Teachers Have It Easy

I have friends that despise teachers. They don't necessarily despise the person, but more so the profession. They feel that teachers in general live a life that is simple and carefree. After all, and I'll quote one of them here: "Those who can do. Those who can't - teach." Ouch! That's a bit judgmental.

Other gripes I often hear about are: Teachers get too much time off. Teachers have an entire summer to do nothing. Teachers don't have to deal with real world problems. Teachers are safe from being fired because they have tenure. Teachers only work for 6 hours a day. I could keep going, as they often do, but I think you get the point.

So what's my reply to this barrage?
"Yep, teachers have a very cool job." We 'can do' and that's why we teach. It takes skill, patients, and some very unique ways of teaching to help a child who struggles with a concept.

I also tell them, "Before you judge, step into the classroom and give it a try." I often have parents leave commenting that they don't know how I do it. Simple - I love what I do and I care about the kids (although don't let them know that, it will destroy my reputation as a guy teacher). Anybody who loves their job does it know matter what the circumstances. I personally wouldn't want to be a forest ranger for a living, but for the men and women who do it day in a day out, they love it.

We do get the summers off. It's great! This summer I will spend my time taking more graduate classes to improve my abilities within education. Most teachers take their summer time to further their education. Also, as a coach, I will more then likely put in an additional amount of time working with kids on the court. It's a shame that sports have become so front and center that a typical season has extended to 10-11 months, rather than the standard 3 months it use to be. Ahhhhh, the price of winning.

The real world problem is mostly laughable. Spend a day with a teacher. We manage 30-50 issues a day. Anything from social issues to educational issues. Students bring the full gambit. It's hard to believe, but not everybody walks into class with a big smile on their face everyday. For those in the business field, I have a question for you. When was the last time you had to approve the vomiting of a coworker, or be responsible for the office bathroom breaks, or have a coworker complain to you because another office worker had looked at them wrong. When was the last time two you had to mediate between two coworkers because they had a sharing issue in the break room (oh, and don't forget to throw in the fact that the entire office of workers are waiting for you to finish the mediation so they can move on with their day.). Real world? We have real world!

With regards to the tenure issue. Teachers are fortunate to have a system in place that protects them from undo prosecution. Wait a second .... that's just like that thing called the Bill of Rights! Teachers can be fired even if they have tenure. Yep, it's true. The tenure process is in place to allow for correction and modifications to be made if a teacher has fallen behind in certain facets of the job. However, if they don't meet the necessary standard, they can be dismissed. Sounds similar to most professional jobs.

Finally the last issue of the day - our 6 hour day. I'm at school as kids are being dropped off by their parents, so I know of a few that I actually beat to work most days. Teachers will typically put in about 10 hours a day. Sure there's the school time (8-3:30), which is 7.5 hours, but it doesn't end there. Unlike my friends who bash teachers, they don't bring home any of their work from the office. Teachers typically have papers to grade and plans to prepare for in order to get the job done. Those teacher bags/totes that you see most carrying out of the building at the end of the day aren't filled with cookies (which is a darn shame).

Teaching is a pleasure. It's fun, addicting, ever changing, and never dull. The students I deal with are nothing short of our future, and I take that seriously. When I look out at my class I envision the next leader, inventor, and comedian. They're there in front of me everyday, waiting to see what I can teach them next. The funny thing is, half the time we deal in book knowledge, while the other half we're learning how to be good people and quality citizens (hopefully while having a good time along the way).

Someone once told me that teachers touch lives. If you want to make a difference become a teacher. Well, I would say,... if you want to make a difference become a world leader. If you want to become a teacher, do it because you love it, you love working with kids, and most of all you get to write your own blog! And yes, I'm rethinking my friendships.

The Best Quarter

When it comes to the best time of the year, ... there's Christmas and there's the Last Quarter.

This is the time of year when teaching and learning is fun! It's a time where you can look back on the accomplishments, while looking at the present and what still needs to be done. It brings about a sense of growing up. The kids who sit before me seem more mature, more wise, and definitely more use to my style. I've gotten to know each child fairly well, along with the chance to get to know parents and families. This is the time of year when you look out onto the group and smile - not because they're working diligently, but because they are your kids. After spending day after day with them, they grow on you. You know personalities frontwards and backwards.

While some teachers (and kids) choose to count down the days to summer, I feel that the days are numbered. I'm one step closer to starting all over again. A new set of students, a new set of parents, a new set of personalities, and a new set of quirks. A new back to school meeting where parents say, "We heard about you." For me the ending of year is just starting over again.

So for those parents reading this and those kids that might check in on the blog from time to time. We have about 9 weeks left - let's make the most of them.

What's With Daylight Saving Time?

By Ryan

We all know what daylight saving time is, right? In the Summer we turn our clocks back one hour. And the fall we turn our clocks ahead one hour.


Are you for it, or against it? I am for it, Believe it or not, some people even fight about it. Some want it and some don't.

A man named William Willett, who was an English builder and a golfer, made up a plan of what became daylight savings time. A lot of people in the United States liked William Willett's plan. All the farmers liked it because it gave them one more hour of daylight to do their work. Kids liked it because they got one more hour of playtime with their best friends and also they played longer with man's best friend, (their dogs)! Adults liked it because they had more time after work to do stuff.

