Many years ago when I first began my career as a teacher, I enjoyed what I did. Although my boss could be a pain, she was essentially a fair woman who worked to keep teachers doing their job while at the same time making sure that the students were growing. We did not have data to determine how best to move forward. We looked at the students; we generally knew who they were and we moved forward.
These days all that is gone.
I toil for hours doing lesson plans. (For the record, I had to hand my lesson plans in every Monday morning in my first job. NEVER did I have stress or the sickness at the pit of my stomach that I suffer now.)
I am supposed to use the data to help students. Students who know what they're doing but don't have the time to do the work correctly. For example, if I look at the summative data, it looks like my students don't know how to cite text evidence in literary work. However, when I look at the diagnostic test, what I see is that students don't have the attention span to finish the work assigned. So, I receive data that suggests that they cannot cite text evidence when in fact they did not even get to the question.
Tomorrow I have a meeting with my boss to plan the next year. While I have a pretty good handle on what I'm doing, I still feel nervous about having to meet with her. There is something wrong with this. Employees who arrive to work fully prepared to do their job shouldn't feel the level of stress that a mean boss can force upon them.
I guess what I'm saying is that my boss should be less of a tyrant and more of a leader.
Sunday, September 14, 2014
Friday, August 29, 2014
Small Victory
My first memory of "gardening" was when I was in 7th grade and I threw some morning glory seeds into the ground. To my surprise, they grew. I even needed to construct a trellis for them. My experience was that they were an easy thing to grow.
Needless to say, that was the last time morning glories were easy to grow. Living in the deer path and virtual nature preserve where I am has been quite peaceful and frustrating as a gardener. I can't even count the money I have spent on plants only to have them eaten by the wildlife. And it's not as though I plant things that deer love. Quite the contrary: I have limited my choices to plants deer generally don't eat. Ha! They've even nibbled daffodils!
So, I have a fenced garden now. All should grow, right?
Wrong!
What the deer don't eat, the ground hogs do (woodchuck? whatever).
This year I was determined to get some morning glories growing. Perhaps I was spurned on by the beauty of my clematis blooming or the fact that the hollyhock seeds from last year actually gave me blooming plants. In any event, I was not going to allow the critters to get me down. I wrapped deer netting around the trellis where the seeds were planted. And my efforts were rewarded:
This is what keeps a gardener's hopes alive. Small victories!
Needless to say, that was the last time morning glories were easy to grow. Living in the deer path and virtual nature preserve where I am has been quite peaceful and frustrating as a gardener. I can't even count the money I have spent on plants only to have them eaten by the wildlife. And it's not as though I plant things that deer love. Quite the contrary: I have limited my choices to plants deer generally don't eat. Ha! They've even nibbled daffodils!
So, I have a fenced garden now. All should grow, right?
Wrong!
What the deer don't eat, the ground hogs do (woodchuck? whatever).
This year I was determined to get some morning glories growing. Perhaps I was spurned on by the beauty of my clematis blooming or the fact that the hollyhock seeds from last year actually gave me blooming plants. In any event, I was not going to allow the critters to get me down. I wrapped deer netting around the trellis where the seeds were planted. And my efforts were rewarded:
This is what keeps a gardener's hopes alive. Small victories!
Wednesday, August 27, 2014
Communication
Days away from my return to work after a long vacation and I learn through the grapevine that there is a meeting at work tomorrow at 10 am.
So, if I did not ask a co-worker earlier in the week about being let in the building to set up my room, I doubt he'd have told me that this session is going on. When I called the school to confirm, I was told that I did not need to come because it is not part of my contract time, but I was obviously allowed to be there.
?????
WHY HAVE A MEETING IF NOT ALL THE PLAYERS ARE PRESENT?
Or, perhaps this is just a way to determine who is willing to be a part of the crap system that is in place?
My biggest complaint about where I work is that there is no communication. How could I expect my students to do the work if I were not able to communicate with them? Shouldn't the same be true of my boss??
So, what to do? Ignore the place because no one communicated with me or go in to hopefully get some information that would not otherwise be communicated.......
Good bye summer.
So, if I did not ask a co-worker earlier in the week about being let in the building to set up my room, I doubt he'd have told me that this session is going on. When I called the school to confirm, I was told that I did not need to come because it is not part of my contract time, but I was obviously allowed to be there.
?????
WHY HAVE A MEETING IF NOT ALL THE PLAYERS ARE PRESENT?
Or, perhaps this is just a way to determine who is willing to be a part of the crap system that is in place?
My biggest complaint about where I work is that there is no communication. How could I expect my students to do the work if I were not able to communicate with them? Shouldn't the same be true of my boss??
