three days until the test

And I can't sleep. Thank you, NWEA. I hope none of my anxiety rubs off on the kids.

mapping

I have next year almost completely mapped out (in the most basic sense, nothing fancy), and I am so energized.

I cannot wait to take everything I have learned this year and rock it out. Already, I feel so much more prepared to start the year off with a clear vision of where I want my kids to be at each quarter. Now that I have the basics down, I am excited to end the survival period and actually starting enriching what I already know.

day 155

"So what does a caterpillar build when they are ready to grow into a butterfly?"

[all hands go up]

"Remember, it's not a cocoon - there's a scientific word."

[all hands go down... one brave soul re-raises her hand]

"Crystals?"

last night

Josh Anderson bought me dinner. nbd.

Sometimes I get to this place where I just feel like TFA is counter to everything I believe -- we place huge numbers of teachers in charter schools, we talk a lot about "bad teachers," and we only place people for two years.

So when I sit down and listen to Josh, and hear that he is coming from the same place that I am coming from, it's a breath of fresh air. Did he use a lot of TFA-ese? Yes. Did he smooth talk with his charm and love of thai? Absolutely. But. my take-away was that Josh is someone who feels very strongly about educational equity and about having control over outcomes. His aims are to do what he can with what he has, and I can respect that.

capa-tillers

These little beasties get bigger and bigger every day.

a petition for less testing in schools

I just found this awesome petition, which argues for less pressure on kids and more time to play. I signed right away! If you are interested in signing, click here.

day 151

During writing my story went something like this:

"Yesterday, I went to Ms. N's church fundraiser. Then, I won a beautiful necklace. Finally, I went home and told my friends."

N blurts out, "Ms. Haley, you have friends!?"

Also, some excellent (EEKK!) buddy reading for you:

renewal

I have officially been invited back next year. I couldn't be less excited. During the meeting my principal shared with me that she is hoping to have 25 students in each Kindergarten class next year with the possibility of one shared aid, that she expects me to hold it down in the K department, and that it is not even slightly in her power to give me a raise.

day 149ish

It's recently come to my attention that I have somehow messed up the day count...

At bathroom break:

"Ms. Haley, I need to do number 5."

Without thinking, "What's that?"

[incredulous staring]

"back to basics"

At a recent event in New York City, Pedro Noguera, a sociologist at New York University, bemoaned the political maneuvering and bickering over details that has come to dominate education policy discussions. In all the arguing over whether to open more charter schools or publicize teacher test scores, he correctly noted that we often seem to ignore what is best for students. What would clearly serve the country's children better is putting our limited education dollars into what the evidence says works. [keep reading]

on charter schools

If you are unfamiliar with the nuances of charters, you are sorely behind in understanding education in the United States. When I tell people that I work at a charter, they sometimes ask me to explain what exactly a charter is. I usually answer with something like, "It's a public private school: students apply to go, but it's free." I usually use the word "choice." If there are more applicants than available seats, the school is required to hold a lottery.



Money
More specifically, charter schools operate on the idea that every child is eligible for a certain amount of federal money and families should be able to take that money and patronize whatever school they choose. The charter exchanges some money and benefits associated with the public school system in exchange for autonomy from rules as regulations imposed on regular public schools.

In the charter where I work, we are always short of money. Teachers are paid about $10K less than public school teachers, educational resources are sparse, and money for special services is hard to find. Yesterday, a mother came to the school to fill out an application for her son who is entering Kindergarten with some very serious needs. I talked to him for about a minute and all I could think was, we are not equipped to educate this child. For example, our speech therapist only comes in once every two weeks. She typically meets with students for 10-15 minutes. This young boy couldn't pronounce his name. Yet legally we are not allowed to turn him away, so he will be entered into the lottery.

Theory
When charter schools were first conceived in the late 1980s, the purpose was to set up laboratory schools outside of the regular education system. Superior veteran teachers would be recruited to work with students who were not successful in the regular system. Then, teachers would be able to come in and observe new ways of educating the most challenging students.

Reality
Since the first charter school laws were passed in the 1990s, the number of schools has rapidly increased, and the theory behind them has rapidly changed. Under No Child Left Behind, failing schools could convert to charters as one method of restructuring. Many of the big players in education are proponents of charter schools (Obama, Arne Duncan, Jean-Claude Brizard, Michelle Rhee, etc.).

However, the purpose of charters has changed drastically. Now, when community schools are failing they are often shut down. Charters move in as an alternative. Some districts, such as New Orleans, are almost entirely charter. Most advocates of charters believe that we should convert the entire education system over to charter schools to create a free market in which parents are the consumers.

In the words of Diane Ravitch:

Closing a school should be only a last resort and an admission of failure, not by the school or its staff, but by the educational authorities who failed to provide timely assistance.  

Our schools will not improve if we entrust them to the magical powers of the market. Markets have winners and losers. Choice may lead to better outcomes or worse outcomes. 

apt

Perhaps the most famous question on the test that will determine whether or not I am fit to be an educator in the great state of Illinois: 

A teacher discovers that the printer for a classroom computer is not responding to print commands even thought the printer is turned on. Which of the following steps should the teacher take first? 

A. Run a diagnostic program to ensure that the computer is operating properly.
B. Reinstall the software that runs the printer.
C. Check the cable between the printer and the computer to make sure it is securely connected.
D. Call the school's computer technician for help. 

Lugging 20 lbs of rice on the L is no small feat.

teacher fired for encouraging activism

What do you do with a teacher who provides students with authentic learning opportunities? A teacher who invests her own resources to support students? A teacher who was voted Teacher of the Year two of the last three years?

- Teaching Tolerance

This woman saw a beautifully rare teachable moment, some good that could come out of the Trayvon Martin tragedy, and she was punished for it. This woman worked in a non-unionized charter, much like the one where I am employed. This is why teachers need protection. 

charlotte's web

I read chapter one today. They are pretty hesitant about not having pictures, but I think they'll get used to it.

Today has been hectic, to say the least, but it's good to be back. We have new seat assignments, new jobs, and new materials. Everything just feels fresh.

Plus, my rice table is in place and now all I need is the rice!

They [public schools] can't throw out the kids who do not work hard or the kids who have many absences or the kids who are disrespectful or the kids whose parents are absent or inattentive. They have to find ways to educate even those students who don't want to be there. That's the dilemma of public education.

- Diane Ravitch, Death and Life of the Great American School System

get it crackin

I am at my favorite cafe in Chicago, where Andrew brings me anything from breakfast burritos to an excellent ginger lime tea. My lesson plans for next week are done. My guided reading plan of attack for next month is complete. The dishes in my apartment are drying. And I am just two days from seeing some of my nearest and dearest.