Starting to get a litte more than just frustrated...

So, I'm starting to get a lot more annoyed that the Read180 program isn't up and running yet. I've had no help regarding on how to start it up on the computer, if the students have to have names to get on, what on earth are the cds for?, and how do I get the results from SRI? What does the program look like? Once I log onto the computers that are supposed to be within the program, what then? What do I click? WHAT WHAT WHAT!?

Laurencia looked ill today when I saw her for the five seconds that I did; she hadn't stopped by or anything other than to tell me that she had something for the related arts team. I can't help but wonder if she's running herself ragged, and I kinda want to shake her and say, "You're here for me and Ashley!! I'm going to be selfish soon just so that you will Quit Killing Yourself!" Also, I kinda want to shake her so that she'll spill information about Read180 out of her ears from her brain, allowing me to know what I'm supposed to do and how to implement it.

Anyhow, right now I'm having the students finish up their Donner Projects and continue reading the book. Also, they've started up on a poetry contest in which they can win $100, a medal, and a publication in Readers Weekly magazine. Of course they griped about having to write poetry, until they learned about the prize! Some of their work really surprised me. When they finish, I'll definitely post some for posterity (and for my final 40 page paper's!) sake.

I learned that I was going to have to start taking pictures and video of the students, and so I began to take some pictures today of students reading and writing. The students were, of course, very self-concious and stared glossy-eyed at their books or papers while I took some photos. Once I had done so, it was like a collective sigh of relief from each student: "Oh good. She's finished. Now I can actually concentrate on not reading instead of looking like I'm reading." One boy, Danijel, freaked out because he was in the reflection center.

"Ms. Frankle! Ms. Frankle! Take my picture! Why don't chu take my picture??" Danijel posed, making a sideways peace sign, his lips puckered and head tilted back. I turned away from him, tucking my camera away into the little black purse-turned-camera-bag. "Until I see that you're actually attempting the assignment, I'm not going to be taking any pictures of you." Unfortunately, he never got on-task enough to get his picture taken.

Within the same class, a lovely 6th grader--Omida--turned in a paper titled "Ramadan." She had asked me exhuberantly on Friday afternoon, "Ms. Frankleen can I do an extra credit paper on my favorite cultural holiday? I'll have it for you by Monday, I promise!" I was so shocked that she asked, and was even more shocked by the quality of work that she turned in. I decided to make a poster of it and put it out into the hallway for other students to see. I'll take a picture of it tomorrow. She even put the font in fancy, hard-to-read script! Now that took some thinking. : )