This month, I am teaching a split shift. Split shifts are rough on the body and the mind because the spread of the hours is so exhausting. I have to start teaching at 8:30 am and that runs till almost 1 pm. I get a stretch of hours in the middle then until I start again at 6 pm and teach all the way until 10 pm. I'll go home tonight, whine a bit about food, and then sleep. Luckily, I don't have to teach tomorrow.
Big Guy agreed to let me take his laptop to work with me, so I can sit in the adjunct office during the stretch of time where I don't have class and work on class stuff. I will find this extremely helpful this month. The free time in the middle of the day allowed me to get my morning class papers graded already. I also was able to look at the books and figure out what I wanted to make copies of for my class before they got here. I ought to plan what I want them to do for homework on Thursday, but I am seriously considering a power nap.
Big Guy has also been packing a lunch for me for prevention of passing out during the day. It is something I truly appreciate and I love having a husband who wants to take care of me. He loves me, wants me to be happy, healthy and comfortable. Unfortunately, that's not something that often happens over the course of a split shift month. My program director tries not to give her instructors two split shifts in a row because it's horrible. You really do put in 14 hour days and can't do anything outside of school on those days. The funny/horrible part of this month's split shift is we're moving at the same time. Feel pity for Big Guy, who is taking care of Little Guy and packing all on his own. I'll be able to get some of it done on Wednesdays and weekends, but the bulk of it falls to him.
Yesterday, he got a ton of stuff packed in Little Guy's room. It was impressive, considering Little Guy (like his mother) likes to be able to see everything he owns. I adamantly refused to go in his room because I was terrified I was going to break something. Last night, when I got home, Big Guy showed me that not only could we walk on his floor now, but there were "See You Later" boxes packed of toys. Little Guy and Big Guy had decided what was going to be packed.
I'm hopeful that more stuff will be packed today, but my two Guys may decide to nap instead. The split shift is hard on all of us. Bleh, reading this over, I can tell my brain is mush right now. Back to the grind goeth I.
Showing posts with label school. Show all posts
Showing posts with label school. Show all posts
Tuesday, August 2, 2011
Friday, January 21, 2011
A simple Friday
One of my New Year's resolutions this year is to become more organized and manage time and money better. The rapidly changing schedule is making it more important than ever to do so. This month, I am working a split shift. I teach one class in the morning and one class at night. The week after next, however, my schedule changes for the next month. I'll teach mornings and afternoons, leaving my evenings free. I've been teaching nights for so long now, I'm not going to know what to do with myself. Big Guy will get to be home during the day with our little monkey.
If we can keep up the work we've been doing, we can survive just fine. Big Guy and I need to take an opportunity to sit down and figure out a plan for the next few months, like what we'll do if I don't get two classes. I've got a plan to save up money so that when the break hits, I'll be able to transfer over money to cover it. Things may be tight and sort of complicated, but luckily we have the communication skills to figure it out.
We're still looking at getting out of our current rental and, at this point, I am so done living here. I'm sure some of it is just basic impatience on my part, but living here has not been the best experience. This place had a purpose when we moved in, but that purpose has long since passed, and it's time for us to move to our new chapter of life. Our life has changed so much since we moved in that our needs in a place have changed as well. We're also not under pressure to move, which is a pleasant change. We have been looking for a good place to live, price-wise and also life-wise.
We're not going to be able to get the perfect place, but we'll be able to find something that will serve us well. And right now, Big Guy and I are in agreement that everything happens for a reason. Hopefully the purpose of all of this will become apparent soon.
Friday, January 14, 2011
Happy New Year!
My New Year's Resolution is to get back into writing regularly. I know I need to narrow that goal down a little more and figure out exactly what "regularly" means, but for now I accept that I need to write more. It's something I need to do, it's something that is important to me, and it's going to eventually give me what I want from it IF I put the effort into it.
That's not to say that my hiatus hasn't been entirely unexpected. Life, they say, is what happens when you're busy making other plans. After the failure to get the commune off the ground, Big Guy and I continued with our plans to get out of where we were, even going so far as to look at purchasing a house in the country. (My heart still breaks that we didn't get that house.) However, while we were doing that, Big Guy got fired from his company AGAIN. This was the second time in two years they had decided they didn't need him and booted him out the door. I told him that if they asked him to come back again, not only was he to say no, but HELL NO.
So, around the middle of November, we went from a two-parent working household to a two parent, one worker household. Don't worry, I've engaged him in slave labor in my name and we got a LOT of help from friends and family over the holiday season as things attempted to sort themselves out. I would like, at some point, to have an extended period of financial peace. I think we've earned it over the past 8 years.
