Ink and Quill

Last day of teaching - 5770

2010-06-27T07:11:00.000-07:00

So today was my last day with the 125. Most of them students, some only there 'cause their parents forced them to school. I admit it; I'll miss them. A lot. The variety, the youth, the cheerfulness, the sauciness, the unexpectedness... the ability to make you feel alive. Even if that includes raising your voice, narrowing your eyes and trying to look tough.
Today was the last day.
In my third grade classes I had nice activities: a wordsearch with 26 words - one for each letter of the abc. In one class we had a party; the kids all brought something and I brought a ton of popcorn and plastic bowls. I was really surprised (pleasantly so) that the kid with whom I'd had the most trouble also brought a snack; a bag of bambas. In that class we played a game of bingo with prizes (I brought. Nothing fancy).
In the last five minutes of each class I got complete silence as I told them that I wouldn't be continuing with them next year. They were all really sad to hear that. One girl immeadately made me a card and slipped it in my bag. I explained to them that it was because of all the fighting and disruption - the principal had decided that he wants a tougher teacher. In one class my students reassured me that I wasn't a bad teacher; it was the fault of the badly behaved kids. In my fourth grade class the kids were furious. They wanted to meet with the principal and force him to change his mind. Several of them wanted it repeated to them that I had actually been fired.
The final thing I did was to was to hand out a cute note to each kid and a hard candy. They loved those! A sweet ending.
Wednesday is the final ceremony and farewell.

It's a little bit funny...

2010-06-02T12:03:00.000-07:00

I had once told my students that whoever has any songs in English - can bring them to class and welcome. Well, this morning I came to my fourth grade class and was handed a double disc of... Elton John. Oh, yes. So I told my student that I have a free period and I'll try and think of something so we can hear a song. Sure enough, during that free time, I sat in the Teachers' Loungs and prepared a worksheet about Elton John. The musical genius who started playing piano at the age of three and won a scholarship to the Royal Academy at the age of eleven. Who loves his costumes and is very rich... The singer, songwriter and composer. A very talented English chappie.
I quickly decided what song we'd listen to; there's only one song of his that I like. Your Song. Also, the words aren't too difficult in it. So I printed off the lyrics. In class we read what I'd written about him, answered the questions, listened to the song and then wrote in our notebooks what we would choose to give to someone who is close to us (at this age most kids chose their parents and to give them a million dollars or a vacation in Paris).
It was an interesting lesson, and I'm proud of my flexibility. The funny thing was that a couple of my students actually said that they were impressed by my devotion...
Well, well. How wonderful life is when you're in the world.

Sing a song...

2010-05-13T08:55:00.000-07:00

Finally! I've been trying to teach my fourth grade class the song "It's a Small World After-all" and for two lessons they just didn't get it. In the first lesson I pointed out the rhyming words and read the song with them. It didn't help. In the second lesson I tried to force them to sing it with me - they rebelled and sang it in Hebrew instead. I tried to explain to them how embarrased they would be come the English evening when the other fourth grade classes would know the song - and they wouldn't. It didn't work; they seemed delighted at the idea that perhaps they wouldn't have to perform after-all. Well, I gave them homework to read the song twice. And I sent them a Youtube clip of it to their emails.
Today in class I figured I would spend the entire lesson on the song if I had to, but that by the time I left the class they must know it. I handed everyone a copy of the song. I started humming the melody. A few kids joined in. I started singing. One girl started making hand gestures as she sang, and then her friend joined her. What the heck, I thought. I joined them - making hand motions that matched the words. Soon all the kids were making the hand motions, and slowly singing. Everyone knew the chorus real fast... We finished singing once and started again, and again, and again... Lesson over. I clapped my hands from relief and they all joined! A few announcements and I released them to recess.
Thank G-d
--Shifra

When things go well

2010-04-09T03:57:00.000-07:00

A very pleasant day yesterday! After starting the subject of magic in my fourth grade class, we wrote our own spells. The children who had read Harry Potter had a great time including magic words like 'crucio' and 'Avada Kedavra' in theirs. Then was the question of what to add? A cow? a pig? Some children were asking me how to say vampire teeth and snails and slugs... I photographed the pages, put them through image graphic design and sent them to their parents. Hopefully on Sunday I'll put them on the English bulletin board instead of the present exhibition.
In all my third grade classes I gave them a page of matching the sentence with the correct picture and writing their name at the end. I was delighted to see that almost all of them got full marks!
Shabbat Shalom,
--Shifra

Mommy, it's over!

2010-04-07T07:22:00.000-07:00

Boy, did I have the jitters last night. I felt just like I did in the beginning of the year. The only difference was that this time I knew all the children's names and their personality's. Did it help calm me down - not really. It just felt so strange for me, mentally, to put myself back into the shoes of a teacher. To try and be assertive, to take charge instead of just watching on the edge,, to be the influential grown-up...
It kept me up a lot, and so I woke exhausted. That of course was terrible. You haven't a hope with children if you're sleepy. Anyhow, I put on the first of the lipsticks I'd bought yesterday (lipstick makes me look older) only to discover that I'd purchased such a perfect match for myself that I couldn't even tell I was wearing some! Still, I guess the point was that I knew I had it on so that gave me confidence, right?
At school the little tykes were all delighted to see me - one fourth grader even telling me exactly how many weeks it's been since he's last had an English lesson. The girls noticed my hair-cut and most of them said my longer hair was nicer. I have yet to figure out why, but one child asked me if I'd gotten married.
Classes weren't too bad. In fact they were pretty good. There wasn't any fighting except for in fourth grade and that was because one kid had forgotten to take his pill; I finally had to call for the vice principal to take him. True, the noise level was high, but we accomplished learning. I didn't walk out of classes disgusted today. The only problem is that I walked out hoarse - I guess I'm out of practise and my vocal cords need to get used to this again.
So, it's back to school, hmmm.

It's Up!

2010-03-29T00:56:00.000-07:00

Yes! They put it up... Check out the right hand side of this website:
http://www.orianit.edu-negev.gov.il/english/
and you'll find the link to the Shafir English newspaper!
A proud day :)
Have a happy Pesach,
--Shifra

Finally

2010-03-24T00:05:00.000-07:00

Okay,
I got tired of waiting for our school's English newspaper to apppear on the Southern Inspectorate's website, and so this morning I kept at it and finally managed to put it on my school's website. I warn you though - my school has only just started a new website (I don't know why they tired of the old one) so it's all very new and fresh... and empty.
Here's the link: http://clickit3.ort.org.il/Apps/WW/Page.aspx?ws=9abbfaaf-5149-4f98-9abf-47a5e4f6bd37&page=2a8c5584-f94a-40e2-9e98-ae3814c85566
Enjoy.
--shifra

Sing a Pesach song

2010-03-17T01:48:00.000-07:00

There were some Prime Ministers and/ or Presidents of Israel who were extremely punctual in writing in their diary. At the end of each day they would open their book and calmly fill in with whom they met, what they did, their feelings and worries and plans for the morrow.

However, I don't possess that ability. Days, weeks go by, perhaps even a complete month without my having found the time to sit down and carefully write a statement of what has happened, how I feel about it, and what I am planning for the morrow. The reason for this? Being a teacher is like being a general. You carefully plan yourself for the situation. The victory is yours if won with as few casulties, covering as much ground, etc. You must be alert every minute - because the face of the field can change in a minute. You must know when to call for reinforcements. When have you won them over to your side?

One thing I've learned is that my little troops like to sing. Really like to, and with gestures too.
Another - my fourth graders were surprised when I allowed them to fix their tests and get a better grade. I not only allowed it, I encouraged it, and practically made it homework; the point is for the child to know the material. What better way for him to really see the difference of before and after, wrong and right? The grade is just a way to urge him to study. Even after fixing, most don't get 100...
With my English Groups - our second newspaper just came out! My students have really done a fine job. The English Inspectorate for the South was so impressed she asked to put it on her website! I haven't seen it there yet - I doubt she's had time - but when I do, I'll post it...

Happy Pesach vacation to everyone - I'm not starting cleaning until I start vacation, which will be on Friday!

Gush Katif Rememberance Day

2010-02-08T02:22:00.000-08:00

The Ministry of Education had decided that this week in the month of Shvat is one in which we are to remember Gush Katif. At my school a colleague and I had decided that someone from the (former) community of Nissanit would come speak and show a film to the school. However, the teacher in charge of organizing school events has been busy facing two brutal parents who weren't happy with their childrens' report cards. Since she has been under fire, she hasn't been able to tend to her other tasks and the Gush Katif issue is sliding away, not remembered.

Well, I decided to teach about Gush Katif in my English classes. A mixture of new vocabulary words, show and tell, and filling in the sentences. I brought an orange ribbon, a small bottle of sand from Gush Katif, the head and tail of a mortar and taught them these words - also houses and hot-houses.

I discovered that three of my students are also Gush Katif expellees; one of them I had wondered if she might be, because her last name was familiar to me. The children were all very interested. They had all heard of Gush Katif, which is surprising considering how young they were at the time of the expulsion, but they didn't all know that much about it. As one of my students said to me: "wait, was Gush Katif part of Israel?" - yes "Well then why was it given away?!"
In my fourth grade the girls at first claimed that it was too sad a subject, and one started to cry. That upset me and I remarked angrily that Gush Katif had existed for 30 years and when we hear the name Gush Katif we don't only need to think about the Expulsion. One fourth grader knew that I had written a book and asked me to bring it to class to see. He said he'd seen it in the newspaper. A girl asked if for next lesson she could bring things from Gush Katif. How could I refuse?

