Problem Teacher

by Frank

Sep 25, 2009

What do I do about a teacher who continues to dictate (not guide) what she allows her students to check out from the library? I always make sure her kids have an on-level AR book, something she requires, but I also allow at least one free choice book. She has a big problem with this. She does not want to let her students borrow any graphic novels, Goosebumps, etc. She does not understand that Goosebumps and other low level books can actually act as a bridge into higher level chapter books, something that she wants from her students. She sends kids back if I manage to let them get a graphic novel or a nonfiction selection about personal interests. Most of our students are ELL so graphic novels go a long way in getting these kids interested in reading, another fact that she does not recognize or understand. She tells her kids such things as "put that back you cannot read it" in front of the whole class, even if it is just one level above their AR level or even if it is ON their level but...See More

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sbutler As a parent I would be livid that my child would not be allowed to choose a book to read. We live in the USA and even kids have freedoms!! Geez, the books are not banned! I would have the parents sign a permission slip saying they are allowed to check out and extra book for home reading. What is with these teachers thinking they "own" the kids and ...See MoreAs a parent I would be livid that my child would not be allowed to choose a book to read. We live in the USA and even kids have freedoms!! Geez, the books are not banned! I would have the parents sign a permission slip saying they are allowed to check out and extra book for home reading. What is with these teachers thinking they "own" the kids and treating the specials teachers as if they are lesser than themselves?

On 9/25/09, Frank wrote: > What do I do about a teacher who continues to dictate (not > guide) what she allows her students to check out from the > library? I always make sure her kids have an on-level AR > book, something she requires, but I also allow at least one > free choice book. She has a big problem with this. She > does not want to let her students borrow any graphic > novels, Goosebumps, etc. She does not understand that > Goosebumps and other low level books can actually act as a > bridge into higher level chapter books, something that she > wants from her students. She sends kids back if I manage > to let them get a graphic novel or a nonfiction selection > about personal interests. Most of our students are ELL so > graphic novels go a long way in getting these kids > interested in reading, another fact that she does not > recognize or understand. She tells her kids such things > as "put that back you cannot read it" in front of the whole > class, even if it is just one level above their AR level or > even if it is ON their level but she just happens to not > like the book herself. She's even told me that she should > be the one to decide what her kids read. I've tried to > reason with her, I've given her the research various times > but she obviously doesn't read it. I've even pointed out > that the state skills require free selection. The > principal doesn't care. Her test scores are low and have > been for years. She was educated several decades ago in > South America. I'm in my third year with this woman and > frankly it is really sad to see the damage she is doing to > her students. How can I fight this?

Sep 30, 2009

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well You may not be able to fight this. I had this problem at one time. He even told his students to get books with a certain amount of pages or chapters. I did not agree with the teacher but this was technically his class and he was the one that taught reading and gave the grades. You can try the "you don't interfere with her teaching and she shouldn't...See MoreYou may not be able to fight this. I had this problem at one time. He even told his students to get books with a certain amount of pages or chapters. I did not agree with the teacher but this was technically his class and he was the one that taught reading and gave the grades. You can try the "you don't interfere with her teaching and she shouldn't yours" and then just keep pushing for a compromise. Eventually, I got the compromise, although he still dictated the AR books.

