Betty's Blog

It's because of you

Betty — Sat, 06 Feb 2010 00:26:19 GMT

An aide leaned over to me today and told me that a student was misbehaving because of me. She explained that the behavior was all for my benefit. Okay, I was a little irritated. She was letting me know that I was the problem. Was she just letting herself off the hook? Did the kid really decide to act out because I was there? I really don't think so. I think the aide was trying to let me know that she was more knowledgeable than me. How silly is that? Substituting is so not easy. At my age, I take everything with a very large grain of salt. I mean, really. The kid did not respond appropriately to the aide, so the aide chose to let me know that it was because of my being there. I mean, seriously? Really? What was her purpose? Okay, I just had to vent.

Teacher morale drops for real?

Betty — Fri, 05 Feb 2010 14:53:18 GMT

A February 4th newspaper story titled " Teacher morale scores decline " could have just been the title. No article needed. With pressure coming from every direction, it's difficult to get up in the morning with a spring in your step and a smile on your face. A few years back our district discontinued its yearly morale survey. We were all disappointed as it helped to have a way to communicate our concerns. Perhaps the powers that be no longer wanted to know about the stress being inflicted on its worker bees. The biggest stress for me was the lack of support from administrators. Leading by intimidation does not work. Coming in to evaluate a teacher with a scowling face and only pointing out the negative does not work. Yet, this seems to be the style of a lot of principals. One has to wonder where they went to "Principal School". Do they perform better when they are made to feel less than human? I kind of doubt it. Before some of you beat me up, let me assure you that for the most part, my students did very well. I am a self motivating kind of person and am always striving to do better. My lesson plans were constantly evaluated and changed . . . by me. Even now as a childbirth educator, I enjoy reading and studying to stay up with new research. I love my students and want to do what is best for them. Principals need to offer teachers support, words of encouragement, praise, offers of help, and an open door policy where teachers are not afraid to come and express their concerns. Evaluations should not be scary. Working together in a non threatening environment can improve test scores and the mental and physical health of everyone involved.

Teaching with my big boot

Betty — Tue, 02 Feb 2010 13:31:28 GMT

Wearing a support boot up to my knee gets a lot of comments. Everybody asks what happened. Yesterday I changed my story from the truth (turning my foot to the point that it is swollen so much that the toes look like they belong on another planet) to a snowboarding accident. Of course, no one believed me, but at least I didn't have to explain my boring story again and again. Last night I started a new childbirth series at the hospital and was surprised that not one of my students inquired about my foot. Then it occurred to me that they had just met me and might have thought that I always have a boot on my left leg. If I add a boot to the other foot and get a mask, I will look like a baseball catcher.:) That boot is certainly zapping my energy. Just lugging it around all day makes me tired. I try to be my normal, energetic self while teaching, but it isn't easy. It makes me think about some of the times I was evaluated as a teacher when I was not at my finest moment. Maybe I had a cold, a bad night's sleep, a headache, etc., and in comes the principal with a yellow note pad and a somber expression. "Spring into action, Betty! You are on display and must impress this person." That is what I always said in my mind. I wonder now if I ever said it out loud. My question is, "Why was that intimidating notepad always yellow, and why the somber expression?" Aren't we all in this together? Why did I have so many principals who seemed to enjoy making teachers squirm during evaluations? A smile and a bit of compassion go a long way.

At least it's not broken

Betty — Fri, 29 Jan 2010 18:06:56 GMT

I turned my foot yesterday as I was running to the car in the rain. Ouch! Give me Advil and some leather to bite. When I arrived at the elementary school to pick up my grandsons, I wondered if I would be able to walk. I was able to limp up to the Kindergarten line and then escort the boys to the car. I thought about going to the Fast ER last night, but it was raining, and a class of wine sounded like a better idea. Maybe I could just go to sleep, wake up, and my foot would be happy again. OMG! When I stepped on it this morning, the pain was incredible. After a trip to the Fast ER, I am relieved to learn that it is a sprain, not a break. I am now the proud owner of a walking boot that goes up to my neck and a sparkling pair of crutches. I must consider my look for tomorrow's classes at the hospital. Who wants one big boot as a teacher? At least I can use one crutch as a really big pointer. It will come in handy for the hospital tour.:) The crutches make me think about sixth graders. Usually the ones using the crutches aren't the ones that need them. There always seemed to be a bit of crutch envy going on, and eventually some kid would be barreling down the hall using the crutches and collide with a group of students. One of my friends used the expression, "If it's not broke, don't fix it" just hours before my mishap. At least it's not broken!

