AMA? I'm bored and caught up on all of my grading

[sugarbear]

and lesson planning.
Entertain me? Or plague me with deep, personal questions?

[mollz007]

What do you teach?

[sugarbear]

Feb 6, 2013 15:42:52 GMT -5 mollz007 said:

What do you teach?

7th Grade English and World Geography
8th Grade English and U.S. History

[mollz007]

How long have you been teaching?
Do you enjoy teaching that age group?

[sugarbear]

Feb 6, 2013 15:48:29 GMT -5 mollz007 said:

How long have you been teaching?
Do you enjoy teaching that age group?

I've been teaching for 8 years. I love it. I thought I wanted to teach high school social studies, and had an opportunity to teach freshman WA state history (OMG, how boring) in a brand-new, all-digital high school. But, it was five sections of the same class and I thought I'd be bored. So I stuck with middle school and am so happy I did.

The kids are young enough to still be impressionable, to still want to please, to still need help, and to still think they have something to learn. And they are old enough to have really interesting, engaging conversations. They are great thinkers!

[smock]

Since you're done with grading, any chance you want to pop over here to tackle some bluebook exams? lol

[sugarbear]

Feb 6, 2013 15:56:01 GMT -5 smock said:

Since you're done with grading, any chance you want to pop over here to tackle some bluebook exams? lol

Newp.
Sorry

[smock]

Feb 6, 2013 15:59:49 GMT -5 sugarbear said:

Feb 6, 2013 15:56:01 GMT -5 smock said:

Since you're done with grading, any chance you want to pop over here to tackle some bluebook exams? lol

Newp.
Sorry

Damn! I figured it was worth the shot.

Also, I looooved WA state history. Back in my day it was taught in 8th grade, and we had the coolest teacher ever. Nerd alert!

[mollz007]

What TV shows do you like? I could use some suggestions.

[sugarbear]

Feb 6, 2013 15:56:30 GMT -5 puddleofgrace said:

How old are your kids?

DS1 is 2.5. He'll be 6 weeks shy of 3 when DS2 is born in March.

[sugarbear]

Feb 6, 2013 16:02:17 GMT -5 smock said:

Feb 6, 2013 15:59:49 GMT -5 sugarbear said:

Newp.
Sorry

Damn! I figured it was worth the shot.

Also, I looooved WA state history. Back in my day it was taught in 8th grade, and we had the coolest teacher ever. Nerd alert!

LOL. It was a good try! I'm facing some upcoming essays myself, so I'm content for now to do very little in the way of grading.

I like WA State history, but not the same things 5 times in one day. That seems really hard. The most I've done is 2 sections of the same class, which I did enjoy because I could try two different teaching methods for the same material and have a back-to-back comparison.

What do YOU teach?

[sugarbear]

Feb 6, 2013 16:04:05 GMT -5 mollz007 said:

What TV shows do you like? I could use some suggestions.

I love reality TV competitions like Survivor (I'm completely addicted) and The Amazing Race. I used to watch Biggest Loser, but this season is annoying.

I love 90210, the new one. I'm ashamed.

Otherwise, I watch CSI and I'm trying to get into The Bachelor, just because DH isn't home on Monday nights and can't make fun of me for watching it.

[sugarbear]

Feb 6, 2013 16:09:54 GMT -5 puddleofgrace said:

Very cool! It's kind of nice at 3 because they can "help" a bit more with the baby.

I sure as hell hope so.
I'm skeered. 

[smock]

I can definitely see how 5 sections of the same class might drive you slowly insane!

I'm a college professor, and right now I'm grading exams for my Renaissance Italy class. It's a great class, and most of the exams are pretty good, so I'm feeling quite pleased with myself.

[sugarbear]

Feb 6, 2013 16:40:08 GMT -5 smock said:

I can definitely see how 5 sections of the same class might drive you slowly insane!

I'm a college professor, and right now I'm grading exams for my Renaissance Italy class. It's a great class, and most of the exams are pretty good, so I'm feeling quite pleased with myself.

Oh, now, that sounds like a lot of fun. Well, the class, not so much the grading, but I do love it when my students perform well.

[soozy87]

What color are your eyes?

When was the last time you were in an elevator?

What is your favorite exotic animal?

[sugarbear]

Feb 6, 2013 17:17:29 GMT -5 soozy87 said:

What color are your eyes?

When was the last time you were in an elevator?

What is your favorite exotic animal?

Blue.

About 20 minutes ago. The second oldest elevator in the state, actually.

Hmm... Hippos, at the moment. Because I feel like one, and DS likes them.

[kaybee85]

Feb 6, 2013 15:45:39 GMT -5 sugarbear said:

Feb 6, 2013 15:42:52 GMT -5 mollz007 said:

What do you teach?

7th Grade English and World Geography
8th Grade English and U.S. History

That's a lot of preps! Do you teach at a private or small school?

[jssymom14]

I teach 6 periods if 9th grade world geography and feel the bore frequently but I love that age!
Do you have any pets?

[soozy87]

Feb 6, 2013 17:30:11 GMT -5 sugarbear said:

Feb 6, 2013 17:17:29 GMT -5 soozy87 said:

What color are your eyes?

When was the last time you were in an elevator?

What is your favorite exotic animal?

Blue.

About 20 minutes ago. The second oldest elevator in the state, actually.

Hmm... Hippos, at the moment. Because I feel like one, and DS likes them.

Really? That is interesting!

[sugarbear]

Feb 6, 2013 17:42:17 GMT -5 kaybee85 said:

Feb 6, 2013 15:45:39 GMT -5 sugarbear said:

7th Grade English and World Geography
8th Grade English and U.S. History

That's a lot of preps! Do you teach at a private or small school?

Private school, about 18 kids per class. I have at least 90 minutes of planning time per day, so it's not too bad.

[murdock]

That's still a lot of preps. Middle schoolers are tough, I commend you.

What's your favorite part of teaching geography?

[sugarbear]

Feb 6, 2013 19:18:23 GMT -5 murdock said:

That's still a lot of preps. Middle schoolers are tough, I commend you.

What's your favorite part of teaching geography?

Actually, I'm really proud of the curriculum I designed. Three years ago, when I was switched to geography, I scrapped the entire curriculum. With our admin's blessing, I designed a year-long program that allows individual students to design, plan, and implement their own course of study. Obviously, in 7th grade, they have lots of structure and oversit, but I consider myself far more of a guide or facilitator than traditional teacher. I love the whole class.

[joenali]

Would you ever teach elementary school? Why of why not?

[sugarbear]

Feb 6, 2013 22:45:07 GMT -5 joenali said:

Would you ever teach elementary school? Why of why not?

I would teach 6th, if the alternative was not having a job. Any younger than that, I couldn't do. I am waaayyyyy to abstract. Not that I'm so intellectual, but I'm just not good at the day-to-day stuff. I do we'll with long projects and writing assignments that can have nebulous, or at least, flexible due dates.