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Master Teachers Chatboard

behavior in low income schools

by sub

Dec 16, 2014

Master Teachers,

Hello! I have a quick question for those of you who have been at it for decades. Has the behavior in low income schools always been so bad, or has it gotten worse in recent years? Thanks.

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Minni On 12/16/14, Yep wrote: > You're not dreaming, it is real. > On 12/16/14, sub wrote: >> Master Teachers, >> >> Hello! I have a quick question for those of you who have >> been at it for decades. Has the behavior in low income >> schools always been so bad, or has it gotten worse in >> recent years? Thanks. ...See More

Dec 23, 2014

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my 2 Middle class schools are now being renamed "low income" schools under the new economy. Thanks to the prevalent welfare mentality which designates every child as "needy," we have a society of entitled. These children are growing up learning that hard work isn't necessary because we don't earn our state in life, it is handed to us...See More

Jan 25, 2015

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Student-Centered Learning – Where Do You Fit In?

by Teachers.Net Gazette

Dec 4, 2014

In the article, Tina Bacolas writes:

One of the best viral YouTube sensations I’ve caught in the past few years, “The Difference Between Cats and Dogs” features a Golden Retriever and its puppy. While this video has nothing to with education, it has everything to do the student-centered learning I saw taking place in a high school sc...See More

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BTSA Provider

by Chris Pearson

Oct 10, 2014

Hello, if anyone can recommend a master teacher in the Los Angeles area, that would be great.

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Pssst...What's Hiding in Your Curriculum?

by Teachers.Net Gazette

Oct 7, 2014

Explore the hidden curriculum-the learning that occurs every day, out of sight, as students are shaped by their environmental experiences.

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It's the administrator...but

by Teachers.Net Gazette

Sep 18, 2014

It’s the administrator who creates a good school, but...

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Why do they give the challenging classes to novice teachers?

by Alicia

Oct 29, 2008

I've noticed that the lower level, behaviorally challenged classes in my school are given to the newer, non-tenured teachers. Why? If a teacher is good and experienced, should it matter if they teach lower or upper level? Or is education one of those "baptism by fire" professions? As a new teacher, I find it very discouraging.

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Hal Portner On 10/29/08, Alicia wrote: > I've noticed that the lower level, behaviorally challenged > classes in my school are given to the newer, non-tenured > teachers. Why? If a teacher is good and experienced, > should it matter if they teach lower or upper level? Or is education one of those "baptism by fire" professions? As a new teacher, I f...See More

Oct 30, 2008

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suzy It is disconcerting to read the posts. The children should come first...their needs, requirements. A brand new teacher should have a mentor and team assistance. Difficult children are best served by qualified caring teachers. This can be a new teacher (perhaps just one of two of these kiddos) or an experienced one. New teachers should not be given ...See MoreIt is disconcerting to read the posts. The children should come first...their needs, requirements. A brand new teacher should have a mentor and team assistance. Difficult children are best served by qualified caring teachers. This can be a new teacher (perhaps just one of two of these kiddos) or an experienced one. New teachers should not be given a pass AND never the most difficult children. It is our job to help each other figure out how to best teach a child.

On 10/30/08, Hal Portner wrote: > On 10/29/08, Alicia wrote: >> I've noticed that the lower level, behaviorally challenged >> classes in my school are given to the newer, non-tenured >> teachers. Why? If a teacher is good and experienced, >> should it matter if they teach lower or upper level? Or > is education one of those "baptism by fire" professions? As > a new teacher, I find it very discouraging. > ****************************** > Alicia, I recall a conversation about this during a > faculty meeting a few years ago. It went something like this: > A middle school English teacher, aka Nadine,said "I > remember that as a new teacher I was assigned the lowest > section classes, the most difficult students, the worst > schedules, and the most demanding extra duties. Is this > still the case?” > “It sure is,” answered Fran (also aka), a teacher > with 24 years experience. “In fact, our contract supports > this by allowing senior teachers to pick which class they > want to teach in which school.” > At their next meeting, Fran reported that she had > discussed with other veteran teachers, the practice of > assigning new teachers the most difficult students and > schedules. She was shocked — but not surprised — by comments > from some of her colleagues: > “These new kids on the block ought to be in the > toughest classrooms. They are young, they are strong, and > they have the latest pedagogical skills. We’ve always done > it this way. We’ve all paid our dues. We’ve got seniority > now and deserve the consideration we receive.” > “I think we’ve got things backwards, here,” Nadine > chimed in. “A new teacher should have a lighter load than an > experienced teacher; after all, a new teacher needs time to > adjust to the difference between theory and practice and > time to prepare for classes.” > > Maybe it's time for contract negotiations in your district, > Alicia? >

