karlmill’s Neighborhood

Talent Show

I was going to write about a situation at my school today that upset many of the MTC teachers, but I think Brent did it better than I ever could...

read his post here.

Why should you not join the Mississippi Teacher Corps?

You should not join the Mississippi Teacher Corps for the money. Teaching is one of the most under paid professions on earth. You hear about it from time to time as a student, but when it is actually you, you feel it. You should not join the Mississippi Teacher Corps to change the world. In teaching, you touch lives, the live of young people. Some of those young people will probably look up to you; therefore a person joining the Mississippi Teacher Corps should only look to change the path of, at least one student, not the entire world. You should join the Mississippi Teacher Corps, just to be doing something. If you do not have the drive, the commitment or toughness to stick it out, by November 3, you may be a distant memory. There are many other reasons a person should not joins the Mississippi Teacher Corps, too.

Money is a pretty big issue to most people in the world today. The economy is in a recession. To be frank, money makes the world go around… All the hours I spend each day, week and month planning goes unaccounted for in the pay. Sure, I do coach, but coaching is totally different. Time, Time Time! This Mississippi Teacher Corps thing we do, along with being involved in our school takes time. Leaving before sunrise and not getting home until after sunset is a lot. It is what I do as a teacher. It also goes unnoticed when the check is deposited into the back account. One reason not to join the Mississippi Teacher Corps: the Money.

Another reason to not join the Mississippi Teacher Corps is to change the world. The world will still be the same when you join and after you are done, too. If not, it will not be directly relating to your teaching or membership in the Mississippi Teacher Corps. The feeling may be that, “No one cares that I spent 12 hours planning this lesson…” The fact is, we teach in areas where there is a critical need for a teacher. There could be a number of reasons for such, but the students’ dispositions in such an area, could be effected as a result. You will have opportunities to develop relationships and change some things and even help people, too. Ultimately, the world as a whole, as a direct result of what you do, will not change.

If a person has no idea about what to do with their life and they decide they want to join the Mississippi Teacher Corps, just to be doing something, do not join. To be a member of the Mississippi Teacher Corps and be successful, there has to be commitment. If there is no form of commitment, it will not last. You may survive throughout summer school. August may fly by, without a hitch, but by the time you get into the thick of things, when the students are being their WORST and they know what gets to you, they may choose to work on your every nerve. If you are not committed, you will not last.

You should not join the Mississippi Teacher Corps without first thinking about it. Think long and hard. Is this what you want? If not from Mississippi, think about that, too. It is not easy but so far it has been one of the most rewarding experiences of my life.

Why should you not join the Mississippi Teacher Corps?

You should not join the Mississippi Teacher Corps for the money. Teaching is one of the most under paid professions on earth. You hear about it from time to time as a student, but when it is actually you, you feel it. You should not join the Mississippi Teacher Corps to change the world. In teaching, you touch lives, the live of young people. Some of those young people will probably look up to you; therefore a person joining the Mississippi Teacher Corps should only look to change the path of, at least one student, not the entire world. You should join the Mississippi Teacher Corps, just to be doing something. If you do not have the drive, the commitment or toughness to stick it out, by November 3, you may be a distant memory. There are many other reasons a person should not joins the Mississippi Teacher Corps, too.

Money is a pretty big issue to most people in the world today. The economy is in a recession. To be frank, money makes the world go around… All the hours I spend each day, week and month planning goes unaccounted for in the pay. Sure, I do coach, but coaching is totally different. Time, Time Time! This Mississippi Teacher Corps thing we do, along with being involved in our school takes time. Leaving before sunrise and not getting home until after sunset is a lot. It is what I do as a teacher. It also goes unnoticed when the check is deposited into the back account. One reason not to join the Mississippi Teacher Corps: the Money.

Another reason to not join the Mississippi Teacher Corps is to change the world. The world will still be the same when you join and after you are done, too. If not, it will not be directly relating to your teaching or membership in the Mississippi Teacher Corps. The feeling may be that, “No one cares that I spent 12 hours planning this lesson…” The fact is, we teach in areas where there is a critical need for a teacher. There could be a number of reasons for such, but the students’ dispositions in such an area, could be effected as a result. You will have opportunities to develop relationships and change some things and even help people, too. Ultimately, the world as a whole, as a direct result of what you do, will not change.

If a person has no idea about what to do with their life and they decide they want to join the Mississippi Teacher Corps, just to be doing something, do not join. To be a member of the Mississippi Teacher Corps and be successful, there has to be commitment. If there is no form of commitment, it will not last. You may survive throughout summer school. August may fly by, without a hitch, but by the time you get into the thick of things, when the students are being their WORST and they know what gets to you, they may choose to work on your every nerve. If you are not committed, you will not last.

You should not join the Mississippi Teacher Corps without first thinking about it. Think long and hard. Is this what you want? If not from Mississippi, think about that, too. It is not easy but so far it has been one of the most rewarding experiences of my life.

