I love having volunteers come to my classroom. I frequently have BYU students who are going into education volunteer. One of the classes they have to take is about students with disabilities and they have to get a certain number of volunteer hours in a special ed classroom. So of course I let them come to my classroom. The more the merrier in my opinion.
Two girls came this morning from 8-10 and I was so grateful to have them there. So many students need one-on-one help in order to get anything done, so I am always grateful for people who help in my classroom.
Anyway, I asked one of the girls to help some students with math. Before I sent her over there I asked her if she was good at math and she said she didn't think she was great, but she could probably handle middle school math.
Before she left we talked for a couple of minutes and she just looked at me and said, "What you do is absolutely amazing." She then proceeded to tell me that she had never realized how much work and effort goes into helping these students. She made the observation that they don't finish assignments easily and they struggle to comprehend assignments without very specific instructions and thorough explanations of concepts. She said she got an A in Calculus in high school, but when it comes to breaking down concepts and explaining them to someone with a disability, it's HARD.
YES it is. I was just so happy that she made that observation. She will be a great teacher if she takes the time to help those students in her classroom who need a little extra help. If she recognizes how important it is to take the time to explain things (even if it's the third or fourth time) and really work with her students, then she will be a teacher who cares AND changes lives.
-Ms. Damron-
Tuesday, November 29, 2011
Complete blasphemy
During my 2nd period yesterday, one my students jumped up on the counter when I wasn't looking. When I turned around and asked what in the world he was doing, he said,
"I'm making a speech. Can't you tell who I am?"
And then he whispered,
"I'm Jesus."
There are not words to describe how stunned I was after that.
-Ms. Damron-
"I'm making a speech. Can't you tell who I am?"
And then he whispered,
"I'm Jesus."
There are not words to describe how stunned I was after that.
-Ms. Damron-
Cute drawing
So one of my 8th grade girls drew a picture of me on the white board today and I thought I'd share it with you. :)
You can see the clear similarities:
curly hair
square(ish) glasses
a fantastic figure (or lack of one!)
I hope you got a good smile out of it.
-Ms. Damron-
You can see the clear similarities:
curly hair
square(ish) glasses
a fantastic figure (or lack of one!)
I hope you got a good smile out of it.
-Ms. Damron-
Monday, November 21, 2011
Small successes
I am so happy!!!
I figured out a way for my 8th grade students to study the vocab from their English classes and pass the tests with flying colors!
Remember my goals for Term 2? Well one of the things I changed was that instead of having the students in Mrs. Scott's English class do the Daily Language Review with the rest of the class, I have them pulled to a different table where one of the paraeducators studies with them. They make flash cards, practice the spelling, practice putting the words into sentences...and guess what?! They are passing their vocab tests!
Term 1 they never passed the vocab tests. In fact, the typical vocab test scores were 4/20, 2/20, 6/20 - you get the idea. Basically they were failing every test.
Once we started this new intervention though, the students are doing great! In fact, Mrs. Scott stopped by my 2nd period today to tell the two boys that one of them got a 100% and the other boy only missed one! I just about died from happiness. The boy who only missed one said, "Really?!"
It really is the little things in life that bring smiles. (I'm seriously freaking out I'm so happy!!!)
-Ms. Damron-
I figured out a way for my 8th grade students to study the vocab from their English classes and pass the tests with flying colors!
Remember my goals for Term 2? Well one of the things I changed was that instead of having the students in Mrs. Scott's English class do the Daily Language Review with the rest of the class, I have them pulled to a different table where one of the paraeducators studies with them. They make flash cards, practice the spelling, practice putting the words into sentences...and guess what?! They are passing their vocab tests!
Term 1 they never passed the vocab tests. In fact, the typical vocab test scores were 4/20, 2/20, 6/20 - you get the idea. Basically they were failing every test.
Once we started this new intervention though, the students are doing great! In fact, Mrs. Scott stopped by my 2nd period today to tell the two boys that one of them got a 100% and the other boy only missed one! I just about died from happiness. The boy who only missed one said, "Really?!"
It really is the little things in life that bring smiles. (I'm seriously freaking out I'm so happy!!!)
-Ms. Damron-
Thursday, November 17, 2011
Just saying my morning prayers
Every 1st and 3rd Thursday of the month I have district special ed training. It's kind of annoying getting a sub so many times, but I get to sleep in an extra hour or so, which is absolutely wonderful.
This morning I was kneeling down about to say my morning prayer, when I got a phone call from the school. One of the main office women called me sounding somewhat distressed and told me that a sub hadn't shown up yet! She and the ISS woman had gone to my classroom to watch the kids until they could get sub. I was informed that they had read my sub plans, but the plans were for another date (Wednesday, November 16) and they were unclear and they didn't know what they were supposed to do with the kids.
AWESOME.
