A girl named Shawnae (who I taught last year) pushed the 8th grade Social Studies teacher. She actually had to yell and scream a little to even get Shawnae suspended (for 3 days.) She said (understandably) said Shawnae can't come back in her room.
Today, Shawnae is back. Recap: She's in 8th grade, I taught her last year.
They put her in my first period class, the 7th grade one.
The 8th grade Social Studies teacher is the only one who even said anything to me about it.
Monday, November 29, 2010
Sunday, November 21, 2010
Update
You know things aren't going well when I never post. When every time I decide to write is going to turn into a post where I have the urge to TYPE IN ALL CAPS BECAUSE I AM SO ANGRY, I know it is time to take a step back.
It's not good. My actual day-to-day life isn't bad, my classroom is only sometimes bad...but the school as a whole is the worst thing I have ever seen. There are several things that probably deserve their own post, but I will lump them all here just because all the titles would be something like, "WTF".
1. We had a meeting a couple of weeks ago. The special education classes are a mess--none of their teachers have any control and the kids aren't learning anything. So, the solution is to completely dissolve the special ed classes and put all those students in regular ed. Yet another meeting where I am told that if I would "just work a little harder" then everything will be fine. So what if these kids read on a kindergarten level, right? As the Special Ed Department Chair told my co-worker, "They need to be in a classroom with regular ed students so they can realize their limitations." WOW. really?
All I have to do is modify the classwork I give the students so everyone can understand it. I'm no expert, but I'm pretty sure the kindergarten level is something like, "one fish, two fish, red fish, blue fish" and I'm going to modify "Mapping Coordinates Using Latitude and Longitude" to three and four letter words?
2. I have a student named Michael. He is in 6th grade and everytime he starts a sentence with, "Did you ever teach a kid named..." it ends with some crazy ass child who got put out of our school at some point. So, obviously, his friend base leaves a little to be desired. The other day, he told me this story:
"Did you ever teach a kid named Andre [Last Name]?"
"Yeah.."
"He's locked up."
"Yeah? What happened?"
"Well, he was asleep and me and Donte (Donte and Andre...both crazy ass boys who got put out of our school for doing something terrible) had this knife. And we took the knife and held it over a fire until it got really hot. And then we put it on Andre's face. And when his father took him to the hospital 'cause of the burn, the hospital people called DSS, and when DSS came, they realized he had a warrant out and so he got arrested and now he's in jail."
"Wait, you put a hot knife on somebody's face?!"
"Yeah?..."
After our conversation ended, I went to the school social workers to tell them that this boy needs some serious intervention. They directed me to one of the school psychologist and hopefully somebody will talk to this kid.
During the conversation, one of the social workers told me that the school is so bad right now, that we will be on the news before the school year is out. She said "a fire, a stabbing, a shooting, something...and if we don't get on the news, we are the luckiest people alive."
3. My team consists of me (6 years teaching), a science teacher (4 years teaching), a math teacher (12 years teaching) and a language arts teacher (25 years teaching.) We are the "veteran" team in the school. The Lang Arts teacher, Ms. P, said she has never had it this difficult. Last Wednesday, something happened. I don't want to be incorrect on the details, because this thing is pretty huge. But from what the student told me, she got put out of the classroom, when she tried to get back in, Ms. P hit her so hard she fell on the ground. While she was on the ground, Ms. P got down and slammed her head into the ground multiple times. (She's not hurt, she was in school the next day and told me the story.)
I don't know what to say. I don't even know what my opinion is. Ms. P hasn't been back and the Asst. Principal told me that she won't be back. I guess they have to do an investigation, but the student's story is the same as Ms. P's and the entire class. Twenty-five years of teaching down the drain in less than 5 minutes. Insane.
But while all the teachers have been talking about this, other information has come up. For example, AT LEAST 7 teachers have been assaulted by students since the start of the school year, and only one of those students has gotten any punishment at all. I DO NOT condone what Ms. P did, but everybody has their breaking point.
The people who took over the school, the ones who were supposed to "turn it around" rarely are even in the building and when they are, they just walk around with a horrified look on their face and then blame us for the problems. We had a meeting with our Turnaround Director. He keeps talking about curriculum and Professional Development. The Math teacher on my team said, "You know what, it really seems like you guys think that WE'RE the problem in this building." He insisted that wasn't true and he knows we are working hard and blah blah blah....but when your ONLY answers to problems are for US to "try harder" or "have better lesson plans" or some other ridiculousness, what are we supposed to think?
It's not good. My actual day-to-day life isn't bad, my classroom is only sometimes bad...but the school as a whole is the worst thing I have ever seen. There are several things that probably deserve their own post, but I will lump them all here just because all the titles would be something like, "WTF".
