Ryan Bolland’s blog

Success

nobody@vox.com(Ryan Bolland) — Wed, 26 Aug 2009 18:15:09 -0700

Today a student described me as "calm."

It caught me a little off guard, then made me feel great.

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Interesting findings...

nobody@vox.com(Ryan Bolland) — Sun, 19 Jul 2009 20:33:21 -0700

An article that says that delinquent behavior among adolescent males is contagious. Maybe we shouldn't put all those kids in ISS together....

Also serves as an argument against tracking, too, I think.

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Three things I suck at, and one thing I do ok

nobody@vox.com(Ryan Bolland) — Wed, 03 Jun 2009 09:48:49 -0700

Three things that I need to improve upon:
1) classroom management - consistency, swiftness of punishment, taking as little time away from instruction to deal with discipline as possible.

2) differentiating instruction - teaching to the top third, middle third, and bottom third of the class all with the same lesson

3) enjoying teaching (and life, in general)

One thing that I think I do well as a teacher is that I keep the kids busy and working. I took a great amount of pleasure hearing my kids say things like "you tryin' to kill us with all this WORK!" Keeping the kids involved in work and activities from bell to bell definitely helped with my classroom management, and I will continue to make sure we waste as little time as possible in class.

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School District Design

nobody@vox.com(Ryan Bolland) — Wed, 03 Jun 2009 09:25:03 -0700

The general philosophy exhibited in this district plan is that teachers with a decreased workload and fewer students will be more effective because they are able to spend more time instructing each individual student. Also, resources are allotted to attract high quality teaching candidates and leadership at the school and district level.

My most controversial initiative would be to impose benchmarks at the 3rd and 8th grade, where students would be required to pass reading and math tests on grade level before being allowed to advance to the next grade. The alternative school should help those who fall behind, hopefully so much so that they can return tot he regular school, even if a grade behind.

Also, money has been allotted to support HeadStart programs for all pre-K children in the district, not just those from low income families, at a level about 25% higher than the national average, hopefully helping those programs bolster their resources, increase the quality of their instructors, and increase their effectiveness, thus preventing many children from entering the district in Kindergarten at a disadvantage.

The details of my district can be be found here.

A spreadsheet detailing the payroll and budget of my district is here.

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"Fruitful dialogue between the Gospel and culture"

nobody@vox.com(Ryan Bolland) — Sun, 17 May 2009 19:45:00 -0700

The 164th commencement exercises at the University of Notre Dame were today. I watched the ceremony until just after President Obama's commencement address. For those of you who are unfamiliar, there has been quite a controversy over the University conferring an honorary degree on President Obama and inviting him to give the commencement address. Basically, many catholics believe it isn't right for the premier Catholic university to honor someone who supports embryonic stem cell research or who does not oppose abortion. A number of pro-life protesters converged on Notre Dame, Indiana this weekend to show their disapproval of the President's visit to campus, utilizing graphic images of aborted phetuses. Amongst all of this controversy, I was a little wary of how the commencement ceremony would proceed, specifically if there would be any demonstration inside the Joyce Center (where the ceremony is held), either by guests or by graduates themselves. I was also a little bit concerned that any of the speakers, including President Obama, might use the event as a platform to speak on personal ideals on one side or the other of the debate.

Father Jenkins, the President of the University, spoke to introduce President Obama after the conferring of honorary degrees. He is a very intelligent man who has spent much of his life in academia. In my time at Notre Dame I have heard him speak a number of times and it is easy to tell he is very articulate, although kind of long winded in his delivery. On this occasion, however, his speech was incredible. He very eloquently addressed the obvious controversy of his invitation to President Obama and acknowledged that his belief system stands in opposition to President Obama's, but, perhaps more importantly, also recognized the need for dialogue between the two opposing sides. He also highlighted President Obama's career achievements and introduced him.

President Obama followed with what started out to be funny, entertaining, but otherwise insubstantial remarks. The first few minutes made me concerned that, after such a powerful introduction, President Obama would dance around the issue and fail to say anything meaningful at all. Just after feeling this, President Obama delivered. He followed the best speech I had ever heard from Father Jenkins with the best speech I had ever heard from him. President Obama offered his own experiences and powerful words to emphasize the importance of finding common ground in all things in order to come together as people of goodwill to make progress. Again focusing on change, President Obama fought through more than one unfortunate, hostile outburst from the crowd to deliever his message.

I am very proud to be a graduate of the University of Notre Dame. After seeing these two speak, as well as seeing the faculty give the graduating class a standing ovation after President Obama commented on the maturity with which they debated his visit, I am even more proud to be a part of the Notre Dame family. Sometimes I have been disappointed by decisions made by the administration or the student body. These commencement exercises inspired me and reaffirmed to me that the University is, indeed, a great place and is being led by a great man. These commencement exercises inspired me and reaffirmed to me that this country is, indeed, a great place and is being led by a great man.

