Why would you **ask** the principal whether you can check out books
in your own name and bring them to school? I have done that for years
and years and years and never asked anyone.
Sometimes you just have to do what is the right thing to do and just
not say anything. :-)
Renee
On Oct 4, 2009, at 11:28 AM, larry patterson wrote:
So what do you do when administration is not buying into your
reading program? I believe in the reader's workshop and taught
successfully in Arkansas for years. Many thanks to Ken Stamatis
and everyone at Harding University for opening my eyes and guiding
me in the ways of the workshop. Since beginning to teach reading
with the workshop model, I've devoured books by Chris Tovani, Kelly
Gallagher, and others who are passionate about teaching reading.
Now I find myself in Missouri working with 7th and 8th grade
readers. The first inkling that things could go terribly wrong was
obvious from the start. When I was hired, I was told that I would
have the 7th and 8th graders on alternating days for the entire
school year. I swallowed hard and thought I could work with that.
Two days before the beginning of the school year, the new principal
tapped me on the shoulder and informed me I would be teaching 7th
grade reading for one semester, and 8th grade reading the second
semester. I will admit I did not take this news well.
It seems as if the school does not truly value reading
instruction. No other subject is allotted only one semester of
instruction. I did manage to box up and get into storage the
twenty pound reading anthologies that the school had used for many
years, and brought in my own library. However, administration
nixed a plan to work with the local public library. The public
library had agreed to courier in titles of the student's choosing.
Administration response to that was no, saying the school could not
be held responsible for these books. I have since told the public
librarian this. She said we could possibly get around this if I
checked out the books in my own name. I am waiting for the right
moment to present this radical idea to my principal. I have zero
funds for ordering new materials. That's okay. I know we are
living in hard times, although the district did find over a hundred
thousand dollars to bring in a consulting firm to "help us" make
AYP. But I digress.
Any ideas on how I can bring this small district into the 21st
century? We are a rural community with many children reading below
grade level. As I reread this message, I realize it sounds
somewhat harsh and judgemental. I do my very best to come across
as a team player, and am polite and deferential to
administration. Even my students notice the hostile vibe,
however. One of my students actually said, "You know, they watch
you like you was a bigtime drug dealer." To which I replied,
"Huh?" And the children went on to explain that there was
frequently someone peering in the door, watching our every move,
much like the police drive by and monitor drug-house activity,
apparently.
I'm thinking of quitting and going back to nursing, which is what I
did years and years ago. Any suggestions?
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"What was once educationally significant, but difficult to measure,
has been replaced by what is insignificant and easy to measure. So
now we test how well we have taught what we do not value."
— Art Costa, emeritus professor, California State University
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