Opposition

In class last Friday, I heard the first real negative comments about our using the mini's. It actually hurt...really. I spend hours getting ready for class; then I often am not as ready as I want to be.

So, yes, I took those comments very personally.

Then, I took a moment to breath. In. Out. (Did not count to a hundred...just started in on my spiel.) First, these comments came from two students (not all). Two students who are behind. Really. Imagine that!

I ended the above session with a reminder (repeated several times) that our text book is our class blog and our Info Page.

Just to check if they can remember the names of our textbooks, I have created a quiz in Google Docs to check this retention of information, with hints embedded and the answers written on the White Board. Surely, they will pass!

Okay...in case you did not notice, yes, I am more than a little disappointed! Maybe I am even a little disappointed in myself. Have I not worked hard enough? I have even slowed the pace down from previous years...even more. Then I attended an End-of-Level Committee meeting...that philosphy just will not work anymore, but that is another blog post on another blog!

Okay, enough of those kind of thoughts. Have to remember all the other kids who were not in agreement with the above two.

Honestly? After our little chat, which included a visualization of what life in English would be like without the mini's, those two maybe, must maybe, might have been persuaded to see the error of their ways: stay caught up, for life in English class does not, will not stop for their lackadaisical ways.

Built-in Progress

Today, the guys brought the counter top for the work area for the built-in journalism desks. So pretty! I had actually lost sleep trying to remember the exact color of the counter top. Must say...I did okay, especially considering I selected it based on a 1x2 inch sample!

Tonight the glue drying. Tomorrow, the journalism computers go to work! (Right after my friend Casey and I run the Internet cable through ceiling.)

Yesterday, I purchased upholstery and dropped it for the gentleman to make me two 2x4 foot cushions for my benches. Pretty material...not what I had originally planned, but I really like it!

Progress...oh, 'tis music to my ears!

More progress!

My student desks and a one of my bookcases arrived on Friday...yes, progress!

The students are excited about the changes and were glad to see the desks arrive. I now have have 16 desks (instead of 12), so that is more floor space gone.

One of my goals is to not have the "clutter" I have had in the previous years. By the way, that was not the easiest admission on my part, for I enjoy having my "stuff" that I just "might use one day." Unfortunately, that "one day" has not gotten here, and I have become too blessed! So File 13 is growing! Yes, I am actually recycling a lot! Emptied three more boxes this week! Only have one to go...that one has journalism computer keyboards, cords, and scanners in it.

Mr. Kevin and Mr. Mark hope to return on Tuesday to install the journalism built-in. I hope so, for the yearbook staff will be in class on Wednesday. Time to go to work creating this year's history book of Batesville High!

Had we not had to give the Targit Test this week, we would have gotten all our "start-up" accounts created, including Google (email, blog, Reader, iGoogle), Penzu, Delicious, and Good Reads.

SIDENOTE ABOUT STUDENT BLOGS: The writing process metaphor papers the students wrote did seem to help in creating blog titles and thematic elements. Good thing!

Thus, we will have to complete the creation of our techie accounts, and then I will introduce each to his/her new "quackie" friend. Yes, we will begin our Ducks Galore Project this week.

TO-DO List:

• Lit Circles: tolerance activity and lit circle names/groups. I have not formed these yet. Needed to get to know the students before forming the small groups. I have decided on an over-all title: Three+Me. I am going to have groups of three, with the fourth seat in the pod being reserved for myself, thus further insuring even more conference time, more 1:1 time.
• Writing/Reading Workshop: This will happen on a more structured basis than what I have right now...once the students create their techie accounts, for they need these for much of what we will be working on in class. Then we can work on routines and procedures, with one of those being daily mini-lessons. I am ready for the routine!

It was a good week...am now getting ready for another one!