Its been a long time since I have written but I just read an article about teacher tenure in NJ where Gov. Chris Christie discusses his decision to remove tenure for teachers and offer a 5 year contract where at the end of the 5 years you would be reviewed and based upon Merit would be offered another contract. I have tried to stay out of this debate on paper as much as I can because I have friends in unions who see the plus in them and I have friends who hate charter schools because we are the reasons they have to deal with the union/non-union debauchery.
While I see the benefits of unions (times when I get handed tons of work and get told I have to go to mandatory meetings until 6pm I am screaming that there is no one there to back me up). But there are more times in my life when I am thankful that I can stand up for myself and go right to the source to get what I need. Being a teacher who does what she is supposed and moves children at least one grade level every year I feel as though I can ask for more things than I could if I was in a union. I have watched a friend who is not tenure yet get literally harrassed in NJ because her union does not have contracts. They threaten to "slash her tires" and heckle her at her job because she refuses to participate in union sanctioned events where they stand outside the board's office and pickett. I mean, do I really want to pay X amount of dollars to be forced to go to events that could make me lose my job? All because the unions want more free time and more money, so we don't have a contract? Who doesn't want more money but at the very least I will take a job!
With that being said, I believe that neither system is the "enemy" Unions feel boards of educations are the enemy because they put such resistant to what teachers need and want. But Boards feel unions are the enemy because they are always saying they don't do or get enough. What if we trusted the board to give us everything they could and trust the unions to ask for what they actually need to be successful. And here's a concept- WHAT IF WE ALL DID WHAT WE WERE PAID TO DO?! Teach or be a leader let's just remember one thing: We are here for the children- not for the summers off or the fact that we get out at 1:45pm. It's about children learning. If we do that then we should all get what we want.
Here is the actual article:
http://www.nytimes.com/2011/01/13/education/13jersey.html?ref=education
Here's an article about 23 new charter schools being allowed to open up in NJ:
http://www.nytimes.com/2011/01/19/education/19christie.html?ref=education
Saturday, January 22, 2011
Wednesday, August 18, 2010
Great new article!
I was reading an article this morning and I thought that this would be so awesome for some school officials to see!
http://www.sfweekly.com/2010-08-11/news/ihelp-for-autism/
This article is all about using the iPad to help not only students with autism but students with different disabilities. They talk about how easy it is for students with disabilities including autism to use, and how it just looks so much cooler to be carrying around than anything else!
While I do not have students in my room who are autistic, I think about the student with struggling motor skills, the iPad can help him gain the confidence and will to want to practice using his fine motor skills with iDraw. I think about the student who struggles with reading and can now access the various spelling games on the iPad as well as read interactive digital books created by Disney!
While I do not know how effective it can be in a general education setting, I am willing to pilot my own iPad to test it out- I will let you all know how it goes!
http://www.sfweekly.com/2010-08-11/news/ihelp-for-autism/
This article is all about using the iPad to help not only students with autism but students with different disabilities. They talk about how easy it is for students with disabilities including autism to use, and how it just looks so much cooler to be carrying around than anything else!
While I do not have students in my room who are autistic, I think about the student with struggling motor skills, the iPad can help him gain the confidence and will to want to practice using his fine motor skills with iDraw. I think about the student who struggles with reading and can now access the various spelling games on the iPad as well as read interactive digital books created by Disney!
While I do not know how effective it can be in a general education setting, I am willing to pilot my own iPad to test it out- I will let you all know how it goes!
Monday, August 16, 2010
This HAS to be a joke. No Seriously
So I am sitting here reading around at blogs I love to follow and I stumble across one with an article from the NY Times. It is not about the article because when I first read the article, I just read it as "yes, this is what is happening." But then I read the comments and I could not help but feel enraged. If you have not seen "The Lottery" than I charge you to go because these comments sounded like the parents from PS 149 who were blind to the fact that there students were failing and the school was failing. They would rather see a charter school who is performing excellent go down than to admit that there school and their neighborhoods need help.
