One of the few times where I have learned about something in college and actually got to see something take place was when our SPED6780 class was discussing Response to Intervention (RTI). While I was student teaching at a local school, there were two students that were participating in Tier 2 of RTI. I had no idea what they were doing while they were taken out of the general classroom, but now I know that they were getting one on one instruction with reading literacy from a reading specialist. It all came to me as an "ah-ha" moment in our last class and it was exciting for me to understand the ins and outs of RTI.
What excites me most is that one of the two students was able to test out of Tier 2 and stay with the general classroom for the whole day. This was a first grade classroom where all subjects were taught by one teacher. I'm happy to see that RTI is a pro-active program that allows a student having difficulty with a subject such as language arts test their way out of it so that they will not be pushed into special education if it is not needed. I like the idea of early intervention as well so that these students will be identified as soon as possible so that they will not end up in fifth grade not knowing how to construct a sentence or read/write a paragraph. RTI is one of those programs that makes sense.
Wednesday, September 29, 2010
Politics, Education, Employment
I noticed on the Today show that this is Education week and that President Obama shared his views on what will make our education system more competitive. His views revolve around the idea that, as a country, we need to lengthen our school year to an 11 month schedule. My first thought was that this is a ridiculous statement. Didn't we get into education so that we could have summers off and have two week Christmas vacations? Who does this guy think he is? Seriously though, it may be one of the only solutions that we as teachers will have if we continually complain about the lack of teaching time in order to prepare for the yearly tests that occupy the majority of our time.
I've always like the idea of a four day school week with during the regular school year; adding an hour or two a day to make up for the lost day would help with differential instruction. But adding two months would certainly make up for all time taken away teaching to the test. Think about it--more time in school means more time to teach everything from tying shoes to completing Bloom's taxonomy.
The sticky point about the view from the President is how will teachers be compensated for this extra time? Will teachers teach an extra two months out of the year out of the kindness of their heart? I doubt that very seriously. It is a job, and there are quite a few teachers who have to work a second job to make ends meet working 9 or 10 months out of the year. Like most ideas regarding education during an election cycle, this will probably get pushed under the rug, and deservedly so. Ideas like this should be kept as ideas unless there is financial backing to press it on. Would you ask a doctor to work two extra months out of the year without being compensated? Would a pilot agree to these terms? What about the secretary that writes these ideas in a government office? Think about the added cost to cool the schools during the summer and substitute teacher pay, bus drivers, cafeteria staff....these are all costs that will be added to a yearly budget that will have to be paid for regardless of teacher/administration/faculty pay. Our budgets are shoe string enough without the added time during summer and winter holidays.
I've always like the idea of a four day school week with during the regular school year; adding an hour or two a day to make up for the lost day would help with differential instruction. But adding two months would certainly make up for all time taken away teaching to the test. Think about it--more time in school means more time to teach everything from tying shoes to completing Bloom's taxonomy.
The sticky point about the view from the President is how will teachers be compensated for this extra time? Will teachers teach an extra two months out of the year out of the kindness of their heart? I doubt that very seriously. It is a job, and there are quite a few teachers who have to work a second job to make ends meet working 9 or 10 months out of the year. Like most ideas regarding education during an election cycle, this will probably get pushed under the rug, and deservedly so. Ideas like this should be kept as ideas unless there is financial backing to press it on. Would you ask a doctor to work two extra months out of the year without being compensated? Would a pilot agree to these terms? What about the secretary that writes these ideas in a government office? Think about the added cost to cool the schools during the summer and substitute teacher pay, bus drivers, cafeteria staff....these are all costs that will be added to a yearly budget that will have to be paid for regardless of teacher/administration/faculty pay. Our budgets are shoe string enough without the added time during summer and winter holidays.
Thursday, September 2, 2010
Politics, Employment, and Education
Hello to everyone! I am currently seeking my Master's degree in Special Education at MTSU. I wish I could tell you that I dreamed about pursuing my Master's immediately after graduating with a B.S./Interdisciplinary Studies in May 2010, but that would be untrue. I wanted to begin work at any number of Elementary schools in the middle Tennessee area since I am certified K-6. I found out the hard way that the majority of schools are not hiring, and the ones that are hiring have an endless supply of teachers that have been laid off because of budget cutbacks or the thousands that have graduated in the past few years.
One of my passions besides wanting to be an educator is politics. I love politics!! I love the mud-slinging, I love the different views, and I love the robotic answers that I hear from politicians when asked about a certain issue. One of the all-time greatest responses of any politician is that we need better schools, better teachers, better opportunities, more money for schools, more money for teachers, more this and more that. So, as a graduate, highly qualified and all, where is the proof that these political issues are being resolved? I see that GM and Dodge received plenty of help. I see where our technological infrastucture is being catered to. I see health care being treated. Mortage companies have been given a pass. Banks have been given aid. But what about our kids and their education? What about the individuals who have been trained to teach these kids and can't find a job? What happens to the politcal stances of a politician once elected?
With all of this said, I felt compelled to seek further education regarding Special Education. I still have hope that I can make a difference in a school setting. I want to educate our kids and I want to be prepared to teach these kids with all of the different teaching styles that I can possibly use by being trained in Special Education at MTSU. I'm sure that many other people share my same desire. I'm also sure many other people share my same confusion with politcal speak versus political action.
One of my passions besides wanting to be an educator is politics. I love politics!! I love the mud-slinging, I love the different views, and I love the robotic answers that I hear from politicians when asked about a certain issue. One of the all-time greatest responses of any politician is that we need better schools, better teachers, better opportunities, more money for schools, more money for teachers, more this and more that. So, as a graduate, highly qualified and all, where is the proof that these political issues are being resolved? I see that GM and Dodge received plenty of help. I see where our technological infrastucture is being catered to. I see health care being treated. Mortage companies have been given a pass. Banks have been given aid. But what about our kids and their education? What about the individuals who have been trained to teach these kids and can't find a job? What happens to the politcal stances of a politician once elected?
With all of this said, I felt compelled to seek further education regarding Special Education. I still have hope that I can make a difference in a school setting. I want to educate our kids and I want to be prepared to teach these kids with all of the different teaching styles that I can possibly use by being trained in Special Education at MTSU. I'm sure that many other people share my same desire. I'm also sure many other people share my same confusion with politcal speak versus political action.
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