WBT: The First Hour of the First Day of School!!

The chat today was on what to do within the first hour of the first day of school! If you did not catch the live broadcast you can watch a rebroadcast anytime (24 hours a day) at 
http://www.wholebrainteaching.com/
Find the video library and click on "The First Hour" video and enjoy. 

Please share any activities your think are essential or great for the first hour, day, or week of school! 

Below is the response I posted to the forum.

WBT Webcast: The First Hour  

 Hat and glasses coming off....“Reform has to be free and voluntary!”  It is great to see so many first time postings in relation to this broadcast.  What a motivational broadcast to encounter as your first “free and voluntary” introduction to WBT.  For those of us who aren’t seeing WBT for the first time we are already believers and practitioners of such a powerful reform!!   

  It is amazing how many strengths can be squeezed into “The First Hour”!  I will have to simply choose a few of my favorites (some I have used for a while and some I learned tonight!).  I have always appreciated the fact that WBT is polite, respectful, and energetic.  These characteristics come through in the very first sentences spoken (whether they are in the hallway or in the classroom)!  This presentation also reminded me of just how important scaffolding and repetition are in getting students to retain both desired information and behavior.  

I have used the Three Peat for many years now.  In middle school I probably use it most when having students open to certain pages in the textbook or in their binders.  I absolutely love the idea of having them practice with imaginary books in the beginning!  I have used something similar to the Learning Names Game that Coach B discussed.   He is correct when saying that you can learn the majority of the names in a class period worth of time.  However, even with my brain running at top speed I don’t know if I could get it completed in 8 minutes!  For my version of this game check out the WBT Middle School facebook page! :) 

Lastly, I believe that the idea of reform that Coach B speaks of is not only happening among teachers but is also happening in the classrooms.  Think about it!  Your students will be voluntarily participating in a free reform of their own WITH you!  The biggest weakness I see is not having the WBT spread fast enough.  I know it is spreading far enough but education needs major reform now!  As teaching professionals it is imperative to share our knowledge and excitement about WBT and to help one another along the way.  I look forward to hearing from all the great reformers out there!

Always Another Day In Paradise,

~Jason McKinney

Personal Question

 A 7th grade boy calls me over to his table.  Waves me to lean in and says "Mr. McKinney will you answer a personal question?"  I respond "maybe" and wait for the ensuing question.  He reiterates, "it's personal".  I say "ok"!
  He leans in a little bit closer and with all seriousness asks, "How many DNA's do you have?"  Now this is in a 7th grade biology class so I was glad to hear the word DNA in the sentence however I thought I might have misheard.  I respond, "what?".  He repeats "How many DNA's do you have?".
  He is a bit dismayed when I lean in just a bit closer and whisper "I have just as many DNA's as you!"  I put my finger up to my mouth to single "shhhh...keep it quiet" and move along on my way!
  I wonder what that student took away from the conversation.  :)

F- Day WEG (G-Rated Version)

Final Day

I had a dream last night...oh wait...wrong story....

It's a cold and dreary day today, perfect for some good 'ole fashion essay writing! Where students get to show off their fancy grammaticalgorical skills such as "ur, bcuz, LOL, etc. etc.  

Now I know what you must be thinking with all this texting talk:  BHIMBGO (Bloody Hell, I Must Be Getting Old)

BION (Believe it or not) there are a whole list of text words we haven't been exposed to that are relevant to testing!!!!!  Would make communication short and efficient. Let's give it a try...shall we!   The 'answers' are on the bottom of the page. 

For example:

1A) A friend of mine that teaches 5th grade shared one of her test stories.  One of her 5th grade girls brought a tazer to school on the first day of testing.  Really?? Yep....YCMTSU

1) How is testing going?  BTD

2) Why is the schedule this way?  BTSOOM

3) Thought we were done BWTM....BYOA

4) Mr. McKinney is CAAC

5) Why does this kid have a BSEG on his face?

