Mistakes are Steps Toward Learning

It was February of 2011...

When You Need a Home Run and all you get is first base.  It was a good lesson, but what I needed was amazing.  Last Friday I was observed by the big dog, an important observation for my reapplication next year (as I am on temporary status).  Three things I took from this experience: first, teaching is about connecting with students, second, stay true to your theories of teaching no matter how difficult your situation makes it, and third, how important context is in education.

The lesson: 3rd Grade Order of Operations (keep in mind that we have 60 students)
Anticipatory set: I activated prior knowledge and connected to students' experience by using a narrative advance organizer.  I drew 6 pictures depicting three directions: pour, shake, and open and orange juice bottle.  I then discussed that sometimes order is important in directions.  Then I showed the different outcomes for changing the order of these instructions.  I then asked kids to come up with the right order.  I then introduced order of operations.

Next, we made a flip booklet on which we numbered 1. Parentheses, 2. Multiply/Divide, 3. Add/Subtract.  Under the flap we put the signs of the operations, an example and "left to right."  I then modeled how to use the tool, and students practiced how to use the tool with some guided practice on their whiteboards.  I had a worksheet to practice further, but my cooperating teacher suggested that just practicing on the whiteboard would be more effective.

The critique:

Although he thought the metaphor was very effective and the kids understood the concept, I've got to move faster.  There is just too much curriculum to cover to spend so much time waiting for everyone to get it.  So and so were drawing on their whiteboards under their desks.  He commended me on checking in on the success of so many students.

Today:

This was my first taste of the bias in the system.  What he was saying: the ones who are privileged enough to access the curriculum from the standard entryways will get it, the others may catch on eventually, or maybe not... but who cares, move on.

Even today, as I look back at this draft post from 2011 I still feel the chains of the system.  I find many creative ways to improvise and adjust, but regardless we are still pulled forward through the years of curriculum, regardless of the abilities or prior knowledge of our students.  Are students are pushed through as well.

If you are wondering, I did not get the next year's opening.  Besides being green and needing improvement in many areas, the principal and I did not agree in many fundamental areas.  He told me I have "unshakeable patience" and should be in special education.  Which I very much considered, but decided it was not the right choice for me -- God bless special educators.  On the bright side, I got hired at the perfect position for me the next fall: a 4/5 blend in Southern Oregon.

Sleep Bulletin Boarding?

Ok, so weird story...  You know that stray push pin that seems to have fallen into the black abyss of nowhereland?  Well, in the middle of the night last night, after a long day of putting up bulletin boards, the aforementioned push pin turned up in my hand whilst I was sleeping.  Not stabbing my hand, but snuggled up in my hand like some treasured object.  How it got there?  I have no idea... My shirt?  My hair?  Baffles me.  Guess it's one of the mysteries of being a teacher...

Recreate

This pseudo-first year has been the most difficult year of my life despite the support of my two co-teachers.  Between screaming parents, unbelievable behavior, and students with baffling academic challenges, this year has been more than enough to make a lot of newbies quit.  And how do you go home, let it all go, and return the next day with a purpose and a smile on your face, knowing it's a new day and your best chance to make a difference?

A professor and brilliant educator once said "the most important thing you can do as an educator is to recreate."  He used this as a sort of double entendre: utilizing both meanings re-create (to create again) and recreate as in recreation (a activity done for enjoyment).  Things are always more eloquently stated by their original founder, but here is my interpretation.  Your passion for teaching is like a fire.  Right now it is fed by youthful enthusiasm, injustice, love of children, creativity, desire to change the world... etc. etc.  Some day along the line there will come a day when you tire, children treat you with disrespect despite your efforts, you work in a school where your creativity is stifled because of a emphasis on closing the gap, or whatever the case may be.  Your fire will dim, and it is your job to know how to rekindle that fire.  Recreate.  Recreate the passion and feed the fire: find others like you and join a discourse community, go camping, read a book in the sunshine, walk on the treadmill, drink a margarita with your girls, whatever it is that makes you happy and rekindles your fire.  The work will always be there, and no matter how proactive you are, it will never be done (if you are a true educator), so take a moment to take care of yourself.

Let me use another metaphor.  On an airplane the stewardess that gives the safety spiel always says this (or some form of this): "Mothers, put your oxygen mask on first.  Your child cannot take care of him or herself in the event that something happens to you, so take care of yourself first and then you can be assured of your child's safety."  The same is true in education.  We can work ourselves to the very bone staying up all night and working weekends, keep ourselves propped up with caffeine, and become estranged from our family and friends but this pace can't keep up forever, and you and your students will suffer.  So take the time to recreate.  Our students need passionate, rested, enthusiastic educators in their classrooms.  This advice has kept me alive and enthusiastic this year.

Thank you Dr. Ronald Beghetto

"That's not how my teacher does it!"

While every time I hear this it makes me cringe a little on the inside, it also makes me crave being a full time teacher.  My message to full time teachers: No matter how much grief students give you, or how challenging behavior management becomes, your students love you and depend on your systems, expertise, and constancy.  You are the leader of a small little world of people who love, depend on, and look up to you.  In your students' eyes you are irreplaceable.

GASP! Facebook Post

Today my husband was checking his Facebook page and suddenly I heard a loud gasp from across the room.  After reading the first sentence he was fired up and so was I.  Upon reading to the end, though I found it does bring up some good points, see for yourself.  Since Facebook only shows the first paragraph as a preview, I hope the general public reads on.

"Are you sick of highly paid teachers? Teachers' hefty salaries are driving up taxes, and they only work 9 or10 months a year! It's time we put things in perspective and pay them for what they do - babysit!
We can get that for less than minimum wage.
That's right. Let's give them $3.00 an hour and only the hours they worked; not any of that silly planning time, or any time they spend before or after school. That would be $19.50 a day (7:45 to 3:00 PM with 45 min. off for lunch and plan-- that equals 6 1/2 hours). Each parent should pay $19.50 a day for these teachers to baby-sit their children. Now how many students do they teach in a day...maybe 30? So that's $19.50 x 30 = $585.00 a day.
However, remember they only work 180 days a year!!! I am not going to pay them for any vacations. LET'S SEE.... That's $585 X 180= $105,300 per year. (Hold on! My calculator needs new batteries).
What about those special education teachers and the ones with Master's degrees? Well, we could pay them minimum wage ($7.75), and just to be fair, round it off to $8.00 an hour. That would be $8 X 6 1/2 hours X 30 children X 180 days = $280,800 per year. Wait a minute -- there's something wrong here! There sure is!
The average teacher's salary (nation-wide) is $50,000. $50,000/180 days = $277.77/per day/30 students=$9.25/6.5 hours = $1.42 per hour per student--a very inexpensive babysitter and they even EDUCATE your kids!) WHAT A DEAL!!!! Make a teacher smile; repost this to show appreciation for all educators."

Teachers Leaving the Profession

Numerous sources have found that one in three teachers leave the profession in their first three years of teaching, some sources claim that by five years this number increases to 50%.  (I will add more specific sources later).  This is attributed to lack of training (specifically in behavior management), lack of support, and lack of financial stability.  Why, then have I not received one class in my undergraduate degree on behavior management?