Newest change made it start earlier in the spring and end later in the Fall than before. It used to start on the first Sunday of April and ended on the last Sunday in October. the federal government has made a new law that DST now starts on the second Sunday of March and lasts a week longer and it ends on the first Sunday of November.

Most kids like it in the Fall especially, because we get to sleep one more hour. Lots of people have a hard time adjusting to the changes in time. Some I've talked to say it upsets their body schedule and they can't get enough sleep in the Spring especially. Usually it takes about two weeks to adjust to time changes.

So it doesn't matter if you like DST or not cause Fred Upton said “we’ll get used to it, it is here to stay.” The bottom line is that were going to save energy. A study by the American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy has said that by 2020 we will have saved $4.4 billion and released 10.8 million metric tons less of carbon into the atmosphere.

Popcorn-The Healthy Snack

by Andrew

You don’t have to feel guilty about eating popcorn in front of the T.V. because popcorn can be a healthy snack. Popcorn has good fiber and has only up to 31-35 calories in a cup. Because it’s high in fiber it’s a good snack that will fill you up and keep you from eating too much of it or eating other snacks also. Air popped popcorn is the healthiest because it’s made of no fats like oil, but you have to be careful when you by bags of pre-popped popcorn because they are often made with lots of oil and butter.

When is popcorn not a healthy snack? When it’s popped in oil, covered with lots of butter and salt. Movie theater popcorn can be a very unhealthy snack (but tastes good) when you get the jumbo bucket and squirt lots of butter on it. If you’re going to eat popcorn at the movies, leave off the butter and extra salt. You can buy microwave popcorn that has fewer calories and less fat so that would be a better choice than regular microwave popcorn.

Popcorn has been around for a long time, 4,000 years. It was found in a bat cave where scientists were looking for new species of bats and found the first ears of corn. The Aztec found out how to pop popcorn by throwing a popcorn kernel into the fire and it would pop into the air. Popcorn will continue to be around and as long as you make good choices about the type of popcorn you eat, it will continue to be healthy snack.

Who is Ms. Bowers??????

by Keiley

An interview with Ms. Bowers, which proved to be an exciting and interesting experience.

1.
Q. Ms. Bowers why did you want to be a counsellor?

A. Um, well, because I want to help kids build positive relationships, and help them feel good about themselves.

2.
Q. Do you like your job? Why?

A. I do like my job, because I get hugs every day.

3.
Q. What’s the best part about your job?

A. Well, getting to know all the students.

4.
Q. Do you think that anyone could be mean?

A. Yes, I think that we have all been mean once in our life.

5.
Q. How does your job reflect on your life?
A. Well, I am a idealist meaning I believe in a better world, and my job let's me work toward a better world for children.

6.
Q. Do you have a 2nd job. Other than the one you have here at Roosevelt?

A. No, not right now. I like to relax, and am creative in my free time.

7.
Q. Do you have any dreams for the future? What are they?

A. I do have dreams for the future. I would like to go back to school, so I can teach others to be counselors.

8.
Q. Do you have any high expectations for any of the students?

A. I have high expectations for everyone here.

9.
Q. Do you enjoy when a student fills out a talk time form? Why?

A. I do because it gives me a chance to get to know the student and help them.

10.
Q. Do you think that anyone can be smart? Why?

A. Yes, because there are eight kinds of smarts, and that everyone is smart in there own way.

Nintendo Offers Much More

by Courtney

Did you know there are other features to a Nintendo DS other than the game you put in it? There are lots, but we are going to talk about PictoChat. PictoChat is where you and your friend can type messages to each other, draw a picture, and send it to one another, and many other things.

First, you have to click the PictoChat icon on the menu. Secondly you both have to go into the same chat room. Then both of your names will pop up on the top screen. After that, you can type away or draw with the stylus pen. Once you have typed a message or drawn a picture, you click the ( send icon). The message or picture will then pop up under both of your names on the top screen. The other person will read it and respond to it with there message.
That is how you use PictoChat.

Ipod v. Zune

by PHill

The iPod:
There are 3 kinds of iPods:
1. The fifth generation, the iPod
2. The second generation, the iPod nano
3. Also the second generation, the iPod shuffle.

The iPod is a portable media player manufactured by apple computers these started selling in 2001. A center click wheel controls the regular and nano versions of iPods. The iPod shuffle is screen-less. Apple's program "iTunes" is used to import music on to all 3 versions of the iPods. There is also an iTunes Music Store. At the store you can by songs starting at .99 cents, and videos starting at $1.99. The regular iPod usually comes in 30 gigabite (7500 songs). The iPod nano usually comes in 2 GB (500 songs) or 4 GB (1000 songs). The iPod shuffle usually comes in 1 GB (250 songs).

