How did I ever survive academia without the internet? Its hard to imagine there was a time when this priceless resource was not available.
I have come to appreciate the internet immensely thanks in part to the most expensive, crappiest math class in the entire universe. I have just earned some confidence points because I realize that I single handedly (well, using the internet) taught myself college algebra and geometry over the internet. I wouldn't say that I have made myself into an A student because that is, well, a lie, but I did manage to pass placement exams with flying colors and get by the crappiest math class in the universe with a B.
The unfortunate thing about the crappiest math class in the universe is that it was supposed to teach me how to take very complicated algebraic and critical thinking skills and simplify them so that an elementary student could take from it the basic curricular knowledge required at what ever grade level it may be. I did not get that from this class. If I could write a letter to the author of the textbook (which I might just do that) I would tell him, in a nice way, that he failed miserably at providing the tools necessary to translate difficult mathematical material into fun and understandable material appropriate for a classroom full of young children.
It wasn't all for waste though, I did manage to find some of the most wonderful math resources available in the internet, written by people who know how to turn a difficult concept into something relatable and easy to comprehend- a skill that lies at the core of teaching.
I plan on going through my archives during my winter break and posting some of the websites I have used that have great images and explanations of elementary math topics. I think some of these would be great classroom resources, especially of you have a smart board or monitor projector available for class use. Links to follow soon...
Wednesday, November 18, 2009
Tuesday, November 17, 2009
Seriously?!?
All of you working in education must be exhausted! As if your job isn’t tiring enough, you probably have to expend any little bit of energy left defending that what you do is worth your salary to taxpayers who think teaching is “an attractive job” or “not worth what they make.”
Yes, those quotes were taken directly from the mouths of a couple of my co workers who make probably more than most teachers, yet spend a good 2-3 hours out of their 8 hour work day to have discussions about such political issues as teacher making too much (one of these people I often find sleeping at his desk- $60,000 a year to talk politics and sleep at his desk- now that’s an attractive job!)
I can often ignore their political rants, but when teachers come up, I can’t control my urge to defend the profession. It’s absolutely amazing the misconceptions people have about what teachers do. I actually believe that they think teachers work from 8-3, drawing rainbows and playing with toys, then go home early watch tv and get a good nights sleep for the next day of childish fun for a way too big paycheck; counting the days until all their unnecessary days off. They have no clue. In fact, I strongly object the quote about teaching being “an attractive job.” I can say, as a person preparing to teach, that there is nothing “attractive” about it, which makes me respect the people who choose to do it all the more. What is attractive about mounds of paperwork, discipline issues, state tests, laws, difficult parents, and long days- all this for a pay which is really pretty measly? In one of the most affluent districts in my state, the average salary for an elementary school teacher 20 years (not 5 not 10, not even 15 but 20 years!!) into his/her career is $65K. That is probably considered a pretty high pay, but in reality, we aren’t talking about a lavish lifestyle here. Isn’t a teacher entitled to have a house, a safe car, healthy food, and some spending money for (dare I say it) enjoying life?? A $65k salary pretty much is necessary to have those things. I can’t believe that people would even suggest that teachers do not deserve to live above a poverty level.
I could go on an on…and on… about this topic and the numerous arguments I have engaged myself in with these very ignorant people I work with but I am going to cut it out now before I get any more upset than I already am. I would just like to add that as a tax payer myself, I am happy to see my money going to such as an important job as caring for and educating children. I think teachers deserve way more and that there are far too many people making far too much money doing things that have been negligent and harmful to our society. Knowing what teachers do day in and day out, I would say this even if I wasn’t going to be in this profession. I just have to get that off my chest, no one at work will even listen, arrgh! I really hope this is the minority opinion, but something tells me I will encounter these types for the remainder of my career.
Yes, those quotes were taken directly from the mouths of a couple of my co workers who make probably more than most teachers, yet spend a good 2-3 hours out of their 8 hour work day to have discussions about such political issues as teacher making too much (one of these people I often find sleeping at his desk- $60,000 a year to talk politics and sleep at his desk- now that’s an attractive job!)
I can often ignore their political rants, but when teachers come up, I can’t control my urge to defend the profession. It’s absolutely amazing the misconceptions people have about what teachers do. I actually believe that they think teachers work from 8-3, drawing rainbows and playing with toys, then go home early watch tv and get a good nights sleep for the next day of childish fun for a way too big paycheck; counting the days until all their unnecessary days off. They have no clue. In fact, I strongly object the quote about teaching being “an attractive job.” I can say, as a person preparing to teach, that there is nothing “attractive” about it, which makes me respect the people who choose to do it all the more. What is attractive about mounds of paperwork, discipline issues, state tests, laws, difficult parents, and long days- all this for a pay which is really pretty measly? In one of the most affluent districts in my state, the average salary for an elementary school teacher 20 years (not 5 not 10, not even 15 but 20 years!!) into his/her career is $65K. That is probably considered a pretty high pay, but in reality, we aren’t talking about a lavish lifestyle here. Isn’t a teacher entitled to have a house, a safe car, healthy food, and some spending money for (dare I say it) enjoying life?? A $65k salary pretty much is necessary to have those things. I can’t believe that people would even suggest that teachers do not deserve to live above a poverty level.
