End Of The World



Wednesday afternoon, my algebra students were discussing the world's ending today.  One girl added that the bible said it would rain for seven days and seven nights before the destruction and although they weren't taking this seriously, they gasped as they looked outside at the pouring rain.

Being quick on my toes, I just said, "Don't worry.  The world will not be destroyed before you have a chance to take the regents.  Everyone in here will pass."  They laughed and got to work.

My Claim To Fame Illustrated



My bug.  One kid blamed it for his troubles on AP exam

Gotta Love My Calc Kids

New, on our facebook page.

Royalty



The princess sat on her throne, ignoring the children around her, comfortable in knowing that someone else was doing the work, someone she was supposed to be supervising.  Anyone else would be either written up, or spoken to about this obvious lack of involvement, but when you are royalty, you do as you please without fear of reprisal.

Someone Saw Him Coming

When this bottle hit the floor in my night class, I asked, "Why do you carry a glass bottle?"  The boy it belonged to said, "this is gourmet water and costs $4.00 a bottle."  I said, "No water is worth that much."  He responded by promising to bring me a bottle so I could see for myself.

He kept his promise.  Guess what?  It tastes no different than the water that comes from my tap.

 I'm going to reuse the bottle and and tell people about my gourmet water, NYC's finest!

AP Test Tomorrow

My kids are taking the AP test tomorrow.  I'm hoping for a good test but no matter what the results show, I am proud of them for the work they did this term.  They got shortchanged with class time this year (thanks Mr. Education Mayor) and one of my students pointed out that they would have been better off in the BC class where they would have had twice the class time but would have been responsible for only about a third more material.  Oh well, who knew how the year would turn out.

I know some of the kids didn't work as hard as they could have.  Senioritis is a debilitating disease.  Still, I know they are bright and will go on to do great things in their lives.  I am happy I got to be with them this year.  They are the shining light in this bleak year of teaching.

(Pictures above the the lucky charm one of my students brought home for the class from her trip to Ireland.)

Arrogance



I can't believe  their arrogance.

No Button Down Shirt Or Tie



The Military Ball is a big event and it is an honor to be invited.  Even my husband, who hates coming to school functions is disappointed when we don't get invited.  He doesn't even mind putting on a suit and tie for this fantastic event.  I couldn't believe my ears when  Mr. A told the girl in charge of invitations he wasn't going to attend because he didn't want to get dressed up.  Imagine, turning down this honor because you don't want to put on a tie and a clean shirt!  I couldn't believe he didn't even have the courtesy of saying he had a previous engagement or he couldn't find a babysitter. 

I hope the JROTC remembers this answer and gives this coveted invitation to someone else, someone who will appreciate it.

Happy Ending



It was obvious to me from the first day I met him that Alex was bored with his fourth term of Math A.  His answers and his interest was exceptional but his test grades left much to be desired.  I suggested Alex join the math team as it would give him an outlet for this undeveloped genius.  Both he and his mom agreed.  Mr. AP did not.  He did not want to "waste a seat" on a child who had only completed Math A and refused to let him in the class.  Not one to be stopped easily, I went to the person in charge of the team, told her all about him and she added him to the class.  Although his math was not up to the level of many of the other students, he did well and thrived in the environment this class provided.

Alex left Packemin and went on to Binghamton University. His mom just sent me the announcement of his graduation from Binghamton University's Engineering School.  I am sure other kids got passed over because someone decided they were not good enough.  I wonder how many kids have had the course of their lives altered by a callous decision. 

Evil Chihuahua

Sorry, you had to start the week without weekend picture.

Caring



At our last faculty conference, we were each asked to discuss our educational philosophy.  I was too tired to give it much thought then, especially since I had never cared much for educational theory, I had no answers remotely ready.  But, I've been giving this question some thought, listening to people around me and it occurred to me that I have a one word educational philosophy, and that word is caring.  I care about my students for them, not for what their test grades mean to me.  I care that they learn and learn to love what they are learning.  I care about things they find difficult to understand and care about finding a way to help them through.  I care about them outside of the classroom.  I nag when I see them walking around in the winter without a proper coat.  I care enough to go to ball games and concerts  I care enough to notice when a child is upset and I let them know I know something is wrong.  Kids do better when teachers care.

