...Said No Teacher, EVER!

Hilarious Video I found about things Teachers Would Never, Ever Say!

Teaching is only half the job

Another Education/Teacher Post.  Had this one on my education blog a few years ago.  I think it still holds true today.  

This has been a big debate recently. Basically, teachers are saying that we are not teaching as much anymore. We are spending less and less time in the classroom and more and more time at meetings and in-services.

This got me to thinking about the teaching profession. I never really thought about all the things I do in a school day. But now that I'm a mentor working with a new teacher and going to mentor meetings, etc. I have really been looking at my profession in a new light. I'm realizing how much there is to do that doesn't involve being in front of the class delivering instruction.

I utilize my "prep time" at school. I don't relax, work on a puzzle in the staff lounge, read the newspaper, work on this blog (Wouldn't risk it since the school probably tracks every website we visit). etc. No, I'm getting work done. I'm grading papers, in-putting grades into the computer, communicating or meeting with parents, filling out administrative paperwork, writing tests or quizzes, planning lessons, making accommodations for my  students, taking roll, completing Diversity paperwork, checking up on students who need some extra help, making copies, meeting with administrators, and myriad other tasks that don't directly involve my being in front of students.

Now, add to this list of "Things that need to be done" items such as in-services, learning team meetings, Curriculum meetings, faculty meetings, workshops, etc. What I've determined is that less than half of the job of being a teacher is actually teaching. Keep this in mind all wannabe teachers. It is important to know how to teach, but these days, there is a lot more involved in the profession than just teaching. You have to be able to multi-task and be multi-dimensional.

In Iowa, one out of every three new teachers get out of the profession within their first 5 years of teaching (According to the DOE). The main reason -- They complain "teaching isn't teaching." And unfortunately, it is true. As one of my esteemed colleagues said in the Teacher Lounge recently "Teaching is no longer part of the service industry, it is a business." I couldn't have said it better!!

100 Reasons to be a Teacher - A commentary

I received an email from Wendy G. in Arizona.  She sent me a link to a list of reasons why it is great to be a teacher.  You can view the list here.   I have a short commentary following her email.

Here email read as follows:

Hello Matt!

Given the  looming shortage of teachers, we put together a positive article for prospective teachers as well as those currently employed as teachers called: “100 Reasons To Be A Teacher.” 

If you wouldn’t mind, could you share our article with your readers?

Here's the post:

https://sites.google.com/site/tourojmaerkle/my-resume/100-reasons-to-be-a-teacher

Many thanks!

Wendy G.

I have to admit that with all of the negativity surrounding the teaching profession as of late, it is still a nice profession to be in.  I have enjoyed teaching and hope I can continue teaching for some years to come.  I obviously did not get into teaching for the $$$, but my reasons for teaching dealt with helping people.

Like all professions, it is not perfect.  We sometimes have to deal with parents who have unrealistic expectations or, even worse, parents who just don't care about their kids.  We sometimes have problems with administrators who see things one way, while the teachers see it another way.  School Boards, lazy students, etc. are other items that teachers sometimes clash with.

Luckily, for me anyway, the pros have so far outweighed the cons.  With my school making major budget cuts (possibly to include giving the pink slip to some teachers), education is facing a tough time.  Wendy Graham is correct in saying that there will be a shortage of teachers in the future.  With so many districts laying off teachers, I see many current teachers going back to school and getting a degree in another field, or switching jobs with their current degree.  Teachers we lose over the next few years will probably never return to the classroom.  Each year, there are fewer and fewer teaching graduates in many content areas.  A shortage is inevitable.  How we deal with the shortage in the coming years will be a true test to our nation's education system and will show our government's level of commitment to education.  Let's hope for the best!!!!!

Taking Cheating to the Next Level

A High School Teaching buddy of mine in Dallas, Texas sent me this pic (note: this is not the actual book and phone that he confiscated, but a pic he found similar to it online.  The school would not let him take a pic of it.)  He is an English Lit. teacher.  They were having an open book timed test and a student in the back kept flipping pages whenever he walked by.  He noticed the student would always flip towards the front of the book even though the test was over the 2nd half of the novel.  Finally, he asked the student to turn to page 200 and something, since that was what they were testing over.  The student refused.  He took the book and found this.  The student had been using his phone, typing in the questions and finding the answers online.  Pretty clever, but a big FAIL for getting caught.

