TVCH FORUMS HOME . JOIN . FAN CLUBS . ABOUT US . CONTACT . CHAT  
Bomis   Quick Links   TOPICS . TREE-VIEW . SEARCH . HELP! . NEWS . PROFILE
CALLING ALL TEACHERS

The TVClubHouse: General Discussions ARCHIVES: 2005 Jun. ~ Aug.: Free Expressions ARCHIVES: CALLING ALL TEACHERS users admin

  Thread Last Poster Posts Pages Last Post
Archive through April 22, 2005Kaili25 04-22-05  1:58 pm
  ClosedClosed: New threads not accepted on this page        

Author Message
Halfunit
Moderator

09-02-2001

Friday, April 22, 2005 - 2:10 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post    
That is very Earth Dayish of you, Kaili! :-)

Julieboo
Member

02-05-2002

Friday, April 22, 2005 - 2:54 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post    
That is hilarious!!!

Schoolmarm
Member

02-18-2001

Friday, April 22, 2005 - 4:06 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post    
Oh, yeah...Pajama day is fun too....and Inside out clothes day, and storybook character day.

And I bet you weren't even the wackiest, Kaili! LOL!

Kaili
Member

08-31-2000

Friday, April 22, 2005 - 7:22 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post    
Nope, not the wackiest at all. Lots of wigs- the boys are always so cute with rubber bands all over their heads. One kid even shaved a mohawk (and getting rid of it after school). I love pajama day though! So comfy! I love playing along with all their "days". We had 100% participation in the class I was in too. Yay.

Twiggyish
Member

08-14-2000

Saturday, April 23, 2005 - 8:44 am   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post    
Slight vent here.. (on subject of problems with teaching)
Our programs are always threatened by funding issues. It's a struggle every year for grant funding. Our schools offer programs with adult literacy, family literacy, workplace readiness for seniors (older adults), and vocational ESOL training. The ESOL (English as a second language) program trains foreign born students to become CNA (Certified Nursing Assistants). The ESOL students are our most dedicated in the programs.
Its's extremely frustrating to see budget cuts in education. This is true for Adult Education! It's obvious the best way to break the cycle of poverty is to educate and train people to find better jobs.
Our school system has a program in the local prison, as well. They have a very high percentage of program completion (GED). Of course, we say they have a "captive" audience. In any case, we fight every year for funding.
I know they have similar problems in the K-12 programs, too.


Schoolmarm
Member

02-18-2001

Saturday, April 23, 2005 - 11:47 am   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post    
And in higher ed at the public universities....

It seems especially BAD this year all around.

Deesandy
Member

08-12-2003

Saturday, April 23, 2005 - 8:09 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post    
What about the school adult social problems? I have a friend who has to deal with teachers who get upset because they were not sent a get well card from the care committee and stuff like that!

Wapland
Member

08-01-2000

Tuesday, April 26, 2005 - 10:19 am   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post    
....all those "I love my teacher" coffee mugs

Fondly
Wappy


Teachmichigan
Member

07-22-2001

Tuesday, April 26, 2005 - 1:59 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post    
Question for other experienced teachers...(sorry for being off topic) WARNING: Sorry, I went long! :-) English teachers can't say it quickly.

We've had a number of student teachers this year. The one I supervised was well-organized, a bit quiet in the classroom, but overall a good match for the profession who will do best when she finally gets into counseling like she wants to. Our sciene student teacher was likewise qualified, energetic and successful. Unfortunately, we had one older gentlemen in the history dep't that was absolutely horrible. He couldn't relate to the kids, he droned on and on, and when he tried to "act young" he failed miserably. (Using "knarly" in your vocab. doesn't get you very far these days! LOL)

So...today, I interviewed an "assistant" for next year. He would be with me a half day only. He would work his way up from observing to tutoring, working w/ small groups and is eventually supposed to teach at least one class for a three-week time period.