I was so upset by this that I started to write an opinion back but felt that it would be best suited here since as you can see it got quite lengthy.
A,
I agree that public schools should have just as much of a chance to educate our children as the charter schools. I believe that public schools are even given MORE of a chance to educate our children. However, I think that we are forgetting about the teacher's who are still in their positions that do not have a main goal of educating. They are there because they have a union, and because they know they will not get fired if they do the bare minimum because of that union.
Everyone in the teaching profession entered because they wanted to change lives, however charter school teachers know that if they do not change lives they lose their job. Yes, I work in a charter school and I believe that We are doing what other's won't. Notice won't not can't. If you have not you should watch "The Lottery" It is about the charter schools in NY who are succeeding. In the documentary they shoot down the idea that they have smaller class sizes- proving that they have 26-27 children in a Kindergarten class. They shoot down that they are there to destroy the PS'. They state that their job is the same as the Public Schools- to educate children, and that they are here because they felt that the children in Harlem deserved more than what they were getting. And obviously there is a need if every year they have way more than the expected number of children apply for the lottery.
Again, I do think that PS's should be effective, I believe that they should be where our children turn to, but there is too much of the "old school teaching" still left in the building. I know as a charter school teacher, that I would gladly go to the public schools to teach if everyone had the same goal- to have that relentless pursuit of educating our children. I would love shorter days, smaller class sizes (I teach 2nd grade and will have 28 students in my class-alone), and a union that will help me when I need it. But I also believe that children deserve a choice- because if children deserve and receive a choice, than we are all getting held to a much higher degree than what we would be if it were just us in the room and children who did not care and parents who did not care and had no choice. As a charter school we know that they have a choice, and that they can walk out and go somewhere else if we are not getting the job done. Don't children deserve that?
As I read the time article I felt a sense of pride for working hard everyday. But then I read the comments people were making and it makes me feel like I am not a good person because even though I teach everyday with 100% effort and move my children, it is not the "same" because I get to "hand pick my students" Believe me when I say that is sooo a lie. I have had children hit me, cuss me out, scream obsenities (yes these are 2nd graders), and parents who do the same. I have had a parent threaten to break all the windows in the building with a hammer if we did not let her in. But everyday I still come back wanting to help my children.
I do not mean to take my opinions out on you but out on the world. I too never understood charter schools and never understood why teacher's would go there. Then I entered one. For the first time I felt like EVERYONE from principal, to security, to cafeteria staff, to students felt that urge to teach and to learn. It is truly magical. If PS's all had the urge to learn and to teach- then they would be doing fantastic. We make too many excuses "There will never be a school with all great teachers" "No one wants to get paid 50,00 when they could be a doctor" "Parents don't care about Public Schools" "Children can get kicked out when ever the school wants" "Public Schools get the leftovers" And I specifically chose instances where this is not true. WE all need to stop making excuses, look at our faults and grow. We will never change if we are not reflective. If you look at the last 5-10 years you can see that education has completely changed. You should know this just by working at the Reader's and Writer's Teacher's College. They have changed the way teacher's teach reading and writing. And I am sure that you have seen several teachers who push back all the time on these ideas. Doesn't that frustrate you- to know that there are some children who are not getting the best because there teacher does not want to believe that we have changed?!
So Sorry for the long response but this is a topic that I have apparently become very passionate about. I know that in a few years hopefully things will be different again and thanks to Chancellor Michelle A. Rhee they are changing already in D.C. I hope however that the rest of the cities with low performing public schools can see the same chance for change, and the same chance for paying our teachers Public School and Charter School, what they deserve.
Best,
A. Piccoli
I was so upset by this that I started to write an opinion back but felt that it would be best suited here since as you can see it got quite lengthy.
