~ The Teachers' Lounge ~

[Andrewtfw]

Am I the only lower grade teacher here?

Nope, you are not alone. I am a second grade teacher/team leader. I have taught the same grade at the same school for seven years (this one makes eight). My school is in a socio-economically depressed area. More than sixty percent of the students attending my school receive free meals. We have programs to provide students and their families with free clothing, free healthcare, and meals are sent home with many students over the weekend to ensure that the children will be fed at home.

Though my students "need" many things, they have sooo much more to offer! I get smiles, compliments, high-fives and hugs daily. I get notes telling me "Yu arre the bes teshr I evre had" (sadly I am the one who teaches them to spell), and "Thnk you for teacing me to red in inglich. When I gro up I went to teash kits who speek spanish to red inglich two". Most of all, I get to lay the foundation of knowledge they will use throughout their lives. In the ten short months I spend with them as my students, I create opportunities, experiences and memories that will positively impact their lives. What could be more rewarding than that?

Oh... I almost forgot, in my classroom I have a 54 gallon corner tank which as of tomorrow will house the fish in my avatar.

 

[oscarcrazy]

So, the highschool science teacher at my school (disciplinary, for those that don't know) has been out the last couple of days. I'm sitting in the office during my prep period in the morning and a student comes running in with a wild look in his eye. Student in my school are allowed no place unattended, so I stopped him. In front of the school director and several other staff members the crazy eyed student yelled, "The snake is loose!!"
I take off running to the class room where the sub and the students are on one side of the room and my 6 foot red-tail boa, Slinky, is on the other. Slinky had climbed into a bookshelf and seemed very content with his freedom. I run in, grab the snake, and throw it back into its tank. The students by this time are out of control, so a few choice phases mentioning write-ups and fines are thrown out and everybody takes their assigned seat. The poor kid whose seat was next to the bookshelf kept looking over his shoulder nervously.
The director, an former science teacher herself, was unphased, but suggested I take the snake up to my classroom until the return of the absent teacher.
So I ended up teaching an improptu lesson about redtails to my middleschoolers as they were so exited to see the snake my normal lesson plans would have seemed like a British sitcom.
Anyway, I will keep the critter and my classroom for the time being, the snake cage had to have been left open under the unwatchful eye of yesterdays sub.
I told my middleschoolers that highschool students are not mature enough to handle the pet. And I bought a better lock on the way home today.

 

[Gr8KarmaSF]

my normal lesson plans would have seemed like a British sitcom. And I bought a better lock on the way home today.

Classic...my first graders go nutz over a fly or spider in the classroom.

Finished my conferences today, all went well, no parents went crazy on me when I mentioned possible retention....

 

[Kogo]

thats why I dred getting sick

 

[oscarcrazy]

Classic...my first graders go nutz over a fly or spider in the classroom.

Finished my conferences today, all went well, no parents went crazy on me when I mentioned possible retention....

For a sec I though you said "possible retardation"
I know it's wrong, but oh so sickly funny.

 

[Dan F]

Gr8, you asked about their talk. They talked about the show as scientific inquiry some, but mostly it was just a fun talk about their show. They took questions from the audience as well, which was interesting. A student asked them about what they read. Jamie said he doesn't read any fiction any more "there's just too much factual information out there". I actually feel exactly the same - I haven't read any fiction in ten or fifteen years (except for children's books that I read aloud, I love Roald Dahl's work!). adam reads a lot of fiction, I can't recall the authors he mentioned.

It seems silly, but I really got excited about "meeting" the Mythbusters, even though I hardly spoke to them. When I told them the shirt they were signing was from our school's Rocket Club Adam said "That's cool" and I got all giddy

Besides the Mythbusters the conference was really cool. I went to a class on applying for grants, I'm going to apply for a "Toyota Tapestry" grant this year. There were also some interesting eco-education companies there. For every ten students/family members a teacher goes for free! Trips to Costa Rica, Panama, Belize, Mexico, and even Peru!

 

[Footballref50]

I am the original poster on this thread and i just wanna say a couple of things. 1st of all THANK YOU!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! You not only give kids the choice to succeed but you are willing to help me become one of you! I want to end up teaching Math/Science in middle school. That was the class when i was that age i loved! I have a ? tho, if i were to have all the "class pets" like my teacher (Mr. Miller and Mr. Cross) both had, can i write that off on my taxes? I'd love to have a class bird, fish tank, rodent of some kind and a reptile. I plan on getting a bachelors degree in some sort of biology. And i agree (specially bein in CA) that learning a second language is a good idea. What are the actual requirenments tho for getting a teachers liscence (in CA)? And how long after graduation would i be on my own in a class? (That's what im most nervous about!) And lastly do they train u by starting you at the lower levels than working you up to the older kids? Thanks a million again guys ur info is awesome!

 

[Gr8KarmaSF]

I am the original poster on this thread and i just wanna say a couple of things. 1st of all THANK YOU!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! You not only give kids the choice to succeed but you are willing to help me become one of you! I want to end up teaching Math/Science in middle school. That was the class when i was that age i loved! I have a ? tho, if i were to have all the "class pets" like my teacher (Mr. Miller and Mr. Cross) both had, can i write that off on my taxes? I'd love to have a class bird, fish tank, rodent of some kind and a reptile. I plan on getting a bachelors degree in some sort of biology. And i agree (specially bein in CA) that learning a second language is a good idea. What are the actual requirenments tho for getting a teachers liscence (in CA)? And how long after graduation would i be on my own in a class? (That's what im most nervous about!) And lastly do they train u by starting you at the lower levels than working you up to the older kids? Thanks a million again guys ur info is awesome!

You can write off up to $300 on your taxes in Cali. You will go over this easily but thats the max.

Birds will be tough since they are noisy, require more attention then most pets. I almost got a bird but I remember that somehow they were not allowed in my district because of disease and cleanliness. Reptiles and fish are much more manageable.

In CA you need a BA in the subject you are teaching and a teaching credential. Once you get your first job you will be required to go through another teacher training program called BITSA, taken through your district. The pay scale is based on education so if you get an MA/PhD you will get paid more. Knowing Spanish will make you more marketable. Also being a male in a predominantly female market will be to your advantage. Not sure about middle school requirements but going through the credential program I was required to student teach in BOTH lower and upper grades. Getting your own class depends on you, many in my class, including myself had a job before I even graduated. Make lots of contacts during your student teaching and go to every teacher/educational career fair you can, bring lots of copies of your resume and ready to interview on the spot!!!!

Another word of advice would be to look into scholarships etc to help you pay for school. They are definitely out there. Example being the Apple Grant will pay for ALL your school if you give them a few years at certain poverty stricken schools.

Any more questions?

Ohhh ya!!! LETS CELEBRATE EVERYBODY WE HAVE THE ENTIRE WEEK OFF FOR TURKEY DAY!!!!!! (for some strange reason I actually get a week and an extra day off - lol)

 

[mike dunagan]

If you go with science, it is mainly male, but you can get a job anywhere in the US in that area. Just do not get a Social studies. They teach you where the unemployment office is.

Trust me you will spend so much of your own money on supplies alone you can forget writing anything else off as well.

 

[Andrewtfw]

"Trust me you will spend so much of your own money on supplies alone you can forget writing anything else off as well."

Isn't that the truth!

Also regarding pets, you need to check your county guidelines and run it by your administration. Where I teach we are not allowed to have anything with fur or feathers due to allergies.