I think the students are getting just as antsy as I am with the winter break looming as closely as it does. Yes, they just had Thanksgiving, but that isn't as long a break as what the local school district is doing this year. Apparently, they are now creating 3 different schedules and having a public "vote" on which one the "public" would like to see go into effect. Reason I'm putting quotes around public is because I really don't think people have the say they think they do. Parents tend to run the school district anyway, so they choose the schedule that works best for their "needs", but that doesn't seem to stop them from pulling kids out in the middle of a term to go on a Vacation and then expect me, the teacher, to excuse them of the work they missed.
Let me tell a quick story.
I have a student, Shorty, who didn't pass last term (which ended in October). Apparently, he didn't show his parents the report card until recently because in storms Mama Shorty and starts demanding why I had failed her son last term. When I pulled up the results, I also looked at his attendance. We had 45 days last term. He was absent for 27 of them. Between him getting sick and having to stay home for 2 weeks (yet when I asked him when he finally came back to class how long he was actually sick for, he replied "Oh, a couple days. Then I didn't want to come back so my mom kept me at home.") to the family vacation for 3 weeks to NYC and London, he missed a lot. When I tried to explain to the mother about the fact that he needed to be in class in order to do the work and that he was welcome to come before the term ended to work on the missing work, she got even madder. "I excused his absences. That means the work is excused too," she told me (and then went on to blame me for the fact that she is thinking about home schooling them again). When I asked if they were home schooled before, she said that yes, they had been home schooled all Elementary and she wanted to try something different with middle but apparently we weren't willing to allow her to do what she had always done which is to take the family off whenever she wanted. Long story shorter, he is still failing this term and I just had Mama Shorty in my room this morning complaining that I am yet again failing her son and that he's been here, "Just like the Principal requires" the entire time. So I again told her that being here is half, doing the work and turning it in is the other half.
So this winter break can't come soon enough. Only 13 class days before it.
Yes, I'm already counting down.
Friday, November 30, 2012
Friday, October 26, 2012
Let the PTC begin. . . . . .
Okay, so it's 1:40 and the start of everything. I'm hoping to see a few students, but there are a few that I just don't want to deal with yet.
2:15: Wow, since I finished writing that last sentence I've had non-stop parents. That is a first. I usually don't have a line of people waiting for me, especially at this time of the afternoon, but as I look around, the room is pretty full, so I'm thinking that there are more parents here now. That makes me wonder on how the evening is going to be after the 5pm hour. So far I haven't had any of the parents that I really want to talk to stop by--which is a good and bad thing. Good because I haven't had to deal with them, bad because that means it's just getting later and later for me to deal with them.
3:03: scattering of parents for the past little bit. Talked to one of the parents that I needed to deal with. It went about as well as I expected. She blamed me for the fact that her son was failing and that it was my fault for him not learning and getting his stuff in. Also for the fact that he has multiple tardies in the class when she drops him off at 7:15 at the school. Yeah, that was interesting. She also stated that I needed to give him more time because he wasn't getting enough time to complete everything and when I told her that he goofs off in class and is rude, she said "well then you don't understand him, do you." Yeah, just one of those parents. 1 down, 6 more to see.
4:54: too much time is remaining. I've only had a few parents show up and I still haven't seen the other ones I really want to see. I've had another parent get mad at me for the fact that her son talks in my class and I "haven't done anything about it" but overall it's been a good experience. Mainly for the past hour I've been reading or playing games on the computer since all the work is updated on the grading software. It is quite entertaining to see a few of my colleges trying to grade things as parents come and ask why the grade is the way it is and for them to answer that it isn't and _______ is their current grade. Maybe I just know how to budget my time and actually don't leave until everything is graded and updated. Can't wait for 7:30 to come so I can go and get some errands done. Sometimes I wish that these would be done in our classrooms, that way I could have some background music going and I'm not shouting to be heard. My voice hurts.
