March 2018

Chocolate 4 Teachers 3:00 PM No Comments

Testing. We've all shuddered at the very mention of testing. One or two stressful weeks of intense testing that is supposed to tell what we've taught our kids in the previous 7.5 months. Minus snow days, holidays, and student absences. Mornings where the routine is completely renovated to accommodate the best time to test. Days where our educational instruction time, that has been so critical all year, is suddenly thrown out the window.

Testing. What we teach all year - either consciously or subconsciously. The objectives that drive our curriculum choices. The standards that a business consortium decided kids needed to learn - age appropriate or not. The skills that we cram into every precious minute. Even if you are a teacher that hates tests. Even if you insist that you "Do not teach to the test!" Yes, even you. You are teaching to the test every day- like it or not.

Testing. "Let's base teacher salaries on student scores," said no teacher EVER. Sure. And while we're at it, why don't we judge parents on their skills for the number of days their child was sick, absent, or fell asleep in class. Sure. Why not? After all test performance depends not only on retention of skills, but also on physical and mental well being. Test performance also requires that a student be present to learn. Wow! You mean the kid has to actually be in school? Ummmm... that would help. Personally, I loved being evaluated on my scores when 4 new students moved into our district the week before testing started, 7 of my kiddos were chronically absent, 2 didn't live in English speaking homes, and only 25% of my parents were actively involved in their child's education. That's fair. Not!

Testing. Ruins the beauty of spring. Dashes a child's hopes of running and screaming at recess. They have to be quiet because the big kids aren't finished yet. Specials? Well, they've been canceled so math skills can be tested. Lunch is now a solemn affair interrupted only by whispers from staff. The hallways have also been littered. With posters of encouragement for everything from eating a good breakfast (forget the kid whose mom leaves for work at 4 am and they only eat dry cereal), getting a good night's sleep (what about the kid who has to stay with a sitter until their parents get home from the late shift), and doing your best (the teacher has told them all year that they are doing their best and now the test is telling them that Basic isn't Proficient).

Testing. Reduces kids to labels and teachers to nervous wrecks. Alters a normal routine into a quiet chaos. And. For. What? State scores. Funding. Ability grouping. Newspaper articles.

And... after testing. Kids are finished and yet school continues. So... if we've only been going to school to learn what we need to learn so that we can perform well on a test why are we still in school weeks after testing is over? Good question. Maybe a guy in a suit could answer it!

Here are some resources I used with my kids to help them feel more confident and myself less stressed!

ELA Test Prep!

End of Year Nonfiction Review

Click here for ELA Test Prep!

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Chocolate 4 Teachers

Chocolate 4 Teachers 12:50 PM No Comments

*** I've had quite a couple of weeks! First, let me say how thankful I am that the main school where I work has discipline, respect, and appreciation. I am blessed! Secondly, the topic of discipline has come up day after day lately in some of my teacher groups. True. It is 'that' time of year. But I believe there is another reason... as discipline disappears, problems escalate. I started this post last week after hearing many of the same conversations of frustration and fatigue. ***

Veteran, seasoned, experienced (you pick the adjective you prefer) teachers are leaving the profession in droves. Why? They are fighting a losing battle and have decided to hang up their whistles and chalk. They are tired of the lack of discipline. Tired of the lack of support. Tired of working in school systems where they are not appreciated.

I can't think of anyone that would take on the job of an underpaid, under appreciated, and over-worked educator. Parents are the first to give advice. They seem to know everything there is to know about the best educational practices and how to straighten out the other kids. Administrators seem to be mainly concerned with numbers. Discipline referral numbers. Test score numbers. Budget numbers. But.. would either the complaining parent or administrator step into the classroom, following the state mandated and district mandated policies, and teach for an entire day. I. Don't. Think. So.

It is so easy to sit back and offer advice from an isolated office or conference room, but so hard to put it into practice when considering all of the other variables. Sure, we know which kids are bouncing off walls, but we can't force parents to feed their children nutritious breakfasts or get them to bed on time. We can't teach parents how to be good parents. Programs have tried and failed. You ask any teacher to tell you a story. Then get prepared. You'll hear tales of women who brag about beating the system by giving birth multiple times (with multiple fathers) just to keep the $$$ funds rolling in. You could be shocked to hear that there are administrators who refuse to contact parents for fear that a parent might actually be interested enough to come to school and meet with the staff in order to correct their child's behavior. Or what about the principal that allowed students to engage in dangerous behavior, threatening staff if they intervened, because "we allow kids to be kids at our school." That's right. Someone that is entrusted with the well-being of a child is turning a blind eye to disruptive, dangerous behavior. I could write a book with the things I've seen, heard, and experienced.