Only one child hadn't been appreciative. A third grader had demanded: what is this, a history lesson?

Hello, again

2010-02-03T07:50:00.000-08:00

Long time no see.
Well, I've managed to be ill twice. Produce the English Group's School Newspaper - absolutely lovely! and just be plain busy. Also we've had a bunch of teacher meetings, and of course the report cards.
Today was one of those days. Not really bad, but not a smashing hit, either. Still, the day goes by quickly with moments that you enjoy (and some that you can't stand). Let's try and see what the main points were:
4th grade second hour was a huge success. The book taught the words 'market', 'how much?' and such. So after going over these, I had them copy it into their notebooks from the board and then work in pairs or trios dramatising their own market: decide what to sell at the market, how much it costs, if you're going to buy it, if so - accept gracefully. Last ten minutes of class I made way for class productions... Two kids refused to act but they had participated in it all.

I had planned on testing two third grade classes today only to be told by one of the classes that their homeroom teacher was postponing the English test for tomorrow - so they wouldn't have two in the same day. Good to know! Well, I told them, spur of the moment that they were very lucky - we would practice for the test instead. But they were too noisy and disorganized... so I had to put a stop to that and tell them to just open their workbooks instead. Plain oral learning isn't enough.

Such weather!
--Shifra

She means well

2010-01-13T06:58:00.000-08:00

So today my "English Counselor" came to view me teach a class. I had told the kids before hand, of course. I wasn't sure how they would behave, because this was my fourth grade class we're talking about. But they were very good. They actually stood up when she entered and responded to her greeting. I used more English than I generally do in class, and the kids noticed and some even commented.
Personally, I thought the lesson itself was okay - I had a song, we differentiated between farm animals and zoo animals and I didn't quite teach the word "pet".

As I sat with her afterwards, my face got grimmer and grimmer. Firstly, she could tell I was tired and commented on the fact. Was it the travel? My boyfriend? (I didn't bother to tell her I haven't one.) The job preparation? I should have an English corner in the class. I should have given them a worksheet. I should have joined the three independent learners in with the class when I teach a song. I should smile more. I should use more visual aids. etc...

The fun part was when she had left and it was just me and my class. There was such a feeling of togetherness. The boy she had sat next to was making a fuss and telling everyone of his experience. I apologized to him, and told him she had been very impressed with him. One of my smart students wanted to know why it was she had asked him if he found the class difficult - he was offended by the question. The class wanted to know if she was going to be present in the next lesson, and was pleased to hear that she wouldn't be. Only one kid was upset; now the class wouldn't be as quiet. One child wanted to know if she was British.

During the hour I was talking to her, there was supposed to be a sub. teacher for one of my third grade classes. In the end they had a free period. Later on that day those students saw me, and they were curious to know where I had been and why they hadn't had English - all this even thought they had had a free hour... I like that.

--Shifra

Taxi

2010-01-11T07:03:00.000-08:00

I took a taxi today to my college. The driver was in his late fifties, and at first we both kept quiet. But after a bit I decided that there's no point in having silence in a taxi; one should amuse the driver and it's a wonderful opportunity to learn something yourself.

So, rather out of the blue, I admit, I asked the chappie what he remembered from his elementary English teacher? This produced a very interesting answer. I learned the following.

My taxi driver had learned English in a religious elementary school in 1963. The teacher had a pronounced British accent and the children constantly mocked his accent and ridiculed it so much that he wasn't able to teach. One might think that in those days discipline would be stricter, but no - the school preferred them learning Gemorrah. Therefore, he never really learned English. The years went by, he finished his army obligation and went to South America. Within two months he had learned to speak Portuguese and even opened up a small shop there. Obviously a fellow with a talent for languages - he also knows Arabic. But not English...
Today he has a granddaughter who lives in Texas. She knows English. But she speaks to him in Hebrew when he doesn't know the words.

Finally he said to me: "now what made you ask this question?"

What's new?

2010-01-06T10:25:00.000-08:00

Dash it all! You go on teaching, and keep expecting some miracle to happen - that one day you'll arrive and find the kidlets transformed into little angels; the bell will ring and you'll enter the class and find them all seated, their English material on their desks and they will be eager to learn. But it Just doesn't happen. I don't know what Clarence is waiting for... Perhaps now that he's gotten his wings he figures he doesn't have to help us poor souls out any more.

One experienced teacher told me that if I can just survive this year I'll be a lot wiser and more energised next year. I'll know what's what, as they say. I think she's right. In the meantime, do I make a fuss over an ADHD third grader climbing out the window in his last period? Yes, I reckon I need to write a note to his parents even if it won't do any good.

Judging by the quiz results of my third grade, I can continue teaching them more letters. They know eleven letters up to now - and numbers 1-20, colors, animals and school objects, as well as the vocabulary of each letter. I think their progress is okay. So now I'll proceed to more letters. Oh, and they've learned body parts as well - face.

With my fourth grade I'm trying to advance in three books at once, so it's a bit of each. Today we learned household furniture and rooms, had homework with letters Xx and Gg and tomorrow we'll read a story and hopefully learn a song.

Still tackling discipline.

--Shifra

Dislike Stormy Weather

2009-12-30T06:36:00.000-08:00

Today was more or less nice - except for the weather. I wasn't in the mood for clouds and rain.

In fourth grade we learned clothes vocabulary and the difference between a blouse and a regular shirt. It helped when I reminded them that last year they had learned T-shirt. As a fun assignment I had them each write in their notebook what clothing they are wearing today. Thus we came upon new words, such as boots, undershirt, underwear (these last two words are so logical) and even cipa (we decided how to spell it, and not to use the Yiddish word) and tzizit.

In third grade we continued with the letter Gg: a workpage and finishing the section in the workbook. One class even got words to practise reading - the others will probably get tomorrow.

Incidents:
In fourth grade one kid was upset that in science class - before my lesson - the teacher and some girls had put snails on his desk. He was of the opinion that his desk was slimy and refused to clean it. The girls also refused, saying that the teacher had placed the snails there. Now, the snails were no longer on his desk, rather on another, but he took them and put them on one of the girl's desk. She got up in a huff and went to call the vice principal. For some reason she thought I'd given her permission to call him. I hadn't. By the time the vice came, the class was learning fine.

In one of the third grades I allowed two third graders to leave class ten minutes early to go hunt for one of the school staff. This involved a supergoal transaction... More important than English class? No. but it meant so much to them, they wouldn't pay attention to English class even if I forbade them. The fault lay with the staff member who wasn't more accessable to them. Well, the problem was that when they left, some other kids got the idea that the lesson was over and gathered their schoolbags and left... I was left with half a class before I managed to stop the stampede. So I wrote down the children who remained and figured I'll give it to the homeroom teacher - let her speak to them.

--Shifra

A white lie

2009-12-27T07:26:00.001-08:00

Today, the Tenth of Tevet. Several of my students asked me if I was fasting. Well, I wasn't quite fasting - having drank some liquid in order to swallow some medication in the morning - but silence is the same as acquiesence... Those children who asked me, smiled and replied "I'm fasting too". I thought it would set an educational example - a grown up fasting. Also, it would be complex to explain about medicine.

I had to correct them in their davening; they knew it was a special day and so they wanted to add יעלה ויבוא in the תפילת עמידה... Though actually they proved themselves not capable of all praying nicely together, so at first I chose a chazan to set the pace, but even that didn't work so in the end they all prayed by themselves.

I've started something new in my third grade classes: when I write a child's name on the board for being exceptionally good or for misbehaving, I now write it in English. This lends it a special charm as they recognize whether it is their name, and try and figure out whose it is. They all know their own name by now - or should.

We - the English team - sat with the computer teacher today in order to understand what the new school website is like and how to upload things to their. We put together an attractive page of English links including short descriptions. The reason I called this meeting is because I have some pictures I'd like to put on the site from my fourth grade class - of the students with different objects from around the world. However, I've been told that for legal reasons I should first get the parents' written permission.

--Shifra

Keeping busy

2009-12-20T10:36:00.000-08:00

Righto. So, Chanuka vacation is over and it's Back to School...

The Principal called a meeting of the English Staff in order to discuss the English newspaper. I was commended, we figured out a due-date for the paper and decided what to fix in the draft I'd drawn up. We're all very pleased. Today I told my fourth grade group of mother-tongue English that their work will appear in the school English newspaper and they were flattered... I've yet to tell my other two groups - and they still have some work to do for the paper.

Also, I need to make nice certificates for these fine students who stay an hour after school once a week in the pursuit of English. They'll receive it when they get their report cards. The Principal's idea, and a nice one at that.

Next on the agenda is the brain-child of getting the parents more involved; emailing them. I've decided to email the parents of my fourth graders every lesson: what did we learn? what was the homework? and individual parents will receive behavior notification. This way they won't have to open the kid's notebook and diary to see what they learned and if there was homework, and they won't have to call me if the kid was sick or forgot his book, etc. I started today and one parent has already responded blessing me on the initiative.

I've promised my fourth graders a lesson about the different countries in the world, and they want to bring objects from different places; coins and costumes. It'll be a real show and tell lesson. I'm not quite sure how to plan it, I'll have to think.

It was nice to be back teaching. Two third grades went well. One was noisy. The fourth grade was fine once I let two boys out into the hall (yes, I know it's not allowed). My guess is that their retalin wasn't working at that hour.

Tzvia Ashkelon called me today asking me if I'd be willing to replace an English teacher who's on maternity leave. I refused. I'm busy enough and content enough in my current job...

Different Projects

2009-12-14T01:17:00.000-08:00

Well, let's see...

