Consistency is the best rule of all

I was reading an article about a new teacher changing her classroom rules midway through the semester. She gave several reasons for the changes, and most of them were not as a direct result of what she had done. The main reason behind the changes included communication, the principal did not clearly share with her what classroom management support system the school had, then when she did learn what the school has the principal failed to include the fact that level of intervention was restricted to the principal or vice-principal.

This is a wonderful lesson for a new teacher, I will know to ask those questions of my first principal, I think Kunai-gurl was correct in a classroom management model must be adjusted to the students you are teaching, but I think there must also be a level of consistency. The principal could be more consistent in sharing the school’s policies with a new teacher, and the new teacher must be consistent in how she provided management rules in their classroom. I spent many years as a basketball official, and game management was always a significant issue, the players did not seem to mind a foul called on them as long as the same foul was called for the same infraction by the other team. All the problems for officials happen when a foul on one team is not a foul on the other for the same infraction. As I move from being a pre-service teacher to a full time one, I hope I can continue the consistency I have learned and bring it into my classroom.

What a great way to simplify a difficult concept.

I was reading articles on standardized tests, and I found this one on NCLB, as a football fan, and a pre-service teacher, I just had to add it to my Blog. Thanks to Liz Ditz for sharing it.

Did you see NCLB–The Football Version?

Author Unknown

l. All teams must make the state playoffs, and all will win the championship. If a team does not win the championship, they will be on probation until they are the champions, and coaches will be held accountable.

2. All kids will be expected to have the same football skills at the same time and in the same conditions. No exceptions will be made for interest in football, a desire to perform athletically, or genetic abilities or disabilities. ALL KIDS WILL PLAY FOOTBALL AT A PROFICIENT LEVEL

3. Talented players will be asked to work out on their own without instruction. This is because the coaches will be using all their instructional time with the athletes who aren’t interested in football, have limited athletic ability, or whose parents don’t like football.

4. Games will be played year round, but statistics will only be kept in the 4th, 8th, and 11th games.

5. This will create a New Age of sports where every school is expected to have the same level of talent and all teams will reach the same minimal goals.

If no child gets ahead, then no child will be left behind.

How about a standard test for state legislators

I was reading Anne Davis’ article on High-stakes testing is one of our biggest obstacles to overcome!. I must say as a pre-service teacher I am concerned about the emphasis states are placing on test scores and not on the true quality of education, to evaluate a teacher on the test results of students is judging someone on a very small fraction of what they actually do. I think, in many cases, the willingness of courts to accept the opinion of a vocal misinformed parent over those of professional educators is a major part of the problem. I also think elected legislators who look at schools as cost centers, and not as necessary investments in the future of this country are also part of the big picture problem. What I have observed during my practicum is teachers are so much more than just educators. They are councilors, advisors, nurses, waiters, janitors, and almost any other job you can think of. I am looking forward to being all of these. The issue of standard tests being the only measure of the quality of education is one that must be addressed soon, the repercussions of failing to address the issue could potentially drive many great professionals out of teaching. What is a solution to the test issue? Is there a solution to this issue? These are questions out elected officials at the state level must answer.

We can only guess.

I find it very interesting as to how teachers talk about what classrooms will look-like in the 21st century. I was in school in the sixties and early seventies, and the difference between what was available then, and what is available now we all know about; we can track the changes between before home computers and after home computers. I was reading Jeanne Simpson's article on I want to be part of a 21st century school (http://mathmusings.blogspot.com/2006/11/i-want-to-be-part-of-21st-century.html.) I found it interesting because with technology advancing in leaps and bounds I wonder if we really know what a classroom will look like in 20 or 30 years. We are just beginning to touch what technology can do right now as schools ride the technology wave, where will they end up? Can we use science fiction to help us predict what may change? With computers becoming more prevalent, will textbooks become obsolete and just, as laptops are a requirement here will there be a laptop on every desk in a first grade class? Will holographic images of a historic site replace a field trip? Will keyboarding replace handwriting? What skills will be lost as technology advances? With all these unanswered questions, I am looking forward to becoming a full time professional teacher and teaching in a 21st century classroom.