Up the Down Staircase

Up the Down Staircase by Bel Kaufman

If you visit my other blog (which can be accessed at the top right of my current blog), you will see book reviews of the many books I read. Seeing as my first book was related to teaching, I thought I'd share it on my Bliss blog as well. Enjoy!

Jay and I just returned for another wonderful holiday vacation in Buffalo, NY. This was my third Christmas visiting his family there, and it was by far the best! (Isn't it nice when things continue to get better and better?!)

Uncle Rick and I

If I haven't said this already, I'll say it again: Jay has the most amazing family in the entire world. From the second I met them, I immediately felt as if they were my own family. It's nice to spend a holiday away from my own family and yet still feel completely 'at home' with Jay's. There's no possible way to talk these people up enough, so I'll stop here, but I must add that I've grown
particularly fond of one man in particular - Jay's Uncle Rick.

Uncle Rick and I bonded instantly. While I was working toward finishing my education, I learned that Uncle Rick is a retired teacher. It was love at first sight, really. He was a constant encouragement to me as I struggled with the ups and downs of being a student of education, looking for a job, and then, FINALLY, obtaining my first job. I'm extremely blessed that Jay's family plays such a large role in my life.

Last year, Uncle Rick gave me plaque with the following words:

Let's eat grandma.

Let's eat, grandma.

*

Commas save lives.

Awesome, right? This year, Uncle Rick gave me something a little more...meaningful, powerful, sentimental - okay, this gift was freakin' awesome! He gave me a book I'd never heard of: Bel Kaufman's Up the Down Staircase. It's the story set in the early 1960s about a young woman's new life as a teacher in a large and suffering metropolitan high school. Uncle Rick found me an original copy of the book and also included a DVD of the 1967 film version along with it. This was one of the first inspirational teacher movies that was created.

Uncle Rick explained that he first read this book during his college education (and multiple times since then!), and so instantly the book became even more special to me. I just finished reading it this week. What a wonderful first book to ring in the New Year!

Up the Down Staircase
(click here to purchase)

In a school with a chalk shortage on the first day, more paperwork to fill out than a receptionist, and a janitor who, when teachers request his services, sends news that, "There's no janitor down here in the basement right now," what's a first year teacher to think about the education system? While I haven't experienced those exact problems during these past few months, I did however find myself relating to Ms. Sylvia Barrett's life in a new school: names to learn, school practices to adapt to, and bell schedules, to name a few. I found a strength in Ms. Barrett's character that only new teachers might pick up on.

Kaufman writes in such a way that she brings readers directly into Ms. Barrett's classroom. Through letters to her friend Ellen, intraschool communications with fellow teachers, and notes from her students' Suggest Box, readers not only see what happens at Calvin Coolidge High School but experience what happens with the teachers and students on a daily basis.

Bel Kaufman is alive and well at 102 years old! Here's a lovely photo of her below. I've included an excerpt from a fabulous article written two-and-a-half years ago: At 100 years old, Ms. Kaufman is still shpritzing jokes, Jewish and otherwise, which is in her genes. Her grandfather was the great Yiddish storyteller Sholem Aleichem, a writer who was able to squeeze heartbreaking humor out of the most threadbare deprivation and wove the bittersweet Tevye stories that became the source for “Fiddler on the Roof.” Click here to view the entire article, "Bel Kaufman: At 100, Still a Teacher, and Quite a Character."

Bel Kaufman at 102 years old
Photo taken from NYTimes.com

A Look Back @ 2013

MERRY CHRISTMAS!
 

First off, let me just start by saying that I PROMISE to be more active with my teaching blog. There is so much that I've learned in these past months that I want to share, but things, experiences, and opportunities have just been filling up and piling into my mind that all I can do is embrace them and enjoy. [Did I just make a New Year's resolution?! Oops.]

Yep, 2013 was pretty great (even though it had its ups and downs, but what year doesn't?!)! Let's look at some highlights, shall we?