(picture from International Festival May 13, 2011)

Saturday Morning Chaos



Maria and Allie came to school Saturday in pursuit of the algebra and trigonometry tutoring they had been hearing about all week.  When they arrived, they found no one to tutor them.  Something unavoidable came up and the teacher scheduled to work did not make it in.  Maria and Allie wandered around the building for a few hours.  Their attempt to get the promised metro card which would have paid for their transportation that day was also met with defeat.  They weren't on the list, hence they were ineligible for this little perk.  (Both girls are excellent, hard working students and really wanted the extra help.)

Tom came to school looking for help with geometry.  An admin, in school on her day off, dashed around the building, trying to find out if any tutoring was going on in that subject.

The federal government is paying $2800 a child to provide this sham of a program.  Several teachers were working rooms full of kids.  No one knows what the private contractors paid to administer the program were doing.
I wouldn't mind paying taxes to support programs like these if they benefited all kids.  Something needs to be done to cut the crap and end the chaos.

Happy No One Listened

I didn't want a retirement party.  I was adamant.  I refused to discuss it with anyone.  In case anyone has any doubt about me, I can be quite stubborn. Besides, I figured except for the kids, no one will even miss me when I am gone.

My friends were just as adamant and were determined to give me a celebration.  Last night I thought I was going out to dinner with a few friends.  For once, I had even made the call and all the arrangements.  Imagine my surprise when I got to her house and the people closest to my heart appeared.  It didn't even register immediately that they were there for me.  I just assumed she invited more to dinner.

The speeches my friends made still have tears running down my eyes.  My good friend, J, the one who volunteered her house wrote the following, which I share, not to brag, but to pay tribute to the great friends I made at Packemin HS, people who boost my low self esteem and support me, people I know I will continue my friendship with for many years to come.



Rita

     Before I start Rita, your husband had nothing to do with this party.  He is completely innocent.

You were afraid to have a retirement party because no one would come.  Just the opposite everyone who was asked came. You have so many friends who love you as this turnout shows.

Let’s count your successes in life.

     l) You are married for over 30 years – to the same guy.  In this chaotic world that is a wonderful accomplishment.

     2)  You have two successful children.  I define successful children this way –independent and happy. Both fit these attributes.

        3)  You were wonderful daughter to your mother and are a fantastic help to your elderly father.                                                                                                                                      

         4) You are an unbelievable friend to so many people.  If it wasn’t for you, I would not be working at the college.  It is a job that keeps my mind going and stops me from spending money due to boredom.

          5) You were and are a fantastic teacher, despite what Suit and Mr. AP think..

You often said that you hate children.  When you were asked what you were doing on the following day your reply was “Oh the kids are coming to my house to study for the AP exam.”  I only wish all teachers hate kids that much.

  I’ll never forget one day after the ninth grade regents.  A student walked out of the regents exam, grabbed you, picked you up and said “You made me pass” That says a lot.

     Retirement is only a beginning of a new life.  You love teaching in the college now program and at night at the college.  This will continue. You will have more time to travel, visit your children, nag your husband, and travel.  You will have more time to go to Manhattan   buy fake pocketbooks and just walk around the city that you love so much. Everyone here wishes you a wonderful retirement.

The Truth

My friend Debbie, from etc, etc, etc, in Japan was having trouble explaining the problems NYC teachers have until she found the button above.  This sums it up perfectly!!

I Have The Best Friends In The World

Details tomorrow.  But I just had to post this tonight for any who read.

THANKS.  YOU MADE MY YEAR!

I Hope This Doesn't happen



I loved all three of my calculus classes this year.  It was a rough year.  The single period was a killer and quite a few of the kids didn't have the background to be in the class.  (They never took pre-calculus and were mid 80 students in trigonometry.)  They only got to take the class because it was the only option for a fourth year of math.  As far as I am concerned, it was a great decision for all of us.  As I've said before, and I will say again, doing well on the AP exam is great but it is not the end all.

It seems like a million years since I first met these kids in September and I made the decision to cut out the double period to create the extra class.  I started with kids who didn't like adding 2 + 3 without their calculators to kids who without batting an eye go from the ln (x - 2) = 0 to x = 3.  (Apologies to non math readers.) I started with kids who liked to memorize and reguritagate to kids who can think through a problem and arrive at an answer or, at the very least, follow another person's solution.  In other words, I watched these kids grow into mature, thinking college ready students.