Figuring out where to go from here is going ot be tricky. He's submitting apps and resumes and I've suggested a few things, but we're unsure where or when things will shift. We've been down this road before though. This time he doesn't have an insane CS amount hanging over his head. Now, it's slightly more reasonable and if the ex comes charging after him for more money, since he's jobless. I can't imagine they would raise it.
We're also buckling down on expenses. Christmas was stress inducing. But the love and assistance of family and friends made it the best Christmas ever. No matter what religion you believe in, it's easy to recognize a blessing when you see it. I was also lucky enough to get a second class to teach this month, despite it being a split shift. So, while I am exhausted, I am also bringing in money.
Things will work out, I have faith in that. Everything happens for a reason and the change in Big Guy's Job situation will undoubtedly lead to something better. Now if it would just hurry up and arrive.
That's not to say that my hiatus hasn't been entirely unexpected. Life, they say, is what happens when you're busy making other plans. After the failure to get the commune off the ground, Big Guy and I continued with our plans to get out of where we were, even going so far as to look at purchasing a house in the country. (My heart still breaks that we didn't get that house.) However, while we were doing that, Big Guy got fired from his company AGAIN. This was the second time in two years they had decided they didn't need him and booted him out the door. I told him that if they asked him to come back again, not only was he to say no, but HELL NO.
So, around the middle of November, we went from a two-parent working household to a two parent, one worker household. Don't worry, I've engaged him in slave labor in my name and we got a LOT of help from friends and family over the holiday season as things attempted to sort themselves out. I would like, at some point, to have an extended period of financial peace. I think we've earned it over the past 8 years.
Figuring out where to go from here is going ot be tricky. He's submitting apps and resumes and I've suggested a few things, but we're unsure where or when things will shift. We've been down this road before though. This time he doesn't have an insane CS amount hanging over his head. Now, it's slightly more reasonable and if the ex comes charging after him for more money, since he's jobless. I can't imagine they would raise it.
We're also buckling down on expenses. Christmas was stress inducing. But the love and assistance of family and friends made it the best Christmas ever. No matter what religion you believe in, it's easy to recognize a blessing when you see it. I was also lucky enough to get a second class to teach this month, despite it being a split shift. So, while I am exhausted, I am also bringing in money.
Things will work out, I have faith in that. Everything happens for a reason and the change in Big Guy's Job situation will undoubtedly lead to something better. Now if it would just hurry up and arrive.
Thursday, May 27, 2010
Little Guy is Spirited not Strong-willed
I'm confining myself to the same strictures I put on my students and forcing myself to sit and write for 10 minutes straight. Well, at least as straight as a parent who is home with a 4 year old can make it. Right now, I'm up to about a minute of uninterrupted time. I'm seriously impressed.
Currently, Little Guy is ensconced in the hall with his cars. I can't get him to finish his "brep-fast" of a banana on a hot dog bun smeared with peanut butter. He asked for it and now he won't eat it. Meals have become a battle ground. Short of forcing him to sit, we're stuck with fighting him every step of the way to eat. This has become the new "potty" argument.
One of the things I have done recently is look up advice on "Strong willed" children. I immediately decided I didn't approve of the group who had take "strong willed" as their banner phrase and instead decided to go with the parents of spirited children. It may not seem to make sense, but I've discovered the advice on parenting "strong willed" children seems to advocate breaking their spirit and bending them to the parent's will. Advice on parenting "spirited" children seems to advocate working with the spirited child and encouraging them to keep their sense of self while working within the bounds of society.
I don't want to break his spirit or individuality. He's going to need it as he gets older. I want him to be able to make his own decisions and to be firm in his convictions. I want him to not be afraid to stand up for the right thing, even if most people disagree with him. I don't think that forcing him to follow a narrow path is the best way to do that. Of course, I also have issues with society as a whole right now. I don't want him to follow the path that so many people seem to follow and be apathetic and content with the status quo.
I think spirited children are our future and quite likely our only hope. If we're so keen to make them fit into the cubby holes that society has deemed appropriate, we will never improve the situation in our country. If Edison or Lincoln had done that which was expected of them, we would still be enslaving people by candlelight. And, unfortunately, he has me for a mother. I hate following the well-worn paths. I'd much rather poke around and discover what I can find on my own. I want him to feel comfortable doing that too.
What this means for me, however, is a long period of time where I will be frustrated and irritated because my son has a mind of his own. I just have to let him learn some things through trial and error. Right now, we're not going to go outside because he hasn't finished breakfast. Once he finishes breakfast, I will go out with him and turn on the sprinkler and let him play to his heart's content. But he's being his spirited self and I suspect that won't happen before I have to get ready for work.