6) Is it me or is it that students CRADT

7) Make sure you kids are sitting or CYA

8) How is testing going?  DDSOS

9) effin A

10) DITYID

11) What's the schedule tomorrow?  DKDC

12) Send to Ana:  GGP

13) IDGARA

14) Did you remember to walk around constantly?  OSIF

15) Where did you get that lesson to do after testing?  PFA

16) Didn't the office send a relief person?  What are you doing? PIMP

17) WTSH....is that a squid on her head! :)

18) What did Baca have to say?  TABOOMA

My contribution is:

NMSBAA

N everending

M indnumbing (not in a good way)

S enseless

B ass

A kwards

A ssessment

19) TOPCA

P.S.  Subject Heading--Wicked Evil Grin

Here is the website with the WHOLE list! 

http://www.netlingo.com/acronyms.php

 Warning:  Many acronyms on this site not suitable for children! :)  Use with caution!  Mr. McKinney takes no responsibility for Acronyms created or used  by others! 

Peace & Love

~Jason

1) You Can't Make This Sh** Up

1) Bored To Death

2) Beats The Sh** Out Of Me

3) But Wait, There's More...Bring Your Own Advil

4) Cool As A Cucumber

5) Big Sh** Eating Grin

6) Can't Remember A Damn Thing

7) Cover Your Ass

8) Different Day Same Ole Sh**

9) hehe!

10) Did I Tell You I'm Distressed?

11) Don't Know Don't Care

12) Gotta Go Pee

13) I Don't Give A Rats Ass

14) Oh Sh** I Forgot

15) Pulled From A**

16) Peeing In My Pants

17) What The Sam Hell

18) Took A Bite Out Of My A**

19) Till Our Paths Cross Again

Day III-Testing the Bladder Limit; 2012 Testing Memoirs

2012 Testing Memoirs

Day III-Testing the Bladder Limit!

                The Human adult bladder can hold up to 1000mL of urine.  The urge to pee begins at 300mL.  That is usually what I tell my students before sending them back to their seats when requesting to use the potty.  Recently, do to my ‘constant monitoring’ or as I like to call it my  ‘classroom flight pattern’ my own bladder has become a source of concern.  Maybe it has something to do with my flight pattern, which goes like this:

                Two different flight patterns are chosen to take me around the whole room twice.  Not too fast because I want to make sure students are in the right section but not too slow because I’m not supposed to be reading the actual questions and hovering might weird out the kid.  If I can launch just right of the counter I was leaning on or out of my chair I can keep a consistent flight speed throughout my whole loop!  
                I pit stop at my desk.  Check for e-mails from Mrs. Baca.  Take drink of water.  

Repeat 100 times!!  Literally!  

Stop at desk for the 101th time.  Do I dare sit?  My feet hurt.  What is constantly monitoring mean anyway?  Is there going to be some sort of teacher march at the end of the year I am training for?  In science we’d say there needs to be an operational definition for the term ‘constantly’.

Anyhow…I digress….

                I’m at my desk and my sips of water aren’t cutting it anymore but I am in the middle of the biggest loser competition which Mrs. Markel has rigged and I know I need to be drinking water.  So now every time I ‘pit stop’ I am taking drinks of both my coffee and my water.  Why? 

OUT OF SHEER BOREDOM!!!  (I mean to keep myself alert for constant monitoring!)

                I do believe that after testing my bladder limit will have stretched to 1500mL.  I definitely can’t seem to work on sleeping with my eyes open with a full bladder. L

Progress Updates-One desk has eraser shavings all over it.  Literally looks like an eraser exploded.  The student MUST be doing a lot of work and making astute corrections!  Let me ‘monitor’ and see what she is working on.  Yep, she is drawing a data table!  Making sure the lines are perfectly straight and even!  No information or numbers in the table yet but it is sure going to look impressive!
                -I have 1 student left to finish.  She is at the desk by herself.  I am circling around her and her  desk over and over again like a satellite around the Earth I circle, sure to keep a consistent flight speed.  I sure hope she doesn’t feel any pressure to finish! 

Day II- 2012 Testing Memoirs

2012 Testing Memoirs

Day 2-Prologue

Don’t tell me my students aren’t learning virtues here at school.

“Sit down and find something to do” I tell them as we wait the last 20 minutes before school gets out.