• I landed my first-ever, full-time teaching position - my dream job teaching ESL English to high school students! It's been quite the journey, but I wouldn't change my life for anything! My students have made me appreciate this great world so much more, and I believe I learn more from my kids EVERY DAY than they do from me. Thanks, kids! Ms. Noonan loves yas!
• I read 46 books in 2013! I fell eight books short of my original goal, but I surprised myself by actually doing what I could to stick to my original plan of reading a book a week. Wow, the places I've traveled to and the people I've met this year. I love reading more and more each and every day that I'm alive!
• My brother and his now (as of January 1st, 2014) fiance moved back to Chicago from Mississippi, and our family has somewhat rekindled itself. We even put together an early family Christmas party (something that is usually quite difficult seeing as I travel to Buffalo, NY each year to visit Jason's family, not to mention every one else's holiday travel plans), which was simply wonderful! My brother and I had lost touch for a couple of years, but now that he lives close once again, he's become such a big part of my life all over again. I swear, the older I get, the more important family becomes to me, and I'm grateful to be experiencing such wonderful relationships with the people I'm closest to.
• I celebrated four wonderful years with Jason, my best friend and favorite person in the world.
• I attended a number of ESL and Literacy conference and trainings. In just the few, short months that I've been teaching, I feel that I've grown emotionally, professionally, and happily in ways that I never knew were possible. I'm like a sponge! I crave learning all that I can while I am still young enough and energetic enough to do it!

I've already begun reading my first book for 2014, and I'm so excited to tell you about it. It's very important because someone very special gave it to me. Stay tuned to read about it in my next blog posting :)

HAPPY NEW YEAR!

 

The IRC's Day of Reading (DOR) Conference!

This was the 37th Day of Reading Conference!

This past weekend, I attended my very FIRST Day of Reading Conference held by the Illinois Reading Council! Yes, it was extremely tough placing my trust (yet again) in another substitute teacher and leaving my kids for all of Friday, but both my students and I have really gained SO MUCH from my attendance at this conference. Click here to view information about it.

I spent two amazing day filled with information sessions presented by professionals, authors, teachers, librarians, and simple community people alike! From the second I arrived, I was welcomed by fellow lovers of reading - I found a place where I belonged. Joining the Illinois Reading Council (IRC) was the best gift I could have given myself as a first-year-of-teaching gift. As a part of both the Northern Illinois Reading Council and the Secondary Reading League, I feel that I have access to all the reasources I'll ever need in order to be a dedicated and successful educator.

After spending a bit more money than I had any right to, LOOK WHAT I WENT HOME WITH (not to mention endless packets, brochures, resources, etc.):

BOOKS! BOOKS! BOOKS! BOOKS! BOOKS!

Yes, ahh, books! Tons and tons of books. Of course, I received these books with only my students' needs in mind... (NOT!)! I will absolutely share, but I also get to read a ton of new novels with my students! One of the presenters at the conference had TONS of her previous and current students' comments on all sorts of things to share. So I got this idea: Each time a students borrows one of my books to read, they have to fill out a "comment card" about their reaction to the book. I know what you're thinking - more work for the kids to do. And I would agree. Too often, students dislike reading simply because they view it as work! Whenever they are assigned to read something, they feel that their stinkin' teachers are going to require some sort of work from this. Unfortunately, this is true. Part of my teaching beliefs deal with getting students to read for pleasure, enjoyment, FUN! But rather than viewing my "comment cards" as work, it is my goal that by filling out a comment card (a 1-2 sentence reaction to the book), my current students will be sharing the gift of reading with future students. When I go to a book store, I really love reading testimony about books. I love seeing Staff Picks or "If you liked this, then try this..." recommendations. I could have no clue what a book may be about, but if I see that someone else has taken a second to share his or her reaction and testimony with me, I will almost ALWAYS pick up that book that I know has reached someone else. Anyway... "comment cards" are my next big movement in my world of reading. :)

Professional Development Reflection - September

Professional Development - Enhancing Professional Practice: A Framework for Teaching

September 17, 2013

As a member of the New Teacher Mentor Program with District 205, I am required to attend five professional development meetings. As a part of the program, I am asked to reflect on each of the meetings I attend, and with good reason. Reflection, to me anyway, is one of the most beneficial, meaningful, and healthy exercises that I can do to continuously check in with myself on how I am doing professionally and emotionally. In District 205, every teacher is evaluated at least once a year in accordance with the Charlotte Danielson model. There are four domains in which a teacher is evaluated on: Planning and Preparation, Classroom Environment, Instruction, and Professional Responsibilities. This first professional development meeting went into further detail explaining each of these four domains more specifically.

The leader of the mentor program asked us to reflect on the following question: What insights have I gained from this meeting, and how will those insights impact my classroom?

