Administrators play weird games with us
Questions: sometimes the answer is NO.
Two verses from a poem by James Clerk Maxwell.
10 hours ago
Saturday, October 10, 2009
Midterms
This week we were told we did not need to do a midterm, that it was optional.
We are, instead, supposed to do an assessment, at the halfway point, which will indicated what the students have learned up to that point.
Huh? Isn't that a midterm?
We are, instead, supposed to do an assessment, at the halfway point, which will indicated what the students have learned up to that point.
Huh? Isn't that a midterm?
Wednesday, October 7, 2009
professional development
I HAD THE BEST PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT EVER TODAY AND I AM SO STOKED!!!!!!
It was small, it was specific, I can see how I can use it. I had a chance to vent (as did the others) and then come together with solutions! The person in charge came by and we had a chance to talk with her about problems and solutions and long rage how-are-we-going-to-address-this.
It was like going to heaven for a couple of hours.
It is worth all of the years of crap I have endured!!
Wow!
And I do not care at all if I get credits toward recertification.
It was small, it was specific, I can see how I can use it. I had a chance to vent (as did the others) and then come together with solutions! The person in charge came by and we had a chance to talk with her about problems and solutions and long rage how-are-we-going-to-address-this.
It was like going to heaven for a couple of hours.
It is worth all of the years of crap I have endured!!
Wow!
And I do not care at all if I get credits toward recertification.
Tuesday, October 6, 2009
My creed. I hope you will share yours!
I believe in people. I believe people will grow up to - or down to - whatever you expect of them, so set the expectations high and let them rise to the occasion.
I believe in math and love that there is one answer and a myriad of ways to get there and to illustrate the problem - which, in a way, defines my faith as well.
I believe in education, because without education we are limited as to what we can know – and with education there is no limit.
I believe in freedom because freedom to chose, to believe, to dream is what makes life worth living and this is something worth defending and dying for.
I believe in responsibility because without responsibility freedom can be toxic.
I believe in my family and in that family that I have added during my life.
I believe in my country because there is not a better place to be in the world, even when we are messing up. Because we will set it right.
I believe in God and hope he believes in me.
I believe in math and love that there is one answer and a myriad of ways to get there and to illustrate the problem - which, in a way, defines my faith as well.
I believe in education, because without education we are limited as to what we can know – and with education there is no limit.
I believe in freedom because freedom to chose, to believe, to dream is what makes life worth living and this is something worth defending and dying for.
I believe in responsibility because without responsibility freedom can be toxic.
I believe in my family and in that family that I have added during my life.
I believe in my country because there is not a better place to be in the world, even when we are messing up. Because we will set it right.
I believe in God and hope he believes in me.
Sunday, October 4, 2009
What to do?
One student is really giving me grief: won't come to school (usually misses tests and quizzes), acting up in class, attitude, etc.
Tried to call the parent and found out she is in a group home.
This doesn't change that she needs the education = probably more than most, but I feel like a heel for expecting so much from her - and like a heel for even second guessing that.
Tried to call the parent and found out she is in a group home.
This doesn't change that she needs the education = probably more than most, but I feel like a heel for expecting so much from her - and like a heel for even second guessing that.
Saturday, October 3, 2009
What you'd love to tell parents some days
This is the actual answering machine message for the school: "Hello! You have reached the automated answering service of your school. In order to assist you in connecting the right staff member, please listen to all your options before making a selection:
To lie about why your child is absent - Press 1.
To make excuses for why your child did not do his work- Press 2.
To complain about what we do - Press 3.
To swear at staff members - Press 4.
To ask why you didn't get information that was already enclosed in your newsletter and several flyers mailed to you - Press 5.
If you want us to raise your child - Press 6."
If you want to reach out and touch, slap or hit someone - Press 7.
To request another teacher for the third time this year- Press 8.
To complain about bus transportation - Press 9.
To complain about school lunches - Press 0.
If you realize this is the real world and your child must be accountable and responsible for his/her own behavior, class work, homework, and that it's not the teachers' fault for your child's lack of effort: Hang up and have a nice day!
To hear this in a language other than English, move to a country that speaks it.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7C5Rnb7J3sU
To lie about why your child is absent - Press 1.
To make excuses for why your child did not do his work- Press 2.
To complain about what we do - Press 3.
To swear at staff members - Press 4.
To ask why you didn't get information that was already enclosed in your newsletter and several flyers mailed to you - Press 5.
If you want us to raise your child - Press 6."
If you want to reach out and touch, slap or hit someone - Press 7.
To request another teacher for the third time this year- Press 8.
To complain about bus transportation - Press 9.
To complain about school lunches - Press 0.
If you realize this is the real world and your child must be accountable and responsible for his/her own behavior, class work, homework, and that it's not the teachers' fault for your child's lack of effort: Hang up and have a nice day!
To hear this in a language other than English, move to a country that speaks it.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7C5Rnb7J3sU
Thursday, October 1, 2009
Freshman teacher
A student asked me today when Mr. Smith quit being a freshman teacher. He has always taught a freshman science course and this year they let him teach a senior course as well. I tried explaining that we are high school teachers and it depends on what they give us to teach what grades we end up teaching. This year I have all upper classmen. The last four years I had sophomores.
We are not like second or third grade teachers.
When I realized how much trouble I was having explaining this to a student I realized why Mr. Hulk considers me to be a remedial teacher. Duh, I teach remedial students ergo I must be a remedial teacher.
If he only knew how difficult it is to teach a concept to students when the concept is outside their realm of ability. Creating a scaffold to help them takes a lot more work than working with kids who have ability and motivation.
We are not like second or third grade teachers.
When I realized how much trouble I was having explaining this to a student I realized why Mr. Hulk considers me to be a remedial teacher. Duh, I teach remedial students ergo I must be a remedial teacher.
If he only knew how difficult it is to teach a concept to students when the concept is outside their realm of ability. Creating a scaffold to help them takes a lot more work than working with kids who have ability and motivation.
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