It's been awhile...

June 23rd was my last blog...so much as happened since then...

I have moved into my husband's dream house.  Don't get me wrong - it is a beautiful house in a beautiful location, but I keep waiting for someone to knock on the door and ask me to leave.  Talk about the fish out of water!

I have had my gall bladder removed and I am still trying to figure out what, besides heart attack symptoms, was that pesky organ all about anyway?  I now have 4 dots on my tummy!

I have had my TOY interview and completed my portfolio!  I knew that I was no-ones vision of the Poster Child for the teaching profession, so not advancing was not that big of a deal for me, but it was interesting to complete the process. I would like to read the winners portfolio.

School is back in session and my classes are large and loud. So far so good.

Lesson plans, grading papers, traveling with my Speech and Debate team, practices and just the daily routine of school life has begun. 

The mornings are cooler, to quote  my favorite Eagle song... "I feel it in the air
the summer's out of reach, empty lake, empty streets..." fall is certainly on it's way. I love fall it seems like the perfect way to start something - calm, peaceful and crisp.

Friday nite football...
Spirit days...
Homecoming is next month
Basketball season will follow...

"Good teaching is more a giving of right questions than a giving of right answers." --Josef Albers

Here's to the right questions...

You say you want a revolution....

I have spent the last three days curbed in a high school computer lab with about 20 other English Teachers. Most were strangers when we began, but by the end of the three days, we all had a common goal.  NC is one of 42 states that has adopted the Common Core Standards and we were asked to take a close look at the CCSS documents and attempt to align the new standards with actual resources, compare and contrast the changes brought by these new principles and in effect, begin to question the standards. The outcome is that we are to take the lead on presenting these goals to our departments and administration in the fall.  I enjoyed working and exploring  with my fellow educators, and as always there are a number of them who I truly admire.  They are dedicated professional who honestly want the best for students.  But, I kept looking around the room and I was waiting for someone to notice that one of us wasn’t like the others….

 Well, did anyone notice that big “L” on my forehead? No, it does not stand for loser, but Libertarian. That’s right! I am a hardcore member of that group of fringe wing weirdoes who advocate individual responsibility and freedom of thought and action.  WHOA!   Amazing huh?  I actually, willingly, hang out with public officials…I work for the government!  I am a PUBLIC SCHOOL EMPLOYEE!  All teachers are suppose to be union loving, rewriters of history….I am a so anti-union my relatives in Pittsburgh shake their head and wonder what happen to me….anyway this is really another topic for another blog….

For the past 3 days I kept wondering how I got there…well I know HOW I got there…my beloved department head was unable to attend for perfectly reasonable reasons and I was asked to take her place….but really - there isn’t one person in my department who doesn’t know about my seemingly outward political confusion…let me explain – most schools are breeding grounds for liberal agendas, and it is easy to make fun of the few daunting Republicans still wondering around amid the blue tide of social reformist, but me, they don’t even fight with me – I am politely ignored, heads shake, brows furl, and lips form unarticulated  questions….I  know what they want to ask, but the fear is too great…. My funny broadminded buddies might actually find themselves agreeing with me if they actually questioned my stance on many issues….I mean being a liberal these days has to be hard – “P-BO” has established that he lacks any true management skills and his policies have threatened to break the back of the US…but again another topic – another blog….

According to CommonCore.org, “Common core…was founded in 2007 to advocate for a content- rich liberal arts education in America’s K-12 schools. “   Okay, I am for a “content-rich” education…but there has to be more to this than that.  The one thing I have learned about education – everyone loves a new "movement" – or a cause because there is always the promise of better scores/results…better student discipline…better books, teachers, technology, just BETTER! And, hummmm, yeah more money.  Money is the bait for every bandwagon….and no I am  not cynical…but about 5 years ago I discovered that despite everything that is said to the contrary, education is really about big business and money.  But again, another topic, another blog….but to tie into Common Core…this newest cause was funded by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation….I have one piece of advice for Mr. Gates…you want to make a real difference in education? Stop giving your hard-earned money to all of these fuzzy feel good think tanks and hand the check to a real teacher! I don’t need a million, how about $100K? I could easily buy the resources I need – a classroom set of laptops, e-readers, access to numerous databanks and still have money left over to fund my Forensics Team…. Debate - critical thinking at its best!