For the remainder of the time I was actually able to read. I had maybe 5 parents come from 5pm to 7:30pm. Kind of nice distraction from the hectic start.
2:15: Wow, since I finished writing that last sentence I've had non-stop parents. That is a first. I usually don't have a line of people waiting for me, especially at this time of the afternoon, but as I look around, the room is pretty full, so I'm thinking that there are more parents here now. That makes me wonder on how the evening is going to be after the 5pm hour. So far I haven't had any of the parents that I really want to talk to stop by--which is a good and bad thing. Good because I haven't had to deal with them, bad because that means it's just getting later and later for me to deal with them.
3:03: scattering of parents for the past little bit. Talked to one of the parents that I needed to deal with. It went about as well as I expected. She blamed me for the fact that her son was failing and that it was my fault for him not learning and getting his stuff in. Also for the fact that he has multiple tardies in the class when she drops him off at 7:15 at the school. Yeah, that was interesting. She also stated that I needed to give him more time because he wasn't getting enough time to complete everything and when I told her that he goofs off in class and is rude, she said "well then you don't understand him, do you." Yeah, just one of those parents. 1 down, 6 more to see.
4:54: too much time is remaining. I've only had a few parents show up and I still haven't seen the other ones I really want to see. I've had another parent get mad at me for the fact that her son talks in my class and I "haven't done anything about it" but overall it's been a good experience. Mainly for the past hour I've been reading or playing games on the computer since all the work is updated on the grading software. It is quite entertaining to see a few of my colleges trying to grade things as parents come and ask why the grade is the way it is and for them to answer that it isn't and _______ is their current grade. Maybe I just know how to budget my time and actually don't leave until everything is graded and updated. Can't wait for 7:30 to come so I can go and get some errands done. Sometimes I wish that these would be done in our classrooms, that way I could have some background music going and I'm not shouting to be heard. My voice hurts.
For the remainder of the time I was actually able to read. I had maybe 5 parents come from 5pm to 7:30pm. Kind of nice distraction from the hectic start.
Tuesday, September 25, 2012
PTCs are coming!
RUN!!!!
That is seriously what my first instinct is when it comes to Parent-Teacher Conferences. I absolutely H*A*T*E* them. With. A. Passion. Yes, it is a necessary evil, but I still despise them. Here at the school, they have teachers spend the entire afternoon plus part of the evening (from 1-7:30pm) having to sit and wait for parents--most of whom you don't need to talk with--come and "talk". Most of the time, it is more about what "I" am doing wrong as a teacher since their student can't do anything wrong in their eyes. I have more students who have to have Court appointed (yes, as in legal Court) grades monitoring otherwise back to Detention Lock-Up for them so I'm thinking that'll I'll be seeing a few of those people around.
The one thing that I don't like is the fact that we don't get a break during that long stretch. No scheduled break. If you need to use the restroom or need to get up and walk around, you've got to find a time that you don't have a bunch of people waiting and sneak off. And then you can only be gone for a few minutes and have to leave a sign stating when you are coming back. Yeah. It's like that.
We also have a new vice-principal here at the school. . . that is not someone I want to work with. I guess I was spoiled with having a fantastic Vice last year; one who actually cared about what the teachers thought and how they were doing and what could he do to better their situation with students/parents/anything really. This vice was sent to us from the high school--where they didn't want him anymore--and now we're stuck with him. I'm thinking that if enough of the faculty have evidence that he isn't supporting or doing his job, perhaps we can get him sent away next year? He just isn't helpful or wanting to be helpful. Reason I'm bringing this up is last year with PTCs, the Vice and the Principal went around with treats for each of the teachers, making sure that they were okay and if there were any problems that needed to be addressed. They also made sure that the teachers were taking a break when they needed to. I can't see that happening this year with the way this new guy is. We'll see on Thursday, but I can't see it.
Believe me, I'll be giving a play-by-play of what is going on with my PTCs. I'm not expecting too much since I don't give out extra credit for attending--yes, some teachers actually do that and now more and more parents are expecting that their student get extra credit for doing something that I think is required as a parent if you are going to stay on top of what your student is doing.