Technology has taken cheating to a whole new level.  When I was in school, it was notes written on your shoe or your forearm...

Technology in Education?

For some reason, this educational article does not surprise me very much.  As a high school teacher, I have been seeing this for years.  I truly believe that technology in the classroom is not necessarily a good thing.  In fact, I've been saying it for years:

In nations with the highest-performing students, classrooms “contain very little tech wizardry,” writes Amanda Ripley on Slate Magazine. “Children sit at rows of desks, staring up at a teacher who stands in front of a well-worn chalkboard,” just like in U.S. classrooms in 1989 or 1959.

I think technology can be a good thing if used correctly.  Unfortunately, it is very rarely used correctly in the classroom.  Every year, I am seeing more and more research papers that are "copy - pasted" from the internet.  Wikipedia is fast becoming the number one research for high school students (probably college students too) and we all know how reliable Wikipedia can be.  There are websites out there that sell research papers, fictional stories, original poems, etc. to students if they have money. 

I think technology is actually dumbing down American Society.  It is an ugly and frightening trend.  I yearn for the good old days when you actually had to read several books and encyclopedias to get your information, then you actually had to write the info in your own words.  OH...for the good ol' days!

15 Resources for First Year Teachers

A teacher buddy sent this to me in an email and I felt obliged to post it for all of the First year teachers out there.  The sites actually are useful no matter how many years you have been teaching.

15 Resources for First Year Teachers

The first year of teaching can be a very rewarding experience, but it can also be overwhelming. Fortunately, there are a number of sites online that offer free resources and practical information for the novice teacher. Here are 15 sites to explore in your spare time.

First Year Teacher Program - The Reading Rockets First Year Teaching Program is a free online course for new K-3 teachers. The self-paced course includes ten modules that cover effective strategies and techniques for the classroom.

New Teacher Survival Guide - Scholastic provides a New Teacher Survival Guide to novice teachers who are looking for resources, tools, and tips for the classroom. The guide also offers a newsletter and a new teacher helpline.

ED.gov Survival Guide - The Department of Education Survival Guide for New Teachers offers tips on communicating and working with veteran teachers, parents, principals, and teacher educators. The guide also links to helpful resources around the web.

New Teacher Center - This national organization is dedicated to supporting new teachers and improving student learning. Site offering include news, stories, and information about upcoming education events.

Teachers Network - The Teachers Network site offers a special section just for new teachers. The section includes lesson plans, new teacher how-to's, and web mentors who can offer more help.

The Teacher's Corner - The Teacher's Corner is a good place for new teachers to find lesson plans, worksheets, teaching tips, and other teaching resources. The site also provides a forum to connect with other educators and a job board.

The Educator's Reference Desk - The Educator's Reference Desk offers a wide range of dependable resources, including 2,000+ lesson plans and 3,000+ links to educational information around the web.

Education World - Education World provides lesson plans, practical information for new teachers, regular columns, employment listings, principal profiles, a search engine for educational sites, and many other useful resources.

Lesson Plans and Teaching Strategies - Created by California State University-Northridge, this web page links to hundreds of tested lesson plans and articles on teaching strategies and classroom management.

Teachers.net - Teachers.net is a comprehensive teacher's resource. Site features include teacher chat boards and mail rings, lesson plans, classroom project ideas, articles from teachers around the world, and a job board.

TeacherTube - TeacherTube was created so that educators would have a place to share teacher videos, lesson plan videos, and other instructional materials. The site is a good place for new teachers to find teaching tips, classroom management strategies, and curriculum guidance.

Teacher Lingo - Teacher Lingo is an online community for educators who want to connect over the web. Community resources include lesson plans, a message board, and a place for teachers to share and publish blogs.

The Apple - This Monster site for teachers combines social networking with teacher's resources. New teachers can find lesson plans, sign up for a free newsletter, and chat with other teachers in The Apple forum.

TeachAde - TeachAde provides free articles, videos, lesson plans, and other teaching resources. The site also serves as a space for teachers to meet and network online.

Teachers First - The Teachers First site provides a long list of education-related professional associations and organizations that provide teacher resources and support.