Sick day - apparently, when a drink has warnings plastered all over it "DANGER - EGG WHITES!", I should heed that warning. And I'm sure that's all you want to know about that.
As I lie on my couch watching extremely bad afternoon television, a few things keep me from relaxing. First, one more episode of "The Real Housewives of Orange County" Marathon and I will be insane. Second, I am now so hopelessly behind that none of my students will ever get into Harvard, Stanford, St. Cloud State, or even All American University.
The pressure to crank through math curriculum is enormous. We need to cover every chapter to touch on the mile wide inch deep standards put out by the state. At the same time, we need to make sure the foundation is solid enough for every kid to be successful in Algebra next year in eighth grade (another state mandate). Now, everything I've read about math education tells us that we need to focus on fewer topics. Japan does easily HALF as many concepts per year. Every teacher I know that takes their time and really hits the key ideas deeply is successful. Yet, the message from the district is clear - get moving!
Maybe it's not a fever that I'm struggling with today. Maybe it's the magnifying glass of No Child Left Behind focusing the rays of unachievable accountability on me and I am getting cooked.
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5 comments:
Hey, Julie! I came to a realization today (one that you'd love, being a math teacher and all!) - W2R is good for our local economy! I actually went shopping after work today since I had time and wasn't dog tired, and lo and behold I ran into two colleagues. They actually had time to shop too! We all commented on how out of the ordinary it is to shop after work - what's wrong with this picture?
Okay, now back to the crazy days ahead - how long is it going to take to correct those geography assignments that are due tomorrow, the test that will be given tomorrow and the project that's due? Poor planning on my part. I'll be correcting every day this week out in the hall! Like Julie, I will follow W2R to the letter in support of what is right - I'll do the best I can. Those papers aren't going to go anywhere, are they?
Lisa Sorenson
Sorry you're not feeling well! Though honestly, watching the Real Housewives of Orange County will make one queasy even at the best of times.
Great Blog!!
It's creepy how cold blooded the district is being about this.
One of the things that is not being talked about is the OTHER levy that the district has that will expire in 2009. I think it's about $4 million. It was originally for the construction of Andover HS and Rum River Elem. It will be impossile to get it renewed. But if the district reduces our C-O-L increase by 1.5% for just one year, it solves their problem. Cold.
Fitz
Blaha - Well said, as usual.
Your final paragraph needs to be published and sent to legislators everywhere.
We teachers need more "sunscreen" to ward off NCLB. It's that or a nice, cold beverage with alcohol in it.
Thanks, Julie, for taking the time to write down what many of us "worker bees" in the AH district feel on a daily basis. Keep on writing...knowing that their are others out in the trenches with you who are much less eloquent at the keyboard. )))
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