I've had my first class of English speaking 5th - 6th grade boys. No, they aren't as calm and quiet as the girls, but - yes, it was fun. We read a short online story, discussed it while reading and then followed up with two questions: what were the new words you learned? and what animal would you choose as a provider and comforter - why? We didn't have time to finish answering the questions, so will continue that next week. Not all the boys wanted to read, and the microphones weren't connected and we weren't able to manage to hook 'em up, so I read most of the story.

With the third grades we learned six new Chanukka vocabulary words, and then made Chanukkah cards - each child writing their name in English. Cute pop-up cards. Some said they would mail it to grandparents, others said they would give it to their parents and some elected to exchange with classmate friends. However, in an activity such as this, there are always those boys that refuse to decorate their cards and just act wild. Merciful Heavens...

In fourth grade I started with vocabulary which they wrote in their notebooks, and then we did a Chanukkah page of True/ False statements and fill in the correct vocabulary word. In the end they had a (difficult) word-search.

So far only four fourth grade parents have given me their emails. I've tried calling some parents today but realise that evening will be better. So I've checked D. and A. 's workbooks instead and checked Y. 's workpages from the third grade.

Yesterday I started working on the school English paper and sent the first draft to the principal. I need his comments to know how to continue with that.

Happy Chanukka,
--Shifra

Notebooks

2009-12-09T11:02:00.000-08:00

In checking fourth grade notebooks, I find that not two in ten are exactly alike. Students miss days and don't fill in the material. Or they don't quite manage to copy everything from the board - and don't bother to finish the sentences or the words. From each notebook I discover new things that I taught them...
And I've found out why they've finished their notebooks so quickly - because they only write on one side of the page.
Anyhow, today we did an exercise with Where is versus Where are, and I was surprised that they managed to know when something was in the plural; when had they learned that? Now, in checking a notebook, I see I'd given them a rule regarding words that end with an s...
--Shifra

The Advanced

2009-12-02T09:06:00.000-08:00

Oh, and there was one other thing. In one of my third grade classes an advanced student approached me and requested workpages. I was surprised for a second - how did he know I had photocopied assignments for him when I'd last been at college? And I was pleased; it meant that he's used to getting pages from me, that up until now I must have been pretty good about it. From my own experience as a student, most English teachers don't want to bother about the more advanced children. And yet I always kept my mouth shut in English class - he doesn't...
Well, it's a strange world.

Colors

2009-12-02T07:23:00.000-08:00

Today was a nice day. One third grader complimented me on the braids in my hair and asked me if I'd done them myself. A fourth grader told me that she enjoyed my English classes (a girl that was heartbroken after her thirdgrade English teacher married and left).

During one period of the fourth grade there was a substitute since I had a meeting with the English counselor. Well, I left her a number of topics to review with the class since I didn't know what would be the speed of the class. Also, I gave her the material for the independent learners. Well, when I arrived for my following English class with them, the kids were curious where I had been... and informed me that it had been a mess. The sub. had gotten the vice. and sent children to study in the first grade, etc. I confess to having been somewhat pleased to hear that I wasn't the only teacher with difficulties controlling that class. Still, with me they learned though not smoothly. They can't smoothly. I finally managed to stare down H. and that took some doing - and in the end I don't think she did any classwork, though she did do her punishment from Sunday.

Whatever. In all the classes I handed out an information sheet to the parents so they can know exactly where we are in the material. Many parents study with their children and this will be of vast help to them. From the fourth grade parents I requested their emails - it will enable me to keep in close contact with them and update them on their child's progress. Since we finished the first unit in all my classes I handed out Excellence awards to two children in each class. It wasn't easy to choose! There are those with the high grades, those who put in the effort, those who behave good, and those who are my special pets. Tough...

I'm changing the bulletin board to Weather. Let that be up a month.

In mother-tongue English we read a short online story about a world in which everything was the same color. Horrid, no? Well, if you could choose one thing to stay it's original color, what would that thing be?

We're learning

2009-11-25T09:09:00.000-08:00

Right. So I had a lot of fun meeting all the parents. They kept me busy from 17:00 till 19:40 - at which time I said I was sorry, but that I was leaving (despite there being a few more parents hanging around). I actually was supposed to have left ten minutes earlier but parents kept coming in for "just a minute...". Anyhow, like I've said, I had a very good time. It was really worthwhile meeting the parents. I found out some new information, I was able to pass on some helpful information, I was able to listen and smile and praise. It was all very pleasant. I promised two parents to retest their children, and promised one mother that before future tests I'll hand out a printed paper of the exact vocabulary words, etc. so she won't have to look anything up in a dictionary. Also, I agreed with one couple that their sone currently isn't learning in his English class and that perhaps an individual plan will help him. Therefore, today I started him on Sound Reading and he progressed nicely; he also got a sticker. One other boy wants to switch over to this workbook and I think I'll let him. I'll also take the two out once a week for tutorial.

One of the boys who I agreed to retest did his test today and got 100. He'll be delighted; after getting 66... And in the P.T meeting his mother and I both had to work to convince him to retest.

I heard today from the school counselor and also from the school secretary that one of the boys who I built an individual plan for had a meeting at the school, and he told them how his son has such a difficult time with the subject teachers. And then his voice broke and he, a grown man, started to sob as he said, that his son manages in one subject: English...

Yes, yes. Still some noise during classes and still discipline issues. But we're learning.

The calm before the storm

2009-11-20T02:48:00.000-08:00

Ahh, now I'm settling back for some rest and relaxation. The first storm has swept by... and turned out to be only a gentle rain. From this you can understand that my obseerved lesson went really well. In fact, they went so far as to compliment my rapport with the class, my English, my youth and looks and to say I have potential. I was told by a colleague that they don't naturally do this... They did have some comments for improvement but they were a. good ones and b. relatively minor. Oh, and they said that I am a born teacher. Now isn't that nice? I do hope they weren't just saying that... I taught parts of the face and incorporated them in a sentence " I have two ears..." and we learned a song. It was fun. One bright kid commented that we can't count our hair - so we learned " I have a lot of hair". Since they wanted, we learned tongue and eyebrow as well. etc.

In the third grade there is a student with the IQ of a genius. However, his behavior in class is hardly age appropriate. He enjoys pestering his classmates or just sitting withdrawn. I haven't a clue what he carries in his backpack or if he even has school supplies. Once only did he agree, rather to my surprise, to color an alphabet picture letter page (airplane for Aa), and spent the lesson quietly doing that instead of jumping on tables or fighting. Yesterday, for the first time, I had a conversation with him. It was in the last hour and I suddenly decided to try and put the alphabet letters up above the board. However, this was a job that needed two - someone to be up high abd the other to hand over the letters. I walked out of the empty class and saw E. with his backpack on, just wandering the hallway as usual, and asked if he'd like to help me hang the letters up. He was surprised, suspicious and probably would have refused were it not for the fact that he was bored. I asked him to climb on the table and see if he could reach. He couldn't. I remarked how only if we put a chair on top of the table... and he said with a twisted smile that then he wouldn't climb on it. I told him he was quite right. Actually, judging by his class behavior, I was surprised to see that his risk factor functioned... So then I thought that perhaps I was a bit taller than him. Sure enough, when standing on the table I reached. However, the letters were all messed up. I started putting them in order and he said he couldn't help with that because he doesn't really learn English like the rest of the class... Wanting to comfort him I responded that the other classmates wouldn't be able to do this either because they haven't learned all the letters yet. So I stood on the table and he peeled the paper off the scotch and handed the letters up to me. At first he made a mistake, and I had to show him exactly what paper to take off. He was a good helper. Then somehow we got into a conversation about old history books with wonderful pictures, and an encyclopedia he has at home that he used to like looking at its pictures, but that he hadn't for two years. And then we were talking about how clothing have changed in the past 200 years - I said how they've changed for the men, and he said how they've changed for the women. And I asked if he'd ever watched a movie called Gone With the Wind, and at first he said no, but then he said yes, three years ago at his grandmother's house. Now, he might have been lying but he was still doing so to try and carry the conversation with me. Oh, and I told him about scotch and how it was invented; by a guy that had to pick a burr out of his dog's fur.

I've finished checking the third grade tests and the fourth grade tests. I'm actually starting to like the Manbas system.

Sunday is parent-teacher meeting. I need to give the English grades to the home-room teachers, though I really don't know why; many of them will most likely want to speak personally with the English teacher, no?

However, in the meantime I can rest. Or anyhow, I will be able to as soon as I clean my desk...

G'night

2009-11-18T12:46:00.000-08:00

It's been a very long day at school; from the morning - teaching. Then after school I started my "English mother tongue" group, after that filled in an empty hour by checking notebooks, and then sat in on three ped. meetings for the third grade. You can imagine at what time I got home - luckily for me my principal drove me home or I guess I would have had to call a taxi!

Tomorrow the English inspectorate will watch me teach. No, the lesson isn't all prepared yet. Neither have I prepared a lesson for the fourth grade. That will have to wait until tomorrow morning.

Happy news: Y. has completely filled his English notebook with my teachings and is so proud of himself that he ran to show it to the social worker, and the principal and can't wait to show his parents! Lovely.

For your information

2009-11-09T23:13:00.000-08:00

So Sunday night we had the ped. meeting for the fourth grade. My class was first - at 18:00. However, I'd completely forgotten about it! Not that that mattered much, I figured I'd stay over in the area since by the time I'd returned home I'd only have an hour to be home before having to leave to be back at the school.

