Scary

No words needed on my part. This story and Justice say it all.

My only comment is that right now classes are being stacked so that some teachers have more difficult kids to teach than others. One of the and low level classes is now being given only the lowest level classes in the school. Her classes are full of repeaters, kids who should be juniors and seniors but have no math credits (and not too many in other subject areas either.) The AP is aways harrassing her. The newbies have much better kids in all or most of their classes. When a newbie took over for a teacher going on sabbatical last year, the AP removed all the trouble makers from that class. Guess where they went?

While I agree that incompetent teachers should be removed, test scores are not the way to go.

Algebra Proficiency

Catherine Johnson posed the following question:

How can a parent determine whether his or her child has reached proficiency
in algebra 1 or 2?

I don't really have the answer to this but I do have a few criteria that I think are important to be able to do well in mathematics.

1. Understanding of signed numbers. Calculators are all right for a supplement, but nothing replaces knowledge.

2. Ability to solve all types of linear equations.

3. Factoring is a must. If the student can factor and solve a linear equation, then the student can solve quadratic equations and work with algebraic fractions.

4. Interpret a word problem. Changing the words to algebraic symbols is a must. Combine this with all the above and their is nothing that cannot be accomplished in mathematics.



I would be interested in hearing what others consider essential to algebra.

Friday Pictures

TDF has the Color Purple available. I've been wanting to see it for years. I couldn't understand how a story so sad could be made into a musical. It was absolutely fantastic--one of the best musicals I have ever seen. I recommend it to everyone.
Larry getting ready for his Saturday afternoon nap.
Husband's favorite dish--dumplings with meat sauce from our favorite, cheap Chinese place Mee's Too on 53rd and Ninth.
One of my favorite dishes--steamed vegetable dumplings (and yes, they are green.)
I keep trying to get a decent picture of this building. It looks so pretty all lit. So far, this is my best shot, but I will keep trying.
The walk and don't walk sign were lit together--very confusing.

And last, but not least, one of my AP calculus students working on her take-home test in the library. This kid loves math and was having fun doing the test. She is going to Queens College Time 2000 program to become a math teacher. The Math A book laying nearby is because she just finished tutoring a Math A student.

A Pleasant Surprise

We all thought the bathroom was never coming back. When we returned after summer break, it was closed for renovations. Rumor had it that a classroom was going to take its place. Kids have been given toilets to study in for years. The only thing different here is that the room was being renovated first. But, we all got a big surprise. New stalls, floors and walls. The only garbage can is by the exit. I wonder how long the floors will stay this clean.
New toilets but the toilet paper still does not roll easily.
New sinks, but the soap dispenser is empty. Someone left a bottle of some watery soap and no paper towel dispensers.
Someone must have gotten a gift they did not want. It does look pretty here.

We have a new woman's bathroom on the first floor. It is pretty and bright and really makes doing your business pleasurable. It opened yesterday and I got to be one of the first people to use it.

Now, if they could only do something to make my trailer look half as good.

Smile...You're On Candid Camera

Yesterday, there was a knock on the door during my period 4 AP class. I was shocked. No one ever comes out to the trailers. Upon opening the door I found my favorite (no sarcasm, she really is my favorite) F status person with five people. She told me they were teachers from Korea who wanted to see an AP calculus class. Principal Suit wanted to know if it was okay if they came in. Suit sent her because he knew I would never turn her away.

I was shocked. Suit never sends anyone to the trailers, let alone my class. I let them in, made them introduce themselves to the kids and told them they were in for a treat. This AP group is the "liveliest" AP group I have had in years.

The group walked to the back and I continued teaching. Actually, I was just going over some really difficult derivative problems requiring a calculator. The kids got into it and were really showing off. I hate anyone in my room and tried to ignore the visitors in the back. One of them whipped out a video camera and started filming everything in sight. I was too dumbstruck to say anything. The guy even video taped the class next door through the window.

When the class ended, I went to Ms. F Status and complained about the video taping. She agreed with me and promised to talk to Suit. I don't know what the outcome was. Later in the day, I was discussing this with the AP stat teacher and she was also upset about the recording. Of course my AP's only response was "You are always complaining." I do complain, but only when things like this happen.

My students and I don't want to end up on Korean U-Tube. I don't think it is even legal to tape kids without their parent's permission. I only wish I had thought to tell the guy to put the camera away. Hopefully Suit will not allow this again.

