Where Have You Been?

It has been a long time since I last posted on my blog. Did I stop having opinions? No. Did public educational institutional barriers get better? No.  I did not feel like it was safe to write what I really thought online anymore. Part of me is really sad about that.  For a few years, I dealt with inequities, abuses, and barriers alone without much help or support. Funny thing, it did not help.  I thought if I kept my head down and avoided people who were NOT for kids, I would be able to help more kids. Wrong.  I was frustrated and alone, and the people in education who were NOT for kids seemed to grow. Wherever I went there, they were.  The lesson is to live in integrity. No matter what live in honesty and continue to fight for what is right. Harsh lesson but well learned.  So I am back telling my truth and the story of working in education settings with challenges and successes.

Magical Moments in Education- That Made Me Smile, Cry and Laugh

THE STORY CONTINUES...

The day I visited and observed Mr. Cunningham’s class, I wrote my classroom rules and procedures. I planned an engaging curriculum, rewards system and prepared myself for backlash of superimposing structure in a chaotic environment.

The teacher’s desk was a large drafting table. Mr. Cunningham sat behind it like a regal king in the classroom before took his naps. I got rid of it. I took down the over abundance of posters and visual stimulation to lighten the wall space with cooling clam colors. I hung homey pictures on the walls. Plants were used to add green to the room.

The learning disabled class was assigned a classroom aide. Her name was Ms. Baskovigch. The students often called her Ms. Baskobitch. She did not seem to notice. She lent the students money, which they never paid back, collected pens that did not work and picked her nose in class. 

Ms. Baskovich had a heart of gold and really loved her job. She was an elderly woman who never married. Since she was the unwed, it was her job to care for her mother. According to Ms. Baskovich, she did not enjoyed many things on her own. Ms. Baskovich’s days outside of school were spent taking care of her mother and taking direction from her married siblings. 

I felt for her and it was obvious that Ms. Baskovich was not very helpful in the classroom setting. One classroom session, I asked Ms. B. to write on the board as a dictated a sentence. I was not aware she could not spell. I did not ask her to write on the board again. Needless to say, I worked as best as I could with her strengths in the classroom. 

I would not accept any disrespect of Ms. B. and insisted the students call her Ms. B. in my presence. 

Later she complained that I was trying to change her name when she complained about me to the administration.

TO BE CONTINUED

Magical Moments in Teaching: That Make Me Smile, Cry and Laugh

Deep in my heart I am an educator; I love to teach. Recently, I was reflecting on why I have not finished my book about learning and developmental stages. Somewhere, I hit a writing block. I thought about my passions; I know I am a teacher geek. I love to see students make connections and I enjoy creating the vehicles or conduit of those connections. I have decided to write about my teaching for a while, those magical moments that made me smile, cry and laugh.  

LAUSD- Peary Middle School, Gardena California #1

When I was a new teacher in 1992, my first assignment was to take over midyear for a long-term sub that was horrible. Yes, horrible. His name was Mr. Cunningham. He described himself as a businessman yet here he was teaching Learning Disabled students in Los Angeles Unified School District (LAUSD). In conversation, Mr. Cunningham constantly self-promoted his business endeavors.

When I as hired to take his place I was told that the classroom was out of control. The students did not stay in their seats or the classroom. This classroom 69B often disturbed the surrounding classes. The Dean of Students was completely overwhelmed by constant streams of request from this particular classroom. It did not seem like an easy chore to come in and revamp an ongoing unstructured class.

 The first action I took was to observe the classroom in session. I needed to see the lay of the land. The students did know who I was or why I was in their classroom. I seated myself quietly in the back of the room. The classroom was decorated in as many posters as one room could hold! Visually, I was over simulated as I waited for class to start. (Note to self- overkill on the visual stimuli. More is not better) 

The classroom atmosphere was loud and boisterous. The students seemed nice enough but were not following any of the directions of the teacher or the classroom aide. No agenda of direction was on the board. Books and materials seem to be missing or scarce. Procedure seems to be lacking for classroom discussions, talking or appropriate language between peers and staff. Many jokes were told and no class work or teaching took place. Students openly discussed the waste of time.