But nothing is more frustrating than trying to teach a lesson and constantly stopping to 'redirect'. That's the nice word. Some days you could call it crowd control. Reminds me of herding cats. One sits down and is attentive, while three more pop up out of their seat, and another is leaning across the desk to mark on someone else's paper. Oh, yes, you could blame the teacher for lack of classroom management. But, you should walk in her shoes before you start throwing out accusations.

Classroom management only goes as far as support goes. And, these days... that isn't very far. Kids know that the teacher's hands are tied. They know what they can get away with. They know that their parents have no respect for the teacher. They hear the comments every night at home. They've seen the principal come to the classroom, talk to the teacher for a few minutes in the hall, and the teacher turn to the room with weary eyes. You don't have to be a rocket scientist to figure it out. Even the youngest kids have the system figured out. They know that there are only so many consequences a teacher can give before she has crossed the line of discipline into the land of "damaging my self-esteem."

And parents, I have a word or two for you. Cute only lasts so long. Boys will be boys until they grow up. And then what? What will you do with the darling daughter who laughs in your face or the teenage boy who ignores your yells? What then? Will you wish that you had supported the teacher when she called you and asked for parental involvement? Will you wish that you have invested some time into this precious gift that you brought into the world? Or do you care that your lack of parenting skills or the desire to use them resulted in a young adult that is neither productive or pleasant? Do you care that you created a person that will depend on assistance for their entire adult life because they cannot function in the real world?

Sounds harsh. But every word is spoken from a heart that wished parents would stop being the enemy and start working with their child's teacher as a team to help their child grow into a responsible adult. I know there are some teachers that make the rest of us look bad. And, I know that there are some parents that are supportive and doing a great job raising their kids. But, realistically, you have to admit that there is a problem.

A problem. That is making teachers turn in resignations and walk away. Teachers that your child needs. Teachers that are interested in helping your child and teach your child. Not just a warm body filling a void. Administrators, do you want a reliable, experienced staff or a staff with little experience? I know teachers with fewer years in the classroom help out your budget, but do they really pay off in the long-run? Yes, I was a brand-new teacher once. And, I was blessed to be hired and given a chance so I'm not saying that new teachers shouldn't be hired. I am saying that administrators need to wake up and retain their experienced staff so the newer ones have someone to mentor them. Someone that can teach them. Administrators need to stop being afraid of parents and be more afraid of losing a valuable asset- their staff.

Wake up before the cute kid in kindergarten grows up to be an entitled teenager. Wake up before you look at your staff during a meeting and realize that most of them are young enough to be your child. If you are ignoring discipline issues, you need to get out of education. You don't have the guts for it.

April is just around the corner...

Too cute to pass up! Easter Traditions!

https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/April-Showers-Fun-Facts-Legends-Informational-Text-Passages-Printables-1771507

Don't forget your umbrella!
Fun facts and legends about rain!

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Chocolate 4 Teachers

Chocolate 4 Teachers 11:14 AM No Comments

Teachers always seem to have a battle on their hands. We need more time. Wisely spent dollars for better resources for our kids. Fewer meetings that take us away from our classroom or family.
It seems like someone is always ready to pick a fight. "You're picking on my child." or "We're moving you to a new job assignment." or "You need to have this report turned in .... yesterday."
Yes, teachers have their hands full solving day-to-day issues on the playground and the conference room. And, in social circles. There is always someone who thinks they know better or have more experience than the classroom teacher (even though they never taught a day in their life) and they can't wait to enlighten the teacher or challenge them.

In Missouri, this happens to be an organization called the Show-Me Institute and the founder, Rex Sinquefield. For years, Mr. Sinquefield has been on the warpath with Missouri educators. I don't know the reason why he has chosen MO educational reform as his mission and I don't care. What I do want is for him, and others like him, to stay out of educational reform and advisement. Use your skills elsewhere, where I am sure they are better suited, but don't try to fix an institution that wasn't broken (until people like you started changing everything).