On 9/30/09, sbutler wrote: > As a parent I would be livid that my child would not be allowed > to choose a book to read. We live in the USA and even kids > have freedoms!! Geez, the books are not banned! I would have > the parents sign a permission slip saying they are allowed to > check out and extra book for home reading. What is with these > teachers thinking they "own" the kids and treating the specials > teachers as if they are lesser than themselves? > > > > > On 9/25/09, Frank wrote: >> What do I do about a teacher who continues to dictate (not >> guide) what she allows her students to check out from the >> library? I always make sure her kids have an on-level AR >> book, something she requires, but I also allow at least one >> free choice book. She has a big problem with this. She >> does not want to let her students borrow any graphic >> novels, Goosebumps, etc. She does not understand that >> Goosebumps and other low level books can actually act as a >> bridge into higher level chapter books, something that she >> wants from her students. She sends kids back if I manage >> to let them get a graphic novel or a nonfiction selection >> about personal interests. Most of our students are ELL so >> graphic novels go a long way in getting these kids >> interested in reading, another fact that she does not >> recognize or understand. She tells her kids such things >> as "put that back you cannot read it" in front of the whole >> class, even if it is just one level above their AR level or >> even if it is ON their level but she just happens to not >> like the book herself. She's even told me that she should >> be the one to decide what her kids read. I've tried to >> reason with her, I've given her the research various times >> but she obviously doesn't read it. I've even pointed out >> that the state skills require free selection. The >> principal doesn't care. Her test scores are low and have >> been for years. She was educated several decades ago in >> South America. I'm in my third year with this woman and >> frankly it is really sad to see the damage she is doing to >> her students. How can I fight this?

Oct 4, 2009

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Ron You have a professional obligation to get something done. I had a similar incident recently and here is what I did:

1. Leave a paper trail...BCC yourself with all emails regarding the matter 2. Collect your data and be prepared to back your claims 3. Familarize yourself with the Master Agreement if you have one 4. Contact the lowest on you...See More

Oct 20, 2009

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Frank I'm thinking about the permission slip approach for next year. It just absolutely continues to flabbergast me at the attitudes teachers take about the reading material selected by their students. It's not like anything is age-inappropriate. I can see that teachers are often their own worst enemies. The need by some of them to control is shocking. J...See MoreI'm thinking about the permission slip approach for next year. It just absolutely continues to flabbergast me at the attitudes teachers take about the reading material selected by their students. It's not like anything is age-inappropriate. I can see that teachers are often their own worst enemies. The need by some of them to control is shocking. Just this week I had a third grade teacher tell her kids not to check out any more Guinness or Ripley's books. They are too addictive. Isn't that what we want? And we wonder why the public education system is in the mess it is.

On 9/30/09, sbutler wrote: > As a parent I would be livid that my child would not be allowed > to choose a book to read. We live in the USA and even kids > have freedoms!! Geez, the books are not banned! I would have > the parents sign a permission slip saying they are allowed to > check out and extra book for home reading. What is with these > teachers thinking they "own" the kids and treating the specials > teachers as if they are lesser than themselves? > > > > > On 9/25/09, Frank wrote: >> What do I do about a teacher who continues to dictate (not >> guide) what she allows her students to check out from the >> library? I always make sure her kids have an on-level AR >> book, something she requires, but I also allow at least one >> free choice book. She has a big problem with this. She >> does not want to let her students borrow any graphic >> novels, Goosebumps, etc. She does not understand that >> Goosebumps and other low level books can actually act as a >> bridge into higher level chapter books, something that she >> wants from her students. She sends kids back if I manage >> to let them get a graphic novel or a nonfiction selection >> about personal interests. Most of our students are ELL so >> graphic novels go a long way in getting these kids >> interested in reading, another fact that she does not >> recognize or understand. She tells her kids such things >> as "put that back you cannot read it" in front of the whole >> class, even if it is just one level above their AR level or >> even if it is ON their level but she just happens to not >> like the book herself. She's even told me that she should >> be the one to decide what her kids read. I've tried to >> reason with her, I've given her the research various times >> but she obviously doesn't read it. I've even pointed out >> that the state skills require free selection. The >> principal doesn't care. Her test scores are low and have >> been for years. She was educated several decades ago in >> South America. I'm in my third year with this woman and >> frankly it is really sad to see the damage she is doing to >> her students. How can I fight this?

Oct 23, 2009

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Flora Gosh, how frustrating for you and demoralizing for the students subjected to this teacher. Years ago (many!) I would check Nancy Drew and similar books I loved to read out of the public library. The librarian made a point of sneering at the books and at me for liking them. "Why don't you read any good books?" she would ask. My mother was a single p...See More

Oct 23, 2009

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