Bud The Teacher
The link above goes to a letter in which I find wholehearted agreement, both as a parent and as an educator.
Stop bribing the kids to take risks and do the hard things in life.... they are their own reward, and we are removing that from the next generation's worldview.
Tuesday, June 14, 2011
Wednesday, June 8, 2011
The summer...
Well, grades are in, and the room is closed up for the year...
I only had two failures; however, don't be terribly impressed. The vast majority of those who were failing dropped out before they could complete the course. The joys of teaching English II.
I am now attending summer grad classes. The current one is on the use of the local smartboards. This is well and good except that I move considerably faster than most in the class, and so have found myself doing everything from re-reading B. F. Skinner to reaquaint myself with the vocabulary of tacting and manding, to creating curriculum for next year.
It is all good; I've picked up a few tricks that hadn't occured to me, and am finding many things I will use later on in the year.
I only had two failures; however, don't be terribly impressed. The vast majority of those who were failing dropped out before they could complete the course. The joys of teaching English II.
I am now attending summer grad classes. The current one is on the use of the local smartboards. This is well and good except that I move considerably faster than most in the class, and so have found myself doing everything from re-reading B. F. Skinner to reaquaint myself with the vocabulary of tacting and manding, to creating curriculum for next year.
It is all good; I've picked up a few tricks that hadn't occured to me, and am finding many things I will use later on in the year.
Thursday, June 2, 2011
Final editions....
So here we are on the last day of finals; the last exam is to be given, and grades entered, and a host of end-of-the-year paperwork.
You would think it is time for a break, right? (Be quiet in the back with the snarky comments, experienced teachers in the back).
Not so much. Monday, the grad classes begin. At least it is something in technology, and not something that will prove totally useless...
On that final note, watching these students taking the final exam has proved to at least be entertaining. Before I can describe the scene, a short description of the final would prove very useful. We use a departmental final here, allowing for every student at a particular level to be assessed by the same standard. With that said, I've tailored every assessment we've done in this class to match the format, taught my students standardized tests as a genre so as t allow them to decode them, and even spent the last week specifically reviewing and reteaching material from across the semester to make sure that none of it was unfamiliar.
For some, you would be convinced that this was the first time they had seen this material, ever. One student in particular was repeatedly sighing, widening her eyes at every single question, and acting as if each and every one of them was a massive ordeal, a surprise attack upon their sensibilities the likes of which had never been seen before and would never be seen again.
This was for English II CP.
It is as it is. Grad classes and summer preparation here I come.
You would think it is time for a break, right? (Be quiet in the back with the snarky comments, experienced teachers in the back).
Not so much. Monday, the grad classes begin. At least it is something in technology, and not something that will prove totally useless...
On that final note, watching these students taking the final exam has proved to at least be entertaining. Before I can describe the scene, a short description of the final would prove very useful. We use a departmental final here, allowing for every student at a particular level to be assessed by the same standard. With that said, I've tailored every assessment we've done in this class to match the format, taught my students standardized tests as a genre so as t allow them to decode them, and even spent the last week specifically reviewing and reteaching material from across the semester to make sure that none of it was unfamiliar.
For some, you would be convinced that this was the first time they had seen this material, ever. One student in particular was repeatedly sighing, widening her eyes at every single question, and acting as if each and every one of them was a massive ordeal, a surprise attack upon their sensibilities the likes of which had never been seen before and would never be seen again.
This was for English II CP.
It is as it is. Grad classes and summer preparation here I come.
Wednesday, June 1, 2011
Sitting on the Dock of the Bay...
Welcome to the stupidest portion of the year.
Finals.
I have finished grading, packed the room, and am completely ready to leave for the day.
But, I need to be here, not because of any pressing need, or because I am not in a salaried position which is paid for the job, and not necessarily even because there is some waste of time pseudo-thought-out staff development "opportunity" that the school board, with its complete lack of professional experience as educators has decided that I need, but because the work day doesn't end until 4.
One day, someone will actually ask an educator what is needed to run a school.
One day, it will be left to front-line educators, who actually know what is necessary to keep their classrooms working, and what their students need to decide resource priorities.
But it seems it is not today.
So, here I sit... with nothing to do... at all.... *sigh*
Finals.
I have finished grading, packed the room, and am completely ready to leave for the day.
But, I need to be here, not because of any pressing need, or because I am not in a salaried position which is paid for the job, and not necessarily even because there is some waste of time pseudo-thought-out staff development "opportunity" that the school board, with its complete lack of professional experience as educators has decided that I need, but because the work day doesn't end until 4.
One day, someone will actually ask an educator what is needed to run a school.
One day, it will be left to front-line educators, who actually know what is necessary to keep their classrooms working, and what their students need to decide resource priorities.
But it seems it is not today.
So, here I sit... with nothing to do... at all.... *sigh*
Wednesday, May 25, 2011
Tuesday, May 10, 2011
Spelling and other nagging issues...
Okay, this is a simple vent.
I would think, having completed such a program myself recently, that one would have to be able to spell the word "easel." That is all.
I would think, having completed such a program myself recently, that one would have to be able to spell the word "easel." That is all.
Friday, May 6, 2011
Interesting events....
Last few weeks, in brief...
Parasites within the ladies bathroom
Tornadoes destroying portions of the environmental center
Three more random fights
Also students have actually been paying attention, we are getting in a second Shakespearean play (Hamlet), and might actually be ready for finals.
And I've been asked by the Senior Class to walk with them on class day; full regalia and everything...
Time is short as the semester ends, but things go well, all things considered...
Parasites within the ladies bathroom
Tornadoes destroying portions of the environmental center
Three more random fights
Also students have actually been paying attention, we are getting in a second Shakespearean play (Hamlet), and might actually be ready for finals.
And I've been asked by the Senior Class to walk with them on class day; full regalia and everything...
Time is short as the semester ends, but things go well, all things considered...
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