The lady told me she was going to transfer me to my classroom so I could talk to the ISS woman to clarify what I had left for the sub. Drama drama! I talked to the woman who told me things were under control. I guess people were just a little frazzled by the absence of a sub. Way to shake me first thing in the morning! I didn't know what to do! And now I'm worried that I write horrible sub plans...
Anyway, our district training is until 11:30, but they usually let us out ten minutes early. The sub was only supposed to be there until 11:30, so around 11:25, I started getting a little nervous. I ended up just leaving so that I could get back to the school. When I got there, I went straight to my classroom figuring I would relieve the sub and the sub would leave. Nope. The sub didn't even acknowledge me! She was reading a test to a student, so I just set my stuff down and left. I didn't know what to do! I felt slightly uncomfortable because it's awkward to barge in on the sub. They are in charge for the time being, so I when the sub made no attempt to leave, I had no idea what to do. I wandered around the school, went to the bathroom, and finally ended up just sitting in another special ed classroom waiting it out.
Quite an interesting morning if you ask me.
Anyway, just to provide some interesting pictures, the training today was about visual something or other. (All of these trainings deal with technology.) Today's focus was on the digital camera. We were put in groups and asked to take pictures and look at things in a different perspective. These are the pictures we took, with some tweaking and effects by me:
-Ms. Damron-
This morning I was kneeling down about to say my morning prayer, when I got a phone call from the school. One of the main office women called me sounding somewhat distressed and told me that a sub hadn't shown up yet! She and the ISS woman had gone to my classroom to watch the kids until they could get sub. I was informed that they had read my sub plans, but the plans were for another date (Wednesday, November 16) and they were unclear and they didn't know what they were supposed to do with the kids.
AWESOME.
The lady told me she was going to transfer me to my classroom so I could talk to the ISS woman to clarify what I had left for the sub. Drama drama! I talked to the woman who told me things were under control. I guess people were just a little frazzled by the absence of a sub. Way to shake me first thing in the morning! I didn't know what to do! And now I'm worried that I write horrible sub plans...
Anyway, our district training is until 11:30, but they usually let us out ten minutes early. The sub was only supposed to be there until 11:30, so around 11:25, I started getting a little nervous. I ended up just leaving so that I could get back to the school. When I got there, I went straight to my classroom figuring I would relieve the sub and the sub would leave. Nope. The sub didn't even acknowledge me! She was reading a test to a student, so I just set my stuff down and left. I didn't know what to do! I felt slightly uncomfortable because it's awkward to barge in on the sub. They are in charge for the time being, so I when the sub made no attempt to leave, I had no idea what to do. I wandered around the school, went to the bathroom, and finally ended up just sitting in another special ed classroom waiting it out.
Quite an interesting morning if you ask me.
Anyway, just to provide some interesting pictures, the training today was about visual something or other. (All of these trainings deal with technology.) Today's focus was on the digital camera. We were put in groups and asked to take pictures and look at things in a different perspective. These are the pictures we took, with some tweaking and effects by me:
-Ms. Damron-
Funny moments in Science 7
I try to observe different classes during my prep periods so that I'm more aware of what is expected from those teachers and I can hold students more accountable to different assignments and projects because I know what is assigned.
Last week I was observing a 7th grade science class. Let me tell you - my heart goes out to 7th grade science teachers. Those kids are squirrely! (I don't know how to spell that.)
The teacher was showing students how big a coffee bean is compared to an amoeba, a red blood cell, a virus, etc. It was actually really interesting. When he got to a virus, he said,
"Did you know that the Rhino Virus is what causes the common cold?"
One of the students responded,
"No! It makes you into a rhino!"
:)
To observe, I sat in the back of the classroom and watched. Two boys were seated right in front of me and they wouldn't stop bugging me. Here was our conversation:
Student: Why are you here?
Me: To watch you.
Student: To watch us? That's creepy! Are you FBI?
Me: I'd tell you, but then I'd have to kill you...
Student: (complete silence...)
Me: I'm just kidding.
Yup. That just happened.
It was an enjoyable observation I think.
-Ms. Damron-
Last week I was observing a 7th grade science class. Let me tell you - my heart goes out to 7th grade science teachers. Those kids are squirrely! (I don't know how to spell that.)
The teacher was showing students how big a coffee bean is compared to an amoeba, a red blood cell, a virus, etc. It was actually really interesting. When he got to a virus, he said, "Did you know that the Rhino Virus is what causes the common cold?"
One of the students responded,
"No! It makes you into a rhino!"
:)
To observe, I sat in the back of the classroom and watched. Two boys were seated right in front of me and they wouldn't stop bugging me. Here was our conversation:
Student: Why are you here?
Me: To watch you.
Student: To watch us? That's creepy! Are you FBI?
Me: I'd tell you, but then I'd have to kill you...
Student: (complete silence...)
