Sometimes just making it past Wednesday is the encouragement that you need for the week. Right now, I feel like making it back to school on Monday will be the ultimate hump day challenge.
I like teaching. I like teaching in Detroit. I like teaching my students.
I hate the system. It is so broken. And it is absolutely beyond me, or any other teacher, to fix it. I am given a pacing chart and told what to teach each day. I am expected to stay on track with the pacing chart. I am expected to differentiate my lessons so that my students, who are all at different levels, can be fairly accessed on the same content but not at the same depth. And yet, each of my students needs to know the same things for the standardized tests because I am evaluated on their performance on these tests. None of it is fair. It's not fair to the teachers and its not fair to the kids.
In the perfect school, kids would be assigned groups based on what they know, not their age. They would be taught in groups no larger than twelve. They would be able to move to another group based on their skill level gained or need for more instruction. Kids would be allowed to study in depth the things that fascinate them, whether it be music, social studies, physics or pottery.
But we have standards for each grade level because we are in competition with other countries. And the people who are in charge of making our children competitive on the world playing field are underpaid, under supported, and stretched too thin.
I love Detroit. I couldn't imagine myself teaching anywhere else. I am not in love with any other group of kids the way that I love kids from my city. I feel like no other place needs me. Detroit needs people who believe in the hope of redemption. Detroit needs people like me. But, being here is so hard. Teaching here is so hard. I don't know how people raise families and teach. It blows my mind that it is even possible. Teaching consumes your life. Teaching requires continual self improvement and reflection and tweaking after tweaking after tweaking.
The first year is the hardest. Yeah, I get that. But there are no guarantees that next year will be any easier. Who knows what school I'll be working at, or what grade I will have, or what subjects I will be teaching. ...and for what? A broken system that cannot be fixed? To fix education in this country school must be completely rethought. Teachers will have to be completely retrained. Universities will have to be completely turned around to produce a mass of people ready to tackle injustice like never before. And the public will have to learn to value something that our culture has always valued in speech, but never with action.
This problem is so much bigger than I can even imagine.
I know I can make a difference in Detroit because it all comes down to how you treat people. The biggest impact I can give to my kids is not how much math or science they learn. Kids don't really care about that. Humans don't really care about that. Humans care how they are treated. Now, in education that means meeting kids where they are and genuinely trying to bridge the gap between what they know and what they don't know. But kids won't let you give them knowledge. You have to earn their respect and trust in order for them to allow anything you say to make a difference.
The only problem is with 50 students, 2 hours given by the district to prepare, plan, intervene, and grade a week, and a plethora of learning styles and abilities, it is nearly impossible to reach every kid.
And so I approach the beginning of the 2013 school year much like a hump day morning, staring at the alarm clock in disbelief that it is already time to get out of bed. I am faced with two choices. One-hit snooze, go back to bed, and then just try to make it to the weekend. Or two-suck it up, breathe in deeply and fill my lungs with life so that I have something to work with when I am up to my neck with problems I cannot solve but a heart that will not let me look the other way.
I will not always be a teacher, of that I am sure. But I will be a teacher here in this city for the next 2 1/2 years. The Lord has put me here. The Lord has allowed my heart to be burdened with some of the things that burden his own heart. I have no other choice but to go back to work in Monday with a resolve in my heart to once again treat and teach my students with justice. I must do justly by them. They are what I have been entrusted with. Even though I can't defeat the monster of education, I stare it boldly in the face knowing that somehow I can be a threat.
My God sees. My God hears. He knows better than me what I am up against. He knows that this job is much harder than most anyone supposes. And so I can go back to work rejuvenated, not because anything is solved, but because I trust my Lord. He has not failed me. And I would hate to live each day just hoping for a weekend without responsibilities to waste away my time.
Cheers to hump day, it's a day of forming character from deep within.
Saturday, January 5, 2013
Friday, November 30, 2012
Under the Weather
It's no fun being sick.
It's even worse fun being sick and having to teach 50 kids.
