paper for students who don't have anything>>

...and all before the breakfast bell rings it seems.

Grades are due but I still can't help be in a funk to think that I could/SHOULD/NEED to be doing better. If I feel this sense of urgency...why don't the students?? Why should I be the one worrying??

I've heard somewhere that it's not fair to be the one that is working the hardest in the classroom. Students need to be equally invested in it as well....but I'm not sure how to establish that so far.

How do you establish more independence within students to take ownership of their work??? Without overworking yourself at the same time?? Without scaffolding it so that you're holding their hands every step of the way???

If it takes 5 years to become a "first year teacher" then I'm 1.25 of the way there. I want to do everything all at once, but like I heard today...there's only 24 hours in a day. How do we prioritize? Organize? Strategize?

It's time to make some changes for this year...but it probably has to wait until after grades are in.

What are changes you want to make this school year??

GPL anyone??

GPL = Grading - Planning - Laundry*

* Shout out to any Jersey Shore fans who get the teacher version of "GTL" (Gym, Tan, Laundry). :)

GPL seems to wrap-up my Sunday pretty well today. I've been in and out of the office since 8:30 a.m. this morning and have been clearing through some e-mails, wrapped my head around unit planning for math and of course, have done a few loads of laundry. I haven't gotten to the "G" (Grading) part of GPL but I'm confident that it will happen today.

To be honest, this feels as if it has been one of my most productive work during the weekend in awhile. I have to admit that the start of the school year and factoring in strike days in Chicago hasn't caused me to be too productive on the weekends.

I've selfishly claimed those days as "mine" and have tried to use them to make sure that I balance out my work week by making sure I take time to rejuvenate myself on the weekends. Perhaps I've been taking that a little bit too much for granted??

In any case, the important thing is that I'm getting back in the swing of things but at the same time making sure that I'm being productive as well. Some tips to remind myself of in the future.

1) Work in the Morning/Afternoons:: 
I love the sunlight that comes into the office, which means I need to take advantage of it when I can.

2) Review Inbox::

It takes me awhile to get into the "frame of mind" of planning, and I need to be reminded of everything I need to do before I can get started. (Note: Don't spend forever on this. Limit to ~30 min or so) 

3) ANSWER e-mails in inbox:: 

This is not my strong suit, but I'm working on it. 

4) Catchup on household duties, but leave certain projects for completing while watching favorite TV shows

Overall, I'm simply better able to focus, brainstorm and plan in the morning than after a long day of family activities or household chores. Why not leave folding laundry until all my brain cells have been used up from planning and I'm left with "mindless" work to do?

5) When in a planning rut, reach out to colleagues for questions: 

There's no use in being frustrated when you get overwhelmed. Reach out via e-mail and see what they say. At least you'll have cleared your mind for you to get started on another project

6) Keep a running To-Do List: 

Keeping a list next to you while planning will let you write down items you suddenly remember but let you stay focused on what you're doing 

7) Create words for "Word Walls" while previewing a unit 

As I walked through Ch. 1 of Everyday Math, I wrote important vocab. on sentence strips when I came across the words. I'm terrible at updating word walls, but at least the words are already done and it helps reinforce the main topics of the chapter to remember while planning. Now, it seems less scary to make sure they get on the wall. 

I'm sure there's other tips to think of, but I still need to wrap-up my plans for today. Gah. 7 hours later and it's still not done. Oy vey. :-/

Working *SMARTER*... not harder

So it's Sunday, ~4:20pm and it's time I sit down and get started thinking about what I need for the week.

No this moment is not the first time I've thought about school since I left school at 4:30 on Friday. Not if you count:

1. scouring teacher's blogs on Google Reader /Pinterest for inspiration 
2. emailing links to articles on Google Reader/Pinterest in hopes of remembering the great ideas that I come across. 

But it is the first time that I'm sitting down and starting to get to work to seriously prep for the week. In hindsight, I should give myself bonus points because this is much earlier than I started last weekend (but only by about 4 hours).

Of those weekend blog readings, one in particular that struck me most was one by a fellow colleague I went to graduate school with. Her husband has limited her to no more than a ~60 hour work week; no working past 7:00pm and only 5 hours on the weekend. There was a bit of a lightbulb that went off, like, of course I should do that too.

Sometimes it doesn't seem so easy, but it goes back to the philosophy of working smarter rather than working harder. During my first year of teaching, I was naive to think that being in school until I got kicked out at 7:00pm (or even 7:30pm) meant I was working harder. Now teachers get the boot at 6:00pm and even then it's sometimes pushed to 6:20; 6:30pm. (It has to be my Hispanic roots  that doesn't let me leave at a certain time.)

It took me half a year to realize that I was tired and didn't really feel like that much was being accomplished. But I was stuck in a weird limbo. Do I stay up late and plan and be ready for the next day? Or go to bed feeling rested but have no idea what I'm doing in the morning? Which is more exhausting and leads to more stress?

I'm still working out my routine, but one change this year is going to help me figure it out. Our weekly lesson plans are now due by Monday, 8:00a.m. which means I need to have them done by Sunday at 9:00/10:00pm so I can go to sleep at a decent hour.

Yet what it REALLY means is that I need to have them by Sunday afternoon (ideally Saturday) if I want them to get checked by my assistant principal. Which is a great opportunity for her to know what's going on in my classroom and to get feedback on my plans (which is exciting and scary at the same time).

With that said, it's 4:44pm and it's time to get started.....right after I put pasta in the boiling water to eat for dinner. :)

Ms. Mendoza's Daily Reflection

Howdy y'all,

Soo...it's seems that there has been a hiatus from my initial post and start of the blog (~50days). There's so much to catch up on--the start of the school year and a seven day strike--but more on that later. (All I can say now is that while I'm tired...I'm excited to be back at work!)

Today is just a quick post about my latest attempt for keeping me on track with reflection. I created a Google Doc with questions I want to think and reflect upon. I'm not one for keeping a notebook and handwriting my reflections. I'm a much faster typist and thought this would be a way to keep track of all my reflections in a centralized location.

You can view my reflection form here. Feel free to check to it out, make suggestions about questions to ask. I already see a few options I want to add to.

What: Daily Reflection Form 
Goal: Complete reflection 3 times a week.
When: During prep (or immediately after school)
Danielson Domain: V - Professional Responsibilities