Teacher support Group
Replies
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:bigsmile: :bigsmile: :bigsmile: :bigsmile: :bigsmile: :bigsmile:
Oh my goodness!
I just got home from an evening with my students' parents - I held a workshop to show them how they can help support their kids' education - & guess what?!
:bigsmile:
Out of 15 students, 9 had parents attending, a total of 16 assorted family members!
wahooooo!!!!!!!!!
(plus a few kids snuck in for the brownies!):blushing:
I'm really pleased with the turnout.
:bigsmile: :bigsmile: :bigsmile: :bigsmile: :bigsmile: :bigsmile:0 -
:happy:
Great going. Glad to see more parents are interested in their kids. I hope this is the beginning of a trend.
:flowerforyou: :flowerforyou: :flowerforyou:0 -
Can I join you all? I teach SpEd at a local middle school. My schedule consists of 2 6th grade Resource class and 2 6th grade Inclusion classes. Each class is a different subject area which makes prep quite the challenge. Being an emotional eater doesn't help and I find myself having a hard time staying on track.0
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Sure. Welcome!
:flowerforyou:
I love to hear about what other schools & teachers are doing. It fascinates me when we see all the different ways we can think of to get the same job done.
We had a professional development day Friday & we went to a nearby school to watch other teachers. It was interesting.0 -
New friends are always welcome. How's school going for everyone so far?
I still think I like the my new admin so far.0 -
Just had a VERY frustrating day due to non-supportive parents :explode: Won't go into details, but I know that you guys know how frustrating it can be- not everyone outside of the teaching world knows just *how* it can drain you and make you go from zero to 60 in 2 seconds flat. Parents don't want to do their job, but they're the first ones to criticize a teacher (or program director, in my case) when *we* do something "wrong" :grumble:
Like I said, just blowing off steam without going into everything... and it's only Monday :sad:0 -
Wow, that sounds like a great way to start off the week! Hope it gets better really quick for you.:flowerforyou:0
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Today was much better, thankfully! Feels like it should be Friday already, though- I'm exhausted! :ohwell:0
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OK, after carefull consideration and trying a lot of different things, including the raffle, I have determined that my 8th graders are a bunch of horses' patoots.
They have not turned in a single assignment in two weeks, and now things are disappearing from my desk. I'm thinking about "borrowing" things from them.
I was supposed to take them to the media center tomorrow, but depending on who and how many, I may have them sit on their sorry butts tomorrow. Thank God its going to be short day.
Guess I have a lot of phone calls to make tomorrow afternoon during my "training". It's online so I'll be listening intently in my room (yeah right).
VERY open to any further suggestions.0 -
anderson- That really stinks. I'm sure there's someone here who could inspire you.
I was whining to the teacher who had my class last year & she cheerfully said they were the worst she'd ever had. :noway:
Goodness. Maybe they aren't THAT bad. I think I'm making progress every other day. :laugh:0 -
Latest update with my 8th graders:
They didn't go to the library, but I was pleasently suprised at how well they worked on my alternate assignment. Maybe my calling in the AP after a pencil sharpener was thrown across the room at me did something.
I am going to try a different book with them, hopefully they will find it a little more interesting. I guess I'll see. Still need to call a lot of parents because everyone of them is now failing my class. Everyone who has had this group of kids have said it's the worst one to come through our school in a long time.
There's always tomorrow, and a three day weekend this week!!!! :happy:0 -
Everyone who has had this group of kids have said it's the worst one to come through our school in a long time.
I had 5th graders two years ago that were *that* group that everyone said "if I got a group like that again I swear I would retire." :sad: I feel your pain! Hang in there... :flowerforyou:0 -
While I'm thinking of it (and why I'm thinking of it at 11pm on a Friday is beyond me :laugh: guess my brain doesn't know how to get out of "work mode" :ohwell: )
I am the director of an After School Program, currently applying for a grant so we can get funded again. One of the BIG pieces they're looking for is quality parent involvement (aka NOT the 'we'll have a pizza party at the end of the year and invite all the parents'). Anyone have any ideas for good, quality parent involvement activities for busy parents of middle schoolers? I have a few thoughts, but I'm always open to ideas... maybe something has worked well at your school?0 -
Hi all! I am a band and choir director for a very small school district. I teach 7th thru 12th graders. Pretty crazy hours. I've read several of the last posts.
I noticed there was discussion on the President's speech. I'd like to chime in on that real quick. I liked his speech as a whole, but it kind of got on my nerves how he kept talking about "doctors and lawyers." As if those are the only professions worth going into. I know that some of the kids I've had over the last few years had no desire to be either of those. If he had gone into how important education is for plumbers, mechanics, etc., then a lot of those students would have stayed tuned in.
Sorry, that's something that has stuck in my craw for awhile (obviously!). I don't mean to start a whole new rant, just needed to get that off my chest.
Anyway, my band has never marched before, and the super and principal asked me to start a marching band this year. Tomorrow we are going to the Kansas State University Band Day. Early start, lots of walking, and hopefully lots of fun. My husband and I are packing a bag full of snacks (granola, fruit, etc.), so hopefully we won't totally blow it!
