Current Acronynms...

Current Acronyms  in THE ZONE...
YMCA, AR, and MCA!

YMCA--is an initiative that I started for myself. Do you ever wonder why do never do anything for myself? Well I had been wondering that for awhile and I decided its time to STOP going in so early to work and start going to the gym in the mornings! The results (after the initial shock of the 4:45 am alarm clock wore off) have been great. I feel so much more relaxed and happy at school. Its funny that DOING LESS can actually be BETTER for kids!  

MCA III's--As a life science teacher of 10th grade biology students its up to ME to check, re-check... teach and re-teach the items on the hit list. I know what your thinking... well who's really going to know if I don't... and the simple answer is--I will! I have to be able to look at myself in the mirror at night and know that I did all I could. And most days... I do. I am NEVER really satisfied and continue to strive to re-invent the wheel it seems but that is the life of a teacher from one year to the next! Change, change, change.

AR--"and ACTION!" (RESEARCH) that is!
That's right folks you guessed it... I am currently getting my MASTERS in TEACHING and LEARNING.
Just when I was sure I was doing "something" right... I enter my MA program only to learn that it ALL needs constant UPDATES. Nothing is ever really "done!" Who knew? So what is my AR you ask??
Well my AR is a silly question I posed wondering: How will allowing (forcing) my low achieving students to re-do summative tests/projects affect their overall engagement in class? So far I have learned a few things: 1. That is a stupid question. Who really thought that I could get the lowest of the low to RE take or do a test? Are you nuts? They didn't want to take it in the first place!! Ahhhh. 2. It is REALLY hard to train myself to COLLECT DATA during class. You would think that forgetting to take attendance on an hourly basis for NINE years would have helped me learn this lesson... but no... not me. Anyway I have had to set up an a clipboard with my lecture/lesson notes the data sheet or it is a lost cause. So... there it is. A stupid question with very little data. Not much to reflect on. As a very last statement that I need to be very careful that I do not repeat this AR mistake again next year for the REAL DEAL!