Seriously?

Betty — Wed, 20 Jan 2010 13:09:57 GMT

After TWO HOURS of encouraging :) my third grade grandson to do his homework, I have very little hair left. I believe that there is a smidgen left on the top of my head and maybe a little behind my ears. What on earth is happening here? Let's see. Vocabulary test, math test, required reading, and a word of the day crossword puzzle that was so small that I needed a magnifying glass to read the numbers. The math is just strange. After teaching sixth grade math for fifteen years, I felt pretty comfortable until I saw a subtraction problem that must be solved by adding up. Now, I don't know about anyone else, but isn't that just making it harder and more confusing? I just couldn't wrap my head around it. The weather was nice when we arrived home, and the boys wanted to play. By the time the homework was completed, it was cold, windy, and yucky outside. Plus, it was dinner time. We wonder why we have overweight, lethargic kids who don't want to play outside. Maybe it's because they have lost their enthusiasm.

Adults are kids too

Betty — Sat, 09 Jan 2010 14:01:34 GMT

This is a teaching weekend for me. Although I retired from teaching a few years ago, I am not really retired. I substitute in my local district and also teach childbirth classes at a hospital. Teaching adults is something I never thought I'd do. Just standing up at a faculty meeting used to make me sweat and quake in my shoes. I am surprised at myself that my life has taken some of the twists and turns that it has. I joke with my adult classes that one of the biggest differences is discipline. I never have to remind them to pay attention. Of course, they are very interested in the content. That helps a lot too. The part that I enjoy the most is the interaction. Some of the comments make us all stop and laugh. The anticipation of being new parents connects them, and I'm sure there are those who will become lifelong friends. I always come away from class laughing about something that was said or done. This part does remind me of teaching sixth grade. Also, there is usually something that goes wrong. Last Wednesday night when I was teaching a CPR class, the computer decided to go nuts. I'll talk about that in my next post.:)

Looking for interactive grammar sites

Betty — Fri, 08 Jan 2010 13:57:39 GMT

If anyone knows of any interactive grammar sites, please share them with me. I have googled a few but haven't found one that I really like. Maybe we could start a list of interactive learning sites for all subjects that we could share.:) Just make a comment, and I will make a list for a later post. Thanks guys!

A Starbucks kind of night

Betty — Mon, 04 Jan 2010 14:17:17 GMT

If I ever want to just stay awake at night and toss and turn, all I need to do is have one Starbucks coffee the day before. Notice I didn't say the night before. For me, one Starbucks turns me into the Energizer Bunny. I might as well get up and do some work. Teachers in our district have inservice today. The experience of going back for a second semester has mixed memories for me. Seeing friends and hearing about their holidays was great. Often they would have a new hair style or have some show and tell items of clothing. Recent pictures of family members accompanied by school provided donuts fill my thoughts. After the initial meet and greet, we settled in for boring meetings to remind us that there was still work to be done. Wind was removed from our sails. We had been allowed days to rest, so it was time to get back to analyzing those practice test results and coming up with strategies to implement as soon as those bright little cherubs showed their faces. The biggest memory of all was my yearning to be in my room to really get ready for my students. Recently, I heard some moms of middle schoolers complaining about early dismissal. They figured that since grades were entered daily online, there was nothing for the teachers to do at the end of a semester but drink coffee and eat donuts. I tried to explain but could tell that I was wasting my time. At least there is one way to get some extra working time. Just go to Starbucks.:)

2010 for real?

