tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-173849122024-03-13T11:01:46.059-04:00NYC PUBLIC SCHOOL BLUEyomisterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04265404144487567580noreply@blogger.comBlogger132125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17384912.post-20100021292088916032008-07-06T09:39:00.002-04:002008-07-06T09:44:10.021-04:00Goodbye ClassroomOn June 26th, 2008 Mr. Benjamin spent his last day as a teacher in the service of the NYC Department of Education.<br /><br />He (I) have accepted a position with a non-profit education consulting firm.<br /><br />Thanks for reading. I will soon post a link to a new blog exploring education policy issues.yomisterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04265404144487567580noreply@blogger.com14tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17384912.post-34269564107009494032008-01-17T22:21:00.000-05:002008-01-17T22:23:13.173-05:00entry on the waySo sorry for the lack of posting.<br /><br />Terribly busy and living on the edge with 14 hour days. Small schools, large workload.<br /><br />Will be kicking up some posts this weekend.yomisterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04265404144487567580noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17384912.post-44344580558854690952008-01-10T18:38:00.000-05:002008-01-10T18:54:26.670-05:00chronic teacher fatigue?CTF? I doubt the AMA recognizes such a condition, but if they did - I suspect I'm suffering from it.<br /><br />Perhaps it's just the ELA prep that's getting to me. The simulation exams, the "incorporation" of testing skills in all subjects, the "pumping them up for the exam" hype ... it's all a bit much. The kids are trying their best; that I have to admit. But even they begin to become tired and need an outlet. Unfortunately, that seems to be exactly at the time of my class. So today's chatty class got the consequence for not completing their work. A 30 minute lunch detention. 30 minutes of agony for me. But once you say you're going to do issue a consequence, you have to follow through. Even if that means a loss of one's own lunch.<br /><br />I'm slipping further and further behind in the curriculum due to this damn test. I can't wait for it to be over.yomisterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04265404144487567580noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17384912.post-62171858588388356882008-01-06T18:32:00.000-05:002008-01-06T19:16:52.390-05:00the quiet timeIt's a slump. A feeling of feeling caught, trapped, and contained in a situation I take responsible for creating. In my other career, we had what was known as the "three year hump" to get through. This is different somehow. It's an issue of really questioning whether I can continue at the pace I've created for myself. I've taken on a lot of roles, wanting to challenge myself. Too many roles, not enough time. For me, that is.<br /><br />The break made me realize, yet again, how much of my life requires neglecting to see my family. I spent the break almost entirely at my parent's home. Those days made me recognize how many times I've spent cutting conversations short on the phone in order to to run down the stairs of the subway to attend yet another meeting of some sort.<br /><br />On a good day, I'm home by nine at night and up at three in the morning to attend to the paperwork/lesson plans/newsletters that have to be completed. I'm too tired and drained to attend to these things any longer at night. Too exhausted, unable to concentrate. Family and friends fall by the wayside. A text and/or quick e-mail with my Blackberry have become the norm. My monthly planner has to be with me at all times. I can't even "book" a lunch with friends on the weekend. And when I do, I have to always state something like, "I'm good at X PM, but have to be at XYZ by such and such time." And then I eat and chat, while constantly trying to look at my watch inconspicuously.<br /><br />Keeping up with this blog is an outlet, so excuse the self-pity that this post contains. I'm just running on empty, and taking a close examination of what I can do to get past this hurdle. Some how, some way. There is always an answer. I just can't seem to find it. Not without giving up things that mean something to me. But I guess that is the answer, isn't it?yomisterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04265404144487567580noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17384912.post-9154876152669993722007-12-20T19:25:00.000-05:002007-12-22T06:47:29.530-05:00the tagWell, 17 (really 15) at Have a Gneiss Day has hit me with a meme, so here goes:<br /><br />THE RULES:<br />Link to the person that tagged you and post the rules on your blog.- Share 7 random and or weird things about yourself.- Tag 7 random (or not) people at the end of your post and include links to their blogs.- Let each person know that they have been tagged by leaving a comment on their blog.<br /><br />1. I have a phobia with apples. The sight, the smell, and even a simple discussion about apples can cause me to fly into an anxiety attack. My family has absolutely no idea as to how this phobia developed. I once came home from a business trip to find my roommate baking an apple pie . I didn't return to our apartment for two days.<br /><br />2. I failed one class in college. Art History 101.<br /><br />3. I rarely watch television, but I am relatively addicted to Project Runway.<br /><br />4. I feel guilty when I'm at a clothing store and examine a sweater or shirt which is perfectly folded. I then try to "refold" the item just as I found it.<br /><br />5. I attended university in Paris for two years.<br /><br />6. People tell me that I'm very well organized. They just don't know where I hide my messes.<br /><br />7. 9/11 took away a career that I loved and believed I could never replace. I was wrong.yomisterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04265404144487567580noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17384912.post-68649178355998857222007-12-17T18:12:00.000-05:002007-12-17T18:27:00.925-05:00why bother with best buy?Today, we discovered that yet another computer was stolen from our school over the course of the weekend. <br /><br />Angry? Yes.