A teacher gives a report of the ominous ramifications of being forced out of the pool into an unwinnable situation: ELL and special education students with none of the proper supports.
Dear NYC ATRs and teachers who have a home school...
I'm incredibly overwhelmed.
So, the students at the school where I was force-hired, are way behind. In fact, according to the materials emailed to me by the principal of the school, they are 10 weeks behind. There has been no meeting with the principal and myself. I have no idea where to start.
"Where do you start with the seniors who plan on sitting for the January 2014 regents?" I'm glad that you asked that question.
I sent an email to the principal who told me that we should talk about having them sit out the exam and take it in June. They however, in their own minds think that they can pass it.
I just spent over $110 this weekend to make review packets for them. They signed them out on Monday. Their first response was not "Thank you Ms. Cortez" Nor was it the second or third response. The only response was "It's so thick, like a book." These kids don't want to study for the exam because in their minds they imagine themselves passing without studying. OMG!
I asked them to start working on the packet. I also asked them to write an essay on three Enlightenment Thinkers. It was supposed to be in my mailbox yesterday. "Ooops. I didn't see it." So, they didn't do it and now I have to move on. Oh well!
My other four groups are so lost, and behind, I have no clue where to start. I really don't know.
I have lots of special education students in my four classes. I also have English Language Learners--these are kids that don't speak English, can't read it or write it. Seriously! Yes, this is what I have to contend with right now. I also have other kids that have emotional problems. The list goes on and on.
The CCSS and Danielson only work in IDEAL SOCIETIES!
They talk about higher order thinking. What does this mean for my students, many of whom have not had a real social studies teacher since the first day of the school year. They know very little, remember even less.
Neither the principal nor the AP have given me any kind of guidance. I am just a body, with teaching license in a room full of level 1s who I don't think I can move on.
I would love for someone to take over these classes who has this type of training.
As a rotating teaching for 3 years, I am not used to schools that have very little support services for their students, who obviously need them. I have to speak Spanish to my ELLs and ESLs. However, one boy in my class is from an African country. Do I sit down and get Rosetta Stone to help him? What next?
Why don't the special education students have a social studies teacher in the classroom with them?
I have to read IEPs. I am out of my league! This is the most frustrating job that I have ever had in my 20 plus years as a social studies educator.
I need to first hear from the principal, who is in charge of the social studies department to tell me where to start.
HELP ME!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Dear NYC ATRs and teachers who have a home school...
I'm incredibly overwhelmed.
So, the students at the school where I was force-hired, are way behind. In fact, according to the materials emailed to me by the principal of the school, they are 10 weeks behind. There has been no meeting with the principal and myself. I have no idea where to start.
"Where do you start with the seniors who plan on sitting for the January 2014 regents?" I'm glad that you asked that question.
I sent an email to the principal who told me that we should talk about having them sit out the exam and take it in June. They however, in their own minds think that they can pass it.
I just spent over $110 this weekend to make review packets for them. They signed them out on Monday. Their first response was not "Thank you Ms. Cortez" Nor was it the second or third response. The only response was "It's so thick, like a book." These kids don't want to study for the exam because in their minds they imagine themselves passing without studying. OMG!
I asked them to start working on the packet. I also asked them to write an essay on three Enlightenment Thinkers. It was supposed to be in my mailbox yesterday. "Ooops. I didn't see it." So, they didn't do it and now I have to move on. Oh well!
My other four groups are so lost, and behind, I have no clue where to start. I really don't know.
I have lots of special education students in my four classes. I also have English Language Learners--these are kids that don't speak English, can't read it or write it. Seriously! Yes, this is what I have to contend with right now. I also have other kids that have emotional problems. The list goes on and on.
The CCSS and Danielson only work in IDEAL SOCIETIES!
They talk about higher order thinking. What does this mean for my students, many of whom have not had a real social studies teacher since the first day of the school year. They know very little, remember even less.
Neither the principal nor the AP have given me any kind of guidance. I am just a body, with teaching license in a room full of level 1s who I don't think I can move on.
I would love for someone to take over these classes who has this type of training.
As a rotating teaching for 3 years, I am not used to schools that have very little support services for their students, who obviously need them. I have to speak Spanish to my ELLs and ESLs. However, one boy in my class is from an African country. Do I sit down and get Rosetta Stone to help him? What next?
Why don't the special education students have a social studies teacher in the classroom with them?
I have to read IEPs. I am out of my league! This is the most frustrating job that I have ever had in my 20 plus years as a social studies educator.
I need to first hear from the principal, who is in charge of the social studies department to tell me where to start.
HELP ME!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
You put it in a nutshell. Whoa!
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