Rock'n Robin
Disney Queen
- Joined
- Jan 20, 2000
Well I don't know about Florida (although I'd like to teach there one day). I live in Ohio. They just cut school funding again. I don't have it so bad right now. The big blessing in my life is that I got a "permanent" certificate before they phased them out, so I never have to go to summer classes again. For me that is a blessing because I am home with the kids all summer. But that is no longer an option for new teachers, who can get a 5 year "license" at best.
Since there is a teacher shortage here they have toughened the requirements to teach (makes no sense, does it?). I had to take a test before I started, and now they have a harder test, the Praxis assessment. I am currently taking a workshop on evaluating student teachers using those principles (no I don't have to, but if I ever want a student teacher again my district requires it).
I am also a "speed reader" so I don't have to do much grading at home--I can also grade with other things going on. If you need total silence to concentrate, it can take you forever to get a stack of papers. Barry you mentioned English and writing. I am an English teacher and a fairly good writer of essays, letters to the editor, etc., although I'm not the "creative" writing sort. While it is fun to teach what you love (I love teaching literature) it can get frustrating when kids don't get it. Since I can write without much effort, I have little patience with kids who can't, although I try not to show it much. You have to learn not to take it personally when you teach a great book and the kids say "that book sucked!"
Plus dark days are coming--my principal in his wisdom wants us all to try teaching new classes next year, throwing 6 years of expertise in British Lit. out the window just to "refresh myself" . The state is starting a wicked test that is a graduation requirement to replace the proficiencies we have now, and there is writing in every subject--so even if the kid fails math, they can blame it on the English teachers. And next month we have a meeting to align our curriculum so each teacher in each grade is teaching similar stuff--our freedoms are disappearing. And the state dept. of education, which as far as I know has no teachers in it, keeps toughening our requirements--as does George W. Bush, who knows nothing of life in the actual classroom.
My girls (11 and almost 8) talk about wanting to teach and it makes me cringe because it's a hard road nowadays. I hope it gets easier soon.
Robin M.
Since there is a teacher shortage here they have toughened the requirements to teach (makes no sense, does it?). I had to take a test before I started, and now they have a harder test, the Praxis assessment. I am currently taking a workshop on evaluating student teachers using those principles (no I don't have to, but if I ever want a student teacher again my district requires it).
I am also a "speed reader" so I don't have to do much grading at home--I can also grade with other things going on. If you need total silence to concentrate, it can take you forever to get a stack of papers. Barry you mentioned English and writing. I am an English teacher and a fairly good writer of essays, letters to the editor, etc., although I'm not the "creative" writing sort. While it is fun to teach what you love (I love teaching literature) it can get frustrating when kids don't get it. Since I can write without much effort, I have little patience with kids who can't, although I try not to show it much. You have to learn not to take it personally when you teach a great book and the kids say "that book sucked!"
Plus dark days are coming--my principal in his wisdom wants us all to try teaching new classes next year, throwing 6 years of expertise in British Lit. out the window just to "refresh myself" . The state is starting a wicked test that is a graduation requirement to replace the proficiencies we have now, and there is writing in every subject--so even if the kid fails math, they can blame it on the English teachers. And next month we have a meeting to align our curriculum so each teacher in each grade is teaching similar stuff--our freedoms are disappearing. And the state dept. of education, which as far as I know has no teachers in it, keeps toughening our requirements--as does George W. Bush, who knows nothing of life in the actual classroom.
My girls (11 and almost 8) talk about wanting to teach and it makes me cringe because it's a hard road nowadays. I hope it gets easier soon.
Robin M.