Inside Four Walls: Prediction Time!

We are testing in math this week and last year I predicted my scores and was off by a bit, except my Algebra B which was dead on. Last year, I counted all of my C’s or higher and said they would end up being proficient or advanced. This year I decided to count just my C+’s and higher to hopefully give me a better estimate. I have been saying most of the year that the students just aren’t putting in the work to pass the CSTs and well my scores will probably reflect that.

So here are my predictions for proficient or advanced;
Geometry – 43/93 46%
Algebra B – 10/26 38%

If these numbers hold up, then this would be my lowest scores for the CSTs. I have been struggling this year more than others on how to get the students to ask questions and do the basic work required. We all remember the challenges I had with my Algebra B classes this year. And is it my fault? Let’s take a closer look.

I have been doing the same thing in my Algebra B classes I did this year as I have for the past 3 years. This includes a daily quiz which tests the students daily on factoring, graphing, systems of equations, and another topic of my choice. We have factored everyday in my class since the beginning of October. And you know what? I still have students that can’t factor. Whether it is they can’t think of multiples of a certain number or they take out the wrong greatest common factory, they just can’t do it. What more could I do to help them? The idea of the daily quizzes is the whole spiral learning. I am constantly reviewing major standards/topics so they don’t forget them. Out of my 26 students, I have 4 who not missed one assignment…that’s it four. 2 others are missing 2 or less. But think about that, 15% of the class has never missed an assignment. I have emailed parents about this as well, telling them homework is crucial to them understanding the material.

Before this year, my CST scores for Algebra B were usually in the 60s – 70s. So is it fair to say I am a bad teacher because of this class? Or is it that I just had a really low group of students? How can my pay be determined by one test for one year? I have had students miss over 15 days during the school year. Is that my fault? Should I be considered an ineffective teacher because students don’t come to school? I wish politicians could see that there are so many flaws in their logic.

A Future Uncertain: 2011

That time of year to look into the future and make some predictions...

Music:

I looked at some of these a couple of weeks ago. You can check it out here, with some videos. Here is a quick run down.

Deadlock - Bizarro World. I have never been disappointed by them. Shocked, yes. Disappointed, no.

Dead By April. I have a soft spot for these guys and if they go a little heavier this will be one addicting album.

The Human Abstract - Digital Veil. I missed this one when I looked at 2011 a couple of weeks ago. They sound like they are back on track Nocturne-style and not Midheaven. Check out Faust.


Lazarus A.D. - Black River Flows. My favorite "new" thrash band.

Times of Grace - The Hymn of a Broken Man. Pre-ordered already, signed dvd/cd version too. Can't wait.

Trivium, that song for the Gods of War EP was awesome...hopefully a sign of things to come.

DevilDriver - Beast. Pray for Villains had some great songs, but overall a bit of a let down after The Last Kind Words.

Nightrage - haven't heard anything official, but here's hoping.

Into Eternity (maybe) - same as Nightrage.

In Flames - A Sense of Purpose was bland compared to Come Clarity. Add on that Jesper is gone, this could be bad. No real expectations here.

TV:
I already talked about Outsourced. I will hit the new Avengers cartoon. Star Wars and maybe even the new Tron cartoon if it comes out this year. I also still need to talk about The Middle and a few others.

School:
nuff said.

As for my blog,
I will start posting my daily exercise routines here. I have taken about 3 weeks off due to illness and vacations. Hopefully, posting here daily will help out my motivation.

A Future Uncertain: next year's schedule

So I got my schedule for next year and it is a mixed bag. I like the fact I have a chance to teach the Algebra 2 Senior class because I think I can give them a more realistic vision of what college life will be for them next year. It's a win/win for me because they are going to try (at least first semester) because they need the class to get into a 4 year college. The other big one is that I don't have to worry about the whole CST scores, I can actually teach and, yes, re-teach if necessary.

