I'm writing this in Navy blue because I am bored with same old, same old.
I went to a tech workshop today. There was a lot of info about the new search engines for research papers, but not much that applies to Elementary school. Not much else to report. Later...
I would love to be positive about my job! What I mean is that whenever we get together, (in the lounge or in the grocery, or with a stranger on a bus)-we teachers always speak negatively about teaching. I am the world's worse about doing this. But, I notice that other people in other jobs may chat eagerly at parties or on the sidewalk. They are doing this or promoting that, and they are all up about it. Why are we so depressed? Why do we only feel needed and understood when we are griping together? I think about this a lot. It is as if we are all addicted to the frenzy, the wretched wreck of it all. "Who said this? Who is quitting? What are they making us do now?" If you say anything good-everyone looks at you like you've got to be kidding.I have a friend who used to be a teacher. Now, she is a message therapist. She always has exciting good news about her business. Her fellow message therapists show each other how to do a new technique and love showing off their ideas. There are smiles all around and nobody thinks that means they are not serious about their work. It means they like where they are and who they are and what they do. They are positive. Is it possible to be that way about teaching? I used to think that way. I want that back. I want to be proud of what I do and to know other teachers who are upbeat as well. Not sugar-coated naive positive, but realistic, experienced, working positive. That will be my goal this new school year. Who's with me?
Hey, Fellow teachers! Have you taken courses or even gotten a masters from an online university? Which ones are legit? What was your experience with them? Did your district recognize your college hours for a pay boost? Did you get a better position with your online degree?I am thinking about going that direction sometime in the future- but, I am wanting feedback from teachers who have had experience with this. I may even want to study something like business. Anyone out there study outside of education?Thanks, Samantha
The
local paper reported the scores (Using the
entire state's scores)as Happy Days are here again. (even though locally, we are now on the failure list as a district!But that wasn't mentioned. The local paper protects the locals from too much bad information about our district.) The
state newspaper reported our failing
local scores and compared them to the surrounding districts which faired better than we did. (The state newspaper doen't like our district, so they tell the truth if it makes us look bad.)So, now it is anybody's guess how all of this will be put to the teachers when we return. I suspect that we will all be chewed out daily as usual, because all of this has to be someone's fault. But, wait, there's more! This year we change the test format... so nobody will know what is going on. Except of course the newspapers.
On Monday I ran into the High School Principal. We had a great talk. He told me about a retiring teacher who had been in the same classroom for 38 years. The teacher feared that his lifetime of memorabillia would be trashed by the next teacher. The principal assured the retiree that everything would remain in place.(But, in truth, the principal will be retiring himself after this year- and THEN what will become of the classroom??)As we mused over the sense of ownership we teachers feel about a classroom and how difficult it is to leave that home, I thought about my own experience with classroom "ownership." I had taught Second Grade in the same classroom for 13 years. When I was reassigned to 5th Grade, I had to tear down all that I had worked so hard to create. I cried as I filled boxes and boxes of books, materials, posters, supplies, files, etc. Most everything went into storage because you can't use primary materials in the 5th Grade. I had no idea if I would ever be teaching in the lower grades again. We are totally at the mercy of administration for grade assingment.Now, two years later, I am going back to the Second Grade. I don't have the same feelings for the walls. I know now that they do not belong to me. No matter how cute those workstations are, no matter how many weekends I spend hanging posters and banners and curtains, I will always remember the pain of that move. I won't love a borrowed space that way again.-Because the illusion is broken, the dream is over.I won't be truly moving in again,- just moving.
I'm going back to the Primary this year after two years in the upper grades. This will be my 26th year in Elementary. Every year it is like starting all over again. But, it used to be just me that was getting in gear and remembering routines again. Now, it is the whole thing!! Everything is re-invented all over each year..This is the best, research shows, new texts. new regulations, new scheduling, new worries, blah, blah..and not word about the "best ways" that we are just putting in the trash each year. Do Not look over in the dumpster and make a comment or long for teacher's manuals gone by. Well, I can't wait to see the new stuff we'll get this year, or the wacky theories we'll be told to teach with. I think it would be somewhat easier to take, if the administrators would simply say, "We don't know if this method is better, but we would like for you to try it and give us your feedback." or "We know this law is impractical, but we have to try to implement this until it is changed." or "We appreciate the extra work you have done to make this work." or "We need to know if you know a better way..."