<br />Surprised? Not so much.yomisterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04265404144487567580noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17384912.post-12719833309583367082007-12-11T17:40:00.000-05:002007-12-13T17:56:45.716-05:00how small is too smallI think that the last couple of posts deserve some clarification.<br /><br />IS Prep is extremely small, even for a school in its first year of operation. Our register is only in the double digits, and our student to teacher ratio is approximately 7:1. At any given time, one will generally find 2-3 teachers in a classroom. Some are in the classroom for professional observation (our first year teachers observe at least five classes per week), while others are in the classroom for delivery of special services. Coaches are also prominent in the classrooms during the day. Even the guidance counselor pushes in throughout the week to provide character education and conflict resolution strategies.<br /><br />My position entails working with just about every class, every day. <br /><br />I guess due to this small community, we're particularly close to our students. My colleagues talk "kid" all of the time.<br /><br />Which kid isn't turning in homework?<br />Which kid seems despondent?<br />What am I going to do about this kid's difficulty grasping a thesis sentence?<br /><br />It's just the way it is right now. Believe me, I'm not running around the school crying about kids that we lose from time to time. But I do feel the loss, as does the rest of the staff. <br /><br />NYC brings up an excellent point. Administrators do seek out weaknesses. But I'm fortunate that my principal is far more concerned with the teachers that seem (or are) disconnected from our students. Will IS Prep make it as as an effective school? I think so. The real issue we face as a school is managing the stress that comes with the multiple responsibilities the staff assumes in addition to teaching.<br /><br />Is this the right place for me right now? I think so. Am I busting my ass? Oh, yeah! But being part of the development of a new school, and heading the development of a new department of special education, is a challenge I'm comfortable with. Can a school really develop into a "community" of students, parents, and staff? From what I'm discovering, it can. But the one variable you really have to control for is each stakeholder's intent of purpose. You really need to believe that what you're doing is the right thing, for the right purposes, and for the right outcomes. <br /><br />There <span style="font-style: italic;">was</span> a point to this post. I'm just too damn tired to remember what it was.yomisterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04265404144487567580noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17384912.post-67522622353306888792007-12-10T18:08:00.000-05:002007-12-10T18:44:48.298-05:00and yet anotherStudent X has already been transferred to another facility. <br /><br />Today was the day of gathering records, faxing offices, and fielding those terribly annoying pink message slips that somehow pour into one's mailbox at inconvenient times. I collected Student X's texts and journals from his classrooms, and piled them in my office. I looked at the doodling, studied his unsteady written words, and laughed at a terrible drawing he made of me with my "not happy" face on. I let the guidance counselor handle much of the faxing.<br /><br />The sloths are preparing for an "end of unit" exam, and one of the sloths was particularly disruptive. I looked at her and asked why she was having a major malfunction. She then informed me that she, too, was leaving the school for a private school. She's a bright girl, but the family is having big problems (shelter, and all the instability that brings). So her acceptance to a boarding school is a positive development.<br /><br />I was sitting in the middle of a meeting in the principal's office when she came to say goodbye at dismissal. She seemed happy. Optimistic. As we all stood up from the conference table to wish her well, I gave her a hug and told her, "You did well in my class, kid. I'm gonna miss you."<br /><br />She replied, "I know."<br /><br />"You know that you did well? Or that I'm going to miss you?"<br /><br />"Both," she said smiling.<br /><br />The meeting reconvened, and one of the staff looked over at me and asked whether I was tearing up. <br /><br />Obviously, I was. But just for a second. <br /><br />Sometime a goodbye truly <span style="font-style: italic;">is</span> underscored with optimism and hope. And her departure certainly reinforced my understanding of such.yomisterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04265404144487567580noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17384912.post-14325600892249827262007-12-08T00:16:00.000-05:002007-12-08T00:32:07.261-05:00totally heartbrokenOne of my students was removed from my school. His foster parents said they couldn't handle him any longer. <br /><br />Yes, he has many conditions that require extensive support.<br /><br /> Today, I was informed that he was placed in a psych program in upstate New York. Now I have to find a way to see him before the holidays. I sold my car when I moved to Manhattan, so it looks as though I'll be asking my parents to use one of their cars next weekend. I likewise hope that my father is available to join me. Perhaps for support; perhaps for the need to validate the one constant I've been so exceptionally fortune to have throughout my life.<br /><br />I simply can't fathom this child not feeling loved at this time of the year. He needs to know someone gives a damn; that there just might be someone to turn to for the duration.yomisterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04265404144487567580noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17384912.post-61016739105784226102007-12-04T19:36:00.000-05:002007-12-04T19:51:48.196-05:00bulliesToday, I met with Luke to discuss what provoked his "compass poking" incident.