Those who CAN... TEACH!

SUMMER IS FINALLY HERE! Woot.

But before you give me lip service about how teachers have such an easy job or too much vacation, let me give you a peek into the life of a typical contemporary No-Child-Left-Behind-compliant teacher.

Over the last two weeks... I woke up anywhere between 5 am and 6:15 am. I left school anywhere between 6:30 pm to 8:00 pm. After grabbing dinner or going grocery shopping, I returned home to continue to work. I went to bed between 1:00 am to 3:00 am. During that week, I also had to attend several meetings and two going-away parties.

I had a to-do list that was three pages long. Some of the most time-consuming projects were as follows: 1) finish calculating grades and GPAs for the end-of-the-year awards ceremony (and sign the certificates), 2) order classroom supplies for next year on a tight budget (see below), 3) fill out standards-based report cards and write comments on them, 4) finalize LitConn (reading tests/folders) and English Learner profile folders, 5) fill out and organize cumulative records/folders, 6) finish organizing and copying classroom yearbooks, 7) create/finalize an end-of-the-year iMovie/picture slideshow (it ended up being 16 minutes long), 8) burn 30 copies of the classroom DVD (after the first copy, each additional copy took about 5 min.), 9) begin to pack up my classroom and organize/inventory my bookshelves and cabinets, and 10) check-out of my classroom and acquire signatures from the principal, CSP, librarian, and secretary. Don't forget... I had kids in my classroom from 8:00 am until 3:00 pm... I am a teacher after all. Try keeping 30 living beings on task for 6-7 hours a day, 180 days a year.

Every week, teachers must complete lesson plans. They must be thorough, specific, labeled with standards, organized, and complete with ALL subjects and times (reading, math, language conventions, science, history, P.E., intervention/deployment for English Learners, low readers, and enrichment students, music/band, school events, and "extras" including art, Second Step (empathy, anger management, and problem solving training... since most children are not learning those skills at home), and anything else you are able to squeeze into the week without overfilling the little minds that you are working with. You must also be flexible and able to change these plans at a moments notice. Teachers must also make accommodations for the learning styles, behavior problems, and special education needs of their students. Teachers also have to schedule in time for "pull-outs" and extracurricular activities and sports events and pace themselves accordingly to teach ALL California State standards before the test in May. Easy, right? Perhaps it could be easier if you didn't have to work with someone who is very defiant/bitter or doesn't have the same philosophy of education or classroom management system as you do. My partner and I had to map out (and agree on) a curriculum map and daily schedule for next year. It took a whole day to complete.

But that's not all... teachers must prepare and gather all materials needed for EACH lesson they planned. They must find or create, and copy/collate/staple tests, quizzes, warm-ups, and worksheets that assess and reinforce the standards they have taught. They have to check, monitor, review, collect, and/or grade these assignments and record them in a grade book. Don't even ask me to tell you what happens when students don't complete homework, are absent, arrive late, or leave early. I had to chew out a parent for taking her children (who all received a perfect attendance award) home early on the last day of school. You see, this parent (early 30s... but recently remarried with a new child) brings her sons to school on time everyday... but takes them home early almost once a week. She is also the parent who brought her baby on our fieldtrip when she signed up to chaperone. She took them home early that day... and the day after they came back from the John's Incredible Pizza trip for students who earned perfect attendance. When I wanted to scream at her for being a bad role model for her kids, I had to calmly and politely tell her that "we are trying to teach students to be responsible" and "create routines that will help them be successful for their future." She didn't realize they were missing anything by leaving early. You would be amazed by all the excuses I get from parents to cover up their laziness and/or shortcomings.

In a perfect world, students would come into our classrooms without learning gaps. They would know all of their math facts. They would all speak perfect English and be able to write complete sentences. They would read at grade level and know how to respect others. They would also have supportive parents who checked their homework and provided POSITIVE feedback and encouragement at home. They would also be able to stay at one school during the whole school year without having to move around or transfer mid-year. They would also have parents who weren't fighting for their custody or trying to put them in the middle of the chaos that is called "divorce." Well, folks... this is the real world. People throughout education, parents, and leaders in our government are too busy pointing fingers at each other to realize that we ALL have to work TOGETHER to bridge the gaps and fill in the holes that are so obvious in the future generations of America.

