Scrapping incentive pay

I just read an article in Teacher Magazine reporting that Kanawha County teachers will lose their perfect attendance incentive pay. I understand this is necessary in today's economy. However, I cannot believe Pete Thaw would like to punish teachers with poor attendance rates.

I have been gone from Kanawha County 10 years but, Pete Thaw is still causing trouble. This time, making a fool of himself on a national scale. Why do you people keep electing him? Its an embarrassment.

Using Federal Dollars

I work in a Title One school. That means that we receive Federal Assistance in the form of taxpayer dollars because 51% or more of our students are on free/reduced lunch. (Live at or below poverty level).

Our paperwork load is unbelievable. We have to document everything to the point that very little time is left to actually plan engaging lessons for our students. We are doomed to repeat the cycle of failure that the money is there to prevent.

If we are expected to account for every dollar spent why shouldn't banks be held just as accountable? I can assure you that no public school or school system received anywhere near the amount that these financial institutions did to avoid the crisis of their own making. We, the American People, must insist that Wall Street be held just as accountable, if not more, than our public school teachers.

Back to Work Day - Am I burning out?

So, this is it...back to school for the second half of the year. Those two weeks off just weren't long enough. I want to sit and sip another cup of coffee. I want to spend time with my family.(My husband took time off during the holidays as well.)

This break taught me that it is time to retire. When I started teaching, my dad told me that when it wasn't fun anymore, it was time to get out. That way, you are not in danger of becoming one of THOSE teachers...you know the ones. The ones who should have left a long time ago, but stay. Then, no one remembers that they were EVER a good teacher, just one that shouldn't be there. That is my biggest fear, that I will stay too long and turn into one of those.

Don't get me wrong, I love my job, but is 25 years too long to do the same thing? Do I need just a change in scenery? Grade level? I am starting to feel burnt out and this break didn't help me at all. Unless it helped me to face the fact that I am burning out?

What to do about teacher burn out? You tell me.

IPOD covers

I just saw this idea on my Google Reader. I think this is so cool! Just an easy way to spend an afternoon with the kids without spending an exhorbatant amount of cash. This would also make a good mother's day gift or valentine. I am going to try to get $ for these in a grant. I think my homeroom would love to make them.

http://blog.craftzine.com/archive/2009/01/how_to_ipod_covers.html?CMP=OTC-5JF307375954

New Year's Eve

Well, here it is New Year's Eve again. Will we all fall for the hype about New Year's Resolutions? How many New Year's Resolutions are actually kept after Day 1?

Gee - I just want to get through graduate school.

Do you remember the Twilight Zone episode in which the librarian finally gets enough time to read the books? I feel like that. I never get to read what I want to read. I have to read all that theory! YUCK.

However, I did read an interesting article this morning about using iTunes in schools. I just know we should be utilizing that technology in a more efficient manner, I am just not sure how to go about this using my own teaching style and the limited technology and access that we have at our school.

Almost all of my students have an iPod or MP3 player of some sort. Wouldn't it be great if we could assign podcasts as outside "reading"? What about creating their own podcasts? I know this is doable...just gotta get the higher ups to listen.

Yep, put that on my to do list for AFTER graduate school.

Podcasting

I am now trying the podcast thing. I have a couple of Rachael's singing engagements that I thought I would share. I will add more as she sings more.

Deleted Blogs

Since I think the title of this blog allows me to write about many topics, I have decided to delete the other blogs and concentrate all my writings here.

I traveled so much in July that I haven't really had a chance to write much. Hopefully, I will remedy that soon.

Until then, here is a picture from my training in Washington, DC.