1. We have great principals. The principal that hired me is sort of taking a sabbatical because of an illness. However, in my first year he completely supported me and gave me encouragement whenever I needed it. Otherwise, he left me alone. Our assisent principal took over this year. She backs me up in whatever decisions I make. She backs me up in my classroom discipline decisions. If I send a discipline referal in or just mention a problem with a student, it is my back she covers. She has even backed me up with parents.
2. My classroom has a window. Enough said.
3. My kids are respectful of adults, for the most part.
4. I live across the street from the school in the "teacher compound." My commute is 2 minutes.
5. My school enforces the "no pass, no play" policy. And I haven't had a coach yet ask me to change a grade for any athlete.
6. The administration asks for teacher input in everything. Sometimes, this gets a too much and I just want the administation to make a decision for me, but it is nice to be asked.
7. We do not have to "check out" office supplies. No one keep track of how much paper I am using.
8. We have access to technology, such as laptops and projectors. Every student has a school issued laptop which makes things like word processing and research very easy.
Sunday, October 28, 2007
No Work Done
This week went by incredibly fast.
Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday were filled with Romeo and Juliet and Lord of the Flies "fun." Since I did not have my lesson plans done on time again, I used class time to get the paperwork done. I am feeling horribly guilty about this. The students do not get my attention because I have so much paperwork to do.
First, I have to get all the grades in the computer gradebook. Administration is very worried that teachers are not getting grades in gradebook in a timely manner, because now some parents have internet access. I think administration is overly optimistic. I would rather the students had direct access, rather going through the parents.
Plus, I assign a lot of work. I don't grade all of it, but I feel I must at least look at it. This takes at least four hours.
Then, I have to get all the data together because that has to be reported into the lesson plans. I am very math challenged, so it takes me longer than the normal person. Don't get me wrong, I believe in collecting data on student performance. But in such detail!? I think any teacher worth their salt would calculate this automatically and incorporate it into lessons.
Then, the lovely lesson form has to be filled out. This is not the lesson plan format I learned in the school of education. So I have to fill out my own lesson plans so I have something to tell me what I am doing. Then I fill out the school's lesson plan form.
Unfortunately, I got sick on Thursday. I called for a sub. I tried to work on Friday, but I just couldn't make it. I will save you all the gory details. I firmly believe the greatest drug breakthrough of the last few years is Tylenol PM. So nothing got done in my classroom this week.
Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday were filled with Romeo and Juliet and Lord of the Flies "fun." Since I did not have my lesson plans done on time again, I used class time to get the paperwork done. I am feeling horribly guilty about this. The students do not get my attention because I have so much paperwork to do.
First, I have to get all the grades in the computer gradebook. Administration is very worried that teachers are not getting grades in gradebook in a timely manner, because now some parents have internet access. I think administration is overly optimistic. I would rather the students had direct access, rather going through the parents.
Plus, I assign a lot of work. I don't grade all of it, but I feel I must at least look at it. This takes at least four hours.
Then, I have to get all the data together because that has to be reported into the lesson plans. I am very math challenged, so it takes me longer than the normal person. Don't get me wrong, I believe in collecting data on student performance. But in such detail!? I think any teacher worth their salt would calculate this automatically and incorporate it into lessons.
Then, the lovely lesson form has to be filled out. This is not the lesson plan format I learned in the school of education. So I have to fill out my own lesson plans so I have something to tell me what I am doing. Then I fill out the school's lesson plan form.
Unfortunately, I got sick on Thursday. I called for a sub. I tried to work on Friday, but I just couldn't make it. I will save you all the gory details. I firmly believe the greatest drug breakthrough of the last few years is Tylenol PM. So nothing got done in my classroom this week.
Wednesday, October 17, 2007
Today Was Better
Today went better. I feel much better. I worked from 7am to 7pm though. However, I got my lesson plans that were due last Monday at 8am. And I had a student show up at 6pm for tutoring that I turned away because I just could not deal and wanted to go home. I feel bad about that, but she said she will come back tomorrow. Hopefully, at 4 not 6. But, my room is nice and ordered. And all the copies made for tomorrow. So I don't have to be in until 7:30.
