This week I've been on Spring Break, and I've been getting some much needed recuperation. I've been doing some serious sleeping in, got caught up on laundry, and continued to procrastinate, so my papers are still not graded.
I also saw a nutritionist, so hopefully I will have more energy and be healthier in general. Tonight I'm going to get the taxes done, and tomorrow I'll spend some time with the Mutti.
Monday is the start of Term 4. I'll keep my tenth graders and get a new set of Speech/Comm kids.
Saturday was our last regular season Speech meet, and the kids did pretty well. I'm working on polishing with my kids so that at least rough edges won't keep them out of the running at Sections. I really want them to do well. In two weeks we'll invite the community in to see what the kids can do.
I'm ready for a fresh start.
Showing posts with label speech. Show all posts
Showing posts with label speech. Show all posts
Thursday, April 1, 2010
Saturday, February 27, 2010
Oh, and by the way...
Today a friend mentioned that I've maintained radio silence for almost a month after posting almost every day last month. While I was proud of that accomplishment, I also felt like I was spinning my wheels in negativity (yesterday's post, anyone?), and the world and my life do just fine without me wallowing in that feeling.
Anywho, I'm calling in with a bit of an update on the speech season. Today the kids pretty much got their asses handed to them, but it wasn't all bad. A few times the kids today talked about being a family, which is totally what we are about as coaches, and what we want for our team. The kids also got to see what their competition will be when it comes time for sections in a few weeks. Additionally, I wasn't judging, and I got a ton of grading done in the tab room with the Mozart for the Mind blasting on my iPod.
The season has really been going well. Our babies have been placing regularly, and my babies in particular have been rocking the house. I LURV IT.
Anywho, I'm calling in with a bit of an update on the speech season. Today the kids pretty much got their asses handed to them, but it wasn't all bad. A few times the kids today talked about being a family, which is totally what we are about as coaches, and what we want for our team. The kids also got to see what their competition will be when it comes time for sections in a few weeks. Additionally, I wasn't judging, and I got a ton of grading done in the tab room with the Mozart for the Mind blasting on my iPod.
The season has really been going well. Our babies have been placing regularly, and my babies in particular have been rocking the house. I LURV IT.
Saturday, January 30, 2010
LLLOOOOOOOOOOOOOOONGGGGGGGGGGGG Day
Got up at 5:30am.
Did not get home until 7:15pm.
Did not pass GO or collect $200 in that time.
Kids totally rocked the meet.
People running awards who do not plan out what they are going to say, speak clearly, or make awards run quickly = FAIL.
Good night.
Did not get home until 7:15pm.
Did not pass GO or collect $200 in that time.
Kids totally rocked the meet.
People running awards who do not plan out what they are going to say, speak clearly, or make awards run quickly = FAIL.
Good night.
Friday, January 29, 2010
Friday snapshots
Husband this morning:
Cranky, aggressive email from a kid, mad about getting an incomplete:
[Nudge] It's BeAtSchoolTime RIGHT NOW!
Cranky, aggressive email from a kid, mad about getting an incomplete:
Ok, this is starting to make me a bit angry with the grading of the english class. My dad has copies of the last few emails that you have sent out for final grades of the term. From the second most recent email to the one from today i have increased my over all points by almost 10 but the criteria is still the same. It still says I am at an incomplete because i have "didnt turn in" my Macbeth word journal. I sent it to you on Sunday night, the 24th. Please make some corrections so i have an actual grade otherwise I will have to talk to the principal. Also after you make the corrections if its not too much of a hassle i would like two new emails sent out. One of which will be sent to my parents, and the other will be sent to me at this email.
Sincerely, Child
Child,
Please reread your original email and consider the tone. It seems very accusatory, which is not an appropriate way to address a teacher. You may certainly discuss this with Mr. AP, if you would like, but threatening to do so is unnecessary.
The email I sent on Monday the 25th was a progress report (not a final grade) that said, “Your student is missing one or more assignments. As mentioned previously, Friday was the last day of the term. All work for the term must be turned in order for students to earn an English credit (per the class syllabus). All work must be turned in on or before Tuesday, January 26 in order for your student to receive a grade. Emailing assignments to me is encouraged. Please review the progress report below.”
That email indicated that you were missing the word journal, as did the one I sent last Wednesday.
Unfortunately, I did not receive an email from you on Sunday, just your Independent reading project Friday night. Since turning in late work is your responsibility, it is also your responsibility to make sure the teacher receives it.
When I get the late assignment from you, I will adjust your grade and complete a grade change form.
Have a good day,
Ms. MIKD
Yeah, sorry for it sound so rude and all. I was a little mad when i wrote it because i was getting yelled at by my dad and i still dont understand why i have an incomplete. I sent you the email on Monday (typo from before when i had said Sunday) but aparently you didnt resieve it. so here it is againFun with a speecher after school:
"I really want to take someone under my wing, like Recent Graduate did for me. I was so sad when I found out I would be the only person in my category!"
Thursday, January 14, 2010
Ah, THAT's why I do this!
Today I got to spend some time with a girl who started at CoolioSchoolio this quarteras a junior, and we worked through her Drama piece for speech. This child is full of joy, and I will admit that I cherry-picked her when we were assigning students to coaches.
