Reflection

 I can definitely see where blogging could be a good thing.  However, I feel as though I have had very little time to keep up with the blog.  I have read other student blogs, and have discovered very insightful and interesting things due to reading their blogs.  It is also very comforting to know that I am not alone.  We have all taken on a very emotional journey.  There have been many beautiful moments through out the journey of becoming a teacher as well as many tiresome and exhausting moments.  If I could go back I would try to have had a better blog. However, I am rather technologically challenged, and it takes me forever to try and do something on a computer! I am going to do my best to keep up with it more from now on.
I wish each and everyone the best of luck, and hope you all have a very Merry Christmas!
    

Book Talk

     Brothers in Arms is the first novel in a series that takes the read on an epic journey. The main character, Martin Luna, is a troubled young boy with a troubled past. The book provides inspiration to adolescents by letting them know that no matter where one comes from or what one has to overcome there is still a chance to save the future, and no matter who “you” are “you” still have the ability to be who “you” want to be!
After a major tragedy strikes in the Luna family, Martin’s mother forces him to leave everything he knows behind. She feels as though she is losing her “Mijo.” Angry Martin doesn’t comply with his mother’s wishes very well. Martin, very upset, is forced against his will. While trying to understand his new environment he is unable to get the events of that tragic day out of his mind. The flashbacks come constantly and his inner rage continues to grow. Martin finally makes a decision that will change his future forever.
Will Ms. Luna lose her “mijo” , or guide him to be the son she knows he is truly capable of being?
If you want to know about Martin and his big decision read the book, Brothers in Arms, by Paul Langan and Ben Alirez.

Just a Few Little Rules

Objective Wall

Target Test

November 30, 2010

Today I had a substitute in my room because the other English teachers and I graded papers all day long!!! We had to grade the essay an open response part of the target test! Unfortunately they will not run through the scan tron machine! We discussed more effective approaches to teaching, and how we could increase student learning.  The essays were not where I wanted them to be. I have been wracking my brain all day! I think it's time to review "bones of an essay" again.  I recently observed another English  teacher show her students the "bones".  She basically teaches the students how to write an essay in cooking cooker style.  Slowly but surely she pulls pieces away until they can do it all on their own.  It's time to get back to work!

Manic Monday

November 29, 2010
Today was every bit of a Monday! Thanksgiving flew by only to leave me with a Monday!!! I literally rolled out of bed this morning, stumbled to the coffee pot, and willed myself to get ready! Once the day started it went well! I really missed my students, and it seemed as though they missed me... haha!  We all had a really good day though! We reviewed word problems and teased our brain with math puzzles in 7th grade math. In Pre-Algebra we were detectives trying to find the missing angles on polygons.  In 7th grade English we went over TLI test problems. And we started a new novel, Fallen,  in 8th grade English!