1. We had a meeting a couple of weeks ago. The special education classes are a mess--none of their teachers have any control and the kids aren't learning anything. So, the solution is to completely dissolve the special ed classes and put all those students in regular ed. Yet another meeting where I am told that if I would "just work a little harder" then everything will be fine. So what if these kids read on a kindergarten level, right? As the Special Ed Department Chair told my co-worker, "They need to be in a classroom with regular ed students so they can realize their limitations." WOW. really?
All I have to do is modify the classwork I give the students so everyone can understand it. I'm no expert, but I'm pretty sure the kindergarten level is something like, "one fish, two fish, red fish, blue fish" and I'm going to modify "Mapping Coordinates Using Latitude and Longitude" to three and four letter words?
2. I have a student named Michael. He is in 6th grade and everytime he starts a sentence with, "Did you ever teach a kid named..." it ends with some crazy ass child who got put out of our school at some point. So, obviously, his friend base leaves a little to be desired. The other day, he told me this story:
"Did you ever teach a kid named Andre [Last Name]?"
"Yeah.."
"He's locked up."
"Yeah? What happened?"
"Well, he was asleep and me and Donte (Donte and Andre...both crazy ass boys who got put out of our school for doing something terrible) had this knife. And we took the knife and held it over a fire until it got really hot. And then we put it on Andre's face. And when his father took him to the hospital 'cause of the burn, the hospital people called DSS, and when DSS came, they realized he had a warrant out and so he got arrested and now he's in jail."
"Wait, you put a hot knife on somebody's face?!"
"Yeah?..."
After our conversation ended, I went to the school social workers to tell them that this boy needs some serious intervention. They directed me to one of the school psychologist and hopefully somebody will talk to this kid.
During the conversation, one of the social workers told me that the school is so bad right now, that we will be on the news before the school year is out. She said "a fire, a stabbing, a shooting, something...and if we don't get on the news, we are the luckiest people alive."
3. My team consists of me (6 years teaching), a science teacher (4 years teaching), a math teacher (12 years teaching) and a language arts teacher (25 years teaching.) We are the "veteran" team in the school. The Lang Arts teacher, Ms. P, said she has never had it this difficult. Last Wednesday, something happened. I don't want to be incorrect on the details, because this thing is pretty huge. But from what the student told me, she got put out of the classroom, when she tried to get back in, Ms. P hit her so hard she fell on the ground. While she was on the ground, Ms. P got down and slammed her head into the ground multiple times. (She's not hurt, she was in school the next day and told me the story.)
I don't know what to say. I don't even know what my opinion is. Ms. P hasn't been back and the Asst. Principal told me that she won't be back. I guess they have to do an investigation, but the student's story is the same as Ms. P's and the entire class. Twenty-five years of teaching down the drain in less than 5 minutes. Insane.
But while all the teachers have been talking about this, other information has come up. For example, AT LEAST 7 teachers have been assaulted by students since the start of the school year, and only one of those students has gotten any punishment at all. I DO NOT condone what Ms. P did, but everybody has their breaking point.
The people who took over the school, the ones who were supposed to "turn it around" rarely are even in the building and when they are, they just walk around with a horrified look on their face and then blame us for the problems. We had a meeting with our Turnaround Director. He keeps talking about curriculum and Professional Development. The Math teacher on my team said, "You know what, it really seems like you guys think that WE'RE the problem in this building." He insisted that wasn't true and he knows we are working hard and blah blah blah....but when your ONLY answers to problems are for US to "try harder" or "have better lesson plans" or some other ridiculousness, what are we supposed to think?
Tuesday, November 16, 2010
A Thanksgiving Miracle
Kids won't stop eating sunflower seeds and spitting the shells all over school. It happened in my classroom today. I saw two mice in my room yesterday. I may or may not have threatened to spill the trashcan over the head of the next person who eats sunflower seeds in my classroom.
No more sunflower seeds!
No more sunflower seeds!
Sunday, November 14, 2010
Follow The Yellow Brick Space Shuttle
The other day, Kevin wouldn't leave the building at the end of the day. Another teacher and I linked arms with him to walk him out.
He starts singing, "We're OFF to see the WIZARD!"
When I laughed, he looked at me and said, "Yeah, you can be Dorothy and I can be the Robot."
"You mean the Tin Man?"
"...No, the Robot."
"Okay then."
He starts singing, "We're OFF to see the WIZARD!"
When I laughed, he looked at me and said, "Yeah, you can be Dorothy and I can be the Robot."
