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All is Well in 607


It has been much too long since I have last written. Students have been on my mind consistently. The reaching out to me continues. I must give at least 20 hugs a day – only a small fraction of them to my students. Most students seek me out. My heart breaks when I see two of my students sitting in the office waiting to be suspended 10 days for fighting. (That makes four students out of one class.) Other teachers frequently ask if I am given attitude by particular students. I don’t. I question why I see the same kids over and over in in-school suspension. Clearly, it is not changing their behavior. We are spending so much time teaching how to take the EOG and structuring every aspect of their time at school that we are forgetting to teach them to problem solve. I begin to question if maybe it is time to delve into problem solving. An inquiry unit. Now, to come up with the question and the reading material to accompany it.

While I struggle with how to best teach problem solving, I have been curious about how my first observation went. I did my thing. No show for the principal. Just me being me. I thought the class went well, but I was curious as to what my principal would have to say about it. She began our post-conference by talking about my teaching style and how it is so very outside of the box. Refreshing for Benson Middle School. The next hour was spent going through the state teacher assessment rubric. Teachers are scored in several standards as Developing, Proficient, Accomplished, or Distinguished. I scored the majority of Accomplished and Distinguished. However, it also showed clearly the areas where I need improvement – keeping and using data to drive my teaching. If anyone asked, I know where each of my students are; however, I would have a hard time backing it up with data. My goal is to score Accomplished, or better yet, Distinguished, in the areas of data by the end of the year. I have two more observations to go. I know I can do it. And do it I will.

Leaving our conference, I talked to the principal about the uncertainty of where I will be next year. I was honest with her about my love of Benson – the school, the town, the people. And my love of my family in New Hampshire. I knew I was in the right place when she looked at me and said, “I was thinking about you over the weekend. I am not sure whether we have you only for this year or more. We will enjoy what you bring to us and leave it in God’s hands.”

The way this whole journey began…

Comments

  1. PamOctober 25, 2010 at 9:39 PM

    Well that all sounds good! Well done ... and what a great attitude from your principal about your future.

    ReplyDelete

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