I am glad to have learned more about the Danielson model. I learned what exactly is expected of me during my observations. (Since I am a new teacher and non-tenured, I will be observed THREE times with a summative evaluation at the end of the school year.) I want to tailor my teaching to align with the Danielson model not only for the purpose of my evaluation grade, but more importantly so that I know that I am a good and effective teacher.

__________________________

Updating this blog on October 30, 2013:

At this point, I have already been observed twice by an administrator, and on both observations, I received a Proficient mark (3 out of 4 points on the Danielson scale). My mentor and I are in the process of creating a goal for this year, and a part of that goal will entail striving to receive an Excellent mark (4 out of 4 points on the Danielson scale) on my third and final observation. Since I attended this first PD meeting, I've really been reading through and reflecting on the Danielson model. In preparation for creating this new goal, I am really thinking about Domain 3 in particular, which deals with Instruction. Administration will be looking to see whether or not I am a good teacher, but more than that, they will be looking to see how students respond to my lessons during classtime. Are students taking ownership for their learning? Are students motivated and involved with the lesson? What are students doing to ensure their successes? Domain 3 has five components:

3a Communicating With Students
3b Using Questioning and Discussion Techniques
3c Engaging Students in Learning
3d Using Assessment in Instruction
3e Demonstrating Flexibility and Responsiveness

As I continue moving through this year, I will be working very hard toward increasing the meaning of my classroom instruction.

A QUARTER of the way there!

Well, it's official.

I've made it through my very first quarter of teaching!

Yes, it's true. This morning, I finished entering my grades for first quarter! I clicked the 'save' button, said goodbye to last quarter, and shouted hello to the future! In my first 10 weeks of teaching, there have been many ups and downs. Some nights I came home glowing, and others I stumbled through the door in tears. But through it all, I've discovered one extremely important thing: I am a teacher. I am a good teacher. And I am doing exactly what I was put on this Earth to do.

Gosh, I just can't explain the surreal-ness of going to a JOB that I am absolutely smitten with!

As I look back over first quarter, I am pretty happy with all that I've done during my first ten weeks as an educator. What I'm most proud of are the relationships I've formed with both my students and my colleagues. I am a part of a great team at East High School, and I couldn't have asked for better students!

Much more to come. Now that I've finally found my nich, I seem to have more free time, especially on the weekends, and I promise to blog as much as I can!

This was our first ESL social. We had just under 100 students
come out to the park for a picnic in last September. It was wonderful!

GLAD (Guided Language Acquisition Design) Training (Professional Development Reflection)

This is my favorite quote! It is posted on a window in the
library and Creekside Middle School. I'm so glad to see that
others are promoting reading with these special words.

The Guided Language Acquisition Design, so cutely acronym-ed GLAD, jam-packed my brain with classroom strategies for two entire days (October 1st and 2nd). I really took so much away from this training. These two days stood as an overview of the model, but I will be returning to Creekside Middle School (Woodstock, IL) next month for four additional days where I will be given the opportunity to see these strategies play out in the classroom.

As a new teacher, I feel like a little sea sponge. I just want to soak up as much knowledge as I can. I am continually reflecting and evaluating my performance as a new teacher, so the more strategies that are made available to me, the more prepared I feel. After the first half of Quarter 1 comes to an end, and after much reflection on my beginning units, I feel ready now to jump in even more forcefully than ever. My Strategic Literacy class could have been much better planned, and I'm sort of kicking myself in the behind for not being better prepared; but I'm all-the-more motivated and encouraged to plan an out-of-this-world unit on the disastrous happenings of the Titanic.

The bilingual department of District 205 sent me to the GLAD training, so initially I thought it was geared strictly for my ESL classes, but after learning about the many different strategies, I can (and will!) absolutely use what I've learned in my Literacy classes as well.

The walls of the training room were plastered with TONS of example posters. I took ovre 75 photographs. I've included some of my favorites.

 This is an Inquiry Chart. It's similar to the KWL chart, except that there is no 'L' (which I enjoy, because how often to do really go back and fill in the 'L' column of the chart after we've finished the assignment?). In the left hand column, students are asked to write about what they already know about a topic. In the right hand column, students are asked to write about what they want to know about a topic. You can see the different colored markers. What's nice about this chart is that it will go up on the wall and stay there through the entirety of the unit. You will notice the orange marker. After students have learned more about the topic, the teacher can go in later with a different colored marker and add additional or new ideas (the 'L' comes into play here).

