November 2015

Chocolate 4 Teachers 10:02 AM No Comments

Stress is on the rise while morale is dropping like the early winter temps. I am constantly scanning the internet for news stories and blogs, just to keep current outside of my little world. I also talk to several teachers from different districts. The ones that are content in their district know someone in another district that is struggling. Why is there so much stress and why does morale continue to drop?

Years before I left Joplin R-8, I brought this up to administration. Morale was low. What could we do to boost it? I sincerely wanted to be part of the solution, several of us wanted to be the problem solvers. We wanted to help, but every effort was turned away. Administration was in denial. We didn't have a morale issue in Joplin. Everything. Was. Fine. You know what they say when a woman tells you she is fine? The word fine is a nice cover-up, but it doesn't get to the root of the problem and fix anything. It acts like a bandaid. Sometimes a bandaid is all you need, but in some cases, even the largest bandaid won't do the trick.

In some cases, administration thinks that offering a plastic mug or school t-shirt is all that is needed. Or, a pep talk and marching band at opening day. Or, maybe e-mails detailing a teacher's responsibilities and reminding them of their obligations. Truth is, teachers just want to be respected and treated professionally. That alone will boost morale.

I can only speak for myself and the teachers that I know, but respect and professionalism were in short supply. We were controlled by fear and intimidation. I know that there are some reading this that are skeptical. The ones that aren't a teacher or don't personally know a teacher. Controlled by fear and intimidation??? Yes. We weren't a bunch of renegades or mavericks. We were hard working, give-it-our-all teachers. We believed. We trusted. We were let down.

It isn't too late for things to turn around in Joplin or any other district that is struggling with low morale and high stress. Teachers are forgiving. They will often face opposition because they love helping kids. Listen, support, and respect. It isn't much, but it is a place to start and it will make all the difference.

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Chocolate 4 Teachers 10:55 AM 1 comment

So, today is the Saturday before Thanksgiving and I'm running around like a cat in a room full of rocking chairs. Random thoughts are flitting through my mind like the leaves blowing across the front yard.
1. Thanksgiving and Christmas holidays are NOT the time to start a diet.
2. Teachers love donuts more than just about anyone.
3. Children under the age of six are cute unless you are the only adult in a room of 25 for over 3 hours.
4. Playground duty is a test of fortitude.
5. Teachers' lives are full of countdowns: the countdown to Thanksgiving break, the countdown to Christmas break, the countdown to spring break, and the countdown to summer vacation.
Thaw out your turkeys, roll out the pie crusts, plan an active and engaging lesson that will cover Monday and Tuesday (hopefully you are off on Wednesday), and make time for family and friends. Thanksgiving is right around the corner.

Have a Happy Thanksgiving!
Kim

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Chocolate 4 Teachers 1:29 PM No Comments

Do you know what is right with education?

There are a lot of things that seem to be going wrong in education, but there are still things that some schools are getting right. Things like schools that still teach spelling and the fine art of handwriting, administrators that aren’t afraid of getting out amongst the kids, or schools where respect is still expected. What about the kid who loves to go to school to learn and the teacher who loves to teach? Or the sound of laughter on a playground?

There are teachers that are getting it right. The teachers who give 110%. I never believed that you could give 110% because 110% didn’t exist. One hundred was as high as it went. But, I was wrong. So many go out of their way to make that connection, to make sure that they are doing everything they can to help their students succeed. They spend their own money, work for free, and carry the burden of their students with them long after they have left the classroom. And, they have the trait of still knowing how to be a kid.

And, let’s not forget those administrators that treat their teachers like professionals. Administrators that know how to lead and know how to follow. The ones that aren’t embarrassed when they don’t know an answer, and have the confidence and courage to admit when they are wrong. Administrators that stand up for kids, even if it means standing up to parents. Administrators that tackle the tough problems, but never let you know how tough it is.

I’m sure there are still some districts that put kids first, while supporting their faculty and staff. They understand the fine balance between teaching and learning and testing. Their staff is happy and appreciated and their community is supportive of their schools.

Sometimes, we focus on the negative and forget about all that is going right. Teachers do want change and unless you are a teacher, you won’t understand that. It isn’t about higher wages or shorter days. It is about respect and professionalism and doing what is best for kids. You see, at the end of the day, that is what it is all about.

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Chocolate 4 Teachers 6:11 PM No Comments

What is wrong with education?

Ever heard the saying ‘too many cooks in the kitchen’? I think that would apply to education. We have too many giving out orders or coming up with new ways to do things, but not enough willing to put forth the effort. Guess who gets to do all the work in the trenches? Yep, the teachers. And, they get blamed for everything in the bargain. If a new program isn’t successful, it isn’t the one who suggested it that takes the heat. It is the teacher that didn’t have adequate time or training to implement said program. What about the student that is bullied? The teacher reports it, but administration ignores it. Who hears about it at parent/teacher conferences? Right again! The teacher.

And, what about those meetings? I’ve said it before (and I’m sure I’ll say it again), what is the point of having a meeting just to have a meeting?? And, yes, some schools are famous for these meetings. These are the meetings that could have been more efficiently handled in an email. Or, what about those meetings that teach you how to have meetings? I’ve sat through some of those, as I am sure that you have.

Do I dare say discipline? I’m feeling brave, so why not? Let me introduce you to discipline. Discipline is a fair, just consequence for an inappropriate behavior. The goal is to teach the individual that this type of behavior has negative results and will not help them succeed in the real world. Discipline teaches responsibility and accountability. Discipline is absent in most schools. Kids are running the schools. With no guidelines, no boundaries, no structure. Teachers are not supported. End result? Children attending school in an unstructured, unsafe environment with an unmerited sense of entitlement. Yes, a lack of discipline does result in an unsafe environment, both physically and mentally. Students need to realize that there are boundaries and they need the structure of discipline to function safely. Kids being kids is not always safe. Just think about some of the crazy things you tried as child!

And, since I brought up the dirty word entitlement, let’s run with that for a minute. Where did this sense of entitlement come from? When did the rules change stating has to win. I’m watching the World Series. The Royals won. Does that mean that the Mets will also be given a trophy since everyone wins and no one loses? How does that work? Why do parents support such thinking? They are setting their kids up for failure. Because…. In the real world there are winners and there are losers.

Maybe, just maybe, we should rewind the clock and start really preparing our kids for their future.

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