Glad to join the group!0 -
While I'm thinking of it (and why I'm thinking of it at 11pm on a Friday is beyond me :laugh: guess my brain doesn't know how to get out of "work mode" :ohwell: )
I am the director of an After School Program, currently applying for a grant so we can get funded again. One of the BIG pieces they're looking for is quality parent involvement (aka NOT the 'we'll have a pizza party at the end of the year and invite all the parents'). Anyone have any ideas for good, quality parent involvement activities for busy parents of middle schoolers? I have a few thoughts, but I'm always open to ideas... maybe something has worked well at your school?
I used to help plan our Afterschool program. We had parents with a variety of occupations & hobbies who came to talk to the kids. It was very popular. We had cop dads, a K9 cop unit, a carpenter who built little birdhouses for the kids to paint, one with a Native American background who brought his drummers, one who had a friend who owned a pet shop & brought some birds & guinea pigs.
It was pretty cool. Many parents had contacts if they weren't able to come themselves. Some could come & read to kids or help with crafts.
Middle school is a little trickier than elementary, though. Maybe career or hobby talks.0 -
I'd do it. The lounge food is killing me (and I'm the one who brought it today!)
Right????!!! HELP! I work at a Greek Orthodox school so the food that shows up in the teachers lounge here is UN-believable. UGH!! I'll be doing great until I walk until I go into the lounge!!:noway:0 -
While I'm thinking of it (and why I'm thinking of it at 11pm on a Friday is beyond me :laugh: guess my brain doesn't know how to get out of "work mode" :ohwell: )
I am the director of an After School Program, currently applying for a grant so we can get funded again. One of the BIG pieces they're looking for is quality parent involvement (aka NOT the 'we'll have a pizza party at the end of the year and invite all the parents'). Anyone have any ideas for good, quality parent involvement activities for busy parents of middle schoolers? I have a few thoughts, but I'm always open to ideas... maybe something has worked well at your school?
I used to help plan our Afterschool program. We had parents with a variety of occupations & hobbies who came to talk to the kids. It was very popular. We had cop dads, a K9 cop unit, a carpenter who built little birdhouses for the kids to paint, one with a Native American background who brought his drummers, one who had a friend who owned a pet shop & brought some birds & guinea pigs.
It was pretty cool. Many parents had contacts if they weren't able to come themselves. Some could come & read to kids or help with crafts.
Middle school is a little trickier than elementary, though. Maybe career or hobby talks.
You're right!! Middle school is a little tricky to say the least! Suddenly, it's "not cool" to have your parents have anything at all to do with you (besides driving you everywhere you want to go, purchasing your clothes, and paying your cell phone bill, of course!) :laugh: Anyone ever read the book "I Hate You! Get Out of my Life! (But First Could you Drive me and Cheryl to the Mall?)" :noway:
Anyhow, I appreciate your advice- I do have one dad that's a police officer, so I just might do a career talk, or even some kind of field trip/visit- depending on the job of course.
Anyone ever write a big ol' grant before!?!?
I feel like a little bit of all these things combined ----> :explode: :noway: :huh: :sad:
:sick: :yawn: 0 -
I won a $500 literacy grant last year. The biggest thing is don't be intimidated by them, they are not as hard to write as everyone seems to think.
Give good background info about your school and student population. Then explain how the money will benefit the students, and how you plan to track the whole program.
Mine took me about 2 hrs from scratch to write.0 -
I won a $500 literacy grant last year. The biggest thing is don't be intimidated by them, they are not as hard to write as everyone seems to think.
Give good background info about your school and student population. Then explain how the money will benefit the students, and how you plan to track the whole program.
Mine took me about 2 hrs from scratch to write.
This is HUGE- $300,000 to be exact. Already have about 60 or 70 hours in and not even close to being done :sad:0 -
I could use a little advice from the special ed teachers in the group. I teach high school math in a small school, only 7 teachers. The "new" special ed teacher ( she taught here before, but quit because she wasn't happy, then came back when she lost her job) is requiring me and the language arts teacher to attend nearly all the IEP meetings whether or not the students are in our classes. The previous special ed teachers didn't make this requirement. These meetings are held Monday afternoons, when no classes are held. The other teachers attend when the students are in their classes, otherwise they are free to use the time for prep.
I am one of the few who enjoys attending these meetings when I know the student involved, because I can participate in the discussion and provide input. The problem lies with the students I don't know. The special ed teacher will ask me for an opinion, which I don't have, or advice, which I can't give. I often feel and sound like an inept teacher who doesn't care about the student.
The question: What is the special ed teacher expecting from me? I have asked her over and over and the only answer I get is she needs my "expertise." She won't explain what that means.
The language arts teacher and I tried to negotiate with this teacher last spring, so that we wouldn't have to attend so many meetings where we didn't know the student, but this year is business as usual. All the agreements we made were tossed out the window.0 -
I could use a little advice from the special ed teachers in the group. I teach high school math in a small school, only 7 teachers. The "new" special ed teacher ( she taught here before, but quit because she wasn't happy, then came back when she lost her job) is requiring me and the language arts teacher to attend nearly all the IEP meetings whether or not the students are in our classes. The previous special ed teachers didn't make this requirement. These meetings are held Monday afternoons, when no classes are held. The other teachers attend when the students are in their classes, otherwise they are free to use the time for prep.