Why should you join the Mississippi Teacher Corps?

A person should join the Mississippi Teacher Corps to be different. When given the question, I wonder…it is more than teaching; it is more than the money, more than anything I have ever done. Anyone can go to school. The thing is, can anyone teach?

On the surface, join the Mississippi Teacher Corps for the MACBOOK! It may not come for a few months, but when it finally arrives it is all worth it.

On a serious note, join the Mississippi Teacher Corps for a challenge. It is a challenge like no other. Going to college, playing football and being a black young man in the United States is nothing compared to teacher at Byhalia High School. That’s a joke. Along with the afore mentioned list of things, it, teaching is ranked right there with them. In life you face challenges. Teaching is just another challenge. It is nothing like college, vastly different from playing football and could never compare to growing up black in the United States.

Having to wake up each and every morning to teach gets old. Someone once said it is the hardest thing you will ever do in life. I have beg to differ. It is not the hardest thing. There are many other things, I would say, that are harder.

Join the Mississippi Teacher Corps for the challenge. I had never in my life thought I would once become a teacher. On this day, December 18, 2009, I would say I am a very good teacher. Although not great, I am good. Since a teacher is never a finished product, I do not feel bad at all about it. As long as a person can commit to something and give it there all, they will be fine.

Aside from the challenge, you build relationships. Some may look at this and say, “What? Coach Huff is antisocial…” I would not say I am antisocial but I may keep have my mouth closed and mind my business more so than not. The thing is, by being a teacher and a coach, I see a lot of people. Once I joked with my friends about now being a teacher, “I have to speak to people.” I cannot walk around all day hushed, as if I do not see my students, coworkers or my players. Now I have transformed into a social butterfly. In summation, if you do not like people or talking and being sociable, the Mississippi Teacher Corps may not be for you. Back in college, I went minutes upon minutes without talking to people. At Byhalia High School, from the moment I arrive at 6:44am, I am swarmed with people, people people. Therefore Coach Huff puts on his best “smile” and greets them with cheer.

The Mississippi Teacher Corps is more than a master’s degree. The Mississippi Teacher Corps is so much more than a Macbook computer. The Mississippi Teacher Corps is a challenge. It is something I had never dreamt of doing in life. Now that I have had a taste of it, I will keep my plans as they are today and pursue my doctoral degree.

We are the Mississippi Teacher Corps

This reminds me of the "We are the Fighting Irish" ads they play during ND football games. Danielle Hall, Notre Dame and MTC alum, is featured in this recruitment/information video about the Mississippi Teacher Corps:

This video makes me feel like I am apart of something special. I'm not saying I didn't feel that way before watching it, but from my own perspective of my own classes, I don't feel very effective at all. Hopefully after some time of being away from the experience and looking back on these two years the fog of frustration, fatigue, and disappointment will have faded and I'll be able to recognize that I have had an effect on some children's lives. Hopefully I'll be able to firmly believe that my time down here has been worth it and I haven't failed my kids as much as everyone else in their lives.

My District

Como Elem.

End the Fed Book Review

In End the Fed, Ron Paul's latest book since The Revolution: A Manifesto, Paul introduces the basic argument that "it is irresponsible, ineffective, and ultimately useless to have a serious economic debate without considering and challenging the role of the Federal Reserve". Though some of Paul's economic conclusions are arguably extreme and pragmatic in their approach, he clearly addresses questions that are thought provoking and relevant in a post-economic meltdown world. Perhaps the most universally agreeable portion of End the Fed, is in its early chapter as Paul discusses the nature and origins of the Federal Reserve; information of which the vast majority of people are unaware.

As an eleven term Texas Representative, Paul holds back few punches in his vocal lament of government involvement in the private financial sector, writing that "[t]he entire federal government,is one giant toxic asset at the moment. It certainly has no business telling the private sector how to run its affairs. It is in worse financial shape than all the companies in the private sector put together.” Though many Libertarians and supporters of his cause to audit the Federal Reserve and End the Fed will cheer his aggressive disdain for government prevalent throughout this book, his sometimes extreme language will likely undermine his research credibility with the currently neutral reader.

Dr. Paul acknowledges in his writing that abolishing the Federal Reserve would not be a cure all as all economic systems have inherent weaknesses, but it would dry up the limitless funds that make it possible for Washington to fund unnecessary wars, expand the government with few boundaries and run up obscene deficits. Finally, Paul retells stories from his own fight against government waste and what he argues are the negative effects of the Federal Reserve (inflation, economic recessions, limitless money supply). Though this portion of the book is definitely more anecdotal in nature, it does provide an enjoyable easy reading account of his efforts in Washington.

Overall End the Fed provides a valuable thought provoking argument in evaluating the Federal Reserves role in shaping our national economic policy and fiscal health.