Currently, Little Guy is ensconced in the hall with his cars. I can't get him to finish his "brep-fast" of a banana on a hot dog bun smeared with peanut butter. He asked for it and now he won't eat it. Meals have become a battle ground. Short of forcing him to sit, we're stuck with fighting him every step of the way to eat. This has become the new "potty" argument.
One of the things I have done recently is look up advice on "Strong willed" children. I immediately decided I didn't approve of the group who had take "strong willed" as their banner phrase and instead decided to go with the parents of spirited children. It may not seem to make sense, but I've discovered the advice on parenting "strong willed" children seems to advocate breaking their spirit and bending them to the parent's will. Advice on parenting "spirited" children seems to advocate working with the spirited child and encouraging them to keep their sense of self while working within the bounds of society.
I don't want to break his spirit or individuality. He's going to need it as he gets older. I want him to be able to make his own decisions and to be firm in his convictions. I want him to not be afraid to stand up for the right thing, even if most people disagree with him. I don't think that forcing him to follow a narrow path is the best way to do that. Of course, I also have issues with society as a whole right now. I don't want him to follow the path that so many people seem to follow and be apathetic and content with the status quo.
I think spirited children are our future and quite likely our only hope. If we're so keen to make them fit into the cubby holes that society has deemed appropriate, we will never improve the situation in our country. If Edison or Lincoln had done that which was expected of them, we would still be enslaving people by candlelight. And, unfortunately, he has me for a mother. I hate following the well-worn paths. I'd much rather poke around and discover what I can find on my own. I want him to feel comfortable doing that too.
What this means for me, however, is a long period of time where I will be frustrated and irritated because my son has a mind of his own. I just have to let him learn some things through trial and error. Right now, we're not going to go outside because he hasn't finished breakfast. Once he finishes breakfast, I will go out with him and turn on the sprinkler and let him play to his heart's content. But he's being his spirited self and I suspect that won't happen before I have to get ready for work.
Tuesday, May 4, 2010
We can't communicate and we're too lazy to care
Writing should be an important topic in schools, but the more I teach, the more I realize it’s not stressed nearly enough. This month, I am teaching a “Fundamentals of English” college course. This course teaches the basics of English to students. I cover parts of speech as well as basic writing skills, and I try to do it in 12 hours a week for four weeks.
Really, it’s not nearly enough time. The students need more time to practice, more time to assimilate the information, and more work to do. In some cases, I deal with students who don’t have a clue what a complete sentence is, let alone how to identify a run-on sentence. There are also students who just don’t grasp why the parts of speech are important, even after I give my puzzle analogy. I tend to work my tail off these four weeks and go home exhausted every night, but I also find it more fulfilling than the higher level classes.
In the higher level writing courses, they have been jaded to the writing process and just don’t want to do it. They have also reached a certain “in school laziness” where they are more willing to slough off the work to the last minute. In the Fundamentals class, they are at least still somewhat excited to the new process of school.
But, in all cases, the writing abilities of some of my students saddens me. How is it that our country is producing graduates who don’t know how to communicate properly? And why have we let it go on thus far? Currently, we are a nation at the top of the heap, but we can’t bring ourselves to educate our children to continue that trend. Instead, we produce citizens who don’t know what their rights are, don’t know how to communicate those rights, and, even worse, are too apathetic to care.
It seems the baby boomer generation, the one that produced the changes in the 60’s and 70’s, did not imbue their children with the same restless spirit. Well, most of them at least (I know my mom did). But they also did not give their children the work ethic that our grandparents had. Our country has lost its inventive spark because it’s too much effort to create, whether it be creation of the lightbulb or creation of a book.
Really, it’s not nearly enough time. The students need more time to practice, more time to assimilate the information, and more work to do. In some cases, I deal with students who don’t have a clue what a complete sentence is, let alone how to identify a run-on sentence. There are also students who just don’t grasp why the parts of speech are important, even after I give my puzzle analogy. I tend to work my tail off these four weeks and go home exhausted every night, but I also find it more fulfilling than the higher level classes.
In the higher level writing courses, they have been jaded to the writing process and just don’t want to do it. They have also reached a certain “in school laziness” where they are more willing to slough off the work to the last minute. In the Fundamentals class, they are at least still somewhat excited to the new process of school.
But, in all cases, the writing abilities of some of my students saddens me. How is it that our country is producing graduates who don’t know how to communicate properly? And why have we let it go on thus far? Currently, we are a nation at the top of the heap, but we can’t bring ourselves to educate our children to continue that trend. Instead, we produce citizens who don’t know what their rights are, don’t know how to communicate those rights, and, even worse, are too apathetic to care.
It seems the baby boomer generation, the one that produced the changes in the 60’s and 70’s, did not imbue their children with the same restless spirit. Well, most of them at least (I know my mom did). But they also did not give their children the work ethic that our grandparents had. Our country has lost its inventive spark because it’s too much effort to create, whether it be creation of the lightbulb or creation of a book.