This could be interesting.
That is seriously what my first instinct is when it comes to Parent-Teacher Conferences. I absolutely H*A*T*E* them. With. A. Passion. Yes, it is a necessary evil, but I still despise them. Here at the school, they have teachers spend the entire afternoon plus part of the evening (from 1-7:30pm) having to sit and wait for parents--most of whom you don't need to talk with--come and "talk". Most of the time, it is more about what "I" am doing wrong as a teacher since their student can't do anything wrong in their eyes. I have more students who have to have Court appointed (yes, as in legal Court) grades monitoring otherwise back to Detention Lock-Up for them so I'm thinking that'll I'll be seeing a few of those people around.
The one thing that I don't like is the fact that we don't get a break during that long stretch. No scheduled break. If you need to use the restroom or need to get up and walk around, you've got to find a time that you don't have a bunch of people waiting and sneak off. And then you can only be gone for a few minutes and have to leave a sign stating when you are coming back. Yeah. It's like that.
We also have a new vice-principal here at the school. . . that is not someone I want to work with. I guess I was spoiled with having a fantastic Vice last year; one who actually cared about what the teachers thought and how they were doing and what could he do to better their situation with students/parents/anything really. This vice was sent to us from the high school--where they didn't want him anymore--and now we're stuck with him. I'm thinking that if enough of the faculty have evidence that he isn't supporting or doing his job, perhaps we can get him sent away next year? He just isn't helpful or wanting to be helpful. Reason I'm bringing this up is last year with PTCs, the Vice and the Principal went around with treats for each of the teachers, making sure that they were okay and if there were any problems that needed to be addressed. They also made sure that the teachers were taking a break when they needed to. I can't see that happening this year with the way this new guy is. We'll see on Thursday, but I can't see it.
Believe me, I'll be giving a play-by-play of what is going on with my PTCs. I'm not expecting too much since I don't give out extra credit for attending--yes, some teachers actually do that and now more and more parents are expecting that their student get extra credit for doing something that I think is required as a parent if you are going to stay on top of what your student is doing.
This could be interesting.
Thursday, September 13, 2012
"Do I have to put. . . "
That question has been popping up like crazy lately in my classes. "Do I have to put the clipart in?" "Do I have to format it like that?" "Do I have to print it in color?"
All those answers are in their directions. Yes, you do need to put the clipart in or you will lose points. Yes, you do need to format it like it says, otherwise you will lose points.
One thing I keep saying is "Do I have to grade it then if you aren't following directions?" and the look I get from some students are priceless.
I don't know why but my set of 8th graders this year are dumb. Yep, I said it. Dumb. They aren't following written directions, or verbal directions. They are asking these questions that I just don't know where they are getting them.
When it comes to typing, that is the worst. They stopped teaching keyboarding at the Elementary level a couple of years ago, and the kids are coming into class with little to no keyboarding skills and I need to start from scratch. And the state says that they need to be typing at least 30 wpm with 6 or less errors by the time they reach the 9th grade. I have 145 8th graders daily; only 10 of them know the keyboard well enough to type 30wpm. The rest have the bad habits of looking down or hunt-and-pecking. I do have these covers for the keyboard and they fight me tooth and nail to not have to use them. So I decided to make a challenge: if any student can beat my typing speed and accuracy with their hands covered, they don't have to use it anymore (and I type 102wpm with 3 errors usually). That got a few more students to actual start working on their typing, but for the most part, they are fighting. The 7th graders are even worse! I usually don't deal with 7th graders all that much except in my elective classes and I've had more 7th graders sign up for those 2 than ever before. So I'm dealing with more and more kids who don't know how to use the computer properly.
On the flip side, I do have a few students who are actually trying and continue to try and beat their bad habits. I've seen their scores go up and I am praising them like nothing other, but that isn't exactly helping the others. I'm at a loss as to what to do with that.
