Open Mic

It's open mic so I just want to vent. At my school, whenever we (the teachers) want to do something, whether it's a field trip, fundraising opportunity, "out of box" classroom strategy or even something that is required like teachers getting their required professional development hours, the initial answer is always no. This is the most frustrating thing I have ever experienced in a professional work environment. Everything is always "policy and procedure" this or "district policy" that. Most days I'm optimistic but sometimes I get really down. I want to help the kids and give them new and real world experiences, of course while covering all the standards. Case in point, some of our CTAE students attended a district-wide health and wellness symposium at Atlanta Metropolitan State College this past Wednesday. The field trip had to be rescheduled because it was originally scheduled to take place during our 2nd Snowpocalypse. Our CTAE department notified us (after the district notified them) that we did not have to resubmit the field trip paperwork, we only needed to have the students and parents complete a new permission slip. My administration did not allow this. I wasn't made aware that I had to resubmit all the field trip paperwork until the Monday before the trip. On this past Monday I had to drive to 3 separate locations and retrieve signatures because interoffice mail would not have gotten the paperwork to the necessary offices before the field trip. It was storming rain and very chilly on Monday. I really wanted my students to attend the symposium so I did what was required from my administration to make that happen. I feel resubmitting the paperwork was very unnecessary, especially since the district did not require it. Why must potential road blocks be placed in front of us, while attempting to help the students?

One of them weeks

Seems like everything that could happen this week did. PSAT took kids from 1st and 2nd, breakfast for some of the kids took them from first on a different day..do you teach or find time to "babysit" so the ones gone don't get behind and have to reteach the material..glad this week is over

The week

This week one of my students committed suicided. He was 15 years old. Today they buried him. This week I returned to work after having an asthma attack and being out for 4 days. This week my principal put me on a PDP. This week we had a health fair at the school, so I had to work on my only daughter's birthday. She turned 13. This week my car broke down and cost me $450.00. This week Jennifer came to my class for my observation and I lost my computer cord (I could not get to my lesson plan, so I tried to do it over, did not work). My lesson was a mess and I was very tired and ready to give in.

This week Jennifer gave me some VERY SPECIFIC instructions and I changed my room lighting, moved all my desk around into the U shape then the students can and took all my table upstairs for the health fair so on Monday I will have to start all over again by myself.

This week....

Just Plain Tired

School has just started and I am already tired. With this being my third year, I thought I would be prepared. The summer session really helped with getting organized. I thought I would be prepared for the students, but this group has been overwhelming. No one wants to do anything. The students before told everyone how much fun the class was, but forgot to tell them all the work required. They think they already know everything.

Oh, did I mention the gang issues. It's worst than last year. Each week it's something new. Some of the students are afraid to come to school because of the threats; the administrators don't communicate; the teachers don't communicate. I hope some of you are having a better time.

Mortissa

1st Year Frustrations Happen!

I certainly hear you frustrations! I naively thought that the kids in my HSTE classes would actually want to learn from me; like you mentioned, the kids are “dumped” into Career / Tech. classes. I HOPE that perhaps 5% really care to learn…I motivate myself for just those few. Just remember, the first year is the hardest one, and after that I am told it will be the hardest job you ever loved so much…Hang in there…

TGIF for Me Too!

Good Morning all,
I wanted to commend you for everything you have done this week for your students. Like many of you, I have frustration with paperwork, processes that don't run smoothly in the system, etc. When I get down, I think about all of you out there and my feelings lift. Dr. J

Frustration or Stress

You can pay for it and keep it or stamped it return to sender never to return. I have ordered two fans and other equipments for my lab and to date I have not receive them. I have done all the ground work by getting prices and where to purchase these items. I had was to warn my practicum coordinator about the heat in my lab before she comes. Then today I was told that there is no money in my account to purchase small items for my class. Is this frustration or Stress? for me it is just another day in Dekalb. Don't let things like these get you down hold your head up and keep moving forward.

Why bother?

Well, I spent some time putting together lesson plans for my students relocated while I proctored the GHSGT. Since they were going to be in the media center for 2 days anyway, I thought it would be good for them to begin their research for their oral presentation on diseases of the skeletal system. I left sign up sheets and rubrics and since my students had done this sort of thing before I knew they would have no trouble following the instructions. There was going to be a parapro to take role, give instructions and supervise all students relocated. To make a long story short, the parapro never showed up and no one gave my students any instructions. Needless to say, no lesson plan was followed and my students are going to be a week behind. How can this happen? How frustrating to take the time to plan when there is no one to follow through. Again, I feel as if what my students are studying is of no importance to anyone else. Why are we not instructed to just let our students have a "free" day? Why do I even bother?

Frustration....

I have been feeling this for the last couple of weeks. Just like Natalie spoke about in one of her blogs, it is so tempting to go back into the "industry". Especially so when they call and offer you a different position and more money. I had a talk with a guidance counselor to do an interview. The counselor said sure any time just call me that morning and let me know. After doing the study on guidance counselors I realize they are very busy, much more than I had ever dreamed.
But now it's getting close for this being due and I can't seem to pin a time down with them. This is not something I have put off till the last minute. Maybe I'll have better luck next week. I guess the one thing I can not get used too is the lack of communication and organization within the system. There is a lot of changes going on next school year at our school. I hope it gets better.