tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-156581352024-03-23T10:59:24.122-07:00Junior High School Teacher Version 11.0I'm going into my 11th year at Unnamed Junior High School. No names of anyone will be used to protect the innocent(okay, to protect my ass). Let's see how honest I can be.rhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06980768449046443151noreply@blogger.comBlogger88125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15658135.post-26169372423142471602007-09-03T10:15:00.000-07:002007-09-03T10:20:16.392-07:00FrustrationSo, since I have two accounts on blogger, I can't seem to leave comments as <em><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">jhsteacher</span></em> on other blogger blogs. I've tried, but my other blogger name comes up, one that isn't anonymous. I started this blog so I could write about school and what goes on there without worrying about being found out, but I also like reading the other <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">edublogs</span> out there.<br /><br /><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">Hmmm</span>... just tried to leave a comment on Shrewdness of Apes (I knew a quote from the movie) but couldn't do it.<br /><br />Any suggestions would be welcome.rhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06980768449046443151noreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15658135.post-31548916610393742462007-08-31T19:28:00.000-07:002007-08-31T19:36:47.832-07:00A recordToday, whilst my darling new students in fifth period English were presenting their "<a href="http://www.studyguide.org/where_I">Where He's/She's From"</a> poems (ones they wrote about a classmate they interviewed), one of the students in the class was screwing around. I told <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">Stewie</span> (not his real name, of course) to knock it off, but he just kept making faces and shadow puppets with his hands instead of paying attention to the students at the front of the class.<br /><br />Then, as a boy was reading his rather good poem to the class, and everyone was listening, <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">Stewie</span> ripped off a fart that could be heard bouncing off the foothills behind our school.<br /><br />He then acted shocked that I would send him outside for a natural action such as his.<br /><br />And so, the referrals have begun.<br /><br /><br />Yeah, I know, I'll laugh about it later. But dang... if he's doing this five days into the school year, what's he going to get up to by Christmas?rhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06980768449046443151noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15658135.post-48989366603365873202007-08-20T07:05:00.000-07:002007-08-20T07:11:59.445-07:00Last Day of FreedomSo, tomorrow? Back to school.<br /><br />On the 21st of August? On the <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">frickin</span>' 21st of August? <br /><br />You have got to be kidding me.<br /><br />Remember when school started after Labor day? Well, we're having none of that any more.<br /><br />Of course, the weather's just heated up beyond comprehension. My classroom gets sun on two exposed walls, so that causes... um... parboiling to begin happening in the early afternoon. After a few days of it, it's unbearable. At home, we leave our windows open at night, so it can cool down the house; not at school. Of course we can't do that.<br /><br />So the heat-sink that are my classroom walls just grab hold of that solar energy and wait to release it on my students each day.<br /><br />A few years ago, I complained that the fan system (we have no AC) in my room wasn't working. Or that it was working, but only when I turned on the heat. That wasn't going to do. I brought in fans from home, but still, my room was in the low 90's for three days in a row.<br /><br />They finally came to address the problem. <br /><br />And removed the thermostat.<br /><br /><br />Yeah. That's how my district runs.<br /><br />I'm going to go take my dog to the beach.<br /><br />Happy new school year folks.rhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06980768449046443151noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15658135.post-26423898827709663212007-07-16T18:35:00.000-07:002007-07-16T18:41:31.603-07:00I missed a month!I don't even know the last time I checked in. I've been out of town for a few weeks now, and you know... I'm having a hard time keeping this updated, let alone checking in on everyone else's blog. What a lazy bum I've been.<br /><br />However, <a href="http://100farmers.blogspot.com/">100 Farmers </a>has tagged me (even though I'm two weeks late to the party), so it's easy for me to get back into the swing.<br /><br /><br /><strong>Eight Random Facts about Me:</strong><br /><br />1. Potatoes are my favorite food. What? Okay, probably it’s the cheese and butter and other artery clogging items put atop or in which they are fried, but still.<br /><br />2. In the first presidential election in which I was old enough to vote, I walked to my former elementary school with my mother and father and voted for Reagan. My politics have changed since then.<br /><br />3. I have many, many shades of eye shadow, lipstick and lip gloss, but rarely wear any of it.<br /><br />4. Cathy Brown hit me full-on in the mouth and chipped my front tooth at sixth grade camp. Good times.<br /><br />5. I don’t like anything but bodies, pajamas or books on my sheets. No food, and no street clothes.<br /><br />6. My toes are ridiculously short.<br /><br />7. I never chew gum (it hurts my jaw).<br /><br />8. Sappy romances or romantic comedies are still my favorite kind of movies.<br /><br />The rules are<br />1. Let others know who tagged you.<br />2. Players start with 8 random facts about themselves.<br />3. Those who are tagged should post these rules.<br />4. Players should tag 8 other people and notify them they have been tagged (<em>since I'm so late to this, everyone I could think of to tag already had been. So, if you are reading this and would like to do it yourself, consider this a blanket tag to all readers).</em>rhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06980768449046443151noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15658135.post-90021274415785626962007-05-26T12:44:00.000-07:002007-05-26T12:45:53.645-07:00So, at least once a monthI've got a post.