A,
I agree that public schools should have just as much of a chance to educate our children as the charter schools. I believe that public schools are even given MORE of a chance to educate our children. However, I think that we are forgetting about the teacher's who are still in their positions that do not have a main goal of educating. They are there because they have a union, and because they know they will not get fired if they do the bare minimum because of that union.
Everyone in the teaching profession entered because they wanted to change lives, however charter school teachers know that if they do not change lives they lose their job. Yes, I work in a charter school and I believe that We are doing what other's won't. Notice won't not can't. If you have not you should watch "The Lottery" It is about the charter schools in NY who are succeeding. In the documentary they shoot down the idea that they have smaller class sizes- proving that they have 26-27 children in a Kindergarten class. They shoot down that they are there to destroy the PS'. They state that their job is the same as the Public Schools- to educate children, and that they are here because they felt that the children in Harlem deserved more than what they were getting. And obviously there is a need if every year they have way more than the expected number of children apply for the lottery.
Again, I do think that PS's should be effective, I believe that they should be where our children turn to, but there is too much of the "old school teaching" still left in the building. I know as a charter school teacher, that I would gladly go to the public schools to teach if everyone had the same goal- to have that relentless pursuit of educating our children. I would love shorter days, smaller class sizes (I teach 2nd grade and will have 28 students in my class-alone), and a union that will help me when I need it. But I also believe that children deserve a choice- because if children deserve and receive a choice, than we are all getting held to a much higher degree than what we would be if it were just us in the room and children who did not care and parents who did not care and had no choice. As a charter school we know that they have a choice, and that they can walk out and go somewhere else if we are not getting the job done. Don't children deserve that?
As I read the time article I felt a sense of pride for working hard everyday. But then I read the comments people were making and it makes me feel like I am not a good person because even though I teach everyday with 100% effort and move my children, it is not the "same" because I get to "hand pick my students" Believe me when I say that is sooo a lie. I have had children hit me, cuss me out, scream obsenities (yes these are 2nd graders), and parents who do the same. I have had a parent threaten to break all the windows in the building with a hammer if we did not let her in. But everyday I still come back wanting to help my children.
I do not mean to take my opinions out on you but out on the world. I too never understood charter schools and never understood why teacher's would go there. Then I entered one. For the first time I felt like EVERYONE from principal, to security, to cafeteria staff, to students felt that urge to teach and to learn. It is truly magical. If PS's all had the urge to learn and to teach- then they would be doing fantastic. We make too many excuses "There will never be a school with all great teachers" "No one wants to get paid 50,00 when they could be a doctor" "Parents don't care about Public Schools" "Children can get kicked out when ever the school wants" "Public Schools get the leftovers" And I specifically chose instances where this is not true. WE all need to stop making excuses, look at our faults and grow. We will never change if we are not reflective. If you look at the last 5-10 years you can see that education has completely changed. You should know this just by working at the Reader's and Writer's Teacher's College. They have changed the way teacher's teach reading and writing. And I am sure that you have seen several teachers who push back all the time on these ideas. Doesn't that frustrate you- to know that there are some children who are not getting the best because there teacher does not want to believe that we have changed?!
So Sorry for the long response but this is a topic that I have apparently become very passionate about. I know that in a few years hopefully things will be different again and thanks to Chancellor Michelle A. Rhee they are changing already in D.C. I hope however that the rest of the cities with low performing public schools can see the same chance for change, and the same chance for paying our teachers Public School and Charter School, what they deserve.
Best,
A. Piccoli
Sunday, August 8, 2010
The Start of a New Year
Hey all,
With the start of a new year I have time to think about what I want from myself as an educator. I have a few "new year's resolutions" that I am going to commit myself to this year. I think that the first should always be stay positive. I spent too much time last year being negative and not enough time being happy that my children were learning. I was never satisfied with what I did and therefore it always left me feeling like I missed something. I also spent too much time talking about the issues and not enough time trying to change them. I already feel more ready this year than I did last year and that makes me feel more prepared for the year. This is going to be my year!!!