Forming at one table is four very large boys.  Two on each side of the table working as a team (virtue: teamwork).  Yep, they are working collaboratively without any coercion.  Rather than the fifth boy being an outcast because there is no room at the table he becomes the referee.  That is his official job.  The funny thing is they are listening to him.  If there is a “penalty” he calls it and they accept the consequences.   (virtue: the group is having respect for an authority figure).  “What is the game?”, you might ask. It is a game of air hockey with a bottle cap.  One of the boys must have picked up the cap to recycle later on when picking up the myriad amounts of trash left outside from snack.  (virtue: recycling).   One of the pairs of students has even come up with a handshake that looks a lot like pattycake repeated about 25 times.  (virtue: boys not afraid to engage in feminine handshakes). O.k…well the rest were respectable virtues! J

Day 2-Math Session I

Math today.  Mathematics.  Mathematica.  Personally, a pain in my a**ica  since grade school.

                 I ask the students before handing out the test if there were any math specific testing strategies.  
One girl blurts out, “I hate math!”.  No…as much as the public would like to believe it that is NOT a strategy we are teaching here in public school!

          The student with the purple glasses is not here today.  I bet she stayed home to study a little more for the math sessions that way she can take them during make-ups and offset the consequences of her absences.  I’m almost positive that is the case!!!

Day 2-Math Session II

No real updates.  Suppose I should be thankful since Rojollio, Rojo, Rojolizario, whatever his name is,  was out and about.

Day 1 Epilogue- 2012 Testing Memoirs

2012 Testing Memoirs

Day 1- Epilogue

After sending Day 1 memoirs I headed to the L-Block (library) to securely turn in my box of gold, I mean test booklets. (or as the person watching my room for me said, “Is it your turn to return your junk?”) Either way, I entered the ward high in spirit that Day 1 was about to be officially in the books.
I enter the bright lit room to see two white tables. Mr. Sosa at one table and Mrs. Baca at the other. My assigned inspector is Mr. Sosa. I head to the table and set my box down. I give Mr. Sosa my list.
“Looks like it should have 18” he says as he starts counting.
15…16…17…I don’t hear him count an 18. He counts again…17 again! I count them. Sure as Shit! 17!

I know I collected all of them, right!?! In a very calm manner I suggest to Mr. Sosa that he double check the names while I go check my classroom. I show further restraint by walking rather than sprinting to my room where my kids are up and around, talking, and experiencing the Day 1 euphoria of just finishing the test. It felt like I walked into a movie scene where someone is trying to run through a crowded sidewalk or space to get somewhere or something but cannot make any progress. Everywhere I turn there is a student with a goofy smile looking at me, ignorant to my dire situation. I see no test! I calmly tell them all to “Sit Down” and head back to L-Block.

Upon reentering I see Mrs. Baca is now up at the table reading the names and #’s to Mr. Sosa to be checked off. It is silent in the room. Hearts are beating faster… mine faster than anyone’s. All of the sudden a burst happens at the door to our right and a teacher walks in…smile on her face… and in a what seemed like extra loud voice says, “Oh, Mr. McKinney…that e-mail was hilarious, cracked me up!” Normally I would express my appreciation for such a comment. It’s all I can do to turn the corners of my mouth up in an attempted smile. No one says a word in response to her. Silence.

Oh crud, is this Karma for my Day 1 memoirs?

I’m in a bit of a fog at this point. I hear Mrs. Baca calling off the names. Her stature seems to be growing larger with each passing moment. I hear her say a student’s last name ‘Boden” and I correct her, “it’s Bowen.”
“I don’t really care at this point!!” she says as she shakes her head. Uh oh! Hmmm…is my resume updated?

She finishes reading the names and they are all there!?! There is a fraction of a moment where we all just sit there stunned.
Mr. Sosa counts the numbers off the list.
1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9,10,11,12,13,15,16,17,18. The roster skipped #14!!!

Whew!! Crisis averted. Code Red…Stand Down!! Tomorrow…..Math!

Day 1-2012 Testing Memoirs

2012 Testing Memoirs

                There were two boys fighting in the bathroom this morning before testing.  WHAT?  Those two boys haven’t put all of their differences aside to come together to show the state, the nation, and themselves just how much they have “gained” this year?  No, I’m not talking about the new tattoo, dime bag, 3 suspensions, and beating from the abusive dad they gained this year.  I’m talking about the knowledge and skills they find so relevant in their lives that they can’t wait to share it on the NMSBA.

