Here it is Thanksgiving weekend. I was really looking forward to this weekend and at first I thought that made me a bad teacher, looking for the extra days off. But then as I started talking to other school people, I found out that no, it doesnt make me a bad teacher, it in fact makes me a human teacher. I truly needed this break from my students.
Then I thought oh, wow, I will use my time wisely to organize my materials for the next few weeks. I spent some time in school on Wednesday cleaning, planning and organizing and can honestly say that I have done nothing school related except for a little online book shopping yesterday. It is Saturday night. There technically is still time but...
It sounds like I am slacker but I AM planned for Monday and half of Tuesday. Friday is our field trip which will be an all day affair. Even though I feel a slight twinge of guilt as I write this, I think that the break was greatly deserved and I will enjoy an evening of board games with my siblings and when I go to school on Monday, I will be refreshed, reenergized and ready to go!
That alone will make me a better teacher
Saturday, November 24, 2007
Wednesday, November 21, 2007
Invaders!
Invaders! So consider this advanced warning: this particular post is more rant than insightful words of wisdom. By the time my lunch period rolls around at 1110, I am wiped. I am physically and emotionally exhausted. I am ready and in need of a few minutes of down time. My students eat in my classroom so I am forced to either eat with them, leave the building, or retreat to the teacher's room on the second floor. Because eating with my students is not usually a reprieve at all, and because leaving the building generally causes me to spend unnecessary money, I usually go to the teachers room in search of sanctuary and a clean quiet place to eat with people I want to talk to. So given the importance and the need for me to have a quiet space in the middle of my day, I am genuinely annoyed when this space is taken over by invaders. These invaders are generally trying to sell me some useless product that I don't need. Even though I know I shouldn't' I respond hostilely towards these people.
Like the guy who wanted me to spend $30.00 a month for critical illness insurance. Hello. I can only get the money if I have a stroke, cancer or heart attack. And I survive for six months after the diagnosis. It works out to be a big ripoff. I mean it is 360 dollars per year. Do you realize what I could do with that money? Additionally, this company apparently did their market research as the vendor here was young attractive male eye candy. The perfect thing to send to an elementary school
Well, apparently, I could earn an online PhD or EdD degree and not be required to do any doctoral dissertation. At least so says the vendor from some online institution, the second of the recent invaders. The conversation went like this:
Her: So you need to earn your masters degree?
Me: No. Why do you assume that?
Her: well you are young and I thought that... well anyway have you considered pursuing your PhD or EdD
Me: Yes
Her: Well Jo-shmo online U is the place for you.
Me: No thank you, I am not interested
Her: I brought you desert.
Me: Well thanks, but I am still not interestedI then proceed to listen to her give a similar spiel to each of my four colleagues who walked through the door after me. And if that wasn't enough she felt that it was her duty to interrupt our conversations with little tidbits about how all our lives will be better if we all had PhDs. Hahah
Well little ms Mary kay lady, the third invader in less than two weeks time, seems to honestly believe that I only really need a tube of 30 dollar lipstick to make my life better. She basically told me that if I dont wear make up daily I am going to be in serious trouble with my skin in a few years from now. Hmm maybe that life insurance sounds better after all. ANyway and then there is the whole sanitary issue of doing facials in a room where other people are trying to eat.
Most of the invaders have retreated this week but I expect to see more of them in the weeks approaching Christmas
Invaders! So consider this advanced warning: this particular post is more rant than insightful words of wisdom. By the time my lunch period rolls around at 1110, I am wiped. I am physically and emotionally exhausted. I am ready and in need of a few minutes of down time. My students eat in my classroom so I am forced to either eat with them, leave the building, or retreat to the teacher's room on the second floor. Because eating with my students is not usually a reprieve at all, and because leaving the building generally causes me to spend unnecessary money, I usually go to the teachers room in search of sanctuary and a clean quiet place to eat with people I want to talk to. So given the importance and the need for me to have a quiet space in the middle of my day, I am genuinely annoyed when this space is taken over by invaders. These invaders are generally trying to sell me some useless product that I don't need. Even though I know I shouldn't' I respond hostilely towards these people.
