1000 dollars for cinnamon rolls

At one of our staff meetings this week, we were told that because of budget cuts, our cinnamon rolls for the 10 mornings we have PLC meetings will be cut.  One teacher, whom was not named, cut a check for $1000 after the meeting to be used for the rolls.

You know that you work in a special school when someone is generous enough to do this.  I am sincerely thankful for the donation.  The rolls are a great way to promote excitement in the morning (perhaps the sugar has something to do with it...) and to keep us going all through the day.

However, I have some moral problems with this.  The biggest problem I have is the fact that there are tons of other needs that we have for instruction that we cannot have because of budget cuts.   Other problems include the fact that other schools in low-income areas need basic supplies that families of students cannot provide and $1000 would go a long way for them.  When I try to justify it myself, I think that in only my second year, maybe I still don't value small rewards for myself as much as I should.  Maybe there is much more value in treating myself every once in awhile, so that I may be a calm, collected, creative, impacting teacher.

Regardless of my moral problems, this donation speaks volumes of the school I teach at.  I feel thankful every day that I am able to work among such a generous, caring, and understanding community. 

"You must be the change you wish to see..." in the world language classroom.

So this past week was our first week back at school.  Monday the kids come back.  My rooms (I say rooms because our schedule is like a college's so we all share different rooms throughout the school) are in presentable condition.  I have lesson plans for the first week back, and I'm feeling more relaxed than last year at this time.

The most exciting news of the year is that I was given the go-ahead to use the TPRS method this year!  I approached my department head after our first department meeting and asked.  She was excited that I wanted to try something different.  Wahoo!  After that, I asked about purchasing the novels that we will read each Friday only to find that we definitely don't have enough money in our budget to buy the books.  Problem was solved however because the students are warned that they may have to pay a small fee for a "reader" to be used in the class.  This is only a slight hiccup on the road to what I hope is the best year yet!

I've planned this week to start out with minimal talking at the students and maximum language contact time.  I hope this change in delivery pays off in the end of the week.  Monday all the classes have different assemblies to go to during different periods, so I'll spend most of the time getting to know the students instead of going over the rules.  The following days will be spent circling with the student information sheets and the first ask a story sessions.  Friday is a special day in which students will get their Spanish names and will create their own flag to represent themselves (after researching what different colors represent on flags, etc). 

This should be a great first week.  I'm just trying to calm my nerves because I'm used to having everything planned to a T.  Which seems kind of impossible with the circling with student information sheets, but we'll give it a go!

Graduate School and Class sizes

Recently, I decided to go ahead and apply for a graduate program that starts in the fall.  I'm super excited to be learning again, and I hope to find a mentor that will support my personal and professional growth.  I submitted my application a couple of nights ago, and I'm trying to wait patiently to hear back.  If all goes well, I'll have my M. Ed. in two years with an emphasis in Curriculum, Instruction and Assessment.  Woo!  Then it's onward to my PhD.  I'm hoping that I'll eventually be able to conduct research on the outcomes of a TPRS/CI curriculum to a traditional curriculum and to have an impact on the profession of teaching a world language.  Here's Profa. P to save the WL teaching world!
In other news, I was catching up on Ben Slavic's blog today and found an interesting post. I was stunned and shocked but not really surprised at all to read that the ACTFL along with the NEA and the ADFL recommend a maximum class size of no more than 15 students.  FIFTEEN!  I have 35 in most of my classes.  Wow.  Now I realize that because of the budget constraints that my state is going through, it is likely that in the near future we won't be able to attain these small classes.  I'm able to rest easy though, because when I was talking with Blaine Ray during a workshop earlier this year, he told me that the TPRS method goes over very well with larger classes because it's more like a show is being put on with an actual audience.  I'll take his word for it as I go into my first year as a TRPS teacher in a non-TPRS district. 
I'm going to be relaxing for the next few days; but when I get back, it'll be time to get down to work for the new year!  Woo!

The next step...

Recently I've been thinking about taking the next step with my own education.  I've played with the idea of getting my masters in Spanish, Educational Technology or Curriculum, Instruction and Assessment.   Early on, I threw out the idea of Educational Technology because 1) I can keep up with technology if I make an effort, 2) by the time I graduate with the degree, all my knowledge will be obsolete. 