:(
But, I've got the best kids. They get it. I told them I have a headache and they work with me.
Plus, they always get me laughing. No matter what. Some of them are just too cute, too adorable, and full of funny things to say.
For example, right after I told the class that I have a headache and wasn't feeling well, one of my boys said, "How come you dressed like a little girl today?" I guess I do look like a kid today. I'm wearing a yellow sun dress with a sweater and jeans. I just laughed and so did everyone else. See, they're cool kids.
We've had quite a few recent developments in my classes.
We currently have over $80 raised for a Christmas donation to World Vision.
I am buying our class bearded dragon sometime this weekend.
And I just got an iPad, which means sometime in the near future, my class will have a makeshift smartboard. I can't wait!
However, in the meantime, I'm stuck with a headache, sore throat, and stuffy nose :(
This is the second time this season that I've gotten sick. I don't usually get sick much at all. Not even last year with my 3rd graders. But this year I see twice as many kids daily than I did last year. So I guess it would make scientific sense that I would get sick twice as much.
Anyways, lunch is almost over. Got to go. Dueces!
It's even worse fun being sick and having to teach 50 kids.
:(
But, I've got the best kids. They get it. I told them I have a headache and they work with me.
Plus, they always get me laughing. No matter what. Some of them are just too cute, too adorable, and full of funny things to say.
For example, right after I told the class that I have a headache and wasn't feeling well, one of my boys said, "How come you dressed like a little girl today?" I guess I do look like a kid today. I'm wearing a yellow sun dress with a sweater and jeans. I just laughed and so did everyone else. See, they're cool kids.
We've had quite a few recent developments in my classes.
We currently have over $80 raised for a Christmas donation to World Vision.
I am buying our class bearded dragon sometime this weekend.
And I just got an iPad, which means sometime in the near future, my class will have a makeshift smartboard. I can't wait!
However, in the meantime, I'm stuck with a headache, sore throat, and stuffy nose :(
This is the second time this season that I've gotten sick. I don't usually get sick much at all. Not even last year with my 3rd graders. But this year I see twice as many kids daily than I did last year. So I guess it would make scientific sense that I would get sick twice as much.
Anyways, lunch is almost over. Got to go. Dueces!
Friday, November 16, 2012
November Update
I couldn't think of a creative title. Maybe I will by the end of this post.
Well, I still have my job...for now. The layoff was rescinded. However, my principal announced at our meeting last Wednesday that she does have to let go of one staff person. She didn't say who. And she hasn't talked to me. So, here's hoping that I get to stay.
Donorschoose has been such an amazing gift this year. Things that I don't have the money to buy but really need in my classroom have been supplied through the donations of friends, family, and strangers. It's been absolutely wonderful. I finally have a real pencil sharpener in my class! We were using a small hand-held metal sharpener before that. It is amazing how a classroom can change with a real pencil sharpener! From hand sanitizer, kleenex, paper towels to construction paper, markers, crayons, scissors, Donorschoose has made a way for me to be able to function in this confusing district! And, I've applied and been accepted for a grant to get a classroom pet. We are going to get a bearded dragon. My kids are super excited. I might even be more excited than them. I can't wait to get the supplies for it!
Report cards went home last week. Luckily, students did get a lot of their grades up so I didn't have to give as many F's as I gave on progress reports.
Treating everyone fairly is still a challenge. Some of the kids just get me so irritated. Its something I have to work on daily. But, I think that's usually how it is. If you're really trying to teach well, you've got to readjust on a daily basis.
Currently, math is kicking the butts of my students. We are practicing unit conversions. Most get it now, but it's taken several days. We've begun moving on to precise measurements using fractions of inches. This is the 2nd day on it, but I think we'll be ready to move on by Monday. According to the district pacing chart, we are only supposed to spend one day on each lesson. That kind of pacing isn't student friendly. If kids don't understand, a teacher needs to stay there until the kids are ready to move on. There's so much wrong with public education...