I actually purposed this class to our team leader about 4 years ago (this will be the 2nd year of the class). As I mentioned back then, seniors in a class will derail any learning that is happening, and our counselors aren't going to move them out cause they have no where else to go. So I am glad to be able to teach something that I actually wanted in the first place.

That's the good (well that and I have an Algebra B again), the troublesome comes in the form of Geometry and my conference period. I don't have a problem with Geometry, but it's not my favorite subject. Students come in thinking it will suck and be hard because of proofs and everything else. So it's an uphill battle from the get go. It can be abstract at time which frustrates the more linear (algebraic) students as well. So I have 3 periods of that...great. And on top of that, these might not be the best Geometry students since I am seeing 40 potential students in Algebra B in the summer...more on that later...about 4 weeks.

The bigger concern is my prep. I have asked for 1st off and have gotten it for the past 2 years. We live about 30 minutes from work and if I want to get there before traffic hits I need to leave around 6:30, by myself. Now my wife and I carpool pretty much everyday, so we would leave by 7 and I would get there a few minutes after school started missing the "drop off" rush.

Well, as you probably guessed, I don't have first off anymore...in fact not one math teacher has it off, due to budget cuts and retirements. So on top of our 5 furlough days (10 when you count my wife [we teach in the same district]), now I have to put out about another $1500 for gas next year. So the question is, why not just leave together at 6:30? Well, we used to. In fact, we used to leave by 6 - 6:15 about 5 years ago. The fact of the matter is that it is difficult to get the kids up and fed and out the door by that time...especially since my wife doesn't need to be at work until 8:15. So you can see her point of "let them sleep". I think that will have to do until we see that money becomes tight and then that may change.

A Future Uncertain: Grown Ups

I wasn't sure what tag to put this under, but it isn't out yet, so why not this one?

Anyway while driving home one day I saw a billboard with basically the cast of Saturday Night Live from the late 80's early 90's, David Spade, Chris Rock, Adam Sandler, Rob Schneider, and Kevin James (of course not on SNL). Now to me this was the glory years of SNL. I know others will say the original or even the late 90's, but for me when you look at that cast which also had Phil Hartman, Chris Farley, Kevin Nealon, Dana Carvey, and Mike Myers it's unbeatable. There before you are some of the greatest comedians of our time. Anyway, I don't want to get sidetracked...

So the name of the movie is called Grown Ups. I took a look at the trailer and found myself laughing pretty hard. Now Kevin James does seem a bit out of place and some say if Chris Farley were still alive he would be in the movie instead of James. I would probably agree with that statement especially because in the trailer Kevin James does a classic Farley physical joke.

See? Anyways, this looks great. I hope it does well because their post-SNL projects have been hit or miss. Hopefully, this one is a hit.

A Future Uncertain: Predications 2008-2009

So I am doing something different this year in my classes. I am having them write a letter to themselves explaining what they hope to accomplish in class and how they are going to do it. They also talk about things they are worried about or excited to do. On the flip side, they also get to make predictions about the year itself; who will win the Super Bowl, who will be President, if they will still be friends with whoever. So in the spirit of doing what my students are doing here are my 2008/2009 predictions.

School:
* I will learn to embrace the freshmen and take care of them...parenting instincts.
* I will have a higher number of first semester failures, due to the high amount of freshmen.
* Our football will beat Diamond Bar and make the playoffs...barely, but they will.
* Girls sports in general will continue to dominate boys in terms of league titles and wins.
* 5th period will end up being my favorite class, but wouldn't have been in my top 3 from last year.

Life:
* McCain will squeak out a victory because of the way Palin handles her daughters pregnancy.
* Cowboys (ugh!) will win the Super Bowl
* Angels will go into the playoffs has the favorite to win the World Series, but lose in the 2nd round.
* Metallica's Death Magnetic will still be my favorite album into 2009.
* Battlestar Galatica won't live up to the hype, but will leave me wanting more.