I told you I cannnot keep up with these things

I had my first observation last week. I felt like my heart might explode before we started, but it actually went swimmingly. My observer had to get nit picky with me because she did not have enough to criticize about my teaching style. I actually earned a few excels on my score card. Not to shabby for a first go around.  That being said, I have to work on keeping up with the b.s. lessons plans. Why? Because I just figured out why they are so important. The formerly stupid and pointless lesson plans force me to focus from the very beginning on what I want my students to say when they get home and are sitting at the dinner table and their parent(s) ask them what they learned today. As I described my lesson to my observer, I was able to pick out what I hoped the students would answer, but I never bothered putting it in my actual plans. This could be the difference between me getting a job and me sitting at home waiting to sub. As was thrilled that my observer told me she had never been prouder of a student teachers ethics and how safe they made all of the students feel in the classroom. Without sounding like a big softie, I was bursting with pride and almost cried when she said that. Oaky, so for anyone that knows me, I am a big softie. Now just do not tell anyone that actually admitted it. I am still not a fan of including technology just for the sake of adding technology. I understand that giving students instant feedback is key, but having them play on the SmartBoard or their netbooks just for the sake of getting a three in my score column is not what I want to do in my lessons. I truly believe that students need to be broken from their teacher to their electronic devices. They are ridiculously dependent on their phones, computers, etc. In another twist, all of their devices are nicer than anything the teacher owns. Crazy stuff. On that note, I have to sound more like an old fart here. Chaperoned the middle school dance this weekend. Yikes. I recognized two songs and thought the music was loud enough to give me a brain bleed. I am so old. I had some fun as well. The kids all looked great. Nice to see that most of the guys can tie their own ties, and even bowties. I was disappointed that I only saw one boy open the door for his date and one other give a corsage to a girl. We need more gentlemen in this world not less. Where the heck are all of the romantics like me?