Teachers Chatboard

Apple Seed for Wednesday, 28 February 2018

by Barb S. hs/ret

Feb 28, 2018

It's been well documented that there is a growing sense of entitlement among young people today.

~ Randy Pausch

New LEP Teacher Assistant Struggling With Students

by Lady Liberty

Feb 17, 2018

I'm a new teacher and don't have my own class yet. I've been charged with assisting teachers in the English department. I'm to help LEP (Limited English Proficiency) students with essay writing. However, of the 7 periods and 40 students I'm to help, only 1 student would be considered LEP but it is related to a learning disability not the aquisition...See MoreI'm a new teacher and don't have my own class yet. I've been charged with assisting teachers in the English department. I'm to help LEP (Limited English Proficiency) students with essay writing. However, of the 7 periods and 40 students I'm to help, only 1 student would be considered LEP but it is related to a learning disability not the aquisition of English. The rest of the students have been in school since Kindergarten in the United States. In working with the teacher, I was told that these students are labeled LEP because their parents speak Spanish and the children don't want to take the test so they write a sentence or two or simply skip on the TELPAS test date.

In addition, I have spent 3 weeks listening to 7 different teachers, teach expository and persuasive essays in every way possible. Every teacher is using the same materials, prompts, fill in the blanks, etc. They have done everything short of writing the essay themselves and have the children memorize it. All the students are learning this in 9th and 10th grade because the STAAR test starts in 2 weeks. So the LEP children will write 2 essays: one for TELPAS another one for STAAR.

Someone please tell me how I can motivate or encourage these children to write the practice essays that they are given for a grade. We have had some students wad up the paper, throw it out and walk out of class. They speak, read and write perfect English. I just don't know what to do. Calling the Parents does not make a difference. I'm regretting this career choice and am seriously considering g voting against Dreamers since our school consists of 70% Dreamers and only 17% of them make a passing grade. The others are getting their grades manipulated so they can get out of the school.

Someone please help. I've already tried the Assistant Principal, Principal and Superintendent with no luck. "They appreciate my willingness to improve education and will look at my notes to see what can be done". In other words: pat my head and send me back to the same thing. Can anyone give practical advice that will motivate these kids? I WILL NOT REWARD THEM WITH CANDY BECAUSE THEY WRITE ONE SENTENCE OR BUY PIZZA FOR THEM BECAUSE THEY FINISHED THE ESSAY OUTLINE THAT WAS DUE LAST WEEK.

(2)

spedteach This may sound harsh, but you won't be able to succeed with these students as long as you continue with the mindset that the students are the problem. Your job is to teach. If students don't learn, it's your problem - not the students. Stop listening to the jaded teachers who have given up on these students and don't give up on yourself. I teach se...See More

Feb 27, 2018

Lady Liberty Dear Spedtech, thank you for responding. I decided to do as you suggested, stop listening to the jaded teachers. I also looked into getting mentors that would help me understand the mindset and give me some motivation techniques that I can use that don't "talk down" to the kids. I believe that doing a good job is it's own reward and I'm noticing be...See More

Feb 27, 2018

Like (1)

I am new to donors choose and wonder if any other teachers uses it. If so what is the best way to get donors? My students could really use a projector however I can afford it. Someone told me about donor choose so I figure I try it out.

This is the link the website gave to help my students.

https://www.donorschoose.org/project/th...See More

Donors choose

by MH

Feb 18, 2018

The Wonderful World We Wish!! | DonorsChoose.org project by Mr. H.

My students need a way to bring real life situations into the classroom. This is a wonderful way to give them prior knowledge even when their economical disadvantages prevents them. Some of my stud...

DonorsChoose.org | donorschoose.org

spedteach Do your research before posting your project. I read posts from donors to see what attracted them to a project and what turned them off. I then tailored my project proposal to reflect the tastes of the donors. I had both my projects fully funded. It's been a few years, but I recall donors like prompt and frequent replies, donations to schools with ...See More

Feb 27, 2018

Hi!,

So I'm currently in a district that does not have adequate programming for my classroom. I'm teaching a 3rd-5th grade self-contained classroom. The last teacher I heard was using what she could of the general ed, on level programming when possible, but mostly made up her own things. I don't want my current situation to happen next ye...See More

Curriculum Programs

by Rose

Feb 19, 2018

spedteach Programs with the most research include direct instruction programs from SRA - Reading Mastery series, Corrective Reading series, Connecting Math Concepts, spelling Mastery and Language for Learning series. My personal favorites, in addition to the direct instruction programs, are Edmark reading series and TouchMath. I've used all these programs ve...See More

Feb 27, 2018

Not a comfortable subject

by Ron

Feb 27, 2018

How do teachers feel about having their God given right to self preservation stripped by having to work in a gun free zone. Seems to me a teacher qualified in weapon training and mental condition should be allowed to consealed carry.

