Today, I had a student put his head down on top of his books when I asked the class to open to the story we were reading.
"Sit up and open your book," I asked politely.
"No," he said casually and shrugged his shoulders. "I'm not reading today."
"Sit up! You can't sleep during this class, the ELA exam is in five weeks, and you won't get full credit on the classwork," I warned.
"I don't care," he responded.
This child will affect my "grade" for the year. What approach should I take from here? Let it go? Send him to the office? Call home?
What went through my head:
THIS CHILD IS GOING TO AFFECT MY GRADE!!!! Thank God everyone else is reading!
I can't physically lift the child's head from the desk and MAKE him read.
The last time I called home for something similar, I got accused by the parent (a parent who didn't even know what grade his child was in) of "picking on" their child, and he called the principal to inform him of this. Clearly, no support at home regarding this child's education.
The principal already knows this child has failed previous years, has been socially promoted, and is completely apathetic. Clearly, no support there either.
So, I ask you again... what do I do here? Do I let the child sleep and destroy his grade and mine?
Ahh, but there doesn't seem to be much of a choice for me is there?
Monday, February 27, 2012
Sunday, February 26, 2012
Boycotting the NY Post
I will never buy the NY Post again. I have, in the past, liked the Post because I have found that they take a conservative perspective. But, to defame 12,000 teachers?! Really? Last night, I was sick to my stomach over what they did in NYC to those teachers. I hurt for them.
The scores that were posted were just crude scores with very little meaning. However, the general public has little understanding of those scores, those tests, what it's actually like to be in the classroom.
One "responder" to the post article called teachers "parasites" and "drones". I'd like to see that person make an attempt to command the attention of 120 students, educate them (the way the state wants), find materials with hardly a budget, and try not to rip his/her hair out while talking to parents that could care less about the education of their child. It seems as though people view us as the Union OR as sipping an ice cold lemonade all summer long on the beach. They have NO idea what it's like September-June. The emotional roller-coaster you ride every single day trying to get a group of apathetic kids to WANT to succeed in life. Try. I dare you.
The scores that were posted were just crude scores with very little meaning. However, the general public has little understanding of those scores, those tests, what it's actually like to be in the classroom.
One "responder" to the post article called teachers "parasites" and "drones". I'd like to see that person make an attempt to command the attention of 120 students, educate them (the way the state wants), find materials with hardly a budget, and try not to rip his/her hair out while talking to parents that could care less about the education of their child. It seems as though people view us as the Union OR as sipping an ice cold lemonade all summer long on the beach. They have NO idea what it's like September-June. The emotional roller-coaster you ride every single day trying to get a group of apathetic kids to WANT to succeed in life. Try. I dare you.
Friday, February 24, 2012
Do you want a fry with that?
McEducation: Super-sizing our test scores...one kid at a time!
Next year, I will sift through the ELA standards (many of which are NOT actually tested on the ELA exams) and repeat/repeat/repeat the standards that are tested from September - April. Then, I'll quickly dabble through the rest with the remaining time. Test prep and more test prep and even more test prep until they LEARN how to take the test. They'll learn what the cryptic questions are really asking. How to write a 4 mark on an extended response/critical lens. How to focus through reading poorly written and unorganized passages, etc. I will impress those who grade me with, what I like to call, my "sexy edu speech." Will my students get to experience the beauty of art in language? Nope, sorry don't have time for that. Will they get to be creative? HA! Creativity! Society doesn't want creative individuals running around out there! What I will create, of course, is a smarter test taker. A student body who can offer the world of employment a real understanding of how to dissect a question. This is what they want right? After all, people are easier to control when they're stupid.
Next year, I will sift through the ELA standards (many of which are NOT actually tested on the ELA exams) and repeat/repeat/repeat the standards that are tested from September - April. Then, I'll quickly dabble through the rest with the remaining time. Test prep and more test prep and even more test prep until they LEARN how to take the test. They'll learn what the cryptic questions are really asking. How to write a 4 mark on an extended response/critical lens. How to focus through reading poorly written and unorganized passages, etc. I will impress those who grade me with, what I like to call, my "sexy edu speech." Will my students get to experience the beauty of art in language? Nope, sorry don't have time for that. Will they get to be creative? HA! Creativity! Society doesn't want creative individuals running around out there! What I will create, of course, is a smarter test taker. A student body who can offer the world of employment a real understanding of how to dissect a question. This is what they want right? After all, people are easier to control when they're stupid.
Will that kind of intensive test prep make me a good teacher? No, most certainly it will not. Will it make me "effective"? Ahhh, but that's all that matters isn't it?
If you haven't been here yet... Go or FAIL!
http://www.nybooks.com/blogs/nyrblog/2012/feb/21/no-student-left-untested
For You...
This blog is for all of us New York State educators who are sickened by the new educational policies coming down from Obama through Cuomo.
This is for all of us who do not want to see NYC teachers shamed and humiliated by publicly displaying their classroom evaluations, that were once promised to be kept private.
This is for all of us NYSUT members who feel like our union is a big FAIL.
This is for all of us good educators that would like to be treated as professionals--with the dignity and respect we deserve.
This is for all of us caring teachers who want to help children find their creative individuality instead of teaching to a flawed test.
This is for all of us late-night-graders who are starting to feel discouraged, demotivated, and like our career is turning into a beast we never saw coming.
This is for all of us who still feel powerful enough to make a difference.
Please stay-tuned for my journey and experiences wading through the new APPR for English Language Arts.
This is for all of us who do not want to see NYC teachers shamed and humiliated by publicly displaying their classroom evaluations, that were once promised to be kept private.
This is for all of us NYSUT members who feel like our union is a big FAIL.
This is for all of us good educators that would like to be treated as professionals--with the dignity and respect we deserve.
This is for all of us caring teachers who want to help children find their creative individuality instead of teaching to a flawed test.
This is for all of us late-night-graders who are starting to feel discouraged, demotivated, and like our career is turning into a beast we never saw coming.
This is for all of us who still feel powerful enough to make a difference.
Please stay-tuned for my journey and experiences wading through the new APPR for English Language Arts.
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