The day had gone very well with the third grade - all three classes had enjoyed the book "The Wheels on the Bus". We sang it, made the right hand motions and did a coloring page. One class managed to still have time left over so we continued in their W.B. On Thursday they have a test. It's true that they see me as a friend: they like showing me their treasures (sparkly stone, crystal, large live snail, invitation to birthday party...) and telling me things ('see my new boots? It's a whole new outfit!' - I had her say שהחיינו for the first time in her life) but they're learning well.

I wish I could say things were going as smoothly with my fourth grade class, but they aren't. No such thing as a perfect day - there's always one class in which things flop. Sunday things were real bad with The Fourth. Noise, a bunch of kids who wouldn't sit down... I was forced to change my plan and just hand out a text and write questions on the board - for them to copy and answer. To try and occupy them and thus get quiet. It didn't completely work. It turned out that they weren't really able to do the assignment on their own, but we couldn't do together because of the noise. I gave it as H.W. Hopefully we'll tackle it together next lesson... One child went and called for the Vice P. on his own initiative - who didn't come. Then, towards the end, I noticed a girl was crying. Apparently her fingers had been bruised by a desk. Accusations were raised against a boy named T. who rightfully denied them. But he got insulted and vented his anger by turning over two desks, some chairs and a pile of books. He refused all this time to take a time out outside. A girl foolishly stepped into the path of the bull and raised a red flag by calling his name. It's possible the two already had a history. In any event, he rushed over and pounded her on the back. Only then did he agree to take a timeout. So I wrote him a note and he's expelled for a day. The Vice P. called me in the evening to hear what I had to say.

In the ped. meeting nearly everyone raised the same names. The conclusion was funny: it turns out that the named individuals are doing better this year than last, but that the class has become more difficult to teach. Conclusions - practically none. So what was the point of the meeting? Information only?

postponed

2009-11-03T06:40:00.000-08:00

I was hoping that this evening I'd be able to write about my first ped. meeting - but I can't. I got there only to find that the Teachers' Lounge door was locked and there was a sign detailing the dates of the different grade's ped. meeting postponements. How horrid - I'd gone there for nothing, and with the door locked I couldn't even photocopy papers. It wasn't fair, not everyone teaches on Monday or Tuesday. Why hadn't they emailed us the postponement?

Since I was there, I thought to visit some friends, but was told that the mother would be returning soon and wouldn't be up for guests. Me? A guest?

At least the weather was lovely.

sugar and spice?

2009-11-02T23:57:00.000-08:00

I know: I'm running late on my Sunday entry. Sorry! So let me fill you in...
It started out with a transportation problem. You see, my regular ride had told me she couldn't drive me that morning so I'd figured I could catch a ride with the other teacher who lives in my area. I sent him an SMS and waited for him - only to discover that he doesn't work on Sundays and Mondays. Well, lucky for me I got a ride to Silver with our mayor and managed to get to school just in the nick of time. Dare I say that there's never a dull moment in my life?

At school it turned out that the toner needed replacement in the photocopying machine. So, I managed to change me lesson plans for two of my third grade classes. Luckily for me, the toner was replaced and I photocopied what I needed by the time I taught my third grade class - which was a class not as easily subdued.

The problem of the day was - if not the third grade - the fourth grade. Four kidlets not behaving prevents the lesson from going smoothly. And the others complain they can't hear you and want to sit next to you. And the teacher from the class next to yours comes in and tells the children that they are bothering her class study, and that if she has to come in one more time... Ahem. So I tried the usual punishments. And this time, following a conversation with another teacher, I made two children copy five words that we learned three times and told them to put it in my cell. An additional child was supposed to do it, but he's another problem - he doesn't bring his workbook and so has nothing to do during English class. Then he gets bored, small wonder. Other than that he's a good child. I plan on calling his parents today, and reminding him to bring his workbook, etc.

As to how to grasp them with a tighter grip - the other teachers all seem to use a blend of a reward and punishment system. For rewards they use candy and stickers. Is it my turn to try that?

Anyhow, so when the principal told me he wanted to speak to me I figured it would be about classroom management, etc. You can imagine my feelings when it turned out that he wanted to discuss my teaching the "mother tongue English" kids. Three hours, three groups. Of course I agreed... It isn't many children, and I much prefer working with small groups. The only question that remains is whether it fits into my current schedule, or whether it'll be after school hours.

This evening (yes, in this windy and rainy weather) we have ped. meetings for the third grade classes. I have to attend, and I was told to make a list of children whose behavior is problematic in my lessons. I've been told that everyone leaves these meetings with a heavy heart after hearing nothing but bad behavior. Enough to make one believe in the "Little Devils" idea...

It doesn't rain but it pours

2009-10-29T07:44:00.000-07:00

It drizzled this morning and I actually considered taking an umbrella with me to school - and then didn't. Later I wondered why I didn't...

During the first period it started raining. The kids got all excited and many of them rushed over to the windows. I was pleased that I managed to impose my will on them and get them to: a. close the windows, b. return to their seats, c. continue with the lesson. In the third grade we learned some basic animal vocabulary today with flashcards, and for a game even played riddles: what is brown? a dog. And the child who guessed correctly got to come and remove the flashcard from behind its cover, pick a different animal flashcard and ask the class his riddle.

When I figured this game had gone on enough, we switched over to working in the workbook - no new letters this lesson, but working on sounds and reading. If there was time left over we wrote words in our notebook and circled the vowels as well as the rhyming words.

The problem today was in the last class I taught, one of the third grades. In this class there are two children who are especially problematic: one child's parents refuse to give him retalin despite it being strongly needed, and the other child lives in a world of his own from which he exists only when he wants attention - and then he delights in all attention. This latter child never does any school work, and it isn't clear why he's being kept in the regular class. In any event, in my lesson both boys didn't behave, which to say that they managed to create mayham. They bothered other children, and the other children didn't ignore them but would get their own back - and thus the lesson was in shreds. Those children who wanted to learn found it hard to, what with E. running on the tables and L. making noises and several other children complaining because E. had stepped on their tables and then getting up and hitting him, and him giggling, etc...

I tried to keep order in the class - to little or no avail. Towards the end of the lesson D. glanced in and left. I felt bad, because I figured this would reflect badly on me - he saw me teaching a class in which I didn't have control. After class I wrote down the kids who hadn't behaved themselves and then left with some idea of explaining to D. what the problem was. I ran into the homeroom teacher and told her that I'd just spent a very bad hour in her class, that D. had looked in but left, etc. We went to the class to find L. crying because it was the third time he'd been listed and now he'd be suspended. Well, the dramatics didn't help him. He listened to his homeroom teacher and gave her his contact notebook (which he'd refused to give me). I wrote down there what had happened. D. came and we all entered while the class told what had happened and were given the feeling that authority had taken over.

What else?
In another third grade class today the boys all made fun of H. because of an unfair trade he'd done in baseball cards. Eventually he burst out crying and left the class. I looked out the door but he wasn't in sight. A boy asked permission to go look for him and I allowed him to. In the meantime I gave the class a talking to - which dissolved when the boy returned to say that H. was hiding in the bathroom. H. returned saying he'd called the police. Poor kid. Problem was he wouldn't accept his card back and return the other one. That's why the kids were mad at him. I told the kids that the deal was a deal and they were all wiser now and would know for next time with whom to trade. So many decided they didn't want to be H's friend. I tried to talk them out of it by saying that he has other good qualitied - just not with cards. And you see, while they're so heated up about something like this it's useless to try and teach them English.

In fourth grade I tried to do a workpage with them - a short reading peice. They didn't like it. So we switched over to the workbook. As much as I would like to vary the material, I'm forced to admit that the staples are the best: workbook and notebook. Still, as my mother said, many clever people put a lot of thought into the workbook...

The rain - nearly all the kids got themselves soaking, and really enjoyed it! The problem was when the bell rang and we poor teachers stared out at it coming down, and looked at eachother - and then said "well, who first?" I went first. I ran out and got wet, and yes - it was fun and exciting and all that...but I was glad it wasn't raining when I went home.

You win some you lose some

2009-10-25T06:38:00.000-07:00

Today went well once I reached the school - getting there was a bit of a story. You see, my ride didn't send me an SMS cancelling so I figured everything was fine. But at 07:55 I figured I'd waited enough, so I called her. It turned out that she was already at the school - for once she'd come early to the stop; one minute before I did. She hadn't the patience to wait for me, and she hadn't called me not wishing to bother me. Instead, she figured that I wasn't planning on going to school that today so drove on. Well, it was ten minutes too late for me to call another teacher for a ride. What could I do? The only thing possible. SMS D. that I'd be late for my first class of the day and hitch a ride to Silver. From there I caught a sherut, but foolishly I got off a stop early - at Mircaz Shapira, and the aggravating thing is that I even asked the driver "Achuzat Etrog, right?" which is was, of course, but not where I needed. I only realized that a minute later. It must have been because my thoughts were wandering and then I saw a familiar place so I got off.

Well, that was a bother and no mistake. For two minutes I tried to hitch a ride to Ein Tsurim, and then figured that the bus should be on its way, which luckily it was, and I got to my stop quickly.

The rest of the day went fine, more or less. With L. I also started giving individual work in his notebook. It worked for part of the lesson and even that is something. The third grade all enjoyed the game today.

We, the English staff, had a meeting with the principal today. Whether the test was useful, will we change it for next year, group and individual tutorial, etc. I have work to do...

And what's driving me nuts is that I can't find my paycheck! It should be on my desk, or my English bag. It isn't there. And I seem to have lost an English workbook too. Horrible! And I hate losing things!!

Action...

