Wednesday, December 13, 2017

This school really is great!

I haven't updated this in awhile.  It's not because I don't have time.  Time is something I have plenty of as an ATR.  To be honest, I kind of forgot about this blog.  It's funny, I read education blogs everyday to while away the time and yet I forgot that I started one.  So, a quick update.

September to October I was placed at a school in the Park West building.  It was pretty interesting.  The principal and AP were nice, engaged, and seemed to have a genuine interest in helping their kids.  It is pleasing to come into situations like that since I know and have experienced admin who were anything but pleasing.  I enjoyed working there.  The kids were...ok....Some were good, many were average, some were annoying.  They don't have a filter, though they won't be rude to you if you correct them.  It's a first name school, which means, everyone including adults, uses their first name. 

I'm all about acclimating to whatever environment I am thrown into, but I would be lying if I said that using first names for teachers isn't weird to me.  While I consider myself progressive in terms of pedagogy and improving my practice, one area I am traditional in is how you address your teacher.  Last names are a show of respect and demonstrates that, I am the adult, you are the student.  I feel there has to be some sort of line where we establish that.  Overall, not a huge deal, but does take some getting used to.

Since November I have been placed in one of the top schools in the city.  I have to say, I have been very lucky with my placements.  The kids are as good as their reputation says they are.  All of the staff has been pleasant to work with.  I did have a slight issue with one teacher who I covered for, and is also in my field.  She seemed to be bothered that not all the students finished the work she left saying that "my kids said you taught them."  In the back of my mind I was thinking "is she upset that I taught instead of just handed out the work?" 

I love to teach, and will teach, if it's in my field, and I can.  As an ATR I don't get many opportunities like that.  We are basically used as substitutes and I guess, it's common for substitutes just to hand out work and read the newspaper.  Especially with students already engaged to learn.  Course I am going to teach, though it's good to know in case I cover that teacher's classes again.

Wednesday, February 8, 2017

From Alphabet City to Midtown

I'm writing from the 5th school I've been placed at in my ATR rotation, the Facing History School on West 50th.  Too soon to tell what it will be like, but it seems alright.  Not like my last school which had its own building, this one shares space with several other schools.  Based on past history, that can be a mixed bag.  Time will tell.

Trying to be optimistic though, so far things have been fairly positive.  I would think there are better ways to use my time than having me hang in the teacher's lounge and surf the web all day.  I'm hoping I can meet some of the other Social Studies staff and see if I can hang out in their rooms on occasion.  Someone with my experience, and I have a bit, could be useful in a classroom.  If anything, as ATRs, this is one area where we could be useful.  Helping to grade papers, co-planning.

It's not ideal, obviously, but it's better than nothing.  I know that idea is tempting to some.  Who wouldn't want to just come to school and relax?  I get it.  It's fine for a few days, but after awhile it gets boring.  While I won't say I miss planning, I do kind of miss having my own class and getting to know the kids better.  Now that this DeVos thing is over with (which we all saw coming) I just hope that the activism on the part of people in education doesn't fade away.  On top of that, I hope people realize that the real battle is still here.  Cuomo still hates us, De Blasio still doesn't seem to care too much and schools in NYC are still beset with awful principals (not all) who regularly abuse teachers and try to end careers.

On top of that is the UFT who doesn't seem to do much of anything.  Though I suppose doing nothing is something.