<br /><br />Three weeks left and counting.<br /><br />I gave a test to my students yesterday. I told them they could earn 50 bonus points if they could think of three jobs in which it is acceptable to be late.<br /><br />Definitely made my point.rhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06980768449046443151noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15658135.post-68453801838624083032007-04-02T14:45:00.000-07:002007-04-02T15:03:41.770-07:00Well...As anyone who has checked in the last month, I've not written.<br /><br />Am I going to keep this blog or not? That's the question. I don't know. <br /><br />See, I started this blog to have a safe place to say what I needed to, without anyone knowing who I was. Teachers are not safe. I actually do have a regular blog, one with my picture, and one which any student who really wanted to, could find. I avoid speaking of school over there.<br /><br />So, this blog. <br /><br />At first, it was wonderful. A whole bunch of teachers were just like me, needing a place to talk or rant or recount the day. <br /><br />Now, my life's become crazy busy. As I mentioned a month ago, a friend's cancer, my sister's new baby (I'm now an Aunt!), the extra class I'm teaching this year (so no prep period), and my Fulbright application have taken all my time and energy.<br /><br />Oh yeah, about the Fulbright? I got my exchange packet 10 days ago.<br /><br />I applied to the UK.<br /><br />My exchange is in Hungary.<br /><br />I'm not going.<br /><br />My administration won't approve it because my exchange partner can't teach the same English classes I teach. Of course, it's more detailed than that, but basically, she majored in Theology and American Studies, and they want a degree in English, minimum.<br /><br />So poo.<br /><br />I will apply again next year, and make sure this time NOT to mark that little box "yes" that asks, "Would you be willing to consider other countries than the ones you have indicated?"<br /><br />She's going to be let down too. I feel rotten, but I also question the Fulbright administrators. There is a lot of <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">hoo</span> ha about how they work so hard to make a good match, and yet nothing about this woman and I seem to be a good match.<br /><br />She teaches at a very orthodox Catholic boarding school and I don't even go to church. Some of what she teaches is religion (not something I'd be able to do... I can just see it now..."well, what do you think? You know, the bible was written by men, and men make mistakes right? Don't think your religion is more important than someone <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">else's</span>..."<br /><br />Yeah, wouldn't go over too well.<br /><br />Plus, she has a husband and three kids, which means I'd have to give up my apartment, find them a place that would be willing to rent to them for only a year, and then find another apartment for myself when I return (since I don't need a place big enough for a family of five). I'd also have to help with the rent, since she makes significantly less than I do, and with the Fulbright, we'd both be collecting our salaries from our respective schools, not the host school.<br /><br />Rent in my town? I checked yesterday. 3-bedroom apartments are between $2200 and $3000. So, I don't know, if even with my help, they could afford it here.<br /><br />All of her extra-curricular activities have to do with her church and religion, and even today, although Easter vacation has officially started for them, the teachers are together for a "spiritual retreat."<br /><br />No. I'm not going.<br /><br />But still. It feels crummy to know I'm going to let her down.rhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06980768449046443151noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15658135.post-73380682721904631542007-02-04T18:41:00.000-08:002007-02-04T18:52:23.587-08:00Anne Frank, Socratic Seminars and an ObservationAs a tenured teacher, I'm observed every other year. I've always had good reviews, but I still get nervous. I always feel like I'm going to get found out. About what, I don't know, but the nerves shake me up.<br /><br />It doesn't help that Ms. Vice Principal who is observing me this year has a reputation for ripping new assholes for people. I've not heard of a single good observation review by her, ever.<br /><br />That doesn't make me feel too comfortable. She and I are okay with each other, but have a hard time communicating. We just don't... you know... mesh. I don't get her, she doesn't get me.<br /><br />She comes from an elementary background and refers back to it quite often. I don't believe she's gotten the hang just yet of developing junior high curriculum. Or discipline. <br /><br />I like to take care of my own problems, know what I mean? I don't send kids to the office unless they've come to blows, and I don't write referrals unless it's the last option. Mr. Principal and Mr. Vice Principal both know this, and respect this fact. If I do send a kid up, it's serious.<br /><br />Ms. Principal doesn't quite get it. She will have a "talk" with a boy who has thrown a lemon at a girl's head in the middle of my class. She will give one day of trash-pick-up (a lunchtime consequence; it comes before detention) for a student's seventh time of taking <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0" onclick="BLOG_clickHandler(this)">another's</span> pencil/backpack/eraser... you get it.<br /><br /><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1" onclick="BLOG_clickHandler(this)">Gah</span>.<br /><br />So, tonight, in the next few hours, I need to have the next two weeks of <em>The Diary of Anne Frank</em> planned out, set up the Socratic Seminar for the day of observation, write up a lesson plan (what the hell is that any more?) listing each California State English Standard I'm addressing, and how it will be measured for assessment, and oh yeah, finish grading about 30 essays.<br /><br />Eek.rhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06980768449046443151noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15658135.post-91497625677637631022007-01-29T20:22:00.002-08:002007-01-29T20:25:00.626-08:00Fulbright newsSo today? In the mail? A full month before expected?