Friday, March 26, 2010
This month has been rough!
Well, this month's class is over and I am thrilled to reach the end of the month. this month was harder than usual due to the illness that went raging through the house. After it laid us up for a week, I realized that I had lost so much time and missed the grading I needed to get done. It was horrible trying to catch up. But last night at 9:30, I filled in the last blank spot in my gradebook and submitted my grades.
Another month down and now I have a week off. This break is definitely needed and I will be taking advantage of it. Part of it is going to be spent finishing the recuperation process from this illness. There will also be cleaning, crocheting and hopefully calmness. I need to do some prep for next month, but I am free baby!
Little Guy and I are going to continue to work on the potty thing. He's still balking at the potty, He wants to do what he wants to do and doesn't want to take a break to sit on the potty. It's turning into a major headache but I cannot give in. We've relegated diapers to sleep-time. And, unfortunately, I've learned that sleep time cannot include rest-time in the front room because he'll take advantage of it.
However, this weekend we have a birthday party to attend and I am rapidly realizing that Easter is approaching and we have gotten NOTHING for Little Guy. This needs to change.
Another month down and now I have a week off. This break is definitely needed and I will be taking advantage of it. Part of it is going to be spent finishing the recuperation process from this illness. There will also be cleaning, crocheting and hopefully calmness. I need to do some prep for next month, but I am free baby!
Little Guy and I are going to continue to work on the potty thing. He's still balking at the potty, He wants to do what he wants to do and doesn't want to take a break to sit on the potty. It's turning into a major headache but I cannot give in. We've relegated diapers to sleep-time. And, unfortunately, I've learned that sleep time cannot include rest-time in the front room because he'll take advantage of it.
However, this weekend we have a birthday party to attend and I am rapidly realizing that Easter is approaching and we have gotten NOTHING for Little Guy. This needs to change.
Thursday, March 11, 2010
Potty Watch and Midterms
I'm taking advantage of the silence this morning to sit down and write this entry. Little Guy is still asleep and so my busy day hasn't started yet. I watched my Orange County Housewives reunion show and ate a bagel. I'm enjoying the silence so far.
Yesterday was full of screaming and wailing as I put the kibosh on fun times unless potty time was implemented. By the end of the day yesterday, I was more than ready to close the day with a seriously strong drink. I am realizing that my son is more than capable of holding his own line, even in the face of an upset mommy and daddy. However, because of that, I spent a lot of time with an angry, screaming, whining 4 year old who could not understand why mommy would not help him or give him what he wanted.
Tonight is the midterm night for this month's class and they have a paper due tonight as well. I am still scrambling to finish up the papers from the first week, and I have almost finished. However, a comment from a student threw me into a tizzy and now I am trying to decide how or even if to approach it with the students who were upset by it. Right now, I am leaning towards getting a feel for the emotions of the class today, a full 48 hours after "the incident" and seeing if it needs to be addressed or not.
In the meantime, I'll get back to grading. Ugh. And here's Little Guy... Time for another day of potty drama and cuteness!
Yesterday was full of screaming and wailing as I put the kibosh on fun times unless potty time was implemented. By the end of the day yesterday, I was more than ready to close the day with a seriously strong drink. I am realizing that my son is more than capable of holding his own line, even in the face of an upset mommy and daddy. However, because of that, I spent a lot of time with an angry, screaming, whining 4 year old who could not understand why mommy would not help him or give him what he wanted.
Tonight is the midterm night for this month's class and they have a paper due tonight as well. I am still scrambling to finish up the papers from the first week, and I have almost finished. However, a comment from a student threw me into a tizzy and now I am trying to decide how or even if to approach it with the students who were upset by it. Right now, I am leaning towards getting a feel for the emotions of the class today, a full 48 hours after "the incident" and seeing if it needs to be addressed or not.
In the meantime, I'll get back to grading. Ugh. And here's Little Guy... Time for another day of potty drama and cuteness!
Monday, March 8, 2010
Pre-K leanings
Little Guy and I have been frequenting the Starfall website. The child is reading like a maniac and having very little difficulty. Big Guy and I discussed the issues with the school systems in the area and have narrowed down the systems we will allow our son to attend. We've also discussed our concerns regarding socialization and extra-curriculars. Although, after watching the news, I am rapidly becoming convinced that the only way to ensure your child is well-rounded and can play in sports or have an instrument will be to homeschool them.
Three of the school systems in the area have been in the news recently due to financial troubles. I've made my position clear and we agree that there are two school systems that our son will not attend. We also narrowed down the systems we will let him attend. There's only one school system that I will truly feel comfortable letting Little Guy attend. There's one system that I will grudgingly let him attend.