He is another "late" starter. He was in the welding profession for 20 years. He went back to school originally to be in engineering w/ a minor in Spanish (His wife is from Mexico). He decided he didn't want to be in a factory the rest of his life, so chose teaching w/ a Spanish major and English minor. First -- his grammar stinks! Second -- his personality is soooooo laid-back that I am terribly worried the kids will eat him alive. The other teacher who interviewed him has taught for 30 years (I'm only at 13) and she has the same worries.

Soooo -- here's my rant and my question. Do people in the outside world think that teachers have it "so easy" that they want teaching to be their job to get them through until retirement? Do they not realize that at least half my job is "acting" for the kids -- being charismatic, expressing enthusiasm for learning in general and my subject area in particular while trying to draw them in -- and that CLASS MANAGEMENT is a HUGE issue????

When he left my room, a computer aide (who has been in our school system for 10 years) who was working on my computers during the entire interview said, "They should make a law that people over 25 are not allowed to go into teaching!" BTW - -she's nearing 50. We have many, many "older" teachers who are wonderful -- but they're all energetic, enthusiastic, and young at heart. No fuddie-duddies in our building.

And finally (I know -- English teacher spew!), how do you help people realize that school is NOT the way it was 30 years ago? Students do not sit in rows, hang on your every word and do all their homework! It's a new, techie, fast-paced, obnoxious world now.

Thanks for letting me vent -- I'm just getting very worried about my profession when I see the "potential" teachers coming up! I'm actually hoping to be able to direct this man into another field, unless DRASTIC changes occur next semester while he's observing.

Kaili
Member

08-31-2000

Tuesday, April 26, 2005 - 2:12 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post    
Do people in the outside world think that teachers have it "so easy" that they want teaching to be their job to get them through until retirement?

Well, there's currently on ongoing thing in our paper about the QEO, contracts, benefits, etc. In the paper, they don't just do letters- you can call in and make a brief statement that they may print. Here's one from today:

"I am sick and tired of hearing teachers complain and whine they’re underpaid and compare themselves to other jobs that are year-around jobs. If teachers don’t like it, tell them to get a real job — one that actually requires them to work year-round. They’d go into shock."

Wow. What an armhole.

Teachmichigan
Member

07-22-2001

Tuesday, April 26, 2005 - 8:08 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post    
I think the hole is a bit farther down! LOL

My dad and I say we work year round -- we just put in the hours to do it in 10 months instead of 12! Kinda' like working 4 10-hour days in the "real job" world.

I always want to ask people who think this isn't a "real job" why they didn't take the easy way out either? Don't they want to spend their days with high schoolers? CHICKENS!!! :-)

Schoolmarm
Member

02-18-2001

Wednesday, April 27, 2005 - 4:25 am   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post    
I find that many returning adult students think that they are well suited for teaching when they are not. These are folks who went to work somewhere after HS graduation and are trying college at a later age. Most of the time they have unreal expectations of salary and work hours and what exactly a teacher does all day (and night)....but the "normal" age undergraduates also have some of the same delusions. But many of them think that 28K is a great salary.

Now, some of my BEST students (when I taught el ed majors) were from MOMS returning to get their first degree, or from those in the workforce who already had a college degree in another field.

We interview the students at 30 credits and if they are not committed and qualified to teach, they are not admitted to the Teacher Ed. Program. This goes for grades, goals, personality, etc. It is not fair to the student to spend years getting a degree where they will not be suitable for the profession.

I wish that all programs would screen their teacher candidates as well at the front end of the degree. That would certainly curtail the problems during student teaching.

Kaili...I think that that newspaper call-in should actually get to grade a day's worth of papers in their evening after they have supervised a sporting event and then go to a continuing ed class on the weekend. Maybe they would shut up!

