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Additional Posts in Teacher's Lounge
Literally my face...every....day
Happy Monday Lisa everyone!
This is the truth!!!
TEACHERS, this SHOULD NOT define you!!
Herding velociraptors, basically!
And it’s about that time...
Hello everyone today is my birthday 🎂🎂🎂🎂🎂🎂🎂🎂🎂🎂🎂8/11
Sadly, this is how I’m feeling this week.
Just on time for Daylight Savings Time!
This is proof that our school system is failing.
Tuesday profound thought:
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The rules of the game are if the student earns a C everyone is happy. Took me a long time to figure it out but if I play by the rules of the game everyone is happy. If I do not play by the rules of the game, we’ll, then I can spend some time in the office while they explain the rules to me again but not as clearly as I have explained them to you. The system is very broken.
It is very unfortunate that this is the case. I tried to do it my way and found that the only person it affected was me. Once I got with the program all of my problems disappeared. I’m patiently waiting for something to change this.
Unpopular opinion time:
This may seem counter-intuitive, but I honestly believe that if we LET more students fail, fewer of them actually would. Under our current expectations that teachers will do "whatever it takes", they actually go behind students and clean up their messes (figuratively speaking, of course). Sometimes I just hang back and listen in on students, and many of them outright say they are unworried because they know that whatever they do, an adult will swoop in and fix it.
I've seen a huge decrease in self-efficacy in students as a result. Even intelligent students with top grades will sit around and wait to be specifically told where to go and what to do. A few examples: last year students taking the AP exams had to be pulled out of class to go step by step to register for the exam and they still got most of it wrong. AP students ought to be able to do this themselves. In another case, one of the students who should have been in the top 10% of the class didn't graduate because "my counselor forgot to register me for an English class". These are just two of the many examples and these involve the top students! I've spoken to teachers elsewhere and they report the same thing.
Now, I'm not saying we should leave kids to their own devices to just flounder and do whatever, and I do know that supports need to be age and developmentally appropriate. But sometimes we need to let them learn that failure is a definite possibility and the consequences can be dire if they don't do a few things for themselves.
NYHS1, I remember reading a study, I can't seem to find it again, that compared current American safety practices with kids and the system is many European countries, mostly Nordic ones. While American parents tend to hunt desperately for every possible danger no matter how slight and remove it practically wrapping them in sanitized temperature controlled bubble wrap, the Nordics let kids play in places that would send American parents into an anxiety fit. Paradoxically, the Nordic kids were safer and healthier even later in life. Why? Because by removing all danger, kids never learn to be careful. I think failure, in proper doses, is like that danger.
Pro
It’s called Scapegoating the teacher because unmotivated students, irresponsible parents, and inept administrators do not get the concept of “there are consequences to the student for not completing work, and that consequence is failure of the class.” Period.
Contact your union!!!!!
Visual Storyteller
Awful.
In our school, the gen. ed. teachers work closely with the behavior and special ed teachers to keep kids accountable no matter whose room they are in. Are the gen. ed. teachers willing to work with you on this? What's the magic in your room that gets these kids working? And how can their other classes be infected with it?
I would love to be "infected with magic"!
Ugh… no one teacher is solely responsible for any students… I say you keep doing you and ignore that clown!
Pro
Why are you being held responsible for what students are or are not doing in another teachers classroom? That doesn’t make sense.
What do you think might be going on if the students will work in your room but not elsewhere?
An analogy I share with my students (and you may want to share with your admin) - When you go to the dentist - they tell you to brush and floss to prevent cavities. If you fail to do either and end up with cavities - is it the dentist's fault? Of course not - the students realize that they have a responsibility to brush and floss. It is the same with teachers. If they tell you what to do to succeed as a student, and you fail to do what they tell you - it is not the teacher's fault. Good luck.
So, when do the students take responsibility for their actions or lack thereof? Are you expected to spoon-feed them as well? Is this a case of parents yelling at your admin, and then admin yelling at you?
Unfortunately, everything is the teacher's fault now. Parents do not want any responsibility for discipline or helping their children at home.
If you're not leaving anything out, your admin is the problem.
Definitely call the union.
Here’s what I would do. Set up a one time meeting with each student’s parent, teacher, and invite administration since eventually this is headed their way. You explain in the meeting what things you do and have success, then let the regular ed teachers explain their concerns. That way everyone should be able to do what is necessary for the students, but most importantly let them know what is expected of them or else face the consequences.
The educational system is broken. The political system is broken. The societal/family system as a whole is broken. If feel like we must be living through the fall of the Roman Empire. I struggle to do my job daily while I witness the collapse. I can either pass kids who don’t deserve it and not be on the radar, fight a system that’s serving itself, or find another job. I have 13 years to go but definitely not sure I will make it. It’s so disheartening.
I think you are missing the big picture. This same thing happened to me 30 years ago. This used to be a very common problem depending upon your administration. In the 80’s I was written up because I allowed a first grader to stand up at his desk. Apparently if I was a good teacher my students would all sit perfectly at their desks.
Social culture has turned to focus on the TEACHER failing the students rather than the students being responsible or, (oh no!) the parents being involved. This is where the Serenity Prayer comes in so handy!
God, grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change, the courage to change the things I can, and the wisdom to know the difference.
It doesn't sound like your admin has he wisdom to know the difference.
I understand. I taught a fourth grade class with some very difficult behaviors and was called in by my principal because those students would not behave with a substitute, on the bus, or outside of my classroom. when I explain to her that they behaved when I was in the room she told me that if I was a very good teacher that my students would always behave. I felt completely defeated. But, she actually gave me the freedom to give up. I immediately relaxed and said to her you are right. I used to be a good teacher but obviously I’m not one anymore. When can you come into my classroom and show me how to do it correctly? she backed off. I used a lot of sick days to make it to the end of the year and then I changed schools.
Enthusiast
Interesting.
Students are expected to generalize skills and use them across disciplines.
How can you help the other teachers and how much can they pay you to do it? 😎
Here are possible suggestions...
1) Have someone cover your classes so you can observe the student/teacher relationship in their failing classes. Is the IEP being met (i.e sitting away from distractions, do instructions need to be repeated, etc.)?
2) This would depend on the environment at your school, but our Resouce Teachers will have inclusion time in the classrooms to not only help their assigned students but also help others in the classroom. This way it does not look as if you are singling out your students.
As teachers, we need to do what is best for the students, looking outside the box to find solutions. I know we can't save them all, but we sure do need to try!
Welcome to teaching 2022. It is always, always, always, the teacher’s fault.
If they work in your class, then it seems to me you are doing your job and the other adults need to step up to the plate and do theirs.
Iowa, teaching Behavior as an academic subject? Doesn’t your district employ a behaviorist?
Heh! Yeah.
Lucky there are a crazy number of schools hiring. Start looking right away,