Betty — Thu, 31 Dec 2009 19:20:17 GMT

A number divisible by 2, 3, 5, and 6? It sounds like a good math problem for sixth graders. I am so lucky to have so many blogging friends. It's just so much fun. I keep waiting to see who is going to post their resolutions first, so I decided it would be me.:) My resolutions for 2010 are: Use bullets less, obviously not the real ones, but the ones you see here Blog more Organize everything Finish one book that's been in the works for over a year and really get started on another in progress Worry less Relax more Substitute more Get my iPod to work again Talk my son or one of my son-in-laws to install a DVD player for me Throw away stuff I don't use even though it seems important to me somehow Eat healthier Drink more water; ten drops a day just aren't cutting it Give up Coke (the drink) Spend more time with my family and friends Have a wonderful New Year and 2010. Relax, put your feet up, and just get cozy.

We have a white Christmas!

Betty — Fri, 25 Dec 2009 14:04:03 GMT

What a beautiful experience for Texas. We seldom get snow, and to wake up to a white Christmas is just beautiful. The birth of Jesus frequently gets overlooked with all of the hustle and bustle, especially with tough times all around us. I am not always fond of snow, but today it seems to be telling me to slow down, take time for God, and remember what is really important. Enjoy people, not things. We are all in this together. Merry Christmas to all of you.

Hairy debacle

Betty — Wed, 16 Dec 2009 17:17:46 GMT

I feel like I am back in the sixties. The Beatles are shocking us with their long, beautiful hair. That seems really silly now, especially with football players hurling themselves down the field with their braided locks flowing behind them. Thus, the article about a four year old braving the system by coming to school out of "hair dress code" seems a bit out of place. Taylor Pugh, 4 , may love his long hair, but Mesquite ISD officials do not. His brothers and best friend have short hair that meets the district's dress code. " height="185" alt="MONA REEDER/DMN" src="http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcontent/dws/img/v3/12-16-2009.n1a_16haircut.G402O4U7D.1.jpg" width="240" /> Taylor Pugh, 4 , may love his long hair, but Mesquite ISD officials do not. His brothers and best friend have short hair that meets the district's dress code. It's too long, Mesquite ISD administrators say, and Taylor can't attend class with other students until he gets a haircut. It doesn't matter that Taylor is only 4. Since early November, the pre-kindergartner has had lessons with a teacher's aide in the library at Floyd Elementary School, cut off from other students. Neither his parents, who refuse to cut his hair, nor the school district is happy about that, but no one knows when it is likely to end. I understand that schools need dress codes. However, when I taught middle school a few years back, teachers spent a good portion of every day making sure that the students abided by those codes. The moment a motivated administrator or teacher turned his or her back, the shirts came untucked, and the pants drooped lower. The reason I use the word motivated is because some of us simply grew tired of fighting a losing battle while losing precious class time to boot. If we did send students to the office, they simply returned with smirks on their faces. We then got to reteach them the information that they had missed. Who was being punished here? Long hair on guys has never bothered me. One of my adult male students recently had his hair pulled back in an Antonio Banderas style ponytail. No one seemed to care. He was attentive in class and asked meaningful questions. Personally, I think that students should be allowed to wear their hair any length that they want, as long as they keep it clean. If the hair is smelly and purple, that's another story!

Are they real or fake?

Betty — Fri, 11 Dec 2009 13:54:39 GMT

On Tuesday after school, my kindergarten grandson decided that a candy cane would sure taste good. We headed to CVS to purchase some good old fashioned candy canes. When we entered the store, he wanted me to ask someone where the candy canes were. He said we would save time. I assured him that they would be with the Christmas candy, so off we went. There were only about four boxes left, and none of them contained the traditional, red and white variety. There were three boxes of Lifesaver canes and one box of Spree canes. He examined them carefully and chose the Spree box. "Are they real or fake, B?" "Oh, they are real. Trust me." "You have to ask when you buy them, just to make sure." With as serious face as I could muster, I asked the teenager checking us out if the canes were real or fake. I will never forget the look on her face. She held the box up, looked at the candy canes in a strange way, and said, "Oh, they are real." I told her that in that case, we would take them. My grandson took her word for it and was happy. The clerk then asked him if he was baking cookies for Santa. When he said yes, she asked him what kind of cookies. He just looked at her. "Chocolate chip?" she asked. He again responded yes. As we were leaving the store, he looked at me and said, 'That girl is just weird, B." She may be weird, but she knew her candy canes.:)

