Shooting for Improvement

"What the teacher is, is more important than what he teaches." ~Karl Menninger

I haven't written anything lately because there isn't too much new. I'm still getting the swing of things, and seeing what works and what doesn't.

With some recently released test results (The SAGE Test) Ogden has been placed as the lowest Utah district. My school was the lowest, especially in math, in the district. Because of these results, our district is pushing for improvement through interventions. If you want to look at the SAGE results, here they are: https://datagateway.schools.utah.gov/SAGE. Or if you google anything about Utah Sage Results, I'm sure you'll find some information about Ogden and our superintendent talking about our struggles.

First off, we are looking into implementing something called the Token Economy. Students would earn points and at the end of the semester, they would be able to buy a prize with the points that they earned. This is still in the planning stages. A struggle that we have is that the Token Economy will have to rely heavily off of donations. We have some money for it, but since our school doesn't have a lot of funds, then we will be going to local business to ask if they would donate rewards for our students. If you have any ideas of rewards that middle school students would enjoy, please share! Or if you would like to help out in any way, we'd accept it gladly. Just let me know.

Secondly, we have implemented a bell work activity that every single math student, 7th through 9th grade, is doing. For the first five minutes of class, students practice math facts. These fifteen minutes (I teach three classes a day) are the most blissful time of my day! It is unbelievably quiet in my classroom! Each student has seventy problems in front of them every day. Students work their way through addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division pages. The whole goal of this practice is to shoot for improvement. Yes, you may be thinking that this is something that you did in second or third grade, but our students need it. We started this week, and so far, they have been doing great. Many have pasted the addition, some are stuck on subtraction, and others have flown to multiplication. I'm excited to see how this repetition will help the students, and where I can help them most (some students still are drawing dots to help them with the subtraction problems). If students are unable to do simple math problems, how can they have fluency on pre-algebra topics? I'm excited to see what data we get get from doing this math facts practice.

At this point in time, you may be wondering why I wrote the quote at the top. If you weren't wondering, I'm sure you are now! I wrote the quote because sometimes I get discouraged. I fight so hard for these kids. I want to teach the best lesson that I can, so that they can have the best opportunity of success. But then these results come out. And yes, I know the SAGE results were from last year, but I still get discouraging results on my tests. I have some students who put in so much effort to get F's. Many don't even take out a pencil and paper to take notes. And yes, I do provide these materials if they forget them. They still don't use the material I provide. Another student will have his book on his desk, but not open it. I have to tell him to open his book. He'll open to a random page. Then I have to stand there until he opens the book to the correct page. One student consistently tells me that he won't do anything I ask. He even purposefully got a zero on a test. When I asked him to take notes, he of course said no. In the course of our conversation I said, "I have more faith in you, then you do in yourself." His response: "That was your first mistake." This breaks my heart. I want to help these kids so much. Who I am going to be for these students will be much more than anything I can teach them.

Today's Humor: Oh the joys of Halloween. Students can't focus. Students think they should have no homework. Students say the darnedest things.

Today in class-
Student 1: "What are you dressing up as?"
Student 2: "You should be a witch."
Me: I gave him the teacher glare.
Entire class laughs
Student 2: "I mean a nice witch!"
Student 3: "You'd be a good witch. You're tall."
Apparently, witches are tall. Good to know.

In a different class-
Student 1: "What are your plans for Halloween?"
Before I can get out any answer, Student 2 says "She's probably a loner."
Me: Gasp. "No, I'm hanging out with friends."
Entire Class erupted in laughter...

Oh, the joys of students thinking you don't have a social life. I even have proof. This week I carved a minion pumpkin. SEE!

Until next time...

A Nerd in Disguise

If you asked me how I was doing on Thursday at 11:30am, I would have said I was having the ABSOLUTE worst possible day. My day was exhausting, and the students were frustrating. After my students left, I started to tear up. I couldn't even sit at lunch without tearing up. It was that kind of day. However, if you would have asked me at 3:05pm, I would have had a smile on my face, and you would have never known my day was that bad. In fact, you might even think that it was one of my best days thus far. It is surprising how one class can make such a difference in a day- for the better or for the worse.