The Dinger

I never mention anyone by name on this blog, or use pictures of anyone I know, but I am going to make an exception for my friend Dinger, in honor of his 60th birthday which we all helped celebrate this weekend.

Dinger is physically 60 but mentally he is really just a big kid at heart, like we all are. He is warm and outgoing and loves family, friends and life itself. Everyone who knows the Dinger falls in love with him. When my mom died, and my dad was falling apart, Dinger (who only met him once before) knew how to bring a smile to his face.

Our group of friends came together in the math department of a big inner city high school. We had a miserable AP and some difficult kids and we bonded together to survive. But, we did more than survive. We grew into good teachers who gave and gave to our students. Dinger led the pack when it came to student-faculty basketball games and he portrayed a mean Diana Ross at our Faculty Frolics show. To this day, I cannot listen to "Stop, In the Name of Love" without seeing his face.

Dinger had a different way of doing things. Other teachers gave out pluses and checks. Dinger gave his classes B's. No one (including him) knew what they meant, but the kids loved them. Dinger and I team taught one year. I did the work and he sat in the back and worked on his new business. I did not care. Just being around him enriched my day.

All of us eventually left that first school. Some, like me, left to be full time mommies, for a while. Some transferred to become administrators and to get away from our miserable AP. Others left when the school was closed for reorganization. (In those days, teachers could actually get into other schools.) Dinger ended up in a Queens school, closer to home. I looked forward to Election Day Staff development when all Queens math teachers got together and we got to spend the day together. Dinger is a technophobe and no matter how much he tried, he could not get the hang of the graphing calculator. As a joke, a bunch of us wrote on the evaluation form how wonderful he was and how we wanted to go to a workshop run by him. The joke backfired when the Superintendant called his AP and he was asked what was going on. But, like always, Dinger took it in stride.

Dinger is retired from teaching, but not retired from life. He still tutors and he teaches a weekend regents review class. He is the social director of our group, calling and making plans for all of us to get together. He plays basketball and runs rings around the twenty year olds.I just got off the phone with him. We all know each other 38 years and our friendships are just as strong today as they ever were.

If every teacher could have a Dinger in their lives, the hardships of teaching would be a lot more bearable.

Baby It's Cold Outside

Today was really cold but not cold, enough to keep the phys ed teachers from bringing their classes outside. This was not the first time I have seen them out in this weather. I have even seen them out in the rain.

Most of the kids did not have sweatshirts or sweat pants so they went out in shorts and tees.

I met one of my students on her way out. This girl is prone to asthma and looked like she was freezing inside the building. I took off the sweater I was wearing and made her wear it. Her PE teacher got mad at her for this! Let me add, the teacher was wearing a hoodie and sweat pants.

I don't claim to know anything about teaching PE, but I do know when it is too cold to go out in summer attire. Today was one of those days. I don't understand why the parents aren't screaming about this lack of consideration for their children.

THREE

Calculus is by definition a hard substance and the study of calculus is also hard. My tests are even harder because they emphasize applications of knowledge, not just rote reiteration of problems that were taught in class. Studying is not enough to pass a test in my class. You really have to be able to use what you have been taught.

I know this is a difficult thing for kids to do. I don't expect them to do well on my exams at this point of the term. (All grades are curved so they don't have to worry about averages being ruined.) I do expect them to know certain things and I have no tolerance when they don't.

1. The use of the word IT is strictly forbidden. They must be specific in all their justifications. Yet, as I mark midterm exams, I find this word on more than one paper.

2. All answers must be expressed to a minimum of three decimal places. This is mentioned every single day. Yet, as I mark midterms, I am constantly taking off points for answered expressed as only a one or two place decimal.

These kids are bright kids. I know they understand THREE. I don't understand why they fight using three places for their answers. Maybe when they get the exams back, with the -1's for decimals and "ITs" they will learn to do what is required of them.

Good Week

Th lights of Broadway
Virgin Records--good place to browse while waiting for your show to start.
Fire department action outside the theater
Fire truck in front of Phantom.
My birthday cake at Cheese Cake Factory.

