I live by the "It is better to ask for forgiveness than permission" in my world. When I take something and use my name for it, it is MY responsibility. Kim
On Sun, Oct 4, 2009 at 12:34 PM, Renee <[email protected]> wrote: > 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? >> >> >> >> >> >> _________________________________________________________________ >> Hotmail: Trusted email with powerful SPAM protection. >> http://clk.atdmt.com/GBL/go/177141665/direct/01/ >> _______________________________________________ >> Mosaic mailing list >> [email protected] >> To unsubscribe or modify your membership please go to >> http://literacyworkshop.org/mailman/options/mosaic_literacyworkshop.org. >> >> Search the MOSAIC archives at http://snipurl.com/MosaicArchive. >> >> > "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 > > > > > _______________________________________________ > Mosaic mailing list > [email protected] > To unsubscribe or modify your membership please go to > http://literacyworkshop.org/mailman/options/mosaic_literacyworkshop.org. > > Search the MOSAIC archives at http://snipurl.com/MosaicArchive. > > -- Kim ------- Kimberlee Hannan 7th CORE-ELA & WH Sequoia Middle School Fresno, California 93702 The best teachers teach from the heart, not from the book. ~Author Unknown [email protected] _______________________________________________ Mosaic mailing list [email protected] To unsubscribe or modify your membership please go to http://literacyworkshop.org/mailman/options/mosaic_literacyworkshop.org. Search the MOSAIC archives at http://snipurl.com/MosaicArchive.