Now, I had some big plans for this blog post. I was going to talk about my adventures of Thursday. However, life got the best of me, and I haven't been able to write the post until now- Tuesday. I'm sitting here, trying to think what details I wanted to include in this amazing blog post, but I can only think the aftermath of the situation. When I am reflecting about Thursday, the events which come to mind are the ones in which I received support. I'm very thankful for my aid in the classroom; I would not survive that class without her extra support. She knows the kids from last year, and she takes a lot of the reigns for taking students out of the class for discipline. I am also extremely thankful for my principal. After school she helped calm my nerves about calling home- she even called some of the parents so I could see an example. Many teachers also encouraged me by helping me see that my lesson did not fail because of me. One of the most difficult things about teaching here is that sometimes I cannot get through the necessary material due to stopping every two minutes to tell my kids to stop talking. Lastly, I am thankful for how God reminds me that I am right where I am suppose to be. On Thursday night, I went to a Bible study where we talked about what the fear of the Lord was. In a previous study, they had talked about fearing the Lord as looking at an event with the perspective that God has. Proverbs 9:10 says that the fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, so looking at a situation through God's perspective is the beginning of wisdom. During the conversations, I kept thinking about how I made my decision to teach here. We also talked about how sometimes fearing the Lord is not always knowing why, but trusting God that His wisdom is the right path. Sometimes I wonder why I chose to teach here. Many students don't even attempt to do homework. They are blatant about not caring about their education. Some students don't have the best home to go to. They have other things to worry about-- things that kids their age shouldn't have to deal with. I receive back talk every day. I correct inappropriate language everyday. I could have accepted a job where the majority of my students would have completed their homework. I could have accepted a job where the class sizes were small, and I wouldn't have to deal with the discipline as much. But I didn't; I chose Ogden. Although I sometimes wonder what I could have had, I know that I am in the right place. I made my decision knowing that God was in support of me. Sometimes I don't know why this is the right place, but I trust God.

Despite the horrible quality of Thursday's events, I am truly thankful for the support I received. I know I am suppose to be teaching at my school. I know that despite many discipline issues my students are -deep down there somewhere- good kids (some more deep down than others). I just hope that with time, my difficult class will realize that I do mean business, and that if they follow what I ask them to do, then we can have some fun.

On a different note, students can sometimes be deceiving. And I'm not talking about lying about why homework isn't done. I'm talking about students being confusing people. There is this one student who CAN NOT stop talking in one of my classes. I get on his case EVERY DAY! I thought he absolutely hated me for how much I talked to him about his behavior. But today in the hallway, he told me he wished he had my class next instead of the one he had. With a confused look on my face, I said, "Why? It thought you didn't like my class." In response, he told me that my class was the funnest (I'm just saying what he said) and his best class. This brightened my day.

On yet another note, check out the view from my door! When I took this picture, I was in awe of how beautiful the mountains were this day. The colors, the sky-I felt as if I were in a painting.

Humor of the week:
Scenario 1: Talking to a student who I find is difficult to get engaged in the lesson.
Student: "Look, Ms. DK, I'm doing the problems!"
Me: "That's what I like to see. You should do that more often."
Student: "It's because I'm a nerd."
Me: "What makes you a nerd?"
Student: "I'm wearing glasses." (He was wearing another student's glasses.)
Me: "So what is someone who wears contacts?"
Student: "A nerd in disguise."

Scenario 2: Beginning of class and about to tell them about a quiz later that hour.
Me: "The bell has rung. Before we start bell work, I need to tell you guys something."
Student: "Are you getting married?!"
Me: "What? No, Why do you say that?"
Student: "Mr. Tutt told us that."
Me: laughing "No. My announcement was our agenda. You have a quiz later today."

Sweeter Accomplishments

Astute: (adj.) having or showing an ability to notice and understand things clearly : mentally sharp or clever.

By Wednesday, I did not know what I had gotten myself into. In one class alone, I had four students fill out a discipline form, and  I sent one student to the principal's office. And that was only one of my classes! In another class, I sent one more student to the principal's office. One of my coworkers had said that the honeymoon period is over; the students will be pushing us as teachers to see how much they can get away with. I'm happy to report that I think I have held firm with my expectations. I wasn't sure what Friday would be like with the students I had disciplined (since we only meet every other day), but I had one of the best days so far. Both students who were sent to the office were unbelievably great on Friday. They both answered my questions and were fully participating. I never said their names due to a behavior issue. One even helped another student- so much so that they asked if they could sit next to each other so that this could be a regular occurrence (I regretfully didn't even know that they changed seats- I need to learn names fast!). I've had my ups and downs. I know I will have more. But I hope that the ups will always overpower the downs.

I was talking with a friend about how Calvin has prepared us for our own unique journeys. I had said that teaching felt natural, but I was nervous about the first two weeks and setting up my own classroom rules and enforcing them. She wisely said, "That's good that it is natural. It is those kinds of teachers that are most effective. The first couple weeks of anything are difficult, but the accomplishments resulting from that time are often worth it." I want to cherish those astute words: The first couple weeks of anything are difficult, but the accomplishments resulting from that time are often worth it. Never, never give up, because everything will be difficult; but the resulting accomplishments will be that much sweeter.

