Educators (all of us who make a living working with students) with Doodles

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Comment by Nancy, Ned, Clancy, and Charlie on April 28, 2009 at 9:38pm

Isn't it funny that even when moral is low, we have a bad year, and budgets and test scores look gloomy, we look forward to next year and what we might be able to accomplish with that group of students. It is because we truly love teaching and will even 'sneak' to do so. We so look forward to seeing the light bulb going on for a student even if it is of very low wattage.

Comment by Cindy and Mandy on April 28, 2009 at 7:41pm

Our principal has some issues in communication skills, but expects the teachers to communicate perfectly with each other and everyone they come into contact with during the day. He almost acts like he doesn't know how to even hello to anyone, has to think "so and so is approaching, smile, now say 'hello', continue walking". I am not kidding we have all noticed it and go out of our way to make him participate in small talk, which truly makes him uncomfortable. His cell phone (calls from wife/kids) goes off during meetings, but if a teacher's goes off he scowls at them. With him, it is better to stay away and say very little. The climate in our school is horrible, I really wonder out of 60 teachers who will remain and who will go. It is so sad, since it was such a wonderful school 3 years ago.

Comment by Kathy Wilson on April 28, 2009 at 7:21pm

I hate the pinkslip tyranny! So many teachers are being thoroughly demoralized. They want to increase class sizes and then blame teachers when scores go down. I am often asked why, at nearly sixty, that I want to bother to finish my credential program. Why? I'm SO close and I couldn't bear to quit now. Eighteen weeks of student teaching and one little test (R.I.C.A.) and I get to graduate WITH a master's degree. I have to finish, even if I never have my own classroom. That and I LOVE teaching kids. I love when kids who struggle finally learn to read and get excited about it. I love when an angry parent comes to me 'loaded for bear' and I am able to win them over. I need to see kids succeed.
You are inspiring....the way you stood up to your principal. Super!

Comment by Nancy, Ned, Clancy, and Charlie on April 28, 2009 at 5:27pm

The RSP teacher who worked under this principal pre-warned me, I was ready and stood up to her the second day of school when she wrote me up for being late to a meeting (I was late because my box had been moved so I didn't know to check it AND I am part time and my start time was later than the meeting start time.) Of course I would have been there on time if I had known about the meeting and told her so in written form. We have had a very unusual and difficult year with students (like a kinder that we sent straight to a non-public school setting for ED, and a non-qualifying student with a step-parent advocate who was on a power trip and sued us) and I think I behaved in a professional manner so that she has come to respect me. But she definitely operates on the negative and has really singled out some teachers. I actually enjoy going into that 6th grade classroom - like I said the teacher is a good teacher and well -organized, and I do think that he has learned to value what I can do with the lower achieving students in a small group. I truly wish that we weren't going to lose so many of our staff members to "pink slip" economics.

Comment by Kathy Wilson on April 28, 2009 at 6:36am

Wow, Nancy, how do you endure this? That's awful! At this stage of my life, being bullied might get me fired. I've worked for bullies in the past and resolved to stand up for myself. It isn't that I'd be rude but I don't think I could ignore the cruelty without saying something. As for the other teacher...yikes, I hope next year is much better for you!

Comment by Nancy, Ned, Clancy, and Charlie on April 26, 2009 at 4:21pm

People complained about our principal last year and now wish she was back!! This year's principal operates on the negative and only criticizes. She tries to bully you and if that works, she will be on you for every little thing. The teachers at my school are really low. Four of our teachers (all primary) got pink slips. Since we only have 13 classroom teachers, our school is in for a huge staffing change because none of the current upper grade teachers is willing to teach primary.
The one teacher where I am going into the classroom this year, really didn't want me. He is an excellent teacher and the team leader, computer go-to guy... but never would help me, include me for materials etc.. Now that I have been in his room every day and tried to do a few extra things, I do think I have won him over.

Comment by Cindy and Mandy on April 26, 2009 at 3:32pm

Hi Lynda, Our testing is over for Math and Language Arts so we are having a great time reading a novel and doing activities over it. This year has just been very difficult emotionally since I had such high hopes about the small team I would be on, but it just didn't work out and next school year will be better, which is what I am hanging on to now! I have loved working with a couple other teachers the last 2 years, just this one was a bad experience. Luckily I learned some things so the year wasn't a complete waste.

Comment by Lynda Kamrath on April 26, 2009 at 1:01pm

Partnering can be great when it works, and a real problem when it does not. I have been working in a 5th/6th grade pod a couple of days a week and they level for reading and math. There is a lot of switching and I pull kids all day for fluency testing and make-ups. It has been really great and I enjoy working with all the teachers there. I'm sure you have testing coming up in the next few weeks, so stick in there to make it comfortable for the students, and when testing is over you can celebrate with the kids. I used to always take the month of December off from academics and do lots of arts and crafts, plays, music, and fun math (geometric shapes for ornaments) and orgami. The kids looked forward to my "fun month" and worked very hard until December so we could all enjoy that time before winter break. Then we would hit it hard again until testing in May, then chill out with all the fun stuff again after that. When the kids also have goals, they enjoy working hard to reach their goals. One of the teachers in my pod is trying to decide if she will do polyhedroville after testing (she is a math teacher). So find something that the kids can enjoy as well as you and work toward it.

Comment by Cindy and Mandy on April 26, 2009 at 6:04am

Thank you Kathy! The atmoshere in our building is so heavy right now, people are not happy, especially the special ed teachers (there are 9 of us). I feel bad when we have our team meeting because my situation for next year will be great (along with 3 others) but the other 6 the changes for them they do not like. I have considered changing buildings, our principal has some great ideas but his personal skills/communication skills are lacking to say the least. He enjoys "starring down" people when he asks a question. The other teacher I am with flat out says he doesn't like having sped kids in his room, which floors me because he wanted to be on this small team with a special ed teacher on it all day. Actually I think he wanted to do it because he thought it would be easy or something, and he is rather a control freak. I like him as a person, but this year was very difficult, and when things weren't being done in our room that the principal wanted I was the one "in trouble". I refused to play the blame game and just took it. Oh well, a few more weeks and then it will be over. The kids were great this year and that is what keeps me going. Right now I rush home to play with Mandy after work, she is my solace and joy, even though those sharp teeth could go away and it wouldn't hurt my feelings, LOL

Comment by Kathy Wilson on April 25, 2009 at 10:19pm

Cindy, I'm so sorry you're experiencing this. It happens all the time in the district where I work the most often. At the school where I do the most teaching, it is true of at least half of the teaching staff. Folk are burned out and ready to retire early. Sorry about that other teacher. I subbed for three months in a kindergarten class where the other teacher and I were not a good fit. She corrrected me off and on most of the day. I was exhausted and in tears by the time I left most days and I was glad when the other teacher returned from maternity leave. It was the toughest assignment I've ever had. Sad thing is we are both nice people and competent teachers....it just wasn't a great match. I LOVE team teaching when it's a good match. I love special ed and after I finish student teaching, I'm going to go for special ed certification and hope to teach mild-to-moderate students before the end of next school year. My thought is to plan something enjoyable for yourself at the end of each school day so that you can concentrate on that when things feel overwhelming. It sounds small but it can help, even if it's just passing by a Starbuck's for a latte after work. In the meantime, you are in my thoughts and prayers. Hope the year is up soon.
Hugs, Kathy

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