I am one of the few who enjoys attending these meetings when I know the student involved, because I can participate in the discussion and provide input. The problem lies with the students I don't know. The special ed teacher will ask me for an opinion, which I don't have, or advice, which I can't give. I often feel and sound like an inept teacher who doesn't care about the student.
The question: What is the special ed teacher expecting from me? I have asked her over and over and the only answer I get is she needs my "expertise." She won't explain what that means.
The language arts teacher and I tried to negotiate with this teacher last spring, so that we wouldn't have to attend so many meetings where we didn't know the student, but this year is business as usual. All the agreements we made were tossed out the window.
If I'm understanding this correctly- you're being asked/required to attend PPTs for student you do not service? If that's the case I think that's unethical (possibly illegal?) at the very least since PPTs are full of confidential information. I know there are issues within my district because I'm the Director of an After School Program that is school-sponsored (not sponsored by the YMCA or Boys and Girls club or anything), but since I do not "teach" the students during the school day (although I do teach them after school) there has been some opposition regarding me attending PPTs for legal reasons.
Could you speak to either your supervisor, or hers, and tell them how you don't feel it's necessary and that you actually feel uncomfortable attending? Even if they say no, at least you've made your discomfort and your feelings in general known in case anything ever becomes of it- this way your behind is covered.
I don't know if I helped- I hope so! :flowerforyou:0 -
Thanks for your help. My principal finally agreed to meet with the language arts teacher and me when I threatened not to attend anymore meetings until I got some criteria in writing. I went to the meeting with my thoughts on the students' welfare. I want, in writing, how my presence will benefit the student. The principal felt that was reasonable. He is going to sit in on the next month of meetings. He is the principal of two schools and I'm afraid ours gets the least amount of his time. At the end of the month, he will determine if our presence is necessary and if it is he will write the criteria.
About the legal aspect, from what I have read and understand about Oregon law, all that is required is at least one teacher attend the meeting and that teacher doesn't have to have that child as a student. It is the district that "prefers" a language arts teacher and a math teacher be present at the IEP meetings.
We'll see what happens in a month. Meanwhile, the special ed teacher is suddenly being very polite and cordial, though she hasn't apologized for humiliating me at the last IEP meeting.
Needless to say, it has been a very stressful two weeks. My ed assistant was ill last week, which put me behind, then this incident left me pretty exhausted. Managed to stay on the diet better than expected, though I'm sure I didn't lose any weight. We have a 3-day weekend and I can sure use it.0 -
WOW!!! Is everybody getting this busy already????
My district had this idea that all the classes in all the school in all the county should be covering the same lesson on the same day at the same time.
Guess what???? They just changed their mind and recinded the initiative when this month's school board meeting had over 1,0000 parents and teachers show up to voice their opinions about it.0 -
Hey there!!!
My district is trying to go to the same lesson, the same day thing too...EXTREMELY UNREALISTIC!!! I think these people need to try teaching in the classroom, and then tell us that this would be a good idea.... UH!!!0 -
My class was absolutely nuts this week. They are mostly active busy boys, but my goodness. They're more than a handful!0
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Hang in there! The holiday breaks are coming to the rescue soon! I have more issues with parents than the students. They need to let go and understand that in academics, not everyone wins a trophy for JUST showing up to class...they actually have to cross the finish line.0
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I was just thinking the same thing. I always find that once Halloween arrives, it's a sprint all the way through to New Year's... and time flies! We only have 1 full week of school in the entire month of November :drinker: It's the hap- happiest time of the yearrrrrrrrrrr! :laugh: (Besides the last day of school! :laugh: )0
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One Eagle Scout Project done this weekend!!!!!!!
He just needs to finish two partial merit badges and he's done!!!!!
It was so much fun, just 10 of us on a barrier island for the whole night, spiders and strange bugs galore!
Not much trick or treating this year, we were all too tired, which is great for the diet.:laugh:0 -
Hey there!!!
My district is trying to go to the same lesson, the same day thing too...EXTREMELY UNREALISTIC!!! I think these people need to try teaching in the classroom, and then tell us that this would be a good idea.... UH!!!
ours is doing that too....uggh...it is so ridiculous. We just found out they will bw writing our ELA lesson plans for us next year. Why did I bother with school.......they could teach anyone to dance and sing.0 -
Here, unfortunately, was my Facebook status for the day:
Today was a Cap'n & Coke kinda day...before 10:30am!! (Of course, I had to wait until I got home, but...you get the picture)! PARENTS!!!! PLEASE DO NOT HOVER OVER YOUR CHILDREN, YOU ARE NOT HELPING THEM IF YOU DO THIS...THEY NEED TO LEARN TO BE ACCOUNTABLE...THESE ARE THE PEOPLE WHO WILL BE TAKING CARE OF US WHEN WE ARE OLD...(of course, I do not ever plan to be old, but still)!
(Anyone looking for a Corporate Trainer? I will be available in June).0
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