I’ve left this blog alone for quite some time. That’s because a lot has changed.
I’m not teaching to any seats anymore, cheap or otherwise. I was burned out, and more concerned about my own children than about the ones I was borrowing in school each day.
Speaking of my own children….
Matt and I made a new one. Juliana Rose was born October 1st. I was always so worried about having a girl…but it seems I’ve been waiting all my life for her. She’s glorious. Granted, she threw a wrench into the works in all sorts of ways, but it is the cutest wrench.
I’m working-albeit sporadically-as a PartyLite consultant. And as a moderator for CafeMom’s Tween forum board. It’s not much, but I feel rather productive. And I’m home with my princess. I can’t ask for more than that.
Ok so I finally joined the 21st century with one of these smartphone things… Droid Bionic in case you were wondering. Finally got around to testing out the WordPress app. Aaaaand here it is.
Pretty awesome if you ask me.
<3. Who wouldn't want to watch that?
…hm, that should be easier.
Had the conference with my principal. He basically said I’m doing too much of the work in the classroom. When I hear about politicians slamming teachers, they say it’s because they don’t do much of anything in the classroom. How can anyone win in a situation like that?
My supervisor is coming in tomorrow. I have a Pre-observation conference today and Post-observation conference Wednesday. Talk about efficient! But I did angle my lesson plans more towards the students doing the work- but not too much. It’s really hard to strike a balance. There are always too many people trying to put their “pair o’ pennies” in.
I am of the opinion that there needs to be a small staff of curriculum reviewers in every school district. Their only job is to make sure the lesson plans follow the curriculum and the teachers follow the lesson plans. If this was left to an independent group in the district instead of the administrators, they could get more input from the superintendent, who really should be the one leading such things, if s/he is doing the job. This would also allow for more observations, which can remove some of the “performance anxiety” of getting observed. So long as the job is getting done, some observations can be as little as 5 minutes.
There are flaws to my idea, I’m sure. But I still think it’s better than what we’ve got.
…I see challenge.
The administration is working very hard on “changing the culture” of the school. Perhaps that is what comes with a new administration. Besides, the culture is being changed for us (anti-bullying programs, drastic changes in evaluations and standardized tests), so it makes sense that the administration is trying to create sense and meaning for it.
But it seems like the students are challenging these attempts. Graffiti, in-class pranks, and general malaise.
Sophomore kids are sophomoric. They are taking everything personally, and I just have to impress upon them that this is how we are professionals.
My supervisor will be observing me next week. I look forward to hearing from him. And I have to find out what the writing on the wall is for the next couple years. If I can’t expect to continue teaching on a full- or part-time basis, there are some serious decisions to be made. I was taking for granted the fact that I landed this gig so relatively easily, but I am still on the lowest rung of the ladder. Just reminding myself that I am not to rest easy– and probably won’t for a while.
Hacking at the Education system from the bottom up is still hacking at the Education system.
ALEC calls teacher unions Nazis.
As state after state rewrites their education laws in line with the mandates from Race to the Top and the NCLB waiver process, the teaching profession is being redefined. Teachers will now pay the price – be declared successes or failures, depending on the rise or fall of their students’ test scores. Under NCLB it was schools that were declared failures. In states being granted waivers to NCLB, it is teachers who will be subjected to this ignominy. Of course we will still be required to label the bottom 5% of our schools as failures, but if the Department of Education has its way, soon every single teacher in the profession will be at risk for the label.
This revelation came to me as I read the Score Card on Education prepared by the American Legislative Exchange Council (ALEC)…
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I’m being a bad girl. I created this blog to talk about teaching, and most of what I have to show for it is cute crap my own children say. What’s worse is that I was inspired to blog that because of something a student said.
We were reading aloud a grammar exercise (subject/verb agreement). The previous student had read, “The vegetables in the stew (is, are) very tasty.” The next student was supposed to say, “The men on the ledge (is, are) going home early.”
Yup. I bet you do know where this is going.
He said, “The men on the ledge are very tasty.” He very quickly followed that with, “WHAAA??”
Once the laughter subsided, I informed him that what he said would be stuck in my head the rest of the day. This was a month ago, and I still remember it… and I still giggle uncontrollably.
So anyways– this is exam week. It gives me a chance to reflect on the past semester. I like what I’ve been doing, and I would like to think those who matter like it as well. But I don’t want to fall into a rut. We’re about to rock out with some Shakespeare, and I’m willing to bet I’m going to be more excited about it than I have been with the American Lit. But somebody has to be excited.
I’ve been toying with the idea of going back to get another Master’s degree, this time for Literature. I would really enjoy having more content knowledge. But then I also saw information about getting my National Board Certification. I can’t believe it’s taken me this long to find myself in a place where I would want more than what I have from a professional standpoint. So– that can’t be bad. We’ll see how it works out.
I made rice & beans with chicken wings for dinner. My oldest wasn’t thrilled with the chicken, but since he eats quite well most of the time it didn’t bother me. I did ask him if he was going to become a vegetarian. After a while, my husband said that he would actually have no objection to our kids having a vegetarian-leaning diet, but not vegan. We then explained to Oldest what vegan meant: no eggs, no cheese, no milk…
“…. or any other animal product.”
Oldest replied, “that’s just sad.”
I don’t much care how you feel about vegetarianism/veganism…. that was hilarious. “Out of the mouths of babes,” as they say.
Yesterday we had a birthday party for my “baby,” who is now 4. I made baked ziti, which was disgustingly popular. My brother-in-law came to me and said, “[middle child] just came up to me and said, ‘Hey [uncle], you won’t eat the baked ziti, because you don’t like tomatoes.'”
It might be the way he said it, but it was hilarious. All my boys (husband included) are very pleased when they know something for a fact. BIL made middle child out to sound very self-satisfied. I’m confident it was spot-on.
When we got to where we were holding the party, my “baby” looked out the car window and said, “I don’t see any familiar cars.” Mind you– HE’S FOUR. What a vocabulary!
After the party, my husband asked him if he liked his toys, to which he replied, “Yes– it could have been worse.” I can’t help but take responsibility for his snarkiness.
Today, I took the boys to the local public library so the oldest could go to book club. The other 2 were looking at a Thomas and Friends “look-and-find” book, the kind with little flaps to reveal pictures. Middle child “opened” a mailbag to show letters, and asked Youngest what the picture was.
Youngest replied, “e-mails.”
…. ah, the world of the digital native.
Mind you, Middle did correct him– “yeah–uh, regular mails, not e-mails. You’re close.” Which I must say was a nice way to do the correcting.
Education-related blog entry later– I promise.
I guess I should re-commit.
…aaaaaand now for other random thoughts.
- I’ve lost 2 pounds this week. It would probably be more if I work out.
- My “baby” turned 4 yesterday. He’s the most likely to be the person quoted in the “best thing I’ve heard all day” entries. He’s awesome– I lurve him.
- I was observed by my principal AND my superintendent the other day! Never in my life have I had the Superintendent come to see lil’ ol’ me. But we know each other, so it wasn’t particularly nerve-wracking.
- Exams next week. Mine aren’t until Thursday and Friday. I need to get ALL the grading done before then.
- It’s currently snowing. I have to get the boys out there, because I’m sure they’ll love it.
- I’ve got to clean the house while the boys are willing to watch TV.
OK– other than that… back to the drawing board! I have to keep my eyes open to education issues, and my ears open to cute/exciting/satisfying things to call “the best thing I’ve heard all day.”
teachingtothecheapseats 