The Zune:

Zune is Microsoft's version of a Portable Media Player (MP3 player). This device released to the U.S was a 30 GB model selling for $249.99 on November 14, 2006. A key difference between Zune and other competitor MP3 players is Zune offers Wi-Fi. With this you can share songs, playlists, and pictures with other Zunes. Audio files transferred from one Zune to another can be played up to 3 days or three plays, whichever comes first, after which it expires unless purchased or downloaded at the Zune Marketplace online. Recipients cannot re-send audio files that they have received via the sharing feature. The Zune can also be connected to an Xbox 360 giving users the ability to stream music, videos and photos to Xbox 360 via a home network.

Which one is better?

Well if you want one with more features you want to get the iPod. If you want a bigger screen you need to get the Zune. If you are not a big music lover but you like movies and TV get an iPod video, which is either an iPod or an iPod nano. I you love to share music with your friends get a Zune. Depending on what you really want to do make what kind of MP3 player you want to get vary.

Alternative Energy

by Nikki

Alternate Energy is power, electric, energy dissipated in an electrical or electronic circuit or device per unit of time. The electrical energy supplied by a current to an appliance enables it to do work or provide some other form of energy such as light or heat. Electric power is usually measured in Watts, kilowatts (1,000 watts), and megawatts (1,000,000 watts). The amount of electrical energy used by an appliance is found by multiplying its consumed power by the length of time of operation. The units of electrical energy are usually watt-seconds (joules), watt-hours, or kilowatt-hours. For commercial purposes the kilowatt-hour is the unit of choice.

Scientists are always looking for alternatives to fossil fuels for our energy needs. Some alternatives have been found, but so far there is nothing as efficient and easy to use as fossil fuels.

Solar energy is energy produced by the sun. The
advantages of solar energy are that it is a
renewable resource, it is free and is nonpolluting.
However, there is no practical method of collecting
the sun’s energy.

Geothermal energy is energy produced from the heat
of the earth’s interior. Geothermal energy is also
free and nonpolluting. However, there are only
a few places where heat from the earth’s hot interior
comes close enough to the earth’s surface to be used
for energy.

Nuclear energy produces heat by splitting atoms.
However, this process produces radioactive waste.
Disposal of this radioactive waste is the major
problem with nuclear energy.

Wind and water can also be sources of energy. Wind
has been used for centuries to sail ships, pump water
and cut wood at sawmills. Falling water has also long
been used to spin turbines to produce energy.

Oil shale is a very fine-grained sedimentary rock that
contains enough organic matter to yield a significant
amount of oil. Although there is a large supply of oil
shale that could be recovered, it is more expensive to
produce than fossil fuels. Additionally, large amounts
of water are required to produce this fuel.

How to Combat a Bully

by Grace

First of all the word combat means to fight off. (That doesn’t mean fight back.) Now, how to combat a bully. When you combat a bully, you should use shut downs such as: stop, that’s mean, that’s not cool, and that makes you look bad. You should also say like…I don’t like it when.(Example: I don’t like it when you call me mean names. Just stop.) Also, try to ignore them.(They may not work for some people.) Try to compromise. An example would be, If you stop hitting me , I wont tell on you anymore.
One thing you may not want to do is, do exactly what the bully is doing to you. Like, calling you mean names, hitting/kicking you, or annoying you on purpose. Try to be kind.
There are other ways to combat a bully. One way is to let a teacher or staff member know. BUT, if it happens more than once, TELL THE SAME TEACHER OR STAFF MEMBER! If you don’t tell the same teacher or staff member, that person will think it only happened once.(Which wouldn’t be true.) Another way would be, just walk away, and turn your back to the bully. That will let the bully know that you’re not enjoying that, and that they should stop whatever it was they were doing. Also you can solve the conflict by yourselves. But, if you can’t solve the conflict by your selves don’t be embarrassed, because it is a bully! They can be stubborn, or hard to work with sometimes (don’t worry it happens). Try to treat people the way you want to be treated, even though you should NEVER treat people unkindly.
So, I think you all know now how to combat a bully. Try to keep the world a kind place!!

Louis Braille

by Morgan

Louis Braille lived in Coupvray, France. When he was 3 he was playing with an awl, a sharp pointed tool. The awl slipped and hit him in the eye. Later it got infected. After that, the infection spread into his other eye. When he was 10 he went to the Royal Institute of Blind Youth in Paris. At the institute, he learned arithmetic, grammar, geography, history and music. Louis liked to read but the only books they had were in raised print which was really hard to read. In 1821, when Louis was 12 years old, Captain Charles Barbier came to the Institute. Captain Barbier had created a way for his soldiers to write notes to each other in the dark. This was called night writing and used patterns of dots that stood for sounds. This is how Louis first got the idea to use dots to help the blind to read. Louis worked with night writing for 3 years but it was too difficult because there are so many sounds in the French language. Then he came up with the idea to have patterns of dots stand for letters instead of sounds. This would be much easier because there are only 26 letters. Louis had invented the Braille alphabet. He was just 15 years old.

It took many years for the Braille alphabet to be accepted. It first began to be recognized in 1844 when it was demonstrated at the grand opening of the Institute’s new building. Louis was 35 years old when this happened but he was very sick. He had tuberculosis, a bad lung disease. Louis Braille died on January 6, 1852. Not one newspaper in Paris printed the story of his death.