Reflection

Kindred
Dec 5, 2009
Post a comment

Algebra 2 thus far has reviewed Algebra 1, learning to describe with pencil and paper (and usually no calculator) the various properties of lines, quadratics, and absolute value. We have approached perhaps two or three objectives from the state Algebra 2 framework.

Precalculus moved across seemingly disparate and even random topics in weeks 1-5: Lines in the plane, solving quadratic equations, using the power rule to describe the slope of a given curve with a single function, trig functions of angles on the unit circle, trig functions of acute angles with applications. After the first test, we began our study of functions with the first attempted project of the year. We floundered here for four weeks before returning to more traditional instruction with weekly homework. This quarter we have covered Chapter 1 - Functions and their Properties, to which we will continue to return throughout the year, as we study other types of functions in greater detail, and Chapter 2 - Polynomial Functions, to which the students have responded with hard work, sustained focus, and impressive understanding.

Reading and comprehension continues to obstruct smooth progress in all classes. Every activity still takes longer than I could imagine, although I have improved at predicting this sort of drudgery.

Geometry is my favorite subject to think about and the most difficult to teach. Here the real challenge is guiding students to develop their own intuition. Students literally get indignant at my "vagueness" as I try to model intuitive thinking. Frustration mounts as students decline to distinguish between difficulties spawned by my shortcomings as a teacher and between difficulties inherent in Geometry as an intellectual pursuit.

AP Calculus holds together my developing vision of my role and future legacy at Potts Camp. My five students in that class are variously brilliant, hardworking, and inquisitive. Together we are building an approach to the calculus and to AP testing that realistically might perpetuate in rural Northern Mississippi for years to come. It begins with compassion, desire, and honesty, as we strive to align ambition with inquisitive desire. In short, our mission is to develop the will to work more with greater efficiency.

I still have not settled into a well-identified role within Potts Camp School. I expect my role to begin to crystallize as baseball season progresses this spring. My message reaches student ears in broken pieces, and the big picture remains my picture alone. It seems that only I have a sense of where all this is headed, and what motivates and underlies all that we do in my classroom. Not that this is unexpected, but it undercuts my sanity nonetheless.

Even still, I'm failing to perform some of the most basic, required, daily tasks, like taking attendance, submitting tardies, submitting lesson plans, and even signing in to the building. My organization is unacceptable, and will look completely different after winter break. Having caught up with my grading over Thanksgiving, and being in the process of working out the details of a newly introduced rewards system, I envision this next break will provide a natural transition to a less absurd classroom environment.

summer reflection

I just erased my entire post because I pushed create AGAIN because I thought that meant post. WHY WOULD THERE BE A CREATE BUTTON WHEN I'M ALREADY CREATING!?

Bullet points:

The Beginning was crazy hard.

3 preps was too much at first.

I felt uncomfortable making the first few days all on rules and procedures. I didnt know how to fill out those days with activities that held their interest or made them feel like it was appropriate or fitting for the beginning of the year.

I did not like having to come to class on saturday at all. I wanted the weekends.

Eventually kids gave up fighting the same fight every day. I was paid to do so. Classroom management sort of magically started working.

I auto piloted into smoother territory.

Started a club that I love to go to.

Became somewhat lenient for 2 weeks.

Realized again that I do not want to give leniency favors to my student because its inappropriate and naive to expect them to return the favor.

Took a sick day off. Loved it.

The last week of thanksgiving actually dragged on because I had never thought about break.

Thanksgiving was great. though too fast paced.

These last three weeks are going to be good. I enjoy being consistent and professional. I don't mind anymore that lots of students dont like me because I'm more strict than everyone else and am not lenient with consequences.

Semester Evaluation

Overall, this semester has been good. Things were rocky for about the first month and a half, which was expected, but the whole time I was telling myself things would get better and they did. Getting my bearings in the school and with the students was a process, but I finally feel comfortable where I am, and according to Ben, I have made it through the toughest time of my entire teaching career! That really is a comforting thought–I have made it through the hardest part of the hardest thing I'll probably ever do. One of the biggest reasons I decided to come down here was to challenge myself, and to know that I have been able to get through it is an encouraging feeling.

One thing I started at the beginning of the semester and have recently kind of slacked up on is planning. I used to spend the entire day on Sunday planning out the whole week, but I've started planning up until about Wednesday and then getting tired and stopping. My lessons are always really good until Thursday, in which they're usually half-put together because I was too tired to put something good together. Come Thursday I'm usually exhausted and have no energy; Thursdays and Fridays are usually the days where "Ms. Levine in a bad mood." That's one thing I want to get better at for the upcoming semester, getting complete plans done ahead of time and making sure I'm getting enough rest all throughout the week.

As far as my placement goes I feel very fortunate. My school and the students are great, my administration is overall very supportive, especially compared to others I have heard about, and Panola county is right in the middle of two big cities. I'm lucky to have as many teacher corps as there are in my school, it's made this experience a lot more enjoyable.