Big Guy and I discussed some of the concerns with homeschooling, especially the socialization aspect, and discovered that we agree on everything. Most of our differences right now stem from the fact that we are placing importance on different aspects of schooling. My focus remains on education, Big Guy thinks that giving him access to a structured social life is important. However, we may have found a way to get around that while we live here. I'll keep you informed as we move along that path.
However, Little Guy is devouring the letters and books on Starfall and I am now looking for a similar website to let him practice math skills. I think we are good at learning numbers though since, with very little help, he can count up to 140. I do want to start practicing pattern recognition though, Suggestions?
Three of the school systems in the area have been in the news recently due to financial troubles. I've made my position clear and we agree that there are two school systems that our son will not attend. We also narrowed down the systems we will let him attend. There's only one school system that I will truly feel comfortable letting Little Guy attend. There's one system that I will grudgingly let him attend.
Big Guy and I discussed some of the concerns with homeschooling, especially the socialization aspect, and discovered that we agree on everything. Most of our differences right now stem from the fact that we are placing importance on different aspects of schooling. My focus remains on education, Big Guy thinks that giving him access to a structured social life is important. However, we may have found a way to get around that while we live here. I'll keep you informed as we move along that path.
However, Little Guy is devouring the letters and books on Starfall and I am now looking for a similar website to let him practice math skills. I think we are good at learning numbers though since, with very little help, he can count up to 140. I do want to start practicing pattern recognition though, Suggestions?
Tuesday, March 2, 2010
Another Month, another class
Class started last night and I am teaching Comp. II this month. I actually miss my Fundamentals class because they, at least, recognize they have a problem and need to be there. I have been faced with students in the upper level comp. classes who don't understand why they need to know how to write. There are times that attitude is very daunting for a professor. No one has yet said something like that to me this month, but the month only has just begun.
The biggest problem I had last night came in the last half hour of class when a number of students just got up and left. They decided the class was done, and therefore they left. This was while I was still lecturing. In response, I gave the remainder of class a homework assignment that the others will not be able to make up. I would like to know what prompts people to do that. Our classes are scheduled until 9:50 at night. If we get out early, so much the better, but if we don't then we don't
Honestly, though, that lack of caring and respect towards education is exactly why I am glad I teach at a college. In high school, you are required to care whether or not the students care. In college, I am there to teach the students who are there. If you show up and participate n my class, you'll get much more out of it. If you choose to show up and not participate or not show up at all... Well, that's your problem not mine. I give the students plenty of opportunities to pass and give them more help than I probably should, certainly more help than Big Guy feels I should give them. I do want them to pass though. I want them to succeed.
But, in the end, their choice whether to put forth the effort or not remains their choice. If they choose not to, I cannot help them. And that is the worst part of teaching. I can't make them stay, I can't make them participate, I can't make them do what they need to. All I can do is present the information and interact with those who are interested.
Despite that, for some reason I do love to teach. I love getting in front of people and discussing the finer points of books or grammar. I like teaching a subject I am truly passionate about, and honestly, how can you NOT love the English language or grammar. It's intricate and twisty because we stole so much from so many other languages.
Part of that has to do with the British Empire's desire to control the entirety of the globe. But it also has to do with everyone wanting to take of the islands of Ireland and England. The Vikings and the French most notably donated quite a bit to the formation of the English language, but then the English went everywhere else on the crusades and, as a result, assimilated so much.
When you start explaining that to the students, they start to perk up and pay attention. It gets better when you explain how all literature is tied in to sex and they start really listening. All of a sudden, English becomes an interesting subject. And my goal in teaching is that the majority of my students end up leaving my class more interested in the subject than when they started. I think I'm doing OK.
The biggest problem I had last night came in the last half hour of class when a number of students just got up and left. They decided the class was done, and therefore they left. This was while I was still lecturing. In response, I gave the remainder of class a homework assignment that the others will not be able to make up. I would like to know what prompts people to do that. Our classes are scheduled until 9:50 at night. If we get out early, so much the better, but if we don't then we don't
Honestly, though, that lack of caring and respect towards education is exactly why I am glad I teach at a college. In high school, you are required to care whether or not the students care. In college, I am there to teach the students who are there. If you show up and participate n my class, you'll get much more out of it. If you choose to show up and not participate or not show up at all... Well, that's your problem not mine. I give the students plenty of opportunities to pass and give them more help than I probably should, certainly more help than Big Guy feels I should give them. I do want them to pass though. I want them to succeed.
But, in the end, their choice whether to put forth the effort or not remains their choice. If they choose not to, I cannot help them. And that is the worst part of teaching. I can't make them stay, I can't make them participate, I can't make them do what they need to. All I can do is present the information and interact with those who are interested.