2009-10-24T10:34:00.000-07:00

So once again... calls to the homeroom teachers and to parents. I'm pleased with the results - except for with the one parent who said in response to hearing that his kid hadn't behaved "so then punish him...". Wait a second - I'm there to teach! That's what I was trained for. You can't shirk all your responsibility! But that isn't what I answered.
And I found out that the Fourth grade had conplained that I'd held them in during recess. Glad it was effective. Come Sunday we'll see how much any of this is worth.

A 'stone' day

2009-10-24T09:05:00.000-07:00

"Some days are diamonds, some days are stones..." sang John Denver, and I confess that my life as a teacher seems doomed to ups and downs. Thursday was a Down. Most definitely. I got to school late because my ride canceled on me - and I noticed the SMS too late to catch a ride with another teacher. Well, I SMSed D. to inform him I wouldn't be there the first period - only to have the school call me asking where I am. It later turned out that I had D's old cell-phone number. Anyhow, none of my classes that day went well. No, none. The kids were saucy, fighting and there was always just that much more noise that means a lesson is more than just noisy - it's not being well managed.
Of course Fourth grade was the worst. There I ended up having a group huddled round my desk - they came so as to hear me, and others in their chairs listening, but the rest just making too much noise and completely disrupting the lesson. I had them all stay in during recess as punishment.

Stealing students

2009-10-21T08:15:00.000-07:00

So today was a more or less nice day. It started off well for me because the weather was nice and cloudy. Wonderful gray skies, a hint of rain, a touch of drizzle...

For the Fourth grade I returned their quizzes - many had gotten 100, and we learned parts of the face (turned out they already kind of knew it). In their second hour it turned out that they had a machana'im tourneer and so I lost them to that... Actually, I hadn't known that they had that, and didn't take their word for it, and so sent a kid to have the sport teacher sign a paper of release before I'd let my class go to this. (It was really just in time because a friend of mine called and I was able to call her back.)

I took two children out for tutorial during a Karev class - from the fourth grade. These are the two children whom I have working seperately in special notebooks I prepare. We'll do this every week in this hour, and we've decided together how I'll grade them: 5 points for a neat notebook, 10 points for behavior and the rest for two tests a semester. They chose tests - I offered other options.

I 'retested' the entire third grade except for one girl - there weren't enough for her, so I need to test her tomorrow. I also started the letter Ll with them all.

And, I've made a bit more progress on the English board. I haven't started putting up the English decor in their classes yet. Still, that's the fun stuff.

Teachers, meetings and parents

2009-10-19T09:13:00.000-07:00

Last night I attended my first Teachers' Meeting. It was quite interesting. First off, we walked in to our Teachers' Lounge and thought we'd walked into the wrong place - or that perhaps we'd gotten there too early; it was completely decorated with white tablecloths, flowers, cakes, soft drinks and a general air of festivity. Well, the reason was quickly explained to us: one of the staff's children had gotten married and so she'd decided to share her celebrating with us. In fact, the happy bride and groom were there too... The nicest part was that we each got a really cool clip-on extendable pen.

So the principal toasted the newly-weds and linked it to the past Parsha. After a bit of wedding songs, we got down to business. Or tried to... Apparently as one of the schools chosen to take part in the 'representation' we, the teachers of the core subjects, and English is a core subject, have to painstakingly fill out how our master plan for our classes differs from the Ministry plan - based on the class scores. The sheer terror from this massive undertaking kept most of us silent. Those who spoke were the ones who didn't understand. A few other things were announced. At this point, the only matters of interest to me were the characters. Oh, and one other point, I'll have to fill out scores and issues I want to raise for key students for the pedogogical meeting. And despite one teacher's spirited idea, we won't be discussing the good, delightful children who make teaching a pleasure. See, she figured that we could mention only the good kids, and the ones we didn't would be the ones who cause trouble. And that this way we'd all return home feeling good... Rav R. didn't approve this non-orthodox method - also because he said he hoped we'd be able to find ways of dealing with the issues surrounding the children.

I left in the middle. When they went to the computer lab - I left. Otherwise I wouldn't have caught the last bus home; the two teachers who live by me didn't come.

Today I've gotten a number of phone calls from third grade parents. I must say, I'm very pleased to see parents taking the time to work with there children, check what's in their notebooks, study with them for tests, etc. Even if at times a few of the parents are a bit over-protective and so become slightly harsh towards the teacher at the beginning of the conversation. Parent's calls influence me. For instance, I've decided to start sending out a monthly page stating what we've learned, what needs to be practised, what test has been done, etc.

May it be a good month!

Prizes

2009-10-15T08:25:00.000-07:00

All in all, today wasn't so eventfull. There were only two major events:

a. The principal viewed me teaching a third grade class. He informed me that he'd be watching me ten minutes before class(!) Nothing special; it was the workpage I'd given the sub. to do with the other third grade class yesterday, and following that we did one page in the workbook. It was good because the kids knew the letters, the colors and the vocabulary. We met after school to discuss the lesson: I should check their notebooks more intensely and have them write at least the Hebrew date. I should end with a metacognitive question such as 'what did we learn this lesson?', I should put up some English decor in the classes, my lesson should be a bit more fun (which is why he chose this program), and I should write the instructions clearly on the board - specific stages. All in all, a very good educational basis and experience should do the rest. Will see me again in three weeks time (!)

b. Fourth grade. End of the day for the last time. We worked in the workbook (most of the class - some others wouldn't or couldn't) and then we did a bingo. With prizes for First, Second and Third place. I think it's the first time they all stayed until 13:40 and didn't begrudge it...

Back to school

2009-10-14T06:29:00.000-07:00

So...it's back to school!
Last night I lay awake wondering about returning, and I was rather nervous. In the evening I'd gotten a phonecall from one of my colleagues and thus learned that there was to be a מבחן מנהל for the fourth grade during the fourth and fifth period. Nice to know... So I checked my schedule and saw that in one of those hours I'm supposed to be with the fourth grade anyways, but in another of those hours I'm supposed to teach a third grade class. Lovely. So I made a workpage for the sub. teacher to do with them. Then I got an email from the principal saying that he'd be sitting with us English teachers on Sunday re: oh, a number of things (ah, so that's why he was looking through the fourth grade English workbook. It wasn't in preparation for viewing me teach).
Anyhow, with such nice ruminations I finally fell asleep. At one point I awoke in sheer blankness - I knew nothing: not my name, not the day, not a thing. But I soon recovered and fell asleep again.
Arriving at the school was fun. I found out that the new schedule starts only Sunday, and it seems that they fixed mine nicely. Instead of last hours I get the kiddies for prayer. Let's hope this helps. Everyone was very happy to see me - especially the National Service girls who'd missed me, the dears. I photocopied the pages I needed, made a new page up for the fourth grade class (principal viewing, afterall) and was horrified to discover that I'd forgotten my panda crayons/ pastels. Merciful Heavens, what would I do? I didn't see the art teacher around, and I wasn't about to borrow for the last lesson, so I could only hope they had of their own.
I checked where my sub was teaching. Fifth grade. I gave an educated guess as to the location and went there to give her the workpage. It was nice to be recognized by some of the kids ("hey, that's my brother's English teacher", etc.)
So, I taught two third grades. I returned their tests (it was the first thing out of their mouths when they saw me) and tried to give them hell regarding their grades. I think I did a good job. We went over it and fixed it. Some of them spotted errors in my checking (for several I fixed the grade on their tests but not in my diary. I trust myself to hand out the gold when it comes to report cards), and with others I didn't know if it was true or not - and in any event there wasn't time. I told them I expect them all to get over 80 come next Wednesday, to study with friends, etc. Hmmm, we'll see. I still have to do that to one third grade class.
As for the fourth grade. The test didn't take them two hours, of course. Most of them finished in shortly over an hour. I would have done the animal decor with them, only I thought the principal would be my guest in the last hour. So we worked it the workbook and then in the notebook - letter Ii. T. wasn't in a condition to study so I let him write on board the two children who, in his opinion, behaved the best. It worked wonderfully - for him and the class - for half an hour. Then he went overboard with acting show host, and the class rose against him, and I made him sit and we erased the board from his scribbles. I got really mad and insisted they write Ii in their notebook and they were chastened enough to obey. However, we changed Italy to Israel. Chutzpah!
Having them again for a third hour was absurd - how much English can they learn in a day? And the principal didn't come...which means he'll show up tomorrow (I don't have anything nice prepared for that). The kids were animals: a third hour of English in one day and it being the last hour. They stood more than sat. However we did go over animal flashcards again, and we did the "My favorite animal" I.D. that I want to hang up somewhere in the hall. Most of the kids drew dogs (whoever owns one?) but not all. One imaginative child drew a blue dog. Some did horses/ zebras. I noted the paucity of cats... One did a lion. Except for the angels, the way to get them to do it, was to say that whoever finishes can go. One child is supposed to do it on computer and give it to me.
Oh, and they found a chameleon today outside their class, scrabbling up the wall. A large green one. The little fools thought at first that it was an iguana! I set them clear on that and made them stop throwing stones at it. I told them a bit about it. If there was a door nearby I would have shoved it in a container using a stick myself and let it loose on a tree, but there wasn't a door and I was supposed to go to another class. I could have clambered out the window, but a teacher really shouldn't. So I could only direct them not to be cruel - I couldn't stop them from yelling and having a jolly exciting time, of course. Finally one kid got the chameleon on a stick and headed off with it. I don't know what happened next. Let's hope for the best... I wish I could find a small one!
Talked to Y. who stayed last, as usual, once everyone ran for the bus. This is the kid that thanks me for H.W. He doesn't have any dog - or any pet. They once had a fish but it died. He'd like a german sheperd. Poor kid.
You should have heeard the groan and angry response when I told them they'd have a quiz about animals come Sunday. It'll be really easy, though.
Oh, and I returned the ball to third grade. It was taking up too much room in my cell...