<br /><br />A <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">manila</span> envelope was waiting for me when I got home tonight. <br /><br />I have been recommended for an exchange if a match is found.<br /><br />Yahoo!<br /><br />Now, the wait for a match. As early as March and as late as early May will be when I find out.<br /><br />Oh, the highs and lows.<br /><br /><br /><br />I wonder if they have student teachers in Scotland?rhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06980768449046443151noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15658135.post-23422009411028291042007-01-28T11:46:00.000-08:002007-01-28T11:52:47.327-08:00new blogger stuffGosh, go away for a few weeks and... well, I am confused as all get out.<br /><br />See, I went over to Unaccountabletalk, went to make a comment, and couldn't as jhsteacher. Not even an anonymous comment was allowed. <br /><br />Then I come back here and see my photo and my personal info up here.<br /><br />NO!<br /><br />This is is the place where I can say whatever I want... not where I want folks to know who I am. Friggin' frackin' gosh darn it.<br /><br />So, new blogger/google whatever will not let me comment as jhsteacher, only as my primary blog name.<br /><br />Yes, I have two blogs. One is the personal one. One in which I rarely mention work, being that I keep the work/teaching stuff over here. I started this blog, so I'd have a safe place to say what I want to say, without worrying about who might read it.<br /><br />Now though, I don't know how to keep my two blogs separate. How do I keep my anonymity? How do I comment on another teaching blog without revealing who I am?<br /><br />I think I might need to return to my old Luddite ways. Then all of this angst would be moot.rhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06980768449046443151noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15658135.post-19835434677261989072007-01-26T22:15:00.000-08:002007-01-26T22:18:37.371-08:00Personal lifeYes, it's happened. My personal life took over for a while. I've been just keeping my head above water.<br /><br />Lots of life-changing stuff. A sister's baby, a friend's cancer, and more.<br /><br />How do those folks with kids handle it all?<br /><br />Beginning Anne Frank next week. It's always interesting to me to see what comes up in discussions.<br /><br />I'll try to keep you all updated. <br /><br />If there's anyone still left out there?rhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06980768449046443151noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15658135.post-1165898317116218212006-12-11T20:35:00.000-08:002006-12-11T20:39:45.496-08:00Singing the Doxology...... is what I'm doing now that my student teacher, moronic Mr. X, has left.<br /><br />I know, I know, it's sacrilegious, but it's how I feel.<br /><br />He just blew to hell in two weeks what took me the first 12 weeks of school to set up.<br /><br />Argh.<br /><br />Thank goodness break is in four days.rhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06980768449046443151noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15658135.post-1165117781426196362006-12-02T19:38:00.000-08:002006-12-02T19:49:41.446-08:00Well, it's doneI can't really say how it went, the interview I mean.<br /><br />Lots of research done by yours truly on the educational system in all four UK countries, went over again my essay as to why I wanted to be a Fulbright exchange teacher and they asked about... discipline. Yep. Kept throwing possible situations at me, such as "well, you could end up in the inner city, how would you handle a violent student?" and "What if you have students who are taught by their parents to be militant?"<br /><br />Weird questions, but I did my best. What I was really thinking was, "huh. Would I really be matched with someone teaching in a school so radically different from mine?"<br /><br />Then I was asked about my finances; if I had savings and if I realized that the UK was twice as expensive as the USA. Geez. I happen to live in a VERY expensive part of California, which happens to be an expensive state anyway. Were they saying that if a bag of rice cost two dollars here, it would cost four dollars there?<br /><br />And then, they asked me what I would do in a school situation where there were no books and no technology available. Again I thought, "Huh?" I know schools like this exist, both here and there, but wow... do the teachers that apply to the Fulbright program teach in schools like that?<br /><br />Perhaps I was naive, but I don't think that's it. The panel interview is run by former Fulbright teachers; at times it seems as if they were talking more about themselves, rather than interested in my answers to their questions.<br /><br />I did my best, and although I'm sure I'll mull over this for a while, there's nothing I can do now except wait.<br /><br />February feels a long way off right now.rhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06980768449046443151noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15658135.post-1164861965360634842006-11-29T20:31:00.000-08:002006-11-29T20:46:05.563-08:00A requestMy Fulbright Teacher Exchange interview is this Saturday! I've got to drive almost 150 miles to get there, and I'm a bit worried about finding the place, and making sure I get to the right room on time, but that's not my main concern.<br /><br />I've requested an exchange in the United Kingdom; my first choice being Scotland. Then, Wales, Ireland, and England. I picked these countries instead of something more... exotic, because I want to continue teaching English, rather than English as a second or foreign language. I want my students here to have the experience of a non-US English speaker in their classroom as well.<br /><br />Anyway, I've done a tiny bit of research on the educational systems in the UK, and know that Scotland differs from the other three, but that all have differences.<br /><br />Here's my request:<br />Do you have any information or links to websites about the educational system in these countries? How about personal experience?<br /><br />This is a chance of a lifetime, and I want to do everything I can to make it happen.