So, what to do? Ignore the place because no one communicated with me or go in to hopefully get some information that would not otherwise be communicated.......
Good bye summer.
Wednesday, August 20, 2014
The end (of summer) is near
Well, in less than two weeks it's back to school. Where has the summer gone??
And, what did I do?
There is still a mile long list of things I wanted to get done but didn't. Still, I feel rested and ready to return to the treadmill.
The biggest issue: I build my house 18 years ago and it looks it. Time for some updating: painting the interior, gutting the family room/ mud room in the basement, building a front porch and redoing the entry walk plus doing new front landscaping. Oh, I also want new flooring in the three bedrooms and in the bathroom and kitchen.
Lots to do.
But not impossible.
Today I made some baby steps. I left messages for two people for the painting. (I'm keeping it local if I can.)
Progress comes s-l-o-w-l-y at my house.
And, what did I do?
There is still a mile long list of things I wanted to get done but didn't. Still, I feel rested and ready to return to the treadmill.
The biggest issue: I build my house 18 years ago and it looks it. Time for some updating: painting the interior, gutting the family room/ mud room in the basement, building a front porch and redoing the entry walk plus doing new front landscaping. Oh, I also want new flooring in the three bedrooms and in the bathroom and kitchen.
Lots to do.
But not impossible.
Today I made some baby steps. I left messages for two people for the painting. (I'm keeping it local if I can.)
Progress comes s-l-o-w-l-y at my house.
Friday, July 11, 2014
Summer Break
Ahhh....summer vacation.
Now the other real work begins. I have the messiest basement you could imagine. And, although it'll take me until I return to school in September, I will work on this project.
First up, go through all the papers and books. Toss what I don't need; file away the other things. As a office supply junkie, I have TONS of office supplies. Pens. Pencils. Paper -- note pads, looseleaf and note books. I have a ton of folders -- and they're brand new!! Binders? Check - name the size I have it. Index cards. Highlighters. Well, you get the idea.
In six hours today, I was able to tackle a pair of bookshelves. And I am tired. And I have only made a baby dent in the disaster that is my basement.
Ugh. summer vacation.
Now the other real work begins. I have the messiest basement you could imagine. And, although it'll take me until I return to school in September, I will work on this project.
First up, go through all the papers and books. Toss what I don't need; file away the other things. As a office supply junkie, I have TONS of office supplies. Pens. Pencils. Paper -- note pads, looseleaf and note books. I have a ton of folders -- and they're brand new!! Binders? Check - name the size I have it. Index cards. Highlighters. Well, you get the idea.
In six hours today, I was able to tackle a pair of bookshelves. And I am tired. And I have only made a baby dent in the disaster that is my basement.
Ugh. summer vacation.
Sunday, May 4, 2014
Stop the negativity of testing
I had an epiphany this week as I was administering the Math tests to my 8th graders: the tests do nothing but make everyone feel inadequate. What good is that??
Principals feel inadequate because their schools don't perform well.
Teachers feel inadequate because their students don't perform well.
Students feel inadequate because they are given scores that in the real world are meaningless carry weight just the same.
If we must test, we need to find a better way to convey the results.
For example, wouldn't it be nice if the results came in and the first word on the report said, "Congratulations!" Then was followed with information about what gains were made? Wouldn't it be great if teachers also received information about where they did well and what areas they need to improve? Even better, wouldn't it be great if while that information was being relayed, a link for educational materials (free, of course) was provided to address those weak areas? Wouldn't it be great if principals stopped making everyone feel like crap when they don't, despite the high unlikelihood of doing so, score well?
These tests do nothing to further thinking and learning. They create a culture of cheating. Then, everyone is shocked to learn that cheating occurred. Ugh.
Better news please!
Principals feel inadequate because their schools don't perform well.
Teachers feel inadequate because their students don't perform well.
Students feel inadequate because they are given scores that in the real world are meaningless carry weight just the same.
If we must test, we need to find a better way to convey the results.
For example, wouldn't it be nice if the results came in and the first word on the report said, "Congratulations!" Then was followed with information about what gains were made? Wouldn't it be great if teachers also received information about where they did well and what areas they need to improve? Even better, wouldn't it be great if while that information was being relayed, a link for educational materials (free, of course) was provided to address those weak areas? Wouldn't it be great if principals stopped making everyone feel like crap when they don't, despite the high unlikelihood of doing so, score well?
These tests do nothing to further thinking and learning. They create a culture of cheating. Then, everyone is shocked to learn that cheating occurred. Ugh.
Better news please!
Wednesday, April 9, 2014
Teachers need supplies
I continue to grapple with the nonsense that is present at my school.
