My Messy Desk

This is my first year having a desk. Prior to this year, I only had a rectangle table, so no drawers!! This is only about 2/3rds of my desk and this is the end of the day, I think. This is actually about September, so currently my desk is MUCH messier. Between writing assessments, reading assessments, publishing for Young Authors, grading, and trying to make it to Winter Break.... I'm pooped.

My favorite organizing tool is a combination of things. I have 2 trays to the side of the pictures on my desk. In the top one I put anything that needs filing and file it once per week (er... that's the goal). In the bottom tray I put anything that needs graded along with my answer key. That way it is always in one spot.

My other fav organizing desk tool is the book end clear thingy (between my water bottle-- a must!!-- and the tissue box). I have a binder for spelling, a folder for absent students make-up work, and a few other things.

The 1,2,3 container next to the computer was Christmas gift from a student last year. In theory it's a good idea, but some of the bigger holes are not quite big enough for what I try to put in them. Suggestions?

This post was actually for Kindergarten's 3 R's post from back in September. Yes, I have had this picture on my camera since then....

Frustrated

It has been quite a while since I've written. It is the end of the quarter today and parent-teacher conferences begin next week. I'm pretty excited to be able to meet with 24 out of 25 families! (Hopefully I can work out a way to meet with the one last family!)

The flu and sick bugs have hit our school hard this week. One of the 1st grade teachers had 9 out on both Monday and Tuesday! The most I have had out was 5. I have 2 that will be out the rest of the week. I really hope they get better quickly.

What I'm most frustrated with is our school dynamic within the administration-teachers and the people in between. When I signed on to work at this charter school, my understanding was I would have more freedom to teach the way I wanted and teach in a fun way with the kids, but still so they understand and learn. Now I am finding out this was a lie.

One of our programs we use is SRA's Reading Mastery. We have used it the past 2 years and are continuing to use it this year. I teach Reading Mastery 3. This is considered a 2nd grade reading program, but the majority of students in my class are 3rd graders. I truly want this group to master the concepts I am teaching, so I am taking the time to make sure they are solid in the concepts and their fluency continues to build.

I have had frustrations in the past with RM, but overall have enjoyed teaching the programs. (I have taught RM 1, 2, and 3.) This year I am beyond frustrated.

We have a consultant who comes in and assists our reading coach about once a month or so. I am not the biggest fan of our coach, as most people are not.

Last week our coach came in to observe me for the first time this school year. This would be the week I was sick. I'm pretty sure I had a fever when she came in. Let's just say this wasn't the best day to observe me.

I can deal with that day. It wasn't too bad. The day I'm having trouble with is today.

The consultant came in today. Basically her evaluation of me said I didn't teach the program correctly. UGH!

Her points were the following (summarized):

I gave the students too much time to do their work. I need to continue on when the majority of the group is finished with their independent work. I am not to wait on every student.

I have to make sure I am playing the "Fact Game" with the students every 20 lessons. (In RM, students are given different 'rules' to learn and some of them are given in vocabulary sentences, such as "A dozen typists approached the stairs." and students memorize the sentence and I feed them the definition of the new words. And they basically repeat the words verbatem. It's very robotic. And boring.)

I also need to have the students mark something next to each number when they are grading their work. If they are correct, they put a check. If it is incorrect, they circle the number.

I also need to read the entire question when I am giving them the answer to continue to engage them and help them learn. (But yet I am supposed to move quickly through all these lessons because these are mostly 3rd graders and they are behind.)

I am extremely frustrated with the expectations given to me and my co-workers. Some of us are working super hard to benefit these kids, but others are just working to get the School of the Year Award.

Are we here to teach? Or are we here to win awards?

I am here to teach.

Back to School Night

Tonight was Back to School Night. Usually I freak out, am worried, stressed. Was only slightly stressed.

It went surprisingly well!

I had 16 families show up!! GO ME! Most everyone usually has less than 10; some have less than 5. Many reasons for this; the main ones, I believe, are because we are a charter school and because we are slightly inner-city (we pull mainly from in the city, but we have some from all over the city).

The families are all very supportive, so that really helps. I do seem to have a challenging class- talking, immaturity, listening ears broken.