Anyway, I started this blog to write about education, it was just going to be about my daily observations and reflections on my practices, but now I think I have a chance to really share my observations about the effects, both large and small, that the CCSS will have on my department, my school and my profession.

My sense of individual freedom is really out of balance on this one – I believe, as Dr. Harrison once said, that the further the decision is made from “the flagpole” about polices that affect a school, the greater the potential for harm to the quality of education for the students at that school. I believe that as a teacher and a member of a community, I understand the needs and challenges faced by my students better than any official behind a desk…at any level of administration. I am fortunate that I work in a school whose administrators are mindful of the support role that they play and that I should be part of a greater conversation when it comes to deciding what is possible and necessary for my students, but I am realistic enough to recognize that there is a big picture of which I am but a single element and sometimes my needs or beliefs are not in line with the needs or beliefs of the group. Again, my personal beliefs about individual responsibility are at odds with that old timey notion of the “greater good.”  I hate that phrase because I believe that if we all get up every morning, put our big person pants on, go to work, and do what we have agreed to do – work as individuals, respectful and mindful of everyone’s individual rights and responsibilities – the “greater good” is a byproduct of our labors and everyone gets to share in the riches produced through our labors.

But, it is 2am…and although my mind races…I am tired.  Tomorrow the research begins.  I have already looked at criticism of the CCSS and professed outcomes, and since I  have a professional obligation to produce quality work based on the standards as written, I am going to do my best to keep focused on the true possibilities – I know that a group – or even one dedicated professional teacher can make a difference in the life of a student.  Not all lessons are taught or learned in the classroom….

  

So...sometimes you ask the right question!

Note:  This is a post that I wrote on the last day of "normal" school....I just never got around to post it...

Yesterday I decided to show my 11th Honors English class the documentary, Waiting for Superman.  I wasn't sure what type of response I would get.


Let me explain...this class is very typical of a high school honors class. 


Every child is, on average, polite, well mannered, intelligent, and capable of doing most of the work at adequate levels.  Some are very creative and intuitive.  Many are good hard working kids who have to work to "get it" - these are the 2 types of kids I LOVE to teach.  The creative ones keep you on your toes - gotta stay one step ahead of them...the hard working ones - well they are what real life is about...they will be successful because they understand that something don't come easy and many things require hard work and determination!


A small group of these kids are not - by standard definition- honors students!  They struggle with everything - struggle in a way that is almost painful to watch, but because mom or dad or a past teacher felt they could benefit from the rigor of an honors class...(well rigor and honors are not mutually exclusive...but that it a topic for another time and another place!), they were placed in an honors class. I'm okay with this until that mom or dad or other teacher want to question why their "brilliant" child is doing C work or worse - failing....in my honors class.


First, let me set the record straight  - there is nothing wrong with being average...90% of us function somewhere between dead on average and slightly below what is considered average...sad - maybe - but NOT everyone gets to be  a rocket surgeon....uhmmmm...yeah! My point....


Anyway, a small group of these kids fit in another group...smart, capable but LAZY! 


These are the kids that drive me crazy...what a waste of true talent!  But school has no meaning to them. 


They learned to play school...then decided that playing school wasn't fun for them...so they stopped...


Anyway...back to the movie....


I was amazed by their response....


They were outraged by the "lemon dance."


They found the NY holding "cells" for teachers awaiting a hearing unbelievable...


They wondered why if charter schools work - why aren't all school doing what they do? 


I wonder that myself sometimes....


I mean I know the "answer"  but do I really know?

Maybe I should learn to ask the right question....

Just some random thoughts....

Random thought #1:Today I spent the better part of three hours sitting in a beautiful house - this beautiful house will, by the end of July - HOPEFULLY - FINGERS CROSSED - PRAY TO Saint Joe and St. Jude....will be mine!  This is a very long story that began in January 2010...yes, it is June 2011....