Anyway, I am digressing from the reason I started this post.  This morning, at tutoring, a boy told me he overheard a conversation in the math office.  The teachers were saying they wanted the cut off grade for entry into the AP class next year to be a 95.  I hope and pray this is not going to happen.  Sure the class would be easier to teach if all the kids in it were scholars.  And, there definitely would be no need for the double period and Saturday tutoring.  But a 95?  That grade would have eliminated over 95% of the kids in the class!  Even a 90 would have cut off many of them.  Often, the strongest calculus students are the ones who struggle a little in the prerequisite courses.  This term, my best student would not be where he is now if this ridiculous standard was in place last year.

There will be students in my class who will not do well on Thursday's AP exam.  That does not matter.  Statistics aren't important.  What matters is that the kids took the challenge and kept going, even when the going got tough.  They might not win this one battle, but they are prepared for the next one.  Their minds have been opened and college will be easier.  I hope this boy heard wrong.  I hope the class will not be so restricted next year.  I hate the thought of future children being denied the opportunity these kids have had.

My Claim To Fame



Thank you to Sweet Girl for pointing this out, which you can find if you know my real name. 

(My excerpt is near the bottom.)

Science Fiction



Sam is a cutter.  His guidance counselor, his mom, phone calls, don't help.  Finally, I told him about the "chip".  The "chip" is a little tracking device, that with parental approval is implanted in the back of a student's neck.  Every teacher has access to the code and when Sam is not in class, they push a button which forces the head to twitch back and forth uncontrollably.  The twitching will only stop when Sam is in the same room as the detonator.  I asked Sam if he thought his mom would go for it and he said "probably" and looked a little nervous.  Today, before class, I talked to Sam about the "chip" again  and he assured me he wanted no part of it.

Sam has returned to class before so his improved attendance is not really a sign that my little science fiction story is working, but it was worth a chance.  Nothing else seemed to help.

It Wasn't Me



For once, I am not responsible for the shit hitting the fan. 

Maybe It Just Wanted To Learn Some Calculus



So I was daydreaming in class and I see this huge monster chillin' on the ceiling. I scream, "oh my god look!" and Mrs. POd doesn't hesitate for a second to take off her shoe and start swinging at it. Our hero! She deserves an award. That thing was ginormous.

(from our class facebook page)

(This was the biggest roach I have ever seen.  I tried climbing on a chair, but couldn't reach.  A tall boy volunteered to help, but when he got close, he got squeamish and ran away.  And, I finally got the round of applause I have been wanting for years.  Who cares if it wasn't for teaching!)

Deal With The Devil



I have great fantastic students in my college pre-calculus class.  They are motivated and hard working.  They also lack all the prerequisite skills needed to be in the class.  Oh, don't get me wrong.  the college has standards.  In order to get to pre-calculus, they must get at least a C in a college level algebra and trig class and they can't get to that one unless they pass the placement test or a remedial class and the exit exam that goes with it.  All of my students have done this.

In the past, I've taught the remedial and the algebra classes.  Both go so fast that anyone coming in knowing nothing simply cannot make it through.  Many take these several times before they succeed and then pass, knowing the bare minimum.  These classes are intended to reinforce and strengthen skills that should have been learned in high school.  Unfortunately, that is not the case and kids are coming to college knowing next to nothing.

I have been trying to get my algebra kids motivated and working hard for the upcoming regents.  One boy announced "My friend Dwayne passed and he is as dumb as they come."  The kids know they can pass even if they know nothing.  Most of the "Dwaynes" in my class will get through, and I worry about their future.  I worry about their survival in even the lowest level remedial class.  I feel like a hypocrite as I push and push and teach them some of the little tricks that will help them succeed.  I'm getting them closer to the diploma but I am preparing them for nothing in life.  My paycheck is coming from the devil who cares nothing about human lives and only about numbers and statistics.  My school is not to blame.  We have to pass them or we will be closed down, like many of the other high school around.  Bloomberg keeps patting himself on the back for the wonderful job he has done with education.  I hope the devil is around patting him too and waiting for his payback.  He has certainly earned it, giving Bloomberg the power to destroy so many lives.

$8,000,000

Spending $8,000,000 on an Acuity test that will predict whether students will pass a regents exam is a ridiculous expense, especially when the city has no money and is threatening the layoff of thousands of teachers.  Especially ridiculous is the results of this exam.  Teachers can see the percentage of questions students got correct, but there is no information as to which questions they got wrong and need more work on, something a teacher's exam does all the time.  What's the point?  Acuity exams are just another project to line the pockets of the already rich at the expense of the students of NYC.

