I apologize for not being here lately. I have been busy subbing! I have been in so many different classrooms it is crazy. Today I was in our special ed inclusion 3/4 and loved it! Yesterday, half day in the afternoon, first grade. I did do quite a few days for our phys ed/reading teacher as she had a family emergency to take care of. The differences I am allowed to enjoy as a sub are immeasurable. I find it amazing and exciting to have the chance to visit and be a part of the lives of so many students.
Wednesday, March 18, 2009
Sunday, March 8, 2009
Student Teachers....and Substitutes....
First, let me describe the student teacher (ST) I had during the fall semester. She probably has her heart in the right place, but the rest of her is NOT THERE! She wants to teach math in grades 4-8. She says she ABSOLUTELY does NOT want to go lower or higher. Well, I don't think she should go higher than maybe 5th grade. It was a very bad experience for me. (Let's put it this way, if she were my first student teacher, I'd never have another one!!!)
Maybe I'm a "freak" when it comes to doing certain things in my classroom. But, I'm ultimately responsible for the learning, or lack of, that takes place in my room. I want my students to excel in everything they do. Is that wrong?
Let me give you a few examples of what my ST did wrong.
1. She told the gifted students "I don't know how to do this problem...I'll look at it later." (Hello??? YOU NEVER TELL THE "SMART" KIDS THAT!!!!!) Now, I've put some problems up for them to do and then realized it is WAY over their heads and will say "Ok--that won't work, you'll be confused, let's try this." But, I've never told them I don't know how to do a problem. (Once I told them I was having a brain freeze and called another teacher, but they didn't think bad of me!)
2. She was so mild mannered, she let the kids walk all over her. One day, they were so out-of-control. When I asked her what the consequences were, she said none. She said the whole class was bad. I replied "Then you write 15 detentions!!!!!! (Yes, this is a VERY small class and she couldn't handle it!)
3. She cried in front of them. OMG! This is the biggest mistake of all times. You know the commerical "Never let them see you sweat?" Well, for a teacher, it's "Never let them see you cry!" It was all over from that point on. She never had their respect. EVER!
Well, my dear ST was a sub in our hallway (next to my room) on Friday. She did ok for the first class, but not so well the rest of the day. During fourth period, I opened the connecting doors and yelled at the class. See, my kids were working quietly (which is amazing in itself for that class!), and all of a sudden we hear a student yell "What the hel-?" I looked at my kids and before I could say "Did I hear what I think I heard?", they all shook their heads and said YUP! When I said something to that room about profanity, ST looked at me like a deer in the headlights. After school when I saw her, she said she couldn't figure out what I was talking about. She said maybe I thought I heard her say only part of the word class. When I told her what was said, she went "Oh, I know who said that." I looked at her like "WHAT?!?!?!?!?" She told me the kid who said it and then so profoundly stated "I heard her say it, but I guess I just didn't realize it was wrong." HELLO?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?! Since when is that acceptable in a school????
Well, I just really, Really, REALLY, REALLY wish the sub could be a sub in our school. At least then our classrooms would be run like they should!!!!
Maybe I'm a "freak" when it comes to doing certain things in my classroom. But, I'm ultimately responsible for the learning, or lack of, that takes place in my room. I want my students to excel in everything they do. Is that wrong?
Let me give you a few examples of what my ST did wrong.
1. She told the gifted students "I don't know how to do this problem...I'll look at it later." (Hello??? YOU NEVER TELL THE "SMART" KIDS THAT!!!!!) Now, I've put some problems up for them to do and then realized it is WAY over their heads and will say "Ok--that won't work, you'll be confused, let's try this." But, I've never told them I don't know how to do a problem. (Once I told them I was having a brain freeze and called another teacher, but they didn't think bad of me!)
2. She was so mild mannered, she let the kids walk all over her. One day, they were so out-of-control. When I asked her what the consequences were, she said none. She said the whole class was bad. I replied "Then you write 15 detentions!!!!!! (Yes, this is a VERY small class and she couldn't handle it!)
