I substitute fora currently un-named school district in NM. Although I do not get to see a real day, because I know how kids act when a substitute comes, it is interesting to see if they have a lesson planned. I get to see a typical day ie. schedules, and the typical kid.
First of all of the kids have what is called a flex/advisory class. This is where those who need to get extra help can get support. (without knowing it...shhhh). I really had a hard time understanding how this helps because most times the teacher hands them a story to read and questions to answer, a math drill or a video to watch. Where is the real lesson? The help comprehending the story?
I will write about three different days.
Day 1: EA Handicapped pre-school.
The teacher had nothing planned! Grant it she was not feeling well, the kids did nothing! I baby-sat while she walked around and straightened. She did say it was the end of the year...clean up time. It is April! School ends the end of May. Hello...there are two months left! The only routine was a morning song on the rug. During the long half day, she did sit down to read a story. After she read the story she said, "whew, I guess the kids really needed that." For the afternoon class she did sit down and have them glue on a chart the different transportation types. This was not a lesson. It was a quick 5 minute, this is this, and that is that. Glue. Good. Your done.
Day 2: EA Elementary School
I was a one on one for a variety of kids. We shared a down syndrome boy, a severely autistic boy, and a "defiant" boy with "issues". This is an inclusion class. I baby-sat. Basically it is trying to keep the kids quiet while the General Class tries to learn. The Defiant Boy, gets to play with his favorite toy just to keep him quiet. They did not get anything out of school that day. By the end of the day another EA sat the three down infront of the computer to watch videos. Grant it, it was "off Schedule day", and they have tried a routine for the autistic child and it does not work? There was NO routine. I was flustered as to what was happening next, imagine how the kids feel. No level of expectation.
Day 3: Middle School
This teacher left exceptional notes. It seemed to be a very organized and strict teacher. The kids were as good as could be expected. I only hated the flex class where they do a 3 minute drill and sit for the rest of the time. Read? Homework? No, they sleep, and talk some more. "Oh kids, come and get some Dot to Dot". Sure, middle grade, they would rather talk!
I forgot to mention the teacher yelling and pointing her finger at a student to go to the office and another child comes to her with a concern and she yells at the top of her lungs, "not right now, go to class." I later saw the child and he was distraught because someone had been telling people that he was _______ their brothers. I advised him to go to the office and tell someone there. And the woman who was yelling, didn't follow through. The student that was suppose to go to the office was laughing how she out-smarted the lady!
What are the schools doing? or What are they not doing?
First of all of the kids have what is called a flex/advisory class. This is where those who need to get extra help can get support. (without knowing it...shhhh). I really had a hard time understanding how this helps because most times the teacher hands them a story to read and questions to answer, a math drill or a video to watch. Where is the real lesson? The help comprehending the story?
I will write about three different days.
Day 1: EA Handicapped pre-school.
The teacher had nothing planned! Grant it she was not feeling well, the kids did nothing! I baby-sat while she walked around and straightened. She did say it was the end of the year...clean up time. It is April! School ends the end of May. Hello...there are two months left! The only routine was a morning song on the rug. During the long half day, she did sit down to read a story. After she read the story she said, "whew, I guess the kids really needed that." For the afternoon class she did sit down and have them glue on a chart the different transportation types. This was not a lesson. It was a quick 5 minute, this is this, and that is that. Glue. Good. Your done.
Day 2: EA Elementary School
I was a one on one for a variety of kids. We shared a down syndrome boy, a severely autistic boy, and a "defiant" boy with "issues". This is an inclusion class. I baby-sat. Basically it is trying to keep the kids quiet while the General Class tries to learn. The Defiant Boy, gets to play with his favorite toy just to keep him quiet. They did not get anything out of school that day. By the end of the day another EA sat the three down infront of the computer to watch videos. Grant it, it was "off Schedule day", and they have tried a routine for the autistic child and it does not work? There was NO routine. I was flustered as to what was happening next, imagine how the kids feel. No level of expectation.
Day 3: Middle School
This teacher left exceptional notes. It seemed to be a very organized and strict teacher. The kids were as good as could be expected. I only hated the flex class where they do a 3 minute drill and sit for the rest of the time. Read? Homework? No, they sleep, and talk some more. "Oh kids, come and get some Dot to Dot". Sure, middle grade, they would rather talk!
I forgot to mention the teacher yelling and pointing her finger at a student to go to the office and another child comes to her with a concern and she yells at the top of her lungs, "not right now, go to class." I later saw the child and he was distraught because someone had been telling people that he was _______ their brothers. I advised him to go to the office and tell someone there. And the woman who was yelling, didn't follow through. The student that was suppose to go to the office was laughing how she out-smarted the lady!
What are the schools doing? or What are they not doing?
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