The First Test

2009-10-07T08:53:00.000-07:00

So... I have finished checking all ninety something tests of my third graders - checking what's correct and what is wrong, counting up the points and entering them into my teacher's log. I must admit to being quite upset. All in all, so few studied for the test and studied well. I tried my best to give them good scores, but dash it - I couldn't! I gave a five point bonus to everyone who studied for the test (I hadn't told them this before hand) and the little tykes were (mostly) honest about whether or not they had studied. One even wrote that she had studied 'a little'. Whenever I was in doubt - they got the points. I spent much time and effort trying to trace their lines and hoping against hope that they'd drawn it from the picture to the correct letter (or at least in the general direction). It's true that some got very good grades. Some got okay grades. One actually scored all 105 points. But the number of those that failed the test can't be ignored.
Besides giving them a decent scolding - what can I do? A letter to the parents? Possible. Perhaps I should give a possibility to retake the test for those who failed provided they bring a note that they studied with their parents or older siblings. Oooh, I like that!
Also, the test showed me that I need to go over the new vocabulary words and the sounds of the letters. *sigh*
And then there were so many kids that lost points needlessly; because they didn't read the instructions! How many times did I explain to them orally? And it's written down in Hebrew, too. And I told them to check and recheck before they handed it in. But no...they would make stupid mistakes... Blachs!
I gave three points extra to the single child in all three classes who decided on his own to write the letters next to the picture instead of drawing lines. What a shame he didn't always get them right...
And then there are those who circle the correct answer, erase it and circle another. Now I know why my biology teacher used to get so frustrated with me... Don't they know that it's almost always the first answer you circle that is the correct one? Instinct, don't stop to mull things over or you'll be led astray.
Happy Succot!

Mostly The Fourth

2009-09-30T10:54:00.000-07:00

So, what was memorable that happened today?
Well, I got a note from the principal saying he'll be viewing my teaching in fourth grade after Succot. That bother me some, I can tell you. I mean, of all my classes he chose the fourth grade! That isn't chivalrous of him. It isn't nice and calming to a new teacher. True, I was told not to worry - with him present they will be on their best behavior. Still, I don't like the implications. Perhaps it just hurts my pride. Or perhaps, if I'm wise, I should be grateful - let this class taste a decent lesson where they have to be on their best behavior... or so let's hope.
Actually, they already tasted that today in the last lesson. D. decided to come and make sure everything went smoothly after last time. Nice chappie. So the kiddies were good and the lesson went well. It went even better because I'd elected to do a story this time "There was an Old Lady who Swallowed a Fly". They really got into it - guessing the animals that would be next, being able to tell me the colors of the animals, etc.
An interesting part was at the end when I asked if she was a young lady? They said no, but some said yes. How do they know she's old? They answered based on her gray hair and old-fashioned clothing (this was interesting, i'd never thought of this before). Well, I told them, the answer lies in the title "...an Old lady..." And and order to teach them the word 'old' I sought to teach them the word 'new'. So I asked them if they had heard of New York. Oh yes. Well, here I digressed to a short history lesson (I can just picture my college ped. counselor's face now) explaining that New York is called thus because the people from England wanted to remember York in England. Any other places with New? They immediately brought up New Zealand (Why is it called thus?), and New Jersy. Here I stopped and brought them back to New- Old.
After the lesson D. complimented me that it was very nice. He was next to the principal at the time.
Once again I had to confiscate a ball from a third grade class. Their test is tomorrow and they are plenty excited about it. I think I made a few parts of it too difficult for them. We'll see.
The individual learning really seems to be working for S. and I've started it now for Y. too. But it's work for me to constantly make up work for them, and what they really need is someone to sit and practise with them. Maybe I will try and get a Nation al Service girl for an hour a week? They've told me they'd be willing...

The Sandal

2009-09-24T07:15:00.000-07:00

Regarding the torn sandal - I sewed it while at my colleague's home. Otherwise I would have borrowed one of her daughter's pairs of shoes.

4th grade can really kill you

2009-09-24T06:32:00.000-07:00

Well, the past two days have been tiring. To say the least, mind you...
Yesterday the third grades mostly went smoothly. The major problem was the fourth grade. You see, I had two hours of English with them. The first hour was easier as it was a bit earlier in the day. In second hour of English with them - the last hour of the day - they completely lost control of themselves and I wasn't able to restrain them. To be honest - I managed to teach for only twenty five minutes. Then some fighting, others were throwing water at each-other and finally nearly the entire class took their backpacks and ran out. In a last attempt to restore order I'd said that whoever finished pp. 16-17 and showed me could go. A few actually did and left with permission. Most did not. Several angels stayed behind... little darlings who are just utterly good.
During this entire fiasco one of my sandals tore. It came as a real surprise to me, and I was quite dismayed because what would be the first impression that the parents would get of me at the parent-teacher conference that evening?! Meet the new English teacher - young, pretty, gentle, slight, and with a torn sandal...?! No thanks! Anyhow, I decided against returning home after school, because it seemed to me that I'd only reach home to have to return and travel back. So instead I speant the afternoon at a colleague of mine who lived nearby. I had a most enjoyable time viewing the many lovely paintings and drawings she has on her walls - all done by her artistic mother. Also, lucky me, I got to borrow a bundle of books...
Evening came and there I was, back at the school. I popped into every class of mine (except for one where they had finished by the time I got around to it) and made my little speech. I put on a smiling face and played my hand well. I met some mothers who were absolutely a treat, real treasures.
G-d was with me and upon leaving Ein Tzurim I met with two people: one was a former classmate of mine from college. It turned out that I'm teaching her son in one of my third grade classes. Also, her husband works at the school. What a small world...
The second person was someone from Gush Katif on his way to Petah Tikva going by way of Nitzan. Lovely. However, he brought up the wonderful view my family used to have from our house ("U. used to say it was worth a million dollars"), and asked what we're all doing and couldn't believe how we've grown - so I got quieter and lost in thoughts.
I got home when the sun was setting. After dinner I read, made sure to tell everyone that I wanted to rise very early as I hadnt prepared my lesson plans yet, and went to bed.
* * *

Today classes with the third grades were mainly fine. Except for one third grade in which a number of children were late to class (who knows were they were playing) and thought they could come waltzing in. D. made sure they couldn't - he had stopped in to see about the air conditioner not working. I wrote down all the material for their test this Thursday - reactions are mixed. Most are taking it seriously and think there is too much to study. A few think it will be easy. In one third grade there is a new fashion of forming a pencil into a (mock) cigarette. I got upset when I saw this and after I warned the child for the third time, I threw it in the garbage. He got upset and threw a tantrum - flung his workbook and notebook on the floor and 'threatened' he wouldn't do the test. I told him that he wouldn't be harming me but rather himself. Eventually he calmed down, picked his things up and continued studying. He claimed I owed him a pencil. I asked him if he really didn't understand why I threw it away. That they were dangerous - cigarettes kill. He responded that it's only a game. I said that some games we don't play. And added that if I see anymore children with those in my class I'll throw them (the pencils, not the kids) away. He responded that he won't hide his. I ignored.
Well, after the way things were yesterday small surprise that their homeroom teacher came up to me. I entered class with her and the guilty little ones hung their heads. She wrote down the names of the offenders, gave them a good tongue lashing and spoke to the principal. (Who yesterday had requested I not release the fourth grade so early...).
As I went to go teach them in the last hour, the sports teacher saw me. He smiled and called me by name. "Shifra, head up...shoulders back. With confidence - that's how you enter a classroom!" I couldn't help smiling. It's what my father tells me all the time. And he was completely right too...

The ball

2009-09-17T07:48:00.000-07:00

Ah, yes. For those of you wondering if I returned the ball to the third grade boy from whom I confiscated it... well, yes, I did. He behaved very well and so I gave it back to him at the end of the lesson. I warned him though that one more time and I shan't return the ball as I've a dog at home who would love it...
I do believe he dreamed about it. He asked me about it first thing: "Teacher, where's my ball?"