<br /><br />Thanks for any help!rhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06980768449046443151noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15658135.post-1163655738395225102006-11-15T21:30:00.000-08:002006-11-15T21:42:18.406-08:00Ready to screamMr. X was teaching a lesson today. He was talking about appositives, and a student gave a faulty example. I waited, thinking Mr. X would correct it. Instead, he wrote it on the overhead as an example for the rest of the class.<br /><br />I waited until the students were writing, went up to him, and quietly, with my back to the class, pointed out that the example wasn't an appositive. He said it was. I pointed out that there were two adjectives, but no noun in the example. He said "Big-toothed" and "flabby" were nouns.<br /><br />What. The. Hell.<br /><br /><br />He was also being observed by his supervisor from the university (Thank god. I am so glad I'm not the only one seeing this). I know she talked to him about it, but don't know exactly what was said.<br /><br />When do you let a student teacher flail around and fall on his face, and when do you step in? And what do you do when you do step in, and that teacher refuses to acknowledge what you've said?<br /><br />I'm not talking about later. Alone with him, I made it clear that he's a guest in my classroom, and that he needs to listen to me when I advise him on his lessons with my students. No, I'm talking about right in the moment. What do you all do? Of course, if someone was learning heart surgery, we would step in if we saw a mistake happening. But this isn't heart surgery. I'm sure I've made my share of bloopers and mistakes.<br /><br />As I've said, he's very very young. I certainly would not want him teaching my son or daughter. Do I feel I have the knowledge to say he's not cut out to be a teacher? Perhaps. But that's not my call.<br /><br />What do you do? Where's the line with a student teacher?rhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06980768449046443151noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15658135.post-1163208955012443652006-11-10T17:06:00.000-08:002006-11-10T17:35:55.066-08:00Wants Vs. NeedsI want to be blogging more; really I do... I just have no time this year. It's my own fault, mostly.<br /><br />See, first I decided to take on an extra class; teach six classes instead of the normal five. Lots of extra money, but phew... I won't be doing this again soon. I have NO extra time at school. Meetings after school often keep me until after the office folks have gone home and locked up for the day. I can get into my classroom, but not the copy room to make, you know, copies.<br /><br />Then, we have the wonderful BTSA program. The latest meeting was yesterday from 4-7 pm. The day before a three-day weekend. Oh yes, just what I want to do to wind down before my three days... listen to someone read out loud the three double-sided papers I am totally capable of reading myself.<br /><br />And -- I know, I know, what was I thinking? -- I took on a student teacher for a 9-week placement. In our district the student teachers are placed in a high school for nine weeks, a junior high for nine weeks, and then do a "Full" take over of one class in either junior or senior high for the second semester.<br /><br />I thought, "gosh, if I get a good student teacher second semester, it will lighten my load a bit."<br /><br />I always think that, and I'm always wrong.<br /><br />Anyway, I took on the 9-week one, because it's the way to get in good with the local university teaching program.<br /><br />He's a child. A rather shy, helpless, child. I'm not talking just age here, although he's barely 22; I'm talking about his absolute lack of any authority at all.<br /><br />Here's what I think. Lots of kids come up in school doing well academically. They get their self-esteem from good grades. They get warm fuzzies from the teachers telling them they did a good job. On to college, and the same.<br /><br />Then graduation and ut oh... real life.<br /><br />Academics are comfortable and familiar and what they know... so... yeah, that's it... they think to themselves... I'll be a teacher!<br /><br />Somehow, they get into a program, and end up "practicing" in classrooms like mine.<br /><br />Mr. X (we'll call him). is nervous and scared of my little cream puffs. Says he's "lost" up there in front of them. He asks for quiet, doesn't get it, so ignores the chatting, whistles and donkey noises coming from the back of the room. He constantly is asking me what to do, I tell him about the classroom procedures, and he then says "I don't want to be super strict."<br /><br />Okay. I am not known for being strict. Actually, most teachers think I allow too much nonsense in my classes. But, the best compliment came from a student last year, regarding my management style:<br /><br />"You can have a lot of fun in Ms. JHSTeacher's class. Just don't be rude or disrespectful, and she's pretty cool."<br /><br />I nearly died of joy when I read that.<br /><br />Anyway, enough bragging. I'm trying to show though, that "super-strict" in my class doesn't exist. Even so, there are classroom guidelines, which the kids are pushing when Mr. X is up there, since they know he won't do anything.<br /><br />I'm getting very worried. He's supposed to do a full two-week takeover soon (so far he's been doing mini-lessons each week), and he has no classroom management, no lesson plans for me to look at, and no ideas of what he wants to teach.<br /><br />So, that's why I'm not been writing lately.<br /><br />And, I've changed my mind about a full takeover student teacher next semester; forget it. I don't have time for babysitting any more children this year.