Kaili
Member

08-31-2000

Wednesday, April 27, 2005 - 5:55 am   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post    
They don't need to be admitted to the education program there? I had to first do the Praxis test, which was just dumb anyway, but we could only take maybe 3 classes before being in. Well, passing the Praxis I think was "Admissions 1", then you had to do an interview, portfolio, personal statement, philosophy, etc to get Admissions 2- you got Admissions 3 (to start student teaching) after you completed your clinical. Maybe that's why Wisconsin licenses (or so I'm told) are "golden tickets" for getting a job in a lot of other states. Apparently we have higher standards than a lot of states and it's supposed to be super easy for us to get licenses in other states while someone coming in with a license from another state may have some work to do before being licensed here. That's what they say anyway.

Julieboo
Member

02-05-2002

Wednesday, April 27, 2005 - 5:53 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post    
THE CREATION OF THE TEACHER
Author Unknown

The Good Lord was creating teachers. It was His sixth day of 'overtime' and He knew that this was a tremendous responsibility for teachers would touch the lives of so many impressionable young children. An angel appeared to Him and said, "You are taking a long time to figure this one out."

"Yes," said the Lord, " but have you read the specs on this order?"

TEACHER:

…must stand above all students, yet be on their level
... must be able to do 180 things not connected with the subject being taught
... must run on coffee and leftovers,
... must communicate vital knowledge to all students daily and be right most of the time
... must have more time for others than for herself/himself
... must have a smile that can endure through pay cuts, problematic children, and worried parents
... must go on teaching when parents question every move and others are not supportive
... must have 6 pair of hands.

"Six pair of hands, " said the angel, "that's impossible"
"Well, " said the Lord, " it is not the hands that are the problem.  It is the three pairs of eyes that are presenting the most difficulty!"

The angel looked incredulous, " Three pairs of eyes...on a standard model?"

The Lord nodded His head, " One pair can see a student for what he is and not what others have labeled him as. Another pair of eyes is in the back of the teacher's head to see what should not be seen, but what must be known. The eyes in the front are only to look at the child as he/she 'acts out' in order to reflect, " I understand and I still believe in you", without so much as saying a word to the child."

"Lord, " said the angel, " this is a very large project and I think you should work on it tomorrow".

"I can't," said the Lord, " for I have come very close to creating something much like Myself. I have one that comes to work when he/she is sick.....teaches a class of children that do not want to learn....has a special place in his/her heart for children who are not his/her own.....understands the struggles of those who have difficulty....never takes the students for granted..."

The angel looked closely at the model the Lord was creating. 
"It is too soft-hearted, " said the angel.

"Yes," said the Lord, " but also tough, You can not imagine what this teacher can endure or do, if necessary".

"Can this teacher think?" asked the angel.

"Not only think," said the Lord,. "but reason and compromise."

The angel came closer to have a better look at the model and ran his finger  over the teacher's cheek.

"Well, Lord, " said the angel, your job looks fine but there is a leak. I told you that you were putting too much into this model.  You can not imagine the stress that will be placed upon the teacher."

The Lord moved in closer and lifted the drop of moisture from the teacher's cheek.  It shone and glistened in the light.

"It is not a leak," He said, "It is a tear."

"A tear? What is that?" asked the angel, "What is a tear for?"

The Lord replied with great thought, " It is for the joy and pride of seeing a child accomplish even the smallest task. It is for the loneliness of children who have a hard time to fit in and it is for compassion for the feelings of their parents. It comes from the pain of not being able to reach some children and the disappointment those children feel in themselves. It comes often when a teacher has been with a class for a year and must say good-bye to those students and get ready to welcome a new class."

"My, " said the angel, " The tear thing is a great idea...You are a genius!!"
The Lord looked somber, "I didn't put it there."

Twiggyish
Member

08-14-2000

Friday, April 29, 2005 - 10:01 am   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post    
I am one of those who assist people back into the work world. No, they don't have unrealistic ideas about returning to work. The people I assist are dedicated and determined.

Your one teacher is not an indication of the over 50 workforce. In fact, our over 50 group scores higher on their TABE (basic reading, math and language) tests. The scores coming from the kids (from all over the country) are surprisingly lower!!
Email me privately and I'll tell you more.