Nov 1, 2008

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Does changing school populations change your attitude?

by Heather J.

Oct 31, 2008

For those of you very experienced teachers, I am in need of some honest, but not "flaming" advice. This is my 6th year of teaching. Before I became a teacher, I worked in accounting for 6 years and then stayed home for two. I teach third grade in the Houston area in a low-income school with a very challenging population. Not the worst in Houston, b...See MoreFor those of you very experienced teachers, I am in need of some honest, but not "flaming" advice. This is my 6th year of teaching. Before I became a teacher, I worked in accounting for 6 years and then stayed home for two. I teach third grade in the Houston area in a low-income school with a very challenging population. Not the worst in Houston, but definitely challenging. I'm feeling more than ever extremely worn down by teaching this population of children. Academically they are not succeeding no matter what I do. Now of course, I have kids making A's and B's, so I know that I'm doing something right, but the others I can not seem to motivate them or keep their attention. Fifteen students earned F's in math this nine weeks out of 40 students and that's with modifications and as much in-class support as I can provide them. Emotionally this has worn me down, as I don't feel like a good enough teacher, yet I work my tail off and do so much for my team. In addition, my school seems to require so much more time, at least unpaid, than other schools even in the district. For example from the beginning of Nov. on, we are all expected to tutor our kids on Tues. and Thurs. for an hour after school and reserve another day after school for possible faculty meetings. In addition, on Fridays, we have an "unoffical" after-school get- together for about 35 minutes after school to make announcements, pats on the back, etc. If you don't go to these it looks bad or like you're not being a team player, but honestly, no one really has time. I already have no time to do anything and personally feel a mess, so adding the tutoring is only going to exacerbate things.

Part of me says that I am just not really and truely a teacher and should go back into the business world and another part of me says to try next year to get into the district that I live in, which has a higher socioeconomic population. It is just very competitive to get into this district or any near my home, as the kids are not so challenging.

Has anyone ever done this and felt "renewed", so to speak or was it just transferring anxiety and problems in a different way? I want to do what is best for me and my family, as I have a 1 year old, 3 year old and 7 year old at home that undoubtedly are getting "less" of a mom from me being so worn out.

Any experiences or advice would be appreciated.

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To Anonymous It's been an awful year at your new school, or at the school that you're planning on leaving? I am curious - I am planning on leaving my school this year. It's not awful, but it is awfully hard to work together with very little willingness to find common ground, and zero opportunities to change grades. It is encouraging to hear from people who have...See More

Dec 14, 2008

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HS Teacher Just like a teacher is one of the most important things that effect our students' learning, I believe that administration is of the most important things that effects teacher job satisfaction.

We got a new principal last year and I was moved to work under a new assistant principal this year, and for the first time in 5 years of teaching a...See More

Dec 23, 2008

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Help?

by Robert

Nov 2, 2008

Hello. My name is Robert and I am making this post to get some data for a Classroom Management assignment I am currently working on. If you would like to help me out, please respond to the following question and tell me your name and current position. Thanks in advance for your help!

Question: "What does exemplary teaching mean to you?"

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Leah "What does exemplary teaching mean to you?"

The following short list might be helpful:

Nov 10, 2008

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Robert Thanks Leah...that was very helpful!

On 11/10/08, Leah wrote: >> "What does exemplary teaching mean to you?" > > The following short list might be helpful: >

Nov 15, 2008

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MRT TeXes Test

by Lisa

Nov 6, 2008

I'm taking the MRT TeXes test on Saturday. Anyone taken it lately? Any tips or suggestions?