<br /><br /><br />(Please, if you are a student teacher reading this, I know you are fabulous, better than the regular classroom teacher. You know all the latest research, you know about collaborative learning groups and total body response, and well, far more than a teacher that's just been, oh, I don't know... teaching 150-180 students a day for years. Just remember, you are a beginner. You can do this, but not on your own. Keep your chins up, and know that experience actually does count for something.)rhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06980768449046443151noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15658135.post-1160244962699685322006-10-07T10:37:00.000-07:002006-10-08T07:36:19.520-07:00Is there ever a moment when we are actually doing enough?My school district has fallen in love with this <a href="http://www.district125.k12.il.us/docs/aboutaeshs.html">school</a>. We had a day long in-service during one of our so-called "work days" just before classes started up again. From 8:30 am to 3:00, we listened to the principal/superintendent of Adlai E. Stevenson High School tell us how his school was fabulous, and had great test scores and how everyone went to college after attending his school.<br /><br />It could have been inspiring, but instead, what could have been a two-hour revving up of our engines, ended up being a day that dragged on and on; one in which we couldn't leave, since we had to sign in and sign out for the day.<br /><br />It could have been inspiring, a way for all of us to feel as if we were a part of the decision-making process, but instead it was something else the district was telling us to do.<br /><br />Professional Learning Communities are a great idea, if they're implemented correctly. However, does the district think telling us we HAVE to buy in to this way of thinking, is going to be effective?<br /><br />An example: our English department is being told that we have to have common lesson plans, common assessments, common homework, common plans for the year. I'm surprised they haven't suggested common dress and hairstyles.<br /><br />I agree that we need to have curriculum in line with other teachers in our grade level, and vertical alignment as well. However, when I started at Unnamed Junior High School, I was handed a textbook, and a file cabinet full of former teachers' lessons and told to "go to it." We were on our own. We've all been on our own. We were expected to know how to develop lessons on our own, taking into account our different students' abilities. We were professionals, and we were up to the task.<br /><br />So, moving from that to perfect alignment is going to take some time. It will definitely take some extra time. Add to that the difference between teaching a GATE class and an at-level or below General class, and there's quite a bit of work involved. I believe it's valid work, and that we should not all be teaching in isolation. However, we are being given no extra time, and no extra pay to work together to make this alignment happen. None.<br /><br />This is where the frustration comes in. Our school has the highest AYP in our district. Every year we improve our score. Last year we jumped 16 points.<br /><br />But it's not good enough.<br /><br />Nope. We just had another presentation last week.<br /><br />"It is no longer acceptable to let a student choose to fail. It is your responsibility as a teacher to make sure that student learns. Yes, there are lots of excuses about family, living situation, poor attitudes, and second language learning; but they are just that: excuses."<br /><br />Then we were shown a video highlighting those kinds of teachers we see in Movies-of-the-Week. You know the kind, they come in early, stay late, give up their lunch breaks, go to the students' homes, work with the students one-on-one, in lovely spacious classrooms, and are always cheerful and full of hope. They have no meetings to attend, other than parent conferences, no papers to grade, no BTSA events for three hours in the afternoon, and of course, none share half a classroom with another teacher, due to lack of housing space.<br /><br />Instead of inspiring us, it pissed us off. Where are we supposed to get more time? How are we to get to those kids who refuse to complete their work, or come in at lunch for help, or show up at the special tutorial class developed for them? How are we to take responsibility for parents who won't take the time to check a reading log or that homework has been done, or even check that students have written down the assignments?<br /><br />We already do go the extra mile at our school. Teachers already are in their classrooms, without pay, in the mornings, at lunch and after school, helping students. And, most of our students do well. Very well.<br /><br />Where did the idea come from that students shouldn't be held accountable for their academic actions? That if they don't do their homework, we should give them more time? That if they don't do their reading, we read aloud to them? That if they get a poor mark on a test, it doesn't mean they didn't study, it means the teacher didn't facilitate their learning skillfully enough?<br /><br />Oh, and the approximately 8% COLA (Cost of Living Adjustment) sent by the state to our district? They have offered 1.5% of it to us this year.<br /><br />That is, if we agree to allow an increase in class size in our elementary schools.<br /><br />But work more! Harder! Better! You can never do well enough!<br /><br />If it wasn't for my wonderful students, I'd have made a beeline out of this profession long ago.rhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06980768449046443151noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15658135.post-1159586283439124802006-09-29T20:01:00.000-07:002006-09-29T20:18:03.463-07:00Little bits of Friday<ul><li>I'm still in love with all my students. I think it has something to do with the fact that I'm no longer teaching "Corrective Reading," a scripted-instruction reading program I headed for the past five year. It was really dragging me down. Could be a whole post in that.</li></ul><p></p><ul><li>I've been teaching an extra class this year, and finally made it to today, payday. My extra $900 was missing. Payroll is blaming personnel, personnel is blaming our principal, and I'm out of luck. Have to wait another entire month to get pay I've already earned.</li></ul><p></p><ul><li>Mid-quarter report cards arrived home today. They were sent out yesterday. I try to call home before the progress report gets there, but was late. I was on the phone today with at least eight parents.