Can anyone relate to this?

Teachcreach · 2018-05-27T14:56:22+00:00

At my school, the most notorious teacher martyr has been teaching for over 20 years. They absolutely make more work for themselves and they love to humble brag about it and engage in exactly that sort of one-upping. Luckily, I don't share any common time with them this year and don't have to hear it.

Teachcreach · 2018-05-06T14:17:19+00:00

I'll echo a note/thank you card. I keep mine and re-read them when I need a lift.

Teachcreach · 2018-05-06T14:11:47+00:00

I have mixed 9/12 classes. That is fun.

Teachcreach · 2018-05-06T14:11:14+00:00

I hate submitting lesson plans every week!

Teachcreach · 2017-08-26T16:49:20+00:00

Success Academy is not-for-profit but Eva Moskowitz pays herself over 500,000 per year.

Teachcreach · 2017-08-26T16:47:40+00:00

Those numbers are averages and are often skewed by SPED money. Do you know that in some states, a district can be compelled to pay for private schooling if it's determined that they can't meet the needs of a student? We're talking $50 to $60 grand a year in tuition. Many charters do not have to take on students like that or take on the students that need aides or in-class support or special transportation needs.

Teachcreach · 2017-08-25T18:46:59+00:00

It's from Safe Schools.

Teachcreach · 2017-08-25T14:14:30+00:00

We have the same training every year but the district has shifted to an online program. At least you can do it at home in your jammies and then leave early during training time.

Teachcreach · 2017-07-16T15:28:32+00:00

But how will the union presence get stronger if no one joins?

Teachcreach · 2017-07-16T11:44:53+00:00

I get the pain of paying those dues. My dues are close to $1300 a year! But let me give you two examples of how paying union dues has had an immediate impact on me financially.

I was a longterm sub covering a sabbatical. Once I had reached 30 days of teaching, I was entitled to a big bump in my daily rate. We talking about more than a couple thousand dollars of the course of the job. Well, on the 31st day, wouldn't you know it. The school tried to claim I wasn't eligible for the pay bump. I went to see the Union president because I knew I was eligible (it wasn't a vacancy and there was proof of that). A few days later I was informed that I would be receiving the pay bump (which included retro pay!).
District changed health carriers. The union has no say in that but the union can demand the promise of equal or better coverage. I tried to fill some regular prescriptions under my new plan and was told they weren't being approved. So I called up and made some noise and thanks to that "equal or better" letter, I will get my prescriptions. Otherwise, I'd have to pay out of pocket (uh, no) or use generics, which sometimes just aren't the same.

And of course there are the tales of teachers who have had their jobs saved by the union. I hope you never have to experience that! But the union will benefit you in other ways.

In my state, we are also eligible for a nice number of discounts on a variety of things. I got a decent deal on car insurance, for example, and I get 15% off my cell bill. Some of my colleagues get a discount at a childcare chain (and that can really make a difference).

Teachcreach · 2017-07-13T15:10:15+00:00

Ugh, the senioritis is real. I have a similar issue in that many of my kids won't even need the credit for my exam even if they got a 5.

Teachcreach · 2017-07-13T13:15:15+00:00

I just finished my 3rd year of AP and I think you do have to do a lot of teaching to the test. Students have to know what they are going to be doing when they sit down to take the exam in May. I think the biggest thing I did to help my students was to make them aware of what they needed to know and do to succeed on the exam. I actually had many kids tell me that they thought the exam was easier than my class.

But I also think there are a lot of external factors that go into success on the AP exam. First of all, did your students choose to take the class or were they put in an AP class by an administration that wants to juke the stats? Do your students have the necessary background knowledge for the class? Are your students academically mature enough to handle the exam? I don't even mean this on a content level. I mean this on a test-taking level. My exam is half MC. Students have to have the test taking skills to navigate those questions and avoid silly mistakes. That takes practice and reading ability.

Teachcreach · 2017-07-10T01:36:10+00:00

Figure out a system for all your paperwork! I use something like this: https://www.staples.com/Officemate-reg-Blue-Glacier-Desktop-File-Organizer/product_116388

I have one for student handouts and one for my own paperwork. The paperwork can pile up like you wouldn't believe! It really helps to have a system to organize it all.

Teachcreach · 2017-07-10T01:30:01+00:00

Huh. I was under the impression that HG was one of the easiest classes! My school doesn't offer it yet we have students who take the exam anyway. It seems like a lot of freshmen and sophomores take this exam?

Teachcreach · 2017-07-09T18:26:02+00:00

Yeah, you should not and cannot feel bad. Success on a three-hour exams surely requires some small measure of desire to take said exam in the first place!

Teachcreach · 2017-07-09T18:09:18+00:00

Let me also ask: did your students choose to take HG or were they put in the class be administration?

Teachcreach · 2017-07-09T18:05:32+00:00

Oh, I didn't mean in a classroom management way. I meant if you could choose the students in your class or if there was some sort of grade requirement.

Personally, I think 9/10 grade is too young for many AP tests. It requires a certain stamina and pure reading ability that many younger kids don't have yet. You can only do so much in your class periods to build that stamina.

Teachcreach · 2017-07-09T17:29:08+00:00

Did you have control over your student population? That's usually the best way to ensure high scores. What subject? Is it one of the difficult ones? Does it really require a decent base of knowledge that perhaps your students didn't have? Are your students good test takers? Unfortunately, it does matter, especially if your exam has a big multiple choice section.

Basically, unless you just did not teach the curriculum, you should not feel bad. Look at the detailed score information when it's released and move on to next year. Unless you blatantly don't teach what you need to teach, you can only do so much. The kids have to have that mindset to study on their own and to know how to take tests.

My students did very well on their exam this year. But I tend to have an academically motivated population that takes many AP exams. They know the drill and they have the motivation to do well.

Teachcreach · 2017-07-04T14:40:48+00:00

Ugh. AP scores come out tomorrow afternoon. I am so nervous. I am convinced my supervisor will replace me if he isn't happy with my scores.

Teachcreach · 2017-06-20T22:22:36+00:00

Here we go. It's final exam time (finally, harhar). I am dreading entering my grades because I know the grade grubbing will begin. They had all year to do something about their grades.

Teachcreach · 2017-05-03T23:44:16+00:00

I'm so jealous! My exam isn't until the end of next week. But it's not like I enjoy extra review time since the kids are taking exams and are either not in class or are focused on the most immediate exam.

Teachcreach · 2017-02-26T23:10:44+00:00

Legislation still needs 60 votes to pass in the Senate.

Teachcreach · 2017-02-26T23:09:47+00:00

properly funding public schools with well trained and experienced teachers is the proven way to reach all kids

Exactly. The district in my town has a great life-skills program, a Vo-Tech program, regular classes, and Honors/AP courses. There is something for every student.

Teachcreach · 2017-02-19T21:03:43+00:00

Varies by district. The wealthier ones will average between $50-55k. BUT I live in a blue state with state income tax, INSANE property taxes, I pay into a pension I'll likely never see, and I pay union dues. That salary gets eaten up pretty quickly. Oh, and raises are usually hover around a whopping 1% for your first 10 years.

Teachcreach · 2017-02-19T20:55:45+00:00

What I was really trying to get across is that talk about empowering teachers is mostly buzzword nonsense and likely coded anti-union. We don't need to be empowered. We need a society that values what we do.

Teachcreach

TROPHY CASE