Friday, June 15, 2012
Summer Vacation
So now we're on summer vacation and all I have to do is goof around with my iPad because I got selected to be in a pilot program group that will be implementing iPads into their classrooms. I've already got a list of great apps and can't wait to keep finding new ones.
Oh yeah - and I get my own classroom next year. Boom!
Thursday, June 7, 2012
Batman
Wednesday, June 6, 2012
this day in history (well, yesterday)
"OH! THE HOLOCAUST ENDED!"
Sadly, that was over twenty years before. Shockingly, this is the same person who thought Iwo Jima was the Moon
- Correct Answer: RFK assassination
Tuesday, May 15, 2012
The 1960s
When I showed my students the notes for the first day they got ridiculously overwhelmed - but I explained that these notes were taking us three weeks not just one day so it's not as daunting.
Here's what the first slide of the Prezi looks like -
85 slides right there, so obviously the students were a bit concerned.
But in any case, we've since finished all those notes and recently we talked about Monterey Pop, Woodstock, Altamont, as well as famous 60s bands and musicians. For homework my students had to create concert posters that would be appealing to the hippie crowd of the 1960s and here are a few of the good ones from this year:
Thursday, May 3, 2012
College
For the next half hour we had a full-on discussion on his college plans for next year and how picked one school, sent in his deposit, but now is having second thoughts. We talked about what he liked about his two top schools, what he hated about them, what he thinks, what I thought (but I made sure not to force my opinion on him - it was more important for him to figure this out, I was just going to help him get there), and so on.
At the end of it, he decided to switch schools, had the biggest smile on his face, and now knows that he can come to me if he has an issue.
Made me feel good as a coach
Plagiarism
I assigned the essay April 3rd - it was due April 30th.
On May 1st, two students hand in their papers (already a day late) and after reading through one and then the first four words of the other, I realize they are the exact same. Within the first few words they both spell "movie" without the "i" even. I will say, the essays aren't the EXACT same, one student said "blacks and whites" and the other wrote "African-Americans and Caucasians."
In any case - brought that to the Vice Principal of Academics and they both got zeros for the assignment. Also, both students have already come to see me to apologize (not something they are told they have to do)
On a plane!
Tuesday, April 24, 2012
Review Game
Question: What was the name of the speech Martin Luther King Jr. Gave at the March on Washington?
Answer: (student yelling) I GIVE A SPEECH!
Wednesday, April 4, 2012
Schedule
Fun.
Tuesday, April 3, 2012
Thursday, March 29, 2012
Top 10 Places to Built a Fallout Shelter
Tuesday, March 27, 2012
Fallout Shelters
Most students have made their under their houses, or in Canada (because no one would bomb Canada) and a lot made theirs entirely out of glass in the middle of the ocean - so they can look at fish for fun.
One student begins his explanation of his fallout shelter like this:
"Deep in the heart of Chuck E. Cheese, through the depths of the ball pit, there is a door. Under the door there is a ladder to my fallout shelter. It is made out of melted balls from the ball pit because it is easy to obtain. I'd also have a window so I don't look like Edward Cullen."
He goes on to talk about his race-car bed and, "I'd live by myself so that I could get a good start on my one-man band. Also, I don't want to have to resort to cannibalism."
Thursday, March 15, 2012
States
A student runs up to me today; "Quick, how many states are there? 51 right? Because James swears there are 52. How ridiculous is that!?"
Iwo Jima
As class went on a different student, who had been talking to the first student, yells, "Seriously, you thought that picture was from the moon landing!"
Very confusing.
Oh kids.
Wednesday, March 14, 2012
Overheard in a Department Meeting
Tuesday, March 13, 2012
overheard
Student 2: "it's the ban of alcohol - no more moonshine!"
LOST
Today they were learning about Valley Forge during the Revolutionary War. The teacher was lecturing about how the winter was really rough, there was little food, the American soldiers were running out of supplies and so on.
Student: "Wait so they weren't even dying because of someone else? They were starving? Jeez, that's why we lost."
The rest of the class then had to explain that we won the American Revolution - it took a solid 5 minutes to convince the kid.
Monday, March 12, 2012
overheard in the cafeteria
"Do you like fat guys? I went to a bar once and an old fat guy took my picture."
What kind of conversation has to happen for this to make sense in context? Or is that impossible?