Some weeks are better than others. This week was one of them. Although I hate to go out on work nights, Wednesday I made an exception to celebrate my birthday. We saw Xanadu and had dinner at a great Thai restaurant on Ninth Ave. Xanadu was fun, nothing great, not worth full price but we definitely got our TDF ticket price worth. The fire trucks outside the theater did lend the evening some extra excitement. The only downer for the evening was the subway ride home. The signals were not working and we kept getting stuck between stations. Luckily Xanadu was only 90 minutes so we still got home pretty early.

Friday night my group of six got together to celebrate my birthday at the Cheese Cake Factory. While I won't share our pictures, here is my cake.

Everyone needs a week like this once in a while.

Birthright

My son is in Israel right now. Birthright is the organization that sponsors this trip. It is an all expense trip for Jewish young adults, ages 18 - 27 to travel to Israel. The purpose is to help them connect with their roots and discover a connection to an important part of their heritage.

I wanted him to take this trip while he was in college. He was not interested in it. My daughter took it and had a wonderful time. I'm glad he decided to make the trip now. It is the opportunity of a life time.

Smellington Would Love This Teacher

(Smellington from Billionaires for Education Reform)
Jan 10, 5:07 PM (ET)

OGDEN, Utah (AP) - Intimidated by snowy, slippery roads, a teacher cracked open a can of chili and slept in her classroom. Emma Clisante had a sleeping bag, pillow, toothbrush and fresh clothes Tuesday night at Ogden Preparatory Academy.

Teacher Sleeps in Classroom During Storm


"I'm from the Dominican Republic, and when I see snow on the roads, it scares me to death," Clisante said.

She read, surfed the Internet and caught up on other tasks. She turned off the lights when custodians left at 12:30 a.m. Wednesday.

"Every hour, I would wake up," Clisante said. "I locked the door from the inside and tried to hide myself under my desk."

Principal Kathy Thornburg was impressed.

"It warms my heart and shows the quality of educators we have at the school," Thornburg said.

McMansion Update

There was a car in the neighbor's driveway for a little while yesterday. There were also two cars in front of the house. We did not recognize two of the three cars. We thought they were back. But, no one stopped the drip in the driveway. We went out for the evening and when we came back the cars were gone and a light was on downstairs. The light was still on today. We peaked in when we drove by yesterday and did not see any furniture.

The mystery continues to grow.

Insane Asylum

I walked into the library today to do my C-6 assignment and found ten kids waiting for help. To complicate matters, Terence (aka assistant principal in charge of security) brought four more kids in for tutoring. It didn't seem to faze him that there was standing room only or that I am only one person. He did his duty so he could go and eat his lunch. The salad dressing and silverware he takes to go with his brought from home lunch were waiting for him.

When I got to the library, there were no chairs available. Mr. Comatose (the only male librarian was sitting at the front desk, staring out into space, as he usually does. Sometimes I steal that chair, but not today. I ended up going into the librarian's office and taking one of theirs. I'm sure they had a fit when they saw it missing, especially when I did not return it at the end of the period. I figured that was the least they could do to earn their salaries.

The libarians got upset when they saw so many kids asking for help and actually came over to try to organize things. Of course their organization involved lots of noise and screaming and asking me if I knew the kids. I told them that knowing them was not a requirement of tutoring and that I would go around and answer one question at a time. The kids wanted to know why there weren't more teachers in the libary, as midterms are this week and next. The librarians tried to answer, but I ignored the question and told everyone to get Suit so he could see what really goes on that period. I just ignored everything around and kept tutoring. The librarians got nervous thinking Suit might actually come up and see how awful the library was, so they managed to make some of the kids leave and I ended up with about 8. One girl said she has trouble getting help because it is always so crowded.

It's a good thing we have tutoring. So much gets done.

And The Password Is.....

My bank password never expires.

My Visa password never expires.

My AOL password never expires.

My DOE mail password expired.

Imagine, DOE mail is more important than any personal stuff I have. I guess there are plenty of hackers out there who can't wait to get their hands on Klein's latest memos.

Inspection

The trailer inspectors showed up today--three of them in fact. They walked around the trailer, noting and photographing all the irregularities that I have been posting about for years.


I made sure to point out the exposed electrical box, the windows that no longer open and the lack of fire bells and PA system. My trailer buddy pointed out his holes in the walls, his constantly running faucet and the rails falling off the ceiling. We both forgot about the leaky ceiling but luckily I ran into these guys in the cafeteria and told them about it. I also forgot to mention the fetid puddle in front. I hope they noticed it. There was no water in it today, but it was full of mud and old leaves.