</li></ul><p></p><ul><li>Speaking of phone calls, what's the deal? I think out of the eight, only one person actually picked up the phone when it rang. All the others went to voice mail or machines. Then, four parents actually called me back within a few minutes. Which wouldn't be so bad, except I would be on the phone with another parent, so my voice mail would pick it up, then I'd have to retrieve it (which at my school is a circuitous, and time wasting route), only to get the darn voice mail again. Am I that out of it that I answer my phone?</li></ul><p></p><ul><li>The school board met last Tuesday, and approving my Fulbright Teacher Exchange application was not on the agenda. The approval must go in by the 16th of October or I'm finished before I started. The school board is only meeting one more time before that deadline.</li></ul><p></p><ul><li>Even though the students sent in a Scholastic order less than two weeks ago, I have another order ready to go... for over 400 dollars! Who are these kids with so much money? I've been teaching for ten years now, and have never had this large an order. Wow. Readers. I'm smiling. And I certainly don't mind the bonus points.</li></ul><p></p><ul><li>We're trying out the Holt On-Line testing this year. I'm the one going in first. Two days in a computer lab. So much can go wrong. We're scheduled for a week from Monday.</li></ul><p></p><ul><li>I'm not going to get much work done this weekend. Driving inland to where my sister lives for a family get together. It was 94 degrees there today. ugh.</li></ul><p></p><p></p>rhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06980768449046443151noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15658135.post-1159246695958348232006-09-25T21:32:00.000-07:002006-09-25T21:58:15.980-07:00Let the blaming beginWell, I finished the progress reports, and they've not even gone home yet, and I've been chastised.<br /><br />By the special Ed. department no less.<br /><br />Seems that my several ignored emails and face-to-face attempts to get a copy of student IEPs weren't enough to get the case manager's attention. I kept asking about accommodations for two particular students; to no avail.<br /><br />Until today.<br /><br />Both are flunking my class, in which they have been mainstreamed.<br /><br />One has completed one of 13 homework assignments; the other has flunked three quizzes and has not availed himself of the makeup opportunities I give at lunchtime and after school.<br /><br />So today I get a phone message from the irritated case manager, stating that I need to have better communication with her since she had no idea that boy # 1 was doing anything but fabulously in my class. She then came over and interrupted a meeting I had with another English teacher, and demanded I give her all the work from the past 4 weeks. She also suggested that my requirement that students read at least 10 pages a night of independent reading as part of their homework was excessive; could I change it to 5 pages?<br /><br />She's under pressure to make sure her students do well, I get that. She's the one the parents yell at first when they feel we aren't "supporting" the kids enough.<br /><br />However.<br /><br />I'm known at school as a mainstream teacher that does whatever she can to accommodate kids with special needs. I worked in Special Ed. for seven years, for goodness' sake. But, I can't do anything without information. In addition, I have 32 students per class, six times a day. Unless I know what that IEP or 504 accommodation plan says, I am at a loss.<br /><br />Cranky I am.rhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06980768449046443151noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15658135.post-1159119806492609382006-09-24T10:27:00.000-07:002006-09-24T10:43:26.523-07:00Progress reportsI can't believe that mid-quarter progress reports are already due. It's still September! Gah.<br /><br />Teaching an extra class this year hasn't been so hard...yet. I have the energy to keep up with it, although next week, when 150 essays come in, I might change my tune. I am trying to get out of school each day before dark, which is still possible (unless you count the smoke-filled air from the three-week-old Day Fire, as "dark"). Once the time changes, I'm going to be challenged.<br /><br />It's my tenth year. My tenth year spending my days with 12 and 13-year-olds. My tenth year of teaching grammar and spelling and literacy and composition and... you know the song.<br /><br />For the last five years, I taught Corrective Reading, a scripted, direct instruction program.<br /><br />This year, I'm not.<br /><br />And I'm happier now than I've been in a long time with my students. It's a little lovefest I tell you. At first, I thought it was just the honeymoon period. You know, everyone's on their best behavior and all? But we're going into week five, and I still love them. All of them. There's not one kid with a mean spirit in my classes.<br /><br />Oh, they aren't all perfect, no. Some have trouble paying attention, some do not listen, no matter how politely or repeatedly I ask them to take out a pencil or get their textbook, some have not earned a single bit of homework credit since school began.<br /><br />However. I <em>like </em>these kids. I look forward to being with them every day. Yeah, yeah, teachers are supposed to feel like that, but we don't. Not always.<br /><br />I teach general level and honors level of eighth grade English, and a seventh grade class of study skills. There's a range of kids I see. Some just don't get it, or are choosing not to "get it." There's more than a few who will be getting unpleasant progress reports next week.<br /><br />But still. I have hope for this year.<br /><br />Just wait though. After the progress reports go home, and I start getting phone calls from Jimmy's dad or Mary's mom; "Why didn't you notify me that my child wasn't turning in his/her work?"<br /><br />And I'll have to say that by sending the progress report home, I just did.<br /><br />Talk to me next week. We'll see if my joy continues.rhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06980768449046443151noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15658135.post-1158672423426503252006-09-19T06:26:00.000-07:002006-09-19T06:27:03.446-07:00I realize<a name="115867225317470325"></a><br />That to keep a good amount of readers of this blog, I need to post more than once every two weeks. Also to read and comment on other's blogs. Both of which I've not been doing.