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What is it like in Mr. Bolland's Classroom?

nobody@vox.com(Ryan Bolland) — Tue, 28 Apr 2009 17:37:26 -0700

I gave each of my students a survey as a bellringer. I asked them not to write their names on it, but some did anyway. Below are the complete, unedited responses that I found most amusing and/or eye-opening. I also tries to omit any responses I felt weren't honest (especially if they wrote their name on it), regardless of content. Enjoy:

1. Describe Mr. Bolland.

"Well Mr. Bolland is cool as long as you do what you are suppose to do. Sometime he can be unfair like he get mad at you when someone else is doing something."

"Mr. Bolland is a good teacher. I feel that he doesn't have to explain hisself to these children for what he does. Also that he doesnt' have to put up with these children and give them all these warnings, but overall he is a good teacher."

"strict, steady, doesn't let Trival thing get in the way of teaching, keeps personal and Job life seaperate."

"A teacher that has a great personality but gets very angry when his class gets out of control. I also feel he has trouble w/ controlling his class."

"cute smart annoying annoying irritating annoying childish short vanilla Robin Thicke crazy smart did i write annoying."

"a unhappy person"

"Funny, he always happy"

"Mr. Bolland is a very nice person, maybe even too nice. He seems so patience with these kids. He's not so very tall but not so short. He dresses nice everyday."

"complex"

"Nice (no homo) don't be tripen alot"

"He is a good teacher, but he never smiles, is to proffessional and acts older than he is"

"he eats alot of apples"

2. Describe Mr. Bolland's teaching style. How does he teach? What does he do that helps you understand things? What does he do that doesn't help you? How could he do better?

"He gives us worksheets and we have test. I really dont understand what he talks about. If he talks about the chapter and explain it more."

"He is a good teacher. I actually like learning in his class at times."

"Good, explain, not enough questions, ask more"

"He teaches indepedently if you don't want to learn he wont fault you. I really don't understand cause he doesn't teach well to me. He don't communitate with you. He can do better by trying harder."

"It be hard to learn. Give you the paper and say do it. You be kind of sleep. With ex work to get grade higher."

"borning. He teach like we are in jail. Gives us detenction. Gives me the answers. Not to give me bad things to work on. Like hard work."

"He teaches tot eh best of his abilities. We work individually with each student and answer all questions. Fuss all the times and don't let us work in groups. He is doing the best he can but let us get in groups."

"He is a good teacher like the way he gives us study guide to help us do well on our test and how he answers any question no matter how stupid and immature it is"

3. Describe the way that students act in his classroom.

"Students in his class are really bad. They seem to run Mr. bolland instead of him running them. They talk while he is takling, they eat candy, they curse, they rap, etc. They are just bad."

"They act like children suppose to act. They dont suppose to just sit there and be quiet cuz Imma talk reguardless. And go to sleep too."

"Some of the one's like myself act very well educated, others act like zoo animals."

"A butch of clowns"

"We be acting a donkey sometimes we show no respect we talk lound sometimes quiet"

"They go crazy like they would at a zoo or some."

4. Describe Mr. Bolland's classroom.

"mr Bolland's classroom is not structured at all. It has no speafic way of targeting all the individual students individually."

"Well it boren and all he ever do is work us and go over stuff can we have a little fun every now and then"

"crunk as h***"

"It's big but he needs to change his functuay. Also do some good cleaning-up. Or but up more posters of science things so it won't look so empty and boring. Lighten it up!!!"

"it a fixer uper. we need new sets and books"

"spacious, could use sweeping and mopping"

"Its like a normal science class except the handful of students he has to deal with from day to day. It would be better if he got rid of them the first day."

"cold"

After reading all of the responses, I have come up with a few general points. First, the student's view me very differently in different classes. The more well behaved the class, the happier and nicer I appear. Students in my worst behaved classes were more likely to report me as being mean or "snapping" on them. Most students who commented on the decor of my room said it was plain and needed more color. Also, when I could tell who's survey it was, I noticed that the well behaved kids almost always commented on how disrespectful or poorly behaved the other students were, whereas those who were less behaved said the kids acted fine.

I knew before this that my classroom management is by far the weakest part of my teaching. It seems that many of the kids are also aware. For the most part, I got positive reviews on my teaching style, once I was able to execute it. I'm a little bit surprised that the kids care so much about how plain my room is. I knew it was plain, but I've never been much for interior decorating. Hopefully between now and the beginning of next year I'll get an opportunity to rearrange and liven up my room some.

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Shocked.

nobody@vox.com(Ryan Bolland) — Tue, 10 Feb 2009 16:59:30 -0800

Well that was fun. A nice little trip to Kroger. Bought hummus for the first time in my life. Got to see a woman whip her 3ish year old twins with a twig in the florist section.

Why does this woman still have custody of her children?! She was carrying around a yard long twig and striking her children every time they did something wrong, then joking with the florist what a handful her twins were.

WHAT

MTC class of 2020, I hope you enjoy trying to teach and/or untangle the mess that woman is creating. Its nice to see that, regardless of however hard I work, there are people doing far more harm than any good I could ever hope to accomplish.