<br /><br />I'm always so dismayed to discover the level of bullying that children experience, often out of the sight of teachers. And conversely, in the sight of teachers, but too easily dismissed as "horseplay" or "off-task" behavior.<br /><br />He let it all out. He's outstandingly articulate.<br /><br />Why are children so cruel to some of their peers? <br /><br />Why would a child feel intimidated about "working hard and getting good grades" in a school that consistently pushes children to excel?<br /><br />And really, what the hell do I do about it? How do I help this child? How much damage has already been done? Can it even be repaired? I strongly feel the weight of this problem, and I don't know what to do.yomisterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04265404144487567580noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17384912.post-45645850921270819362007-12-03T20:25:00.001-05:002007-12-03T20:47:20.903-05:00bad slothsThe sloths were bad today. Very, very bad.<br /><br />They didn't pay attention, they were defiant, and one was downright insubordinate. This is totally in stark contrast to my other classes. They know I'm serious, and they generally try to rise to the occasion. But the sloths are the lowest tracked students, and learned helplessness seems to be a prevalent theme. So tomorrow I try again. <br /><br />I've resolved to take a step back from the UFT. Not as chapter leader, but from thinking about UFT policy with any sort of critical thought. It's relatively pointless. Basically, all I can do at my next chapter meeting is simply state that the UFT really hasn't enacted any purposeful course of action to stem the tide of slash-and-burn employee relations with the BOE, and to watch their asses. <br /><br />I actually met up with my former principal on the train this afternoon. She quickly convinced me that no matter how bad the UFT is, the CSA is even worse. So that's that. I'm limiting my UFT comments to the blogs of the pros. <br /><br />Certain developments at school now have me standing student arrival and dismissal duty outside indefinitely. In light of this, I went shopping for a new overcoat. 3 stores, 3 hours, and not one overcoat that I liked. I hate shopping to begin with (odd for a gay guy), and tonight's time waster didn't help. <br /><br />And that's that. Another Monday down.yomisterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04265404144487567580noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17384912.post-88105164348789955872007-12-02T17:22:00.000-05:002007-12-02T19:43:44.116-05:00perhaps this is a medical conditionI left yet another UFT function after listening to Randi speak. This is the third time that something was said that got my panties in a bunch.<br /><br />I really don't have a problem with Randi. Some hate her, some love her, and I'm all ... meh. As a delegate for one year, and now a chapter leader, I find myself increasingly intolerant of ambiguity in the UFT's position when it comes to developing issues. In this case, Randi's discussion about Klein's "gotcha" unit, and an ensuing letter from the Chancellor that was supposedly sent to each teacher (did anyone actually get one?), was basically summarized with the conclusion that teachers will just have to live in fear for the next year and a half until this administration is gone.<br /><br />Listen, I busted my ass this summer training 25 of the most talented, intelligent, and reflective teaching fellows one could hope to have at their school. I have four new teachers in my school this year. I am <span style="font-style: italic;">totally</span> vested in seeing them thrive. Fear isn't a component in the development and growth of an effective teacher. It took me three years to fully appreciate the passion I have for teaching. If "fear" was an overriding concern of mine on a daily basis, I'd be back being a lawyer.<br /><br />I guess my point is this. The UFT has got to take a true stand on many of the issues confronting our probationary and tenured teachers. This latest reorganization will certainly destroy many beginning and long-term careers, as principals strain to assume total responsibility and accountability of schools that the DOE has abandoned in a state of persistent failure.<br /><br />So stating that my colleagues and myself have to endure another year and a half of fear is beyond my comprehension. It is not acceptable. Fight the fight, Randi, or please step aside.<br /><br />- NO "Teacher Performance Unit"<br />- DEMAND a return to confidential new teacher mentoring<br />- MONITOR each and every "U" and "D" rating, not just end of the year performance reviews<br />- NO to merit pay in all of its forms<br />- NO to "Green Dot" watered-down charter school teacher contracts<br />- NO to "fair funding" nonsense that threatens our most veteran and effective teachers<br />- NO to the continuing isolation of our parents and ineptness of the Parent Engagement Office<br />- NO to the abhorrent, inhumane, unethical and unending testing of our studentsyomisterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04265404144487567580noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17384912.post-89773400777730240802007-12-01T18:14:00.000-05:002007-12-01T20:23:41.781-05:00week in review1. A parent of one of my students was summoned to the school to address a behavioral incident. The student (I'll call him "Luke") is a big (okay, seriously overweight), articulate, and endearing child. In advisory, I sometimes deviate from planned discussion issues to exploring the issue of bullying. Luke offered a number of anecdotes about being bullied, which certainly raised a red flag with me. So I've been keeping an eye on him, both in school and on the courtyard.<br /><br />The other day I see Luke in our pseudo "all teacher" office. He's sitting there, not looking particularly concerned, and I simply assume that he's waiting for a note to the nurse or something similar. As it turns out, Luke is sitting in our office because he "stabbed" another student with the end of a compass. The student he hit (Alex) is all of 4'5" and weighs about 75 pounds. Alex is precocious, highly verbal, and off the charts in the "cute" division.