Advanced placement is kicking my ass. I thought I could get by without the summer professional development in pre ap. Now, I wish I went. The senior AP teacher, thankfully, gave me some books to help me with literary analysis and cloze (close? I haven't got that far in reading it) reading. I was a history major and expected to teach history! How did I get into this? Thank God I read a lot!
The other problem I have is my sophomores. When they were freshmen in pre-AP I, they didn't have to do anything rigorous. I have been having them do about 1 short story a week and asking them to write a "real" paper every 2 weeks. The students think the class is too hard. If they did the work, and handed it in, it would be an easy grade. Not neccessarily an A, but I think representational of their ability. And I grade on improvement.
Science Goddess, I do think about your points about grading and I am in the process of working out a fair system. I want the kids to improve and I want to grade on that improvement. I see grading as a power I have. And I try not to use that power to browbeat the students. I am still working this out.
However, the Sophomores got progress reports for the first two weeks of the new six weeks. And a lot of kids are not passing. But it's because they refuse to do the littlest amount of homework or classwork. I give them time in class to do it and they waste the time. However, I cannot lower expectations. They are not performing at normal 9th grade levels, let alone 10th grade AP levels!!!
Yet, I soldier on, being the bad guy. Being the teacher that they think is mean and hard. However, when they earn an A, they will know they earned an A.
Advanced placement is kicking my ass. I thought I could get by without the summer professional development in pre ap. Now, I wish I went. The senior AP teacher, thankfully, gave me some books to help me with literary analysis and cloze (close? I haven't got that far in reading it) reading. I was a history major and expected to teach history! How did I get into this? Thank God I read a lot!
The other problem I have is my sophomores. When they were freshmen in pre-AP I, they didn't have to do anything rigorous. I have been having them do about 1 short story a week and asking them to write a "real" paper every 2 weeks. The students think the class is too hard. If they did the work, and handed it in, it would be an easy grade. Not neccessarily an A, but I think representational of their ability. And I grade on improvement.
Science Goddess, I do think about your points about grading and I am in the process of working out a fair system. I want the kids to improve and I want to grade on that improvement. I see grading as a power I have. And I try not to use that power to browbeat the students. I am still working this out.
However, the Sophomores got progress reports for the first two weeks of the new six weeks. And a lot of kids are not passing. But it's because they refuse to do the littlest amount of homework or classwork. I give them time in class to do it and they waste the time. However, I cannot lower expectations. They are not performing at normal 9th grade levels, let alone 10th grade AP levels!!!
Yet, I soldier on, being the bad guy. Being the teacher that they think is mean and hard. However, when they earn an A, they will know they earned an A.
Tuesday, October 16, 2007
I Feel Like I Have Been Poked With a Long Stick All Day
Like it says.
At my school, we are struggling with our AYP status. This mean longer teaching hours, longer involved lesson plans, new committees to join, "data day," etc, etc, etc.
For the students, our precarious AYP status means they have to be at school for an extra hour. Supposedly, to study for the state exam. Most teachers just give them free time.
I don't. They have homework in my classes. I believe in homework. I know some don't. But I figure the more they are involved in the skills of writing and reading, the more skills they will build. Therefore, I give them homework. And expect it done.
I also believe the students should be involved in classwork from the moment the bell rings until the moment it rings to go.
I also have high standards that the students must meet to pass the class. I don't feel they are all the high. I look at what other 10th grade English teachers all doing across the country and feel my students are so behind.
Needless to say, I do not think I am a popular teacher. I am seen as the teacher who gives too much work and does not give any slack. Ever.
I get results though.
Today, I think I felt it getting to me. It started in the faculty meeting this morning. I have missed the last two because...well, I forgot. I haven't been getting much sleep lately and I tend to sleep in and stay late. The principals announced that Thursday, all teachers will have to bring all "data" to their department team meetings.
"blink" with very bad words put in
I keep more data than other teachers. I share it with the students. However, it runs what I teach and no one else really cares (especially the students.) I am smart enough to read my data on my own.