Still Looking For A New Career

A woman actually asked me about buying the pictures of I took of her husband surfing Sunday.  Of course I am just going to give them to her but maybe,,,,my next career?

Put up the rest of surfer man's pictures on facebook, where he can easily get them.

A Beautiful Spring Day

A beautfiul day to use my new lens at the Queens Botanical Gardens.

A few more pictures here.  (These might be my best ever!)

And, a post from one of my favorite calculus girls.  She is on her way to California to compete in a national science fair.  Wish her luck and fun.

Top ten reasons why e is inferior to pi

10) e is less challenging to spell than pi.

9) e ~=2.718281828459045, which can be easily memorized to its billionth place,

whereas pi needs "skills" to be memorized.

8) The character for e is so cheap that it can be found on a keyboard. But

pi is special (it's under "special symbols" in word processor programs.)

7) Pi is the bigger piece of pie.

6) e has an easy limit definition and infinite series. The limit definition of

pi and the infinite series are much harder.

5) e you understand what it is even though you start learning it late when

you're in pre-calculus. But pi, even after five or six years it's still hard to

know what it really is.

4) People mistakenly confuse Euler's Number (e) with Euler's Constant (gamma).

There is no confusion with the one and only pi

3) e is named after a person, but pi stands for itself.

2) Pi is much shorter and easier to say than "Euler's Number".

1) To read pi, you don't have to know that Euler's name is really pronounced Oiler.

Right Decision?

The AP exam was on Wednesday, but we opted for the late administration this year so our kids won't take it until the 19th.  We need the extra time.  Going to single period cut our class time almost 40% .  Last Friday I finished the curriculum and believe me, these kids need review.  The things they knew in September and October are distant memories now.

I just looked at the free response questions on exam that was given.  (The multiple choice are not released.)  It would have been good for my kids.  I just printed the questions so we can go over them in class this week.  I'm praying the one they take will emphasize the same material and that I didn't make a mistake requesting the later date.

Giving My Support

I blew off the school play to go to varsity and junior varsity baseball games, a great decision as far as I am concerned.  (I managed to catch part of both games.)  I can't do it all and there were so many people at the play, I can guarantee no one noticed I wasn't there.

My first stop was Packemin.  Two of my AP kids are on the varsity team.  Both are great students and it was nice to see they are great athletes as well.  Then it was on to a nearby high school to watch one of my algebra kids play.  He was so happy to see me there.  I know he heard me cheering as he picked up his bat to swing.  I watched him get walked to first, steal second and third and then run home.  It would be an understatement to say he and I had a great relationship in class lately so it was nice to give him this extra support.  I will make a big deal about this game Monday.  I know his ego needs it.  As an added bonus, I got to talk to his mom and she explained the problems he was having with the meds that keep him focused and told me about the change she was making.  It is so great to work with caring, educated parents.

I know I am going to miss these little things when I give up teaching so I'm trying to pack in as many as I can now.  I want to keep the memory of the good stuff alive.

My New Lens

Wide Angle

 And great close-ups

The most perfect gift!

Don't Be Fooled

Pretty on the outside, this little chihuahua has a mean bark and a vicious bite.

Maybe I'll Try This

I love trucks and I love the beach.  Maybe my next career can be driving one on the beach, unless they are like the DOE and only hire the young.

Evaluating Teachers



A well liked substitute learns tons of interesting stuff about the teacher he is covering for.  He learns about the good teachers and the bad ones, the ones who like kids and the ones who hate them all.  He learns who the kids want to keep forever and who they wish would never come back.  He wonders why the administration does not see the same things the children see. The little darlings of the school are not such darlings after all.

The Corporate Whore



I recommend listening to last night's South Bronx podcast of Leonie Haimson and Matthew Chingos on class size.  Leonie is fantastic.  She had her facts and used them to push  for smaller classes, something she knows is necessary for the children everywhere, particularly children from the inner city.

Chingos let it be known loud and clear that smaller classes were not worth the money they cost.  He discounted success stories with smaller classes as anectdotes that mean nothing.  He had no answer for why private schools and suburban schools have smaller classes. 