One day I'll be able to run school the way that I think it should be run. That day will come when I home school my kids, or at least, when I'm able to teach fewer children at one time. I wouldn't mind working for a school that had small class sizes. They say the research isn't conclusive on whether or not small class sizes actually benefit student learning. I'll tell you from experience that those studies are hi-jacked by politicians. No one wants to pay for more teachers. The class limit for middle schools in Detroit is 38. THIRTY EIGHT students! The average kid will remain average in a class size like that. No wonder we're not moving up. I think it's reasonable to deal with 12-15 students. Classes should not exceed that number. Ever. Not if you want knowledgeable scholars. But I don't think politicians really want knowledgeable citizens. They may say that they do, but they are not willing to pay the people to get the job done.
Now I'm just talking.
The school year starts feeling amazing once November rolls around. We have 1/2 days, finally a day or two off, and then Christmas break, and mid-winter break, and spring break, and more random days off and 1/2 days. Getting to November is the tough part. September-October is a solid block of school day after school day. People, every kind of person, needs a break. And because school is so work and brain intensive, more breaks = more happy people ready to work and use their brain again.
I've had 2 students move. One to Mexico and one to Fort Meyers. Now that Christmas is around the corner, I have a handful more students saying they are leaving to vacation in Mexico soon. That sucks. These students tend to miss 1-2 months of school, if not more. I wish their parents could understand how much their kid misses by being gone. Oh well.
Well, that's whats going on. I know it's a random assortment of all sorts of things in my head at the moment. I like teaching. I like my kids. It's hard every day. But I also laugh every day. That makes it worth it. Plus-I get notes on a daily basis telling me how awesome I am! (Seriously-according to this certain group of 10 and 11 year olds, I am the BEST math teacher and the BEST science teacher, and the COOLEST teacher ever! I don't know about you, but I care what 10 and 11 year olds think about me ;)
Well, I still have my job...for now. The layoff was rescinded. However, my principal announced at our meeting last Wednesday that she does have to let go of one staff person. She didn't say who. And she hasn't talked to me. So, here's hoping that I get to stay.
Donorschoose has been such an amazing gift this year. Things that I don't have the money to buy but really need in my classroom have been supplied through the donations of friends, family, and strangers. It's been absolutely wonderful. I finally have a real pencil sharpener in my class! We were using a small hand-held metal sharpener before that. It is amazing how a classroom can change with a real pencil sharpener! From hand sanitizer, kleenex, paper towels to construction paper, markers, crayons, scissors, Donorschoose has made a way for me to be able to function in this confusing district! And, I've applied and been accepted for a grant to get a classroom pet. We are going to get a bearded dragon. My kids are super excited. I might even be more excited than them. I can't wait to get the supplies for it!
Report cards went home last week. Luckily, students did get a lot of their grades up so I didn't have to give as many F's as I gave on progress reports.
Treating everyone fairly is still a challenge. Some of the kids just get me so irritated. Its something I have to work on daily. But, I think that's usually how it is. If you're really trying to teach well, you've got to readjust on a daily basis.
Currently, math is kicking the butts of my students. We are practicing unit conversions. Most get it now, but it's taken several days. We've begun moving on to precise measurements using fractions of inches. This is the 2nd day on it, but I think we'll be ready to move on by Monday. According to the district pacing chart, we are only supposed to spend one day on each lesson. That kind of pacing isn't student friendly. If kids don't understand, a teacher needs to stay there until the kids are ready to move on. There's so much wrong with public education...
One day I'll be able to run school the way that I think it should be run. That day will come when I home school my kids, or at least, when I'm able to teach fewer children at one time. I wouldn't mind working for a school that had small class sizes. They say the research isn't conclusive on whether or not small class sizes actually benefit student learning. I'll tell you from experience that those studies are hi-jacked by politicians. No one wants to pay for more teachers. The class limit for middle schools in Detroit is 38. THIRTY EIGHT students! The average kid will remain average in a class size like that. No wonder we're not moving up. I think it's reasonable to deal with 12-15 students. Classes should not exceed that number. Ever. Not if you want knowledgeable scholars. But I don't think politicians really want knowledgeable citizens. They may say that they do, but they are not willing to pay the people to get the job done.