Plus they put in a graph showing how many teachers turned in lesson plans for that week. 44% Up from 30% the week before. And mine weren't in either.
Very bad words inserted here.
Those lesson plans take 2 hours per prep. I have three. Do I want to spend 2 hours grading, 1 hour putting grades in the computer and the other 6 hours writing the lesson plan on Sunday? I don't think so. So my lesson plans are not on time.
Can someone say pressure? Very bad words.
Then I have 2 young men in a class that feel it is necessary to disrupt my class every chance they get. Show off in front of the class. Disrupt the learning process. I told another young man to get a book for SSR. His own. From the library. And sit down. He said no. I said detention. He said no. Detention was served.
It is very ironic I am teaching The Lord of the Flies. I feel like I am living it.
In my 5th period, a girl asked my if we could have a party tomorrow. Yeah, right, with our AYP status.
Poke...Blink....Poke
Then I had one of the disruptive kids in my ninth period. I am tired and irritable. He is doing his little disruptive bit. I catch kids cheating. One a girl I like as a student a great deal. I am perturbed.
Then I catch a kid with headphones on without permission. I confiscate the computer and headphones. I find Halo on the computer. The game the students had set up with a character with the Principal's name to kill. And then I find out which student set up the character with the Principal's name to kill. One of my favorite students.
Very bad words...Poke...Poke...Blink....Very bad words...Poke...Poke......
Lovely.
At my school, we are struggling with our AYP status. This mean longer teaching hours, longer involved lesson plans, new committees to join, "data day," etc, etc, etc.
For the students, our precarious AYP status means they have to be at school for an extra hour. Supposedly, to study for the state exam. Most teachers just give them free time.
I don't. They have homework in my classes. I believe in homework. I know some don't. But I figure the more they are involved in the skills of writing and reading, the more skills they will build. Therefore, I give them homework. And expect it done.
I also believe the students should be involved in classwork from the moment the bell rings until the moment it rings to go.
I also have high standards that the students must meet to pass the class. I don't feel they are all the high. I look at what other 10th grade English teachers all doing across the country and feel my students are so behind.
Needless to say, I do not think I am a popular teacher. I am seen as the teacher who gives too much work and does not give any slack. Ever.
I get results though.
Today, I think I felt it getting to me. It started in the faculty meeting this morning. I have missed the last two because...well, I forgot. I haven't been getting much sleep lately and I tend to sleep in and stay late. The principals announced that Thursday, all teachers will have to bring all "data" to their department team meetings.
"blink" with very bad words put in
I keep more data than other teachers. I share it with the students. However, it runs what I teach and no one else really cares (especially the students.) I am smart enough to read my data on my own.
Plus they put in a graph showing how many teachers turned in lesson plans for that week. 44% Up from 30% the week before. And mine weren't in either.
Very bad words inserted here.
Those lesson plans take 2 hours per prep. I have three. Do I want to spend 2 hours grading, 1 hour putting grades in the computer and the other 6 hours writing the lesson plan on Sunday? I don't think so. So my lesson plans are not on time.
Can someone say pressure? Very bad words.
Then I have 2 young men in a class that feel it is necessary to disrupt my class every chance they get. Show off in front of the class. Disrupt the learning process. I told another young man to get a book for SSR. His own. From the library. And sit down. He said no. I said detention. He said no. Detention was served.
It is very ironic I am teaching The Lord of the Flies. I feel like I am living it.
In my 5th period, a girl asked my if we could have a party tomorrow. Yeah, right, with our AYP status.
Poke...Blink....Poke
Then I had one of the disruptive kids in my ninth period. I am tired and irritable. He is doing his little disruptive bit. I catch kids cheating. One a girl I like as a student a great deal. I am perturbed.
Then I catch a kid with headphones on without permission. I confiscate the computer and headphones. I find Halo on the computer. The game the students had set up with a character with the Principal's name to kill. And then I find out which student set up the character with the Principal's name to kill. One of my favorite students.
Very bad words...Poke...Poke...Blink....Very bad words...Poke...Poke......
Lovely.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
Posts
