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What state do you live in????????????
I would have quit by now

On 11/15/09, Becky wrote:
> Geez, I can only dream (if I ever got to sleep!) Thank God I
> only have one prep. We HAVE to use the mandated Madalyn
> Hunter lesson plan format. We HAVE to list all objectives
> and standards. We HAVE to have an Anticipatory Set. We HAVE
> to have a Bell Ringer. We HAVE to have Teacher Input. We
> HAVE to have Modeling. We HAVE to have Guided Practice
> (activities from comprehensive curriculum.) We HAVE to have
> checking for understanding. We HAVE to have a closure of
> some type (exit tickets were encouraged.) We HAVE to list
> all accommodations for ALL students. We HAVE to list all
> materials used. We HAVE to list all technology used. We
> HAVE to include our COMMON Assessments (a nightmare by itself
> when you have God awful people as teammates.) In addition to
> all of that, we HAVE to highlight our literacy strategies,
> differentiating strategies taught by a consultant and our
> exit ticket question(s).
>
> Our lesson plans are read and scrutinized every Monday and we
> receive a "feedback" document. If you don't comply to their
> wishes you are written up. And they are due on Friday @ 2:30.
>
> In addition to all of that (if that wasn’t enough). . .
> We HAVE to have:
> 1. a word wall
> 2. guided questions for each unit posted
> 3. current student work posted
> 4. district unit test results posted
> 5. our agenda posted
> 6. Bloom’s taxonomy posted
> 7. our lesson plans in a yellow folder in a specific
> wall hanger the school provided (if our plan deviates –
> teachable moment – you have to stop what you are doing to
> alter the plans in the yellow folder so if someone comes in
> and looks at your lesson plans, you are on target to what you
> said you were going to do
> 8. a data binder with all testing information from our
> unit test (data analysis, class percentages, analysis form
> indicating the standards which need to be addressed and how
> we plan on addressing them, etc.)
> 9. folders for all students, for all work, all
> documentation, etc.
> 10. Target Groups which we meet on our planning time to
> help those students who were 10 points or less from the next
> level improve. We HAVE to meet with them at least once a
> week – documented by sign-in sheet
> 11. team meetings every day (grade level or content)
> 12. monthly Focus Letter to go home to parents of
> activities the parents can do with their student which
> coordinates with what we are teaching at the time (all core
> content teachers must submit something to this letter)
> 13. a semester walk through of another teacher’s class
> with documentation given to the principal
> 14. we have to have ample justification for “giving” a
> student an “F” or a “D”. We are called in and asked “Why is
> this happening? What are you going to do about it?
>
> Did I mention we also HAVE to teach? Have duty every other
> day for a month at a time. Have less than 30 minutes for
> lunch. We HAVE to be at school by 6:55 or we are written
> up. We must stand at our doors during the changing of all
> classes or be held accountable if a fight starts near your
> room.
>
> Add all that up to what we have to do to teach, prepare, and
> survive – it’s a nightmare at best! We received Activboards
> for all of our classes. We had to commit to attend a 16 hour
> training where we have to do assignments. (I don’t mind this
> too much as it has really helped my kids.
>
> I do know, without a doubt, I am tired! So tired I’m not
> even sure this makes sense. I know it’s not ALL we have to
> do so feel blessed in your situation. I can just about
> promise we are in a bigger h e l l hole than you. We
> don’t even have textbooks and were chewed out because we had
> so many handouts. There is only so much math you can teach
> with following up a handout of some kind.
>
> Time to crash – 5 a.m. gets here early.
>
> To the O.P. – if you need assistance I can get our math coach
> to contact you. She’s very good. Oh, by the way, I teach
> 6th grade math.
>
> Goodnight all,
> Becky

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