Technology Reflections

Well – I’m going to Boston next weekend to see a Red Sox playoff game!!!
If the Red Sox win the series they are playing now, I will be at next Saturday’s game at Fenway Park! I entered a lottery to get the opportunity to buy tickets – limit of 2 tickets for ONE game. Sales started at noon today and at about 12:15 I got into the area where you can buy tickets online – you wait in a virtual waiting room while the page refreshes until you get in. I was so nervous once I got in the room! I was afraid I’d mess up something and lose my chance! I was shaking and the shaking didn’t go away for a while after I completed the purchase even. There were no 2 seats together, so I ended up with 2 single seats in adjoining sections. My friend and I don’t care – just getting in is great!

Then I had to get airfare (I live in Florida). I ended up with GREAT flights that weren’t too horribly expensive. If the Red Sox don’t make it to the next series, then I’ll still go up and spend the weekend with my friends. I do have to take off Friday and Monday, but everyone at work was so supportive and happy for me – they know what a big Red Sox fan I am. The kids who I had in class when I made the purchase – nice to be the computer teacher and able to be in front of a computer all day – were so great when I told them – the were SO happy for me!

Then, I had my friend’s log in because she got picked to try for tix too – and at 3:10 – 5 mins before the final bell – I got in again and got her tickets for Game 6. Standing room only tickets and that game may not even be played, but she was happy. So she’s going with my on the 13th and then maybe again on the 20th!

I’m still flying high from the excitement! Woohoo! GO RED SOX!!!!!

I have been teaching the novel Tangerine for four or 5 years now. I’ve lost track – I could figure it out if I really wanted to, but that’s not important right now. What is important is that each year that I teach it I learn more about the story. I analyze it further and I pass that analysis onto the kids. I think last year was the first year that I really felt that my teaching of the novel was really good – that I imparted real analysis to the kids. This year I felt rushed in the middle of the book and was actually getting bored with it. Until today.

Some background: I teach reading. Reading and Language Arts take turns reading a novel so that the kids are not swamped with reading too many novels at once. This year Reading gets the first half of each quarter, while LA gets the second half. I hate having the first half because in the first quarter there are so many things we need to accomplish in the first week or so of school, that I don’t get to start the novel right away. That makes me feel rushed to finish the novel by midterm. I never actually do and I’m very lucky that my LA partner teacher and I work very well together and coordinate our book reading well.

So back to today. I actually skipped the whole second part of the book – well not skipped, but we didn’t discuss it deeply and we didn’t test on it. I did have the kids do a Who, What, Where, When, Why summary worksheet in groups and then I took those sheets and summarized Part 2 for them. It actually worked quite well. I was determined to finish the book this week (2 weeks after midterm). Originally I scheduled a test for Friday, then some school wide testing was thrown in for Thursday. So I changed it to a Final Project. The students have to complete a Story Plot Diagram, a Problem/Solution Graphic Organizer and a worksheet that I made where they have to analyze setting, symbols and quotes from the book. I spent yesterday and today reviewing and discussing Part 3. And wow! The kids blew me away – they were making connections from things that happened at the beginning of the book to the end of the book. I had to guide them somewhat, but after I showed one connection, they made more. They saw the pieces of the puzzle fit together. They got why the author showed us some things. At least the kids who actually finished the book did, but it was some of the most unlikely kids who were contributing some of the best ideas!

The project is due on Friday – I hope I have as much pleasure reading their work as I did discussing the book with them today!