3. She cried in front of them. OMG! This is the biggest mistake of all times. You know the commerical "Never let them see you sweat?" Well, for a teacher, it's "Never let them see you cry!" It was all over from that point on. She never had their respect. EVER!
Well, my dear ST was a sub in our hallway (next to my room) on Friday. She did ok for the first class, but not so well the rest of the day. During fourth period, I opened the connecting doors and yelled at the class. See, my kids were working quietly (which is amazing in itself for that class!), and all of a sudden we hear a student yell "What the hel-?" I looked at my kids and before I could say "Did I hear what I think I heard?", they all shook their heads and said YUP! When I said something to that room about profanity, ST looked at me like a deer in the headlights. After school when I saw her, she said she couldn't figure out what I was talking about. She said maybe I thought I heard her say only part of the word class. When I told her what was said, she went "Oh, I know who said that." I looked at her like "WHAT?!?!?!?!?" She told me the kid who said it and then so profoundly stated "I heard her say it, but I guess I just didn't realize it was wrong." HELLO?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?! Since when is that acceptable in a school????
Well, I just really, Really, REALLY, REALLY wish the sub could be a sub in our school. At least then our classrooms would be run like they should!!!!
Sunday, March 1, 2009
State pledge....
In the state of Texas, our great congressmen and women decided that every school child would say the Pledge of Allegiance to the U.S. Flag and the Texas Flag and have a moment of silence (to do whatever) every day.
(For those of you who don't know it, the Texas Pledge goes like this: Honor the Texas Flag, I Pledge Allegiance to Thee, Texas, One State Under God, One and Indivisible.)
Now, I disagree with this. Everyone here says it's because I'm a "Yankee." Call it what you want, but it's because I'm an AMERICAN!!!!! In our Pledge to the U.S. Flag, we say "One NATION, under God...." We don't say 50 individual states under God! So, why would ONE STATE believe they could be on the same level as our country? Well, because Texans think they can do whatever they want!
(For the record, one other state has a pledge to it's state flag. That would be Louisiana--and if you get a chance to read it, it's pretty similar to the U.S. pledge.)
So, everyday, I stand and say the U.S. pledge and remain standing respectfully while the class says the Texas pledge. I don't participate. Some co-workers say I'm being disrespectful. I say I'm respecting my country. It takes all 50 states to be our great country--all 50 are EQUAL!
What do you think?????
(For those of you who don't know it, the Texas Pledge goes like this: Honor the Texas Flag, I Pledge Allegiance to Thee, Texas, One State Under God, One and Indivisible.)
Now, I disagree with this. Everyone here says it's because I'm a "Yankee." Call it what you want, but it's because I'm an AMERICAN!!!!! In our Pledge to the U.S. Flag, we say "One NATION, under God...." We don't say 50 individual states under God! So, why would ONE STATE believe they could be on the same level as our country? Well, because Texans think they can do whatever they want!
(For the record, one other state has a pledge to it's state flag. That would be Louisiana--and if you get a chance to read it, it's pretty similar to the U.S. pledge.)
So, everyday, I stand and say the U.S. pledge and remain standing respectfully while the class says the Texas pledge. I don't participate. Some co-workers say I'm being disrespectful. I say I'm respecting my country. It takes all 50 states to be our great country--all 50 are EQUAL!
What do you think?????
...till the end
Can you believe it is March 1st? This time last year, I could say I only had 3 months of school left since our last day was in May. This year, however, we go until June 4th. Lot's of teachers, students and parents are complaining because we are going to school in June. I personally don't see what the big deal is. I always went to school in June when I was a student. (My birthday is at the beginning of June, and I always got to celebrate with my classmates.)
Dear readers, do you think it is a big deal???
Dear readers, do you think it is a big deal???
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