Milgram
He had 40 people in the study, these 40 had to teach a list of word-pairs (yellow flower, strong coffee, etc) to a "learner" (actually an actor) and then later on test the learner's memory. If the learner got a question wrong, the teacher had to administer an electric shock (starting at 15 volts and going to a lethal 450 volts) because the authority had told them the experiment required them to do so.
Of the 40 participants, 26 went all the way to giving the fatal 450 volt shock (the learner wasn't actually hooked up to the electric shock machine - but the teacher thought they were), 14 quit before that point.
Today I discussed Milgram and dedicated the day's lesson to his study on obedience. I told my students it was a memory study and lied to them just like Milgram lied to his participants. In the process, without them realizing they were blindly following an authority figure, I got them to change seats, move all their backpacks to the back of the room, write nonsense words on an index card, and I even got about 5 in each class to go to their lockers and get their World Languages textbook - all without anyone questioning or challenging my directions.
After I revealed the true nature of the lesson, most kids couldn't believe it, one kid said, "wait, uhhh, umm, wait, so, uhh, you just like uhh messed with our heads. my mind is like blown." Very eloquent.
I did make a point to explain that in no way, shape or form am I advising my students to disrespect and ignore authority. I told them they had to listen to their teachers and parents, follow orders from the police, and generally avoid any form of anarchist revolution.
But overall, fun day.
Friday, March 9, 2012
studying
"Oh my God, I love the Holocaust! ... I mean, umm, I love STUDYING the Holocaust, that's it."
Thursday, March 8, 2012
Sharks
No idea where this came from, but it is the same girl who asked if the Great Depression really happened.
Tuesday, March 6, 2012
Retreat but no Surrender
This morning was a struggle and I have been exhausted all day so far. However, the weekend retreat was totally worth it. Here's hoping I get to help out next year too.
Friday, March 2, 2012
Delegate
"Something that is easily broken."
"Delegate - not delicate."
kids.
Thursday, March 1, 2012
Parent Teacher Night #3
We had our third round of parent teacher conferences tonight. It went really well, I saw about 15 sets of parents - not to bad but a good amount.
During the first parent teacher night, I had a pretty difficult conference with a parent about her son who was failing the class simply because he didn't hand stuff in. He has been able to turn it around, currently has a 73 and things are looking good.
The entire conference went really well. It validated me in a way and made me know I was doing something right.
Overall, great night. Also - I got to school an hour and forty-five minutes before the first bell, and after conferences were over I had stayed four and a half hours past the last bell.
Tuesday, February 28, 2012
Baby picture
Yesterday I started my pre-WWII unit with a focus on the rise of Hitler and how he came to power and all that. To begin the lesson, I showed yong Adolf's baby picture to kind of throw off the kids as to what we were studying.
Right away, I got two very different sorts of reactions. All the guys said it was the ugliest baby they've ever seen and all the girls collectively said "awwww". After I told them it was Hitler, everyone switched to the more negative reaction except one girl - who still insisted it was a "wicked cute baby"
Friday, February 17, 2012
Little known fact
Wednesday, February 15, 2012
Videos
- a PSA by Brian Scalabrine
- a PSA by Billy Cundiff
- The Real Housewives of Hooverville
- FDR's Brain Trust made up of Steven Hawking, Dr. Sheldon Cooper, Dr. Leonard Hoffstatter, and Batman
Some lowpoints:
- "Thirty Thursday" comment
- End of Prohibition celebratory shots of Apple Juice
- Flashmob in the third floor
- a ten foot span of lockers on the first floor spelled out "PROM?"
- at least a dozen bouquets of roses
Wednesday, February 8, 2012
MAIDS!
Me: What do you know the Queen from the movie?
Student 1: She has maids!
Student 2: Wait! What? The Queen had AIDS?
Student 1: Who said she had AIDS? Did she really have AIDS?
Student 3: Hold up, is that why she was so angry?
Student 4: Was Disney trying to make some political statement?
Student 2: How did I not know about this before?
23
So I figured I should just tell them the truth, I've lied to my classes enough this year, "Yeah, I lied. I'm 23."
This caused the class to go into shock. Some kids looked absolutely confused, some were trying to figure out math in their heads, and others just starred at me asking if I was lying again.
Eventually, one kid raises his hand. "You should date Joe's sister. You two are the same age!" Right then, a different kid yells, "Everyone knows that Mr. [my last name] is taken!" I told the kid he needed to stop and to not go down that road about my personal life, and he just responds, "No. You're just so good looking, you obviously have a girlfriend. Duh."