The kids enjoyed my little tour of the classroom. I bet the administration wouldn't like it and I have a feeling, the custodian with these guys did not like it either. TOO BAD!!! NYC kids deserve to learn in a decent environment.

One Of The Reasons I Still Teach

I gave my Math B kids a test Friday that came exactly from the questions I gave them to work on over the winter break. Some kids did them, and did well on the exam. Too many of them didn't even bother looking at them. Oh well, their loss. I am sure some have given up already and I can't say I blame them. When you are lost September, October, November and December, it is impossible to get found in January.

One of my kids, N, did not show up for the test. N is usually a hard worker and although not a great math student, a passing student. I offered him a make-up today, provided he brings me a note tomorrow. He took the test. At the end of the period he was still working. I went over to see how he was doing and he said, "I'm sorry. My grandfather died over the weekend and I just could not concentrate and take a test yesterday. My parents don't even know I left school early. I didn't study for this test." I asked him why he even took it. I would have given him a makeup at another time. He said, "I don't want to make any excuses. I had time over the weekend to study. I should not be treated differently than anyone else."

I wanted to hug him but I didn't. I told him not to worry about the test. I would let him work on it when he felt better, or make up another test for him. I told him it is impossible to concentrate when so much stuff is going on around you. He'll be okay, he just has to learn that there is nothing wrong with mourning.

This is the third story I have heard since September about grandparents dying. It is the third time that the kid tried to carry on as if nothing bad had happened in their personal life. I feel blessed to work with such fine students who have respect for their education and their families. I don't understand the ones who won't work when I see these kids that do, in spite of all the hardships they face.

More NY Pictures

Tourists enjoying a shoe shine on 6th Ave and 46th St. It was a beautiful, warm day. I hope they gave this guy more than the $3.00 he was asking for. They looked like they could afford to pay more.
A depressing sign on 43rd St and 6th Ave.
And last but not least, the Rockefeller Center Christmas tree. It was lit, but the lights are hardly showing. Going green this year really dimmed the tree. It was still beautiful.

McMansion Intrique

The neighbors are still not around.

Newspapers are piling up outside.

And now there is a leak on the side of the house. Water is coming out of a pipe and icing up the driveway. If it continues, the cracked concrete will have more cracks in it from the expanding ice.

I wonder if the leak is just outside, or inside as well?

The Future (OF ATRs) According to Klein

I just copied this from Ednotes:

Klein to Go After ATR's Weingarten Says
A correspondent reports:

Randi's visit to the Queens Rubber room

Aside from a lot of useless prattle, she also indicated that Klein was going after ATR's as a form of featherbedding. She, as always, the unsuspecting, unknowing, innocent lawyer, does not seem too sure about her ability to uphold the union's ironclad policy of protecting ATRs. What else is new?

An ATR in my school came to the cafeteria today visibly upset about something. When pressed, she told us that she had been called down to the APO's office. It seems APs, deans and school aides have been complaining about her classroom management. It is interesting that this incident came about today, the day after the above story came out. This woman has been in the school since September and in all this time has only had two classes that she could not handle. The classes she could not handle are classes that give their regular teacher a hard time. Yesterday, she had the class from hell. One AP walked into the room and got the kids to settle down for a little while. Unfortunately, this pompous a** did not show his face until the last twenty minutes of the period and did not stay around for long.

We sat and tried to figure out who could have complained about her, aside from him. He gave her no indication that she was doing anything wrong. No one could believe a school aide would say anything and we are guessing that words were put into some aide's mouth. As for the dean, we have suspicions. There are quite a few young wannabes around.

Someone posted a comment asking me if I knew about the rubber room. My answer is yes. Did I know anyone who is or has been in one of those rooms? My answer to that is yes also. The charges against these people are top secret, sometimes they don't know themselves what these charges are. Teachers fear these rooms as they can languish in them for months. This woman and other ATRs fear for their futures. They fear ending up in these rooms and then losing their jobs. They are being put in impossible situations. They are given classes that are impossible to control and are given no work to do with them. There is nothing they can do. Klein wants them off the payroll and principals will do anything and everything necessary to oblige.