Speaking of government leaders and administration, my biggest complaint is the lack of funding education receives (compare that to the money that lines their pockets). Not all schools are created equal and not all PTAs help with fundraising. Most of the "extra" things I have in my classroom were purchased out of my pocket or with gift cards received as Christmas or birthday gifts. As I mentioned earlier, I had to order next year's supplies for my incoming 30+ kids with $231.00. Yes... that is money for paper, pencils, pens, and any other materials you need for your classroom. I was given the same amount of money when I first started. Aside from inflation, can you imagine setting up a WHOLE classroom with a budget of $231??? I was only able to do it with A LOT of donations from a previous master teacher and items found at garage sales.

I am so excited that I do not have to type a weekly bulletin this week. In addition to weekly lesson plans, we are expected to communicate with parents (at least the ones who speak/read English) or have time to read school handouts in between their multiple jobs or long hours. I also have to update my classroom website frequently.

It is amazing to see the impact that parents CAN have when they are involved in their children's education. Most parent are M.I.A. by the time kids are in fifth grade (they are too embarrassed to have their parents help). But it also depends on the class you get. I had no parent helpers my first year. Two parent helpers last year. And one grandparent this year. Every once in a while I will have parents pop in to visit. Like the mom who came storming into the lunchroom to ask me about her son's missing homework. Or the lady who only comes for classroom parties and brings a ton of junk food, sugar, and toys for the kids (and then asks me how I can put up with them everyday because they are so hyper). Or the other mom who brings family members to the classroom parties and expects to eat or help herself to food BEFORE the kids. Or the mom who is fighting for custody of her daughter who often comes during lunchtime to spend quality time with her daughter and who, often, takes her daughter home early because she's there and she couldn't possibly come back to pick her up. Or the parents who, in the middle of class, walk in and expect to have an informal conference while I am teaching.

Teachers also have to complete "extra duty hours." During my first two years, my principal didn't put a lot of pressure on me because I was completing the BTSA program. My roommate and fellow colleague is completing it now and I am so thankful to be done with the CFASST events, inservices, and giant BTSA binder. The last two years, I taught afterschool intervention twice a week from January until May. I was also in charge of helping with the LipSync competition. I was almost signed up to be coach of the girls' basketball team. Next year, I am expected to teach afterschool intervention again. I am on the Behavior Team and will help coordinate the new peer mediation program and will be a coach for the Second Step program. My principal also wants me to start thinking about building a GATE program and/or a science enrichment class, class science fair project, and Science Olympiad. We also do not have an annual Spelling Bee and my roommate and I may try to organize that next year as well. There are teachers who do SO MUCH MORE... I cannot figure out how they manage to find the "extra" time.

Teachers must attend inservices to help them keep up-to-date with the latest teaching programs, curriculum, and strategies. When we go to these inservices or take time off (we get 10 days a year... but usually don't use them), we have to leave sub plans. These lesson plans take more time and effort than just being there and teaching yourself (that's why most teachers do not take time off and are reluctant to call in sick). Just over the last two years, I have had to type 23 sub plans. There are many more plans I didn't get to type, but wrote by hand. When my dad passed away at the beginning of the year, my roommate had to help finish lesson plans and set up the classroom for me. Of course, some subs are great while others make more work for you. They often do not have good classroom management strategies, so the kids try to take advantage of their temporary freedom. I have been lucky because most of my subs have been very good with my kids and have been able to follow my "detailed" lesson plans. And don't even ask me what happens when multiple teachers who have to attend an inservice fight over the one uncooperative copy machine in the office and the limited reams of paper that we get to use throughout the school year. This year, we will have to purchase and keep our own paper (we are given 30 reams for about 30 kids... that's 500 sheets of paper for the whole year per child) and lug it to the office as needed (it is quite a trek from my classroom to the office).