Play it at the same time, brain

Betty — Thu, 10 Dec 2009 23:44:50 GMT

Teaching does come with its fair share of challenges. Sometimes I feel like I am tap dancing when teaching adults. Most adults listen attentively when they are paying for classes, so I have to think really fast. Questions are almost always higher level. Of course, there are a few students in my classes who occasionally text or check football scores while I am teaching. I am not surprised that people can keep up with more than one thing at a time, because even at my age, I find myself doing the same thing. Unless they are disturbing others in the group, I ignore them and treat them as, yes, adults. Maybe our brains are actually designed to have a bunch of ideas being processed simultaneously, and we are just now stretching our minds to take on more information and deal with it effectively. Who knows? Maybe the wiring of our brains is capable of way more than we are giving it to do. Recently, a couple of my adult students thought I came on way too strong with something that I said. I am wounded. I am hurt. It is hard to take. Yet, with teaching, there is always some criticism. I am such a softy that I always aim to please. If my body could physically bend over backwards, it would. There are some teachers that can get by with more than others. One of our fifth grade male teachers used to throw erasers at his students. The parents and students loved him. If I had done the same thing, I would have been thrown to the wolves. It is interesting that some personalities get by with more than others. Life is never easy, and if you take risks, you are, every now and then, going to feel the pain. Yet, the more I do, the more I want to do. I feel that life is coming at me from so many directions, and I don't want to miss a moment.

92 historical interviews on YouTube

Betty — Wed, 02 Dec 2009 17:10:15 GMT

Listening to voices from the past is a great way to add meaning to a history or literature lesson plan. I found this useful link to 92 historical interviews and was reminded of Mr. D, my favorite teacher from high school. He was amazing. We were required to read the front page of the newspaper every day and tested over the material when we came to class. Can you even imagine a teacher getting away with that in today's schools? Parents and students would be in a continual uproar for sure! Although a lot of students did complain back then, it didn't make any difference. (Oh, yeah. Times have really changed.) Mr. D was serious about his subject and unstoppable in his approach to teaching. He made history come alive by pretending to be characters from our history book. He added humor to his reenactments by strutting around the room and including personality traits that I'm sure some of the people didn't really have. Of course, he didn't have access to YouTube in the sixties. Even if he had, I'm not sure I would have preferred the real deal over him. However, not all of us can act, so it's nice to have choices.

What do you hear?

Betty — Sun, 29 Nov 2009 15:18:56 GMT

Last night my husband and I heard the strangest sound. At first we ignored it and went back to sleep. It sounded kind of like far away church bells. Thirty minutes later, it started in again. By this time, we were awake and determined to find out what this new sound was. I have one of those calming sound machines that helps me pretend that it is always raining. I love the rain, and my husband's snoring seems less obvious. After I turned off the rain, my first thought was that the noise had to be coming from my husband's cell phone. My ring tone is a recording of my kindergarten grandson sounding very much like a rooster, so I knew it couldn't be my phone. Long story short, the noise did come from a cell phone. On Thanksgiving Day my niece left her purse on my daughter's driveway. The purse with all of its contents is now at my house scheduled for a delivery today. We were waking up to the alarm on her phone, and since it was an unusual noise in our world, we gave it our full attention. It's amazing how we can tune our ears to really listen when we feel that it is necessary. Mr. R's post about November 27th being a National Day of Listening reminded me of the beauty of being a good listener. Too many times people are just waiting to jump into a conversation without really listening to what others are saying. It's also easy to put on filters when we are busy or interested in something else. The art of listening needs to make a comeback. Taking the time to hear what others are saying and asking them meaningful questions goes a long way. To me, listening is more than what we hear with our ears. Listening is connecting to others by caring.