<br /><br />When I asked what happened, Luke told me that he asked Alex to stop talking during class. He then warned Alex that he would get him with the compass if he didn't shut his yap during "independent" practice. Apparently, Alex didn't listen, and the threat was enacted. No physical injury resulted, but still. So there's Luke, and as he tells me the story I must have let out a little smirk. As much as I love Alex and his insatiable inquisitiveness, he tends to get on one's nerves by the end of the day. The inner-adolescent in me smirked at the thought of him getting an unexpected jab in the arm. I know, I'm a terrible person for that one.<br /><br />Anyhow, Alex and Luke's families were called in. IS Prep is not a place you want to get into trouble. We're consistently strict. At the conclusion of the meeting, I ran into Luke's mom who looked totally distraught (which is a totally normal reaction of a parent leaving an IS Prep intervention meeting). After a few moments discussing the incident, she informs me that Luke looks up to me and speaks of me often (yup, huge ego swell there).<br /><br />"He says no one understands him but you. Will you, how do you say, 'mentor' him?"<br /><br />I immediately told her I would. Out came my phone number and e-mail. I told her I would contact her on a weekly basis to discuss his academic and social progress.<br /><br />We've been discussing the formation of a more formal mentoring program for some of our male students, and I guess this is a perfect start for the program. We have 4 male teachers on staff, all stating that they were definitely "in" on the idea. So I'm now brainstorming how to get this program started.<br /><br />2. A woman cut me in line at Staples. Actually, she cut about 6 of us in line. I wasn't in a particularly good mood, as it was 8:30PM and I had just left school. When I told her that she jumped the line, she went nuts. She actually started hollering into her cell phone that someone had accused her of cutting the queue (my word, not hers). The Staples' folks were just staring at her, shaking their heads, but doing nothing about it. She then tried to do the "purse, hat, cell phone, and credit card juggle" while attempting to pay, and the phone fell from her ear to the counter and <span style="font-style: italic;">totally</span> broke. People on the line started laughing at her. I sheepishly admit I did as well. Again, I am a terrible person.<br /><br />3. My homework submission rate has hit an all-time low this week. This is likely caused by "end of the month" projects that are due in just about every subject. I delay my projects until mid-month, as the students just get overwhelmed at this time and start hauling in crap. I am not happy about this development, as I issue homework that I think is necessary. There are a couple of avenues I can take to address this problem; I'm just not sure which one.<br /><br />4. On the flip side, I purchased a timer for my overhead. It's had a big impact. The students actually groan when the timer starts getting low and they're falling behind. I love it! It's pretty hard not to notice that you have three minutes left to complete your work with a six foot projection on the wall. It was on the expensive side (35 bucks or so), but it was money well spent. Classroom productivity has definitely increased.<br /><br />5. If in need of a plastic surgeon on Staten Island, please visit the homepage of the UFT website. Apparently the membership's dues money can no longer sustain the organization. So when you go to look up your procedural due rights for receiving a "U," you can also consider the impact a nose job may have on your career. Very professional. Kudos to the genius who thought that one up. Why, why, why did I assume the chapter leader position? I am just so thankful that my principal is a just administrator who does not want to see any form of divisiveness with his/her staff.yomisterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04265404144487567580noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17384912.post-88966873304972622662007-11-28T19:46:00.000-05:002007-11-28T20:16:58.377-05:00can he hold a piece of chart paper with his stomach?During one of my teaching periods today, I noticed that one of my students was fascinated with a small pencil case I keep my dry erase markers and magnets in. They were within easy reach of him. <br /><br />The magnets I use are the "high" power kind; the ones you have to purchase online.<br /><br />I went to put up a piece of chart paper on the board, and noticed that one was missing. I concurrently noticed that my student had something in his mouth. I knew immediately what it was.<br /><br />I must have caught him off guard when I yelled his name.<br /><br />He swallowed the magnet. Yup. He sure did. <br /><br />"Did you just swallow the magnet?"<br /><br />"Oh my god, Mr. Benjamin! You scared me, yo! I swallowed it! I swallowed it!"<br /><br />I ran over to my clipboard, wrote a slip to the nurse, and sent him to the medical office. Class ended soon after, and I immediately called his mom at work to explain. As I was going through the course of events that transpired, she asked me to hold for a moment. When she came back on the line, she asked me to repeat what happened. I did.<br /><br />The next thing I knew I heard a crowd of people laughing. She evidently put me on speaker phone to allow her coworkers to hear me explain what happened. Honestly, I was rather mortified. Granted, the child is 11. But still, I felt terribly about what happened.