Humor of the Week:
This is what happens when you don't tell kids what to do. I usually say, "Numbers one through ten go put your books away," and so on. But during my second period, I did not have enough time to do so. I just said, "Put your books away." This happened:

My First Week

"Education is not a preparation for life; education is life itself." -John Dewey

I can hardly put words to what this week was like. But I survived! The first day was Tuesday, and it went really well. As I walked down the hallway, students in class, I thought to myself that having the students around was invigorating. Wednesday was similar to the first since we are on an A/B schedule and I was only meeting more and more students. One big event that happened on Wednesday was that a couple students in the hallway distracted my students. I was quite disappointed and stormed out of my room to stop the students (my students were doing group work), and I gave them a stern talking to. I was a force to be reckoned with. Even the teachers in the hallway were scared of me, as they told me later; I guess my point got across. No one is gonna mess with me (at least I hope that is the outcome). Then Thursday was a big ordeal in one of my classes, but for respect of my students I am not going to share details. And Friday , I followed up with the Thursday situation. My weekly count: I took away two cell phones and talked to four students about their language. Despite more behavior problems in one week than my semester of student teaching, I still love what I am doing. I accepted this job knowing that I would need to focus on my efforts in classroom management. Two people, the math dept head and the instructional coach, have been supportive and have reassured me that I am doing a good job. It has only been one week and I feel that I have made leaps and bounds in my goal of improving my classroom management.

It's not your eyes; you are seeing red!

Welcome to my school! People have been perplexed whenever I have told them that my classroom does not have a door. I promise I'm not lying. So let me explain. The picture on the left shows the hallway which contains the math and English classrooms. My classroom is the first on the left. The school was built in the 70's and has partition walls which can be moved around on the ceiling tracks. Somewhere along the line, someone decided that no teacher in their right mind would want a door.

As you are standing in my doorway, you would see the picture on the right. I have a smart board on the left and a whiteboard on the right. The door in between leads out to the soccer field. In the front left corner, I have a little nook for my desk. 

This next picture shows the view from my desk. You can see my "doorway" in the back wall, three whiteboards to display the assignments, a Dr. Seuss poster, and my CHAMPS poster. My classroom is all decorated and ready to go!

Pictures of my classroom decor!

Posters that I made which are inspired from pinterest. Here and here.

Classroom rules inspired from Math=Love blog

Our school-wide classroom management plan is CHAMPS. It will help students know what Conversation should sound like, how they can receive Help, what Activity should look like, what Movement should be happening, how they show their Participation, to be Successful in the classroom. This is my poster!

My favorite decoration in the whole room. Again, inspired by pinterest. Here is the link.

So excited for this exit ticket. Students will take sticky notes and answer a question before they leave class.

The container I made for the golf pencils in case students forget a pencil.

There's not much more to it. School starts on Tomorrow. My classroom is ready. Let's hope I am ready! I know that managing my classroom will be hard with no door and walls you can hear through, but the challenge will only make me better at managing the class. When I have a door someday, I'll think classroom management is a piece of cake!

Also, one thing that I think is hilarious is that there is a joke among the staff and faculty that if you boast about having a door, your door might be taken away. And in our emergency procedures, one step says to close your door (if you have one). Good times shall be had!

It'll be a good year. I have a great staff and a supportive administration, and I'm excited to help some kids! It's go time!

Welcome to My Home!

Things are starting to come together up here in Ogden! I moved on Friday with the help of five great friends, signed my first lease, started to unpack, went on a hike, and built my dresser (On my own, I might add! We'll ignore the fact that one of the drawers may be a little lopsided and I don't know why.).

I'm living with another girl, which is an answer to prayer. I didn't want to live on my own; I like people. I found out that she was looking for a roommate through word of mouth. Long story short, I was told by someone I  met twice to talk to someone on the phone who knows someone who knows my roommate.

Without further ado, let me give you the tour!

This is my room in the townhouse. As you walk into my room, you  would see that I have my bed on one side and a sitting area on the other. Sorry for the bright light from the window- with the time of day, I could not manage a better picture.

When you look to the left, you see my closets and my beautiful, exquisite, hand-built dresser! Alright, alright, it is from Walmart. But I still have pride in the fact that I put it together.

Although, I must admit that I could not have built the dresser without the encouragement from the instructions. They told me, "Don't worry. It isn't Rome. This can be built in a day." and "Pro Tip: Lift with your legs. And, you know, your arms." This is what I have to say to that: whoever wrote these instructions was probably extremely bored and not wanting the task of writing them. But I do like their humor (Yes, VandeKopple, I know I wrote "their" with a singular subject.).

Then when you turn around, you would see my desk, chair, and bookshelf. My walls are a little plain, but pictures and a cork board will go up on the wall soon.

I hope you enjoyed your virtual tour of my home. If you want the full deal, I guess you will just have to come visit me! Also, if you would like my new address and email (no longer using my calvin.edu one), then let me know via phone or facebook, and I will give them to you.