Now I'm just talking.
The school year starts feeling amazing once November rolls around. We have 1/2 days, finally a day or two off, and then Christmas break, and mid-winter break, and spring break, and more random days off and 1/2 days. Getting to November is the tough part. September-October is a solid block of school day after school day. People, every kind of person, needs a break. And because school is so work and brain intensive, more breaks = more happy people ready to work and use their brain again.
I've had 2 students move. One to Mexico and one to Fort Meyers. Now that Christmas is around the corner, I have a handful more students saying they are leaving to vacation in Mexico soon. That sucks. These students tend to miss 1-2 months of school, if not more. I wish their parents could understand how much their kid misses by being gone. Oh well.
Well, that's whats going on. I know it's a random assortment of all sorts of things in my head at the moment. I like teaching. I like my kids. It's hard every day. But I also laugh every day. That makes it worth it. Plus-I get notes on a daily basis telling me how awesome I am! (Seriously-according to this certain group of 10 and 11 year olds, I am the BEST math teacher and the BEST science teacher, and the COOLEST teacher ever! I don't know about you, but I care what 10 and 11 year olds think about me ;)
Wednesday, October 24, 2012
Pandora and Connecting to the Vine
...there's always that ONE kid who gets under your skin... I nearly go off on students when I've told the class repeatedly to stop talking while I'm giving directions or clarification. And I cringe every time I see a hand go up when I've asked for questions and someone wants to start sharing a story. KIDS! Why are they like this?
Yesterday was a tough day. My math lesson was boring and no one wanted to do the work. I had to constantly tell students to keep working, put your name on your paper, stop talking about that, sit down, leave her alone, do your work, stop talking, put your hand down-you can't go to the bathroom, stop talking, why haven't you started your work, put your name on your paper, no-you can't write in marker, stop talking... (Seriously.)
Since becoming a teacher not a school day goes by without me spending time in the morning asking God to give me patience and to help me be fair and full of grace and love. Every day I fail. And every morning I ask for the grace to treat my students right all over again.
I went home last night worn out. I had relied on my own (lack of) strength all day and I could tell. My students could tell, too. [It's worse for my afternoon class. By the time they get to me my morning class has stolen all of my patience and grace and there is very little nice left in me.]
This morning I knew I needed the Lord's strength. I sat for a while after waking up just thinking about everything that went wrong yesterday-just telling the Lord all about it. I'm so glad his love is unconditional-he really knows me and nothing I do is hidden from him. I find comfort in that. I don't have to try to hide things from him. He already knows-and he LOVES me JUST THE SAME. [No-I'm not saying that we can do whatever we want and abuse God's grace. That makes him angry. Just look at the letters to the churches in Revelation. What I am saying is that our messes don't phase him and his love is always unwavering towards us. Unconditional love and agreeing with our actions are two different things.]
So, I had a good morning getting my head cleared and making room in my heart for God to be in control. Then, on my way to work, the best mix of songs were on the radio. My heart went straight into worship. I wanted to just sit in my car and speak to God. But, everything you do can be worship to God-and I had a job to get started.
Thank God for Pandora Radio! As soon as I got in my classroom I knew I couldn't stop worshiping just yet. My heart just needed to commune with God. So I put on some Christian radio via Pandora while I wrote the objectives and homework for the day and looked over my lesson plans.
Today was so much better than yesterday. I treated my kids better. My lessons were better (even Math!). I laughed more. I smiled at my kids more. I spoke more encouraging words to my kids. I was no where near being worn out at the end of the day.