Despite that, for some reason I do love to teach. I love getting in front of people and discussing the finer points of books or grammar. I like teaching a subject I am truly passionate about, and honestly, how can you NOT love the English language or grammar. It's intricate and twisty because we stole so much from so many other languages.
Part of that has to do with the British Empire's desire to control the entirety of the globe. But it also has to do with everyone wanting to take of the islands of Ireland and England. The Vikings and the French most notably donated quite a bit to the formation of the English language, but then the English went everywhere else on the crusades and, as a result, assimilated so much.
When you start explaining that to the students, they start to perk up and pay attention. It gets better when you explain how all literature is tied in to sex and they start really listening. All of a sudden, English becomes an interesting subject. And my goal in teaching is that the majority of my students end up leaving my class more interested in the subject than when they started. I think I'm doing OK.
Tuesday, February 23, 2010
OMG U need 2 care 2 teach
Big Guy and I take education rather seriously. Both of us have college degrees and recognize the necessity to have one in today's world. While we do struggle financially, I can only imagine how much harder it would be without the education to back us up. One of the things I have learned while teaching, however, is that there are schools that are not doing what kids need to prepare for the outside world.
A while ago, I was told by a neighbor that the local high school allows students to write papers in "text speak". Big Guy did not believe the story until I had it confirmed by a student in my class this month. When I asked for the name of the teacher, she looked at me blankly and asked: "Which ONE?" After that, Big Guy was much more amenable to the idea of homeschooling. We've narrowed down which districts we are willing to send Little Guy to school in and which districts are absolutely a no-go due to their lack of concern or ability regarding education.
I can understand being burned out. I'm sure we have all been at a point in our jobs where going for just one more day seems impossible. However, in a job where you have a direct impact on people, as in teaching, you need to force your way through it. Allowing children to write papers in text speak is nothing short of criminal and reeks of sheer indifference. When jobs are looking for workers that can communicate effectively, encouraging laziness in kids and their writing does no one a service.
This month, several of my students have exhibited frustration that no one called them on their writing ability, that no one corrected their writing in the English classes. Admittedly, in high school, you don't learn the writing structure. However, you do have to write papers and your teachers should care enough to correct your mistakes. By allowing the students to get away with using shortened speech is not doing your job as a teacher. It may be easier rather than hearing the complaints, it may be simpler rather than fighting with them, but being a good teacher, just like being a good parent, means doing the difficult things.
A while ago, I was told by a neighbor that the local high school allows students to write papers in "text speak". Big Guy did not believe the story until I had it confirmed by a student in my class this month. When I asked for the name of the teacher, she looked at me blankly and asked: "Which ONE?" After that, Big Guy was much more amenable to the idea of homeschooling. We've narrowed down which districts we are willing to send Little Guy to school in and which districts are absolutely a no-go due to their lack of concern or ability regarding education.
I can understand being burned out. I'm sure we have all been at a point in our jobs where going for just one more day seems impossible. However, in a job where you have a direct impact on people, as in teaching, you need to force your way through it. Allowing children to write papers in text speak is nothing short of criminal and reeks of sheer indifference. When jobs are looking for workers that can communicate effectively, encouraging laziness in kids and their writing does no one a service.
This month, several of my students have exhibited frustration that no one called them on their writing ability, that no one corrected their writing in the English classes. Admittedly, in high school, you don't learn the writing structure. However, you do have to write papers and your teachers should care enough to correct your mistakes. By allowing the students to get away with using shortened speech is not doing your job as a teacher. It may be easier rather than hearing the complaints, it may be simpler rather than fighting with them, but being a good teacher, just like being a good parent, means doing the difficult things.
Thursday, January 28, 2010
End of Class Obama Love
Some months I feel really on top of the ball, like I've not only conquered the world but tied it all up with a neat, little bow. Other months, I'm glad to see the end of it and if I never have a month like it again, it will be too soon. Then, there are the months that are just blah. They aren't spectacular, but they aren't horrible either. They drag on and close with both myself and the students wiping their brows and sighing in relief. I think this month was close to the last category, not spectacular, not horrible and done.
We watched the State of the Union last night, and, as befits an Obama Fangirl like myself, the man made me give happy, girly sighs when he smilingly threatened the Repubs and promised to end Don't Ask, Don't Tell. Big Guy grumped through it because he hates politics. What else can I expect from a British national though; it's inherent in his blood to hate American politics since we ruined perfectly good tea. In all seriousness, the man said thought he was done with politics once the election was over. There's a part of me that looks at him and says: "Really? And you've been married to me for six years? REALLY?" Little Guy saw Obama, said his name, and then went and played with his cars. Apparently just seeing the President was enough politics for his night.