Second, I want to make sure that everyone knows I am hear to teach my students. This past year I let too many people tell me how to run my life and classroom and too many days feeling like I was a bad person that it clogged my work. I am going to let people know that I am here to teach and that is all I am here to do. Not to listen to you tell me how to be a teacher.
Third, be organized. Now even though this is third on my list it most certainly not last because this is something I have tried to commit to in the last two years. I believe though that last year was such a great awakening on the importance that I am going to make sure that I am this year. For the first time I cared less about my walls and more about my organization. Mind you my classroom has a long way to go- still, I am feeling better about how it looks. Let's just hope I can keep up with it all year long!
With my new year's resolutions in mind, I am going to make sure that they are my motivation to continue my year. I will make sure that I am positive every day, and look at my children in a positive way all the time, that I am focused on myself and who I am as a person- not what other's think about me, and to make sure that I am organized!
I feel as though this year is going to be the best year ever because I am so committed to making it that way. I am committed to giving myself in to the students and making sure that I do what ever it takes to make them learn. My children need me to be these things so that they can receive the best education possible. No more excuses- we all need to live these resolutions!
Below I am going to post a few websites that are really helping me get organized and motivated!
This is a fantastic resource for EVERYTHING having to do with classrooms!
http://thecornerstoneforteachers.com/
This is a great site for organizing!
http://teacherweb.com/MO/MillsElementary/MrsBondsFantasticFirstGraders/apt14.aspx
This has great math tubs and center resources
http://www.jmeacham.com/balanced%20literacy/balanced.literacy.word.work.htm#currresources
This is a site about bucket filling- it is a great positive way to bring the children together!
http://blogs.scholastic.com/top_teaching/2010/04/are-your-students-bucket-fillers.html
Wednesday, July 8, 2009
Burn Out In July?
Ok so I was sitting at school working on some curriculum work for fall and I looked to a friend who said, "I am burn out already and it is only July." Then as I was sitting there I did feel overwhelmed a lot and thinking, do I really want to walk back in in August and feel burn out? How many teachers are running around this summer planning for next year and are already broke and burnt out?
In preperation for my 2nd year I feel as though I am like a chicken with my head cut off, looking to get everything done I wish I had done last year so that I could be "better" than the year before. But I have learned one thing, The more prepared you are the more you are not. You are always going to walk want to complete something new when you have finished something else. And then you are going to be burnt out from all the new and extra things you have going on in your classroom.
So if you are feeling like me, please do as I am going to try and do: Work one day, relax one day, work one day, relax 2 days! The point is make sure you take at least 3 days during the week to make sure that you relax and enjoy that this is summer! Because we ALL know that come october we will wish we were this relaxed in July!!!
In preperation for my 2nd year I feel as though I am like a chicken with my head cut off, looking to get everything done I wish I had done last year so that I could be "better" than the year before. But I have learned one thing, The more prepared you are the more you are not. You are always going to walk want to complete something new when you have finished something else. And then you are going to be burnt out from all the new and extra things you have going on in your classroom.
So if you are feeling like me, please do as I am going to try and do: Work one day, relax one day, work one day, relax 2 days! The point is make sure you take at least 3 days during the week to make sure that you relax and enjoy that this is summer! Because we ALL know that come october we will wish we were this relaxed in July!!!
Monday, July 6, 2009
Summer Vacation!
Hi, my name is Angela and I am a teacher in Washington, D.C. Teaching in D.C. is one of the most challenging/rewarding jobs you can have. It has pushed me to the limit several times, and yet somehow has me coming back for a 2nd year. In this blog I will talk about all things teaching, from the best and worst days, to the best and worst resources, and also the best and worst political movements for teaching (seeing as I am in D.C., the political capital of the world). I am hoping to use this site to share with you all the life of a teach-a-holic.
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