Lately I am growing increasingly frustrated with the lack of "stuff" my school gives me (or any teacher). We have been working diligently to create units which will then be reviewed by the Quality Review team. While the school hired a consultant to work with us, the teachers do not have any time to work on the units. Furthermore, we don't have much time to work with the consultant. Just this week the consultant told us that we needed to place these units in a binder and submit them to the administration. Who do you think will supply the binder???
In my own classroom, I have spent well over $300 on supplies and materials for students. Some things don't bother me too much as I can lock the paper and pencils away until I need them (my co-teacher provides nothing and takes everything). However, when it's a piece of equipment that I need not just for myself but for the other teachers who use my room too, I think the school should provide.
They don't.
I need a dongle for my mac to connect to the projector. Sorry, I was told, we gave each teacher two last year. (I wasn't there last year). Now I need a new serial cable--will the school give me one? No, but they say, don't worry, it's only about 20 bucks at Staples.
I am sick of shelling out money and getting nothing from the administration.
Lately I am growing increasingly frustrated with the lack of "stuff" my school gives me (or any teacher). We have been working diligently to create units which will then be reviewed by the Quality Review team. While the school hired a consultant to work with us, the teachers do not have any time to work on the units. Furthermore, we don't have much time to work with the consultant. Just this week the consultant told us that we needed to place these units in a binder and submit them to the administration. Who do you think will supply the binder???
In my own classroom, I have spent well over $300 on supplies and materials for students. Some things don't bother me too much as I can lock the paper and pencils away until I need them (my co-teacher provides nothing and takes everything). However, when it's a piece of equipment that I need not just for myself but for the other teachers who use my room too, I think the school should provide.
They don't.
I need a dongle for my mac to connect to the projector. Sorry, I was told, we gave each teacher two last year. (I wasn't there last year). Now I need a new serial cable--will the school give me one? No, but they say, don't worry, it's only about 20 bucks at Staples.
I am sick of shelling out money and getting nothing from the administration.
Wednesday, March 26, 2014
I have certainly been busy.
Public school teaching is rough, especially in Brooklyn.
I work in a school that spends no money on supplies. I literally have to buy all my paper. Even thug the testing pressure is on, the school would NOT purchase new cardboard partitions for my students even though the old ones are full of graffiti! (Boys like to draw pictures of their boy parts on them.) So, message received loud and clear: you don't matter.
Much else goes on there that is annoying.
First, it's a "do as I say, not as I do" school. For example, my boss tells me I talk too much to the students. Yet, when she holds a 25 minute pep rally, we're there for an hour -- guess who does all the talking?
Second, my boss claims my classroom timing is off. Yet, when the literacy coach enters the room, she instructs the kids the same way I do. Timing is VERY difficult to manage when you have students who are so academically challenged. They can barely get their pencils on the desk in a timely manner. If I hurry them along, all I get is attitude. So, yeah, my timing is off. But read what is listed under first again.
Third, I am told to read the morning announcements. However, in order for me to read them, I need to be invited to them by an administrator. When I ask the administrators to invite me in, they pass me to someone else to do it. Hmmm....you know what I think.
Finally (for today), we use programs at the school that do NOT work. It's obvious they don't work because if they did, I wouldn't have 7th grade students with a 1st grade reading ability. You want me to read the data but when I do, I cannot do anything with my findings.
Ugh...off to bed to rest up for another day of crazy.
Public school teaching is rough, especially in Brooklyn.
I work in a school that spends no money on supplies. I literally have to buy all my paper. Even thug the testing pressure is on, the school would NOT purchase new cardboard partitions for my students even though the old ones are full of graffiti! (Boys like to draw pictures of their boy parts on them.) So, message received loud and clear: you don't matter.
Much else goes on there that is annoying.
First, it's a "do as I say, not as I do" school. For example, my boss tells me I talk too much to the students. Yet, when she holds a 25 minute pep rally, we're there for an hour -- guess who does all the talking?
Second, my boss claims my classroom timing is off. Yet, when the literacy coach enters the room, she instructs the kids the same way I do. Timing is VERY difficult to manage when you have students who are so academically challenged. They can barely get their pencils on the desk in a timely manner. If I hurry them along, all I get is attitude. So, yeah, my timing is off. But read what is listed under first again.
Third, I am told to read the morning announcements. However, in order for me to read them, I need to be invited to them by an administrator. When I ask the administrators to invite me in, they pass me to someone else to do it. Hmmm....you know what I think.
Finally (for today), we use programs at the school that do NOT work. It's obvious they don't work because if they did, I wouldn't have 7th grade students with a 1st grade reading ability. You want me to read the data but when I do, I cannot do anything with my findings.
Ugh...off to bed to rest up for another day of crazy.
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