Sunshine Of My Life was working on her character analysis while she waited for the desperate slackers who are trying to make up 8 weeks worth of work in the 5 days we have left of the quarter.
The monologue she chose is right about 6.5 minutes currently (time limit is 8), which actually excites me, because it means that we have 1.5 to play with while we keep cutting and forming. The piece did not really impress me at first. I was afraid it could go the way of awful drama, which sounds like country songs without a melody (my wife left me, my dog died, and now my truck's broke).
However. We started talking about what's really going on with the character. I talked a little about determining the character's Victory/Goal for any given action. SOML asked me if we could pause for a second...while she got her notebook.
Friends, the child took notes.
I did not tell her to do so.
DO YOU HEAR THE LITTLE MERMAID SINGING!?
Anywho, the discussion continued, and we got to the idea that the crisis is the rational woman versus her depression.
It's gonna be good.
Sunshine Of My Life was working on her character analysis while she waited for the desperate slackers who are trying to make up 8 weeks worth of work in the 5 days we have left of the quarter.
The monologue she chose is right about 6.5 minutes currently (time limit is 8), which actually excites me, because it means that we have 1.5 to play with while we keep cutting and forming. The piece did not really impress me at first. I was afraid it could go the way of awful drama, which sounds like country songs without a melody (my wife left me, my dog died, and now my truck's broke).
However. We started talking about what's really going on with the character. I talked a little about determining the character's Victory/Goal for any given action. SOML asked me if we could pause for a second...while she got her notebook.
Friends, the child took notes.
I did not tell her to do so.
DO YOU HEAR THE LITTLE MERMAID SINGING!?
Anywho, the discussion continued, and we got to the idea that the crisis is the rational woman versus her depression.
It's gonna be good.
Wednesday, January 13, 2010
Teaching Speechers to SLAP
Perhaps you have heard of SLANT:
Today my friendfriend and I came up with an altered acronym specifically for Speech rounds:
Also, the importance of positivity (not badmouthing themselves, others, or judges), and celebrating our successes in a manner befitting a graduation ceremony, rather than a kegger.
- Sit up
- Lean forward
- Act like you’re interested
- Nod
- Track the teacher
Today my friendfriend and I came up with an altered acronym specifically for Speech rounds:
- Sit up
- Lean forward
- Act like you're interested
- Participate
Also, the importance of positivity (not badmouthing themselves, others, or judges), and celebrating our successes in a manner befitting a graduation ceremony, rather than a kegger.
Monday, January 4, 2010
The Return
Though getting out of bed was tough today (sub zero temps outside did not help), I did make it to school. I was proud of myself for only being a couple of minutes late (I know, I know...but I figure reversing 12 days of nocturnal living requires a little leeway). I felt pretty good until I went up the stairs. Then I felt like I had been hit by a truck. I made it through today, but will not be at school tomorrow.
On the teaching front, today we started Lit Circles in American Lit. One of the kids who was in reading recovery last year finished The Old Man and the Sea over break, and he was so proud of himself. I think a lot of the kids completed reading their books over break, which both surprised me and didn't. I wasn't sure how much the draw of not having reading homework this week would actually affect their reading over the break. Of course, there are a few who didn't read and won't....today was a little disorganized in terms of the kids getting their feet under themselves and work through their roles. I'm interested to see if the kids will hold each other accountable.
On the speech front, I wound up showing the girls Anna Deveare Smith and Alice Walker. They both liked what I found, so the next step is getting a script and forming a poetry program.
On the teaching front, today we started Lit Circles in American Lit. One of the kids who was in reading recovery last year finished The Old Man and the Sea over break, and he was so proud of himself. I think a lot of the kids completed reading their books over break, which both surprised me and didn't. I wasn't sure how much the draw of not having reading homework this week would actually affect their reading over the break. Of course, there are a few who didn't read and won't....today was a little disorganized in terms of the kids getting their feet under themselves and work through their roles. I'm interested to see if the kids will hold each other accountable.
On the speech front, I wound up showing the girls Anna Deveare Smith and Alice Walker. They both liked what I found, so the next step is getting a script and forming a poetry program.
Sunday, January 3, 2010
Oops
One day missed, but I am trying to pick up and start again.
Tomorrow marks the return to school, with only three weekends left until our first speech meet. Tomorrow morning I meet with two of our newbies, and I don't have a piece for either of them. I have a vision of what I want, bu I don't know what that will translate to, and I didn't make it back to the bookstore to find anything (I managed to avoid the siren call of the stores after the holiday, even on Boxing Day).
I hate not being ready for the girls, but not as much as I hate being behind in my grading.
I've now contracted my husband's cold on top of my pre-existing lurgy, so the thought of being upright all day tomorrow is not pleasurable. I'm hoping the doctor will be able to tell me more tomorrow.
Tomorrow marks the return to school, with only three weekends left until our first speech meet. Tomorrow morning I meet with two of our newbies, and I don't have a piece for either of them. I have a vision of what I want, bu I don't know what that will translate to, and I didn't make it back to the bookstore to find anything (I managed to avoid the siren call of the stores after the holiday, even on Boxing Day).
I hate not being ready for the girls, but not as much as I hate being behind in my grading.
I've now contracted my husband's cold on top of my pre-existing lurgy, so the thought of being upright all day tomorrow is not pleasurable. I'm hoping the doctor will be able to tell me more tomorrow.
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