So, it all comes down to money and the children of NYC are not worth the money it would take to educate them properly.  Children learning in a smaller group has been proven to be effective but he would rather take the money that could be used for this and put it somewhere else.  Perhaps Chingos should try living in a house made of cardboard.  This will be much more cost effective than the brick and steel structure he probably resides in.  If it doesn't hold up, he can always try something else.  And, he did manage to save a few bucks along the way.

Surrender

I told my algebra kids the exam would come entirely from the regents book and I half the exam would be problems we went over in class. I told them they could use the book on the exam. They still failed. I am ready to give up.

No Big Deal



I talked to Karina's history teacher at lunch and discovered she does as little (or even less) in his class than she does in mine.  I decided to try to talk to her about this today, to try to help.  As soon as I mentioned Mr. Lincoln's name, she came back with "I don't like him.  He's so annoying.  He gets on my nerves."  I then said, "Don't I do the same thing to you?"  "Yes", she answered, "but I like you."

Big deal, she likes me.  I fight with her to work every day.  I call her mother at least once a week and she has had her phone taken away countless times.  Heaven only knows if she will pass the regents or even learn any math this term.  I'm not making a difference in her life.  Liking me accomplishes nothing.

Calculus Rhapsody

Just got this one from a friend.  It might be my all time favorite youtube video, even better than I Will Derive

Facebook Conversation

I'm thrilled that they are studying and helping each other.  The AP test is May 19.

so you guys know how in our calculators POdbaby[what they call me--except with part of my real name instead of POd}  had us store those expressions for when you graph in the y= list thing. it's the derivative and double derivative? well yea. i accidentally deleted those and now i'm lost. can someone tell me what they were?! por favor.

4 hours ago ·  ·  · 

• • 
    

    DS  math 8, vars right y1, comma, x, comma, x, close parenthesis
    

    4 hours ago · 
  • KS  thank you so much :]
    

    4 hours ago · 
  • 
    

    KS  but it's giving me an error..
    

    3 hours ago · 
  • 
    

    DS  you have to put it in one of the other y's like a number you'll never use like y8 or something
    

    3 hours ago · 
  • 
    

    KS  I did
    

    3 hours ago · 
  • 
    

    JD  whats in your y1 ?
    

    3 hours ago · 
  • 
    

    KS  An expression. I used an equation to check to see if it worked and I gy an error. I tried it with two expressions
    

    3 hours ago · 
  • 
    

    KS  Expression* got* stupid itouch
    

    3 hours ago · 
  • 
    

    CL  Do you have what D  said? "nDeriv (Y1, X, X)"?
    

    37 minutes ago · 

KS oh there are two x's lolol. thank you !

16 hours ago · ·  1 person likes this

PTA President II

PTA President

Shame On You

Looking at pictures from the rally, I noticed something very unsettling.  I saw a preponderance of older teachers and a handful of young ones.  Many of the older teachers are retiring this year or in the very near future and still took the time to come, to show support and to fight for what is right.  The young ones, the ones  with careers ahead of them couldn't be bothered taking time away from their busy weekends.  Several used the excuse of being on early session, making hanging around until 4:00 PM a hardship.  (Most of the senior teachers around are on early session.)  Another was heard saying only the weak need protection.  I can't believe an educated individual has closed her eyes to what is happening, not only in New York City, but around the country.  Still others had the attitude of why bother, nothing ever changes.  I'm glad these people weren't around when I began teaching.  I'm not one to talk about the "good old days" but in those days, we stood up for ourselves.  We risked jail, job loss and suffered financial penalties when we went on strike in the late 60's and early 70's.  If it wasn't for teachers like us, these young teachers would not be making the money they are making today.

I heard one teacher complaining about everyone who voted for the 2005 contract, the one that gave up all our rights and he blamed the old timers, the ones near retirement who just saw dollar signs.  He is partially right about that but I know many senior teachers who voted no, unwilling to sell out for a few bucks.  I remember a whole group of young ones (he was part of this group) who didn't even know the contract was being voted on and didn't vote.

I hope all of you who didn't bother to show up enjoyed your afternoon naps, or your happy hours, or whatever else you do on a Friday afternoon that couldn't be postponed for an hour.  Don't come crying to me when it is your job on the line or when your class has 50 students in it.  I paid my dues and I will be home reaping the rewards of the work I did for over 35 years.

Teacher Appreciation

California father appreciates what teachers do.

Grace Meng