When the topic of kids getting paid for going to school was broached, a third grader said:
If there is anything my MAMA taught me, it’s that you do ANYTHING and I mean ANYTHING for $30.
Tough Teacher
challenging children daily since 2009
About the author
Teaching has been the toughest "adventure" I've embarked on thus far. No names, locations, etc. will be used due to privacy laws, but as I transition from the corporate world, I'll share my teaching experiences.
Interested in shedding some words of wisdom? Words of contempt? Email me at toughteacherk12@gmail.com.
What that says is, ‘Let’s focus on the student and not some arbitrary, high-stakes test score,’ ” the union leader said. “As if you could reduce a student to a test score. You can’t.
Dennis Van Roekel, president of the National Education Association, a critic of the law, applauded the Obama administration’s move to revamp No Child Left Behind teaching standards.
Before 8:15 a.m....
Where were you before 8:15 a.m.? Before 8:15 a.m. today I:
- Saw a kid throwing gang signs
- Confiscated a cell phone
- Sent a child to “time out”
- Made a child cry
- Was called a F*&&*%^ B*&^%$
Who said this is a thankless job? Clearly they don’t know the joy I get from my students.
After 8:15 I:
- Saw students learn new (appropriate) vocabulary.
- Learn what gravity does to our solar system.
- Take pride in their work.
- Laugh.
- Succeed.
- Lead.
All in a day’s work.
Best Dressed
Our sixth grade math teacher took a poll to see who the best dressed 6th grade teacher was. There are 3 of us. Coincidentally she won by a landslide.
Rigged? Unknown. Second? Right here!
From the Mouths of Babes
You know you’re going to have a good day when…
a student asks you if knives are allowed at school. Cops called. End of story.
In the 21st century, one of the best anti-poverty programs is a world-class education. In this country, the success of our children cannot depend more on where they live than their potential.
President Barack Obama, 2010 State of the Union
By 1990, the female-male breakdown was 55 percent to 45 percent. The gap widened to 57 percent to 43 percent in 2003 and has been frozen there since, according to the report.
The Washington Post reports that the college ‘gender gap’ favoring women stops growing
Texas Skipping Out on Race to the Top
Why would a state as large as Texas skip out on a windfall of national funding to help fuel it’s schools? According to Texas Gv. Rick Perry (R) and Brook Dollens Terry of the Texas Public Policy Foundation there were a few holes in the Race to the Top.
- Education has historically been a state issue, with power in Texas delegated to the Texas Legislature and the State Board of Education; Texas lawmakers control funding and school requirements, and the State Board makes decisions about curriculum so all of these are elected positions directly accountable to the voters at least once every four years.
- States such as Texas may have to spend state funds to access the federal dollars; the Texas Education Agency estimates that Texas will have to spend $3 billion just to have the chance to access, at most, $750 million.
- The federal funding will dry up; as we are seeing with other stimulus funds, states and local school districts would need to find funding for the reforms after the federal money goes away.
- What if the “reform” could be a step backwards for quality of a state’s education system?
The final point is totally valid. Education across America varies so much that I can’t help but question who would set the national standards, and how they would be assessed.
From the Mouths of Babes
Me [to random kindergardener I’ve never seen before after lunch]: Have you eaten yet? Where’s your class?
Kiddo: Yup. Can you pick me up?
Me: No.
Kiddo: Can I have a kiss?
Me: No.
Kiddo [now clinging to my leg]: HUGS!
I think we may have been speaking two different languages!
Gates Says it's All About Teacher Effectiveness
All of the studies say that when it comes down to getting a good education it’s all about teacher effectiveness. To support this mission, The Gates Foundation is giving Denver Public Schools $10 million dollars. Let’s keep our eyes on Denver to see how this changes the largest city in the state that has the least funding for public education (ok, 49th for funding, but when you’re 49th you might as well be last).
