The NYTs reported that The Kansas City Board of Education voted to close almost half of the KC’s public schools. This was a wide reaching and contentious plan to shrink the system in the face of dwindling enrollment, budget cuts and a $50 million deficit.
When I first read this shocking headline I was feeling both shocked and confused by how the district would get by. Then, I read further and discovered that enrollment has dropped by half in the last 10 years and the schools are only 48 percent full. Isn’t this just good business? Or, is it something more when it involves our children? It can be detrimental to neighborhoods when their schools close. Kansas City’s population is hovering around 500,000, and only 17,000 of them are enrolled in KCPS. This alone signals a necessary overhaul.
In other news…I rarely go “off topic” but the Jolie-Pitt family is growing up so fast! I gave up my daily dose of celebrity gossip a year ago and in the last year they have grown so much! Some days I kind of miss the trivial nuances of celebrity life.
Fourth graders who obsess over presidents are truly children after my own heart. Today two of them were quizzing each other on the presidents and it was quite possibly the cutest thing I’ve ever witnessed.
A colleague of mine compared his mentor teacher to an actress who liked to “bring the drama.” Her kids bought into it hook, line and sinker. They would do anything for her and believe whatever she said. I believe that some people have those engaging personalities…and for the rest of us, we can hope for expert advice on How to Capture a Crowd. In this article, Mary Civiello, is offering adults tips on public speaking. All four can be applied to teaching.
1. Start your preparation by asking: What is the one thing I want them to remember if they remember nothing else?Studies show that by the end of the day, your audience will have forgotten half of what you said. And by the end of the week, 90% is forgotten. To make sure that the 10% that sticks is the 10% that you really want them to remember, say it early and clearly.
So, it’s been a few weeks since I’ve written. I’ve been in a weird place and not quite sure how to articulate it. I’ve been feeling fairly unsuccessful and was actually moved classrooms. This week I found myself surrounded by some 3rd-5th graders in a classroom set up for special skill targeting. As I started my week, I was tentative. I felt nervous about screwing up and doing a poor job. Yet, just a week later, I am absolutely loving it. I’m seeing teaching and classrooms in a way I never did before. I feel revitalized! I didn’t know school could be such a calm and fun place, and I’m back to a place in my head where I feel like this is for me and changing my career was a good decision. It’s amazing what new surroundings can do for you.
In other news, it’s time to apply for full time jobs. Many of my colleagues in my program cohort have already been hired and interviewing for positions. Last week I felt crushed that I wasn’t one of these people interviewing. Today, I can safely say that it just wasn’t my time. I look at how hectic the last week was, and I know that interviewing during all of that would have been a disaster. If it continues, my outlook may not be so sunny. For now though I am content with the idea that it’s my job fate.
I witnessed one of the most awesome parent teacher conferences. Last fall, this little boy was in TEARS when we had his conference. He had been goofing off, forging his reading log, lying to his parents, and 4 years behind in his reading. He was put on a daily behavior plan that his teachers and parents signed.
Now, 2/3 of a school year later he has grown 3 years in his reading! He is totally proficient in math. He wears his handsome little glasses every day. For the first time in his life he will finish the school year on grade level. You should have seen the grin on his face when we told his parents. His mom was in disbelief and visibly proud as well. His 4 younger brothers and sisters ran around our class like crazy — and they are lucky to have a big brother like him.
My heart swells with pride when I think about him. He’s grown into such a mature kid!
