teachers unite

[violet72]

Posted: 9/12/08 at 1:40pm

I thought this could be a fun thread where we could come and share stories, vent, share ideas, ask questions and so on

I am an elementary ESL teacher. I teach K5 to 3rd grade and travel to 3 schools everyday

[SweetQintheLights]

Posted: 9/12/08 at 1:44pm

I am a practicum student in the 4th grade classroom and in January, I will be student teaching.

In fact, today was my 5 hour day so I just got home

[StockardFan]

Posted: 9/12/08 at 1:56pm

I used to teach high school before I had kids......sometimes I miss it, but where I live now they don't offer the subject I taught.

I also coached varsity cheerleading.

Teachers rock!

[ShbrtAlley44]

Posted: 9/12/08 at 2:06pm

SweetQ, I hope you don't teach those kids to speak American!

[violet72]

Posted: 9/12/08 at 2:09pm

I also am the colorguard advisor for the marching band and indoor guard. I also help assistant direct the musicals at the high school

[StockardFan]

Posted: 9/12/08 at 2:11pm

That's awesome!

[Bluemoon]

Posted: 9/12/08 at 2:30pm

I taught middle school Social Studies for three years, pre-school for five years (family-friendly hours for raising kids), then high school History, Stagecraft and Acting until 2004. Since then I've been one of those dreadful Administrators. This year I'm the Director of Student Services - lots of fun and lots of work.

[KelRel]

Posted: 9/12/08 at 7:40pm

I teach 5th grade to 33, correction- one got expelled today so 32, inner city kids at a charter school. They are the most challenging, difficult, hard head, brilliant, smart, funny, and inspiring kids I've ever met. I work 11-12 hour days, through my lunch and still take work home. I have days that I want to walk out of the classroom and throw in the towel, but so many more where I will come home after a 12 hour day almost dancing because one of the kids "got it" that day. Those light bulb moments are what I live for as a teacher.

[singingwendy]

Posted: 9/12/08 at 7:50pm

I teach elementary vocal music. I see students at two schools...one for four and a half days, and one for one afternoon. (Love that 20 minute commute!) All in all, about 600 kids in a week. I also run an after school chorus that performs for our concerts and at various community events.

[Jess1483]

Posted: 9/12/08 at 7:56pm

I teach 2nd grade at an inner-city Charter School and echo KelRel's sentiments (and hours...). It's definitely the hardest thing I've ever done (although the second year is way easier than the first), but amazingly inspiring, while at the same time it makes me incredibly angry to see the odds my kids face every day. They've got such brilliance and potential, and the ambition to really do something, so I'm trying to inspire them to see themselves doing great things (and luckily my charter school has graduate support, which is at least someone in their corner.)

[jasonf]

Posted: 9/12/08 at 8:24pm

I teach 7/8th grade English. Some days are good. Some days not so good. Love the kids, hate the system A LOT.

[sally1112]

Posted: 9/12/08 at 9:06pm

I am in my fourth year of teaching high school English. Most days I love it, but some days I wanna scream.
It is a mix of BS from administration, state, and NCLB, and the occasional behavioral problem.

But when things go right, it is the most wonderfully satisfying feeling in the world to know that you helped a young person learn something, or growth, or gain confidence to speak their mind in front of the class. You don't get those rewards waiting tables!

[feinstein9]

Posted: 9/12/08 at 9:10pm

i'm just an actor but... you guys rule! thanks for all you do.

[SweetQintheLights]

Posted: 9/12/08 at 9:13pm

See, it's people like feinstein that makes us (me) want to continue. The money isn't good, but it's the appreciation we get and the love from the kids.

A hug from a kid or a nice comment is often much more than money.