(4)

view previous comments

flacka Guns are the LAST thing I'd want in any school where I taught or my children were in attendance.

Feb 27, 2018

Like (2)

spedteach First, the right to bear arms was not given by God, but by people who lived in this country over 200 years ago, who could not foresee that weapons would be used in mass shootings against children in our schools.

Second, the right to keep and bear arms needs clarification for our times. Does and should this mean any and all arms? Does that ...See More

Feb 27, 2018

Suffering from depression and not sure what to do

by newteacher

Feb 22, 2018

Hello. I don't have many teacher friends and I wouldn't dare share my situation with one of my colleagues given that I don't want to hear my business circulating around school. I am currently in my second year of teaching and I have been struggling to balance my life at work with being a single parent to two kids. I have missed more than a few days...See More

spedteach I'm not sure that I have any useful advice, but do realize you are not alone. I've known many teachers who suffer from depression and are on anti-anxiety and other meds for depression. So, do not feel bad about needing to seek medical help.

Meanwhile, instead of thinking how you are going to get through three more months, concentrate on ge...See More

Feb 27, 2018

Apple Seed for Tuesday, 27 February 2018

by Barb S. hs/ret

Feb 27, 2018

When you do the best you can, you never know what miracle is wrought in your life, or in the life of another.

~ Helen Keller

Like (2)

BAR JOKES FOR ENGLISH MAJORS…

A dangling participle walks into a bar. Enjoying a cocktail and chatting with the bartender, the evening passes pleasantly.

A bar was walked into by the passive voice.

An oxymoron walked into a bar, and the silence was deafening.

Two quotation marks walk into a "bar."

A ma...See More

A smile to start the day

by flacka

Feb 27, 2018

Teach Aid lies to me

by PO

Feb 25, 2018

I had an incident on Friday happen and I need a plan by tomorrow morning. I can't sleep. Here's the story: I sent 3 students that need extra help while testing with an aid to work in another room. It took them way over the amount of time it should to complete their tests and returned with incomplete tests. I asked the aid what happened and she told...See MoreI had an incident on Friday happen and I need a plan by tomorrow morning. I can't sleep. Here's the story: I sent 3 students that need extra help while testing with an aid to work in another room. It took them way over the amount of time it should to complete their tests and returned with incomplete tests. I asked the aid what happened and she told me the students were talking. My rule, and my students are well aware of this, is if you talk during a test you get a zero. I asked the aid "Were they talking to you about needing help? Or were they talking with each other?" She said that they had been talking with each other and had to move them. I let her know, again, that if students talk during a test other than asking an adult for help they get a zero. She agreed that they should get zeroes. So I talked with the students about expectations on test taking and they knew they were not suppose to talk. They were very upset and told me that the aid was talking with them. I told them the aid let me know that they were talking a should get zeroes. This turns into a big mess two of them blew up. One ripping up her test and refusing to do anything I asked. Another student also refused to do anything. So I walk them to the office. I find out later after school that the principal was near that same room and had heard the aid talking with the students about what they are doing this weekend and other random things. The principal let me know that the aid was distracting them and did not know they were in there taking a test because all the random talking. I think the students need to be apologized to by the aid but this will not happen at my school... it will be up to only me to talk with them. I want to say I am sorry that the aid lied trying to make the reason nothing got done all on the students but I can't do that because I fear they won't respect the aid which I need to be in my room and be respected in order for her to help. Sorry for the run-ons... I'm frustrated and lost on what to do. It's not the students fault and I feel if I just say we had a misunderstanding and they can retake the test they are going to lose respect for me because I was hard on them because I thought they truly were goofing off. The aid and principal will do nothing. These kids have little trust in adults as it is.