Dear WeAreTeachers:
I have been a fifth-grade teacher at my current school for the past decade. I am active in PTA and various school committees, and parents and children love me. I didn’t enter this job for recognition, but I can’t pretend that it doesn’t hurt to pass repeatedly for the teacher of the year. This year, it has become the principal’s “favorite.” No wonder there, but when did the best teacher of the year become such a popular competition? – Who knows
Dear WYKM,
At this time of the school year, educators across the country are focusing on the universal recognition of teachers of the year in schools and districts. Deeply we all want to see, hear and feel. Most people want attention whether they admit it or not. So it is understandable that you are passing and feeling disappointed that the teachers have been selected on the basis of good-choice. It is something we have all observed or felt for ourselves.
And please try not to base your price on external recognition. There is a loss of self-worth basing on achievement. “While it is natural to feel good about your accomplishments, it is like building your house on a shaky foundation based on your complete self-worth based on your achievements. You just have to be more discriminating with the help you render toward other people. When your whole self-worth depends on your accomplishments, you avoid doing things where you can fail. “
Rewards not available No. Cancel what you are doing day in and day out as an educator. Focus on how your kids are getting rich and how you are connecting with your family. Whether you get the best teacher of the year or not, you are influencing many children and families by the learning situations you create. Not being the best teacher of the year may mean you don’t fit in the compliance box and that’s not necessarily a bad thing.
Maryland’s best teacher of the year, Brianna Ross, emphasizes how teaching is “hard, hard, hard, hard work… and it’s often an ungrateful job, even when you’re the best teacher of the year.” There is so much work involved in teaching that it often becomes unfamiliar. And so often the common people believe that they specialize in education because they were students themselves. Education is valuable And It’s tiring, and most people don’t realize the complexity, intent, and hard work involved in helping every child improve on a daily basis.
Teaching is a great example of a paradox of life. A paradox is a “seemingly irrational or self-contradictory statement or proposition that, when investigated or explained, may prove to be well-established or true.” So maybe we can say congratulations No. Your site is being selected for the Best Teacher of the Year award. You’ve moved away from this popularity contest drama, and it seems like a good place.
Dear WeAreTeachers:
When I came back from a short absence, one of my faithful students told me that two boys were vaping behind the house while Saab was there. I talked to my admin and he kicked two kids out of class for talking. One boy immediately admits. His story matched that of the witnesses. The other boy denies everything. The boy who admitted will be in “on-campus isolation” for the rest of the year. This is the first time he has been in trouble. It seems so harsh. And the boy who claims to be innocent has no consequences. To make matters worse, the boy who confessed was from a low-income area and an African American. The student who says he did nothing wrong takes a wealthy, white and honors class from a wealthy area. I’m disappointed! What should I do? – Anyway, who cares in class?
Dear WVICA,
Thanks for bringing vaping, which has become widespread on our middle school and high school campuses. I have personally seen kids steam without trying to hide in school while others are panting and then exhaling in their sweatshirts. Inside Classroom As a parent, I asked my daughter’s high school how they were solving the vaping problem, and I didn’t get a response.
So, what’s the big deal about vaping, especially if a lot of people are doing it nowadays? Well, concentrated nicotine is highly addictive and harmful, especially for the developing brain in adolescents. Tobacco Free CA says, “The tobacco industry uses fun flavors and technological devices to keep children addicted to nicotine. Why kids? It’s easy to get addicted to a developing brain. “
Our kids are being targeted and bombarded with flavored vaping products like Blue Reese and Cotton Candy. Flavors tempt children and then nicotine alters the way the brain develops, which has a negative effect on attention and learning. This addictive substance also increases anxiety, mood swings and feelings of general annoyance. Being a teenager brings its own challenges. Adding vaping addiction does not help.
You also highlight the issue of disciplinary bias related to student outcomes and the vaping incident. One student admits to vaping but the other denies it. Both children witnessed the same. So, what’s different? The student population you mentioned seems to be a problem. Sometimes educators have conscious and unconscious biases that affect the logical consequences associated with behavioral problems. The student of white honors has the benefit of the doubt, on the other hand the student who is considered as less employed student and also a person of one color was severely punished. Black students are presented inconsistently with the suspension order. It is understood that you are upset! It is also important for you to speak up and be a lawyer.
School suspension for the rest of the year By Seems isolated and harsh for the first time offense. Consider talking to other teachers who work with these students to get their ideas and opinions about what happened. Also, it would be helpful to try to set up one meeting after another with the principal. You may want to share what happened to the students you vaped and want to talk about the importance of providing logical consequences. Both Children involved based on reliable witnesses. Students may need to do some research on vaping, addiction, and the dangers of growing adolescent brains, in the hope that this may be a learning opportunity. Also, engage parents so that they can be actively engaged in preventing addiction. There are group classes that many of our parents find wise and helpful.
Dear WeAreTeachers:
I am a parent and I can’t believe what my son’s kindergarten teacher told me. Yes, my son is high-powered. Yes, he has a lot to learn. And yes, he could be disrupted. But I have worked closely with an appointed parent, school assistant, and teacher. When we had our parent conference, the teacher listed things after my son was fighting. In the end, I asked her if she could share what she was doing well so that we could at least have something to celebrate. The teacher actually said, “I have nothing positive to share.” I was shocked. My heart was racing. I got up, thanked him, and left. Now, what do I do? – Big time confused
Dear BTB,
I am very sorry that one of your teachers has left you in a discouraged state of mind and heart. This situation reminds me of a quote from Heim Zenot: “I have come to a frightening conclusion that I am the deciding factor in the classroom. This is my personal approach that creates the climate. It is the weather that makes my daily mood. As a teacher, I have an extraordinary ability to make a child’s life miserable or joyful. I can be a tool of torture or an instrument of inspiration. I can insult or heal. In all cases, it is my response that a crisis will increase or decrease and a child will be dehumanized or inhumane. “Which aspect of this quote resonates with you? Insult or cure?
To be honest, it takes more effort to prevent something, anything from being positive. How hard would it be to find one or two things that your son is doing well or at least positively improving? We focus on what we grow. Yes, our kids need honest feedback from teachers, but it’s not fair to say “there’s nothing positive to share with you.”
I know it’s late in the year, and you’ll probably want to take a break from this hostile approach. But I would hang out with the teacher and ask for a follow-up meeting to focus on what your son is doing approximately. Share how you want to encourage him in the summer when you work on some of his emerging skills. Your efforts to reunite with your child’s kind teacher may help to bring about some reflection from the teacher and, hopefully, positive change. Spirit squash needs to stop.
The American Federation of Teachers reminds us of the strength of the parent-teacher relationship. “Positive parent-school communication benefits parents. The way schools communicate and interact with parents affects the amount and quality of parental involvement in their children’s education. “
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Dear WeAreTeachers:
I am a 24 year old high school teacher. Today, one of my 18-year-old students stopped me after class, waited until everyone left, and said, “I think I have a crush on you.” I played it well and told her to keep coming to my class (she immediately said she was too embarrassed to do it). In the same way, I have completely blown away his comments. The only reason I felt bad was because she was shivering and nervous. Do you agree that his comments are highly inappropriate? Should I have discussed it with him or told someone?Want more advice columns? Check out our Ask WeAreTeachers Hub.