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.