The Missouri Retirement System is like a magnet. It attracts business people who want to grab a bit for themselves. Or use it for a fund. AND take it away from the educators that worked for it. I had my paycheck reduced by 14.5% so that I could provide for my retirement. My retirement. It doesn't affect anyone but me. It doesn't take any money out of anyone's pocket but mine. It affected my take-home pay and my future. And, I don't like the interference in my personal finances.

So, who is Rex Sinquefield? Wealthy. Multimillions to be exact. Made in the stock market. Not the classroom. Most teachers don't make it out of the poverty level, let alone to the millionaire level. I think that if Sinquefield runs out of entertainment in St. Louis, he leaves his 8,000+ sq. ft. mansion for one of his other homes. If I run out of entertainment in the living room, there is always laundry to be folded or dishes to be washed so I relocate to the utility room or the kitchen. No shortage of entertainment there! If he wants to make a difference, he probably pays for change by donating to campaign funds and funding an organization. If I want to make a difference, I volunteer time with kids who can't read, or visit someone who is sick, or bake a cake to surprise a friend. I've lived in MO my entire life. Mr. Sinquefield may have been born in MO, but several records indicate that he lived out of state until 2005.

Now, he has returned and has a plan to improve things in my home state. He has an agenda and he has the money to push it. Start looking at his campaign contributions and see where the money trail leads you. Scary. The latest senate bill that will affect the retirement funds of MO support staff is one that various organizations have traced back to the Sinquefield. All for what? Apparently, someone who has millions and owns a glass house can afford to call the shots regardless of his lack of experience or knowledge in education.

I don't have millions to make a difference, but I do have a heart. And, I have low tolerance for someone who uses their millions to take something from me that I have rightfully earned AND hurts the kids that I have sacrificed to serve.

Fun task cards about April fools

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Chocolate 4 Teachers

Chocolate 4 Teachers 1:03 PM No Comments

It caught up with me. I thought I had escaped. Even allowed myself a smirk or two. Everyone around me was catching it, but not me. Until today. Flu. I feel like I was put into a blender, on high, with a baseball bat. And, there couldn't be a worse time for being confined to bed (as if there is ever a good time). My schedule is jam packed right now. I don't have time for this!

And... then.. the trouble of preparing for a sub. I can't even think straight. How on earth will I prepare for a sub? It is so much easier to go to work feeling sick than to plan for a sub. We've all drug ourselves out of bed and off to school just because staying home was not worth it. The plans and preparation for the substitute make going seem like a piece of cake. And what if a substitute can't be found. Many districts have a shortage of substitutes. My absence means that someone else has to forfeit their plan time or my kids are divided up into groups and placed in various classrooms.

And then there is the loss of educational time. Some substitutes are awesome and can teach just as well as the classroom teacher. In fact, they may be a retired teacher. But there are some that really shouldn't be on the list. They don't have the first idea of how to teach a class a given lesson. They are simply a warm body practicing crowd control. No matter how good or how poor the substitute is, they are not the teacher.

We all know how important instructional time is, don't we? Especially when so much hinges on test scores. Sadly, teachers can't afford to miss one day of teaching or their student's test scores may be lower. Wait a minute! Did I just say that teachers can't afford to take off because test scores may be lower? So... my health isn't important, but test scores are? That's about the size of it!

The only suggestion I can make is to be prepared. That's rich coming from me. Oh, I have a week's worth of sub plans in my desk, but I forgot to get cat food or milk. My husband had to go to the grocery store. This isn't such a bad thing. He came home more appreciative of my trips to buy groceries, but it took him three times as long. So, while I'm miserably waiting for my medication and juice, he's looking for the ice-cream! :)

Back to the lesson plans. Having them prepared in advance is important. Take today for instance. My head is thumping. There is no way I can string together two thoughts (which is why this blog is probably jumping all over the place) let alone come up with a solid plan reinforcing skills my kids need. Take advantage, in advance, of resources that you can keep on hand for a time such as this.

Some lessons suitable for a substitute. Just print and teach! They are even priced a little lower to help take the sting out of being sick, but they are jam-packed with nonfiction passages and reading strategy practice.