During the school year (mid-August to early-June), I am in the classroom 5 days a week (with the exception of occasional holidays). Yes, I may only have kids in my classroom for 180 days, but that doesn't mean the work stops when I leave or am on "vacation." I work 6-7 days a week. I have to report early before school starts and get three days off during Thanksgiving (first two days are inservices). Our district gives us three weeks for winter break (Hallelujah!) That comes right after report cards and parent-teacher conferences. I never stop thinking about my kids and what I leave undone or what else I could do to make learning more fun and exciting. I spend long hours lesson planning, grading papers, finding additional resources or information online, or creating SMART presentations for my SMARTboard. I also spend a lot time setting up my classroom and putting things up to make it more motivating and engaging. I also have to keep organized throughout the year. Most of the cleaning happens at the beginning of the year when I'm setting up the classroom after summer, before school events like Open House, and at the end of the year when I have to pack up EVERYTHING for a "deep clean" when they clean the surfaces ONCE every 365 days. This year I have summer school in my classroom, so I really have to pack everything up and inventory my supplies.

Although the last day of school was yesterday, I will be attending a three-day inservice this week for my school. After that, I have to finish packing up my classroom (luckily... I don't have to move classrooms this year). I also have to report to the District Office on Thursday because I was asked to help edit the District Progress Assessment (four 5th grade tests assessing reading, language conventions, math, and science standards). Later that afternoon, I have a Behavior Team meeting that will last a few hours. Friday will be my first full day off. The next week I will start a 12-day science leadership institute training from 8 am-4 pm at Fresno State. I have also been teaching Kids Connection for five year-olds at my church almost every Sunday.

Remember, I am single and young. I just finished my third year of teaching. I am supposed to do this for about 40 more years or so! Imagine how other teachers who are older or married with children keep up. Something always has to give. I will try my best to balance my personal life with my professional life as time goes on. Also remember, we have to complete our job in about nine months... and we only get paid for nine months of the year (the district holds our pay to last throughout the summer). Many teachers have to teach summer school or work part-time jobs to survive in this unpredictable economy.

So the next time you see a teacher, congratulate them for surviving the school year. For challenging and educating the young minds that will be in control of our tomorrow. Sometimes we forget what kind of impact we have on kids today.

And we do impact kids. As you know, this has been one of the most difficult classes and years of my career so far. I wasn't sure what would happen. I didn't know if we were all going to make it. I made a previous post about a few kids that were in my classroom this year. I resisted the advice from older colleagues that often plague education: "You can't reach everyone" or "you can only do so much." But on the last day of school, I was reminded of why I love teaching and why I'm glad I didn't give up in trying to reach my students.

After stacking the chairs and pushing the empty desks to the side, I asked my students to sit in a circle on the floor. I asked them to tell us about their year. I gave them a chance to share anything that they wanted. By the time we got around the circle... everyone was in tears... even the macho boys that I had this year. They talked about how much they have learned this year. How they have changed. How they learned how to get along with others. How to do their "personal best." How to help each other. How they became more responsible and respectful. How they learned to stay out of trouble. Some of them talked about the "stuff" that was happening at home and how wonderful it was to come to school because they felt that we were a family. I was amazed by their honesty. One of the smartest kids in the class told me, "At first, I didn't think think you were going to be a very good teacher, but you turned out to be the best teacher I've ever had." Many kids announced that I was their favorite teacher, and several students said they didn't want to leave for summer (can you believe it?!)

As an educator, sometimes you wonder if what you do makes a difference, especially in the middle of all the stress and deadlines of the school year. I can honestly say that each one of my students have blossomed this year. Some more than others, but all have grown and accomplished more than they could have ever have imagined. I want every child who enters my classroom to leave a better person than they were when they first walked in. EVERY child this year, as difficult as it was to get through sometimes, left my classroom a better person than they were in August. Their grades and test scores might not show how much they've grown, but I know they will accomplish wonderful things in their future. They left me feeling like I truly am one of the best teachers in the world.