Empty Swings & Stressed Out Expressions!

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Alabama Teachers Chatboard

Empty Swings & Stressed Out Expressions!

by Blossom

Oct 12, 2008

Thank you for taking the time to read my post. I am a first grade teacher. This is my 21st year of teaching, 15 of which I spent in Tennessee. Since I have been teaching in Alabama, I have experienced more stress than ever! Normally I am not a stress-out type of person! I am an optimist and have always believed my hands on & fun approach to teaching to be effective. This year, being my 6th year in the state of Alabama, I almost have a fear of going to school each day! We have adopted a new reading series this year (Storytown by Harcourt Brace) and are teaching AMSTI Science & Math for the first year. Not only are we teaching AMSTI Math but we are expected to teach our recently adopted math series (Harcourt Brace) as well so that the students can experience pen & paper work in preparation for the SAT. It's not the curriculum that is so scarey and stressful...it's the OBSESSION with TIME & DETAIL that is wearing on and pressuring all of our teachers! For some reason...tha...See MoreThank you for taking the time to read my post. I am a first grade teacher. This is my 21st year of teaching, 15 of which I spent in Tennessee. Since I have been teaching in Alabama, I have experienced more stress than ever! Normally I am not a stress-out type of person! I am an optimist and have always believed my hands on & fun approach to teaching to be effective. This year, being my 6th year in the state of Alabama, I almost have a fear of going to school each day! We have adopted a new reading series this year (Storytown by Harcourt Brace) and are teaching AMSTI Science & Math for the first year. Not only are we teaching AMSTI Math but we are expected to teach our recently adopted math series (Harcourt Brace) as well so that the students can experience pen & paper work in preparation for the SAT. It's not the curriculum that is so scarey and stressful...it's the OBSESSION with TIME & DETAIL that is wearing on and pressuring all of our teachers! For some reason...that I can't seem to figure out...the principal & reading coaches are OBSESSED with the time that we are taking to teach each element of the new reading series. They meet with us constantly taking away much of the time needed to prepare for all of the activities that are expected from the reading, science & math. They meet with us demanding times of how long it is taking to teach what!!! Giving us suggestions after suggestions on how to teach it faster so that we GET IT ALL IN!!!! It's not about quality & fun anymore!!! It's an obsession with making sure these students GET IT ALL!!!! We have to stick to a specific timed schedule that begins when the students arrive at 7:50! No time to greet students to hear what they need to tell you or to call the roll! If we don't begin reading at 8:15 promptly we are considered not being on track with what is expected! Teachers that have been teaching 20 & 25 years are running around trying to meet all these impossible expectations like it was their first year to teach! Most of whom are planning to retire as soon as possilbe due to the stress load and expectations that set us up to FAIL because it is simply not possible to do it all in the TIMELY manner that they expect! Fearing a walk-through is something that we live with daily!!! Why is this??? Why are we constantly threatened by this ridiulous WALK THROUGHS!!! No other profession is under such scrutiny!!! I find myself loosing who I have always been as a teacher. I constantly battle with why...why is it like this??? What is the purpose??? Why has recess been taken away??? These children need to run & play and grow as only they can socially when have some freedom. My students keep asking WHY first graders don't get to go outside & play. Why is the $35,0000 new playground empty? Is all of this worth it??? Occasionally I will walk my students on the outer skirts of the playground after lunch. Oh how this little walk thrills them. They will run to the swings or the bars and I will have to say, "get off the equipment!" As I walk...in the back of my mind I am hoping that someone...whoever they are...is not waiting in my room wondering WHY I am not already teaching STRATEGIC INTERVENTION. Whenever I do something like playdough, art etc...I am always wondering is someone will walk in my room to see if I am ON THEIR TRACK!!! If I am teaching what they believe I am suppose to be teaching. We recently had a fabulous motivational speaker come to our school. We stood before these sour faces sharing ideas of how to take care of ourselves & how to reach those hard to reach students. How discouraging to know that we couldn't take any of his great advise...for there is simply NO TIME to slow down and reach these students who so desperately cry out to be loved and listened to. My question is this... Is what I am experiencing at my school...the norm? I know one thing...it all goes against every fiber of my being and I know one thing for sure...It is cheating my students out of all the lifelong lessons that come along with a positive, enthusiastic, teacher! Thank you for listening & I look forward to your respones! Sincerely!