<br /><br />Too much to write about and not enough time.The six, instead of five, classes are not too difficult, it's just that I have no time it seems for planning, grading, copying, and talking to parents. That one little prep period of 49 minutes is definitely missed. I'm trying this year to go home by 5 pm every night, but it's not working too well for me just yet.<br /><br />And then, inspired by Ms. Frizzle, along with some others, I've begun the application for a Fulbright Teacher's Exchange. After school today I have an appointment with the head of personnel for our district, to discuss the "administrative approval" portion. The application won't even be considered if I don't have that.<br /><br />And yesterday? I spent a good hour just figuring out the stupid Scholastic book order. Wow. I've done them many times over the years, usually the kids order $50 -$75 worth of books as a whole. This year though? $337! I had to keep going through the order forms, checking and double checking that everything added up. I'm glad I can order on line now; it would've taken me even longer with the old paper form. Our class got 5000 bonus points though. Whoo wee.<br /><br />Only 25,000 more for a lap top.<br /><br />Hope all is well out there in edu-blogland.rhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06980768449046443151noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15658135.post-1157075259427245292006-08-31T18:32:00.000-07:002006-08-31T18:47:39.443-07:00Still undecided what to ask forI forgot about something.<br /><br />We no longer have any tech support at our school.<br /><br />For the last 9 years, "George" was our Keyboarding/study skills/ teach-an-extra-class-of-what's-needed guy, who also was paid to be our tech support one period a day. He did far more than one period a day. He got us set up with electronic grades (through two different grade programs) maintained the computer lab, and helped me when there was a power surge two years ago during Winter Break which fried all my electrical stuff (yep, including my computer, but he saved my hard drive somehow). When a student had trouble logging on, George would have the problem fixed by the end of the day.<br /><br />However.<br /><br />He left our lovely 'burb, because it's just too damn expensive here to try and raise a young family. His wife wanted to stay home, and she couldn't here. On a teacher's salary, there's no buying a house unless a rich relative dies.<br /><br />So he moved.<br /><br />Today, I realized how much we are going to miss him. The district has decided not to replace him, so we have no one now on site to take care of any problems.<br /><br />Like this. A mother emailed me Monday. I emailed her back, using my school email. I hit "send" and it went.<br /><br />I thought.<br /><br />Today I got a call from the mother asking about the email. That she had sent the email, but hadn't heard back. I went back into the stupid program, and spent an hour trying to figure out what the hell was going on. I sent what looked like several emails, which were not making it to their destination (my personal hotmail address). Oh, they'd show up as "sent mail" and "copies to self" on the school email account, but they weren't going anywhere. They may be still floating around the cyber equivalent to the dead letter office, for all I know.<br /><br />Never did figure it out. Made me see that getting a document camera, an LED projector, a new laptop is all pipe dreamland.<br /><br />There's no one to help set it up.<br /><br />I can't even take my kids to the computer lab, because there's no one there to help when a computer goes down, or won't connect to the internet, or a child can't log on to the student account.<br /><br />I'm supposed to take my little seventh grade study skills class in there once a week for keyboarding skills; but I can't. Not one seventh grader can sign on at all, because no one has put them into the system.<br /><br />Oh dear. This really sucketh.rhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06980768449046443151noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15658135.post-1156909747680765742006-08-29T20:29:00.000-07:002006-08-29T20:49:07.710-07:00Office SuppliesWhy do these give me such a thrill? I mean really, how many highlighters or file folders does one person need?<br /><br /><br />Staples online has a bunch of 69 cent items, plus those boxes of colored pencils for 25 cents each... and I had three of those ink coupons (turn in your used ink cartridges, and you get a coupon for three dollars for each of 'em), so I ended up spending about fifty cents.<br /><br />Oh year, I used my teacher reward ID number too, so I got free shipping.<br /><br />Maybe it's the deal that thrills me so.<br /><br />Here's a question for anyone reading. Let's say there was a special fund in your town for teachers. All the teacher has to do is write up a little bit (a paragraph mind you) about what it is he or she wants for the classroom, how it will help all students, and turn it in. They can be quite generous; I know of a few teachers who have received items worth around $1000. Anyway, what would you ask for?<br /><br />I'm really trying to think of something great. I have a computer(pretty old), a TV and a DVD/Video player. I have two rather old computers for my students to use as well. They work fine for word documents, and internet work, but won't do much other than that.<br /><br />I'm trying to think of what would be best to add to my room.<br /><br />1) a new computer, with CD burner. I found out just this summer,that since we have the site license for our textbook, we actually do have the right to rip CD's from the audio versions of our textbook. That means I could send a CD home with all those kids who need extra help with reading the stories. That's pretty cool. However, my Honors kids wouldn't really need something like that.<br /><br />2) a Document camera. These are pretty damn expensive, and the bulbs alone are a couple hundred bucks, but these are great for hands on work! If you don't know how they work, they are used like an overhead, but special transparencies and pens aren't needed. Instead you could take a student's writing, put it on the camera, and bingo, it's up on the screen for everyone to see while it's discussed. Students could even volunteer their rough drafts; the incentive would be that they'd get extra help on their writing.