Tuesday, August 4, 2009
Seeking Donors...
I'm kind of cringing as I write this, because I really don't like soliciting friends and family for donations BUT I am SO SO close to getting a bunch of WONDERFUL manipulatives to teach math this next year and couldn't resist asking for help from people I know. School starts in about 20 days and I would LOVE to start the year off with these materials for my new math curriculum; I'll be so much more prepared and the kids will be so much more engaged. If you're wondering why I just don't wait for my district to buy them for me, well, that's not an option--because you see they want us to use this newly adopted curriculum but they aren't willing to pay for everything that the program tells us to use. This is my dysfunctional district. If you're at all interested in donating even 5 dollars to my classroom project, please click here. I only have to find 100 more dollars in donations, and then they will send all of the materials I have requested to me!
Friday, June 12, 2009
Why I Teach For America
(Or taught, since technically I am now an alum). For more TFA info, click here.
Today was the last day of school. During our class party I needed to take a time out because my head was throbbing. The kids were doing one of three things: watching Jumanji on the carpet, eating pizza and doughnuts at their desks or wandering the classroom--which I never let them do, but figured it was the last day, so why not? I sat down in my teacher chair at my teacher desk and sort of rested my head in my hands, hoping this would somehow help to alleviate the migraine. Jose (yes, the one from the Planet Earth post) came over without my noticing and knelt down in front of my desk. "Mrs. Haslam?" he said quietly and privately. "Yes, Jose?" I answered. He went on: "Do you know that you're the best teacher I've ever had?" There was busyness all around us. He paused and then continued, "No one else has cared about me this much. You're the only one who's sent me home with books to read that are at my level. When I came to 4th grade I was reading at a 1st grade level, and now I'm reading at a 3rd grade level. That's why you're the best teacher I've ever had." I was so touched. We'd had many conversations at the beginning of the year about his low reading level and what it would take for him to improve, but him saying this really made me realize that he got it. He struggles with his self-confidence, and I finally saw this glimmer of hope that he now actually believes in himself. His words were not written on a note like all of the others I've received--you know the ones I've posted before that say "You're the best teacher ever! You rock!"--that the kids pretty much write to every teacher they've ever had. This was a little boy expressing his appreciation from the depths of his heart. He felt that I had done something for him. I hoped that he could see that it wasn't just me; it was him.
To say that my experience this past two years in Ravenswood has been challenging would be an understatement. But, in spite of it all, I have loved this time. It has been life changing. I will be forever in awe of these children, who despite difficult family situations, poverty and pretty much the worst possible things you can imagine, come to school every day, work their tails off and achieve amazing things.
Today was the last day of school. During our class party I needed to take a time out because my head was throbbing. The kids were doing one of three things: watching Jumanji on the carpet, eating pizza and doughnuts at their desks or wandering the classroom--which I never let them do, but figured it was the last day, so why not? I sat down in my teacher chair at my teacher desk and sort of rested my head in my hands, hoping this would somehow help to alleviate the migraine. Jose (yes, the one from the Planet Earth post) came over without my noticing and knelt down in front of my desk. "Mrs. Haslam?" he said quietly and privately. "Yes, Jose?" I answered. He went on: "Do you know that you're the best teacher I've ever had?" There was busyness all around us. He paused and then continued, "No one else has cared about me this much. You're the only one who's sent me home with books to read that are at my level. When I came to 4th grade I was reading at a 1st grade level, and now I'm reading at a 3rd grade level. That's why you're the best teacher I've ever had." I was so touched. We'd had many conversations at the beginning of the year about his low reading level and what it would take for him to improve, but him saying this really made me realize that he got it. He struggles with his self-confidence, and I finally saw this glimmer of hope that he now actually believes in himself. His words were not written on a note like all of the others I've received--you know the ones I've posted before that say "You're the best teacher ever! You rock!"--that the kids pretty much write to every teacher they've ever had. This was a little boy expressing his appreciation from the depths of his heart. He felt that I had done something for him. I hoped that he could see that it wasn't just me; it was him.
To say that my experience this past two years in Ravenswood has been challenging would be an understatement. But, in spite of it all, I have loved this time. It has been life changing. I will be forever in awe of these children, who despite difficult family situations, poverty and pretty much the worst possible things you can imagine, come to school every day, work their tails off and achieve amazing things.
Wednesday, May 27, 2009
Oh, Jose.
I was watching Planet Earth with my students yesterday and a male bird was trying to get a female bird to mate with him--by displaying his feathers like so. The kids were totally confused so I nonchalantly explained that he wanted a girlfriend. Jose (who is 10) turns to me and says: “You mean take it to the next level.”
What was I supposed to say to that?! Of course I didn't say anything at all. I just started laughing.
Sunday, May 10, 2009
April Happenings
For Jameson's birthday, I surprised him with tickets to Wicked. He'd been dropping hints that he wanted to go ever since it came up here so we went for his birthday and it was AMAZING. Both of us have a great love for musicals! It was a school night (shh..don't tell the kids! I'm usually fast asleep by 9:30 or 10:00!) but I DID IT! We got a super great deal on the tickets, too; I bought "limited view" discount tickets in the Orchestra which weren't limited at all! We could see everything! Whoo hoo!
We've also been going to this spectacular park (if you can even call it that) just about every chance we get. It's definitely one of Palo Alto's best kept secrets. My mom and I discovered it while she was visiting back in the fall and it is gorgeous. It's a huge hundred acre (I'm just guessing) reserve, and you have to show proof that you live in Palo Alto before you're allowed to enter. Talk about exclusive! It has a lake and everything!
Please excuse the poor picture quality--we've broken our digital camera (though we don't know how) and now we only have the camera on my phone :/
And finally, this past Friday my awesome sister Jenn sent Jameson and I tickets to see Keane in concert. They're from England, and the girls in my family just love them! And now Jameson is starting to love them. Jenn hooked us up because she has such a cool job here. I love my sister!
Thanks google images for the photo! The one on my camera was pretty pathetic.
We've also been going to this spectacular park (if you can even call it that) just about every chance we get. It's definitely one of Palo Alto's best kept secrets. My mom and I discovered it while she was visiting back in the fall and it is gorgeous. It's a huge hundred acre (I'm just guessing) reserve, and you have to show proof that you live in Palo Alto before you're allowed to enter. Talk about exclusive! It has a lake and everything!
Please excuse the poor picture quality--we've broken our digital camera (though we don't know how) and now we only have the camera on my phone :/
And finally, this past Friday my awesome sister Jenn sent Jameson and I tickets to see Keane in concert. They're from England, and the girls in my family just love them! And now Jameson is starting to love them. Jenn hooked us up because she has such a cool job here. I love my sister!
Thanks google images for the photo! The one on my camera was pretty pathetic.
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