Photo from Mathematiques Noir
Wednesday, September 28, 2011
Monday, September 26, 2011
Highlight of the Day: 9/26/2011
Two other paras and I are sitting in a classroom today trying to get students to do their work, which they wouldn't do. One of the paras kept going up to one of the students every 30 seconds and asking him to start his work. This particular student was on the computer looking for music to listen to on his headphones, and insisted he would start his work once he found the right music. This para continued to harp on him several times over the course of the class period. Finally, the para walked over to the classroom next door (not once, but twice) and tried to have the teacher there get him to work and threaten him with punishment. By the end of the hour, the student had received an office referral for arguing with her, and never started his work.
Now, was the student was avoiding his work with the use of the computer? Of course. And this particular para was correct in trying to get him to start his work. However, she was doing it in a way that only aggravated him and made him not want to do his work even more.
If I were a supervising teacher, I would have pulled her to the side and told her "He didn't start his work when you bugged him 30 seconds ago. What makes you think he is going to start at this moment?" I would have also told her that she should ask him to start his work, walk away for about 3-5 minutes, come back and try to get him to work then. If he hadn't started his work then, give him a warning, go way for another 2-3 minutes, and then give him a consequence if he hadn't started. But since I was a fellow para (and one that has only worked there for about 3 weeks), I kept my nose out of the situation and let her dig her own grave. My suggestions may or may not have worked, but what she was doing damn sure didn't work. Also, the classroom teacher who she went and grabbed was not pleased being interrupted with her plan time.
I can empathize with this para, and most paras like her, who want to jump right in and get the students to do their work when they aren't doing it. But as someone who has supervised paras in the past, one problem I feel needs to be addressed is that sometimes, less is more. This is especially true with students who have behavior problems (as all of the students in our program do). For a student that isn't complying, but aren't disrupting or hurting anyone, it's not very complicated: instruct the student; give them the warning; come back later, and if they still aren't complying, then give a consequence. Simple and effective.
Now, was the student was avoiding his work with the use of the computer? Of course. And this particular para was correct in trying to get him to start his work. However, she was doing it in a way that only aggravated him and made him not want to do his work even more.
If I were a supervising teacher, I would have pulled her to the side and told her "He didn't start his work when you bugged him 30 seconds ago. What makes you think he is going to start at this moment?" I would have also told her that she should ask him to start his work, walk away for about 3-5 minutes, come back and try to get him to work then. If he hadn't started his work then, give him a warning, go way for another 2-3 minutes, and then give him a consequence if he hadn't started. But since I was a fellow para (and one that has only worked there for about 3 weeks), I kept my nose out of the situation and let her dig her own grave. My suggestions may or may not have worked, but what she was doing damn sure didn't work. Also, the classroom teacher who she went and grabbed was not pleased being interrupted with her plan time.
I can empathize with this para, and most paras like her, who want to jump right in and get the students to do their work when they aren't doing it. But as someone who has supervised paras in the past, one problem I feel needs to be addressed is that sometimes, less is more. This is especially true with students who have behavior problems (as all of the students in our program do). For a student that isn't complying, but aren't disrupting or hurting anyone, it's not very complicated: instruct the student; give them the warning; come back later, and if they still aren't complying, then give a consequence. Simple and effective.
Sunday, September 25, 2011
To Those Who Think American Teachers Are Lazy
Here is a chart that documents who pays teachers the best for their time in Industrialized nations.
As you can tell, American teachers work the most hours, but have one of the lowest salaries for teachers. As a public school teacher, I knew that the criticism of American public school teachers that has come out of the mouths of pundits in the past year are not in line with reality. Here is proof.
Photo From GOOD
As you can tell, American teachers work the most hours, but have one of the lowest salaries for teachers. As a public school teacher, I knew that the criticism of American public school teachers that has come out of the mouths of pundits in the past year are not in line with reality. Here is proof.
Saturday, September 24, 2011
Highlight of the Day: 9/23/2011
OK, so this is a day late. Sorry, I couldn't help that.
Yesterday was a workday for staff, and teachers had meetings and parent-teacher conferences. We did have a staff meeting in between, and the staff got to talking about classroom safety issues. My supervising teacher volunteered to work on a committee to come up with new ideas for classroom safety. Because the last school I worked at was so safety intensive, I though I might be able to help out, so I quietly volunteered my name to her. She then volunteered my name to the committee in front of the whole program staff (including the program director). So in less than a month at my para job, I have become part of my first school committee. It feels pretty good to be helping out, it makes me look good to my superiors, and I get to put that down on my resume.
Yesterday was a workday for staff, and teachers had meetings and parent-teacher conferences. We did have a staff meeting in between, and the staff got to talking about classroom safety issues. My supervising teacher volunteered to work on a committee to come up with new ideas for classroom safety. Because the last school I worked at was so safety intensive, I though I might be able to help out, so I quietly volunteered my name to her. She then volunteered my name to the committee in front of the whole program staff (including the program director). So in less than a month at my para job, I have become part of my first school committee. It feels pretty good to be helping out, it makes me look good to my superiors, and I get to put that down on my resume.
Thursday, September 22, 2011
Highlight of the Day: 9/22/2011
I was showing a new para around the school today, and I took her into the ISS room, and introduced her to some of the students with her. One student greeted her with a "Fuck You". She is already part of the team. Later that day, he called me a "Fucking Dick."
While I am still enjoying working with the students, I will say I am starting to look forward to a workday without them tomorrow.
While I am still enjoying working with the students, I will say I am starting to look forward to a workday without them tomorrow.
Wednesday, September 21, 2011
Tonight in Georgia . . .
Photo from Fight Back News
A grave injustice has take place. Troy Davis has been put to death by the state of Georgia. If you don't know about the details of the Troy Davis case, read here. What it boils down to is that there is too much evidence to suggest that he not only might not be guilty, but that he was probably innocent.
I was going to take this opportunity to write a post about the injustice of the death penalty. I will another day. While I have always been opposed to the death penalty, this case has energized me to become more vocal and speak out against the cruel and permanent injustice of this "punishment". For right now, I am just sad for Troy and all of those involved in this case (including the MacPhail family).
A grave injustice has taken place in Georgia. May the real killer of Mark Allen MacPhail face justice one day. May the memory of Troy Davis be the beginning of the end of the death penalty in the United States.
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