TEACHER FORUM !

great thread to begin, anna. there certainly are many of us here! however, being a high school teacher on long island & in new jersey & this being a public forum, i do not feel comfortable discussing anything about students, fellow teachers, curriculum, or administration. wish i could because i have so much to say (& a few complaints now & then ) but its a bit risky. there have been problems with teachers posting personal stuff in the past to begin with, so i wouldn't want to push it.
rats, i was looking forward to this...

Regarding the inclusion question-- We are one of those schools that does everything half-ASS! So for that reason I cannot agree with it until MY school does it better. 1 example- we have a boy that is classified. He must have some sort of problem with Math. Anyway he freaked last year in Math class they had to clear all the other kids out of the room. The dean came in to talk to him and he threatened the dean so the principal came in and he kicked the principal. ( I won't say where!) That was last year, he did the same thing again this year in Math class (different teacher)! And then he belted a kid in his RR because he wanted to use the computer that the other kid was using. That part of inclusion upsets me. Another example; two weeks ago they decided to start a cooperative teaching model with the SPED teachers and the regular teachers, in the middle of the school year, with no training to the teachers, no notice to the kids nothing. They are calling it a model and will see how it goes!

As a FL teacher, I can honestly say that we had NO training in dealing with SPED in college because they were always exempt from us. Nor did the school ever train us for the same reason. But last year I was given a SPED class to teach Spanish (7kids), with no training. Luckily, my kids were wonderful and achieved so much together! The only down side was my TA- she behaved worse then my kids. I would be in the middle of teaching and she would ask me about my wedding plans, weekend, etc. I could not believe a grown woman would act like that!

My school could care less (which is sad to say) about their language. Their attitude in the dean's office lately is just be thankful it is not a gun. That is why these kids are starting to run my school. We have kids running around my school (7th & 8th grade only) on probation, selling drugs, part of the condom club, setting fires in the elementary school, having rummbles and threating teachers. The second week of school I had a kid in my class with a knife. His punishment 1 day in school suspension because the knife was only 1 7/8 inches and did not meet the 2 inches required from the state for expulsion!

Don't give up hope in finding a teaching job! It will come! This may sound stupid but my friend's dad is a principal and he throws out any resumees that he receives in a regular envelope. His theory is that you should care enough not to fold it and send it in the big yellow one!

SPEL--

I agree with you! I would never say a student's name. Even when I have something wonderful to say, like today I had a student create a paragraph that was so incredible it made my chairperson cry.

But I think it is ok to discuss things that go on in the school! I think that helps bring about change, understanding and people can learn from it.

I have never been one to hold back my opinions about the administration of my district!

like I stated earlier, I was teaching in a school that did NOT do inclusion very well.
Believe it or not Long Island is in the top 5 range for not having a good inclusion program.
Im ALL for it, depending on the individuals, but people need to be more educated in it.
It can work if done properly

Im NOT afraid to speak either, because I will fight tooth and nail for my special ed students.

Swags - I cant beleive that kid wasnt expelled because the knife wasnt 2 inches !!! thats disgusting !!! I bet it cuts as good as a 2inch knife!! Whoever makes these rules should be the one we test that knife on !

What type of paragraph did your student write ?

Since you mentioned that about resumes, I was just thinking. Is it odd, or would I be allowed, when the time came (maybe another year or more) for me to walk into schools and hand them my resume in person, whether or not theyre hiring ? Is that a security thing ? Of course I'd sign in and tell them why i'm there, but would they turn me away without an appointment or interview ? I just think being assertive sometimes helps ! (Assertive, not aggressive...)

I hope we keep this thread going, I want to pick your teacher brains !!!

Under the new SAVE legislation there are many guidelines for the school to follow. They give specific guidelines as to what is and is not a weapon. That knife was not 'long' enough to do major damage is what I was told. Though it measured 2 inches in width. The width does not matter. Very scary and sad!

The paragraph-- a little hard to explain. The sub told my kids that since they are in a Spanish class that all the work had to be answered in full sentence in Spanish. I totally understand her thinking, but, my kids only have been taking Spanish since Sept and do not have the language to always back up their reading comp. questions that the book gives. As a matter of fact the questions were in English. Anyway, the kids were scared so they tried to answer these questions in Spanish-- knowing that they probably couldn't. This one boy showed his higher level thinking and used the vocabulary that he did have to go 'around' the words that he did not know and use the ones that he did. Needless to say if a Native Speaker had read his paragraph they would have completely understood his answer. It was incredible!

As for dropping off the resume. I would say NO. Especially not to the school. They have to go to Central Administration. I also don't know about anyone else, but our secretaries in Central are control freaks and nasty. I would not recommend breaking protocol with them!--lol.

You are looking for an elementary position correct?

?
When you all student taught did you get health insurance? I thought I would be able to get it through the school but they say no. Maybe I ma jsut talking to the wrong people. Please let me know. Thanks

gab, I did not have health insurance. I was paying cobra from a previous career.


If there are elementary teachers out there, please tell what grade you teach. I currently sub k-6 and I could use some good games or fun activities!
Thank you!

Baseball is a fun game! If you want to know how to play it FM me-- It is really long

Gab- no health insurance. You are not an employee of the district so you will not get it from them, sorry.

I am a special education teacher (certified k-12). Does anyone know of any school districts that are looking for Special Ed teachers- elementary school with experience with children with Autism? I am desperately trying to find a new job.

Any help is appreciated!

Has anyone recently taken the L.A.S.T Exam ?
How is it ?
I plan to take it in the Spring...

I took the LAST last year in May and it wasn't bad, just long. I'm taking the CST in elementary ed in April and I'm nervous, I heard it's a lot harder. Anyone have input??
Good luck Anna!