<br /><br />She was hysterically laughing. The nurse then called, and she once again put me on hold. She came back on the line and thanked me for calling her. At this point, she was almost in tears with laughter. She told me that she would immediately call his doctor, and not to worry. <br /><br />Strange day. This was a first for me.yomisterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04265404144487567580noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17384912.post-34984216544236531392007-11-26T19:03:00.000-05:002007-11-26T20:34:00.866-05:00candles, rain, and the sloth class...First, the "vigil." Again, I think it should be called what it is. A protest. The Teacher Performance Unit is not something one should have a "vigil" for. It should be a damn protest, with lots of shouting, picketing, and an immense crowd of very displeased educators. This "unit" is simply the support division to ensure that principals that may have even the most arbitrary reasons for disliking an educator to build the case to dismiss him or her. Probationary or tenured, all NYC teachers should be very, very concerned about this development. I felt so silly asking my teachers to come to a "vigil." (The real "vigils" should be held in front of the rubber rooms where our colleagues are sitting for inordinately long periods of time, often without knowing the charges brought against them.)<br /><br />I am the first one to agree that teachers lacking in instructional efficacy need support. They certainly do not need the "unit" overseeing this. That, dear readers, is a set-up for dismissal. So why are we carrying candles and humming union tunes. Silly. Where were the signs? Where were the proclamations that Klein and Bloomberg have failed in their moral and fiduciary duties to the students and parents of New York City? The NAEP certainly provides the definitive evidence that our school system is in persistent failure, more so now that Klein continues to lead it. Reorganization after reorganization only acts to further destabilized schools, as school leaders, educators, parents, and students struggle to once again figure out which "person with a new title" is in charge of what. It's frustrating and detracts from the ultimate goal of student achievement.<br /><br />Second, my schedule is tight and I need at least a moderate amount of time to schedule "school related" events. I schedule myself for a fair amount of professional development, given that the BOE really no longer provides it. I think that this is a normal part of the due diligence one must pay to continue to develop as a teacher. True, before the dismal 37.5 minutes, in-house PD was a total joke. But there are some fantastic PD opportunities out there, whether provided by the UFT or one of the hundreds of cultural institutions that offer development to NYC educators. This is now my third cancellation of a PD event that I wanted to attend, due to the increasing amount of "last minute, must be there" after-school meetings which are egregiously announced the day before they occur. I almost coughed up my lunch when I was told that my presence was expected at a particularly important meeting. Tomorrow. This should come as no surprise to the many parents, teachers, and administrators that flocked to SLT training, only to be read aloud a list of notes.<br /><br />I have to say that my school is well run and the students are generally particularly well behaved. But one of my classes, whom I've chosen to call the "Defiant Sloths," has pushed my buttons a bit too frequently as of late. So, a letter to the parents of the class is going out tomorrow. With a friendly invitation to come and sit with their child at a time of their choosing. I still find it amazing that I can scare the pants off of three of the other classes I work with (all I have to say is "hush" and these classes go silent), yet the Defiant Sloths are throwing me for a loop. <br /><br />Ahh. I feel better getting this off my chest.yomisterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04265404144487567580noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17384912.post-43554963943507100032007-11-24T08:43:00.000-05:002007-11-24T09:09:55.467-05:00Not good news...<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhplRfljREA8hvrMkav_L3r58EzkoD7ClcV64qNB2CxxB-D10pcd35M0YAr37G0R5zRCLkPtkBXbQOBdnC5sdtFoj8Mm3M26iRLKkLYwOarfRJVb2Ca8BZ0js0Yv6sMsqOaM-Piug/s1600-h/pr092-07-photo.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhplRfljREA8hvrMkav_L3r58EzkoD7ClcV64qNB2CxxB-D10pcd35M0YAr37G0R5zRCLkPtkBXbQOBdnC5sdtFoj8Mm3M26iRLKkLYwOarfRJVb2Ca8BZ0js0Yv6sMsqOaM-Piug/s320/pr092-07-photo.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5136408891114591842" border="0" /></a><br />This morning I resolved to get a flu shot. In my prior career, I always got a flu shot as I never knew what country I might be in for business. One year, I came down with the flu in Brussels, and spent 3 additional days in a hotel room sick as a dog. I learned my lesson, but since I started teaching, I've fallen behind in my normal flu shot diligence.<br /><br />So I poked around the city website looking for a clinic. I would go to my doctor, but scheduling just about any procedure with him always conflicts with my schedule (like work, and I don't want to take a day off just to have a 10 second needle to the arm).<br /><br />What I wasn't pleased to read was this announcement from the NYC Dept. of Health and Mental Hygiene:<br /><br /><a href="http://www.nyc.gov/html/doh/html/pr2007/pr092-07.shtml">http://www.nyc.gov/html/doh/html/pr2007/pr092-07.shtml</a><br /><br />Given that I work in this area, I'm concerned about both the community and my students' families.<br /><br />What really made me tingle with "ughh" was the nice photo of Bloomberg getting his shot, apparently by a visiting nurse at his office. Must be nice. I would get one through the city program, but all of the clinics are only open from 8:30AM - 2:30PM, which obviously conflicts with people that teach.<br /><br /><br /><br />I find the press release to be particularly disturbing.yomisterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04265404144487567580noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17384912.post-72685347134997760392007-11-20T22:32:00.000-05:002007-11-20T22:52:27.170-05:00auto-response teacherI can't believe how many times I repeated this today and tonight at P/T conferences:<br /><br />"May I look at <insert> report card? It helps me to get a better picture of how he/she is doing. <look> Mr./Mrs. Insert Name Here, this school is premised on two goals. First, to see that your child develops into an individual strong in character. Secondly, we are here to prepare your son/daughter academically to get into the best high schools and colleges. This will not happen until your son/daughter begins to take responsibility for his/her learning." <polite> "The question is not when, but how? What is your suggestion?"