Stories from Tot

A Million Teachers Prepare to March Out the Classroom Door

Thu, 17 May 2012 19:55:02 -0600

A Million Teachers Prepare to March Out the Classroom Door:

This Living in Dialogue post refers to the Metlife Survey of the American Teacher reporting a drastic decline in teacher job satisfaction.

On May 18, 2012, I’ll be one of those million baby boomers leaving the classroom for the last time. I have made the difficult decision retire, even though I know that’s exactly what politicians and reformers want me to do. I will take over thirty years of teaching experience with me - experience that allows me to fully understand how current reform mandates are perverting the teaching profession and hurting students!

I will turn the profession over to a generation of teachers who have only experienced:
an education system that places increasing scores on high-stakes tests above all else.
a working environment in which teachers, not students, are held accountable (punished) for student learning (test scores).
having their professional ability evaluated by a punitive system, instead of a supportive one.
teaching under increasing mandates with decreasing funding.
a profession whose members are required to follow a mandated script.
teaching as a job, instead of an inspirational calling.
teaching as gathering student data, instead of building respectful relationships with students.
an education environment that even students know is not in their best interest.
My advice to those teachers?
Remain true to yourself and the reasons you became a teacher. When faced with a choice between your responsibility to your school or your responsibility to your students - always choose what is in the best interest of your students.
Your teaching philosophy is your professional foundation - commit it to writing and make it publicly available. It should express your professional views about teaching/learning/education. Your philosophy will change with your experiences - that’s OK. Update it regularly. Your teaching philosophy should guide all your interactions with students, patents, and colleagues.
You are a professional learner. The most important thing you can pass to your students is your love for learning.
You are not your students’ friend - they have plenty of those and don’t need another. What they need is a professional teacher - an adult that consistently supports them, believes in their abilities, and makes it possible for them to succeed!

50 Multicultural Books Every Child Should Read

Mon, 14 May 2012 06:38:46 -0600

50 Multicultural Books Every Child Should Read:

monasequeda:

CREATE: 20 Science Projects for Preschoolers

Sun, 13 May 2012 17:29:10 -0600

CREATE: 20 Science Projects for Preschoolers:

or for anyone :)

createald:

When I was first given the job of Science mom at my children’s cooperative preschool I was a bit frightened. The job means bringing in a preschool appropriate science project each week. At first I couldn’t imagine how I would ever find enough projects, but now as the year draws to a close I am…

Not the answer I was looking for, but at least worth half...

Fri, 11 May 2012 08:52:05 -0600

Not the answer I was looking for, but at least worth half credit.

10 Things You (Probably) Didn’t Know Had Names

Tue, 24 Apr 2012 16:48:06 -0600

I knew number one… the rest are like spoken word! In other words, lovely.

crownedrose:

expose-the-light:

1. Petrichor: That clean, greenish smell of rain. (Actually, it’s the smell of rain on dry earth produced by the chemical compound geosmin.)

2. Zarf: A metal chalice used to keep the heat from your coffee from burning your fingers, which has morphed into the modern-day cardboard sleeve that comes wrapped around your hot coffee.

3. Chanking: Chewed-up food that’s been spit out.

4. Scroop: The rustling, swooshy sound ballgowns make. More specifically, it’s the sound produced by the movement of silk.

5. Armsayes: Armholes of a T-shirt.

6. Glabella: The space between the eyebrows.

7. Nef: An extravagant table-ornament in the shape of a ship.

8. Feat: Aside from being an act requiring great strength, it describes a dangling curl of hair.

9. Badinage: Playful, joking banter.

10. Roorback: A damaging lie made publicly known for political effect.

Bonus: Grawlix: Typographical symbols standing for profanities, which appear in dialogue balloons in the place of actual dialogue. (What the f@$&!) ;)

Literacy!! For parents and families of young children.

Mon, 23 Apr 2012 23:07:25 -0600

Literacy!! For parents and families of young children.

"Rather than learning how to think scientifically, students are generally being told about science..."

Sun, 04 Mar 2012 13:06:56 -0700

“Rather than learning how to think scientifically, students are generally being told about science and asked to remember facts. This disturbing situation must be corrected if science education is to have any hope of taking its proper place as an essential part of the education of students everywhere.”

- Bruce Alberts, U.S. biochemist, National Academy of Sciences past president (via charlesgale)

Help us bring the joy of science and inquiry to South African schools: click here to visit our project page, for more information, or to donate. Any amount helps!

Sat, 03 Mar 2012 11:29:00 -0700

Help us bring the joy of science and inquiry to South African schools: click here to visit our project page, for more information, or to donate. Any amount helps!

"Curiosity in children is but an appetite for knowledge…"

Sat, 03 Mar 2012 11:24:34 -0700

““Curiosity in children is but an appetite for knowledge…””

- John Locke, letter to Edward Clarke, September 1, 1685.

this makes the stress and lack of sleep all fade away…

Fri, 05 Aug 2011 06:12:46 -0600

this makes the stress and lack of sleep all fade away…

homemade garlic mayonnaaaaiiise

Thu, 31 Mar 2011 16:43:00 -0600

homemade garlic mayonnaaaaiiise

caramel paradise

Fri, 25 Feb 2011 13:46:44 -0700

caramel paradise

flourless chocolate cake, homemade caramel, heaven

Fri, 25 Feb 2011 13:37:16 -0700

flourless chocolate cake, homemade caramel, heaven

!!!مصر

Fri, 11 Feb 2011 09:14:00 -0700

!!!مصر

Once upon a time in Reno (take 2)

Sat, 27 Nov 2010 20:15:42 -0700

Once upon a time in Reno

(take 2)

Once upon a time in Reno (take 1)

Sat, 27 Nov 2010 20:14:12 -0700

Once upon a time in Reno

(take 1)

Thu, 16 Sep 2010 16:42:00 -0600

“this painting is not available in your country”

paul mutant

nestle hot chocolate, various tag lines

Tue, 25 May 2010 21:05:00 -0600

nestle hot chocolate, various tag lines

nestle hot chocolate house, a place of dreams

Tue, 25 May 2010 21:03:00 -0600

nestle hot chocolate house, a place of dreams

<3 tape today

Tue, 25 May 2010 21:02:00 -0600

<3 tape

today