Like the guy who wanted me to spend $30.00 a month for critical illness insurance. Hello. I can only get the money if I have a stroke, cancer or heart attack. And I survive for six months after the diagnosis. It works out to be a big ripoff. I mean it is 360 dollars per year. Do you realize what I could do with that money? Additionally, this company apparently did their market research as the vendor here was young attractive male eye candy. The perfect thing to send to an elementary school
Well, apparently, I could earn an online PhD or EdD degree and not be required to do any doctoral dissertation. At least so says the vendor from some online institution, the second of the recent invaders. The conversation went like this:
Her: So you need to earn your masters degree?
Me: No. Why do you assume that?
Her: well you are young and I thought that... well anyway have you considered pursuing your PhD or EdD
Me: Yes
Her: Well Jo-shmo online U is the place for you.
Me: No thank you, I am not interested
Her: I brought you desert.
Me: Well thanks, but I am still not interestedI then proceed to listen to her give a similar spiel to each of my four colleagues who walked through the door after me. And if that wasn't enough she felt that it was her duty to interrupt our conversations with little tidbits about how all our lives will be better if we all had PhDs. Hahah
Well little ms Mary kay lady, the third invader in less than two weeks time, seems to honestly believe that I only really need a tube of 30 dollar lipstick to make my life better. She basically told me that if I dont wear make up daily I am going to be in serious trouble with my skin in a few years from now. Hmm maybe that life insurance sounds better after all. ANyway and then there is the whole sanitary issue of doing facials in a room where other people are trying to eat.
Most of the invaders have retreated this week but I expect to see more of them in the weeks approaching Christmas
Sunday, November 4, 2007
Needing to learn more
Here I am in my second year of teaching in a public school setting. Everyone that I know said the first year is always difficult, but that you should generally stick it out because it gets better. yeah ok. In my second year thus far, i feel like I have struggled more in two months than I did all last year.
I am struggling still to resolve issues that were unresolved at the end of last year. This is partly because I have half of the same students and the same paraprofessional. While I do see a lot of progress with the students I had last year, I struggle with the same students, with certain behaviors that continue to escalate and with an overall lack of support. Lack of support and resources for my students, lack of professional respect and support for myself.
I am struggling more with the curriculum this year than I was last year. Maybe I am bored with it. And if I am bored with it, are my repeating students? Is that what is leading to some of the behavior problems?Maybe I can simply think outside the box a little more this year than I was able to do last year. It is so limiting and some of it is not at all appropriate for students from low income families or from urban areas. I feel strongly that there needs to be a concrete connection between the literature and the activities, but the writers of the curriculum apparently dont. Also the curriculum does not address the needs and goals of students with IEPs.
That leads to other questions. How to modify curriculum and yet at the same time include students with disabilities? How do I set up my groups so that all students are learning, growing, and getting individual needs met?
I still have so much more to learn and so many questions to get answered. I want to start a degree program next fall but I am unsure of what to study. Here are some options that I am considering: please let me know what you think
Masters in special education leading to professional licensure in severe disabilities
Masters in Curriculum and instruction ( hopefully so i can write my own )
Masters in special education administration
I am struggling still to resolve issues that were unresolved at the end of last year. This is partly because I have half of the same students and the same paraprofessional. While I do see a lot of progress with the students I had last year, I struggle with the same students, with certain behaviors that continue to escalate and with an overall lack of support. Lack of support and resources for my students, lack of professional respect and support for myself.
I am struggling more with the curriculum this year than I was last year. Maybe I am bored with it. And if I am bored with it, are my repeating students? Is that what is leading to some of the behavior problems?Maybe I can simply think outside the box a little more this year than I was able to do last year. It is so limiting and some of it is not at all appropriate for students from low income families or from urban areas. I feel strongly that there needs to be a concrete connection between the literature and the activities, but the writers of the curriculum apparently dont. Also the curriculum does not address the needs and goals of students with IEPs.
That leads to other questions. How to modify curriculum and yet at the same time include students with disabilities? How do I set up my groups so that all students are learning, growing, and getting individual needs met?
I still have so much more to learn and so many questions to get answered. I want to start a degree program next fall but I am unsure of what to study. Here are some options that I am considering: please let me know what you think
Masters in special education leading to professional licensure in severe disabilities
Masters in Curriculum and instruction ( hopefully so i can write my own )
Masters in special education administration
A holiday in October?
Teachers around the country might agree : we should have the day after Halloween off. H.alloween day is not nearly as bad as the day after. On the day of, the kids are excited and sometimes distracted. On the day after, they are still excited, distracted and now cranky, strung out on cheap nutrients ( candy), slightly more sleep deprived than usual. And if that wasnt enough, one of my students was celebrating a birthday.
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