Other than that, the school year hasn't been all the bad so far. I haven't had to deal with too many parents who believe that their child is a genius when they aren't and I haven't had a parent come in mad at me that their student is failing and it's all my fault.
Let's hope it stays that way.
Thursday, August 23, 2012
Class starts yet again
Its been a while since I've had to experience the "first day of school" stuff and this year was interesting. Many of the faculty thought that I was just going to come in for last year and that the teacher that I was replacing was coming back. So when I showed up, many of them asked the same question: "wasn't it just a one year contract?" I am sick of that question. I got it when I was teaching at the high school and now that I'm teaching at the middle school level, I'm getting it again? Yeesh, can't I get a break?
But all in all I am happy to have a teaching job that at least I've had a year under my belt and I kind of know (more-or-less) what it is I'm doing. This year's group of 7th graders where. . . lets just put it at interesting. Most of the ones I dealt with were scared out of their wits about coming to a large school and having to make it to class on time and being graded (for the most part, they aren't graded any more in the elementary level). This is now their 3rd day of school and things aren't looking any better now that I'm dealing more with the 8th graders. Most of the people I've talked to have said that the first little bit, they still are thinking like 7th graders and they aren't ready for 8th. I say throw them in and make them swim. And that is what I'm doing. While other teachers are doing "getting to know you games" and "get to know your teacher" stuff, I started them straight into typing and software. They'll get to know each other as the semester goes on and there is very little I think they need to know about me in order for me to do my job.
My classes haven't changed all that much, and I'm taking more about the curriculum. They have changed immensely in size. Last year my classes averaged about 25 students. This year they are full and overflowing. I have 33 computers in my lab therefore you would think that I would only be able to take 33 students. For some odd reason the registrar thinks that I can work with 35, so I've had to speak with her. They have been going down as students are withdrawing from school or from the classes.
I do miss teaching the high schoolers, but middle school has it's ups and downs. For one thing, next semester--if everything goes through--I will have a basic TV Broadcasting class (because the school's announcements STINK!). The principal wants to try it out and see how things go.
But all in all I am happy to have a teaching job that at least I've had a year under my belt and I kind of know (more-or-less) what it is I'm doing. This year's group of 7th graders where. . . lets just put it at interesting. Most of the ones I dealt with were scared out of their wits about coming to a large school and having to make it to class on time and being graded (for the most part, they aren't graded any more in the elementary level). This is now their 3rd day of school and things aren't looking any better now that I'm dealing more with the 8th graders. Most of the people I've talked to have said that the first little bit, they still are thinking like 7th graders and they aren't ready for 8th. I say throw them in and make them swim. And that is what I'm doing. While other teachers are doing "getting to know you games" and "get to know your teacher" stuff, I started them straight into typing and software. They'll get to know each other as the semester goes on and there is very little I think they need to know about me in order for me to do my job.
My classes haven't changed all that much, and I'm taking more about the curriculum. They have changed immensely in size. Last year my classes averaged about 25 students. This year they are full and overflowing. I have 33 computers in my lab therefore you would think that I would only be able to take 33 students. For some odd reason the registrar thinks that I can work with 35, so I've had to speak with her. They have been going down as students are withdrawing from school or from the classes.
I do miss teaching the high schoolers, but middle school has it's ups and downs. For one thing, next semester--if everything goes through--I will have a basic TV Broadcasting class (because the school's announcements STINK!). The principal wants to try it out and see how things go.
Thursday, June 14, 2012
Teacher Summer Conferences
It has come again. The end of the year. It happened a few weeks ago, right at the end of the May. I was very happy that it was over. I somewhat survived. It was odd taking over for someone in the middle of the school year, but I was able to get through it.
Yeah, I somewhat survived.
