Mr. Yang and his students "got swag"

Happy leap year!
Today my students decided to celebrate the leap year by telling me something completely amazing... that I had what they called "swag".

For those you that teach middle or high school, I'm sure we know what "swag" means. My students CANNOT stop saying it. Literally, every other word my students say in conversations contains the word "swag".

"Swag" is usually a compliment to whoever is being referred to. For my students (the guys and the girls) to tell me that I had some "major swag" as their teacher warms my heart. I am honored to share that kind of respect with my students.

I also have reason to think that my students have "swag" as well. First of all, most of them have made tremendous turn arounds in their education and the progress they've made in school and in math. They also retain the material we learn as well! (I gave the kids a packet on Monday that was due today to help review what we've learned so far for the NYS. After grading 1st, 2nd and 3rd period's packets in my prep, I saw that they retained almost everything since September!) My students also have such a refreshing sense of humor and bring their bright, diverse personalities into the classroom everyday. They are HILARIOUS!

I wish I can hang on to these students forever. With every passing day, I can see the growth in maturity and education they are making. "Swag" is definitely reciprocal here. :)

Yesterday at parent-teacher conferences, the mother of one of the Four Gangstas promised me that she would try and intervene better in Shiloh's schoolwork. I am confident she will follow through. Her support can really help change Shiloh's attitude towards school.

I was actually suprised that more than 80% (!) of parents showed up to their conference yesterday. Inner city parents do care.

P.S. Yesterday between the last bell and the first conference, the teachers in my academy and I got our first try at Indian food in such a looongg time. The last time I had Indian food was in May... of LAST YEAR. Sooo good! (Curry in a Hurry on Lexington!)

It's been released!!!!!

Here's a link to the recently released  teacher data reports for NYC public school teachers: http://www.nytimes.com/schoolbook/2012/02/24/teacher-data-reports-are-released/ 

This is a monumentous time in education reform. For months, the union and the Chancellor have battled over the release of the Data Reports. Since this is only my first year teaching, my data is not on the website. But I DID find some juicy (!) info about Mr. Buchell. Mr. Buchell has taught over 400 students in his "career" and is ranked in the 40th percentile. Pretty high for someone who really doesn't do anything, right? But in his 2010 data report, he's only in the 9th percentile. Wow.

I do agree that the release of this report is both controversial and unreliable. Many teachers have wrote that there has been a mismatch between the number of students on their report and the number they actually taught, etc. However, the release of this data might also be beneficial to parents and teachers. In many cases, it celebrates success, like in the release data report of Miss Gonzalez, the fourth year pre-algebra teacher at my school.

I believe that the public has the right to know about the types of teachers that their children will have next year. And while this may not be the best measure of teacher quality, and certainly FAR from perfect, it's more transparent than not having anything.

Attitude Activities, Part Two

Here is my finalized list for the attitude/teambuilding/character activities I am doing with my students Monday & Tuesday during "catch up time":

1. Shoe Game – Have everyone take off their shoes and put them in a pile in the middle of the room. Mix the shoes up. Divide the students into 4 groups. See which group can find their shoes and put them on first. When they have their shoes on the team done first must sit on the floor.

2. Trust Fall – Students sit in a close circle together in the middle of the classroom. Pair up students randomly to be partners for the activity. Each partner will take turns “trust falling” and catching their partner as they fall. Targeted skill: trust, friendship, character

3. Ball of String - While standing in a circle, pass a ball of string from one member to another. The rules are only the person with the string can talk about anything they’d like for 30 seconds. When the 30 seconds are over, they are to pass the ball to another classmate. At the end, there will be a web of string. This web illustrates the interconnected nature of class. Toss a balloon in the middle and have them try to keep it in the web of string. They are not allowed to touch it. Targeted skill: teamwork

4. Amnesia Game – Divide class into 3 groups. A participant is identified as suffering from amnesia. That person needs to pretend not to know anything about the past. The rest of the group tells some things that help the amnesia victim to remember and to become the same person as before. The amnesia person can ask questions to gain more insight. Targeted skill: character, teamwork

5. All Aboard – Divide the class into two groups and give each group large sheet (butcher paper, etc) and spread it on the floor. Have all the students stand on the sheet together. Once they have done this fold the sheet to make it smaller. Again, have all the students get on the sheet. Continue this process. Eventually, the sheet will be so small that the students will need to use a great deal of cooperation, teamwork, and ingenuity to get the whole class on the sheet without anyone falling out/off the sheet. Targeted skill: teamwork

6. Clue Card Game – Divide class into 2 teams and 12 participants. Each of the 12 participants will get a notecard with something from pop culture on it that they have to act out. The 2 groups will write their guesses on a sheet of notebook paper and trade with the other group at the end of the activity to see which group wins. Targeted skill: cooperation, teamwork

7. Your Values, Your Life – Have students partner up. Each pair will get 10 cards depicting common difficult choices and decisions students may encounter as teens (ex: bullying, sneaking out, friendships, relationships, etc). They have to pick a solution from the scenario and explain to their partner why they would use that choice. Targeted skill: values and character

8. Tug of War –Divide class into two groups and give them a rope. Play tug of war. (teamwork)

9. Character development/attitude discussions – www.goodcharacter.com

Attitude Activities and More

The transition out of mid-winter recess and back into the groove of school is not easy for anybody. On top of that, the schedule situation that many teachers at my school have to deal with because of the "hazing assemblies" makes the return even more dreadful.

For my classes that are one (or even two) period/s ahead, I have been looking up some attitude activities to share. Attitude and character are things I really try to stress in my classroom. I believe these are fundamentals for achieving success in school. However, I have not been helping my students develop their characters. These activities below might help them really understand what it means to have a good attitude.  These include teamwork simulations, discussions on teen issues, personality, conflict resolution, etc.

