All Ages- Student Behaviors

Does anyone read the CTA's California Educator? I flipped through the latest issue while eating dinner and stumbled upon an article about classroom management and one section of it, "Controlling student behavior at the college level," is pretty funny. College professors' complaints are students who: fall asleep, monopolize discussions, arrive late and leave early, and other "annoying behavior." Some excerpts that make me giggle and/or roll my eyes:

"The electronic age has really been a problem..."

"Reina... no longer allows students to take notes on laptops. Too often, she has seen students cracking up inappropriately during a serious lecture, and she finally figured out they weren't laughing at her."

"The electronic age has created a monster..."

"If a student falls asleep in class, I may call on that person... Most of the time when I call on someone with their eyes closed, they wake up. Sometimes, I 'll have fun with it. Since the subject is psychology, I'll ask them where they went in the dream and whether it was a good journey for them."

When I'm in class, and it's a boring lecture, I disengage too, and I've been a student for a long time. I expect a professor to guide me in creating MY OWN knowledge, not just to sit and listen to hers. If the professors don't give me time to talk or process the information, thank god I can g-chat about the lecture with my friends in class or even in San Diego.

Find 20 minutes to watch this!

Stevenson Kicks Off the New Year

I know we've had a rough start, and I know there are still several things pending, but all in all we should feel blessed.  We all have jobs and our students all have wonderful teachers that are dedicated to educating them.  I know the year will be great.  I believe in all of you.  I know you will all be successful and have a great year because you have our students in mind.  They come first and are the reason we are here.  We will "capture their hearts so that we can then have their minds."

Writing Contest, Participate!

Did you notice?

In the post announcing SMS's new principal, Leo Gonzalez left a comment for all of you!  

Stevenson Does Dallas II

DALLAS! DALLAS! DALLAS!

The AVID conference was an experience that I wish all at Stevenson could have been a part of. The experience and people that we were able to share our time with were worth every moment there.  As many of you know, I have a family, and while in Dallas I tried to justify my being there away from my family as something worth the separation from them.  I found it.  The interaction with my colleagues, friends, was all worth while.  I can truly say that we grew together.  That we bonded and were able to learn from each other, not only as professionals, but on a personal level.  We were able to share an experience that brought us closer together as a Stevenson family because that's what we are, a family.  And as a family, we will do what is best for our kids.  I know this new school year will have its challenges.  But in the end, I know it will be a great year.  Together, we can do what is best for our kids.

Lyrics to, "AVID back" song

This song was freestyled to my AVID students. Apparently, it garnered enough laughter to have it be performed to the entire AVID Summer Institute in San Diego. So for all my teacher fans at Summer Institute, here are the lyrics. Feel free to add to the song.

sung to the tune of, "Sexy Back" by Justin Timberlake

I'm bringing AVID back (yeah)
All my teachers know where its at (yeah)
We keeping kids on the college track (yeah)
So AVID listen and don't talk back (yeah)

*Take 'em to the bridge!

AVIIIIIIIIID, you drive me crazy almost everyday
I'll teach you WICR if you just behave
I promise no one makes me feel this way

*Take 'em to the chorus

Go 'head and learn it (Get yo' AVID on)
Go 'head and learn it (Get yo' WICR on)
Go 'head and learn it (Get yo' AVID ooooooon, get yo' AVID on)