I still can't believe it. I kept thinking somebody was going to tell her to stop or whisk the children away or, better yet, arrest that nightmare of a mother. It was disgusting. I'm disgusted that I didn't have the balls to say anything. In a crowded freaking grocery store filled with all kinds of people including at least one teacher and a number of hospital employees, nobody stood up for two small children getting physically abused by an adult.

I feel like every day that I'm down here my view of humanity is darker.

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Why should someone join the Mississippi Teacher Corps?

nobody@vox.com(Ryan Bolland) — Thu, 11 Dec 2008 06:26:50 -0800

My favorite emails in the world always greet me the same way:

"Ben Guest......Blog Topics"

Heavy sigh of frustration. Click on the email which reads:

Two posts, due by 8:00 AM Thursday, December 11th:

1) Why should someone join the Mississippi Teacher Corps?

2) Choose from one of the three following:
a) Photo essay describing your community
b) Describe one of your favorite students

c) Freewrite

So, I need to answer an unanswerable question in the middle of the week when I'm busiest. I've always thought the times I was most stressed out and frazzled were the best for thoughtful reflection. Which I guess leads me into my response to the first required topic. No, its not my answer, its my response. I don't have an answer. Knowing what I know now, I don't know why anyone would join MTC unless they had an intense desire to try (without any realization of success) to do some service. If you have that intense desire, then you must also meet the following conditions, as set forth by Dr. Mullins:

"You must be prepared for a challenge, be prepared to be rewarded in the utmost way, be prepared to be disappointed, be depressed, to be concerned, but also if you have a good heart, know your subject area, you are prepared to work really hard, if you can be flexible, if you will study and learn about the area of the state where you're going and the state of Mississippi itself."

If you can meet those expectations, then Dr. Mullins has a good job for you, and you should join the Mississippi Teacher Corps.

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This is weird

nobody@vox.com(Ryan Bolland) — Sun, 31 Aug 2008 14:23:40 -0700

I just drove up I-55 to run some errands and pick up some things to make sure we'd be alright if our power was out for a few days. One of the first cars I saw on the highway I noticed because it had a Guitar Hero controller visible in the back window. As I came up on and passed the SUV, I noticed that it had a Louisiana license plate, had been packed to the brim, and was transporting a middle aged woman and 3 small boys. At that moment I became a lot more emotionally affected by Hurricane Gustav. Cognitively, I know the effect a hurricane can have on a city or area. Aside from the general "wow, that is sad, I hope they're ok" feelings, I felt a much more real sense of sorrow and dread about the whole thing. I don't know where they were coming from, exactly, or how much danger their way of life really is, but they represent a huge mass of people that is currently fleeing their own homes to avoid what could be as devastating a storm as Hurricane Katrina. One woman and four small boys. They certainly left a lot of things behind, and may never recover them.

I drove on and passed a pickup truck that had a large lizard in a cage in the bed, along with many other belongings. At Wal-Mart, there were no bread on the shelves. None. there was one package of hamburger buns on bare shelving and tortillas in a whole aisle. The PA system alerted shoppers that a new shipment of water had just arrived and it would be located in the main aisle by the groceries. A few minutes later another announcement came telling us that a new shipment of Sara Lee bread had just arrived and could be found on the bread aisle. The woman checking out in front of me was buying nothing but a cart stacked high with cases of bottled water. It had gone from very real to surreal. Today's episodes coupled with the fact that when I tried to get gas on Friday there was no regular gas at the BP station has made this a strange, sort of ominous Labor Day weekend.

I don't fear for my life or safety at all, but I'm also not really sure what to expect. I've been told that after Katrina the power was out in Jackson for 3 or 4 days and supplies were limited, but I think we're stocked up to handle that. I'm mostly just worried about branches falling and damaging our cars or house. Writing that makes me feel silly, considering there are a few hundred thousand people are currently worried about losing everything they own, save a carful of clothes and keepsakes.

Cliche to say, but it kind of puts things in perspective, as far as struggles with teaching goes.

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The Name Game

nobody@vox.com(Ryan Bolland) — Thu, 28 Aug 2008 20:33:27 -0700

Names that I have been called while I'm working:
Mr. Bolland
Man
Maaaaine
Bruh
Mr. Uh..uh...uh....
Mr. Boldin
Mr. Bolden
Mr. Bills (a 7th grade science teacher last year who was white and apparently resembles me)
Mr. Bollen
Mr. Ballin
Mr. Bollent
Coach
Coach [insert incorrect last name from above]
Mr. Ryyyyyan

Names that I answer to while I'm working:
Well, pretty much everything above except for Man, Maaaaaine, Mr. Uh...uh...uh.., Bills, or Bruh. Keep in mind, also, that the "Mister" is usually more phonetically written as "Mistuh" or another mispronunciation. Oh, and I can thank those who decide to put the teachers' first names on student schedules for the Mr. Ryyyyan variant.

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