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High School Teachers Chatboard

Max Thompson/lLearning Focused program

by Carolinagrad

Mar 19, 2013

Hi all -- Seeking feedback from those who have experienced this initiative.... I would love to see how other teachers really feel about this program (I.e. effectiveness, cost in time and/or money, student reception and achievement, etc.). I am particularly interested in high school implementation. Thanks for any info you might share!

Lab chemical waste

by San Bejtja

Mar 25, 2013

Hi, we have a modest science lab at school. Lately got the chemical recycle bins. Will be appreciated if anyone can help where to find info for procedures and rules related to chemical waste management. Thanks - [email removed]

Berta On 3/25/13, San Bejtja wrote: > Hi, we have a modest science lab at school. Lately got the > chemical recycle bins. Will be appreciated if anyone can > help where to find info for procedures and rules related to > chemical waste management. Thanks - [email removed]

Consult the Flinn Scientific Company catalog/website. Its an aw...See More

Mar 26, 2013

Smoking in the Girls' Room

by Bobbi

Apr 7, 2013

I don't think students should smoke in the bathrooms at school. The girls' rooms in my school are disgusting because of all the smokers and I really hate it when I have to go in there. I know several friends who don't even use the girls' rooms at all because of all the smokers in there. I really wish people wouldn't smoke in the girls' rooms at sch...See More

cm I don't know of any schools here that allow any smoking, by anyone, on school property. There are even by-laws prohibiting it within so many meters of a school. And the bathrooms have detectors, just in case.

On 4/07/13, Bobbi wrote:

> I don't think students should smoke in the bathrooms at

> school. The girls' r...See More

Apr 7, 2013

Hold it...are you a student? I'm only asking because I've never heard of faculty having to share the students' restroom.

Smoking is illegal here on every school campus, and even outside the campus, within a certain number of yards from any school entrance. Heck, smoking's illegal here in restaurants and bars.

If you're a student, you can ask your parents to c...See More

Apr 7, 2013

Poetry For Your Cause

by Kayla Tarantino

Apr 12, 2013

Dear English Educator,

My name is Kayla Tarantino and I’m an English student at Southern Connecticut State University. I’m writing to you about a project that I have been working on in an English class focused on public writing. I hope that you will be interested in learning more about what I’m doing and how you can help! My goals f...See More

How does your school schedule electives?

by how does it work?

Apr 16, 2013

I posted this on the Art teachers thread, but I'm not getting any response and I'm hoping some of you may have insight into this. It could really apply to any electives teacher:

I am wondering how visual arts classes are treated in terms of scheduling at other high schools. At ours, we've been giving students choice sheets to fill out ind...See More

view previous comments

many electives to choose from On 5/07/13, how does it work? wrote: > On 5/06/13, many electives to choose from wrote: >> My school has ~1,400 students and there are many >> electives to choose from. There are electives in just >> about every core subject area in addition to >> departments that are 100% elective (visual arts, >> performing arts, ...See More

May 13, 2013

Anna K How typical is this scenario in high schools? Do you have > to close certain classes from time to time, offering them > in later years when there's interest? Do you have to create > classes to get enough students to retain teaching > positions?

At my HS they require 1 year of Arts- you can take any art class but also choir, ban...See More

May 27, 2013

Vocational Education w/ Special Ed

by Stephanie

Apr 17, 2013

I am a university student in a research class. My topic is on special education students in vocational education classes. If you are a vocational teacher for students with disabilities and are interested in participating in an anonymous survey please reply to this chat and I will give you a survey to complete!

Thank you in advance for your...See More

Antonio Hello Stephanie, I am PhD student in Computer Science. I would like to exchange the computer lessons with English lessons on Skype. If you (or anyone) are interested please contact me. Thanks.

On 4/17/13, Stephanie wrote: > I am a university student in a research class. > My topic is on special education students in vocational > e...See More

Apr 18, 2013

Shirley Herrick On 4/17/13, Stephanie wrote: > I am a university student in a research class. > My topic is on special education students in vocational > education classes. > If you are a vocational teacher for students with > disabilities and are interested in participating in an > anonymous survey please reply to this chat and I will give > ...See More

Apr 18, 2013

Poetry For Your Cause

by Kayla Tarantino

Apr 19, 2013

Dear English Educator,

My name is Kayla Tarantino and I’m an English student at Southern Connecticut State University. I’m writing to you about a project that I have been working on in an English class focused on public writing. I hope that you will be interested in learning more about what I’m doing and how you can help!

...See More

High School English Teacher Interview Questions

by Kathy

Apr 21, 2013

Hello everyone!

I am a Single-subject English teaching credential student in California looking to teach high school English.