In November of 2009 my darling husband decided that he "hated" our house!  Please understand - there is nothing wrong with our current home.  In fact, we just had an inspection that lasted 31/2 hours - with 3 very tiny dings...the door sill of the entry way squeaks - something we like - you can hear anyone walk through that door!  There is an odd wire just kind of hanging under the house and we need to caulk a window...but he, the hubby, hates the house.  He wanted to sell and find something new...to make a very long story short - we have spent the last 18 months trying to sell and looking longingly at houses.  Last week we sold this one and bought a new one....he's happy, I'm happy, our son is happy --- now I have to move....I hate to move...I am the daughter of a Marine - moving should be second nature to me, but when I finally got old enough to live where I wanted - I never planned on moving....until I married a guy in the Army - I really hate to move. So anyone who wants to help me move...I'll buy the beer....

#2:  I was lucky enough to serve jury duty...oh joy!  Now that I can talk about it - what the heck was she thinking....personal injury cases are always iffy...what a joke and what a waste of my time....

#3: When did it get so freakin' hot? It is only the middle-ish of June...93 degrees! Really!  I think I am looking forward to October! 

#4:  I am tired.  Bone tired....but sleeping has become an issue.  I am having hot flashes...

#5:  I get to have coffee with my favorite new mom and her very cute little guy this week!  This is when I love being a teacher!

Quick Panic

It is 4:21am Wednesday, June 8, 2011 and all I can say is busy week!  Now I'm getting a head cold, a back thingy and I just kind of feel like - well- crap!  I have numerous blogs working, but I have the attention span of a nat...why did I think this was a good idea?

I just keeping telling myself that summer break is coming....but I have signed up for 3 online classes, and have plans to take two more at FTCC...being a teacher is a good excuse to keep going to school. 

Time to get up!

Unconstitutional in so Many Ways – Tenth Amendment Center Blog

Unconstitutional in so Many Ways – Tenth Amendment Center Blog

I said I was going to try not to get political...but gee- he makes so many vaild points....just sayin'!

The Sounds of Silence

Helen Keller once wrote that everything has its wonders…even darkness and silence!

It is 6:15 Saturday morning…I have always been a morning person. The older I get the harder it is to get up at dawns first light and stay at full speed until late in the evening, but there is something charming about the silent sounds of morning.

I have three “puppies.” Granted, two of them are six and the other is five years old, but they are lovingly referred to as the “babies.”

Listening to them sleep is funny…they sigh, grunt and coo. Their ears flap and they snipe at each other when one gets too close to the others zone…

I always wanted more kids. I have one – my soon to be 23 year old bouncing baby boy!  We have an interesting bond…it isn’t Hamlet-Gertrud weird, but, as my husband is fond of pointing out,  AJ & I speak a shorthand that has developed over years of  being…just us!  Hubby was an MP for 23 years…he was gone – a lot!

Anyway – I think I became a teacher because I wanted more kids. I am after all, Catholic…. I didn’t have my first one until I was 28…we tried a few times, but between the Army and my body, it never seemed like the right time….

 A very wise man once told me that, “God doesn’t expect each of us to have a boatload of kids, but to love those he places in our path!” I am blessed by a multitude of path dwellers! 

I mean that in the nicest way!

Yesterday was Senior Awards Day…the start of Graduation Season.  Next week is “Senior Week.” Graduation practice, slide show, movie, and the big day. 

It will be a week of tears, laughter, dreams realized and dreams forgotten…

 I have a front row seat. This ritual amazes me every year. It is very much like a choreographed dance.  Sometimes it’s a waltz – quick time, but detailed and deliberate – other times it’s like the pit in front of the stage at a  Creed concert!  Detailed chaos…all arms and legs and someone is bound to get hurt.

Those tears have already started. The wounds are still too painful for reflection. In a very short span of time, there has been death, birth, the promise of life, the fear of failure, broken promises, plans made, plans changed….and the real fun has yet to begin!

Sometimes I wish adults could learn the importance of silence!  Sometimes silence is the best course for those of us graced with a place on the path.

As a teacher I get to watch the waltz...it is tempting to try and join in, but it's not my place.