Let us teach!

Had to tweet this--> "I think I'll take a couple of RTII's and wash it down with a shot of SWBAT before I lay down on my IOTs with my comfortable AYPs!"

Geez!! So unnerved!!!! Let us teach!! Human and financial resources are what we need, not more acronyms and buzz words!

SWBAT, IOT, IEP, RTII, CSAP, CR, CRAP, PSSA, AYP, RTTT

Sometimes 140 characters are just not enough!

Why didn't anyone tell me that SWBAT would give Susie Q. caring adults at home?

I sure wish I would've known that IOT was what it took to get Johnny A. to create that historical collage.

And for the love of apples, I sure in the heck wish I would have been privy to the fact that all it took was a couple of  RTIIs to get Shabookie to sit down for the 60 seconds it took for me to give directions!

I hate principals' meetings buzz words. I hate being told that I better phrase my objectives using the "SWBAT / IOT" format. I hate that fact that we have tight-wads majoring in the minor in and around the School District of Philadelphia, City Hall, Harrisburg and across the nation!

I'd tell some of these folks where they can take their buzz words, but I don't think the Lord would be happy with my suggested places. Therefore, I'll leave it to your imaginations what they can do with these acros and buzzies!

Stage a "Read In"

So, here's a John B. Kelly Elementary School room 105 tradition. It's an ELA tradition, but I didn't want the fact that I'm more of a content area teacher this year get in the way of a good tradition. Note: it gets better every year!

Why not?

I'm sitting here reading a section of a chapter in Stephanie Harvey and Anne Goudvis's Strategies that Work: Teaching Comprehension for Understanding and Engagement (2007). This particular section, in a nutshell, speaks of the "researcher's" workshop and as a part, the professional relationship of classroom teacher and librarian.

NOW I'm steamed!!! Not because of anything the authors wrote, but because I'm a teacher in the city of Philadelphia. I'm a public school teacher in the largest school district in Pennsylvania and among the largest 10 or so in the entire nation. I'm HEATED because of the ostentatious lack of interest, respect, foresight, and investment of MY and others' tax dollars into what could be a first rate school district.

Our public schools have the potential to be so much more than what they are. It's not for a lack of qualified staff. It's not for a lack of interested and competent teachers and paraprofessionals. It's not for a lack of the commitment of many well meaning neighborhood coalitions of groups, parents, and meaningful stakeholders!

It's because of the lack of true and dedicated public servants! Many sit in plush offices, with a full staff of workers spewing their bombastic rhetoric and vitriolic diatribes bemoaning the hard work of committed, selfless, hardworking, dedicated, competent, experienced, and WILLING teachers and school staff here in Philadelphia and around the nation!

Our public schools should be more than what they are! Why not have a librarian in every school every day? We have students come every day! Why not have a certified school nurse in every school every day? We have students come every day! Why not have a certified reading specialist, who is not following the roster of a prep teacher (sorry, specialist teacher) in every school every day? We have students come every day! Why not an art, music, and instrumental music teacher in every school every day? We have students come every day! Why not a gym teacher in every school every day? We have students come every day! Why not a first rate library either adjacent to or in addition to a first rate computer lab in every school with the staff to work it in every school every day? We have students come every day! Why not a foreign language teacher in every school every day? We have students come every day! Why not certified school counselors in every school every day? We have students come every day! Why not social workers, truancy officers, nutritionists, specialized nontraditional curriculum tracts like chess, robotics, dance, drama, voice, computer animation, gardening, home economics and more in every school every day? We have students come every day!

I'm sick of this nonsense! I'm sick of this bafoonery! You defund us then blame us! You want some of our paychecks back while holding us to higher standards! You're insane! You've sown to the wind and rest assure, you will reap the whirlwind!

The Watsons Go to Birmingham--1963

I sit here having just finished the last page of Christopher Paul Curtis's, The Watsons Go to Birmingham--1963. The first word to come to mind was "riveting".

I started it two days ago and sat for a few hours tonight and finished it off.

The first half of the book gives us the main character's, Kenny's, first person view of his family. Ten year old Kenny, lives with his father, mother, older brother, and younger sister. He takes us on a typical everyday journey of a traditional working class African-American family. Scenes are set at home, in school, and in the neighborhood. Dad works outside the home while mom holds down the fort inside the home.

Chapter titles are one-liners from within the chapter, capturing the chapter's essence as only a 10-year old can.

We see such themes as sibling rivalry, bullying, tested friendship, and the "blood is thicker" principle all at work. Furthermore, we see the rebellious oldest son, whose parents are at their wits end, set the stage for the second half of the book.

Thinking that some time away from the hustle, bustle, and unrighteous influences of Flint, Michigan, the Watson parents decide that Byron, the oldest son, needs to spend some time away, in Birmingham, in 1963. There, Grandma Sands welcomes everyone with open arms, reuniting with her daughter, Mrs. Watson and her family whom she hadn't seen in a decade.

The family stays for a few weeks before a tragic event in the city forces them to cut the trip short, change the plan for their oldest son, and cause another of their children to feel shame!

There were times I chuckled, out right laughed, frowned, sighed, and put paper under each line so that my eyes would not catch a glimpse at what would be forthcoming.

I would recommend this book for those in 6th grade and up. The book does contain some cursing and swearing. I'd just give parents a heads up before they read the book with their child. As a parent, I'd want that heads-up.

Mrs. Michelle Obama

Here's an excerpt from The White House's website (http://www.whitehouse.gov/administration/first-lady-michelle-obama)

"A product of Chicago public schools, Mrs. Obama studied sociology and African-American studies at Princeton University. After graduating from Harvard Law School in 1988, she joined the Chicago law firm Sidley & Austin, where she later met the man who would become the love of her life."

I just thought it was important to note that she was a product of Chicago's Public Schools.

Drake vs. Drake

As a Social Studies and Science teacher, I try my very best to make the content meaningful, challenging, and interesting! Today as I was teaching and as they were learning about early English pirates/sea dogs, we came across the name Drake.

Once we got to that slide, I flashed this picture on the smart board.

The girls in one of the classes, literally went ballistic, as if Mr. Drake himself was going to come through the screen. That picture was then followed by an "x" through it and the statement, "not that Drake, but this one..." Sir Francis Drake, Queen Elisabeth's top "dog" (literally, they were called sea dogs, for those who didn't know)

This "fluke" of the Drakes, while a small diversion, changed the pace a bit of a terse review of what the students themselves had actually presented to the class the week prior.

Make it fun!