"You mean the Tin Man?"
"...No, the Robot."
"Okay then."
Tuesday, October 19, 2010
The Irony Is, They Are Studying Irony In Language Arts
Since I am at a "turnaround" school and since no one cares about Social Studies, I have to spend the whole first quarter on what amounts to character lessons. I liked them at first, but now they are getting on my nerves. I want to teach social studies!
Anyway, yesterday the lesson was called, "What is Conflict?"
Me: How do you deal when you have a conflict?....Dayshea?
Dayshea: I usually try to ignore whoever is bothering me...
Kaliniya: No, you don't.
Dayshea: BITCH I DO TOO YOU SHUT THE FUCK UP BITCH. I SWEAR TO GOD
Kaliniya: Exactly.
Anyway, yesterday the lesson was called, "What is Conflict?"
Me: How do you deal when you have a conflict?....Dayshea?
Dayshea: I usually try to ignore whoever is bothering me...
Kaliniya: No, you don't.
Dayshea: BITCH I DO TOO YOU SHUT THE FUCK UP BITCH. I SWEAR TO GOD
Kaliniya: Exactly.
Thursday, October 14, 2010
Well, Yes. But I Assume You Frown On Beatings.
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Last Friday was a half day. The students were dismissed at 11:15. Another teacher and I went out to get some lunch. Apparently there was some confusion about dismissal and kids left at all different times. When we returned, we were walking up the stairs and 3 students of ours were walking down. "Somebody tore down everybody's bulletin boards! The whole floor is a mess!" The girls said. The other teacher tried to ask them who did it. "Some 7th grade boys..."
I was immediately suspicious, because the girls telling us this are no angels. So, while the other teacher was still trying to talk to them, I said, "it doesn't matter...we'll just watch it on the security cameras." Guess what happened? The girls immediately ran away.
We go and watch the security tapes. Yep, it was those girls. Not only did they rip down 8 bulletin boards, but the artwork of students was taken down INDIVIDUALLY and ripped in half.
After viewing the tapes, we go back upstairs. The assistant principal sees the mess and says, "Oh my gosh, you guys. This is so sad. Have you thought of any punishments for them?"
Nobody Was Apathetic About That
I teach Social Studies; everyday we watch CNN Student News, which is a ten minute news program that gives the big headlines around the world. Student News has been talking about the Chilean miners for over a month.
Dashaun is an okay kid. He's polite and calm. I think he wears the exact same clothes everyday, but they aren't terribly disgusting, so maybe he washes them every night, I don't know. He sometimes does his work, he sometimes sleeps. Even when he does his work, it's kind of half-assed. I didn't really think he was paying attention to anything that was going on. He's kindof off in his little world.
On Monday before school started, he literally RAN up to me (I've never seen him be excited about anything.) "MISS VINSON THE MINERS ARE GETTING OUT ON WEDNESDAY!!!!" When Wednesday came around, he had me pull up cnn.com where they were keeping a running tally of the number of miners rescued and the number still remaining. He sat and did all his work, occasionally checking the screen for updates.
Dashaun is an okay kid. He's polite and calm. I think he wears the exact same clothes everyday, but they aren't terribly disgusting, so maybe he washes them every night, I don't know. He sometimes does his work, he sometimes sleeps. Even when he does his work, it's kind of half-assed. I didn't really think he was paying attention to anything that was going on. He's kindof off in his little world.
On Monday before school started, he literally RAN up to me (I've never seen him be excited about anything.) "MISS VINSON THE MINERS ARE GETTING OUT ON WEDNESDAY!!!!" When Wednesday came around, he had me pull up cnn.com where they were keeping a running tally of the number of miners rescued and the number still remaining. He sat and did all his work, occasionally checking the screen for updates.
Tuesday, October 5, 2010
Just Try Harder!
Today was INCREDIBLY frustrating. I have a student named Robert. He should NOT be in 6th grade. He cannot handle multiple teachers and classrooms and the overstimulation of a large group of students. I have to tell him EVERY DAY to stop laying on the floor. Anytime you say his name to get him to focus, he throws a tantrum. During his math test, he got so mad that he went and put himself INSIDE his own locker. His reading and writing scores are below a 3rd grade level. No teacher has been able to get him to do any work. I even had a special educator come into my room and work only with him for an entire period--still nothing.
We had an emergency IEP meeting called to address his placement. (All his teachers think he should be in a special education class.)