However, my ADD kicked into gear once the speech started and I got my grading done but completely spaced on the laundry that I needed to get done. Big Guy's job gave him some money to supplement his wardrobe with nicer clothes. As irritated as I am with the way they have treated my husband, at least they gave him money to get some better clothes. I threw the new clothes in the washing machine after the speech and tossed them in the dryer before bed in the hopes that they would smell home-like and be soft and comfortable for Big Guy's day at work. I am not sure the man realizes how much I love him.
Speaking of love, I also got his gifts for Valentine's Day and his birthday next month, though I recognize and accept that they won't hold a candle to my birthday gift from him, The Bioshock 2 Special Edition set. Even typing those words makes me woozy with anticipation. I suspect we'll be going to get it as soon as possible (I'm pulling for waiting in line at Midnight to get m copy). It almost makes turning 31 worth it.
Seriously, if you don't own Bioshock, GET IT. I cannot recommend this video game highly enough, particularly for people who enjoy books like: 1984 or Brave New World. Go, buy it, and know the love that is Rapture.
Tuesday, January 26, 2010
He's not smart after all - How I've ruined my son
The snow has restarted in earnest around here. Leaving class last night, it appeared as the the wind and snow was conspiring to make a blizzard. Coming home, I could see the little whirling snow rivers created by our passage highlighted by the headlights of the car behind us. This is the kind of weather I can support. Of course, the fact that we regularly get weather like this makes me look askance at those southern folk. I guess when you don't get weather, it's hard to know what to do when you get it.
Little Guy and I were working on his letters and numbers yesterday, and I praised him to the heavens, just like any other parent. Then I read an interesting article (Don't Call My Kid Smart) that has me rethinking how I approach this. Jeff Weinstock writes that we shouldn't call our kids "smart". By labeling them as "smart" and attributing their success to natural talent, we set them up for failure and, even worse, we set them up not to try.
I can see some of this emerging now. I have called Little Guy smart ever since he started exhibiting advanced tendencies. He can count to 100, how smart he must be. He can read some of the simpler books, he is so smart. But getting him to practice, getting him to do the stuff he's NOT good at... Then he balks and doesn't want to try. Why? Because it's not easy for him and he already recognizes that he is "smart" and therefore things will come to him without having to work at it.
As we all know, though, life does not favor the easy route. If you want something, you have to work for it. This is true in all things: school, work, and even relationships. This puts me in an awkward place though. He is smart and I know it. He does have a high level of innate intelligence and things will come easier for him than they will for others. He is fortunate to have that ability. But, that doesn't mean there isn't a certain level of effort he must put forth to succeed.
But, how should I praise him now? Telling a 4 year old: "Great effort!" or "What a nice try!" just doesn't seem right. Those are the phrases that you give to kids who really do mean well, but just can't quite reach that bar. Those are lines that just seem coated with an undertone of pity that you feed to kids to ensure their self-esteem isn't too damaged by failure. And by avoiding the use of the word "smart", are we in danger of hurting our kids' self-esteem by not acknowledging their intelligence? No one warned me that being a parent was so dangerous. Are we all destined to ruin our children either by over-inflating their egos or destroying their self-esteem?
After discussing the article with Big Guy last night, he's of the opinion that I read too much and worry too much. He says that Little Guy will likely survive the fact that I call him smart and be the better for it. He's got a point and was in a position to know. Back when we first dated, he did audits for CPS and it truly upset him at what some of those poor children went through. And, to a certain extent, he's right. At the same time, I do need to find ways to praise and encourage Little Guy for the work he does.
In more amusing news, I finally found my keys while I was at school last night. They've been missing since before Christmas and I was really getting worried that I had done something horrible with them or maybe even left them someplace. I found them in my purse. Yeah, I know, I know.
Watching Jimmy Fallon last night, I realized that Little Guy's hair style is catching on. Michael Cera has the same exact hairstyle. I can now pass it off as intentional. I would like to point out that my son had that hairstyle long before Michael Cera did though. That's my boy, always on the cutting edge of fashion. And he's super smart to boot.
Dammit, he'll never recover from having me as a mother!
Little Guy and I were working on his letters and numbers yesterday, and I praised him to the heavens, just like any other parent. Then I read an interesting article (Don't Call My Kid Smart) that has me rethinking how I approach this. Jeff Weinstock writes that we shouldn't call our kids "smart". By labeling them as "smart" and attributing their success to natural talent, we set them up for failure and, even worse, we set them up not to try.
I can see some of this emerging now. I have called Little Guy smart ever since he started exhibiting advanced tendencies. He can count to 100, how smart he must be. He can read some of the simpler books, he is so smart. But getting him to practice, getting him to do the stuff he's NOT good at... Then he balks and doesn't want to try. Why? Because it's not easy for him and he already recognizes that he is "smart" and therefore things will come to him without having to work at it.
