$20 = a better grade

This article hit the Drudge Report this morning and is undoubtedly going to get much more ink as a result.

Here's a quick summary from the Charlotte News Observer:

"A $20 donation to Rosewood Middle School will get a student 20 test points - 10 extra points on two tests of the student's choosing. That could raise a B to an A, or a failing grade to a D.

Susie Shepherd, the principal, said a parent advisory council came up with the idea, and she endorsed it. She said the council was looking for a new way to raise money.

Shepherd rejected the suggestion that the school is selling grades. Extra points on two tests won't make a difference in a student's final grade, she said.
It's wrong to think that "one particular grade could change the entire focus of nine weeks," Shepherd said.

This is the kind of wrong-headed decisions that our "educational leaders" make that make my job, actually teaching much harder to do. Thanks.

Link: http://www.newsobserver.com/news/education/story/185460.html

Why I love George & Martha

Every year that I have taught ELL, I have used the book George and Martha.

I have used it with 3rd graders, 4th graders and now with 2nd graders.

Each year I get a little different reaction from the students, the 4th grade thinks it's an easy book until they have to read it aloud. To their credit they always tackled the book and practiced the book until they could read it fluently to their kindergarten reading buddy. As much as the kindergartner liked being read to, it was the 4th graders who really got into the stories. They enjoyed using voice intonations to show emotions in the book. Martha's anger when George peeks in on her during her bath, using their highest voice to convey Martha's vanity when she continually looks at herself in the mirror.
It also helped that I made them write at least 5 questions that they will ask their kindergarten reading buddy.

And now with 2nd graders an new experience; they identify with the relationship George and Martha have. Are George and Martha always nice to each other? No, but they always make up by being honest with each other. Do they always get along, no but they always put their friendship above whatever problem they are facing. Most of all, George and Martha reflect the relationship most 2nd graders have with each other; caring, honest and forgiving.
In other words, the relationship we all wish we had with each other.

Summer's over and 2nd grade has begun

Actually it began on 14 August but the first two weeks are mostly routine-building and setting expectations, not rules. I wasn't sure what to expect but I looked forward to seeing just what these little people were all about. They came in with smiles and happy, but I just thought it was because it was the start of the school year. Every grade/age group starts out that way but things change after a few weeks and 2nd graders are no exception. What I have discovered in the first 2+ weeks is they are similar to the older students I have taught and wonderfully different.

First, I have to understand that just cannot do as much work as the 3rd and 4th and 6th graders can do. This has been a great discovery because I felt at times that all I was doing with older students was assigning work that I was going to have to begrudgingly grade, probably at home.

This leads to my second observation; with less to assign I am able to get everything graded at school by Friday and sent home. I always wondered how K-2 teachers were always able to send work home so often, viola mystery solved.

Finally, they are still learning to read and they still love to do it. They are not reluctant readers and will try to read any book that I have in the room. If they can't read it, they pick something else, the same thing adults do. They recommend books to each other, again, the same thing adults do.

The most interesting thing so far is that they love to wash their hands, they aren't scared about H1N1, the administration is taking care of that thank you. I think they just seem to like to sight, sound and feel of the soap and water on their hands, but I don't really care why they like to, I'm just happy they are washing them.

A Nashville high school has lost $40,000

A NashVegas high school has misplaced almost $40,000 from concessions stands sales.

Huh?

According to our local paper, a former principal is being blamed for bad bookkeeping that allowed about $40,000 to go missing from the school's concession stands.

The principal reportedly asked school employees not to count cash at the end of basketball and football games and didn't require them to fill out the proper paperwork and inventory, according to a state audit. What?
The audit stops short of accusing the principal of stealing, but it does say he instructed staff to give him the cash after games and that his lax controls increased the risk of abuse and was a violation of state and local policies.

The former principal said Monday that the cash was turned in to him, then he stored it in an on-campus safe before giving it to the bookkeeper.

The audit, conducted by the state comptroller, estimated that $37,000 went missing from July 1, 2007, to June 30, 2008, and $4,550 was unaccounted for during a six-week summer school session in 2008. The audit was initiated at Metro Schools' request after the district received a complaint in November 2008.