<br /><dumbfounded><me.><long><br />And every parent said the same thing.<br /><br />"Well. Uhh. Hmmm."<br /><br />This led to some exceptionally long discussions, much to the chagrin of the dozen parents standing in line.<br /><br />I was actually quite pleased with some of the suggestions and the conversations that followed.<br /><br />It certainly beat the P/T conferences that I was subject to the last three years at IS OZ, which generally started with something to the effect of, "Thanks for coming. We're having another problem with Pauly telling me to suck his d78k every day that I ask him to hang his coat."</long></me.></dumbfounded></polite></look></insert>yomisterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04265404144487567580noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17384912.post-48515263764503273562007-11-19T20:05:00.000-05:002007-11-19T20:33:39.475-05:00parent-teacherThis is the problem. I don't have a classroom. I share a small office. But in one of the classrooms, I'm viewed as a co-resident with another (new) teacher. This has been an adjustment for me. It's like Oscar and Felix. I'm a nut case when it comes to classroom upkeep. I don't let my students leave the classroom until every bit of paper, pencils, and other forms of classroom refuse are cleaned up. <br /><br />I go ape sh*t when I find a sunflower seed shell anywhere in the room. That is my pet peeve. I've given up on the gum issue, so long as they don't crack and pop it in their mouth. They know that if I find one piece of gum anywhere under a desk or chair, the gum days are over. I fought the gum battle for three years, and really, it was just a waste of instructional time. So I let it be.<br /><br />So, tomorrow is parent-teacher conferences at my school. A time when many teachers spend some extra time getting things tidy and organizing papers and projects. I have done all I can to support this new teacher (whom I was responsible for hiring), and spent all of my Teacher's Choice money on classroom supplies. I know what being broke is like during the first few months of teaching, so I'm basically happy to do so.<br /><br />But this teacher has had a rather difficult time maintaining the classroom. I know that (s)he is definitely lost at sea in many respects. IS Prep is a very intense school to work at. As a new school, people do take on many additional duties. Our classroom instruction is standardized in terms of format, which took me some time to adjust to. But in many respects, it works. Sixth graders leaving their self-contained classrooms seem to do well when instruction is structured similarly amongst teachers. I'm not a huge fan of the workshop model, but the instructional flow that we have adopted stresses independent work over collaborative, with only a small portion of the class engaged in pair and share. <br /><br />But Oscar left this afternoon immediately following the end of the school day. Normally, I don't have a problem with this. Today, I did. The classroom was a mess, the bulletin boards were not completed, and whole bunch of other matters needed to be attended to ... especially if I'm going to be conducting conferences in the same room. So now it's 8:00 PM, and I'm just getting in to the house. <br /><br />I know what it is like to be a new teacher, and have vowed to help her/him throughout the year. But sometimes I get the feeling that this profession just isn't cut out for this teacher. You have to have a lot of heart and an abundance of initiative. Honestly, I just don't see it. I'm hoping I'm wrong with these gut feelings. Tomorrow will be a sit down with her/him, both as a friend and lead. I don't know. I'll share what transpires.<br /><br />(As always, this post has not been edited. Apologies.)yomisterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04265404144487567580noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17384912.post-69877099027594498922007-11-17T18:26:00.000-05:002007-11-17T18:50:46.591-05:00teacher, author, and a whole bunch of nonsense...I went to Dan Brown's reading of <span style="font-style: italic;">The Great Expectations School</span> last night at the UFT. It was a disappointment in many ways. Strangely, what ruined the evening was Randi. Late, as usual, she appeared just as Mr. Brown was beginning to take questions. She quite literally hogged the microphone, going on and on about UFT developments and not Mr. Brown's book. I actually felt bad for the man. He just kind of stood there. <br /><br />What I find so annoying lately about Randi is her continued use of describing standardized tests ( in this case the NAEP and NYS exams) as "not reliable" or "unreliable." Evidently, she doesn't understand the distinction between testing validity and reliability. I may be splitting hairs here, but she keeps faltering with her word choice both in person and in her statements to the press. <br /><br />On an unrelated note, I received an e-mail this morning from one of my students (yes, through my BOE address) to inform me that he had copied my homework from a friend. He felt badly about it, he wrote, and couldn't sleep last night. He went on to say that he knew there would be consequences and wanted to know what they might be. <br /><br />My reply:<br /><br />Tommy (not his real name),<br /><br />Thank you for telling me. That took a lot of courage.<br /><br />We all make poor decisions at times. The important thing is to learn from our mistakes. And I think you have. Please write a new essay this weekend. I will accept it without any penalty or demerits. <br /><br />Sleep well this evening,<br />Mr. Benjamin<br /><br />For some reason, his e-mail made my day.yomisterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04265404144487567580noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17384912.post-16299090699536508912007-11-15T21:20:00.000-05:002007-11-15T21:58:42.960-05:00a grunt will doI've always had rather good relations with my colleagues. But not so much at IS Prep. At least with one in particular. She's a bully. Period.