This pictorial input chart is also really neat. Do you see how well-drawn this is?! One of the trainers began with a blank poster and made this! This chart is used as a great visual, especially for ESL students. Rather than simply lecturing at students, you can involve them with the learning by asking them to contribute to the picture, repeat what you write after you say it out loud, and add realistic pictures right on top of what you've drawn.

 

I will have MUCH more to report after I begin implementing many of these strategies into my lessons this week. 

Two weeks in...

II'm here, I'm here! Happy sigh. I've been swamped with work, but it's been wonderful - preparing meaningful (I hope) lessons for students, sharing stories with each other, and starting a Harry Potter book club. Yes - you heard correctly - A HARRY POTTER BOOK CLUB!!!! I've never read the books entirely (by this, I mean I've only read the first two books), and I really think it would be cool to experience the magical world of Harry Potter with other eager readers/students.

There's no way we're going to get through all seven books during this school year, so in an ideal world, I'd like to get them done in two years. Our first meeting is tentatively planned for Wednesday, October 2nd. I have SO MANY fun ideas! I already began reading The Sorcerer's Stone so I can pull out main/big ideas to share with students. I'd also like to be well-into the story by Halloween because I'm planning to hold a Harry Potter-themed Halloween party! I'm also thinking we could watch the film-versions of the books as we move along. If you have any ideas or suggestions for me, please leave them in a comment. I'd really appreciate any and all ideas! Also, this will be my first book club, so if you have any tips of book clubs in general, I'd love some of those as well.

Wow! My first two weeks at East have been AMAZING! I am just so happy with where life has taken me in this past month alone. My students are so great, especially my ESL students. While I was registering for classes at Trinity Christian College, my advisor suggested that I obtain my ESL endorsement because it's a very marketable and much needed degree. I knew nothing about ESL, but I took the suggestion anyway. Wow - four years later, I am SO thrilled that I followed through with it. I am literally working at my dream job. Not only am I teaching English (reading, writing, literature, etc.), but I am teaching ESL English. The students are so eager to learn! They are also polite, respectful, and always wear smiles to class. I am so impressed by how strong these students are and how much they have accomplished in their short time spent in America. To the left is a note I wrote to one of my students. I was given a box of 7 Habits of Highly Effective Teens. I decided to give a copy of this book to one student in particular. She has an orthopedic disability, but let me tell you - she is the most independent, organized, and successful student I have ever met. She is so eager to learn how to prepare for life after high school (she is a senior) and was so happy to receive this book from me (but I was more happy to give it!).




I was SO EXCITED to receive my
Erin Condren Teacher Planner!

Right now, minimize this screen and visit www.ErinCondren.com. Ms. Condren makes personalize items, and I just received my very first Teacher Planner in the mail (thanks to my very good friend, Linda E.). Let me explain. A planner is cool, a lesson planner is REAL cool, but a Life Planner/Teacher Planner with TONS of personalized thingies is outrageously sweet!! 

Miss Noonan
East High School
<33 LOVE!!

Linda ordered my planner on August 17th. It shipped out on September 2nd and I received it September 7th. It was a long wait, but well worth it! I would much rather wait for something to be personalized just for me than to buy some generic planner that I'm not in love with (because, yes, I am IN LOVE with this Teacher Planner!).

Yep, I'd say my plans are done for this week!

 

Mr. Johnson, my ESL partner-in-crime, and myself thought it would be better for our ESL students if we moved the textbooks down one level. So after two weeks of teaching from the books that we were given at the start of the year, this week we are redistributing textbooks so that our students will have less of a struggle working through the other ones. Get a load outta this picture below!

 

Ms. Noonan is SO SORRY!
(Here, have some candy.)

 

So my amazing students have already completed a number of activities in anticipation of reading certain stories from the textbooks. My amazing students have also completed these long and grueling Pre-Assessments. On Monday morning, I'm going to enter my classroom(s) (I teach in five different classrooms throughout the day) looking just like this. I'm going to apologize to my amazing students about having to collect their texts, redistribute new texts, and have them complete ANOTHER Pre-Assessment which correlates to the new textbooks.   :SIGH:   I will then hang my head and offer them candy. I say again - I have amazing students. One of the reasons they are amazing is because they will be totally fine with this whole process.

Gosh, I love my job :)