tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1015645269607993268.post2888102375498499399..comments2023-06-15T10:30:47.121-05:00Comments on Stories with Sophie: A Rant: Let's Just Take 'Em Out and Shoot 'EmDeb Dayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00861392500601183208noreply@blogger.comBlogger5125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1015645269607993268.post-75671542349280900322011-09-23T12:41:28.625-05:002011-09-23T12:41:28.625-05:00It is difficult job making students understand tha...It is difficult job making students understand that you care for them. I remember when I was in the middle school I had the low readers (I had been recruited from first grade and thus should know about teaching reading to adolescent boys who were having difficulty reading). I would tell them after some of them would act up, that each day was new. Each day they would get a fresh start with me, so the day they decided to change their behavior I would never look back at what they had done previously. I can say it was somewhat successful. They knew I meant what I said, but they are so damaged by then that it takes a long time to build a trust...and then they are gone...off to the next teacher who may not have that philosophy. And even worse, may be ready for them to come through the door and nail them early on.<br />Teaching is a hard job, and it seems that at almost any grade, a teacher should be well versed in psychology and developmental stages in order to survive and provide what students need.<br />I went to a math workshop once where we were told to make sure we had math facts up all over the place. That our goal was not to trick them into getting the answers wrong, but to help them learn the facts. It was a simple but very deep and transferrable truth. We are here to teach, not to trick.Donna Smithhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13738281869266957726noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1015645269607993268.post-58812866237330627562011-09-21T20:54:03.126-05:002011-09-21T20:54:03.126-05:00Yes, Linda--to me it's exactly the same thing!...Yes, Linda--to me it's exactly the same thing! And I just need to speak up...Deb Dayhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00861392500601183208noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1015645269607993268.post-34023166900215393772011-09-21T20:37:27.539-05:002011-09-21T20:37:27.539-05:00Isn't this like punishing those schools that a...Isn't this like punishing those schools that aren't doing well by taking away their funding-those that probably need it most? There was a piece on PBS tonight that said almost 40% of our students are not graduating on time. It's a national tragedy, & I agree, they should be in school, not out. So sorry it gets so frustrating, especially the staff meetings.<br /><br />BTW-what is your tweet name?Linda Bhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14983144542632353870noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1015645269607993268.post-43892446740405569112011-09-21T19:18:12.811-05:002011-09-21T19:18:12.811-05:00I agree--the alternative school can be a great opt...I agree--the alternative school can be a great option for some kids (I am teaching speech and creative writing there) I just don't like it when I think some want to dump kids there because they don't want to deal with them any longer!Deb Dayhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00861392500601183208noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1015645269607993268.post-29261422507785867412011-09-21T18:48:42.768-05:002011-09-21T18:48:42.768-05:00I agree, but (and I hate that word) after spending...I agree, but (and I hate that word) after spending time teaching in an alternative school, sometimes that's where they can get the help that they really need so that you, and those teachers like you, can spend quality time with the non-disrupters in the class.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com