The thing is when I have a bad day, my kids are forced to have a bad day. But, when I have a good day nothing but good can come of it. Which means when I'm not rooted in Jesus and connected to his strength my kids suffer. But when I am full of praise and worship my kids' days are changed for the better. It is absolutely crazy to think about. It blows my mind. When I am centered in Jesus my kids reap the benefits. It doesn't matter if they believe in God or even know that I'm a follower of God--as long as I'm letting the Holy Spirit lead my day they get a taste of what real life is. CRAZY. When I'm tasting and seeing that the Lord is good my kids are able to taste and see that, too! Woah!
We are carriers of salt and light. I'm starting to realize that the church may not even know what that truly means. We don't realize how we can change the spiritual atmosphere of a place just by being present. We are ambassadors of Christ, sons and daughters of a king-the King. We are those that have found favor with the creator of the universe (the sun is 93 million miles away from earth and it would take use 24 YEARS to travel to Neptune and back....UNIVERSE).
Anyway-I think I've been all over the place here. Hopefully you can figure it out.
Keep praying, I'm still on lay-off notice. Whatever my God ordains is right.
Yesterday was a tough day. My math lesson was boring and no one wanted to do the work. I had to constantly tell students to keep working, put your name on your paper, stop talking about that, sit down, leave her alone, do your work, stop talking, put your hand down-you can't go to the bathroom, stop talking, why haven't you started your work, put your name on your paper, no-you can't write in marker, stop talking... (Seriously.)
Since becoming a teacher not a school day goes by without me spending time in the morning asking God to give me patience and to help me be fair and full of grace and love. Every day I fail. And every morning I ask for the grace to treat my students right all over again.
I went home last night worn out. I had relied on my own (lack of) strength all day and I could tell. My students could tell, too. [It's worse for my afternoon class. By the time they get to me my morning class has stolen all of my patience and grace and there is very little nice left in me.]
This morning I knew I needed the Lord's strength. I sat for a while after waking up just thinking about everything that went wrong yesterday-just telling the Lord all about it. I'm so glad his love is unconditional-he really knows me and nothing I do is hidden from him. I find comfort in that. I don't have to try to hide things from him. He already knows-and he LOVES me JUST THE SAME. [No-I'm not saying that we can do whatever we want and abuse God's grace. That makes him angry. Just look at the letters to the churches in Revelation. What I am saying is that our messes don't phase him and his love is always unwavering towards us. Unconditional love and agreeing with our actions are two different things.]
So, I had a good morning getting my head cleared and making room in my heart for God to be in control. Then, on my way to work, the best mix of songs were on the radio. My heart went straight into worship. I wanted to just sit in my car and speak to God. But, everything you do can be worship to God-and I had a job to get started.
Thank God for Pandora Radio! As soon as I got in my classroom I knew I couldn't stop worshiping just yet. My heart just needed to commune with God. So I put on some Christian radio via Pandora while I wrote the objectives and homework for the day and looked over my lesson plans.
Today was so much better than yesterday. I treated my kids better. My lessons were better (even Math!). I laughed more. I smiled at my kids more. I spoke more encouraging words to my kids. I was no where near being worn out at the end of the day.
The thing is when I have a bad day, my kids are forced to have a bad day. But, when I have a good day nothing but good can come of it. Which means when I'm not rooted in Jesus and connected to his strength my kids suffer. But when I am full of praise and worship my kids' days are changed for the better. It is absolutely crazy to think about. It blows my mind. When I am centered in Jesus my kids reap the benefits. It doesn't matter if they believe in God or even know that I'm a follower of God--as long as I'm letting the Holy Spirit lead my day they get a taste of what real life is. CRAZY. When I'm tasting and seeing that the Lord is good my kids are able to taste and see that, too! Woah!
We are carriers of salt and light. I'm starting to realize that the church may not even know what that truly means. We don't realize how we can change the spiritual atmosphere of a place just by being present. We are ambassadors of Christ, sons and daughters of a king-the King. We are those that have found favor with the creator of the universe (the sun is 93 million miles away from earth and it would take use 24 YEARS to travel to Neptune and back....UNIVERSE).