Well, during this meeting the IEP chairperson basically told me that I am a lazy teacher who just gives up on kids and is trying to get kids out of my classrooms and into someone else's. She gave Robert a stern talking-to and then decided to wash her hands of the whole business. I mean, since I'm his teacher, if I would just work a little harder to accomodate Robert's needs--that IS my job, after all. Forget that I have 31 other students in that class to teach, I need to make sure that I am keeping Robert off the floor and out of his locker and actually sitting down in a seat and not starting fights with anyone in his general proximity. Forget about the fact that we should be trying to do what's best for Robert, I mean, how bad would it look if we put another kid in special education?! We have to keep up appearances!! Forget about the fact that the other teachers and I see him every day and give him a stern talking-to every single day, clearly the 10 minutes you just spent with him overrule anything we could possibly say, right? I mean, you know best.
We had an emergency IEP meeting called to address his placement. (All his teachers think he should be in a special education class.)
Well, during this meeting the IEP chairperson basically told me that I am a lazy teacher who just gives up on kids and is trying to get kids out of my classrooms and into someone else's. She gave Robert a stern talking-to and then decided to wash her hands of the whole business. I mean, since I'm his teacher, if I would just work a little harder to accomodate Robert's needs--that IS my job, after all. Forget that I have 31 other students in that class to teach, I need to make sure that I am keeping Robert off the floor and out of his locker and actually sitting down in a seat and not starting fights with anyone in his general proximity. Forget about the fact that we should be trying to do what's best for Robert, I mean, how bad would it look if we put another kid in special education?! We have to keep up appearances!! Forget about the fact that the other teachers and I see him every day and give him a stern talking-to every single day, clearly the 10 minutes you just spent with him overrule anything we could possibly say, right? I mean, you know best.
Monday, October 4, 2010
The Enabler
I usually don't confront parents. I mean, I'm not a parent; I have no idea what that job is like. I also just think that parents and teachers should have a cooperative relationship. I can't change their mind. However.
This girl, Mariah. She is on my roll for 1st period. I have NEVER EVER seen her in my class. EVER. Her mother brings her to school every day at 9:10 (first period is over at 9:05). And about 3 times a week, Mariah's mother will wander over and say, "Ms. Vinson, Mariah was late yesterday because..." blahblahblah some b.s. reason. What makes it worse is, Mariah's mother stays at the school ALL DAY LONG. She is quoteunquote a parent volunteer....but she really just walks around and hangs out in the teacher's lounge (by herself, btw...we don't have time for that place.) If you can BRING you daughter to school EVERY DAY and STAY at the school EVERY DAY you can make more of an effort to show up before 9am.
Also, Mariah has never said one word to me. Not a single freaking word. Her mother will come ask for make-up work (twice in 5 weeks...) Her mother will come list off the 501 reasons why Mariah has to stroll in an hour and a half late.
So, today when Mariah's mother came by...to tell me why Mariah missed all of last week (she was "actually sick"), I told her that I was sorry, but no amount of excuses will keep Mariah from failing my class. She has to actually show up. I'm sorry it's too early, but it's what time they tell me to teach. If I have to go by it, so does everybody else. She can't do "make-up work" for EVERY SINGLE DAY OF SCHOOL.
Her mother just nodded and wandered away.
Then she sent another student to ask me if Mariah could get a permission slip for the field trip I'm taking on Thursday.
No, lady. NO.
This girl, Mariah. She is on my roll for 1st period. I have NEVER EVER seen her in my class. EVER. Her mother brings her to school every day at 9:10 (first period is over at 9:05). And about 3 times a week, Mariah's mother will wander over and say, "Ms. Vinson, Mariah was late yesterday because..." blahblahblah some b.s. reason. What makes it worse is, Mariah's mother stays at the school ALL DAY LONG. She is quoteunquote a parent volunteer....but she really just walks around and hangs out in the teacher's lounge (by herself, btw...we don't have time for that place.) If you can BRING you daughter to school EVERY DAY and STAY at the school EVERY DAY you can make more of an effort to show up before 9am.
Also, Mariah has never said one word to me. Not a single freaking word. Her mother will come ask for make-up work (twice in 5 weeks...) Her mother will come list off the 501 reasons why Mariah has to stroll in an hour and a half late.
So, today when Mariah's mother came by...to tell me why Mariah missed all of last week (she was "actually sick"), I told her that I was sorry, but no amount of excuses will keep Mariah from failing my class. She has to actually show up. I'm sorry it's too early, but it's what time they tell me to teach. If I have to go by it, so does everybody else. She can't do "make-up work" for EVERY SINGLE DAY OF SCHOOL.
Her mother just nodded and wandered away.
Then she sent another student to ask me if Mariah could get a permission slip for the field trip I'm taking on Thursday.
No, lady. NO.
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