March 2013 Reflection
March! I am deleting a little of my reflection. I was driving home last night and realized this will be my last reflection for this class. Wow! I think I want to reflect on what this class has meant to me. I will get to the rest later, but for now I can’t help but realize there will be a void in my life. I truly love coming to these weekends. Yes, it will be nice to have more free time again, but I will not have our group to pose questions to, or vent about something or another. I feel blessed that I have am part of our community. Two years - I can’t believe it’s been two years already. Time has passed so quickly.
I am also thinking of our reading for this month - Who Will Save Our Schools? What an appropriate title. I believe I wrote a little about this in my paper. All of the things we know - and the years educators, administrators, researchers and such have know this - why haven’t we made a big change yet? It is so disappointing to watch nothing happen. I know I can make a difference, a small one - if only I were young and just starting. I feel a little jealous of all of the young teachers. They should be able to make many changes. Of course, I have finished the article.
I have much to think about. I work with a few awesome teachers, and one who received her graduate degree a few years ago want to sit back and wait for retirement. She obviously did not have the experience I had. So sad for her, but still confused by her ability or lack of ability to want to change. Many teachers I know want the graduate degree for a pay increase and nothing else. I know you said the article was old, but it could be written today.
Our last class felt very hurried to me. Again, I felt we ran out of time when working the carwash. I think there were a few papers that were rushed - but what an awesome tool for all the learners. I felt a little rushed and I know everyone did the best they could do. So much to do in so little time. lol
I keep thinking about the Teachers as Constructivist Leaders and how this will apply to my life. It really makes me think about things. I am an idealist at heart, and would love to lead a brigade. How fun would that be? I also realize that I am not that young - oh to be in my 20s with all of the knowledge. So I must, must, must stay focused and be a part of it (something). The revolution that we have been waiting for - hmmmmm. Still makes me wonder why we can’t get there - or maybe some are there and I have missed that group.
I really think I need to focus on new teachers - I can see a difference in how I help the young teachers in my school. As a mentor this year, I can see a change in myself. I believe this is the route I need to take - be it in the school setting or elsewhere.
So as I sit her at my computer looking at my students - a 5th grader, a 10th grader, and a 7th grader, all in for help with English - I am contemplating what they need from me - from the school - or what they need from their general education teacher. There are a few students and a few teachers who are unable or unwilling to bend and form learning around the students. Instead, they are given failing grades over and over. These students don’t know what success feels or looks like. We have been struggling with this for the last few years. We have a couple of teachers that seem to work so hard to make sure students struggle rather than providing learning opportunities. Our administrator agrees. He says that the students get so far in the hole they will never be able to get out. We are so worried about accumulating points that students are not learning. Sorry - I am disenchanted this week with a few teachers and so sad many students miss out. So back to me - heehee. I keep going back to what can I do to change things . . . the never-ending question!
I am also thinking of our reading for this month - Who Will Save Our Schools? What an appropriate title. I believe I wrote a little about this in my paper. All of the things we know - and the years educators, administrators, researchers and such have know this - why haven’t we made a big change yet? It is so disappointing to watch nothing happen. I know I can make a difference, a small one - if only I were young and just starting. I feel a little jealous of all of the young teachers. They should be able to make many changes. Of course, I have finished the article.
I have much to think about. I work with a few awesome teachers, and one who received her graduate degree a few years ago want to sit back and wait for retirement. She obviously did not have the experience I had. So sad for her, but still confused by her ability or lack of ability to want to change. Many teachers I know want the graduate degree for a pay increase and nothing else. I know you said the article was old, but it could be written today.
Our last class felt very hurried to me. Again, I felt we ran out of time when working the carwash. I think there were a few papers that were rushed - but what an awesome tool for all the learners. I felt a little rushed and I know everyone did the best they could do. So much to do in so little time. lol
I keep thinking about the Teachers as Constructivist Leaders and how this will apply to my life. It really makes me think about things. I am an idealist at heart, and would love to lead a brigade. How fun would that be? I also realize that I am not that young - oh to be in my 20s with all of the knowledge. So I must, must, must stay focused and be a part of it (something). The revolution that we have been waiting for - hmmmmm. Still makes me wonder why we can’t get there - or maybe some are there and I have missed that group.
I really think I need to focus on new teachers - I can see a difference in how I help the young teachers in my school. As a mentor this year, I can see a change in myself. I believe this is the route I need to take - be it in the school setting or elsewhere.
So as I sit her at my computer looking at my students - a 5th grader, a 10th grader, and a 7th grader, all in for help with English - I am contemplating what they need from me - from the school - or what they need from their general education teacher. There are a few students and a few teachers who are unable or unwilling to bend and form learning around the students. Instead, they are given failing grades over and over. These students don’t know what success feels or looks like. We have been struggling with this for the last few years. We have a couple of teachers that seem to work so hard to make sure students struggle rather than providing learning opportunities. Our administrator agrees. He says that the students get so far in the hole they will never be able to get out. We are so worried about accumulating points that students are not learning. Sorry - I am disenchanted this week with a few teachers and so sad many students miss out. So back to me - heehee. I keep going back to what can I do to change things . . . the never-ending question!