I could go on an on…and on… about this topic and the numerous arguments I have engaged myself in with these very ignorant people I work with but I am going to cut it out now before I get any more upset than I already am. I would just like to add that as a tax payer myself, I am happy to see my money going to such as an important job as caring for and educating children. I think teachers deserve way more and that there are far too many people making far too much money doing things that have been negligent and harmful to our society. Knowing what teachers do day in and day out, I would say this even if I wasn’t going to be in this profession. I just have to get that off my chest, no one at work will even listen, arrgh! I really hope this is the minority opinion, but something tells me I will encounter these types for the remainder of my career.
Monday, November 16, 2009
How Do They Decide if You Can Be a Teacher? With a Test, of Course
This weekend I had to take a state exam. I showed up at the testing location thinking this would be a fairly simple procedure, but to my surprise there were hundreds, easily a thousand, teaching candidates waiting in a line that wrapped itself around the building. We were all herded in, only identified by the number on our admission paperwork, and directed to various rooms where our tests were passed out and one universal set of instructions were read over the intercom to the entire facility.
For the first 3 ½ hours, I was feeling pretty good, excited because this is the first official step on the road to becoming a teacher. I finally am in the last month of completing my general education and will be moving into the nitty gritty (that’s what I like to call my education courses). But by the last hour and a half I panicked. I still had a 4 page essay to write and the entire math section. I turned my test in 30 seconds before the “put your pencils down” announcement. I’m confident I passed, won’t know for about a month, but it didn’t seem very difficult, just long and mentally strenuous.
As I sat for five hours in an ergonomically incorrect desk and chair combo, my arm, hand and wrist feeling arthritic from the constant grip of the pencil and slowly losing the feeling in my right leg, I couldn’t help but think that this is just not natural, and it’s not an effective way of determining one's academic capabilities. At some point my focus shifted from the test to the multitude of sensations occurring in my body. There was no time or opportunity for a break, they don’t allow you to get up and walk around. Studies have already shown that the brain needs intervals of rest, it’s not designed to focus on one thing for several hours straight. How can students be expected to perform their best under those conditions?
Maybe some day we will have some educational leadership that will recognize that the results that the states want on tests, to prove that their students are more educated than another state’s students, or that the US is more educated than China or whatever it is exactly that they are trying to prove by forcing students to take so many tests, are not going to come from making students to sit in unnatural positions for ridiculous periods of time to the point where their brain can no longer function in an efficient manner. Sometimes it’s good to walk a mile in someone else’s shoes to get an accurate portrayal of what they go through. I did that this weekend with my test, but I wonder if the people responsible for requiring state testing in schools ever have to take standardized tests themselves. Maybe we should put them under annual testing requirements and see what happens.
For the first 3 ½ hours, I was feeling pretty good, excited because this is the first official step on the road to becoming a teacher. I finally am in the last month of completing my general education and will be moving into the nitty gritty (that’s what I like to call my education courses). But by the last hour and a half I panicked. I still had a 4 page essay to write and the entire math section. I turned my test in 30 seconds before the “put your pencils down” announcement. I’m confident I passed, won’t know for about a month, but it didn’t seem very difficult, just long and mentally strenuous.
As I sat for five hours in an ergonomically incorrect desk and chair combo, my arm, hand and wrist feeling arthritic from the constant grip of the pencil and slowly losing the feeling in my right leg, I couldn’t help but think that this is just not natural, and it’s not an effective way of determining one's academic capabilities. At some point my focus shifted from the test to the multitude of sensations occurring in my body. There was no time or opportunity for a break, they don’t allow you to get up and walk around. Studies have already shown that the brain needs intervals of rest, it’s not designed to focus on one thing for several hours straight. How can students be expected to perform their best under those conditions?
Maybe some day we will have some educational leadership that will recognize that the results that the states want on tests, to prove that their students are more educated than another state’s students, or that the US is more educated than China or whatever it is exactly that they are trying to prove by forcing students to take so many tests, are not going to come from making students to sit in unnatural positions for ridiculous periods of time to the point where their brain can no longer function in an efficient manner. Sometimes it’s good to walk a mile in someone else’s shoes to get an accurate portrayal of what they go through. I did that this weekend with my test, but I wonder if the people responsible for requiring state testing in schools ever have to take standardized tests themselves. Maybe we should put them under annual testing requirements and see what happens.
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