Now it is time for the summer conferences (which I'm at one right now). I HATE multiple day things when there is nothing that really interests me. Yet I'm stuck here. It is day 3 and and I get to be with my film and broadcasting group and things that are a bit more specialized for what I'm interested in. Yes, I should probably be at the Business section, but while I have to teach that, I'm not interested in sitting through it. Luckily enough someone else from my department went to that, so I can just bum information off of them if I want it. I've got a few more conferences later this summer and I'll probably be just as bored at those as I have been the past couple days.
Yes, teachers need to take classes during the summer (or at least they should). I do because I need to continue to work on my endorsements. Interesting way to figure things out.
Yeah, I somewhat survived.
Now it is time for the summer conferences (which I'm at one right now). I HATE multiple day things when there is nothing that really interests me. Yet I'm stuck here. It is day 3 and and I get to be with my film and broadcasting group and things that are a bit more specialized for what I'm interested in. Yes, I should probably be at the Business section, but while I have to teach that, I'm not interested in sitting through it. Luckily enough someone else from my department went to that, so I can just bum information off of them if I want it. I've got a few more conferences later this summer and I'll probably be just as bored at those as I have been the past couple days.
Yes, teachers need to take classes during the summer (or at least they should). I do because I need to continue to work on my endorsements. Interesting way to figure things out.
Thursday, February 16, 2012
The dreaded PTC
Today is the day of the dreaded PTC or Parent-Teacher Conferences, so this post may seem fragmented as I write about situations that arise. One of the few days that as a teacher you don't look forward to. The parents that you really need to chat with don't come and then the parents that you don't need to chat with do come and you have nothing to say to them, but they sit there waiting, expecting you to say something else but you've got nothing else to say. Just an awkward situation.
As I'm sitting here, you can somewhat tell the differences in parenting by how the other kids are. Are the parents in control of things or do they let the students roam around free and without control? Are the kids wandering and looking for things to eat and get into? I have a bowl of M&Ms in my basket for me to snack on and I just had one little boy look at them and reach straight into them. This basket, mine you, is on the floor and practically under the table.
I haven't had that many parents show up yet, but I'm thinking that it will pick up as the night progresses. It is only 3:40 and it started at 1:30 and it goes until 7:30. Technically I don't get a break, so I'm taking things as they come. When I have some time, I try to get a drink, or walk around. My comfortable chair broke on the way down here, so I'm sitting on the hard plastic ones and I'm wondering how I'm going to work with this chair for the rest of the week? I let one of the janitors know (who happens to be a friend of mine), so we're trying to get things done as we're sitting here.
3:50. I spoke too soon. I just dealt with a difficult student and his father. I really don't like confrontation. I try not to let my emotions get the better of me in situations like that, but then after it is over, I am shaky and I can feel things beginning to bubble. Right now my hands are shaking. This particular student has a history of being very rude and disrespectful during class and not turning anything in. When I told the father all this, it seemed like he understood but wasn't too happy with him. I am not happy with the situation, but at least the father knows. The sister is another story. The sister is older and she tried to blame me for the fact that he isn't doing all the work. I really think it is more laziness than anything. At least that little bit is over.
4:40. Things are moving along. It hasn't been all that bad yet but I can see an increase in foot traffic around the room. I don't recognize a lot of them (which is good. means they won't be coming towards me) but it does mean that time may be moving slower than I originally thought.
5:00. You can tell the students who have good parents and also the respectful parents. I just chatted with a couple who wanted to know what they could do to help their son at home to propel him forward and support what I'm doing in class. Kind of brightened the mood a bit. They were supportive of what I have to do in class and asked if they could come help if needed. Nice for parents of a 7th grader. The boy is also respectful in class and asks questions and tries to figure things out and answer his own questions first before asking me what to do.
6:30. 1 more hour
And my brain is gone. I'll post my thoughts a bit later.
As I'm sitting here, you can somewhat tell the differences in parenting by how the other kids are. Are the parents in control of things or do they let the students roam around free and without control? Are the kids wandering and looking for things to eat and get into? I have a bowl of M&Ms in my basket for me to snack on and I just had one little boy look at them and reach straight into them. This basket, mine you, is on the floor and practically under the table.
