The second book

Several years ago my sister-in-law highly recommended I read The Glass Castle by Jeanette Walls. I did and fully enjoyed it. In fact, I recommended it to many friends who also liked the book. I used the early pages in my 8th grade classroom as an example of how to write a "hook" to grab a reader's attention. In short, the book was worth my time in many ways.

Now that I am a Barnes and Noble "member" (what took me so long, I don't know), I receive emails on a weekly basis highlighting new books and events at the store. Today I learned that Jeannette Walls has another book. I wonder if it'll be as good as the first. Sometimes the second book lacks the shine and pure cleverness of the first.

First Day of School

I remember feeling excited about the first day of school. Both when I was a student and as a teacher the prospect of a new year and a new attitude made me feel hopeful. Today is Tyler's first day of school and while he is excited, I feel sad. I wish I had more time with him -- the summer passed far too quickly. I feel deflated because I am not experiencing a first day. I don't feel good about not teaching. I keep hoping I'll get a phone call from my old school asking me to come back because one of their teachers didn't show up or gave last minute notice. I don't really know what to do to feel better about the first day of school. Do I need to feel like this every year???

Books

I just finished reading The Eyre Affair by Jasper Fforde and loved it! It was recommended to me several years ago by one of my student's parents. I bought the book immediately, but it sat on the shelf for years. Lately I have come across the title on recommendation lists -- you know, if you like this book then you'll like this other book. Anyway, I finally got the hint and got reading.

Basically, it's a science fiction book for people who do not necessarily like science fiction. The main character, Thursday Next, works for LiteraTec a Special Ops organization in England. Her job in this book is to track down the person responsible for stealing original manuscripts and altering the outcome of the book. To enjoy this book one needs to allow a certain leap of faith. There is time travel, the ability to enter and become part of literature, and the ability of characters from books to enter our world. In short, it's fantastic! Go get a copy from the library and enjoy!

A Teacher Shortage?

Julia and I were talking the other day and she brought up some interesting points about teaching.

First, she has a friend whose sister is a part of Teach for America. She is supposed to have a job in the city this fall, but there are problems since a hiring freeze was put into place. (Only teachers in the system can get hired unless the position is in a charter school.) so, her friend's sister doesn't really know what is going on. Since Julia is also going into teaching, though from a traditional path, she wondered if Teach for America is good for anyone but itself.

Lately, Teach for America is hiring only students from Ivy league schools. I don't have a problem with well educated teachers, but what makes a social studies teacher from Princeton better than a social studies teacher from New Paltz? Furthermore, the students following the traditional path are being schooled in the subject matter as well as best practices for teaching students. They are training in schools. they are spending a portion of their time studying what makes kids tick. In essence, students who are studying to be teachers now, are following two majors: their subject matter and education. Teach for America is taking students from fine schools and throwing them into very difficult educational environments. How, exactly, does that help anyone?

I know I am bitter about being unemployed and not finding employment, but I feel that Teach for America would be better if it took teachers like myself and my friend Gretchen -- people who know at least the basics in teaching -- and put them in difficult educational environments.

I think that would better serve the students in the schools that underperform.

More importantly, I don't really see a teacher shortage. They claim there is a shortage in Special Education but they will not hire a teacher like me -- certified -- to teach in that environment because I don't hold the proper certification. If that's what's needed, how the hell can they justify other uncertified teachers? I already have the bulk of the study done; I need a little more. Isn't that a better offer for students in schools that are failing? Isn't experience in the classroom more valuable than a degree from Harvard?

If there is such a shortage in teaching, why don't all education students get certified in special education too? It's true there is a seeming shortage of math and science teachers, but when I attend career fairs, I talk to plenty of math and science teachers who cannot find a job.

Teach for America seems to be robbing jobs from well-qualified teachers in an effort to claim that education is getting a needed boost. I am not buying it.

Knitting Supplies

I have begun knitting a new pair of socks with fingering weight yarn. Since the yarn is skinnier, the needles must be thinner. I am using a size two double pointed needle for this project and it was quite difficult getting the whole thing started.

Using different needles -- this time made of metal -- requires some adjustment. Some needles, such as wooden needles, are less slippery with the yarn. It's more difficult to move the project on the needles as you knit, but there is less likelihood of losing stitches. The size two needles I am using are nice to knit with, but the project is moving more slowly because the stitches are smaller. Still, I am interested to see how the whole project works out. This pair of socks is going to be like socks one would wear with shoes. We'll see how it works.