Maris
Member

03-28-2002

Friday, April 29, 2005 - 10:14 am   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post    
I want some advice from a teacher. Its a bit of a story....

My son is 13, great kid, no angel but not a trouble maker. Anyway, his friend who also has the same name as my son tells my son that his mother says that they cant hang out together and if his mother sees the two of them together she is not going to let her son go to the same high school as my son. The reason she tells her son is that the music teacher told her that my son is a ringleader who leads her son into trouble and that her son only gets in trouble because of my son. Now this other kid says to my son before every class, lets fool around in Music, this is the same kid who locked the entire classroom out of the class and hid in a locker so nobody knew it was him, last year he was suspended for throwing yoghurt across the room. You get the picture. I asked my son if he fools around in music and he admitted that he did with his other friend and this kid but that he wasnt a ringleader.

Now here is my dilemma, my son and this boy are going to the same high school next year, a very competitive highschool and impressions are everything. I am really concerned that this other kids mother when her back may be to the wall since her son has a history of pranks might not only blame my son but also say that my sons last school even said he was a trouble maker.

Here is my question to you teachers out there. Was it inappropriate for a teacher to tell another parent that another child and name the other child was leading their kid down the road to destruction so to speak? Shouldnt I have been approached by the school to be told there was a problem and there has never ever been any indication that my son was a problem? I want to call the principal because I dont want my son dragging a reputation with him to his highschool in the fall. I want the teacher to retract her comment to the other parent but I dont want to reveal any confidences my son has told me about her son's activities. what should I do? Or should I just drop this whole thing and not go looking for trouble?

Twiggyish
Member

08-14-2000

Friday, April 29, 2005 - 10:29 am   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post    
I think you should speak frankly to the teacher. It's obvious the other kid is devious. It's probably a good idea to ask the principal to attend the meeting.
Tell your son to avoid the other kid. This will prevent him from being blamed for any future pranks. The other boy is going to continue his actions. It should become obvious to others who REALLY is at fault!
I believe it was inappropriate of the teacher to discuss your son without consulting you first. (IMHO)

Karuuna
Member

08-31-2000

Friday, April 29, 2005 - 10:48 am   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post    
Well, I'm not a teacher, but I helped set up our elementary's school anti-bullying program, so I worked with them quite a bit for those two years. So I'll throw my opinion in the ring if that's okay.

I would arrange a meeting with the principal and the teacher together; and say that you were apalled to hear that the teacher thought there was some kind of issue with your son's behavior - and rather than tell you, she said so to another parent. Frankly, I don't think there's another wrong with telling another parent that her child is hanging with someone who is a poor influence, BUT that's only when the system (principal, counselors, teachers) are actively working with that child and his/her parents. Often parents are disconnected from their kids' friends and family and don't realize the 'reps' some kids have, and finding out can be a real wake up call to get more involved. It should be done in a fairly noncommital way - your child hangs around a lot with so-and-so, and we've had some real behavior issues with him. We are dealing with those, but it might be helpful for you to have a talk with your child about peer pressure, and how you choose your friends, etc.

However, to say this about a child when there is NO action being taken is pure gossip and totally inappropriate.

Maris, I would also consider speaking to your son about whether it is really helpful to keep his confidence in this situation. If this other child is causing problems, and his issues continue to go unaddressed, then no one is doing him any favors. I can understand your son doesn't want to betray his friend, yet sometimes it is the best thing to do. It's a tough position to be in for him.

Overall, I always think it's best to calmly and matter of factly get involved and say what needs to be said. Everyone gets a chance to grow.

But that's rather my own bias in life. I certainly also know that there are times when it is best to keep your mouth shut, and sometimes I think I should do that more often.

Maris
Member

03-28-2002

Friday, April 29, 2005 - 11:06 am   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post    
Thank you both. Part of me just wants to keep my mouth shut. This other kid is nice kid but I just think he is impulsive. Also, his father died in September a week before school opened and his mother is very very strict, a bit of a tyrant -- then again I tend to be more laid back as a parent.