For a class that I'm taking, I've been asked to interview English teachers. So, while I'm asking for interviews from the teachers at my student-teacher placement, I thought I'd check online as well!
...See More

HS Teacher I have never had an administrator ask me any questions like this. They ask questions about discipline, management, and how kids learn.

On 4/21/13, Kathy wrote: > Hello everyone! > > I am a Single-subject English teaching credential student in > California looking to teach high school English. > > For a class that I'm tak...See More

Apr 23, 2013

Sara On 4/21/13, Kathy wrote: > Hello everyone! I relate literature to life- I tell literature is a mirror held up to life. In life do we change as people? Are ther events or circumstances in a life that can cause people to change? As an exercise, I ask them to consider some event in their life that brought them some new Wareness and/ or that impacte...See MoreOn 4/21/13, Kathy wrote: > Hello everyone! I relate literature to life- I tell literature is a mirror held up to life. In life do we change as people? Are ther events or circumstances in a life that can cause people to change? As an exercise, I ask them to consider some event in their life that brought them some new Wareness and/ or that impacted on their character - in a positive or negative way.

With that the only thing that remains difficult is when a character chaned in a way they do not understand. Teenagers tend to believe that their reaction is the only reaction possible to a siitauation. And also difficult are those characters that none of understand - like Iago in othello - why is Iago so mean, so conniving? Shakespeare never gives us any clues.

> EL students struggle with language - not ideas., not characterization, not plot, just with what's being said. I provide them with translations or subtitled versions of what we might be watching.

But their cultural intpretations can very different from ours and why not. Ours are no more correct than theirs. Some EL students see Iago are everyday normal as in - well, doesn't everybody act that way? Our culture puts a certain emphasis on being nice ( even though we aren't always nice and have become a people quick to anger and judge) but some of my EL students say that all know an Iago and often it's their landlord or the rich guy's son down the block. > I am a Single-subject English teaching credential student in > California looking to teach high school English. > > For a class that I'm taking, I've been asked to interview > English teachers. So, while I'm asking for interviews from > the teachers at my student-teacher placement, I thought I'd > check online as well! > > Here are the questions. If anyone is teaching high school > English and wants to participate, please respond! > > 1. What have you found are the most difficult things for > students to understand or be able to do related to > characterization in literature? > 2. Can you recount something you learned about literary > characterization that helped you with your teaching of > characterization? > 3. Have you found anything in particular that has helped > your students understand and do things with characterization? > 4. Have you had any particular success in helping one or > more EL students to better understand literary > characterization? If not, do you have any tips about this? > 5. Do you have a sample lesson or activity related to > characterization that you would be willing to share? > > Thanks so much! > -Kathy

Apr 26, 2013

Burned out beyond belief

by Catsister

Apr 30, 2013

Well, it happened again. My 3rd Catholic School closure. I taught public school one year, and that closed too.

I cannot bear to go to work any more. Two of my three classes are awful. Every day they walk in begging for free time, a movie, etc. and if I don't give it to them (and I never do), there is actual hostility towards me. They make...See More

view previous comments

adding onto Susan's suggestion So much for the illusion that Catholic schools have better behaved students! Anyway, Susan has some great suggestions, but I would piggyback onto what she said by suggesting that you look for PAT (preferred activity time) games on Dr. Fred Jones' website. I went to one of his seminars and own his book, Tools for Teaching, and I think he is great! H...See MoreSo much for the illusion that Catholic schools have better behaved students! Anyway, Susan has some great suggestions, but I would piggyback onto what she said by suggesting that you look for PAT (preferred activity time) games on Dr. Fred Jones' website. I went to one of his seminars and own his book, Tools for Teaching, and I think he is great! Hang in there!