<br /><br />3) LED projector. Now, the problem with this is that I don't have a laptop, and it really needs one to operate. The students and I could both use it for powerpoint presentations, slideshows, and all kinds of other presentations.<br /><br />4) A new overhead projector. Mine is from 1989, and is temperamental at best. Right now I can't turn it off, so I have to plug it in and unplug it every time I use it. I think overhead projectors can be found for around $200, so there might be a different way to get a new one of these.<br /><br />Any other suggestions?<br /><br />Some of you might be jealous of my good luck with this situation, and others might be wondering why I have none of these technological items. If you have been reading this for a while, you know I teach in an affluent area.<br /><br />That's just it. We get absolutely no extra funding for our school. No Title I, no extras, no grants, Nada.<br /><br />Just last year I finally got white boards, instead of the decaying, messed up chalk boards installed in 1959. I'm not complaining, because I love where I live, and I'm happy to be at Unnamed Junior High School.<br /><br />I'm just giddy at the possibility of bringing some 21st century into my classroom.rhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06980768449046443151noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15658135.post-1156859407856807552006-08-29T06:39:00.000-07:002006-08-29T06:50:07.920-07:001 day down, 183 to go<a href="http://www.shoebuy.com/pi/wolve/wolve144727_78412_jb.jpg"><img style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://www.shoebuy.com/pi/wolve/wolve144727_78412_jb.jpg" border="0" /></a><br />Busy I will be this year. I've switched from 11o students last year (wonderful, lovely load0) to 186 students this year. Crazy I tell you, crazy.<br /><br />Five classes of eighth grade English, and an extra class of seventh graders in a study skills/tutorial class.<br /><br />My throat hurts from talking all day yesterday. I always forget how much talking is done the first few days.<br /><br />However, on a good note, this is the first first day of school that I didn't come home with sore feet. I think it's due to wearing my new and lovely Hush puppies.<br /><br />And now, I've just found out that they come in Gunmetal! Ooo... I must have the new color.<br /><br />I know, they look terribly high, but the front is high too, and they are like walking on clouds. I will never give up my dansko standbys, but for girly shoes, these beat all in the comfortable yet fashionable category.<br /><br />Time to get to work. Oh the simple joys of my life.rhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06980768449046443151noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15658135.post-1156393764155884542006-08-23T21:22:00.000-07:002006-08-23T21:29:24.170-07:00Has it really been a month?Sheesh.<br /><br />A whole month. I've been on vacation, and generally enjoying my last few days of freedom.<br /><br /><br />They are over now. The last two days have been spent in "training." Yet another way to teach writing so our test scores improve. We have a bloody API of 821... what more do they want?<br /><br />The students are back on Monday, I'm teaching an extra class this year, and I'm not ready.<br /><br />Migraine headaches, stomach aches and nausea have been my companions lately. It doesn't usually hit me this hard, but this year...<br /><br />I'm. Not. Ready.<br /><br /><br />And tomorrow? An all day, district wide "inservice." What the hell? Every school district does this silly nonsense. Right before school starts, we can't actually have those teacher "work days" to work. Can't be trusted.<br /><br />So, we all end up madly working on Saturday and Sunday, trying to get everything set. Rearranging the rooms after summer school classes have been held in them, trying to find out where seven desks ran off to, running to Kinko's to make copies with our own money because we can't get into the main office to use the copy machine.<br /><br />Welcome ba--aack.rhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06980768449046443151noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15658135.post-1153623891608018992006-07-22T19:51:00.000-07:002006-07-22T20:04:51.626-07:00The New Version is out!Being that I'm about to embark on my tenth year at Unnamed Junior High School, I thought it was time for an update.<br /><br />I've not exactly found my niche just yet here in the edublogosphere, but I'm getting there. I've been introduced to some wonderful teachers and have had several days brightened by the humor on other people's sites.<br /><br />We don't go back until the 22nd of August, which is still two weeks earlier than it used to be. What happened to summer lasting until Labor Day? Oi. It sure is hot enough right now. Weird muggy weather for Southern California. Awful in my little cottage with no cross ventilation and an 80-year-old landlady who for some reason only known to herself, will not allow me to buy a little air conditioner. And I pay for my gas and electric.<br /><br />Gawd. Who knows? I just worry about my little doggie boy becoming a little roasted doggie when I'm out. I mean, how many fans can I buy?<br /><br />At least it's better than the classroom getting hot. It gets up into the 90's on hot days. That's a ridiculous situation. I complained about it two years ago when my room never got below 84 degrees, and was close to 96 for five days. How did they address the problem?<br /><br />Removed the thermometer, of course.<br /><br />Tell me, those of you who are going back sooner than I, in warmer climes, how the heck do you teach when the kids are so sweaty that they slide off their plastic chairs? When you feel the perspiration drip all the way down the side of your torso and stop only when it hits your waistband? When the bright blue sky is only a window or doorway away, and yet out of your reach?<br /><br />Tell me Ms. Spellings, can you do something about the weather?<br /><br />Because this is one thing over which I have no control. Or are you going to blame me for that too?rhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06980768449046443151noreply@blogger.com7