This year, I am really simplifying stuff; I say "bottoms" and "pockets" instead of "butt" like previous years. Which totally weirds me out not to be saying butt. So, yeah. (Why am I writing about butts?)

2 funny comments from this crazy week. (We had a set of standardized tests-yuck!- Monday-Thursday with my class getting NO SPECIALS until FRIDAY. Can we say pooped?)

During my reading class a few days ago, we were talking about engines in planes and how engines are just like our brains; they run the plane. One of the ESL boys says (think of this in a high squeaky Spanish accent) "I didn't know we had engines in our brains!" Hee hee!!

Today, at the end of Back to School Night, I was talking to the Kindergarten aide, whose daughter I have in my class. (I think I will call this little girl Nemo. She makes me think of Finding Nemo!) Nemo had found a picture of me and a student I tutored a few years ago. This student had Celiacs and missed 45 days of 1st grade, so I tutored her in reading over the summer. I explained to Nemo that this student and I worked on her reading over the summer, and I was what you call a "tutor" and Nemo started giggling.
I was all, "What's so funny?"
Nemo says, "You said 'Tooter'!!!" hee hee hee
Me thinking for about 60 seconds.... "NEMO! Not that kind!" LMAO!!
Finally Nemo's mom, Kinder Aide, picks up the thought about 60 seconds after me.
Hee hee hee!

Ok. That's all for this week. I'm moving this weekend. So wish me luck.

The New Year

The New Year has begun. WOW. I so can't believe it.

Let's just say, I really, really, really, REALLY miss my class from last year. Didn't think I would, but..... I DO.

I passed my portfolio! I found out on Friday, and I am so relieved!

Also, my students have started taking NWEA, a computer based test the can take 2-3 times a year that measures their progress and helps us determine what we need to work on with them.

On the language portion, all but one student went UP!

On the math, I had one student go up 32 points!!!!

We take the reading portion on Thursday.

This week has been good so far. :-) (Knock on wood! Don't want to jinx myself!)

12 days to go!

Procrastination and Life

Today's entry is about Procrastination and Life.

Procrastination. I have become very good at this! I thought as I grew up and became a teacher, my procrastination would disappear. Ha!

As a 2nd year teacher I am required to do a portfolio to renew my license. This is the biggest waste of time! I understand that they are trying to promote teachers to be the best they can and show they can differentiate, etc, etc, but honestly, with as much as they are requiring us to do for the portfolio, I'm not sure they can weed out the GOOD teachers from the teachers that are good at BS'ing.

Back to procrastination. So this portfolio unit is due. May 1st. Yep. I've taught it- back in March. Before spring break. So I'm not worried about the actual teaching part. I was going to be good and get everything organized and be on top of everything. That didn't happen. So Easter weekend I decided I was going to do it then. Ha. Pregnant Best Friend's water broke. About 2 weeks early. So I helped her out and watched her dogs and washed baby clothes all weekend. I was exhuasted. Didn't get anything accomplished.

Anybody have any tips on procrastination?

Life. Or something like it. (Isn't that a book or a movie or something?)

I work at a charter school, so we don't have contracts. We have at-will agreements. Which means we can quit or they can fire us at any time. This sucks, especially at the end of the year. Only certain people know that they have a position. But most of us don't understand why they now before anyone else. And some of these certain people that are in the know, should seriously reconsider their choice in professions. Having a parent teach a lesson, screaming at children, having a "pop" child (a student who runs and gets you a pop when you need one), sitting at your desk while students run math meeting on their own, having students give you hand/shoulder massages. SERIOUSLY. Yet they get away with it. And I have no idea why!

So I found out on Friday out from Mama Teacher that she talked to our mentor teacher. She asked our mentor if Principal was going to be letting a lot of teachers go. Mentor Teacher said she thought so. Mama Teacher asked if he would be letting us know. M.T. said probably not.
Seriously!?!?

I'm trying to be calm and patient and understanding. Especially trying to leave it in God's hands. But it's very hard. Very. I don't feel my job is safe.

Please pray for the teachers that are GOOD, but are not in the know. Pray for the ones that are not making good choices.

I think that covers everything. On to the portfolio! (Or procrastination?)

Quote of the day

Miss C., you look good with make-up on.