Educators with PRIDE Unite

[Martina]

So we have a new Teach for America intern -- Special Ed. I have MAJOR issues with TFA, but I don't want to take them out on any individual.

And as I have gotten to know her, I find that I like her. She's not from an Ivy, she's a woman of color, and she is actually getting a Master's in SPED. The typical TFA intern is Ivy educated, white, and filling out her resume before she leaves after two years to become a lawyer or investment banker. TFA treats teaching as a volunteer position, not like a profession.

Also these folks almost never stay. In the mean time, they are so privileged and so out of their depth that they are sponges for support. They have NO shame about asking -- nay, demanding help -- and are rarely more than perfunctorily grateful.

So today the TFA intern is with a student and comes to me for help. She wants it NOW. I stop and help her because Wednesday is my light day and I want to be available to her when I can. So I gave her what she asked for, but she didn't understand it. I said I could explain it, but you are with the student now, right? Yes, she said. I said I have nothing that is transparently understandable that I can give you right now. She gives me the look that any gently raised 22 year old college graduate would give an elder -- the one that says, "You've failed me."

God, help me. I am not good with these folks. With my students, I am good. Lots of patience. With demanding entitled twenty-somethings, not so much.

[Okiebug61]

On a good note! Red is settling in to her new school and so far all is well. The kids are of course taking advantage of the new teacher and trying their best to tell her things they are allowed to do which of course consists of nothing that is true. LOL. She teaches 5th grade and has cafeteria duty on Tuesdays with the 6th graders who found out real quick not to mess with the short red-headed new teacher. They attempted to ignore her warnings so they all got to spend the remainder of their lunch break writing a paragraph of why they should follows the cafeteria rules. I kind of know how they felt. :-)

[sis]

TGIF

This week has been a ride! LOLOL I have two groups of 30 students each - some have very basic English speaking skills, the others have considerably less to none. But, I can tell you, they are no different in nature that any child where ever you live in the world. Typically, I have a couple of firecrackers, a few who are missing mama, a handful of bossy pants (much like myself when I was a kid!), several who are stunned at being in an English environment, etc. All in all, it looks like its going to be an interesting year. Bring on the !!! lol

Have a great weekend - mine starts within the hour!

Deb

[Martina]

They have left the TFA intern completely alone. She has no idea what a triennial IEP actually is, no idea how to write any IEP, no idea how to test. She has been working with a student for three weeks and asked me to help her get started on the student's overdue triennial. I looked at the current IEP. It turned out the student was qualified under ED (emotional disturbance). So the girl is in the wrong program.

We talked to the girl. It turns out that she has no insurance and is unmedicated. And, by her report, being off meds is making it nearly impossible for her to do school work. So the poor TFA intern has been working with this girl for three weeks without even knowing what her disability is or dealing with the elephant in the living room. The studnet should never have been placed in the TFA intern's program. And the TFA intern should have help with her IEP's from her Program Specialist. She does not know what is in front of her. She does not know who to contact for anything. She does not know what present levels are, what IEP goals are supposed to be like, what a transition plan is. And she has been teaching this poor unmedicated girl for three weeks without helping her get health care.

The morning when this happened -- again no warning -- my student got cheated of time with me. And, of course, her student has not been getting what she needed.

People who argue that teacher turnover is not a serious problem -- there was a recent article in the NYTimes -- are out of their minds. My student NEEDED his time with me. My day went from manageable to chaotic. And her student deserved appropriate interventions.

I did get a nice email from the intern saying thank you, etc. But this is not how it's supposed to happen. Not the intern's fault. But she shouldn't be trained during my student's time. Nor should her students get screwed for weeks at a time. It's hard enough when you know what you are doing. A Speech Pathologist has been finding one excuse after another not to come out and work with one of my students with a traumatic brain injury. She as much as said she didn't want to come out. Anyway. It's not easy when you are trained and experienced.

[sis]

..... Happy 1st Day Back to School!

Deb

[nycfem]

Tomorrow the kids start. I write this at 4:40 am, having awoken with immediate insomnia at 2:30 am.

I went to bed right on time, startin' the year out perfect. But here I am now, having a bowl of cereal in the middle of the night

[sis]

Had a challenging Monday as I have 3 monkeys in my morning group and four very homesick sweeties in the afternoon group. The morning was filled with redirecting the monkeys; the afternoon was filled with wiping away tears.

Tomorrow is Teacher's Day here in China. Teachers are very respected and there will be a lot of excitement in the classroom tomorrow. There is sure to be gifts, flowers, moon cakes, cards, etc. I told my students that I am not supposed to accept anything from them but I would LOVE it if they would draw me a picture that I can put up on the wall. I forgot to tell them that the best gift they can give me is to be good ALL DAY!!! lolol

Deb