A Couple Prayer Requests:

1. I am extremely nervous for my first days of school. I'm trying to hide it from myself so that maybe I will believe that I am not scared. I was joking with a friend that we wished that another teacher could teach the first two weeks, then we would take over (aka: how student teaching starts). But it's scary. I know I am prepared, but I feel like I have a million things still to do. I just wish I had a check list of "Everything a first year teacher needs to think about before the first day of school." I don't have too much time now- first teacher meetings are tomorrow and school starts on the 19th.

2. Praise that my previous prayer requests were answered. I have a roommate and a place to live. I was beginning to think that I would be living in an apartment by myself, but then that crazy connection happened.

Next time on Infinite Possibilities: Tour of my classroom, and, yes, there is red carpet and no door!

Preparing to Take One Step at a Time

I would also like to share with you about my journey of teaching so far. Ever since I was young, teaching has always been something I wanted to do “when I grew up.” In elementary school, I have memories of certain teachers who made school fun, and I wanted to be the teacher who could do that for students. In sixth grade, I was told that what I wanted to be now (which was a teacher) was not what I was actually going to be. My stubborn self showed them! Then entering ninth grade, I told my guidance counselor that I was going to Calvin and that I was going to be a teacher. Granted, throughout this time other occupations came into thought, but teaching always stuck around. I had this mentality until my senior year of college. For a solid eight years, I knew exactly what I was going to do. Then during student teaching of my senior year fall semester, my thoughts about teaching drastically changed. I did not want to be a teacher anymore. This was the hardest idea for me to consider. What was my life going to look like? I just spent three and a half years pursuing this and now this work and time spent seemed useless. Throughout my entire student teaching semester, I wrote journals titled “Do I Really Want to Teach?” I never thought I would ask myself this question, but I did. I went from being dead set on only teaching at a Christian high school to being open to working at a public school, a home school co-op, or a tutoring center. I received advice from my sister-in-law and a friend to pursue classroom teaching because having your own classroom is worlds different than student teaching in someone else’s classroom. Although student teaching was not the best experience, God used this discouraging time to place me exactly where I am today. I thought I would be at a private Christian school, but, instead, I am teaching at an inner-city public school.

I know that the first year will be hard. I know that the second year will be hard. I’ve been told that teaching will get easier. So all I have to do is take one step at a time. I know that during my first year I will need a lot of prayer and encouragement. So please pray with me and for me as I prepare to take one step at a time. Right now I am looking for a place to live and hopefully a roommate as well. I am also setting up my classroom and doing a little bit of lesson planning.

The Back Story

Many of my friends and family have asked me to write a blog with the intent of updating the entire world of my adventures as a first year teacher (Okay, let's be real. There is a very slim chance my blog will go viral, but you mean the world to me for reading this!). I decided to take their advice so that I will not have to repeat stories five times over. So thank you in advance for your support and love. I'm excited (and extremely nervous) to start this new life experience.

First things first: what is the back story to my blog’s title? I may or may not get a little geeked about infinity. During my junior year of college, I wrote a sixteen page paper titled "To Infinity and Beyond: Understanding God's Love through a Mathematicians Eyes." This is by far my favorite paper that I have written. The premise of the paper was that large numbers can become incomprehensible, and everyday language obscures the definition, leading us to define infinity as simply “exceedingly large.” However, infinity is much more than simply an innumerable amount of finite numbers. To understand the depth of infinity, I looked at sets (or a group) of numbers. If you had two piles of rocks, you could compare their sizes: one pile might have five rocks while the other pile has twelve. These rock piles are finite sets, but you can compare infinite sets as well. For my non-math major friends, I will refrain from explaining further. But believe me when I say that there are different sizes of infinity! And not only is one infinite set larger than others, but there are an infinite amount of these larger sets. Your pile of rocks could be infinite in size, but I could make another infinite pile of rocks which is bigger! THIS IS MIND-BLOWING! And thus I have a love for infinity. After attempting to comprehend the depth of infinity, I showed many places in the Bible which depict God's love as infinite and incomprehensible. The concept of infinity is extremely hard for us to understand, but this concept brings us closest to describing the amount of love God has for us.

As you can see from my tangent, infinity has a special place in my heart, and I wanted my blog's title to reflect this place. I also have no idea where this next year will lead me; it feels as if I have an infinite amount of possibilities for where this school year will take me. But wherever I find myself, I know that God will be with me sharing His infinite love with me—which brings me to the 5910 in the URL address. Psalm 59:10 says, "My God's love is changeless for me" (The Living Bible Translation). This means that the mind-blowing love that God has for us will stay consistent. For these reasons, I chose InfinitePossibilities5910 to represent this blog.