Educators with PRIDE Unite

[Martina]

Field trip today. A museum visit, an IMAX movie, and a burger. It cost my colleague and I a bit, but I do think most of them enjoyed it. Then she and I had to go to a staff meeting.

I am pretty depressed. I think I am doing an OK job teaching, but I am caring less. It's depression.

If you have read the gun control thread, you know that one of my students was shot and killed just over a week ago.

My knee is killing me (arthritis). It was hard to function today at the museum, actually.

The trip was my idea. I set it up, did the paperwork, etc. But today, with my knee inflamed and my mood low, my colleague helped keep things running smoothly, for which I am grateful. I almost didn't have the energy to do what I needed to do.

After the staff meeting, I stayed and helped her write an IEP -- basically helped her use the web-based program we write them on.

The thing about this kind of sadness is that even if I don't care much, I still know what I should do and I can go through the motions.

Hopefully that will be enough until I start feeling things more again.

[Martina]

My job is a new one. I was supposed to have my post-first observation chat today, but my Asst Principal begged off till Friday. She did say that they were under no scheduling timeline with me and did a *wink wink,* which means that as far as they are concerned, I am someone they want to stay on. They still have time to change their minds, but so far, I am up to snuff. That's nice. Much better than not being.

But I had surprisingly little reaction to it. In part cause I am not surprised, but in part cause I just don't care. The truth is I like the job, and don't want to job hunt again this summer. So it's truly a good thing. I am just not feeling it.

[bkisbutchenuff]

I get the feeling that we are all ready for the break....While this has been an extremely challenging year for me, I see that's the case with many here...I have too many years invested to leave the profession - but how are they going to attract good - young - highly qualified educators into this field? The one career that affects our future in every way.....SAD!
Had another cut this week - a position I've had for years...it wasn't much of a supplement - but was compensation for a roll that takes several hours of my time every month. I have a feeling - they will find funding once they see the communication break down...
Today is concert day...they sounded pretty good yesterday...we will survive - but just not where we should be....
For general music - was told Tues. I would have the same folks I had the first weeks again after the holidays...not good! Besides the discipline issues they are inviting - I developed a 9 week curriculum - not an 18 week curriculum.
I will stop here - I could go on and on....

I am awake - the day has started -

6MORE DAYS...

Bring on the break!

[spritzerJ]

Yes this teacher is ready for the break.

Yesterday I listened to the assistant principal, in a sped meeting, with an advocate say sure we'd do something that is painstakingly impossible to do any other time. She agreed to the request that we entirely remove a student from the core grade level math program. Ha! I love it. First it is a fabulous idea (the core math program is hellishly awful). 2nd I would love to directly teach math to students. In class support is awesome and not for everyone. It does have scheduling ramifications through the roof so she now recommends (at my request) a team meeting again next week to hem and haw about it. Which I've almost decided is fine. I'll ask the questions, write down the answer, date the answer and when it changes I'll do the change and remind we could have prevented the problem. Because as she says don't worry my pretty little head about it....

And to top it all off... the staff meeting. About restructuring because we didn't pass the test so many years in a row. Wow NH is really lenient with schools about the process. So easy going. The principal says because we aren't one of "those" city schools we really don't need restructuring. We just have to go through the motions. "The process is really for those other schools with multiple languages spoken and poor parents who aren't involved. Besides it is just our special education students not passing the test." Ummm.... okay so our students speak English as a native language and we still have huge numbers of students with communication disorders so we do have language issues that require us to examine our instructional practices. And we are a title one school so technically we have those "poor parents" and kids with needs.

I've seen what is under the rug.... I know I'm supposed to just look at the pretty rug.

[Soon]

I'm beyond ready for the break.

I can't seem to sleep enough no matter what time I crash! On Wednesday, I slept from 7-midnight and then back again after a bit of online time. Yesterday, I was out early too.

I'm trying to finish marking 2 different essays per student before the break, so I won't have them hanging over my head. This is only one class. I am not even worrying about catching up on the marking from the other two until post-break.

Hang in there everyone!

[Martina]

I just worry about the students. I know it's worse lately. I am not worrying about their safety though, but about what is going to happen to them when they graduate, their futures. I don't feel like I have enough time to make enough of a difference. They are going to be heading out into the world so ill-equipped. We so fail SDC students. They do not get the support and protection that ID (mentally retarded) students get, and most can't make good use of the opportunities available to RSP and Gen Ed students. They seem destined, so many of them, for poverty, exploitation, and incarceration. I enjoy working with these students. But given how globally they have been failed before they get to us at the end of their high school years, can we do them enough good to make a significant difference?

My students aren't, most of them, dropping out. But does it make a difference if they can't do an online job application?

[bkisbutchenuff]

I'm upright and having coffee....quite tired. I should have taken a day off today...but - I can see the light....one more week.
Despite all the obstacles this year, my students did a great job last night....they truly presented themselves in a professional manner...demonstrated, without data, why the arts are important.
48 middle school students focused, in uniform, working as a unit.....thats what im talking about! Also - the largest turn out for a PTSA meeting the school has seen in the last few years....
Guest speaker - a board member - her main message - more budget cuts are coming....that is plain scary!
Moving forward ...