<br /><br />For a fair amount of time I've been intimidated by her. We had one fierce blow-up at beginning of the year. I'm not sure what happened after the loud (her) 10 minute spat, but I do know that I wasn't called into the office to explain myself. So that says something.<br /><br />I just hate working in such a small environment with this feeling of hostility in air. It definitely has not dissipated between us. We try to play nice to one another, but I think we<br /><br /><br />... this is where I must stop. I feel so inhibited posting this year as the school is small and I really don't want to getting my ass caught, like one other fabulous NYC teacher-blogger that was discovered at his school and had to endure an investigation. So we'll see where I go with this.<br /><br />OH! Nice CL e-mail today about the new NYC "gotcha" announcement. Now why I don't I find this development to be the least surprising?yomisterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04265404144487567580noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17384912.post-22503073160402324062007-11-14T18:49:00.000-05:002007-11-14T19:00:28.619-05:00Just make a right, follow the hallway, and kidnap a childMy school has two students currently in a parental fight for custody. One parent actually managed to "kidnap" the child over the summer. The staff knows what's up with these children, and are cautious of who is visiting on our floor (which also houses 2 other schools).<br /><br />SO WHY ARE THERE NO VISITOR'S PASSES OR LAPEL STICKERS FOR OUTSIDERS TO CARRY.<br /><br />I found one man in a classroom looking at the bulletin boards. With the door closed. When I asked him where he was intending to go, he mentioned another school on our campus. So I escorted his ass right out of the room and dropped him off with the other school's secretary.<br /><br />I'm at the point of wanting visitors to wear sandwich-board signs. Tomorrow, this has to be dealt with. I love my school officers (really, they are really kind people) , but this crap has got to end.<br /><br />On a totally unrelated note, Project Runway starts tonight! Brain candy!yomisterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04265404144487567580noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17384912.post-54787590631991602762007-11-13T18:09:00.000-05:002007-11-13T18:36:38.700-05:00this is autonomy?The "empowerment" scheme is a joke, a scam, and a bunch of bullsh&t.<br /><br />I have spent my afternoon willing my ass to remain seated as I listened to an empowerment network wonk insist that I change the setting of one of my students. Listening to the wonk, it quickly became apparent that the wonk has absolutely no clue about least restrictive environments. I had to listen to phrases like:<br /><br />"He'll be better if her were in culinary program."<br />"He can't do the work here! He would be so much better off in a 12:1:1 class."<br />"He'll never get more than an IEP diploma."<br /><br />THE KID IS ONLY 11! Let's give him a chance. He's a foster kid. There is potential. He's 11, and she is already talking about him having a "shot" at learning a trade. This is not that type of kid. This kid needs a lot of emotional and educational support. AND HE'S GETTING IT!<br /><br />He is emotionally and educationally growing in a group of his peers without a disability. Are things modified and adapted? Of course. <br /><br />Then wonk made some statement that it was probably a concern of mine that if we lose this student, the school would suffer a bit financially. I replied, "This is an issue about a child, not money. We have been making due with what we have, and will continue to do so regardless."<br /><br />For those of you that aren't aware, not all new schools are busting about with tons of money.<br /><br />Then wonk went to my school psychologist (without consulting me or asking for my attendance at such meeting, which is really a bit much given that I'm the kid's provider AND the lead teacher). My principal wasn't there, so that made matters more complicated. My principal has no tolerance for nonsense, at least not this kind.<br /><br />Then wonk went and told me I was wrong on a bunch of different matters (which I'm not). I finally had kids standing outside the office waiting for me to start extended day, which was the perfect way to get out of the situation before I let wonk meet the "you are truly screwing with the wrong person" demeanor I set aside for special situations.<br /><br />Amazing how one person, who has only visited the school twice before, can cause so much needless trouble. And the school has to pay 28 grand for this kind of support (errr... or should I say control, because that's what it is).<br /><br />Autonomy? My ass. These empowerment teams are a bunch of bullies trying to justify their jobs and avoid the classroom.<br /><br />I'm exhausted, pissed, and got so caught up with the wonk, I didn't even eat yet today.<br /><br />(sorry in advance for any typos)yomisterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04265404144487567580noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17384912.post-11738594592006902162007-11-12T07:11:00.000-05:002007-11-12T08:07:07.582-05:00it's moday, feels like sundayHoorah! I spent another day doing absolutely nothing on Sunday! I ran a couple of errands and that was about it. It's been great to actually have some time to catch up on some blogs that I've neglected for far too long, such as unaccountable talk, NY Teacher, Ms. Frizzle, and some new favorites. I love Pissed Off Mom. Great to hear the insight of someone navigating the NYC system with her children, and the insight she provides.