On 5/01/13, Susan Shoup wrote: > Oh my, I can only tell you that you've reached the bottom and > must now begin to climb out. Have you thought about moving > elsewhere? Some states are doing much better than others. > You must be in an urban situation. I can tell you also that > rural schools will have better students. Try looking for a > position at least an hour from any large city. I teach in > northern Michigan and I love it! Granted there are challenges > (our district is broke) but, we are all sticking together and > trying to help each other out however we can. Remember that > your students are also burned out and would like to write off > these last few weeks of school. Perhaps you can try the > carrot & stick approach. They work diligently on something > for 5 minutes of 'free time' at the end of the hour. Another > idea is to create interactive learning games that applies > concepts you've taught this year. > > Hang in there!! Summer is just around the corner. -susan > > On 4/30/13, Catsister wrote: >> Well, it happened again. My 3rd Catholic School closure. I >> taught public school one year, and that closed too. >> >> I cannot bear to go to work any more. Two of my three >> classes are awful. Every day they walk in begging for free >> time, a movie, etc. and if I don't give it to them (and I >> never do), there is actual hostility towards me. They make >> me feel like an idiot for trying to do my job. I imagine >> they expect me to sort of wink at them and make up some bs >> grade for them, for work not done. Actually, when they do >> work, after minutes of me yelling, begging, threatening and >> bribing, it's not that bad--most of them are still passing, >> but their attitudes are awful. Adding to the problem is >> that the other Catholic schools are seducing them, sending >> buses to give them tours where they're fussed over and >> given free food and snacks. The absenteeism rate is high >> because of this. I can't plan anything, never know what I'm >> doing, but there usually aren't enough kids gone to cancel >> class outright. >> >> Hanging over my head is the depression of unemployment, >> seeing my non- teaching friends fired on the spot (no more >> secretaries, guidance counselors, admissions person--people >> that I used to eat lunch with and talk to a lot) and >> knowing that they will not even pay the rest of our >> contracts. (They will not give us our summer money. Yes, we >> spoke to a lawyer, but can't do anything yet.) I'm also >> expecting to be asked to do some sort of major >> inventory/chemical disposal, which I could be doing now >> except I've gotten no direction from anybody. The principal >> just hides in her office all day. >> >> Does anybody have any hints how I can get through this >> month?

May 6, 2013

cm Invest in yourself. Use the remaining time to collect and organize materials for your courses. Scour resources. Look for any workshops, courses and job opportunities elsewhere. Do your job competently, but adequately--no heroics! Take care of yourself physically and organize so that you have 'let go' of school before summer starts. Seriously, plan ...See More

May 9, 2013

how messed up are the politics at your school?

by is this how it always is?

May 9, 2013

I am working at a school that's fairly new and I have wanted to help shape it's direction but have been very frustrated in my attempts to do so. It seems that smart and effective decisions simply can't get made or put into place and there's a lack of common sense. Every seemingly straightforward issue is complicated by people twisting it into somet...See More

view previous comments

is this how it always is? On 5/10/13, I hear ya wrote: > On 5/09/13, is this how it always is? wrote: >> I am working at a school that's fairly new and I have >> wanted to help shape it's direction but have been very >> frustrated in my attempts to do so. It seems that smart and >> effective decisions simply can't get made or put into place >&g...See MoreOn 5/10/13, I hear ya wrote: > On 5/09/13, is this how it always is? wrote: >> I am working at a school that's fairly new and I have >> wanted to help shape it's direction but have been very >> frustrated in my attempts to do so. It seems that smart and >> effective decisions simply can't get made or put into place >> and there's a lack of common sense. Every seemingly >> straightforward issue is complicated by people twisting it >> into something else and emotions run high. A lot of the >> faculty is cynical while the few people making all the >> decisions complain that no one wants to help. >> >> How much influence do you have on your school culture and >> how much do you care? It seems to me like a school is just >> too big and complicated a mess to have much impact on, so >> staying out of everything and isolating yourself in your >> classroom is ultimately the wisest choice. It just seems so >> complacent to me and so it doesn't sit well. Can someone >> offer a different perspective? > > New schools are very bad. I'm the bitter veteran of two "new" > schools: one was the combination of 2 Catholic schools, the > other was a Catholic school in which the nuns pulled out and > it was run by a board of alumni. I'm now going through my > second school closing. Most new schools don't do well, in my > experience, whether they are private or charter. A > well-funded public school run by the Bd of Ed might be a > different story. You don't say what type of school this is, or > who ultimately is running it. In my case--both of my cases, > actually--, there was a board of interchangeable people who > met after school and never saw a kid or teacher, and a weak > principal who refused to discipline a kid for anything, ever, > unless a teacher pitched a fit and made a drama. A few > loudmouth teachers controlled everything, and while they meant > well, I think they didn't help keep these schools afloat, but > rather hurt the effort in some ways. > > You should find a group of like minded teachers and together > try to get something done. One person with common sense alone > can't do that much. > > Let us know how it goes That does sound like an awful situation. We have it much more together than that. Mine is a public school, but the money is tight and the most fundamental problem is that we are expected to do more than other high schools and with less resources. There is a basic denial of the fact that this strategy won't work. We won't become the kind of school our mission statement says we are to be because to be so would require getting more resources and flexibility from our district, which isn't happening

May 10, 2013

cm Get a few good books on office politics for summer reading. It is a fact everywhere and you'll learn to navigate.

On 5/09/13, is this how it always is? wrote:

> I am working at a school that's fairly new and I have

> wanted to help shape it's direction but have been very

> frustrated in my attempts to d...See More

May 11, 2013

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