This kid isnt a mean kid, but he is a little on the sneaky side and I truly think he is that way because his mother is so strict and he is afraid of the repercussions of getting her mad. He just doesnt think before he acts.

I am reluctant to get this kid into a lot of trouble but at the same time I just dont want my kid dragging an overblown reputation with him. He is no angel but he has never gotten into serious trouble in school. He admitted he cracks jokes in Music class but he says everyone does it and the other thing there are only six more weeks of school and he is out of there.

I think both of your advice to talk to the principal and the teacher is probably best, but I think I am going to take the approach about assigning a label to a child with another parent and not even mentioning the fact to me that my son might have a problem in music class. This is the first I have heard of it after three years with the same teacher. Very strange but the timing couldnt be worse in my view.

Thanks for the advice

Maris
Member

03-28-2002

Friday, April 29, 2005 - 3:01 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post    
I ended up calling the principal. Took the approach of I dont know whether this is true but I am concerned enough to mention it, blah blah. The principal tells me that the music teacher never met with the boy's mother in fact she had the meeting with the boys mother. She said she never mentioned my sons name in the meeting but that the other mother had said that she didnt want her son hanging around with my son, and the principal said she took the approach of whatever, she didnt comment one way or the other.

She said she would double check with the music teacher anyway but she is pretty confident the mother made it up as a means of threatening her son. I told I didnt have a problem with the mother telling her son she didnt want him playing with my son, her perogative no big deal. I just wanted to be clear that my son was not being labeled as a trouble maker and she said no. There havent been any problems with my son in music that she is aware of.

Not sure if the teacher is going to say anything to the parent but I dont really care, I at least can say with confidence in the future that my son was never a behavioral problem in case she brings it up at the new school.

Thanks all.

Karuuna
Member

08-31-2000

Friday, April 29, 2005 - 3:12 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post    
Maris, I'm glad it all turned okay, and you got the truth from the principal. I do feel for your son's friend, sounds like he has a rough road to travel.

Twiggyish
Member

08-14-2000

Saturday, April 30, 2005 - 6:41 am   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post    
I agree. It's also possible the other boy might be acting out due to the death of his father. He might need help dealing with it. Let's hope the mother quits blaming others and does something to help her son.

Julieboo
Member

02-05-2002

Tuesday, June 07, 2005 - 8:11 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post    
NEW QUESTION:

What are some "fortunes" I can make for fortune cookies that I am making for my mom's retirement party...


Twiggyish
Member

08-14-2000

Wednesday, June 08, 2005 - 3:44 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post    
If you can read this..thank a teacher!



Maris
Member

03-28-2002

Wednesday, June 08, 2005 - 3:56 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post    
link

Click on the fortune cookie and it gives ideas for fortune cookies. You can also go down to the life link and it gives life fortunes.


Snee
Member

06-26-2001

Wednesday, August 24, 2005 - 10:42 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post    
middle schoolers who haven't discovered deodorant yet. whole rooms full!

Bearware
Member

07-12-2002

Thursday, August 25, 2005 - 5:33 am   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post    
Snee - I'm surprised yours haven't discovered deodorant yet! Mine are spending time at their lockers spraying each other in the hall with theirs! The problem in MY room is the stinky shoes. LORD are they stinky!

Reader234
Member

08-13-2000

Friday, August 26, 2005 - 11:33 am   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post    
Snee, in our school district they arent allowed to take showers after GYM class, talk about a room smell that no deodarant can help!!



Teachmichigan
Member

07-22-2001

Friday, August 26, 2005 - 1:07 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post    
HSers are a bit better, but the freshmen hall is out my door, so the variety of odors is never-ending. I ALWAYS have a wallflower plugged in, scented disinfecting spray is in the cupboard and used between classes, and ******sssshhhhhhhh***** once in awhile during my planning, I light a candle. My tech. ed. kids and the MARCHING BAND kiddos are the worst this time of year! No showers considered for them, yet they're outside in the hot sun and working just as hard as the PE kids. Yuk.