At one point after lunch, Mr. Cunningham fell to sleep at the drafting table that served as his desk. It was truly a sad situation.

TO BE CONTINUED...

New Aged Kindergarten?

Remember your early school experiences in kindergarten? Those days were filled with learning how to use scissors, sharing and sitting on the carpet while you admired your new teacher. The old kindergarten is a distant memory compared to changes in early education today.

The standards and content for kindergarten are more rigorous and students cannot successfully perform in today’s typical kindergarten classroom without knowledge in language and content (colors, body parts, counting, etc.) ability in motor skills, self-care and social skills.

The state of Florida’s Board of Education increased state funded preschool programs because of the overwhelming number of students who were not prepared for kindergarten.

According to the Orlando Sentinel, pre-K providers in Florida are being scrutinized by the state on how they prepare students for school. Florida has developed a tool to review pre-K programs. Those programs that fail are deemed “low performing”. The Florida Department of Education is projecting 39% of pre-K programs will earn “low performing” marks in the up coming year.

The state of California has taken a different approach toward early classroom success. Recently, a law called the Kindergarten Readiness Act passed. This law will move the birthday cutoff date for new kindergartners from December to September.

This new kind of class is called Transitional Kindergarten. Educational theorists think that Transitional Kindergarten, will better prepare children to be successful.

The law also requires school districts to offer a new grade level for young children who have fall birthdays and have typically been too young to start kindergarten.

According to Mercury News.com “children with birthdays between Sept. 2 and Dec. 2 — those who would have been eligible for kindergarten under the old system — will be guaranteed a slot once the program is fully implemented in 2014.” Students will have an opportunity to attend school for two years to prepare for 1st grade.

Kindergarten changed and a variety of programs are available to help prepare your child to be successful. Check your state Department of Education website for changes in policy and programs of support.

First published on on Technorati as New Aged Kindergarten.

Teacher Do You Care- The Pete Chronicles

Even with a dedicated teacher the educational system has failed Pete. He has spent too much time alone. Lonely repetitive scripts are Pete’s default nowadays. Pete has retreated into himself for comfort and protection. The brief connections I have with Pete are followed by continued soothing scripts.



It takes a village to raise a child and I did not have a village to assist me with connecting to Pete. As my workload increased, I was pulled away from my engagement with Pete. When I finally saw him he was so withdrawn. I was unable to connect with him for any period of time.

Why does this happen? It is heartbreaking to watch Pete pulled away. Pete is not lost. Constant engagement will bring him back to longer and more meaningful interactions.



I will not give up even though it is very hard to feel helpless. Politically, Pete represents hundreds or even thousands of children in our educational system. I will always fight for these children who are over looked, misplaced and unengaged in learning and social interactions. This is a setback but it is not the end.

Teacher Do You Care- The Pete Chronicles

I had some great exchanges with Pete today! I used his script, “Rick ruins everything!” as a jumping off place to create a story. I made up a short story line then asked Pete to continue with more details. What a funny, hilarious story we created! Pete was laughing and producing ideas so quickly.



Next time I see him we will write the story or make a play so we can invite in his peers to participate. Pete was connecting and relating. I consider this to be education.

Teacher Do You Care- The Pete Chronicles

When a staff member who is assigned to my room cannot show up it creates a big hole. I am often told sorry I cannot come to your class someone else needs me more. When there is not enough staff I can usually handle it. Is it optimal no?

I did not have enough staff to cover the students that needed more assistance yesterday. In addition the administration had given me mandatory extra work to do which included hours of testing students. This meant I could not spend time with Pete. It was heartbreaking!



Pete did not understand why he was moved to a office with more supervision. He said he would be good. This was the heartbreak. I told him he was good; he was great. I tried to explain that I had so much work that I could not spend time with him.

I protested and stated the students would suffer with no avail.

This is how the system looses the good ones. The system wants the paper work done and unfortunately it is at the expense of student learning. This system is broke.