Circle four apples

2009-09-17T06:58:00.000-07:00

Well, still far from the Mary Poppins perfect line, but things were definitly better with my fourth grade class today. It's true that in college I was taught to wait until there is silence before starting the lesson - but if you did that you'd be waiting forever. No, sometimes you can start the lesson and the little fellows will steadily join in with you seperating the fights and seating a few kids in the meantime. We started off with Rosh Hashana vocabulary and then made cards to take home - this idea went over big. The children copied from the board the day's date and the seasonal message, and decorated (except for those who dislike coloring). Those who finished has a Word Search with the new vocabulary words - and then to glue in their notebook. Voila!
Sh. started getting a bit nervous over the words he was learning in his special assignments, and so explained to me very earnestly that he doesn't need to know this all yet; that it's important for him to know the letters and their sounds, and that in the end of the year he'll have a notebook that he can study from with his parents. I agreed but told him that he should remember a word or two for each letter...
Funny how many children can't tie their shoes. In the third and the fourth grade there are several children who approach me asking me to tie their shoes, or else walk around with their laces hanging loose. It seems rather late not to know, no?
Third grades: I managed to teach the letter Aa in the class that had missed it and taught numbers 1-10 as well as Rosh Hashana vocabulary. At the end of each lesson I put on the song "I like to eat cake and cookies..." to the tune of Barney the Dinosaur's "I like to eat apples and banana...". Reactions were mixed. In all the classes some of the girls started to dance, some of the children made fun of the song, some of the boys danced and some complained. Some, very few, tried to learn the words.
Of course my discipline still needs to be better. I talked to the homeroom teacher of one of the classes and found out that L. has attention problems but his parents refuse to listen to reason and give him medicine. I was aghast; the kid can't sit still the entire lesson and he barely does a thing. Then there is E. who spaces out except for when he's fighting. Apparently he's a kid with many problems, he generally spaces out and he shouldn't even be in class - rather in special ed.
Tell me, are there no normal children left? Nice, bright, well-mannered children?
I shouldn't speak thus. There are some...
Well, I've taken posession of a cell in the Teachers' Lounge. I asked the secretary for a sticker, and I wrote my name on it, and I emptied out one of the (many) English cells. I need one! אם אין אני לי מי לי
An interesting discussion arose in the Teachers' Lounge today. The teachers were saying that they mark good behavior by stickers, and buy prizes at the end of a certain amount of time for whoever has the most stickers, etc. One teacher said that it costs her a bit of money but she finds it worth it health-wise; this way she doesn't yell and hasn't stress. The minute she enters class the first thing she does is take out her stickers. A reward system is an option to consider. I've known schools where it was done on the scale of an institution and not individually, but O.K.
And that red-headed kid in the sixth grade who grabbed my attention in the opening ceremony for the beginning of the school year? I've got a clue who he is: he's the son of one of the home-room teachers, for first or second grade! Ha.

P.P.S.

2009-09-16T08:37:00.000-07:00

Starting to feel like Gandalf, but there you have it.
Anyhow, I was teaching the letter Aa today and one of the flashcards was astronaut so of course I brought up Asaf Ramon OBM. All the kids had heard of it and discussed it for a bit ("my ______ is also a F16 pilot". "I saw Ilan Ramon"...).
Another Aa flashcard is alligator. One of the kids keeps insisting that it's a crocodile actually. Well, today (it was a review lesson for his class) when he brought it up again and several kids backed him, I asked who would like to check for next lesson some material about a crocodile, and to bring us a picture so we can see what it actually looks like. Two children wanted to. Another wanted to bring material about astronauts. I permitted. Actually, I've no problem making the flashcard a crocodile and listing it with the letter Cc instead if they prefer...
Well, I'll see if they come up with anything. Poor spirited if they don't.
Let all with no objections prove it now or remain silent forever - sort of thing...

P.S.

2009-09-16T08:31:00.000-07:00

Gosh, I forgot. Sorry... While at school today, one of the third grade teachers approached me saying that the parent-teacher conference is coming up, and would I mind stopping in her class to say a few words? Not at all, I assured her. She was very gratified. After all, she explained, you're a new teacher, and the English program is new... So I'll go to her class at 17:30 and drop in to my other classes as well. It should be fun, no? In any case, we're rather supposed to. The bigger question is how do I get home at such an hour? Hmmm.

Back at the battle

2009-09-16T05:51:00.000-07:00

So there I was, back at school. It was good to be back.
Deftly, I gave my medical note to the secretary, and thanked the teachers who wished me back in good health. Among those was D., who welcomed me back in English (ahem) and requested I enter 3/a during the first period instead of the third. I agreed - and thus was present for the first time in the Shafir prayer service.
Well, I was doing a pretty good job; everyone was sitting down, we had finished praying, and as no-one had Slichot I was about to start the English lesson with them - when in walked their homeroom teacher. Now what on earth was she doing there? I mean here? "What?" she says, "I'd explained to D. that I'd arrive at 09:00. But I won't be able to be here at the third hour. Would you mind?" It was puzzling. One thing was clear: she was there and I wasn't needed. I left the class.
When I returned at the third hour, and the class once again took out their English workbook and notebook - in popped the homeroom teacher. "I talked to D., and he said I can only go if I bring an Ishur. Well...I don't want to do that. I'm sorry I didn't manage to tell you before you walked here from the teachers' lounge." Now I was upset - but not for me; heck, I suddenly had a free hour. No, I was upset for the kids who had twice now been fooled into thinking they'd have English and hadn't. I asked her to please explain to the children. She seemed surprised.
Come to think of it, that puts them behind - what a bummer. I'll have to catch them up.
So, in this suddenly free hour I returned to The Lounge. M. saw me there and discussed with me the merits and faults of several children who were under her care. Sadly she deals with the female sex only so I shall have to speak to whats-her-name to fill me in on the others. Though I wonder whether the awareness does anything or not in the end.
Well, with one child it certainly does. His case is improving - English wise, at least. I've figured out a system, he puzzled it through and approved. So that's very good. I wish I had some magazines he could cut up! If this works he should learn a letter a lesson and some vocabulary with it. No pressure. Little writing. Today he felt success. We'll see - I'm not sure when to incorporate reading.
As for behavior: good heavens! Boys seem to fight for the pure enjoyment of it. I forget how many pairs I've seperated today. And yes, they do hit girls too. And how girls do scream! I'm weary of telling them to be quiet... I confiscated the ball from one third grader. Oh yes, it's home with me. Poor chap, he started crying, but they had gone too far. In fact they took it from my bag several times, but at least they returned it to me. I told him that as I'm teaching tomorrow if they behave he'll get the ball back.
Fourth grade finally got their workbooks. G-d bless!
There's a kid in fourth grade who's utterly good. He makes me think of Fenton Claypool from "The Lemonade Trick". He's a dear.
But honestly, there were moments today when if I had to judge myself, I wouldn't allow myself to be a teacher. "Order and neatness" says Hercule Poirot, and my classes were at times, ahem...
Well, well. For tomorrow I'd like to do something for Rosh Hashana.

Not feeling good

2009-09-13T08:21:00.000-07:00

Today was a dashed difficult day.
I had a bad feeling the moment I put on my red shirt. It's a spiffy shirt, that buttons up and has a nice, wide collar, and I thought it was just the thing to start the new week with. When I add that I had on a smooth white shirt underneath, and wore a gold necklace - well, I can assure you that the result was pleasing to my eye. Naturally it called for the black skirt and the black sandals. A bit of black pencil and I assumed I was ready to face the fair day.
Why then the bad feeling? Surely anyone dressed to the pinks should start pleased... Well, the problem was that the shirt was red. Ultra-orthodox circles might spit or stone a maiden for wearing this color. Why, I don't know, seeing that other colors are brighter and more attracting than my dull red... but there you have it, and the knowledge that I was as-if sinning, gave rise to the presentiment (?) of evil ahead.
Shortly after breakfast, I received an SMS that my ride to school was canceled. No, I wasn't distraught. There was still time left to arrive and I imagined that it really shouldn't be so difficult. Besides which, it had rained, most remarkable thing, and the air was lovely and fresh. I paced along and soon enough hitched a ride to Northern Ashkelon.
It was at the S. Junction that the first hint of trouble began. The first two busses went by, crowded with soldiers and with no room for me. Surprisingly, no transit cabs in my direction went by either. I began fearing I'd be late to my first class, and debating whether or not I should call the school. Then I started feeling not well. This reached the point where I decided to catch the first bus back home and not go to school that day.
However, the next bus that came was one that went to the school... and I was the last passenger on it. I thought that perhaps I'd feel better as time went on and I was busy. Also, I hated to call in sick so soon on my new job... I got to the school, dumped my things on a chair and went straight to the restroom. I was queasy and was in there for a bit. Finally, feeling a bit better, I took my things and went to the class. The children on lookout ran to class yelling "the English teacher is coming...", and when I entered the classroom, they informed me that I was late!
The air conditioning helped. I told them that as I was late they'd had plenty of time to take out their English material... I taught them the new letter, set them to work in their notebook and workbook, passed among them once, and then sat down at my desk. The first time I'd ever sat down in a lesson. I needed to. They behaved wonderfully. Then I started feeling ill again. Fifteen minutes before the end of the lesson they'd finished their work and I was feeling bad. I said to whoever finished to go over all the English words we learned and then to quiz a friend. I gave them a sponge die to play with and told them, quietly, that whoever catches it has to say a word in English. When they took out a ping-pong I said that the same theory holds and that they have to play in class. I allowed them to take out some games in the cupboard. Finally I released them five minutes before the bell to go eat. Then I bolted and threw-up in the rest-room having figured out that it wouldn't be good to throw-up in their class garbage...
The show must go on. I came back, removed the flash-cards from the board, sat down at my desk for a bit...but then had to return to the bathroom. I realised that I couldn't go on teaching any more that day and that there were two phone calls I had to make: a. to a taxi. b. to the person in charge of hiring a substitute.
Well, this is really quite dramatic. There I was, throwing-up, sweating and breathing hard. There were the little darlings in and around the bathroom playing and yelling and - get this - singing the abc including the final lines which I didn't know they knew (in class they don't join in...).
Eventually a teacher came along. She was relieved to hear a taxi was on its way. She informed the school, collected my things and helped me out. One child addressed me as "teacher" (amazing! glad to know they do know...) and asked if I was alright? In fact there was a large crowd of concerned or perhaps interested children. I assured them I was fine, and answered several others that no, I wouldn't be teaching them today.
Finally...home.
I swallowed a pill, made sure to drink and took off that blasted red shirt.
Still, I rather hate to let Jeeves burn it.

Parents

2009-09-10T10:57:00.000-07:00

Talking to parents is an interesting experience, and one that I advise to any teacher who is:
a. slightly bored.
b. seeking to learn more about her students.
c. wishing to get an edge on her students.
d. wants to be professional.

For the above reasons I called four parents this evening. Rather, four mothers. Forget the equality, if we want anything to happen, we know it is to the womenfolk we must appeal.