As we all know, though, life does not favor the easy route. If you want something, you have to work for it. This is true in all things: school, work, and even relationships. This puts me in an awkward place though. He is smart and I know it. He does have a high level of innate intelligence and things will come easier for him than they will for others. He is fortunate to have that ability. But, that doesn't mean there isn't a certain level of effort he must put forth to succeed.
But, how should I praise him now? Telling a 4 year old: "Great effort!" or "What a nice try!" just doesn't seem right. Those are the phrases that you give to kids who really do mean well, but just can't quite reach that bar. Those are lines that just seem coated with an undertone of pity that you feed to kids to ensure their self-esteem isn't too damaged by failure. And by avoiding the use of the word "smart", are we in danger of hurting our kids' self-esteem by not acknowledging their intelligence? No one warned me that being a parent was so dangerous. Are we all destined to ruin our children either by over-inflating their egos or destroying their self-esteem?
After discussing the article with Big Guy last night, he's of the opinion that I read too much and worry too much. He says that Little Guy will likely survive the fact that I call him smart and be the better for it. He's got a point and was in a position to know. Back when we first dated, he did audits for CPS and it truly upset him at what some of those poor children went through. And, to a certain extent, he's right. At the same time, I do need to find ways to praise and encourage Little Guy for the work he does.
In more amusing news, I finally found my keys while I was at school last night. They've been missing since before Christmas and I was really getting worried that I had done something horrible with them or maybe even left them someplace. I found them in my purse. Yeah, I know, I know.
Watching Jimmy Fallon last night, I realized that Little Guy's hair style is catching on. Michael Cera has the same exact hairstyle. I can now pass it off as intentional. I would like to point out that my son had that hairstyle long before Michael Cera did though. That's my boy, always on the cutting edge of fashion. And he's super smart to boot.
Dammit, he'll never recover from having me as a mother!
Friday, January 22, 2010
The school system's failures
I really do love teaching but there are times when I wonder why. This month, I've been teaching an English Fundamentals class. There are times when teaching this class totally eradicates my belief in the public school system.
In Fundamentals, I teach the very basics, like nouns, verbs, and how to create a complete sentence. As I go over these things, many of them talk about how they know they should have learned this in school. It isn't just their fault though. I can't help but wonder how our society has gotten to a point where we have let people escape from schooling with no concept of how to properly communication.
I hold the bureaucracy of the system to a large part of the fault. The other part of the fault should rest on the shoulders of the parents. Parents need to support and encourage their kids to do better. Parents see it as a free babysitting service to use while they are working. How can we get our kids to acheive more when the expectations given them are so low?
It seems to me that our school system has faltered. Teachers should not be forced to socially promote students who haven't learned the material. They are forced to teach to the lowest common denominator and to teach to tests that ONLY hold the students back In Indiana, schools are required to have a certain percentage of their students pass the ISTEP or risk losing funding. Because of this, a total of six weeks of school are devoted to the preparation and taking of this test. Reading between the lines, we spend a total of 240 school hours teaching kids stuff they've already learned. And we do this to take a test that supposedly measures how much they know.
Every day I deal with the failing of the school system, people who cannot construct a proper sentence or recognize what the subject of a sentence is. When did we abandon our children to an uncertain future? And why do we, as parents, continue to let the system fail us and our children?
In Fundamentals, I teach the very basics, like nouns, verbs, and how to create a complete sentence. As I go over these things, many of them talk about how they know they should have learned this in school. It isn't just their fault though. I can't help but wonder how our society has gotten to a point where we have let people escape from schooling with no concept of how to properly communication.
I hold the bureaucracy of the system to a large part of the fault. The other part of the fault should rest on the shoulders of the parents. Parents need to support and encourage their kids to do better. Parents see it as a free babysitting service to use while they are working. How can we get our kids to acheive more when the expectations given them are so low?
It seems to me that our school system has faltered. Teachers should not be forced to socially promote students who haven't learned the material. They are forced to teach to the lowest common denominator and to teach to tests that ONLY hold the students back In Indiana, schools are required to have a certain percentage of their students pass the ISTEP or risk losing funding. Because of this, a total of six weeks of school are devoted to the preparation and taking of this test. Reading between the lines, we spend a total of 240 school hours teaching kids stuff they've already learned. And we do this to take a test that supposedly measures how much they know.
Every day I deal with the failing of the school system, people who cannot construct a proper sentence or recognize what the subject of a sentence is. When did we abandon our children to an uncertain future? And why do we, as parents, continue to let the system fail us and our children?
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