Teacher support Group

"Best practices",,, currently recommended instructional techniques. In my business (teaching a motor-skill to adults) it's mostly about how we reinforce learning. "Student centered questions" to make the student engage the information and verbalize their personal experience using the new skill.

Have I been harassed by Admin? No. Have I been harassed by co-instructors? Oh heck yes. Lot of instructors out there still teaching the 1994 curriculum.

Are the kids following along in their books, or is it just story time? How is this "interactive"?

I take it Interactive read aloud is a recognized best practice for you business,,, but your supers want you to just teach the test? Well that sucks. Hmmm... It is what it is.

Can you do what I do when one of my trainers tells me to do something stupid? (Smile, and nod,,, and think to myself - "Yeah, sure, I'll do exactly what you say. Now why don't you leave the room" :laugh: ).

The thread's been cold for a few days, but testing's a-comin, time to get some support or give up. I vote for the support. I will not let the whims of administration, from Washington on down, affect my health, happiness, and future well-being. Anyone on board?

We start testing this week - how about y'all?
And of course, rain is predicted. :grumble:

!!!Warning! Long Rant!

I teach choir. About the only way to fail my class is to not sing, not sit up, and not turn in their "journals." Now, journal is a loose term. Each day we meet (twice a week), I put a question up on the board. Usually requiring minimal writing, it's just a quick review on something that we talked about last class time, or a question about their weekend, etc. (Just a little background info.)

I had call from a mother today. I truly dislike speaking with this mother. Everything I try to explain comes back to something that I have done wrong and THAT is why her son is failing. Today, I was told that he hasn't been turning in his journals because he got it in his head at the beginning of the school year that I was strict and THAT is why he won't do journals, sit up, or sing in my class. If I would just take the time to get to know him, he's a wonderful musician, writes his own songs, and a generally great kid. I respond with the fact that I have TRIED to chat with him and get to know him. Hard to do when everytime I ask any kind of question all I get is monosylables or grunts. The conversation continued it this vein. It was a VERY frustrating conversation. EVERYTHING was my fault. Nevermind that her child sits in the chair and smirks (my perception, maybe it's just a facial tic) at me, disrupts students around him (doesn't seem to matter where I sit him, he finds someone), and just is generally uncooperative. Also, please discount the fact that I have put together a special folder for him that I keep on my stand, I hand it to him everyday at the beginning of class along with blank paper and a pencil (so he can do that journal entry!), and I pick it back up from him everyday at the end of class. (Every other student is responsible for putting their music in their music slot in my music cabinets before and after class.)

I have done everything within my power to help this student. I read the questions out loud, and we talk about the answer. (Again, reviewing whatever concept it was) Because we do this, I do not grade the journals on whether they are right or wrong (why penalize the honest kids who didn't change their incorrect answer?), I give them participation points for these. The middle school lead teacher has been keeping this student in her room before school, during lunch and during seminar time to work on missing work. The student is missing work in many classes, not just mine!

Mom thinks that I should have the counselor meet with her child and myself so we can get to the bottom of why he doesn't like me. I told her I would pass her request on to the counselor. But I am sorry. I am not there to be their buddy. I want them to be comfortable around me, I want them to feel like they can talk to me, but I also expect them to respect the expectations in my classroom. Participation, with your best effort, in ALL activities is my #1 expectation. This student is NOT meeting this expectation. I have bent over backwards trying to help this student be able to meet this expectation, but I am out of ideas. I will talk to the counselor (who happens to be my BF's hubby), as well as the principal, and the middle school lead teacher. Maybe one of them will have other ideas.

Ok, thank you for reading. My rant is over. Back to your regularly scheduled programming!

the year is so close to over...hang in there fellow teaches!

!!!Warning! Long Rant! I teach choir. <<SNIP>>
Ok, thank you for reading. My rant is over. Back to your regularly scheduled programming!

The word for today is "Oppositional Defiant" - - - can you say "Oppositional Defiant"?

Thanks Casper! I can always count on one of your posts to make me laugh when I need it!:flowerforyou: I reported the conversation to my principal and the counselor today. They both agreed that I am doing MORE than is expected (especially since mom won't let him be tested for sped), and they basically told me to keep up the good work.

Thanks for all the advice and encouragement! I felt SOOO much better just getting it out of my head and written down. Now on to figuring out how to make one song fit 12 soloists! Now we're talking FUN!