Anyway-I think I've been all over the place here. Hopefully you can figure it out.
Keep praying, I'm still on lay-off notice. Whatever my God ordains is right.
Wednesday, October 17, 2012
Pink Slip
For those of you that are following I decided I would share this information.
On Saturday I came back from a wedding ceremony for a little bit before the reception. Upon arriving home, I opened my mail and found a lovely note from DPS letting me know that, unless recalled, I will be laidoff in a couple weeks.
I broke down. Completely. I couldn't even tell my parents, just had to give the note to my dad. And then everyone in the house came and hugged me, lol.
I'm not worried. I am cautiously optimistic. I don't know what will happen. I texted my principal and her response was "What? Don't worry. Have a good time at the wedding."
Now, I have a very good principal. She tells us all the time that she hand picked this staff purposely. And I've heard from staff that she's kept with her along the years that she doesn't play around when it comes to that kind of decision. I trust that she will do whatever can be done to keep me at her school.
I also trust the Lord. He is sovereign. I did not put this teaching gift inside of me. I did not make my heart love this city as I do. And I did not get this job for myself. All of my experiences and education leading up to this point have been orchestrated by the Lord. I have learned to trust him in all circumstances. I remember the way that he provided for me so tenderly in high school and became my very best friend in the whole world. I know...not from a naive-never-been-through-anything-hard but from a you-were-the-only-one-there-when-I-needed-someone-the-most...that he is faithful and his plans for this life of mine are by far superior to any I can make up on my own.
That being said, I don't know what will happen. I'm not worried...but I am eager to find out if I stay or go...and if I go, then what next.
Well, today at the staff meeting, my principal and assistant principal decided to start handing out "High Flyer" awards to staff who are going above and beyond. I got one. And I'm really glad. I don't like recognition for bragging rights, but I do like recognition...who doesn't?
I hope this means I get to stay. But even if it doesn't, it's good comfort for the time being.
On Saturday I came back from a wedding ceremony for a little bit before the reception. Upon arriving home, I opened my mail and found a lovely note from DPS letting me know that, unless recalled, I will be laidoff in a couple weeks.
I broke down. Completely. I couldn't even tell my parents, just had to give the note to my dad. And then everyone in the house came and hugged me, lol.
I'm not worried. I am cautiously optimistic. I don't know what will happen. I texted my principal and her response was "What? Don't worry. Have a good time at the wedding."
Now, I have a very good principal. She tells us all the time that she hand picked this staff purposely. And I've heard from staff that she's kept with her along the years that she doesn't play around when it comes to that kind of decision. I trust that she will do whatever can be done to keep me at her school.
I also trust the Lord. He is sovereign. I did not put this teaching gift inside of me. I did not make my heart love this city as I do. And I did not get this job for myself. All of my experiences and education leading up to this point have been orchestrated by the Lord. I have learned to trust him in all circumstances. I remember the way that he provided for me so tenderly in high school and became my very best friend in the whole world. I know...not from a naive-never-been-through-anything-hard but from a you-were-the-only-one-there-when-I-needed-someone-the-most...that he is faithful and his plans for this life of mine are by far superior to any I can make up on my own.
That being said, I don't know what will happen. I'm not worried...but I am eager to find out if I stay or go...and if I go, then what next.
Well, today at the staff meeting, my principal and assistant principal decided to start handing out "High Flyer" awards to staff who are going above and beyond. I got one. And I'm really glad. I don't like recognition for bragging rights, but I do like recognition...who doesn't?
I hope this means I get to stay. But even if it doesn't, it's good comfort for the time being.
Thursday, October 11, 2012
Ok, so what if the earth was...
Our science curriculum starts with seasons. I don't think I could've been luckier. I love teaching seasons because kids have so many questions about the earth when it comes to seasons.