This is the kind of story that sticks in the public's mind about MNPS schools. No amount of raised test scores or increased graduation rates erase this kind of publicity. Not because money is missing, that happens all the time in the government, it's not right but it is common, but because it's a school employee that in involved and probably responsible, a principal. He's blaming the bookkeeper, for any problems, the bookkeeper is accusing him of blaming her to cover his own tail. We'll probably never know the truth, but it's a story that people will remember.

I've said it before to colleagues over and over, if we as educators want to be treated like the trained professionals we are, we must act like it.

Two weeks and not one thought about school

We have been out on summer break for two weeks now and I have not had one thought about teaching or school. I haven't reflected on how the year went, what I need to improve to be a better teacher, or what trainings I am going to in July. I haven't worried about how I am going to start the year in 2nd grade and I haven't checked work e-mail until today.

BTW; it is great to see an e-mail in box without one message about an assembly, a meeting or an assessment.

I know it won't last, I have almost three solid weeks of in-service and training starting July 13th.

MNPS is changing staffs at 5 schools

As the students are beginning their summer vacation today, our two local papers gave very different headlines to the same story.

From the CityPaper: "All employees must reapply for jobs at five Metro schools"

From the Tennessean: " 5 schools to get 'fresh start'
Metro acts quickly to put new teachers in struggling schools

The teachers at these schools were told the last week of school, possibly the last day that they would be finding another teaching job at a Metro school. They can apply for their job back but the statement from the district is not encouraging that option.

Said the official statement:

"Five Metro Nashville Public Schools will be “fresh started” for
the 2009-2010 school year with employees in each school being asked to reapply for their positions in that school or request placement to other open positions within the district. MNPS has been working this week to notify staffs in the affected schools and explain the fresh start process to them prior to the start of summer break.

Each was selected by the district to receive a fresh start based
on the academic needs of students and because they have struggled for a number of years to show significant progress in student achievement. With the fresh start, administrative, teaching and support staff positions at the schools will be reopened for application. All employees have been notified through staff meetings at the schools, where they received information on the fresh start process and received the paperwork needed to reapply for their positions.
“We have visited these schools, analyzed the data and reviewed their history of progress,” said Dr. Jesse Register, Director of Schools, “and we have concerns their students are not making the progress that is needed.
These fresh starts are a proactive effort to put in place a strong, transformational leadership team at these schools, supported by highly-qualified, fully-certified staff.”
“Our first priority is to build highly-effective instructional teams that can meet the needs of students. In some cases, that means looking at a school that has been struggling and giving it a new focus that only a change like this can bring. I’ve fresh started schools in other districts and it works.”

Back in 2001, I went through something like this, I was teaching 6th grade and our school was losing both the 5th and 6th grades and we were told the same things, we could apply for a job in the building if there were any, there weren't; we could follow the students to the middle school, not an option I wanted any part of; or we could go find something else in the system, my choice.

I didn't choose the easiest choice, I had no idea where I wanted to go or what grade I wanted to teach, luckily, I had a great relationship with my principal who let me know what schools were looking for teachers and what schools she thought I would be a good fit. I was able to find a job at the first school I applied and have been there ever since. I have changed grade levels, principals and co-workers but I haven't had to face what the staffs at those 5 schools do, I wish them the best.

It could be a great summer break for them, they can embrace the chance to start over at a new school or they can stress about having to find a new job and be angry that they were seen as the problem at the school and not part of the solution. I hope they choose the former.

Changing rooms is a real drag

I was told by my principal on Friday afternoon that instead of teaching 4th grade ESL next year, I'll instead be teaching 2nd.

No big deal I thought, 2nd has fewer standards, no state testing and a more narrow range of reading levels. On initial examination it seemed like a really good deal.

Then she hit me with the 2nd part of the deal, I have to change classrooms...damn it.

Luckily, I have been given permission to move anything I want into my new room and I am using every able-bodied student I have to move stuff. It's amazing what kids will do to help you;they are packing boxes, a nightmare for any Type A which thankfully I am not, taking papers and old boxes to the campus recycling center whatever I need.

There will be no pictures of the present carnage in room 307.