[violet72]

Posted: 9/12/08 at 10:25pm

I agree when things go right it is wonderful. I had a student who came to this country when she was in 1st grade and she spoke not a word of English. Now she is in 3rd grade reading and writing in English on Grade level and tested out of the program. I feel lucky with my job not being a mainstream classroom teacher(I don't know how you all do it) because I get to be one on one with the student and I also get to teach them for 3 to 4 years, so when they go to 4th grade it is always hard for me, but I visit them and keep tabs on them

I hate the beurocracy.I work in a low income school district and I hate never ending paper work, the state testing, NCLB, and people who say "Oh your so lucky you have the summers off" and I just tell them yes but I don't get paid over the summer.

ok my funny story of the week
I had a 1st grade Bengali student in my room and the door of my classroom slammed and she jumped and said "I have scaredness in my heart" It was so cute

[SweetQintheLights]

Posted: 9/12/08 at 10:39pm

I'm too tired to think of a better story but one that comes to mind at the moment...

We were talking about benchmark testing (to see what they need to know for FCAT) and the teacher I am working for told the students, "This is not a test to worry about or get yourself sick over. We will study and all do our very best...etc."

One kid raises his hand and in all sincerity asks, "Is it ok if we feel anxious?"

These tests are really making teachers AND students ill...both physically and mentally. This kids are drilled with FCAT, FCAT, and more FCAT. The test, and these grades also depend on the grade the school gets in ratings with the school district.
Kids are tortured with these tests and 'threatened that they better do good/pass or else,.... Students become physically ill and throw up throughout the testing period during school. Teachers become upset and frustrated with the pressure they are under for all the students to perform on the test with a certain outcome.


Unfortunately, this is not uncommon.

Updated On: 9/12/08 at 10:39 PM

[violet72]

Posted: 9/12/08 at 10:44pm

yup with the tests they send special instructions and a bag to put in tests that students have vomitted on

[george95]

Posted: 9/13/08 at 12:58am

I'm in my 8th year of teaching. I teach sophomore English, Freshmen and senior religion, French as a senior elective, and physical science to freshmen. I'm also the chairman of the English Dept, and the senior class moderator, and the senior prom advisor. I also moderate the school newspaper, and I run a Cultural Club, where I take groups of about 7 students about every other Friday into Manhattan where we either see a b-way show, a museum (something educational) and then something fun like ESPN zone of cosmic bowling, and a dinner.

[Jane2]

Posted: 9/13/08 at 9:11am

I taught art for 25 years in an inner city school system to grades pre K through high school.This included special ed, Spanish speaking, and some advanced students. I wrote the photography curriculum for the artistically talented high school.

The stories I have could fill a book but I'm getting ready to leave for the weekend.

The first 15 years or so were good but there's a burnout in teaching in the worst school system in the country. I got out before I lost my mind.

[StockardFan]

Posted: 9/13/08 at 9:15am

I just want to say that you guys are all awesome!

Thank you for all you do for our children every day, and all of your hard work for little money.

[Elphaba]

Posted: 9/13/08 at 10:19am

Teachers Rule! Violet, anyone connected with Marching Band is THE best....
I come from a long line of teachers....don't teach but did help organize a marching band long ago for one of the US military high schools in Germany, one of the many USDESEA schools no longer around.

Wendy, sadly elem music was one of the things cut here a few years back, and since my state STILL had no budget, I fear worse coming.

[sally1112]

Posted: 9/13/08 at 10:19am

violet72, are you joking?

george95, you are awesome! Keep up the good work I know you are changing lives.

I want to get my kids out of the building more, but there is so much paper work, hassle, and expense that is often is so difficult that I just don't do it.

[Jess1483]

Posted: 9/13/08 at 11:01am

My funny story from Thursday:
It's career month, so I was having my students write about what job they wanted and why. They did a rough draft first, they I corrected it and they re-copied it. I went to one of my kiddos and read his paper "I want to be a raper when I grow up." I looked at the picture, quickly figured out he meant rapper, wrote it on his paper for him, and told him he really had to make sure that on his final copy, he spelled it the way I wrote it.
He didn't.
That one didn't make the bulletin board.

[nmartin]

Posted: 9/13/08 at 11:45am

I have taught English in public schools for twenty-two years. I currently have all 11th graders. We just finished The Great Gatsby. One of my girls did a performance project dressed as a flapper and danced the Charleston, which I taught her.

[jasonf]

Posted: 9/13/08 at 12:56pm

George -- how do you get away with the trip to Manhattan??? You must teach in a private school - we're fighting for even the most basic trips like bowling now - no way we'd be allowed to do anything even close to that cool!