We've been doing models and dances to explore the motion of the earth around the sun. I have the North Star on one of the classroom walls. We all stand up by our chair and grab our hands over our heads to make our axis. Then we tilt toward Polaris. Next we start to rotate. And finally we keep all of that going revolve around our sun (the chairs). I had one adorable boy continue to tilt his "axis" toward Polaris even when we left the classroom for bathroom and recess. I'll have to get a pic or video of our dance.
Today I used a website today to further illustrate the importance of the earth's tilt, the angle of the sun and how they relate to temperature and hours of daylight. (Go here for the goods.) My kids LOVED it. They were asking so many questions.
"So what would happen if we didn't rotate?"
"So what would happen if our axis was titled this way?"
"So what would happen if we revolved backwards?"
It was an exciting day for seasons to say the least. Afterwards, kids began to answer "What effect does a tilted axis have on our seasons? in table groups. Brilliant answers at the end of the day make my heart warm and fuzzy. One kid wrote that if we had a straight axis then we would have the same season all year round. Another kid explained that when we the earth's tilt is pointing toward the sun then we have summer because the angle of the sunlight in the Northern Hemisphere is closer to 90 degrees. What brilliant children!
I've been needing a day like this.
Also, my principal made two shout-outs to me this week. One for tutoring without regard for pay (I tutor 2 days a week after school) and another for being the only employee, who attended a specific workshop, that shared some of the resources with my principal.
On to other news, yesterday I got a new student who only speaks Spanish. Only. I'm used to EL students...but the emphasis is learner. This poor girl doesn't understand anything I say. So I paired her up with a bilingual student who is repeating the 5th grade. I'm confident both of them will benefit from the experience. My new girl will have a translation and my bilingual girl will be responsible for reteaching the material. It's a win-win for everyone.
Let's see...what else? Oh, if you'd like to support my classroom, we are in need of personal white boards for quick formative assessments. You can donate towards this project at donorschoose.org/ostroski make sure to enter the match code PUMPKIN to instantly double your donation at no extra cost to you! Don't hold off too long though, the match code is only valid until October 15th.
Blessings to you all. <3 AmyO
We've been doing models and dances to explore the motion of the earth around the sun. I have the North Star on one of the classroom walls. We all stand up by our chair and grab our hands over our heads to make our axis. Then we tilt toward Polaris. Next we start to rotate. And finally we keep all of that going revolve around our sun (the chairs). I had one adorable boy continue to tilt his "axis" toward Polaris even when we left the classroom for bathroom and recess. I'll have to get a pic or video of our dance.
Today I used a website today to further illustrate the importance of the earth's tilt, the angle of the sun and how they relate to temperature and hours of daylight. (Go here for the goods.) My kids LOVED it. They were asking so many questions.
"So what would happen if we didn't rotate?"
"So what would happen if our axis was titled this way?"
"So what would happen if we revolved backwards?"
It was an exciting day for seasons to say the least. Afterwards, kids began to answer "What effect does a tilted axis have on our seasons? in table groups. Brilliant answers at the end of the day make my heart warm and fuzzy. One kid wrote that if we had a straight axis then we would have the same season all year round. Another kid explained that when we the earth's tilt is pointing toward the sun then we have summer because the angle of the sunlight in the Northern Hemisphere is closer to 90 degrees. What brilliant children!
I've been needing a day like this.
Also, my principal made two shout-outs to me this week. One for tutoring without regard for pay (I tutor 2 days a week after school) and another for being the only employee, who attended a specific workshop, that shared some of the resources with my principal.
On to other news, yesterday I got a new student who only speaks Spanish. Only. I'm used to EL students...but the emphasis is learner. This poor girl doesn't understand anything I say. So I paired her up with a bilingual student who is repeating the 5th grade. I'm confident both of them will benefit from the experience. My new girl will have a translation and my bilingual girl will be responsible for reteaching the material. It's a win-win for everyone.
Let's see...what else? Oh, if you'd like to support my classroom, we are in need of personal white boards for quick formative assessments. You can donate towards this project at donorschoose.org/ostroski make sure to enter the match code PUMPKIN to instantly double your donation at no extra cost to you! Don't hold off too long though, the match code is only valid until October 15th.
