HAPPY HUMP DAY!

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Hope everyone has a great day! Bring on the 4 day weekend!!!

I may have done this on occasion....just saying....


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Oy, off to school you lot!

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*whine*
 

I don't want to go.

Funny! Enuff said....

for those who are from the USA and are Science teachers...what do you think of this?
 

I totally agree with the second guy's comment about undergraduate science education. I used to teach English -- as a TA -- at Michigan, and the freshman Chemistry and Physics classes were not about teaching to mastery, but about paring down the number of students who would someday apply to medical school and to graduate school in the sciences. Students who really wanted to learn Chemistry would take those classes at community colleges and transfer the credits. People blame the public schools because our students aren't prepared, but they can pass community college science classes, which cover much of the same material. A final in a Michigan Chemistry class typically has questions on material not even covered in the class. That's fine at MIT or Caltech, but that's absurd at Michigan, whose students, it's fair to assume, are there to learn things they don't already know.

And Michigan students are already privileged. They have had decent public or private school educations. So what happens when you bring kids in from other backgrounds? They don't make it, at least not as science majors. A friend of mine has a BA and MSW from Michigan and has had a good career as a social worker. However, he started Michigan hoping to become a doctor. The freshman math and science classes ended that dream. It made no sense. Bright guy, hard working, but from Flint public schools. He could not compete. Lots of universities teach lots of remedial classes now, but in my opinion, if they taught their freshman and sophomore classes well, the students would not need that much remediation. A hardworking student who is literate and has passed Algebra II should be able to pass a freshman Chemistry class. Freshman and sophomore science courses are abysmally taught, and a lot of folks in the sciences seem almost proud of that.

And if they are still counting on secondary education to make up for their failure, then they better move fast and start doing something about the end of course exams that are being instituted in so many states. Teaching to those tests will kill any teacher's ability to inspire students.

Re the visa issue and science in the U.S., totally true.

I was in a meeting with a deranged mom today. Fortunately the kid just turned 18 and now legally makes his own decisions. If she had had any power, we would so have been screwed. She arrived 40 minutes early, a full half an hour before anyone else showed up. So for a half an hour, she directed all her craziness at me. It wasn't abusive, or I would have shut it down. But crazy and annoying. Her agenda wasn't about her kid either. It was all about her anger at her ex-husband.

I don't get paid enough.

You didn't have to send her my way when she was finished with you...

No you don't get paid enough! Holy cow the deranged ones can really put you over the edge. Sometimes warranted (the system and meetings can make anyone nuts) and most of the time not.

Best of luck BK... I wonder after all the years do you hate holiday music?

Happy Hump Day!

I had one of those "This is a thankless job" days today. Ruined my mood. I let it ruin my mood, rather.

Field Trip Day!
 

Off for an over three hour bus ride to see a performance of The Pirates of Penzance. Nope, not a luxe bus, either. Oh well...maybe I can get some marking done. :blink:

Marking? What marking? Ha!

Spent the bus ride chit chatting with one my fave English peeps and staring out the window--I forgot how soothing a road trip can be (even with teenagers cackling with laughter behind me).

Sorry for your troubles, BK. I hope today is a better one.

Congratulations on making it this far! Sometimes there really is no rhyme or reason to how and when we get those "years" professionally. You know the shake your head and wonder just how fucked up can it really get and are there any competent administrators out there feeling.... :seeingstars:

I hope you survive BK. It would be a great sadness and loss if you didn't.

I moved for this job. The job is working out so far. Except for a higher proportion of loopy parents, I am enjoying the lower stress environment. I still work closely with students, but. . . aieee. It's hard to explain without kind of saying what I do. But I no longer have classroom management issues. I work with students one on one or in very small groups. Although one day I was teaching math to two students who kept interrupting me and thought OMG I have totally lost my skillz in just a couple of months. I can't even teach two students together. Not true. But lol.

Anyway, all I do now is encourage and motivate. I rarely have to kick butt. One neighboring teacher had a kid using the f-bomb one day and I couldn't resist and nearly threw him out. It turned out someone had stolen his bike AND his dog had just died. That's why the teacher was letting it go. Plus the kid was ED. I didn't know. I completely silenced the poor kid. I felt bad after the teacher explained. Anyway . . .

I moved. That's my point. And I am not reaching out and meeting people. Weight gain and arthritis make me not want to. Hell, I don't even hang with my nice roommates so much. Back home, I would probably also be isolating, but not this much.

ANd it's begun to be a problem. The job is great -- as jobs in education go -- but it's not my life. That's one reason I got the job, so I would have energy at the end of the day. But I am not overwhelmed by the beauty of the area I am in. (I sacrificed that.) And I am not near the friends I hang out with no matter how creaky and grumpy I am. So I have to take action. On my health and I just have to start making time for others.

It's not going to be fun. I am way past being able to walk for exercise. So I have to swim. Anyway, there are lots of "have to's" and I am kind of daunted. But I can't be a good teacher or a good anything if I am in pain and isolated. And I am letting that happen.

It sucks that you're having such a hard time at school BK. But, you know you're good at what you do and the kids who want to learn from you do. Administrators can't take away the positive impact you have as a teacher.

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Oh it is true. Every time I'm slightly tortured by being across the hall from the music teacher or listening to early morning before school band I understand.... you folks are saints.

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Have a great day and wonderful weekend! Well earned!

i think i recall not loving that book....The Decameron.... now that was a good book.....

Unfortunately - its not a book...... :|

then what is it exactly...hmmmmm?

Yes unfortunately it refers to current working conditions in BK's school. :candle:

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lol sometimes I am just too literal.... :P

Heya fellow teachers!

Venting Warning Ahead:

I've got way too much to do before midterm reports are due next week! I have far too much marking, and then entering marks, and then typing in the comments! (btw, what program do people use for marks/grades--we have this one called Markbook)

It's cold and rainy and I am a real suck right now. I just don't feel like being ON and talking to anyone. Sigh.

In other news, I posted a pic in the galleries of me outside my classroom. :)

((((( Chancie )))))) I hope you feel better soon.

It must be in the air. I am in IEP hell.