Archaeology 3D Mummy

Wow...I just viewed one of the sites in my Reader and it was amazing video about how they made a replica of King Tut's mummy using 3D technology.  I am showing it to my class tomorrow!  They will love the whole idea of the ancient artifact.  They were just tasked this week to come up with artifacts that represent their own ancient civilization that they dreamed up.  I love the Internet.  The possibilities seem endless.

10 Commandments of Teaching

I just read a blog about the 10 commandments of teaching and I think the best one that hits home for me is Thou shalt honor your students time as you expect them to honor yours.   By being a teacher you take up a student's time both in the classroom and out of the classroom.  As I take up their time they too take up mine but just because I am the teacher does not mean that they have to wait for a test to be graded.  I try my hardest to grade and record their tests as quickly as possible but it doesn't always go according to plan.  I need to honor their time just as I would expect them to complete an assignment on time they should have the same expectations of me.  I found this an interesting commandment of teaching.

Top 10 rules for success

I recently read a post about the top 10 things a student can do to be successful in the classroom.  Some were the obvious but others are not so plain.  One that I thought was interesting was "dressing for success".  We hear that all the time in the work place but rarely, strike that, never do we hear that when it comes to students.  I think that it is a great concept and might help to push some non-achieving kids a little higher. 

Think about it...when you dress up, let's say for a  night out or for church, you definitely act a different way.  You generally are very cautious and careful about how you are sitting and even how you eat.  If a student could dress for success in the classroom it might just give them the confidence and keep their behavior in line.

I was very interested to read about this one tip for student success.

Holiday Celebrations

So what is the proper etiquette?  Should a teacher host a holiday celebration?  If so what should it represent?  I guess if you taught in a religious school it would be easy to decide but teaching in a public school there are going to be obstacles to cross.  What should you do as a teacher?  I have already had student ask me if I believe in Jesus and I teach social studies?  Can you call it a Christmas party?  Does it have to be non-secular? Should it be only be about snowman?  It is a hard time to determine what is right and wrong and not to offend anyone at school.  By the way...did I tell you I have a student who is a wicken?

Wimpy Teachers?

I found a great blog about how teaching isn't for wimps!  I loved it!  I read through several blogs and chuckled at them.  One was about the discipline issues and that the school had started off very slow and that her health was suffering because of the stress in the classroom.  I sooooo understand what she was going through.  I am home sick today and thought that I would not be able to make it through the day yesterday!  My students are taking everything out of me.  Everyday I come home drained and barely can manage to accomplish anything else in my life.  Teaching is certainly not for wimps!  But I am feeling ohhhhh so wimpy!

Teacher Gifts

A recent middle school teacher blog discussed the holidays and how students create, make and give the most interesting gifts.  Her gift was a simple friendship bracelet that a student made for her.  She wanted the student to tie it on tight so that it would not fall off.  The student was surprised that she wanted to wear it at all.

I have received many interesting teacher gifts...some which still adorn my Christmas tree as apple ornaments from several years past.  Others are more simple...a paper bracelet from last year was a great gift!  Students are amazing and when you actually show you appreciate their gift they love it!

I know the girls in some of my classes love to draw and have been making me drawings.  As soon as I posted one of the pictures behind my desk the pictures started pouring in because all wanted to be on display!  I love the pictures and they make me smile.

As far as Christmas this year, I do no expect anything from my students.  One of them asked what I wanted for Christmas this year and they were already guessing what I might like!  I'll keep you posted ;-)

Same sex classrooms?

I was just reading on another middle school teachers blog about the survey done asking parents what they thought of same sex classrooms.  Most thought it was a great idea.  Being a middle school teacher and a mother of two teenage boys I too agree that same sex classrooms would eliminate a ton of behavior problems.  What I see in my day to day teachings are students that try to impress and show off in front of opposite sex students.  They say things that get them in trouble and do things that should not be done in school just to impress the opposite sex in the classroom.  Although public schools might have a hard time implementing this concept other private schools have already seen the benefits of this type of schooling. The dynamics between opposite sex students is interesting and by making same sex classrooms it could turn the students focus back to the school work at hand instead of the other students.