National Board

I know we are not nearly at this point, I happened across the website for the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards. There is information about support and funding on the state and local level.

http://www.nbpts.org/resources/state_local_information/Washington

Story telling in the classroom

So I ran across this video about storytelling in the classroom. We were just reading about having kids act out stories as a tool to get them excited about reading a story several times. I think having them choose stories and choose one to retell to the class is another great idea.

Getting Endorsed

After working with 6-8th grade students during my dyad I have found that I like the age level and material of junior high. I don't know if I will ever teach in a junior high but I think it would be a good idea to get endorsed anyway. Before I joined the program I was speaking with a fellow parent who was saying how impressed she was that her child's 6th grade teacher was endorsed in math, science and english. I think this could really help me to get a job.

There are two of us who are considering studying for an endorsement test over the break. Do you have any information about the tests or any interest in studying with me for the test?

Have you heard positive things about a teacher who is endorsed when they don't really need it?
I'll be interested to hear your ideas about this.

I VOTE FOR PEACE

For the past week I have been dealing with a very personal family emergency and have been out of touch with this program. My current situation has allowed me to consider what things are really important. This is a total cliche' but I just want to stand up in our cohort and yell, "can't we all just get along?!" We are all so extremely different and wouldn't it be awesome if we could just deal with our frustrations quietly and respectfully and be there for each other. This would be an incredibly boring place if we were all similar. Sure, it might be easier, at times, but really super boring. I hope we can all work on building each other up instead of knocking each other down. Let's live what we will teach. I am now stepping down from my box.

Guess I was confused

Wow, I really thought we were in these classes to learn and ask questions about the things we don't understand before getting in the classroom. I have always believed the old saying "the only stupid question is the one you don't ask."

This attitude of old people are sooooooooooo slow and stupid can't we just forget about that and move on, has been building from the start of the summer quarter combined today with the "oh goodie for you" and "how hard is it for you to read" remarks when I asked for clarification on the "whereto' (which is on the erserve templete)of the unit plan today really HURT my feelings. Never fear I know how to let it go.

But it left me with two thoughts, First, I am concerned about the future students of these future teacher. How will those student feel about continually being shot down and dismissed. It is easy to say it won't be that way then and what you are going to do then, but actions have always spoken louder to me.

Yes, in a perfect world I wouldn't be in this program with a family and life. Then I could spend my every waking moment devoted to studying, but that is not realistic for many of us. I do wish some members would have a little more patience or if nothing else be less verbal about how much of your time we are wasting. You know I happen to pay the same tuition for class time as you, therefore I should be able to ask questions without fear.

For individuals that will be teaching others about community in the near future, it sure appears to me this cohort has a lot still left to learn.

Gates Foundation promotes teacher merit pay

There was an interesting article in the paper today-follow the link below
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/nationworld/2008380163_gateseducation12m.html
about merit pay. The rest of the article is wonderful of course. All about how we need to increase the graduation rate of our teenagers-down to 20% in inner city schools. But if you read the entire article a representative from a teachers' union says that if they want to reward teachers according to their students' test results-they will have nothing to do with it.

Financial aid resources

So as I was surfing around looking at education blogs, I stumbled across this one. I haven't looked at all the info, but I felt it was something that others would be interested in since many of us have suffered huge cuts in our aid.
http://www.collegescholarships.org/blog/

Making a link to a website live

I went through today-interested to see if I could do it-and made the websites listed by us in our blogs live-
I went into the revision of the blog and clicked on the link symbol-next to the T - and added the hyperlink.
just an FYI!

Here is the website Cherry spoke of in class today. They have some amazing information...very informative. Also, teachers can sign up to receive a free subscription to their Teaching Tolerance magazine. http://www.splcenter.org/index.jsp

On the defensive

So I had an interesting experience this weekend. I went to a Halloween party and felt like I spent the entire night defending teachers. In my prior career in radio this concept has never been an issue. People would ask what I did for a living, I would tell them I worked in radio, they would think it was cool and then they would ask me about getting concert tickets! I was never really emotionally involved in defending my profession...until this past weekend. I am not even a teacher yet but I feel emotionally attached to the profession and those who say "teachers are whiners and are failing our kids." This was the response I received at the party when a couple was asking what I did for a living. First, they wondered why I was getting into the profession and then they began to complain about the state of education in this country. I felt I could hold my own pretty well but was in no way prepared to deal with this at a party where I was supposed to be having fun. Is this how it is going to be when we tell people we are teachers? Are we constantly going to have to defend this profession? It's hard to talk to people when all they know about education is that teachers "have summers off" and the latest stats the NY Times prints about failing math & science test numbers.

I was so angry Saturday night I couldn't sleep. How is it possible that people think teachers have such an easy gig? Have they ever set foot in a classroom of 25 six-year olds? Teachers are not just teachers. We are substitute parents, nurses, counselors, friends, mentors, nutritionists and so much more. We are supposed to teach not only reading, writing, math, social studies and science but also social skills, potty training (at times!), proper nutrition, manners, sexual education, hygiene...yada,yada,yada. It is extremely frustrating to me when people devalue this profession! I suppose this is part of what we signed up for, right? We are now the next generation of teacher defenders!!!

Halloween/Harvest Celebrations

It is interesting to me how different schools view Halloween. I look at it as a fun opportunity for the kids, that they need a break and some fun once in awhile. It can easily be incorporated into a lot of lessons. You can incorporate spiders, pumpkins, and fall with all sorts of Halloween activities. There are poems, songs, and stories that will capture the students interests at this time of year as well.

Some schools have great Halloween celebrations. Some schools I have seen ban all things with the name of Halloween, but if you call it Harvest then you can incorporate it into lessons, have a party, and have fun. All in the name of Harvest -- just avoid that nasty Halloween word. Other schools have banned all activities in October -- no matter whether it is called Halloween or Harvest or something else. Why have they banned Halloween? Is it the religious connection? A few years ago the Puyallup school district banned all things to do with Halloween because of complaints by the Wiccan community. That is something new. I thought it was supposed to be their holiday? Isn't that why the Christian, Muslim and Jewish communities don't like it?

Maybe it has it become too commercial ? What about the junk food aspect of it? Unhealthy. It doesn't have to be all candy, some schools are finding ways to be healthy and still celebrate.

I am not sure I really understand why the difference in schools attitudes toward this day. My kids school is a Harvest school -- no Halloween wording is allowed anywhere. My intern school is a non-holiday school. No Halloween or Harvest parties at all. I could understand it if it was because of religious tolerance, yet they have Christmas parties. I don't understand that either. How can you ban Halloween for religious tolerance reasons, yet have Christmas parties?

I guess for me, I think that having a party and having fun once in awhile is an important part of school, and life. School can't just be about the tests. I think it helps build a feeling of community. I think that any way that you can reach the kids, through what they enjoy and are excited about is a good thing. I don't want to step on anyone's religious or personal beliefs, but I do think that people take their objections too far at times. I think that Halloween is more of a tradition than a religious event. I think it can be a fun learning experience without having religious discussions enter into it.

What did your school do for Halloween?

Great Website

Check out this website. It has lesson plans, printables, and many other resources (including adapting materials for inclusion classrooms and Ell). The site is very user friendly and is organized by grade and subject.

http://www.teachervision.fen.com/