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Fred T. (missing MACE) I used to teach in Georgia and was a member of MACE. MACE is awesome! I hope MACE branches out to Alabama. I can't wait! I join again! [link removed]

On 10/17/08, A MACE Teacher wrote: > It seems that all of the quick pace is geared toward trying to > artificially raise some scores on a narrowly written test which will > not make ...See MoreI used to teach in Georgia and was a member of MACE. MACE is awesome! I hope MACE branches out to Alabama. I can't wait! I join again! [link removed]

On 10/17/08, A MACE Teacher wrote: > It seems that all of the quick pace is geared toward trying to > artificially raise some scores on a narrowly written test which will > not make a hill-of-beans difference in the child's life. A young > child does indeed need the nurturing and caring touch from a sweet > and sensitive teacher who has gone to school for years to understand > how to the reach the child. But, in public education, we are in a > 1970s-type of top-down, heavy-handed management style that the > business world has long since realized does not work. But, in > education, we are always about 30 years behind the times when it > comes to management styles. MACE (the Metro Association of Classroom > Educators out of Georgia) has, as its mantra statement, the > following: "You can't have good learning conditions until you first > have good teaching conditions." These two are inextricably linked. > You can't have the former until you first establish the latter. > Blossom, I wish you well. It sounds like you have a strong heart for > your children. I wish the administrators would trust the wisdom, > judgment, and discretion of the professional classroom educators, but > they are so busy climbing the corporate ladder. You and your > colleagues need advocates fighting for you. Check out: > TheTeachersAdvocate.Com > > > > On 10/15/08, Blossom wrote: >> On 10/15/08, Blossom wrote: >> I couldn't help but smile to hear your remarks! We are feeling the >> same as veteran teachers! I often ask my coworkers WHY it is that >> having a Master's Degree is such a BIG deal??? We are not allowed >> any flexibilty to think as professionals much less create and use >> the special gifts that each of us have to offer our students. Yes >> indeed...our reading coaches are always speaking of >> management...and when they come in to MODEL a lesson they are >> going so FAST to beat the clock that management is not even a >> focus! We too are required to present a Daily Question and I was >> enjoying listening to all responses...UNTIL...they began to >> chizzle the warmup session down to doing it as FAST as possible! I >> use to stop and sing If You're Happy & You Know It....when we >> would read a poem during the warmup...and oh the smiles on those >> faces...but not anymore...that takes up too much time! Again...I >> was not only reading the high frequency words but we were clapping >> and cheering for the words each day...but no longer...it all has >> to be done so fast...so CRAZY...so OBSURD!!! By lunch I am >> frazzled and almost unwilling to speak and smile any longer...so >> against my upbeat nature. >> I find myself raising my voice in frustration to my students...and >> apologizing when I do...this again is against my nature and I am >> so ashamed when I let it all get the best of me. >> Thank you for responding. I'm not happy that you are feeling my >> pain but it is nice to hear someone who I am certain is a fabulous >> teacher expressing the same feelings. >> Have a great day and let's try to remember how much those sweet >> children depend on us to give them the BEST year they've ever had! >> >>> On 10/14/08, 1st grade teacher wrote: >>>> I feel your pain! I have the same song, just a different >>>> verse. LOL Only difference is we adopted Scott Foresman >>>> Reading Street and do TEAM Math (another initiative, just >>>> specific to East Alabama and rooted to Auburn University) >>>> using Scott Foreman math and Investigations. Yeah, when our >>>> reading coach is telling a veteran teacher that they need to >>>> learn better time management, then something is very wrong >>>> with the picture! For the first time, I dread walking into >>>> the school each morning. We are expected to do these daily >>>> messages and ask questions relavent to the theme of the >>>> week, but are only suppose to allow one or two students to >>>> respond due to time restraints. Um, they are first graders >>>> and they ALL want to share! Then we are given ridiculous >>>> tasks to do that are of no benefit to the classroom teacher >>>> just so the reading coach and principal can do a walk >>>> through and check up on what we are doing. It has started >>>> off as a VERY frustrating year!

Oct 17, 2008

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aususieq Your post made me think you taught in my school system except for the different textbooks. The last few years of teaching had become unbearable to me for many of the same reasons you stated. It wasn't worth it. Thank goodness I had 25 years and have retired now. I can't imagine being a new teacher and facing all those years of that type of treatmen...See More

Oct 28, 2008

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Bo Thank you for starting this thought provoking thread. I to teach in Alabama and your post sounds like it could be from my system. I chat on the chatboard at this site and teachers from many other states are saying the same thing about their system or state. Bo

On 10/28/08, aususieq wrote: > Your post made me think you taught in my schoo...See More

Oct 28, 2008

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out here--you're NOT alone!!! (unfortunately) nfm On 10/28/08, Bo wrote: > > Thank you for starting this thought provoking thread. I to teach > in Alabama and your post sounds like it could be from my system. > I chat on the chatboard at this site and teachers from many other > states are saying the same thing about their system or state. Bo > > > > > On 10/28/08, aus...See More

Jan 4, 2009

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I feel for you...without MACE On 10/28/08, Bo wrote: > You guys in Alabama need to see if MACE will branch out to your state. Forget groups like AEA. They are anemic and are controlled by administrators. MACE is what you need! [link removed]

> Thank you for starting this thought provoking thread. I to teach > in Alabama and your post sounds like it could be fr...See More