Day 1

Session I

It’s nice and cool in my room.  Perfect Testing Conditions!  2 perfectly sharpened pencils per student.  I get to read the same instructions over and over again.  “Does everyone understand?”  Students begin vigorously writing and reading.  It’s quiet in here.  Eerily quiet.  Yet here is Mr. McKinney…roaming around the room…around and around…like a caged animal wishing it was stalking it’s prey.  What is they prey?  Any abnormality of course!!  Any wrong session, anyone who hasn’t stopped at the all powerful STOP box, ANYONE who looks, thinks, or acts like doing anything other than Reading Session I.  

Session II

One of my students has brought her purple reading glasses.  I haven’t seen her with glasses all year.  Wait!  That’s because she has missed 80 days this year.  At least her sight is ready and dialed in for the test…I’m sure missing half the school year won’t lower her scores.  If it does however it will obviously be my fault as her teacher!  

I see a student with his head down on the table and his leg bouncing in an obviously ADHD fashion.  If it weren’t for his leg however I might think he was sleeping with his eyes open.  Wish I could figure out how to do that so when someone peeks in my window during testing it would as if I was fastidiously watching over my classroom while sleeping.  Hmmm…something to work on!

Till Tomorrow!  Happy Testing!

A Teacher's Letter to Congress

My name is Jason Roy McKinney. I teach at Los Lunas Middle School.  I am a 7th & 8th grade science teacher and this is my 11th year teaching middle school science.  I love my job!  I love the opportunity to help students recognize the wonders of the world as well as their own significance within the world.  I do not believe in complaining.  I do however believe in always striving to improve the system that drives the framework for my expected success and in this case it is the United States education system.   

       Budget cuts are always a cause for discussion and I am not disillusioned to think my school is the only school with significant budget cuts.  As a civil servant I am willing to find a way to teach my students with only 1 box of paper, allotted to me for my daily 160 students, for the entire school year.  I will consider it a step towards becoming more "green".  I can figure out a way to run my classroom without tape or paperclips because the school cannot afford to provide any.  Those 'cracks' in the educational budget can be smoothed over.  However, there are some recent shifts in the foundation of education that I believe are true causes for concern. 

       President Obama has consistently stated that he wants to advance student proficiency in both math and science.  What have I seen in my classroom to help further that vision?  I have seen my class sizes swell to a point where no class has less than 31 students in it. 

       This large quantity of students could be overcome successfully if enough tools and supplies were available.  Unfortunately however the increase of student numbers has occurred with a simultaneous reduction of ANY funds to provide materials for these future scientists, inventors, and mathematicians.  There is a chemical shower in my room that now acts as a place to hang posters because there are no chemicals.  No chemicals can be obtained because there is no budget for such items.  Even "household" chemicals cost money.  On my salary I cannot afford to buy household materials for 160 students for every lab that is needed to be conducted. 

       Now, I DO see a lot of money being put into education.  I see companies being paid very large amounts of money to come in and train us on how to best assess our students.  I see lots of money being spent on new textbooks.  Textbooks are nice but if I had to choose between lab materials and books (especially with the internet available) I would choose lab materials.  I would choose the tool that would best allow the students to practice what President Obama wants young Americans to be able to do.  He wants them to be able to reason through a problem, test for a solution, and think critically for themselves.  In science this CANNOT be done with a textbook, 30 plus students in a class room, and nothing else.  I challenge anyone who says it can be done to visit my school and show me how.

                 This brings me to the last defect in the foundation of education.  Educators and pediatricians are given arguably the most important resource of our nation to cultivate and care for, children.  Doctors are required to attend  professional conferences in order to stay current on the latest innovative techniques and information.  This makes sense.  Science teachers might also be sent to conferences but they are NOT conferences on how to teach science and interesting ways to engage students.  They are conferences on how to make tests and then analyze those same tests that were made.  In my 11 years  of science education I have NEVER worked at a school that has had a budget to allow ANY science teacher to be sent  to the NSTA annual conference.   I have gone as far as applying for grants so I could attend but have never been granted one for that particular purpose. 

                There is something fundamentally unsupportive about this current system.  I accept the challenge to increase the science  proficiency for ALL of my students.  However, I KNOW that increasing class sizes, having no budget, and training in the wrong areas is not the way to get there.  I am doing my part, please do yours!

             Sincerely,

             Jason R. McKinney