Education Careers >> In the Workplace >> What changed at your school this year?
What changed at your school this year?
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Posted about 1 month ago We've all had a chance to settle into our teaching and start to reflect on our teaching, our students and our schools. We don't have any new teaching "innovations" this year in my school, but it seemsto be a lot calmer and more focused place than it did last year. Even the special education sixth graders who I taught two years ago and who seemed to be giving up on themselves then are more mature, putting in more effort and more more self-disected this year than they were last year (I tell all my students that once I am their teacher I never fully let go and I will watch and guide them until they leave the building). What has changed in your school this year?
"Learning is not attained by chance, it must be sought for with ardor and attended to with diligence." ~~ Abigail Adams (1744 - 1818) |
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| Posted about 1 month ago Everything technology changed this year, new login requirements for students and teachers, new gradebook, new operating system, new word document program, new office suite, new laptops for teachers, new projectors in classrooms, new attendance system...I of course love most of the changes, I'm not sure my colleagues feel the same. I think most of them would still be using the Commador 64 if they could! |
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| Posted about 1 month ago Wow, I'm impressed, and more than a little bit jealous, of the amount of technology in your school. Last year we finally got two desktop computers and a printer in each classroom and a promise of white boards in the future. This year we got two, one white board for each floor. We do not have any projectors or grading system, though the city does have a computer attendance system in which the homeroom teachers bubble in a scantron sheet for their class attendance. We still write IEPs by hand, all fifteen pages (up from nine a year ago). "Learning is not attained by chance, it must be sought for with ardor and attended to with diligence." ~~ Abigail Adams (1744 - 1818) |
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| Posted about 1 month ago Well, I am working with autistic children. It's a change from emotionally disturbed self contained. Most of the classes have white boards or smart boards. We call them white boards and they're a great tool to have in your classroom. Our crazy 8th graders left. They were nuts...lol! I saw it when they were in 6th grade and thought... OH NOOOO, not another crazy bunch! The new 6th grade seems frisky but there aren't as many and it's a small class. I'm in one classroom all day, and not running around with the emotionally distrurbed making sure they behave. I do miss them and they have been asking for me. I wanted a change but I never thought they'd place me with autistic students. It's good though, they are cute and comical. I'm usually put with the difficult students because believe it or not they know little Mrs. D. doesn't mess around! I demand respect and in return I give them respect. I'm a lot stronger then I used it be and that's a good thing.
I never thought I'd be in a middle school, but I actually fell in love with the kids. I was sick last week and had an asthma attack and one special ed. student came running up to me when I returned and hugged me! That's priceless! |
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| Posted about 1 month ago Cindy, when I was in grad school to become a teacher six years ago, I said silly things like, "you'll never see me teaching in middle school," and "you have to be crazy to work with adolescents." Now I eat my words. I'm in my third year in middle school and I love it. The kids are challenging, but it is so thrilling to watch them come in as sixth graders and grow, physically, intellectually and emotionally so much in just three years. I'm glad you're enjoying your new assignment. "Learning is not attained by chance, it must be sought for with ardor and attended to with diligence." ~~ Abigail Adams (1744 - 1818) |
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| Posted about 1 month ago Well, when I was in my undergrad I used to say you couldn't pay me to deal with middle school kids! There was a program and if you took three additional classes you could get certified birth through 8th grade. I can tell you too that I'm eating my words! This is my fourth year there and when the 8th graders left, I cried...lol! They get so mature by 8th grade (most of them) and to me it's really their last year of childhood. They become young adults right before your eyes. I became very close to the 8th grade last year, I also had lunch duty with them. It was my tenure year and I figured the administration really wanted to kick my butt. I believe you make the best out of a bad situation and I actually enjoyed dealing with them socially instead of academically. The girls would tell me all their problems with the boys and the boys would come to me for advice. There's a lot of drama but also a lot of fun!
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| Posted about 1 month ago I imagine it is very rewarding for the Deven's and Cindy's who are very good at it. |
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| Posted about 1 month ago I've always been good with children and I also know that I still have a lot to learn. My favorites are the little ones but to my surprise I don't mind working with older students. |
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| Posted about 1 month ago I had my first class of my own two years ago. They were sixth graders then and they are in eighth now. I have remained close to most of those kids (and I teach almost all of them now three periods a week) and, as sad as I'll be to see them go and as much as I will miss them, I can't wait to see them graduate. I tell my students that once I am their teacher I never let go of them. I check on them with their current teachers and talk to their parents whenever I can. I have formed some good relationships with those kids (and many of the parents) and now I tell them I will follow them to high school. I think that scares some of them, but most appreciate the concern and attention. "Learning is not attained by chance, it must be sought for with ardor and attended to with diligence." ~~ Abigail Adams (1744 - 1818) |