The beginning approacheth...

One of the things that I really love about teaching is that I get to start new every fall. Or late summer, depending on how picky you are. Teaching is unique in the sense that what we do has a beginning, a middle, and a definite end. I used to work as an assistant in a tourism office when I was in grad school, I know from what I speak here - there is NO end. Sure, we would finish projects, but then we'd go on to another almost immediately, or rather, we would shift our attention to that project that had already begun much around the same time as the one just completed. But with teaching, you get an end, a break, and a fresh start. I will have all new students this year. I'm also hoping to have some of the same kids I had last year - several of my World History students told me they signed up for AP Psych. Since I'm teaching 3 of the 5 sections offered this year, odds are better than 50% that I'll get a few of them. This is great, because I liked those kids. But back to the new.

Of course, I'm always overly optimistic. "This year I'm going to be the perfect teacher," I tell myself. "I'm going to call parents when there's a problem immediately! I'm going to be so creative with my lessons! I'm going to plan more than two days ahead. I will have great tests and even better essays with fabulous rubrics with which to grade said essays. I will use all the right techniques, and my students will love my classes." Ha ha ha! Well, I should know from experience (this being the beginning of year 5) that that shit ain't gonna happen. But I'll be better than last year. And I will be more creative in some senses. I will use some of the same lessons, but they'll be improved. And dammit, this year I am going to use good rubrics, because it's all about the rubric. What is a rubric? Well, there are all kinds of definitions, none of which really apply, but the way teachers use them is that they are basically something that lists attributes that qualify the writing, project, etc., as an "A", "B", "C", etc. paper. Here is an example: Essay Rubric It's a really good one, by the way, thanks to the author of this one!!!

So while I am sad that my vacation is over (although no students next week, it's just teachers), I am looking forward to the New Year. It will be different, certainly - we have two new teachers, and an interim department chair, but that's part of the reason it's so much fun.

Things that make you go "hmmm..."

So no doubt you've heard about the massive power outages in the northeastern U.S. and Canada. (look here or here for info) Frankly, I'd be surprised if you had heard about anything else, that was all that was on the news yesterday. It was on all the local networks here, plus the cable networks, as well as the BBC news. My question is this. If there was no power in NYC yesterday, how on earth was NBC broadcasting from NY at all? Or any of the news agencies that are headquarterd in NY. Is it all a lie? Are they really just in a small building in Sheboygan?

Catching a cold?

The cat has been sneezing alot the last couple of days. And not those little sneezes that are almost fairy-like, you could almost see Tinkerbell sneezing like that. No, she's been sneezing two or three times at a shot, and they're great big snuffly things. We did go to the vet last week (and it was dog day, apparently, she was the only cat in a waiting room filled with canines), and aside from needing a visit to the kitty dentist, the vet gave her a clean bill of health. Other than the sneezing, I can't see anything else wrong with her, no running eyes, no listlessness, in fact, she's as active as she usually is. If it continues tomorrow I will give the vet a call, although I will also be spending part of the day waiting for the cable guy because my Tivo didn't work!!! So I returned it and got digital cable instead. Extravagance, I know!

Ch-ch-ch-changes...

Every fall when we come back from summer vacation, there are always changes at school. Teachers who told you to have a nice summer, and they'd see you in the fall, have gone off to other schools, to higher positions, to pursue other careers. Others who said goodbye to you in June suddenly reappear in late August, as if nothing had passed between you in the spring, as if there had been no mention of their leaving. You whisper in corners with your colleagues about what happened, why did so-and-so come back, what job offer fell through, what was better about this job that made them want to come back? Part of the excitement of coming back in late August is finding out all this information, finding out how everyone else spent their vacation, finding out about the changes, and learning what new inanities the school district has decided we desperately need to do this year.

But sometimes the changes just suck. Well, suck isn't quite the right word for it. The change is good for the person making the change, but it has thrown my colleagues and me for a loop.

My department chair is leaving our school for another position within the school district. She is one year away from retirement, and we all kind of knew she'd be leaving next year, but that was next year. What we were not prepared for was this announcement that she would not be spending her final year with us. For her, it is an exciting opportunity to be able to have more flexible working hours and to be able to be involved in new ways of teaching. For us, for me, it is scary! Who will the new leader be? How will this new person differ from our former leader? Will the collegiality that currently exists in our department continue on? Will this new person trust in our professionalism and allow us to keep our focus as we have in the past? One of the things I like so much about this school that I hear is not the case in so many other schools in my district is the fact that the teachers, especially those of us in the social studies department, are given a lot of freedom regarding how we approach the state tests. Many other schools emphasize rote memorization and massive reviewing towards the end of the school year, something that has never been the case at my school, and our scores have always been pretty good. I hope this kind of trust can continue.

I also feel sorry for this new person for a variety of reasons: first, our former dept. chair is a wonderful woman, a good leader, and an excellent educator. These are some big shoes to fill! Second: we as a department are very close, and (from what I understand from people who have entered the department in the last couple of years) we can be intimidating, and not-so-easy to break into. We don't mean to be, I don't think, but that's the way it is. At least, I don't think we mean to be. For any new person the transition could be difficult. Of course, the new department chair could be someone from within our department. This also has dangers. It could cause resentment. Or it could be great. It's a great unknown, and that is what is so worrying.

I will also personally miss our department chair very, very much. She is not only my colleague, but a friend, and I have learned much from her about being a teacher and about being a leader. She was always a calming influence on my bad days, and always supportive when I wanted to try something new. I wish her the best of luck with her new position, and hope that she'll come back and visit us often. I can only hope that one day I will be half as good an educator as she is.

Tryin' to get down to business

I am excited about this. Heck, I'm just damn excited about today. First, according to the UPS tracking website, my Tivo should be coming today - in fact, it is currently in the back of a big brown truck, on its way from Alexandria!!! I wonder how many houses between me and my Tivo?

Sad, I know.

In addition, the current plan is to begin thinking about school again this week. Yes, I know, I did all that work on curriculum, and thus spent a lot of time thinking about school, however, I was thinking more globally (to use history teacher speak), rather than in my own classroom. Today's plan is to map out the World History course roughly for the whole year. Ha ha ha! In other words, make a schedule from first day until last day that as soon as I start teaching I will have to throw out of the window. The best laid plans... Why am I starting so early, you may ask? Well, it's really not that early, if you think about it. Between now and the first day that teachers go back (which is a week chock full of meetings, spending time with colleagues, and rearranging your classroom three times until it's acceptable (not right, just acceptable)), there are only three weeks, and next week I have a one day workshop, and the week after I have a three day workshop, so it's not really three weeks, now is it.

Wait.

Where the HELL did my summer go????

So, add to the Tivo and scheduling excitment, towards the end of the week, I'm going to Philadelphia to spend quality time with my dad and grandmother, as well as see some friends from my own high school days. Should be very much fun.

Hey, anyone out there know Gaelic?