Monday, February 6, 2012
Escapism
To help organize their thoughts on the movies, I made a handout/worksheet that had columns for setting, characters, plot, year released and so on. We talked about Gone with the Wind, It Happened One Night, Mr. Smith Goes to Washington, The Wizard of Oz, and Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs.
Before we started talking about escapism, I passed out the worksheet with "Escapism of the Great Depression" written on the top.
Right away:
Student: You spelled escapade wrong.
Me: No, it says escapism.
S: I see that, but you spelled escapade wrong - it's supposed to say escapade.
M: Sorry, but no. It says escapism for a reason. It's supposed to.
S: Escapade and escapism are the same thing. You should have written escapade. Escapade is like escape - getting whisked away somewhere. So that's supposed to say escapade. You did it wrong.
M: The two aren't the same thing. We're going to be talking about escapism today and what that really means.
S: Escapism isn't a word - it sounds like something that you made up. It should say escapade.
M: Escapism is different from escapade, and it is a real word.
S: Oh, then what is escapism? Why was it part of the Great Depression?
M: That's what we're doing today.
-- then the class started.
Wednesday, February 1, 2012
it really happened
In class today, one girl turned to me and asked, "is this a real story?" I told her it was and that the movie was based on a true story. Actually, one of the actresses in the movie is the granddaughter of the real Jim Braddock (the main character). She responds, "no but it is true?" I explained it was. "So that just makes it all so much sadder. It's true? That's so sad." I didn't know what to say to her comment, just as her classmate turned to her, "Gen, the Great Depression really happened." She thought for a second then said, "wait, really? Oh, right. Ok then - that's fine."
Glad to see it took a movie based on a true story for my students to realize the Great Depression really happened after we've spent a week learning about it in class before we started the movie.
Monday, January 30, 2012
Pop Quiz
Next I asked everyone to clear their desks and I gave them a pop quiz - 10 questions as they appeared on the homework. So far, the class average for all of my classes has been about 4/10.
well done kids.
Friday, January 27, 2012
more solutions:
- write screenplay to Titanic
- write screenplay to Annie Hall
- write a letter to Salvador Dali asking for money for a personal art studio (lie)
- get a roommate, and convince them the bill is higher to get a profit
- entertaining children at birthday parties because the industry is probably virtually nothing
- invent something revolutionary - like the slap-chop
Thursday, January 26, 2012
Scenario
The Scenario:
You live by yourself in an apartment in New York City in 1930. Last month you couldn’t pay the electric bill, so you’ve been struggling to get by without power for the past few weeks. The heating bill is due soon and you only have $2.30 for the bill that costs $10.50. You’re nervous about what will happen if you don’t pay the bill because it’s now the beginning of winter and it’s only going to get colder over the next few weeks/months. What are you going to do in order to pay the bill? You have no family to turn to, no car to leave with, you just got laid off from your job, and you’re running out of options. What is the best and most feasible/realistic solution to your predicament?
The Solution:
- Let your heat shut off to save money
- build an illegal firepit in your apartment (solves lighting issue)
- go to charities for blankets (you'll use them to cover your doors and windows so the smoke doesn't escape)
- need food money? lonely? - find a dashing young man and ask him to live a life of crime with you robbing banks and mugging apple sellers. You'll also be famous and people will come up with some catching crime team name for you and post it in the paper (or get a dog if the dashing young man rejects you)
- First I would think back to the high school that I attended. I would contact the man who had the best way with the ladies. I would have him give me lessons; almost like we were in the movie "Hitch" and I was Kevin James and he was Will Smith. I would have him help me char a rich, beautiful woman, such as Eva Mendez, and she would marry me. We would move into a handsome, heat-filled home, have a myriad of children, and live happily ever after. I don't think there is any other solution more reasonable than this one.
Monday, January 23, 2012
overheard in the cafeteria
Then she curtsied and said "goodbye" in a horrible British accent.
What is wrong with these kids?
Wednesday, January 18, 2012
how to: fail a midterm
I love when kids don't read directions! Kidding, I'm actually pretty upset with this kid know because he was doing generally well on the test and he was on track to get a B+, but when you don't answer 5 short answer questions, it really messes with the whole "passing" thing.
seriously.
Tuesday, January 17, 2012
vocab!