I found a couple of really good activities and lesson ideas here:

http://character-education.info/resources/lesson_plans_curriculum.htm' (values we wish every middle schooler had...)

http://lessons.atozteacherstuff.com/76/teamwork/ (this is too young for my students, but I can do something similar!)

http://www.oakharborcheer.com/TeamBuildingGames.html (really good teamwork activities!)

I'm also considering watching an inspirational movie sometime this quarter. This quarter will be very stressed due to prep for the NYS and the growing intensity of the pre-algebra curriculum as we prepare our students for the NYS & Integrated Algbera. But we have to have some free time right?? ;)

I'm really hoping these attitude activities will appeal to my students. They look like a lot of fun and will teach them the skills and traits necessary to be good citizens and good people.

Teachers, have you ever done any attitude activities with your students? How did it go?

It's also (almost) report card time! Grade analysis for 2nd quarter...

Total # of students: 160
A's: 75
B's: 60
C's: 20
D's: 5 (guess who?! The 4 Gangstas and James...)
F's: noneeeee!

Overall, I'm pleased with the way this quarter has gone. My students are learning a lot, and they're showing it with their grades.

Here's to a great third quarter! Hopefully some of the parents will show up on the 28th (a half day of school!) to the parent-teacher conference. That will be a GREAT present for my 22nd birthday! (yesterday...) :)

P.S. look at this new song I discovered! Reminds me of songs from when I was in middle school :)http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mkCPgK_8rlU

Day One: Mid-Winter Recess

Happy President's Day/first day of mid-winter recess!!!
I am so excited to have the day off, especially after last week's schedule mishap. Every teacher needs this break so much.

Today, I've made it a commitment to keep up with watching some of my favorite shows ever... Good Morning Miss Bliss, Naked Brothers Band and Zoey 101. I really miss these shows, guys!

Here's to a full week of destressing and sleeping in!!!! :)

Newsflash: hazing gets in the way of learning... and ruins Friday night plans

The whole dilemma with the "knockout kids" has gotten progressively worse. Acting as if this is the first time such a thing was discovered in my school, the discipline AP and my principal have decided to interrupt classes for THREE DAYS IN A ROW to try and correct the problem.

It has finally (finally!) come to the administration's attention that the "knockout kids" are violating the section in the student handbook titled "hazing".

So, on Wednesday, Ms. Lopez and Mr. O'Klay (the discipline AP) called all of the 7th and 8th graders down to the gym to have a talk about this - during 3rd and 4th periods. Therefore, my 3rd period class fell 1 period behind because of the unannounced assembly.

Seeing that the assembly didn't really help mediate the situation, Ms. Lopez and Mr. O'Klay tried again the next day (Thursday), in the morning - during 1st and 2nd periods. This time, I was assigned to help facilitate the "hazing activity" they planned. Personally, I thought the assembly was a success, but the administration did not.

Because 1st & 2nd periods missed class and 3rd period was 1 period behind, I only actually had to teach 1 class period on Thursday. We played hangman/elimination/watched Youtube in my 2 afternoon classes.  Sounds good, right? It was... until, at the end of the day, all teachers received an email saying that Mr. O'Klay would hold another assembly (for the entire school this time) in 2 time sessions: 1st-2nd and 3rd-4th periods.

As of today, I only saw my afternoon classes. We didn't do very much today either.

From what I've heard from my students and seen myself, the situation with the "knockout kids" hasn't gotten much better... even after the 3 ASSEMBLIES.

And to make matters worse, I have:

• 5 classes of the same subject on 3 different timetables as a result of the hazing assemblies
• 2 new students added to my roster with IEP's and a failing record from the school where they both transferred from that I'm responsible for
• a parent-teacher conference with James' mom, Ms. Lopez and the guidance counselor after James received ANOTHER(!) "F" on a unit test... despite the combined 5 EXTRA HOURS OF HELP I've given him during the unit and before the test to help him prepare

Looks like I have my work cut out for me this weekend... but there's NO SCHOOL NEXT WEEK!!!! Mid-Winter Recess :) :)

Pre-Algebra, will you be my valentine?

Middle schoolers (actually, 14 year olds...I was a sophomore when I was 14!) say the cutest things.

Today I observed one of my students in my first period class had a Cupid valentine with the words "PRE-ALGEBRA" written on it.

Me: "Valeria, I see you have a very nice Valentine's card there."
Valeria: "Yes, Mr. Yang! It's for my "Pre-Algebra"?"
Me: "Wow! And why do you like Pre-Algebra so much?" ;)
Valeria: "Because it's my favorite class! It's so fun and I love my group! We learn a lot in this class!"

At this point, I seriously wanted to recommend Valeria for International Student of the Year. No, it doesn't really exist, but I'm going to MAKE IT exist after this conversation.

Who will my valentine be tomorrow? Well, I'm single (and loving it!), and this may sound very cheesy, but...

• MY STUDENTS! - they inspire me so much every day. It is an honor to teach them... every. single. one. of. them. I couldn't ask for a more rewarding set of classes.
• MY FRIENDS! - without them, I would be nowhere. They have supported me countless times, and hopefully I have supported them too! :)
• MY COLLEAGUES (AND COOPERATING TEACHERS)! - they have helped make me the teacher - and the professional - I am today. Without them, valentines with the words "PRE-ALGEBRA" on them will not exist in my classroom.
• MY FAMILY!- I love you all! Thank you for everything. <3

And some closing thoughts.
* RIP Whitney Houston - I grew up (and still do!) listening to your music. You are an inspiration to my students, to me and to countless people around the world. Your legacy will remain in our hearts forever.
*Jeremy Lin - Wow. Just wow. Way to represent New York!!!!