Progress reports...never have two words combined to make my day feel more broken. Let me say this...whoever designed NCWise was not thinking 'user friendly' when they conceived this program. Not to even mention that I had no proper training on the guts of it all, but I was literally scrambling to get my grades posted by 5pm Tuesday. Only thanks to the help of a couple kind colleagues was I able to do it. I dub thee 'NCStoopid'...
I felt bad when I saw some of my kids grades. The problem is that I haven't really given many grades so far. I don't assign homework every night, the first test didn't make it in time, one quiz and a couple of weekly participation grades, and that's all I had. Sure, I could have wore my brain cells into the ground trying to come up with all these graded assignments in two weeks time. Would it be beneficial to my overall mental stability? No.
I wish my room better represented a Spanish classroom. There's nothing really wrong with it now but it could use a couple $100 Staples gift cards. I feel like it's not setup to create the best possible learning environment, simply in terms of how many chairs I have and the limited amount of room with which to arrange them all. If I had it my way, I'd be smack in the middle of the room with the kids surrounding me...there'd be Los Lonely Boys playing each day as they entered the room...giant posters of far away places hanging on each wall...chips and salsa on Fridays...oh and one of those Smart Boards would be nice, too.
Something else has been nagging me lately. Oh yeah, sub plans. Haven't even had a chance to start on that yet. They'll be turned in when I can get to it. I'm not Superman, ya know?
Blog posted by September writer Charles Detmar, spanish teacher Glenn High School in Kernersville
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4 comments:
You are so right. The restriction as to how we can set up our room for the most effective learning environment is sad. Isn't that our goal (learning)? As far as a sub folder, it would be nice if there was a standardized sub folder in place for all grade levels. Why have all of the teachers design their own sub folder, when one for each grade level could be in place and be carried over from year to year. The subjects haven't changed.
I don't know about your school, but our schools (most of them) have to find their own subs when we're sick too! Isn't that ridiculous. The last thing you want to do when you're sick is make phone calls in between visits to the sick room (bathroom usually)? Right? Well, don't feel alone. Your thoughts are not unique. Veteran teachers have battled these issues for ever, but don't usually voice their frustrations. Good for you.
Anyone that is not teaching a state tested subject should put a few stitches every year in a parachute. This will give you the best emotional support money can buy. In the future you will come to understand that there are no checks and balances in education that can be enforced. It is like working for any small buisness owner. They call it local control. You have to always be prepare to get the job done without any support in any area. It usually rotates but often you will find periods of nothingness do to the variety of management styles permitted.It is like the wild west, but no marshals at any level.
Wow! How cool that a Spanish teacher has a blog on NCAE site! I am an elementary Spanish teacher in Ashe county. I serve PreK through 6th grade students. Love my job, but lots of stress as well. Email some time and we can share ideas. I have been teaching Spanish for 9 years. laura.mcclure@ashe.k12.nc.us
I have been working in the public schools for approximately 9 years now even though I am now 53 years old. I am not a teacher although I do see and hear from the "educators" just how stressful teaching is now. I wish the parents and "higher ups" could see first hand the craziness that goes on every day in the schools. People outside the school house do not have a clue and that is sad. The "outsiders" make all the decisions. It is nuts!
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