Blessings to you all. <3 AmyO
Tuesday, October 9, 2012
Don't Take This Personal
Are you kidding me?
EVERYTHING about this job is personal. EVERYTHING.
My heart IS Detroit. They are one in the same. They cannot be separated.
Can't read? I take that personally.
Can't write? I take that personally.
Can't explain answers? I take that personally.
Can't do math you were already supposed to know? I take that personally.
Don't do homework? I take that personally.
People look at Detroit and see death. I look at Detroit and have only ever been able to see life. I see life everywhere. I see it in the hunger. People are so hungry here. It is hunger that drives addiction, neglect, abuse, and the need to be accepted, to belong. There is life in hunger. People who are fighting hunger do so because they want to live. There is life here.
There is also oppression, fatherlessness, and poverty that viciously cycles. Yeah, I see all of that, too. And I take it personally. Detroit IS my heart. How can I not take the pain personal? I see my city how it is. I see the destruction and devastation. I see the drug addicts and the torched houses. I see the camera crews on the corner of the last shooting. I see the girls walking the street. I see the trash-littered neighborhoods.
But my heart, my heart sees the life, it sees the "what-ifs" and "could bes." I see restoration. I see redemption. I see a city rebuilt. I see everything made new.
Until everyone sees what my heart sees, I will continue to take all of the pain personal. I'm a teacher on purpose. I'm trying to change this city. Not because I think I can, but because I know I was called. I was called to teach---here---in this place, where life is so hard for others to see. And in the midst of me teaching I continue to fight. I have to wage war against illiteracy. I have to wage war against laziness. I have to wage war against anything that suggests compromise. My heart cannot let these things happen to my city, but when they do, I can feel the pain on the inside. How can I not take this personally?
EVERYTHING about this job is personal. EVERYTHING.
My heart IS Detroit. They are one in the same. They cannot be separated.
Can't read? I take that personally.
Can't write? I take that personally.
Can't explain answers? I take that personally.
Can't do math you were already supposed to know? I take that personally.
Don't do homework? I take that personally.
People look at Detroit and see death. I look at Detroit and have only ever been able to see life. I see life everywhere. I see it in the hunger. People are so hungry here. It is hunger that drives addiction, neglect, abuse, and the need to be accepted, to belong. There is life in hunger. People who are fighting hunger do so because they want to live. There is life here.
There is also oppression, fatherlessness, and poverty that viciously cycles. Yeah, I see all of that, too. And I take it personally. Detroit IS my heart. How can I not take the pain personal? I see my city how it is. I see the destruction and devastation. I see the drug addicts and the torched houses. I see the camera crews on the corner of the last shooting. I see the girls walking the street. I see the trash-littered neighborhoods.
But my heart, my heart sees the life, it sees the "what-ifs" and "could bes." I see restoration. I see redemption. I see a city rebuilt. I see everything made new.
Until everyone sees what my heart sees, I will continue to take all of the pain personal. I'm a teacher on purpose. I'm trying to change this city. Not because I think I can, but because I know I was called. I was called to teach---here---in this place, where life is so hard for others to see. And in the midst of me teaching I continue to fight. I have to wage war against illiteracy. I have to wage war against laziness. I have to wage war against anything that suggests compromise. My heart cannot let these things happen to my city, but when they do, I can feel the pain on the inside. How can I not take this personally?
This is my anchor right now:
Blessed is he whose help is the God of Jacob, whose hope is in the Lord his God, the maker of heaven and earth, the sea, and everything in them-the Lord, who remains faithful forever. He upholds the cause of the oppressed and gives food to the hungry. The Lord sets prisoners free, the Lord gives sight to the blind, the Lord lifts up those who are bowed down, the Lord loves the righteous. The Lord watches over the alien and sustains the fatherless and the widow, but he frustrates the plan of the wicked.
Psalm 146
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