Me: I'm just kidding.
Yup. That just happened.
It was an enjoyable observation I think.
-Ms. Damron-
Thursday, November 10, 2011
Making progress
I ran into Sandy Lewis, one of the teachers I student taught with, at 24 Hour Fitness on Tuesday. Talk about crazy! This woman is in her 60s and she was working out with her husband. Future goal? Be Sandy Lewis! haha
We only chatted for a couple of minutes because I was on my way to a workout class, but I told her that I was teaching at Centennial Middle School and she congratulated me and asked me how it was going. I said it was going pretty well, but I it was definitely a learning process (or something like that). Her reply was, "Well, as long as your students are making progress, you're doing well."
What a great point. I think we often stress out about having things perfect:
perfect classroom management
perfect IEPs
perfect contact with parents, other faculty, administration, etc.
perfect lesson plans
(heaven forbid) perfect students!
BUT what is the important thing? Progress!
Things don't have to be perfect, things just need to be progressing. I think this is a huge principle in Special Education. Students are not going to have high rates of success in the usual areas. They are going to make small leaps of success, but they are not going to be your average achieving student (at least not without A LOT of help). So what is important? (I think you can answer this now...) PROGRESS! How are they compared to last year? How are they compared to at the beginning of the year? These are things we need to keep track of and monitor. And when our students see success, make a big deal out of it!
Now to throw things for a loop - - -
In a quiet moment of contemplation, I was thinking about what Sandy had said about progress and I turned it around from my students making progress and thought about myself: am I making progress?
We all need to be making progress. Progress will be different for each of us. What we are tracking and progressing in will be different for everyone, but we still need to be striving for and working on something.
-Ms. Damron-
We only chatted for a couple of minutes because I was on my way to a workout class, but I told her that I was teaching at Centennial Middle School and she congratulated me and asked me how it was going. I said it was going pretty well, but I it was definitely a learning process (or something like that). Her reply was, "Well, as long as your students are making progress, you're doing well."
What a great point. I think we often stress out about having things perfect:
perfect classroom management
perfect IEPs
perfect contact with parents, other faculty, administration, etc.
perfect lesson plans
(heaven forbid) perfect students!
BUT what is the important thing? Progress!
Things don't have to be perfect, things just need to be progressing. I think this is a huge principle in Special Education. Students are not going to have high rates of success in the usual areas. They are going to make small leaps of success, but they are not going to be your average achieving student (at least not without A LOT of help). So what is important? (I think you can answer this now...) PROGRESS! How are they compared to last year? How are they compared to at the beginning of the year? These are things we need to keep track of and monitor. And when our students see success, make a big deal out of it!
Now to throw things for a loop - - -
In a quiet moment of contemplation, I was thinking about what Sandy had said about progress and I turned it around from my students making progress and thought about myself: am I making progress?
We all need to be making progress. Progress will be different for each of us. What we are tracking and progressing in will be different for everyone, but we still need to be striving for and working on something.
-Ms. Damron-
Sunday, November 6, 2011
End of Term #1
Um...can anyone believe that Term 1 ended? That means that 1/4 of the school year is complete. Say what?! That can't even be true.
When I look back at the beginning of the school year I think - was that really me? What was I even doing? I feel like I've learned so much in the past couple of months. I'm always amazed at the learning curve of a new teacher. I'm pretty sure the learning curve is huge every single year you teach, but it's especially high the first three years.
Anyway, most of my kids passed all of their classes! There were some students who had such low grades that there wasn't a whole lot that I could do. Interestingly enough, these students were also absent a lot of the time. Hmm...I wonder if there is a connection!
Now that it's the beginning of the term though, I have some grand plans to be more on top of things with my students.
Here are some of my goals:
--Have students study for vocab tests a little bit every day. Students rarely passed the vocabulary tests in their English classes, so I want them to spend at least ten minutes of my class studying and practicing the spelling of the words.
--Now that I'm more familiar with the teachers in the school and their personalities, I can be wary of the teachers that are...not fans of the special ed students in their classes. Hopefully I can monitor those students carefully and make sure I stay on top of the assignments due in those classes.
--I'm also going to be more consistent with my expectations and routines. I've changed my classroom management a little bit, so hopefully I can stick to it and really hammer those procedures.
--I also want to use the time in my class to have students work on their IEP goals. I figure that if I have a little extra time, then my students should be working on their IEP goals! Along those same lines, I want to more carefully monitor which students struggle in math, reading, whatever, and provide extra supports in those areas.
Those are just a few of the things that I want to change, but hopefully this term will be an improvement from last term!
-Ms. Damron-
When I look back at the beginning of the school year I think - was that really me? What was I even doing? I feel like I've learned so much in the past couple of months. I'm always amazed at the learning curve of a new teacher. I'm pretty sure the learning curve is huge every single year you teach, but it's especially high the first three years.