I narrowed it down to Spanish and CIA.   I'd love to get my masters in Spanish because I had a professor in college that I really enjoyed who taught Spanish majors how to be Spanish teachers.  I've entertained the idea of doing the same myself.  However, I've recently (ie only yesterday it dawned on me...) realized that I LOVE PLANNING!  I really am interested in finding out today's best practices and how to make these even better.  I'd like to be in the classroom for awhile longer, perhaps much longer.   So my indecision here, doesn't help me decide which one is a better choice.

Therefore, I look at the structure of the programs available to me for these masters.  The trouble with these two options are that they are only offered at certain schools.  In order to get my masters in Spanish, I will have to go to UNC for three summers in a row leaving behind my life.  However, I will not have to work on my masters during the school year and I will get to travel abroad.  For my CIA masters, I will have to attend Regis for two full years in a cohort program completing a course every 8 weeks.  For this option, I have to work and go to school; but I will complete my program quicker without having to leave my life. 

I'm currently leaning toward the CIA program.  I feel like it fits my passion for planning and being in the classroom more closely than the Spanish program does.   It also isn't dragging out the process of getting the masters degree either.  I always prefer long-distance endurance to sprints.  

Thus, the last problem: if I am to get my CIA degree in a convenient setting, I'd have to start it August 30.  I'm not sure if it's a good idea during my second year of teaching to take on such a project along with planning my wedding and possibly moving.  But I do enjoy a challenge and being busy.   So I think I might just do it.

Finals!

So tomorrow starts the last week before holiday break. Ever since we returned from Thanksgiving Break, I've been working 6-7 days a week 12-16 hours a day. I've never been so worked. Preparing my finals and reviews while trying to ensure my students know their exact grades is cumbersome.

I did have the joy of reading some great projects from my third year students, however. It was refreshing to read the dreams and hopes that these young adults have for themselves, our world, and others. Many of them have hopes of traveling, and I hope they all follow through. The single most rewarding experience I have is traveling.

I'll next be traveling back to the mitten for the holidays! Or well, at least the last half of Christmas day as we arrive in Detroit at 2:30 pm on Xmas day. I'm really excited to see my family and Gus' family as well. I'm disappointed that we won't have time to really visit with everyone we'd like, but at least we have this opportunity to go home together.

I'm really excited to have this first semester under my belt. I'm getting a lot of positive feedback from my students and my colleagues, which is great to hear. I've learned so much, and I'm looking forward to tweaking a few things to improve the quality of my craft. I really can't imagine a better job. I can't imagine a job where I'm not constantly challenged by others and myself. I just hope that the "system" doesn't take from this wonderful profession any more than it already has.

Well I'm off to enjoy my first finals week! Hasta pronto.

First (half) snow day of the year!

So I didn't think I'd ever get a snowday as a teacher, but here I am! We were the only school in Metro Denver in session today, but we got let out early at 12:30. I was just really scared to drive home. It only took me an hour to drive home, and the roads were ok.
I'm bummed because now all my classes are messed up. Blah. Half of me hopes we have school tomorrow so things aren't more messed up and the other half of me hopes that we do not, so I can take a mental health day w/o taking one :) We'll see, I guess I'll be happy with either one!
The snow just keeps on coming though. It's NUTS!
I can't wait for the ski areas to start opening. I'm getting antsy!
Well, I should get down to work so that I wont have anything to do when Gus gets home...

disillusionment

That's what they call the stage of teaching that I've just sunk further into. I'm trying to straighten things out with my fourth period class which has gone haywire, and not be so tough on myself at the same time. I just need to remember that I will not let down those students who come each day to class to learn.
It's been a tough couple weeks. I'm expecting it to follow suit in the next few weeks. It's just that time of year: we've been teaching for three months straight and I swear if anyone tells me "it's not that bad, you get summer's off" they'll find themselves in a very uncomfortable position: bent over with my foot up their...
Anyway, I've done some grading tonight and I have a good feel about tomorrow. I just need to make up an exam and review for Spanish I and figure out what we're doing for Día de los muertos. ¡Uy!
Well off to bed, so I can not feel like I've been hit by a train.