Case A - answering machine. Is that the way their phone always responds? I leave a message, kicking myself for the suave idea that transformed into stuttering the moment I opened my mouth...

Case B - the mother is nice and slow speaking. It turns out, to my surprise, that she actually did do everything she was supposed to do in class. There remains, therefore, only the behavior problem. I explain that to the mother - only to have her defend her dear one. So I stressed the problem, putting it in black and white and the mother agreed and said she'd talk to her child. I simply can't have a child leaving class without permission, hanging onto the door and not entering when told, etc.

Case C - a girl who spent the entire lesson chasing after and hitting a boy. During recess she told me that last year he'd cursed her, so this year she's avenging herself upon him. Her mother, a tired patient sounding soul, told me her daughter has a short attention span and that she's super-sensitive to remarks made to her. The mother would like to arrange for Perach for her daughter - well, I'm not the address for that. I informed her of what we learned in class today, etc. Mother wants to be kept informed.

Class D - a girl with an extreme case of self-confidence. In today's lesson she decided not to do the workpage, not to copy to her notebook, and not to listen much to the teacher. A smart girl, but she can be a real pill with this behavior. The reason: her mother is a teacher at the school... Anyhow, the mother is brisk. No nonsense. Promised that the matter will be dealt with.

To give or not to give?

2009-09-10T08:53:00.000-07:00

In college I had learned the importance of beginning the English lesson with an atractive openning, the point of which was to draw them into the English lesson and the English world. You can take it from me that this idea is severely over-rated. Once you have gotten the little students to take out their English material, stand by their seats and sit at command, and reply 'good morning, teacher' - you'll have done everything humanly possible. The next step, in the short time that you still have their attention, is to start directly with the lesson (and not continue with a charming opening).
Today I did this to the letter. Literally speaking, and excuse the pun (it amuses me)and taught the third grade the letter Bb with the words balloon, ball, boy, bear, banana and bus.
Remembering my brother's lecture of yesterday I wrapped it into a story and after writing the new letters on the board, put the N.V. words on the board while wrapping them into a story (yes, in Hebrew. Sad, but there you have it. We haven't progressed yet to the English stories yet): Once a boy (picture) decided during the vacation to take a trip in a bus to the zoo to see a bear. While there he bought a balloon, and ate a banana and played with a ball. Now, with all the pictures up, we learned them in English, and then straight wrote the letter in the notebook and worked in the W.B.
Some classes finished quickly so we played some games, while others had H.W.
To try to improve behavior I started today with drawing two columns on the board - in the one, the lucky children who were to get a good letter home, and in the other those unfortunates who incurred my wrath. It worked pretty well, but the shame of it is, of course, that there are some parents whom I need to call about their children's poor behavior. Yrrch!
It's amazing how often children will fight with each-other. I never really noticed that before. Probably because I never shared a classroom with boys. Lucky me...
In the hour in which I was supposed to sit with some students I sat with N. It bothered me that she hadn't finished her quiz, and I refused to believe that she could only finish it with M. Sure enough, I took the pretty-high strung-perfectionist and she finished the quiz. No, not easily. First she did everything she knew, and I agreed not to write the grade on the test, and to let her fix it and tell her what she does wrong. When she finished her quiz I calculated her score (an 85) and wrote it down in my book. This upset her. I covered the names and let her look at all the scores and see how her's isn't a bad score. Still, she insisted on fixing it. I helped her fix it, and wrote on her test "corrected score 100" and added it to my book. I figure that when I finally manage to return the quizs, I'll give everyone a chance to correct them. In the time remaining I gave her a connect the dots map of Israel to do, and next to each capital letter she wrote the lower case. A teacher shouldn't have favorites, but I'm already forming mine...
And this brings me to class 4. I thought I'd try having them work in groups today, but they couldn't do it. Democracy does not rule in that class; many of the children are too set on having their own way. So I allowed them to do the work-page in pairs or solo. Still, several wouldn't. Those that wouldn't couldn't just refuse quietly but must need disrupt. Quarrel. All they really wanted was to be excused to the busses.
X. was better today and did the connect-the-dots though he chose not to color it.
When I saw that in the work-page they couldnt fill in the numbers, I wrote the numbers from 1-20 on the board and told them to copy. Many didn't... In response I said that I would return the quiz only to whoever finishes copying the numbers - and that's what I did. Except for five children, they all left five minutes before the bell - and without my giving them permission. To save face, I said that the numbers will be H.W. It's bad teaching the last hour... However, they got their workbooks today and I'm hoping that will be a real help.

And now? I have some notebooks to check (I took five from each class. Makes kids edgy, gives you a chance to inspect their penmanship and feel like a teacher, and it's a chance to reward kids who actually want you to see their good work), and some parents to call.

Oh, and I gave my principal some forms regarding my moreh chonech... She's a dear.

Shifra

P.S. We saw a large chamelion at school today in the grounds. Probably a male - had a line on the belly. Had dropped from a tree by the coloring. A teacher (?) placed him back on the tree and told the kids who to tell where'd he'd come from. I told them it's name in English. D. passing by, was interested/ amused, and tried to repeat after me. It's the same in English as in Latin, I told the kids...

Motivation calls

2009-09-09T11:15:00.000-07:00

Lucky for me, this evening my brother B. rang. He'd already heard about the difficult day I'd had at work and was there to lend me a listening ear and some earnest advice. "They are children, Shifra, of course they pester each other and bother all around. That's normal and fun at that age. What do you want? Robots? Are you going to be one of those teachers who expect completely silent children in their class sitting poker stiff?"
"Well, I would like some quiet..."
"Shifra, do you remember _______, and ________. Remember how strict they tried to be and how it didn't work? Who were the teachers we kids liked? _____________ and _____________. Why? Because of the stories they told and the fact that they could see things through kids' eyes. That's your advantage. You're not too old and you're not set in your ways yet."
As I hung up I reflected that it certainly was a point to give some thought to.

About Me...

2009-09-09T06:05:00.000-07:00

Righto. So...Times are changing and circumstances with them. Shifra the Student has now become Shifra the Teacher - or anyway, she (that is, I) is trying very hard to do so. And let me tell you, it isn't easy. No, it certainly isn't. There you are, trying to teach the material, and suddenly up pops one of the pipsqueaks and asks to go to the bathroom. And then another wants to go to the water faucet. And a third wants to fill his bottle. And a fourth decides what a smashing good decision it will be to hit what's-his-name with his pencil case. Then the one in the back starts playing with the ball, and before you know it the blonde one with the pigtails is raising her hand and complaing she can't hear you. Well of course she can't hear you - you can barely hear yourself and Heavens knows you're right next to your mouth...
So somehow you're supposed to take charge and make this whole mess look like a lesson again before someone walks in from outside and sees something they shouldn't... Now then, what's the best way for grabbing the Little Monsters' attention?
(Is there any way?)

For those of you who are linking on to my blog from some other source, check out my website for my historic novel, articles, promotional videos, etc www.grainsofsand.insightonthenews.net

What else??

2008-05-17T11:11:00.000-07:00

Hmm, what else would I have liked to learn? We seem to have covered practically everything in this course. I really can't think of anything. Good work, profs.!!

NINE teachers!

2008-05-17T11:08:00.000-07:00

I thought it was pretty cool having nine profs. handling this online course. I figured it would keep 'em all on their toes (constant colleague observation), and it was really fun for us to have such a variety in voices to listen to. Also, it gave us a chance to ask for help from one prof. while a different prof. was teaching. Very useful!

The Subjects

2008-05-17T11:04:00.000-07:00

We had a list of topics to choose from. I decided to join the environmental group. Firstly, because the director was a prof. from my college and I figured I could always approach her with questions if I needed to. Secondly, because the topic has always interested me. I love nature and I'm all for preserving it! Each of my friends also participating in this course chose a different topic and I think they all enjoyed their topics as well; there was a large choice which was excellent.

Group work

2008-05-17T11:00:00.000-07:00

Working in a group is never e-z. I generally preer working alone because then you're not dependent on anyone. Here we usually had to work in groups. The positive side was that there were more people to carry the load which was certainly useful at times. During one project I was hospitalized and the other students were able to proceed and finish the project wonderfully without much participation on my part. Also, it was always fun to compare one's own project to the other students', hear their ideas and comments, see what they had done. It was certainly interesting - and that counts for a LOT.

It's getting crowded here!

2008-05-17T10:55:00.000-07:00

In the Interwise course we're nine colleges - three religious Jews, three secular Jews, three Arabs. Two students from each type form a group. We've actually met in different conferences throughout the year. It's been interesting. Sometimes there was a bit of resentment, but the course was obligatory so we had to lump it. Stiff upper lip, my dears...
On Tuesdays evenings we had to tune in to an hour and a half online live course. It wasn't easy; there was always a bit of technical difficulty - couldn't hear/ couldn't see/ so many students and at different paces, etc.
Still, I learned a lot of things on this course - several nifty computer sites and programmes. So it certainly wasn't a waste of time.

Welcome to Highlearn...

2008-05-17T10:42:00.000-07:00

This year I had to take two courses on Highlearn. One being a bible course and the other being a computer technology course in which nine colleges participated (more about that later). I must admit that I don't much like the Highlearn programme: I don't like that everyone can see when you're on, I don't like the forum setup in which you have to keep scrolling down and can't even open or close all messages at once. Somehow it seems to me to be slightly archaic, and not sleek and modern.
Learning on highlearn is rather like being driving an old, beaten up pick-up truck - it'll get you to where you want to go but at times one gets frustrated...