Anyway, most of my kids passed all of their classes! There were some students who had such low grades that there wasn't a whole lot that I could do. Interestingly enough, these students were also absent a lot of the time. Hmm...I wonder if there is a connection!
Now that it's the beginning of the term though, I have some grand plans to be more on top of things with my students.
Here are some of my goals:
--Have students study for vocab tests a little bit every day. Students rarely passed the vocabulary tests in their English classes, so I want them to spend at least ten minutes of my class studying and practicing the spelling of the words.
--Now that I'm more familiar with the teachers in the school and their personalities, I can be wary of the teachers that are...not fans of the special ed students in their classes. Hopefully I can monitor those students carefully and make sure I stay on top of the assignments due in those classes.
--I'm also going to be more consistent with my expectations and routines. I've changed my classroom management a little bit, so hopefully I can stick to it and really hammer those procedures.
--I also want to use the time in my class to have students work on their IEP goals. I figure that if I have a little extra time, then my students should be working on their IEP goals! Along those same lines, I want to more carefully monitor which students struggle in math, reading, whatever, and provide extra supports in those areas.
Those are just a few of the things that I want to change, but hopefully this term will be an improvement from last term!
-Ms. Damron-
Spirit Week!
Okay. So my last post was a little while ago...sorry about that.
Due to how long it has taken me to post, a lot of these posts will be make up posts. I hope you enjoy.
Spirit Week was September 19-23. Here are the descriptions for the dress code that week:
Monday, September 19 TWINS DAY
Dress up with your friend so you look alike! Same clothes, same hair, same shoes! Do whatever you can to be identical and join us for "Twins" two-legged race on the stage during lunch.
Tuesday, September 20 TACKY TUESDAY
Wear crazy, mix-matched, tacky clothes. How many colors and prints can you put together? Mix-match your socks, crazy shirts, polka dots, and stripes. Our lunch activity will be a giant pants relay. Get ready for a terrific, tacky day!
Above: Lisa Fisher, a history teacher across the hall, and me
Erin Radant, a Special Ed English teacher across the hall, and me
Wednesday, September 21 AROUND THE WORLD DAY
Dress up as someone from another country. Come and participate in the lunch activity on the lunchroom stage where we will be having an around-the-world game.
FYI - My "Around-the-world" outfit was from Israel! I borrowed the jeannie pants and sandals from my friend Skyler Dunford. The green scarf thing is from Israel too.
Thursday, September 22 ER DAY
Dress like you are in the ER - the hospital Emergency Room. Dress as a doctor, nurse, surgeon, therapist, or patient. Join us for a crutches race during lunch.
L-R: Erin Radant, me, Lisa Fisher. Notice the crocs. :)
Friday, September 23 HAWAIIAN DAY
Drew in flip-flops, swim shorts (below mid-thigh), floral shirts, grass skirts, and sunglasses. Our lunch activity will be beach ball volleyball on stage.
It was a pretty fun week and I dressed up every day! I really like dressing up and showing school spirit, so I try my best to dress up and do fun things.
-Ms. Damron-
Due to how long it has taken me to post, a lot of these posts will be make up posts. I hope you enjoy.
Spirit Week was September 19-23. Here are the descriptions for the dress code that week:
Monday, September 19 TWINS DAY
Dress up with your friend so you look alike! Same clothes, same hair, same shoes! Do whatever you can to be identical and join us for "Twins" two-legged race on the stage during lunch.
Tuesday, September 20 TACKY TUESDAY
Wear crazy, mix-matched, tacky clothes. How many colors and prints can you put together? Mix-match your socks, crazy shirts, polka dots, and stripes. Our lunch activity will be a giant pants relay. Get ready for a terrific, tacky day!
Above: Lisa Fisher, a history teacher across the hall, and me
Erin Radant, a Special Ed English teacher across the hall, and me
Wednesday, September 21 AROUND THE WORLD DAY
Dress up as someone from another country. Come and participate in the lunch activity on the lunchroom stage where we will be having an around-the-world game.
FYI - My "Around-the-world" outfit was from Israel! I borrowed the jeannie pants and sandals from my friend Skyler Dunford. The green scarf thing is from Israel too.
Thursday, September 22 ER DAY
Dress like you are in the ER - the hospital Emergency Room. Dress as a doctor, nurse, surgeon, therapist, or patient. Join us for a crutches race during lunch.
L-R: Erin Radant, me, Lisa Fisher. Notice the crocs. :)
Friday, September 23 HAWAIIAN DAY
Drew in flip-flops, swim shorts (below mid-thigh), floral shirts, grass skirts, and sunglasses. Our lunch activity will be beach ball volleyball on stage.
It was a pretty fun week and I dressed up every day! I really like dressing up and showing school spirit, so I try my best to dress up and do fun things.
-Ms. Damron-
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