New job! and NOISE

Hello there, internet! I have some splendorous news!

My first interview landed me a job! I'll be teaching 8th grade science at a Junior High about 25 minutes away. It's one of the best schools in the area. It's a lot like my dream school (the one I attended and student taught at).

I'm also going to be taking on the Drill Team! I haven't received much info on it yet, but it shouldn't be too much of an issue. I was in DT in high school, and I recall a lot of our practices. Hopefully I'll have a little bit of help! I've already been through CPR and Concussion training these past 2 days (hitting the ground running indeed), and I met the High School DT sponsor yesterday. I feel stressed and a bit crazy, but I'm taking it one day at a time.

It's really lucky that I decided to outline the first 6-weeks of each grade level this summer. I have a plan made up for our first 6-weeks (which is technically only 5 weeks), and I'm working on my beginning of the year, welcome to my class, here's how things work lesson right now. So exciting!


I wanted to mention one thing that I failed to bring up last time. This goes along with the noise level chart. I made these letters from unfinished wood letters and scrapbooking paper. When students become too loud for a particular noise level, you remove the E and give them a warning. If they become too loud again, you remove the S and they are to work in silence for 5 minutes. If they get too loud a third time, you remove the I and you're left with NO. That means NO more talking for the rest of the class.

I tend to design my group work where it's possible to complete independently. I prefer them to work in groups because they have more fun, bounce ideas off each other, and learn better. But group work is a privilege. It requires maturity and self-control. If they show me they can't handle it on that particular day, they will be working solo.

I'll be terribly busy for the next month while preparing for school, so I probably won't be able to post much, but I'll try to pop in and share my lessons and other odds and ends as I go.

May the Science be with you,
Ms. Kat

Procedural Tidbits

Welcome back! Today I'd like to cover a few procedural bits and pieces.

First up...the noise meter!

Science is unique in that students perform labs. Even if I weren't a project and group-work oriented teacher, I would need some kind of way to let the kids know what noise level I find acceptable.

There are a number of cool online apps that utilize a microphone to listen to class noise levels and display them graphically. But the computers at work aren't hooked up to a microphone, so they don't register the sound. As an alternative, I've developed a noise level poster.

The poster has 4 sections.
1. No talking- this is used for independent work, quizzes, tests, and solo projects
2. Whisper Voices- this is used when we pair up into groups of 2. I ask for a whisper or very low tone during partner work.
3. Presentation voices- this is used when the kids are either presenting a project, or when they come up to the board to interact with the mimio. Only those presenting have permission to talk, and those seated must remain silent. The presenters are reminded to speak up so everyone can hear (kids get so loud when talking to the person next to them, but ask them to project in front of the class and they whisper!)
4. Group work- this is used for group projects, activities, and lab work.

At the beginning of the day, I set the noise meter using a moveable arrow. Usually, it will begin on silent, as I like to start all classes off in full control. Plus, the kids have board work they need to complete, and agendas to take down. All of that is best done without speaking.

If I'm presenting a lesson using some form of lecture, or a mimio, or powerpoint, or even prezi, I change the spinner to Presentation voice. I like to think I'm setting a good example and allowing them to practice for when others are up at the board. Kids must raise their hands during presentation voice level for recognition to speak, regardless of who is at the board.

It's a very flexible system that can be changed in seconds. If the kids are doing a project that doesn't necessarily require talking (like working on a solo powerpoint presentation) and I allow them to talk quietly (spinner set to partner work), sometimes they get out of hand. After reminding them to quiet down, all I need to do is set the spinner to silent and it remains there for 5-10 minutes. After time is up, the have little trouble keeping their voices down.


Next up is my No-Name Paper procedure

I recently found a pin on pinterest which shows a cup with the words "Did you remember to write your name?" sharpied on it. And since I never miss an opportunity to sharpie a mug, I had to make one for myself. Highlighters are placed in the cup, and when kids turn in their papers, they must highlight their name.

Also, just in case the system doesn't take right away, or kids just plain forget (you know how middle schoolers are) I created a no-name plackard. I'm not quite done with it yet, but the letters are done. I took regular wooden letters and single sheets of scrapbooking paper from hobby lobby (they are literally two aisles apart!) and made these gorgeous school-color letters. Just set the paper face down, set the letter face down as well (be careful! Keep in mind that the side of the paper facing down is the side that you want showing. Not all letters are symmetrical, so when you flip the paper over, it might not line up with the letter), trace, cut out, and hot glue!

Please excuse the lion canvas. It was the perfect place to set the letters, though = )

I plan on buying a wooden plaque from hobby lobby and attaching them to it. Then, by some means of mechanical manipulation, also attaching paper clips. You can find examples of this project on pinterest by searching for no-name papers.





I had planned on including my makeup-work system in this post, but I haven't had the chance to organize it yet, and I like to take pictures of everything, so I'll leave that for another day.


Until next time,
Ms. Kat