I haven't had that many parents show up yet, but I'm thinking that it will pick up as the night progresses. It is only 3:40 and it started at 1:30 and it goes until 7:30. Technically I don't get a break, so I'm taking things as they come. When I have some time, I try to get a drink, or walk around. My comfortable chair broke on the way down here, so I'm sitting on the hard plastic ones and I'm wondering how I'm going to work with this chair for the rest of the week? I let one of the janitors know (who happens to be a friend of mine), so we're trying to get things done as we're sitting here.
3:50. I spoke too soon. I just dealt with a difficult student and his father. I really don't like confrontation. I try not to let my emotions get the better of me in situations like that, but then after it is over, I am shaky and I can feel things beginning to bubble. Right now my hands are shaking. This particular student has a history of being very rude and disrespectful during class and not turning anything in. When I told the father all this, it seemed like he understood but wasn't too happy with him. I am not happy with the situation, but at least the father knows. The sister is another story. The sister is older and she tried to blame me for the fact that he isn't doing all the work. I really think it is more laziness than anything. At least that little bit is over.
4:40. Things are moving along. It hasn't been all that bad yet but I can see an increase in foot traffic around the room. I don't recognize a lot of them (which is good. means they won't be coming towards me) but it does mean that time may be moving slower than I originally thought.
5:00. You can tell the students who have good parents and also the respectful parents. I just chatted with a couple who wanted to know what they could do to help their son at home to propel him forward and support what I'm doing in class. Kind of brightened the mood a bit. They were supportive of what I have to do in class and asked if they could come help if needed. Nice for parents of a 7th grader. The boy is also respectful in class and asks questions and tries to figure things out and answer his own questions first before asking me what to do.
6:30. 1 more hour
And my brain is gone. I'll post my thoughts a bit later.
Friday, February 10, 2012
"Caught Up"
Okay, I never understood the term "Caught Up" when it came to teaching. I always seem to be on top of things. I don't allow things to go ungraded. I don't think it is fair to the students. I don't leave the school until everything is graded and I use my prep time for that as well (isn't that what it is there for?). But lately, a few teachers have been complaining that they can't get "caught up" with all the work they need to do and it isn't fair that the students are constantly whining about it. Umm, isn't that why they turned in the work? To show you that they can do it and that they want some sort of grade for it?
When I was in school, it would drive me nuts when I turned in things and it wouldn't appear on my grade (after a day or two of course). I just wanted to know what I was getting and how things were going to progress and what I needed to work on. Now, I know that a few of my students get privileges based on their grades, so I try to make sure that the grades are updated daily.
But it is interesting to see the other side of things. I walked into another teacher's classroom to deliver something to her and she was playing solitaire on her computer with a huge stack of papers next to her. When I gave her back what I had borrowed I noticed that they were in her "to be graded" tray and when I asked (very politely I may add) why she wasn't grading them and putting them into the system while she had some time, she replied that it was on her deadline not the students that she should grade and put things in. And yes, she was one of the teachers complaining that she never had enough time to get caught up during the school day.
Interesting way to look at things.
When I was in school, it would drive me nuts when I turned in things and it wouldn't appear on my grade (after a day or two of course). I just wanted to know what I was getting and how things were going to progress and what I needed to work on. Now, I know that a few of my students get privileges based on their grades, so I try to make sure that the grades are updated daily.
But it is interesting to see the other side of things. I walked into another teacher's classroom to deliver something to her and she was playing solitaire on her computer with a huge stack of papers next to her. When I gave her back what I had borrowed I noticed that they were in her "to be graded" tray and when I asked (very politely I may add) why she wasn't grading them and putting them into the system while she had some time, she replied that it was on her deadline not the students that she should grade and put things in. And yes, she was one of the teachers complaining that she never had enough time to get caught up during the school day.
Interesting way to look at things.
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