<br /><br />Today, alas, it is back to work. Although not at school. I was informed in a "very last minute" type of way on Friday that I have three "after school" training sessions for the SLT committee. Not too happy about that one. This also conflicts with an evening PD I already signed up and really wanted to attend. I also have to launch a professional development series for my department, which should be interesting given that all of my department consists of teachers taking grad classes, all on different days. I hate "lunch 'n learn" meetings. That's simply overkill, and no teacher should have to feel pressure to attend a meeting scheduled during a "duty free" period. But with only two PD days this year, I'm left totally confused as to when the BOE thinks PD should be provided.<br /><br />I would ask my principal for per session compensation for the teachers, but the school is broke by all accounts. I agree with the principal that we don't want to start our second year in a deficit. So I'm going to have to figure something out.<br /><br />Just a quick note on collaborative (common) planning sessions. It's really hard to prepare for a class when one of the members of your department doesn't do his or her designated lesson. I like that we write lesson plans on a rotating basis. It makes sense, and saves a lot of time. But not if one of your colleagues doesn't do them promptly. This morning, I still don't have a lesson plan for one of my classes tomorrow, although the teacher promised me it would be e-mailed by Sunday. It's Monday, no lesson in e-mail box, and Mr. Benjamin is not happy. I have two of the lowest level classes in the school (yes, tracking is alive and well), and I always have to adapt the lessons and differentiate the instruction and product. I'm going to chill a bit before I e-mail the teacher.<br /><br />I'm off to the Apple store in Soho to catch a workshop on OS X Leopard. I need to learn things I probably won't use often but make me happy when I do. I actually stood on a huge line to purchase the upgrade on the day of its release. In the rain. It was actually kind of fun, given that I never do that kind of stuff. Got the free t-shirt. Sometimes it's the little things.yomisterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04265404144487567580noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17384912.post-47376426163415024792007-11-10T22:06:00.000-05:002007-11-11T07:22:08.335-05:00three day weekendI could not get out of my apartment today. Literally, I was so exhausted from the week that I haven't even picked up the phone. There are some people that you can relate your week to (mainly teacher friends), but for the most part those in my life don't have a clue about what I'm talking about. So I spent a total day NOT on any school work, and just spent the day on the couch reading and napping. An indulgance, for sure.<br /><br />As for the class that was not behaving in a manner anywhere acceptable at IS Prep (this school is strict, no joking around), and not meeting with them on Friday, I informed them that too much material was left untaught, and that they were required to do a research report. Typed.<br /><br />I anticipated the majority of the students would try to avoid it, but I was pretty surprised with about a 60% return rate. Some of the students began begging me to grant them a homework pardon with pleas of excuses the ranged from the normal "I left it on my Mom's flashdrive" to the "my printer is dry." I always give kids that approach me with tech excuses the benefit of the doubt, so long if it comes in the next day.<br /><br />I was wholly impressed with some of the submissions, a few of which had handwritten notes apologizing for their behavior. For those that didn't submit, I tracked them down at the end of their last class of the day to issue letters home. A couple of them absolutely had a screaming melt-down. Parents 0f our school know, for the most part, that we don't kid around. Kids are to be uniform, prepared, and behaved. They have to produce. And they probably get more homework than they would like, but that's the way it is. And parents don't like getting these kinds of letters.<br /><br />But being so small has its advantage. When we issued our first progress reports, we actually checked the parents' signatures against those on file. About 10% of our sneaky sixth-graders were discovered to have forged the report. And believe me, those parents were furious. And perplexed that the school actually does this.<br /><br />So off they went with letters in hand. And definitely not happy.<br /><br />Great to spend a day doing absolutely nothing.yomisterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04265404144487567580noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17384912.post-29806158611547414432007-11-08T20:57:00.000-05:002007-11-08T21:13:14.059-05:00i'm drowningToday, I had my first really, really bad class at IS Prep. <br /><br />I knew it was going to be a rough start with this class when I walked in the room. The prior teacher looked battered as he left the classroom, and the kids were in full blown chaos. Chaos I can handle. I can get the students back in their seats. I can also usually scare the crap enough out of them to get them to hush up. But not today. Yes, they sat. And yes, some of them zipped their mouths.<br /><br />But a number of them were in all-out bickering mode with one another. This situation, of course, is compounded with the "collaborative grouping" of desks. As CL, I know the rules regarding this. However, this is a new school, and I really want to believe that we can get these kids to swing with the arrangement. On the other hand, two hundred years of educating students in row formation does beg some questions as to validity. <br /><br />I went postal about 30 minutes into the class. I flipped. I lost it. This I am not proud of. This is not the teacher I am. I worked my ass off last night refining a lesson on Powerpoint for this class, all for naught. And, I only see this class twice a week. <br /><br />Arghh. I know all teachers have these moments. But I haven't had one in quite a period of time (and that includes my section of emotionally disturbed kids from last year who were totally insane). <br /><br />I'm working on a plan on how to address this tomorrow. I doubt I'll have one.yomisterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04265404144487567580noreply@blogger.com0