- upheld
- malice (x2)
- statutes
- bipartisan (x2)
- reactionary
- curtailed (x5)
- typifies
- regression
- diplomacy
- subjugation (x6)
- amnesty
- high ground
- civil liberties
- inferior (x2)
- reparations
- abolitionists
Found it!
But when I checked over the weekend. I found out I owed $18,000 less than I thought it did. Awesome right? Sadly no. I found all the money I owed this morning, so everything is now back to normal.
yay.
Thursday, January 12, 2012
closure
One case, a girl took direct lines (phrases up to multiple sentences) from 5 different websites. After meeting with the academic vice principal, we decided to only pursue 1 of the cases (the egregious one) in terms of an "academic integrity" issue.
The girl got a zero on the assignment (worth 45 points total), has to serve multiple detention hours, and cannot be inducted into an honor society (NHS or subject honor societies) in the next round of inductions (April).
Her class was first period yesterday, I had to explain what plagiarism was (by order of the VP) and go over proper citations. I didn't look in her direction the entire time. After that we started reviewing for the midterms coming up. I asked the class a series of questions, called on people randomly (including her) and the class went smoothly. I think she appreciated I was in no way making a scene or calling attention to her.
So here's to a smooth rest the year.
Monday, January 9, 2012
plagiarism
In these research papers, so far (one class left to go over) I've found one girl who massively plagiarized and six other students who plagiarized in a smaller degree.
Why are kids to dumb?
Saturday, January 7, 2012
Research Papers
Requirements: 3-4 pages, 12 point Times New Roman font, 1" margins, etc.
First off, he handed in his paper a day late (the penalty is that 10% of the total points is subtracted from your grade). Secondly, if you are ever going to email a teacher your paper - send it as a PDF so that all those little tricks you used to make your paper longer can't all be fixed back to what they should have been originally.
This future leader extended the margins and used justified alignment. But the paper still looked weird, the font was TNR like it was supposed to be and was 12 point the whole paper. I talked to one of my roommates and we discovered you can change the spacing between each word too. This kid had set it to "extended spacing" so that his paper was that much longer.
First is a picture of how his paper was formatted when he submitted it. Second is his paper with proper formating.
kids are great.
Thursday, January 5, 2012
Odd
- Tell them I have no idea and I can't help them
- Make it up and sound convincing
Debate Team
- North Korea doesn't have any long range missiles but they can hit target in Israel, Kuwait, and Saudi Arabia.
- The leader of North Korea is Jim Kunill
- The capital of North Korea (Pyongyang) is pronounced [PIE-GONE-YAY!]
- Iran can shoot a missile 3 kilometers, which can hit Israel
- It is cheaper to explore the oceans rather than space because all you need is scuba gear.
Tuesday, January 3, 2012
NEW YEAR - NEW SEATS!
Beyond that, the new year started out smoothly. We covered Harding's "Return to Normalcy" and all that fun stuff that goes along with it. It was a dry lecture, but I was able to joke around with the students and make it a little more interesting.
After school, I had 8 students in my room to see me. First off, 1 student after school to see me never happens, let alone 8. A teacher across the hall actually stopped and starred when she saw so many kids in the room.
-------
On the friday before vacation, a student came into one of my classes that was apparently during his free period. He felt he had the right to sit in the back of the room in the teacher's chair and comment on the class. I politely asked the student to leave the room because it wasn't his class, he brushed me off. I told him to leave, he jokingly replied. Then he made a comment about another teacher in the school and I "yelled" (more so talked sternly) at him to leave and slammed the door behind him.
This morning, I handed a detention slip to his class dean because I felt his actions before break were disrespectful to me, disrespectful to the teacher he commented about, and disrespectful to to the teacher whose desk he was sitting in the back of the room without asking (a teacher whose been at this school for 50+ years).
He met with his dean and she gave him an hour of detention and told him he had to come talk to me about what happened as well. Today, with a minute before the bell rang to start one of my classes, this kid walks into my room (again not during his class period) and said:
Kid: Miss [class dean] told me I had to talk to you
Me: Ok
Kid: Does that work then? Can I leave? Are we good?
Me: Now's not the time, my class is about to start
Kid: Fine (rolls eyes and leaves)
He came to my room later in the day to talk to me. He sat down, and simply said again he needed to talk to me, I said OK. After a brief awkward silence, he said "I'm sorry." And then, I politely and casually asked "for what?" The total conversation lasted no more than two minutes but I feel like I definitely got my point across and that student should never show that amount of disrespect again. Hopefully.