TheApple

 Dear Tom,

I LOVE this typo - toadminister - which conjured up images of Wind in the Willows" for me. 

As for your question, I really don't know if I'm feeling fried because I'm pretty sure that's been my natural state for quite some time.

John, dang, I thought I had all the tiepoes out of it befour I posted it.   I do like Toadminister, however.  Kinda reminds me of a boss I used to have. Thanks for the comment.

teacher__411 says ...

TomAnselm,

Yes, I believe that you were being complimented when you were called a dawg. It is a term of endearment amongst our younger generations. They have really nice terms for you when they don't like you.

Are they truly nice terms or  would they perhaps be a bit to savory to print?  I've heard some real winners in my time - a few were even directed at me....

"Don't ask, don't tell" when it comes to breakthroughs with students.  The kid I have been having fits with today came in with his homework, sat quietly, asked if he could do some extra work.  I  will accept that and will take that and use it.  Before class ended, I called over him and another kid with similar M.O. telling them that they could be leaders of the class.  They seemed to take it to heart.  Whether or not there is carry over, we have had this one shining moment, and I can always go back to that.  They do have potential, and could be strong students if they can get some moderation in behavior.

We shall see if next week brings any changes.  Hope springs eternal.

Saintives... Thank you so much... prayers ALWAYS welcome... sometimes it is the only thing that works.

 October and November are LONG months, but then the holiday breaks start and it starts fiying by hopefully. Hang in there!

here is my schedule

715-800 study hall

800-815 Homeroom

815-905 1st period

905-955 2nd period

955-1045 math lab

1045-1135 3rd period

1135-1200 4th period

1200-1225 lunch

1225-100 4th period

100-130 Algebra

130-210 remeadation class

210-305 5th period

305-330 bus duty

I don't evan have time to go to the restroom, of course i am getting burn out!!!

TomAnselm says ...

"Don't ask, don't tell" when it comes to breakthroughs with students.  The kid I have been having fits with today came in with his homework, sat quietly, asked if he could do some extra work.  I  will accept that and will take that and use it.  Before class ended, I called over him and another kid with similar M.O. telling them that they could be leaders of the class.  They seemed to take it to heart.  Whether or not there is carry over, we have had this one shining moment, and I can always go back to that.  They do have potential, and could be strong students if they can get some moderation in behavior.

We shall see if next week brings any changes.  Hope springs eternal.

Tom...often gifted kids go off the beaten path and end up as class clowns...rebels...then...who knows...even gang leaders...they are bright, but others don't get it the same way they see it, they feeel isolated and act out...did you know that gifted kids are among the "at risk" population for dropping out of school?

Give those boys a close look...  sounds like you're a good teacher, one who cares.

I remember my last semester on campus I told my professors that if it wasn't my last I would have quit school. I know what she is going through but tell her to just plug on away and  it will be rewarding enough she won't think twice about it.

nitchole says ...

I am writing this about my daughter ( unbeknownst to her).  She is a senior in college and is currently doing pre-student teaching ..teaching. She seems to be very frustrated and is questioning her whole becoming a teacher plan.  She's spending hours and hours trying to prepare lesson plans that will grab students' attention and get the lesson across to ninth & tenth graders (such as introducing a new verb tense-french).  She already feels burnout, and is relishing some sort of 9-5 job wherein she can leave her work at work. Is this a normal situation or perhaps a sign that teaching is not her forte.  She's a 3.9 gpa student and seems to have a good grasp of all her education studies, has no problem writing papers, can stand in front of people and do presentations intelligently and usually with humor.  My thought is that student teaching will be grueling and probably is required to weed out the weak, and that the first year of a new teacher's job will be just as difficult.  Any thoughts?

I know this sounds slightly cynical, and a bit hard-nosed...however, this is a post I wrote in the "prospective teachers" topic...there are young and old who are thinking about transitioning into the field of teaching, they ask "Is it right for me?  How do I know?" and the following post was my response....

For those who genuinely like children, and who are considering a transition to teaching, I encourage you!  

Before anything else though, please demonstrate the strength of your conviction by volunteering some time in the classroom.  One day is not enough, one week perhaps sufficient, a month or more would make the situation clear.

It definately is a wonderful and fufilling career.   It satisfies the need to know you have done something worthwhile and valuable in this life ~ you've 'passed it forward'.  

The answer to ~" is it right for me?"   Cannot be answered by another.  Experience is the best teacher in this instance.  

Find a teacher you really like, one you are personally comfortable with; shadow her day.  Pitch in your aide whenever posssible, ask her to show you her organizational system for record keeping and lesson planning.  Ask her how many hours she puts-in outside the classroom...ask how she raises money for special projects...ask how much parent support she gets, watch the classroom routines...so many details...how long does she spend standing at the copy machine every day? ... is there a budget for basic classroom materials and supplies? (these are two separate categories, ask if you don't know the difference...)  ...what extra-curricular duties are involved? ...does she compact and contract?  

... now...when you have asked your heart-out...and considered spending every day of your teaching career doing these time-consuming chores, just so you can be allowed a total of about 2 hours a day actually teaching subject matter ...all the preparation, all the organizing and committees, and charts, and rationalizing every lesson you teach for the State Board; all the testing and planning for testing and teaching test-skills...all of it ...takes time and it is primarily what your school day will be composed of...if it is not, then you will have to do all of this in the evenings, at home.

All of this and still home schooled kids who spend less than an hour a day on school work score equally as well on standardized tests.

Be clear on what a career in teaching entails...

However, as I mentioned earlier, if you have a sincere affiliation toward children...all the other is worth your efforts...in the career of teaching, it's the caring part that gets ya through.

 

Hope it helps to clear things up...

~debo