The Rubber Room

Watch The Rubber Room. It is an eye opener.

School Aide

School aide watching the door.
School aide shutting the door.

Kids sneaking out the door.

School aides might be the only people in the school system treated worse than teachers. I happened to walk into a rarely used stairway today and found this lady sitting by the door, wearing her coat, guarding the exit. She had no walkie-talkie and no way to call for help if she needed it. Her job was to guard the door and to keep outsiders from entering the building. Her area was extremely cold and from my point of view, dangerous. She said "I'm only a school aide" when I told her how awful I thought her job at the moment was.

School aides are an integral part of the school system. They have no clear cut job descriptions and as a result are forced to do the jobs like the one pictured above. No one deserves to be treated like this. This woman is much more than "only a school aide."

Trailer Pictures

The trailer soap dispenser. I guess Klein and Principal Suit are no longer worried about germs.
Trailer window shade. Too bad it is not big enough to cover the entire window.

Words

I always used to say to kids "You are smart, you can do this if you just try a little harder." I don't say this as often as I used to because I realize some kids are trying as hard as they can and they can't do what I am trying to get them to do. I wonder how it must feel to hear these words over and over again and know inside that you are doing your best, but your best isn't good enough. I still try to make my students feel smart. I will not let them know that I realize some of them will never succeed. I don't want to be the one to give up on them and I don't want them to give up on themselves. I just don't tell them any more that if they work harder, they will get it. I don't know what to say to some of these kids. I wish I did. It is not like I have never been faced with obstacles I could not overcome. I never learned to swim or ride a bike and don't think I will ever be able to. There is a part of my brain that will not allow it. I could not master physics, no matter how hard I tried and I will never be any good at applying makeup to my face. I don't want to hear the words "try harder." I've tried as hard as I can and have never been successful at certain things. I don't want to hear "You are a good athlete." I think I am a decent teacher, but no matter how much I try, no matter how many different approaches I use, how many hours I spend tutoring, I will never get some of these kids to succeed. I know "I can't" and hearing that "I could if I tried" only makes me feel worse. I would like to be able to teach kids the subjects they can do well in. I believe kids are good in different things and can succeed but that not everyone can do everything . I want to teach them the subjects that will help them believe in themselves. I want to teach them the subjects they need. I'm tired of teaching kids who don't understand that 1/2 and 2/4 are equivalent fractions how to reduce algebraic fractions.

Vacation

Boat to private island with wonderful Thai restaurant, beach and pool with a swim up bar.
Hobie cat--lots of fun sailing until we got stuck on a reef.
Private island. Huts in front hold beds to relax and hide from the sun on. Back is restaurant.

Santa's elves.
Santa arriving by speed boat.
Sandals in the sand.
View from my balcony.
Sunset cruise view.

The only white Christmas I dream of.

As far as I am concerned, the only real vacation is a vacation like the one I just came home from. An all-inclusive hotel is the ultimate luxury. You pay lots (too much) money up front but then you don't shell out another dime the entire trip. Once you get on the plane, paradise is yours.

An all-inclusive vacation comes with airport transfers so there is no need to worry about how you will get from one place to another. The airport even has a Sandal's lounge so you can start the party before you even get to the hotel.


Anyways, the weather was great, the room was beautiful, the beach and pool were magnificent, and the people are remarkable. We're getting ready to book next year's trip.

A belated Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to all.

An Extra Job

---------- British teacher doubles as hooker --------------

BIRMINGHAM, England - It has been revealed a British
teacher allegedly also runs an adult Web site and sells
herself as a prostitute. Diane Hutton, 50, of Birmingham
runs an explicit Internet site where she advertises herself
as "Seductive Selina," The Sun reported Monday. She
reportedly poses nude and in bras and thongs on her Web
site, the London newspaper said, and also invites clients
to call her cell phone to possibly set up a hotel date for
which she would charge $1,279 an hour. "I suppose I'll get
the sack when it comes out, but I don't see how it affects
my ability to teach kids," she said when confronted about
the after-hours business. "It's my private life and I keep
it completely separate from my teaching career." She said
she is a hooker "half for fun and half for the money," and
added she likes "to have a girlfriend-boyfriend relation-
ship with my clients with lots of kissing and cuddling
before sex." An inquiry has been launched into Hutton's
private after-class life.