This project also has me thinking about needles in general. The Additurbo needle is supposed to be the circular knitting needle. I am considering asking for a set for Christmas. Circular needles are versatile and really nice to work with if they're constructed well. Some people in my knitting class have additurbos and they swear by them. I did once purchase a cheap set of circular needles and where the needle meets the connecting wire I had trouble with the yarn getting caught instead of smoothly moving along. I have since gotten rid - at the thrift shop - of those needles.

I cannot believe how many needles and supplies there are for knitting. And it matters. I knit a washcloth with a size four needle though the yarn is made for size eight needles. It will be interesting to see how this washcloth washes in the machine. will it shrink to be the size of a coaster? Will it maintain its shape because I used smaller needles? Time will tell.

Who LIkes School?

I was a little surprised when my daughter told me that she didn't have fun at school this past year.  In fact, she indicated that she didn't like school.  Though I kept my mouth shut, I immediately wanted to suggest she go to a different school next year.  That is a really dumb idea.  Still, in the interest of keeping my kid happy, I thought it anyway.

As we talked yesterday, I felt bad that she was experiencing the same thing I did when I was in college.  I was okay there but did not really like it.  I always thought it was because I didn't belong there in the first place so I just didn't fit in (like a kid on a team who can't play).  Also, I had no help deciding what path I wanted to follow or what I wanted to do with my life.  Since I no longer lived where my friends did (divorced parents mess things up in so many ways), going home had no lure.  There was no one there for me anyway.  So, I just dealt with the hand I had.

Julia benefitted from my experience.  Or so I thought.  We did look at a variety of schools that offered the majors she wanted.  And, she really enjoyed being at school last year.  What changed?  What could I have done differently to avoid this?

The change is in having a boyfriend who does not attend the school where you go.  This is probably the reason I didn't want to stay at BU until graduation.  Another problem is that Julia's good friend had a boyfriend taking the friend away from the fun activities of  the year before.  There was nothing I could have done for her.  Personally, I am finding that difficult to swallow.

Kids have fun at school but they shouldn't have too much fun.  Julia is not sacrificing her school work for parties and that is as it should be.  Still, she needs to find fun.  She also needs to broaden the range of people with whom she spends all her time.  She has been with the same girls for two years.  Adding to that, she will be living with them next year.  I hope she finds others in her field of study to befriend.  In that way, perhaps the experience will be fun again.

I guess she'll be another one who doesn't look back on her school years with fondness.  How many really like school?

Schools Where Children Learn

Browsing my paperback book swap site, I saw a book titled Schools Where Children Learn.  I had to stop and consider what might be in that book.

To me, a school where students learn is one that is small enough so the students don't fall through the cracks.  At the Independent schools where I taught, I knew all the students and they knew me.  This enabled me to exchange a personal greeting or reprimand.  Students knew the teachers were watching them -- not in a creepy way, but in a way that indicated that they were safe and it would stay that way.  If I saw a student who should have been in class but was a known "floater" I would say something.  Although that did not always work, at least the students knew the adults had their best interests out front.

I also think a good school is one where people care about one another.  A school where kids feel safe being who they are -- even if they are totally nerdy and weird -- and recognized for their strengths is one where students can focus on the learning that goes on in the classroom.  Is it possible to create a school where popularity is no longer the most important thing?  I doubt it.  But students can learn better when the teacher set the stage for learning and expect all to grow as learners.  Sometimes teachers are guilty of allowing the squeaky wheel to get the grease.  What we need to do is call on the calm and quiet ones too.  Allow all to have equal time.

After the Brown v. Board of Ed. decision in 1954, much has occurred to appear that schools are equal.  but they're not.  I think we should all pay the taxes for schools as we do, but then divvy up the pot so all schools spend the same per student.  That way you can live in your own neighborhood but know that the schools your kids attend offer the same as those who live in more affluent communities. Imagine if poor schools could have access to state-of-the-art science labs and computer labs.  That could really make a difference for the poor children.  Poor schools need money for books.  If children arrive without the background in literacy that more rich students receive at home, it should be available to them at school.  This is not the case either.

I believe we need to spend more on poor districts but I won't argue that.  If we could just give the same to all that would certainly help.  Imagine if teachers got paid the same regardless of the district in which he/she taught.  We might be able to pull really dynamic teachers into those higher need schools.  Perhaps this would be the beginning of building schools where children learn.