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Do your counselors do anything?

by Anon. on this one

Nov 7, 2008

Hello,

I along with my teammates are very frustrated over our counselors lack of involvement with our kids and staff. This is our fourth year and every year it's the same thing. Counselors that only come by when they are radioed for an extreme case of anger/behavior and otherwise are non-existent in the classroom. When you go by their off...See More

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Diana Wow, the situation that you describe is deplorable!

Things at our school are VERY different. The counselor does a 50 minute classroom guidance lesson with each class every other week. She addresses health/safety/emotional issues that can apply to all students. (for example, test anxiety, stranger danger, setting personal goals)

Sh...See MoreWow, the situation that you describe is deplorable!

Things at our school are VERY different. The counselor does a 50 minute classroom guidance lesson with each class every other week. She addresses health/safety/emotional issues that can apply to all students. (for example, test anxiety, stranger danger, setting personal goals)

She also does small groups. These are for 30 min. a week, and usualy run for 6 weeks. They include 4 to 8 students who have a troubling issue in commom (family breakup, grief counselling, anger management, for example)

She is available for individual counselling sessions with students. They can be teacher referred, parent referred, or self referred. You just have to fill out a little slip, and drop it into her mailbox, and she'll get to the child within a few days. This is just a little one-time conversation, or assessment thing - if there is a need for ongoing individual counselling, she refers the problem out to a psychologist.

She organizes and carries out 2 school-wide events annually: Red Ribbon Week in October, and Career Week in the spring. These have special events each day for all grade levels, and are really well done, usually with local TV or newspaper coverage.

She and the school nurse jointly sponsor 2 afterschool clubs: The "Dragons On The Run" club for 4th and 5th graders (fitness walking and jogging at weekly meetings and entry into a couple of community sponsored "fun Runs" and 5 K runs each year) The S.P.I.C.E. Club for 1st - 5th graders.(I forget what the acronym stands for, but it is a service club. They have can drives for charity, sing Christmas carols at the nursing home, etc.)

She knows every one of the 500+ students in our K - 5 building by name, and is very popular with the kids and teachers alike. I wish every school had a counselor like ours. She is a gem!

On 11/07/08, Anon. on this one wrote: > Hello, > > I along with my teammates are very frustrated over our > counselors lack of involvement with our kids and staff. > This is our fourth year and every year it's the same > thing. Counselors that only come by when they are radioed > for an extreme case of anger/behavior and otherwise are > non-existent in the classroom. When you go by their > offices, they just seem to be sitting at their > computer...never any kids in their office. We have two > counselors since we have an enrollment of about 1150 PK- > 5. We are an extremely at-risk population and so many of > our kids have behavior problems, especially with anger > management. We desperately need our counselors to pull > small groups, come around and have discussions, but I > guess they think making cute bulletin boards is more > important. > > This year we have two new counselors and had some hope > that something might get done. However, neither one have > been by any of our rooms in my grade level to introduce > themselves. Most of my students don't even know who the > counselors are. It's like they prance around as part of > the "administrative team", yet don't seem to really do the > job that they need to do for our kids. Now I do know of a > few things that they are responsible for, yet it's nothing > that takes their time all-day, everyday. In addition, > they are not even friendly to staff. I called down to one > the other day because I had a student who just would not > stop crying hysterically over having to change her clip > and I got a rude response when I asked if she could speak > to her. I ended up sending her down and she came back > with a note that she had written to me. I asked her if > she spoke to her and she said "not really", she just told > me what to write in the letter. > > I know there is no solution except to bring this up with > our administration, but since this is only the 2nd school > that I've worked at, I'm just wondering what your > experiences have been. > > Thanks for your input. >

Nov 8, 2008

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Leah Diana, I'm so pleased you responded. Your school counselor sounds great!

TO first poster: It should not be that way. Your team and other teachers need to complain. Your students need an involved school counselor who does classroom guidance, small groups, individual counseling, etc.

Nov 8, 2008

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