The Accidental Teacher: Crazy is as Crazy Does: Chapter 3

When I first started teaching they told us to keep our mouths shut until we got tenure because administration could dismiss us for any reason if they wanted to. So, I tried to just sit in the back of every faculty meeting and mind my own business without saying a word.

Mrs. H. was the union representative and she had her own style. It was rude and caustic, but, it was her style.

Faculty meetings were held three times a month whether we needed them or not. If there was nothing to say, the Principal found something to say. Inspiring? Not usually, but, meet we did. They were supposed to start at 2:10 and end 3:10. Mrs. H. apparently thought it was her job to make sure that no meeting went beyond 3:10. So, at precisely 3:10 she would stand up, take out her abnormally numerous keychain and walk, straight backed, in front of the principal and wave her keys, left to right, up and down, like a marching band leader on the Fourth of July, right out the door.

I feel the need to give you a fuller description of Mrs. H. She was a piece of work. My first taste of her was after walking my class back from recess. We were responsible for one of the bulletin boards on the main hallway walls. The class had written short essays in response to a prompt with a picture of a clown who had fallen and was a bit dirty. One of my students, Q. was one of several African American students. As we were passing the bulletin board Mrs. H. grabs Q. by the arm, out of line and points to his paper and asked him, "Did you write 'He was so black and dirty' because you think being black means your dirty?" Mind you, this was an African American women talking to a fourth grade African American child. It took a few minutes before I could get her to leave him alone and we could get back to class. 

A few weeks later I was in my classroom during lunch when the teacher in the next room asked me to come into her room for a moment. Thinking nothing of it, I went over to see what was up. Lo and behold, who was in there? None other than crazy Mrs. H.. "Mr. PT., I noticed that as I was leaving the Faculty Meeting you rolled your eyes at me? What do you have to say about that?" She bluntly blurted out with her hands on her hips, chin taking dead aim at the center of my forehead. I replied, "I rolled my eyes because you're crazy. You're also the rudest, most caustic and prejudiced person I have ever known. And you're one of those crazy people who slap someone in the face and wonder why they slap you back. I just want you to know that if you slap me, be prepared to be slapped back." I turned around and walked back into my room. 

My good friend Ms. J.'s take on Ms. H.. "Mrs. H.? Oh, she's crazy! She's the kind of person who would punch you in the nose one day and then buy you an ice cream the next. She's crazy!"

A couple weeks later I was in my room before school preparing for another glorious day of teaching (I really was enjoying it). Over the school intercom I hear, "Mr. PT, if you are on campus, please report to the principal's office." Being a middle child I immediately began to wonder what I did wrong. On my way down to the office I went over in my head all kinds of scenarios. I felt like a little kid again being called to the office, which are a very real group of memories for me. 

When I got there I was ushered into the principal's office and seated with a small group of other people. The principal explained that our presence had been requested for this formal meeting concerning Ms. H's actions. My first thought was relief that whatever the issue was it wasn't me. Secondly I was baffled that crazy Ms. H. asked me to be there considering I had told her I thought she was crazy! 

The long and the short of it was that some Latino students from Ms. H's class had complained to the principal that she continually called them stupid and telling them they were lazy. The principal went to the class to look into the complaint (which she should do). The principal said she gave Ms. H. the option of waiting in the cafeteria/teach lounge or the main office.  Ms. H. told her, "I don't have to put up with this nonsense, I'm going home!" The principal directed her to not leave the campus. Crazy Ms. H. went home (which she shouldn't do). 

I sat there and wondered (again) why I was there and why crazy Ms. H. left the campus when she was directed not to. Like the title says, crazy is as crazy does.

Chaper 1 http://heyuteacher.blogspot.com/2012/12/the-accidental-teacher-one-line-three.html

Chapter 2 http://heyuteacher.blogspot.com/2014/07/the-accidental-teacher-bang-their-heads.html

My Teacher Tech Opinion on Edmodo

I have two guidelines when evaluating and using technology: one, does it help students learn and two, does it make the teacher's job easier? If it doesn't do both those things the chances are slim to none that I will use it. 

A few years ago I ran across Edmodo, a free application for educators and students. Last year I was able to use it on a limited basis because the classes I taught were already using an online format. But, I did have the students turn in some assignments using Edmodo. This year I taught sixth grade English and Ancient History plus one period of "New Media" that was for eight grade students.

This past year the students were promised iPads at our school. The teachers were given (lent) one and had a two day training before the beginning of the year, so I was looking forward to trying some new apps and lessons. Edmodo was the app I used the most and has fulfilled my two guidelines. The students can access Edmodo with ease and check their work without problems. I don't know if Edmodo itself helps students learn but, it does help students interface with several different applications, turn in work, take quizzes, tests and polls. 

As far as making my life as a teacher easier I have to give Edmodo a big thumbs up. I have used polls to check for understanding, the assignment function to create assignments and turn in assignments, and I have given quizzes of all kinds. I will probably write a few more posts about Edmodo and my positive experiences with it, so I will just leave you with this: If you are not on using Edmodo, give it a try at https://www.edmodo.com .

If you have used Edmodo and have an opinion please share it in the comment section. 

Common Core or just another con?

Common Core standards. Another "gift" from the federal government. As an educator anytime someone out of the classroom comes up with an idea, I get nervous. The further they are away from the actual classroom with real live students the more dangerous the directive. Common Core Standards fits right in with all the other "great ideas" from those who don't know or should know better. Rachel Alexander has written a great peace entitled 

"Common Core: What's Hidden Behind the Language".

"Conservatives are in an uproar over Common Core, an educational curriculum being forced upon the states by the Obama administration, which is scheduled to be mostly implemented this year in the 46 states that have adopted it. Common Core eliminates local control over K-12 curriculum in math and English, instead imposing a one-size-fits-all, top-down curriculum that will also apply to private schools and homeschoolers.

Superficially, it sounds good. It creates universal standards that supposedly educate all children for college. But along with the universal standards come a myriad of problems, which the administrators of Common Core are disingenuously denying. The American Principles Project released an analysis last year of Common Core, exposing the duplicitous language. Common Core describes itself as “internationally benchmarked,” “robust,” “aligned with college and work expectations,” “rigorous,” and “evidence-based.” None of this is true."

http://townhall.com/columnists/rachelalexander/2013/03/18/common-core-whats-hidden-behind-the-language-n1537017?utm_source=thdaily&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=nl

The more I read about it the less I like them. What's the old saying, "Beware of Greeks bearing gifts"? How about beware of your federal government taking over your state and local governments choice to teach your students as best as you see fit.

OK my fellow educators, do you know what the common core standards really are

Stardate, Thursday, July 15,2010

Image via Wikipedia

Myth: the younger generation is much more technologically adept than some of us older folks. True they can text their thumbs numb and play noentiendo until their eyes glaze over and their minds turn to Jello. But, that doesn't mean they know how to cut & paste or upload a file. Being a "gamer" means you know how to play a specific video game not that you can construct a complete sentence using proper grammar.

As my odyssey as an online teacher continues I am shock that so many students do not know how to perform basic editing functions. I am not sure what they think that squiggly red line under a misspelled word means. But they find it easier to ignore than a parental request to clean their room. So, I must do what all good teachers do; teach them from the bottom up.

I am very impressed with the overall politeness and respectfulness the students are displaying in my face to face contact with my students. I have enjoyed their responses to my daily quotes and pictures. I have found their responses to be humorous and introspective. 

Tomorrow, grading...