This week I start teaching the 8th graders every day and the 7th graders three days a week (Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays, to be exact). Did I mention that I hate these kids? Oh yes, I did.
Monday, the plan is to have a "Come to Jesus" meeting with my 8th graders. I'm hoping beyond hope that I can get them to name their own expectations, consequences, and rewards. I also want them to tell me why Spanish is important and why they suck. I also decided to give them standing extra credit until I quit teaching in May. The extra credit is designed to help them realize how often Spanish is in their everyday lives and, hence, how important it is to learn. The half sheets I designed look like this:
I hope it works.
If you have an idea, please please don't hesitate. These eighth graders are a tough crowd. Even when their regular Spanish teacher is talking to them she can't hear the student three feet away from her. The noise level is never low.
This class is my karma. I should have been a nicer student. I thrived on making my teachers cry. Once, our class got one fired mid-year. If you have ever seen a teacher contract you know how difficult that is. I deserve this class- and I'll take it- but my karma better not be still to come.
On another note, I taught my third graders an adorable farm song in Spanish, complete with animal noises. (You can read the lyrics and listen to it here- just know the music in my version from ¡A Bailar! is much better.) I was more into it than they were, but fun was still had by all. I love the little kids. So easy to please and wanting to please you at the same time.
I hate that my life is turning into one that revolves entirely around work/children but I just can't help it...
4 comments:
What if you challenge them to translate a song they like with some kind of music appreciation. Or bring in a Shakira song and the lyrics and walk through a translation, etc. I guess I'm catering to their pop culture desires as the door to reach them.
Or rent Dangerous Minds and find inspiration.
I would love to have them translate, but they know SO few words I just don't know how to do it. Would I bring the lyrics and the give them the definitions? I don't know. They can't use dictionaries because many don't know the difference between a noun and a verb. I just need my own classroom, methinks.
Karma huh?? God i love t hear that is how you feel aabout all this.. because you, JT and JP were a teachers nightmare... so go in there and OWN them little one~~
I resent us being called a teacher's nightmare. if you ask anyone, I'm a nightmare toward one and all, despite the circumstances.
Rachel - well, just don't turn into what you used to loathe. haha.
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