Friday, May 8, 2009
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
skip to main |
skip to sidebar
Posts
Mrs. Wine's Wiki
Followers
Blog Archive
About Me
- SG Wine
- I am a mother of two beautiful little girls, and crazy wife to a devoted husband of nearly 11 years. We are a Christian family, who loves to spend time together doing just about anything. I am a grad student and public educator. Currently, I teach English 9, 10, Honors 10, and 11.
This week a really amazing thing happened. This has been my first year teaching an honors class, and for most of the year I have probably been one of the most hated teachers in the county! Both the students, and their parents, were not prepared for the challenge of an honors course and for most of the year bulked at the work load (which was substandard compared to other areas). Students and parents complained at writing assignments, arguing that multiple drafts for the revision process were not needed; however, as the year comes to a close and students are completing the final reflection section of their e-portfolios, many are saying that they can see great improvement in their own writing. The cherry on top? A parent dropped by to say thank you, and that she realized that it had been a difficult year with multiple complaints, but that the improvement she could see in her son's reading and writing ability were well worth the time spent in the class. Of course I held my composure, but inwardly I was ready to shed tears of joy.
ReplyDeleteI agree with your heading for this page. Last week we experienced a tragedy in our school. Three of our seniors were seriously hurt in a car accident. Two of the boys are in critical but stable condition and sadly one of the boys was fatally injured. It was a long week of grief and sadness as the young man passed last Monday evening. It was a real challenge to the regular everyday struggles in education. On the other hand was a bonding experience for the school as we came together to support and heal one another.
ReplyDeleteFacing the loss of a student during the school year is one of those teaching experiences that can only be learned through experience. It has created a sense of melancholy for the senior class as they are so close to graduation at this point in the year. We have 900 underclassmen to continue to teach, so come this Monday morning we need to push our shoulders back and return to the best sense of normalcy that we can find.
Best practice? Keep your chin up.
Hi Sheryl - I like that you gave us an "assignment" so we can directly respond - I'm going to steal that idea from you and create a post for my blog as well.
ReplyDeleteCongratulations on sticking to your principles and beliefs by not lowering your expectations and standards for your students and parents. I teach an advanced class for 7th graders with the idea behind it that the work is more challenging and the expectations for a quality work product are higher. While many students adhere to these guidelines, I too had a few parents who complained that the work was "too difficult" and that I was "too tough" on their child. Now, as the year closes, for teacher appreciation week, I received many letters from students thanking me for the growth and progress they have seen in their writing and analytical reading skills.
Best practice? Remembering that no one rises to low expectations.
Best wishes for the remainder of the year.
~Maria
Hi Sheryl,
ReplyDeleteTeching high school is tough, but the rewards are great. This year I came back to teaching after taking 16 years off to raise my family. I'm not sure if I'm getting older or the kids are changing, but it wasn't an easy transition. I kept focused and set high standards for all of my students. Some students dislike me for my high level of expectations, while others praise me for it. The best day this year was when of my students said, "You are a great teacher and are doing a good job. Some of the kids are giving you a hard time because you are making them work."
Best practice: Never lower your standards, make the students raise theirs.
Have a wonderful well earned and deserved summer!
Lora
ccharboneau,
ReplyDeleteI'm very sorry to hear of the loss at your school. My thoughs and prayers are with you as you return to work tomorrow. Losing a student is always a difficult time, I can't imagine the loss of more than one. Hang in there!
Maria & Lora,
ReplyDeleteI'd like to thank both of you for the encouraging words. I'm glad there are others out there who are holding the bar high and making the kids stretch their abilities to a new level. I hope you enjoy the rest of the school year...but who's counting, right? lol
Holding the bar high always has its critiques, and, unfortunately, that criticism comes from areas where you least expect it. Hang it there, Sheryl, know that what you do and what you expect will always have its nay-sayers. It's usually those who think you are doing an excellent job are the ones who never tell you. The critiques are ready to take aim and fire! As a good friend of mine once said, "No good deed goes unpunished!"
ReplyDeleteDr. Howe
Best practice: Enjoy your students.
ReplyDeleteOne of the great things about teaching students is their immaturity. That may sound crazy, but I take solace in the fact that they are learning how to be enlightened, functioning members of society (most of them at least). They make mistake and poor decisions, but as the adult, I get to show demonstrate the rewards of hard work and high expectations. I love when students have and "aha" (sorry Oprah) moment and really "get" something.
It is especially hard to get the students to work for you when the year is almost at its end. I am frustrated everyday by laziness that is right in your face. If I were a cursing woman... :)
ReplyDeleteI will miss my students this summer but teachers need that time off to regroup. I received a rhyme on one of my blogs and it goes like this:
Give me a soldier tired at the end of the march,
A player exhausted at the end of the game,
a teacher tired at the end of the year,
and I will show you a winning concern:)
I like that.
Hello all high school teachers! As we face the end of the year, how do you deal with the pressure of failing seniors? Thankfully, I do not have senior English classes this year; however, I do have a handfull of repeat juniors. Most of them are doing fine, but I have one that is really pushing the limits of my grace.
ReplyDeleteAugh, pushing the limits of your grace. I have found this week, with the end so near, that I am less able to put up with the major CRAP (please excuse the unprofessionalism) that certain students have been giving me all year. I have been getting in their face which is not at all like me on a regular basis. This job can be so tough and I just don't know how we do it sometimes. O.K., I feel better, I had to rant, sorry.
ReplyDeleteRuthie
Ruthie,
ReplyDeleteYour honesty in your last post was quite refreshing! I have been feeling the same way, especially with a particular senior and a group of whiny freshmen. I think ranting can be good for the soul from time to time. We are on the countdown in my county...only 16 more days with students and state testing is next week (Monday-Thursday). Thankfully, I am one of the few teachers who do not have to give the test this year. Maybe, just maybe, I can get caught up with grading!