Where does the accountability lie? November 24, 2009

One of the distinguishing differences of my charter school is that we provide students opportunities to learn at their challenge level.  This has been difficult to define and also to implement.  We’ve attempted to level the students as best as we can although it is very tricky.

One of the greatest problems with this leveling system is that accountability seems to be lost.  As a colleague put it, I feel partially responsible for 60+ students and not fully accountable for any of them.

I only have a handful of my students all day.  The rest are taught also by the other two fifth grade teachers in an attempt to challenge the students at their level.  However, I’ve encountered the accountability conundrum these last couple weeks.  I have a student from my home class that is performing poorly in spelling.  I am not her spelling teacher yet I feel responsible since I am the one who will report her grades.  I drafted an email to her parents last week when I recognized that she had two weeks of bad test scores, but I never sent it.  I couldn’t offer any specific suggestions for their daughter, because I didn’t have any anecdotal notes.  I spoke with the student briefly in the hall to attempt to find out information.  I was still at a loss.  Do I not say anything and trust that her spelling teacher is intervening?

I teach a split class for math of 15 students working out of an above grade level text book and 9 students working out of a grade level text.  This means that 7 of my homeroom students are being taught by the other two fifth grade teachers.  I just received emailed test scores from the most recent math test.  Three of my homeroom students who are  being instructed by another teacher scored D’s or F’s.  One student only got half of the questions right.  HALF.  Am I supposed to intervene with these students?  Or do I trust that this other teacher is re-mediating appropriately?

I’m worried about the academic success of the students.  And I’m also worried about my professional success.  The 7 math students and 20 Language Arts students of mine that are being instructed by the other two teachers will take end-of-level tests under my name.  I may never teach them these subjects this entire year, yet their scores will reflect on my competency as a teacher as viewed by the state office of education and the federal government.  How much do I trust these other two teachers?

Discouraged October 27, 2009

I’m so ridiculously discouraged right now.  The students took a unit test on the Renaissance this morning.  Their scores are looking horrific.  They have unit test for science this afternoon.  I hope they do better on the science test.  If not, I’ll feel like a failure as a teacher.

It’s days like today September 14, 2009

I woke up with an awful headache.  I really wanted to stay in bed.  But I’m still not set up for a substitute, so that wasn’t even an option.  My students were all very talkative.  They were in and out of their seats.  It was almost impossible to keep their attention at times.

I don’t know if my headache caused me to be annoyed easier or if my students really were out of control.  Either way, it’s days like today that make me wish I was still in college with a more lax schedule.

Possibly the most brilliant thing I’ve done to date August 5, 2009

I sent out an email last night with the three surveys attached that I last posted about.  It is quite possibly the most brilliant thing I’ve done in my teaching (very short) career.

I already have three responses back.  The information shared in those three responses is critical.  I have a better understanding of what my parents’ ideals and expectations are, and I already feel as though I know these students.  The service hours survey has already provided me with some good ideas to effectively use my willing volunteers in the classroom.  One parent is a certified fitness instructor and is willing to teach the students about health and fitness and even teach a kids yoga class.  Another parent speaks German and has lived and traveled overseas.  She is willing to share her experiences.

I couldn’t be more elated right now.  I knew that if my parents and students filled these surveys out that I would get some good information, I just didn’t realize how valuable it would be.  I’m excited to get the rest of the repsonses.

A message home August 4, 2009

I have an email to my families ready to send out as soon as I get my Excelsior email (which is supposed to be today).  This email will include a brief introduction of myself, but its primary purpose is to obtain information from my parents and students.

I created three surveys using surveymonkey.  Surveymonkey is an awesome website that will let you establish a free account (or a paid account for more services) to create surveys of up to 10 questions.  They have a variety of question styles, from text box to multiple response, to fit your needs.

The first survey is directed toward the parents/guardians.  Since Excelsior is a choice school, I wanted to find out why these families chose to enroll there.  The first three questions will hopefully allow them to articulate their expectations for the school and their student’s experience so that we can work together to exceed these expectations.  The latter half of the survey is to find out information about their student academically and socially.  Preview (and recreate if desired) the parent/guardian survey.

The second survey is for the student to fill out.  The focus of this survey is to find out the students’ interests so that I can incorporate these things in the classroom as often as possible.  This will personalize their education experience and contribute to the realization of a focus of the school’s vision–creating life-long learners.  Preview the student interest survey.

Excelsior families are requested to contribute 40 hours of service to the school per year.  I know how valuable time is to a busy parent, so I want to maximize it by providing efficient and meaningful service opportunities that match their desire and talents.  I created a survey to find out when they would be available, what they would enjoy doing, and their talents/special skills that could be possibly be matched to a need that may arise later.  Preview the service hours survey.

If you’ve stumbled upon this blog, then let me tell you about one of my philosophies.  I fully support the open content and open source movement in technology.  I appreciate that the work and brilliance of others is shared so freely with the option to take what someon else has done and tweak it to better fit your needs or to add to it to make it more amazing.  Feel free to take any of my work or thoughts and run with them.  If you like my surveys, take them.  Create your own surveymonkey account and make identical surveys.  If you like one question and hate the rest, take the one and make the rest more amazing.  When you are done, if you are proud of it and find it useful for others, post it on your blog/website or leave a link in my comment box.  That way, there is the potential to share it with others thus saving them thought/creation energy.

First contact

I got my first parent email today.

It was lovely.

My director has been meeting with all of the families to outline the vision of the school and to begin a relationship with each family that will lead to amazing success for our school.  I am really impressed with his decision to do meet with each family.  It really personalizes the school experience.

A parent of one of my students met with him today and asked for my email address.  She stated that she hoped I didn’t mind that she already contacted me.  I don’t mind at all!  I am quite excited to already be making those personal contacts.  She is so excited for this school and said that she will do anything and everything she can despite her busy schedule of working full time and going to school to support me, her son, and his classmates.

Wow.  I am floored.  I knew that there was great potential for family support since this is a choice school, but I am so incredibly grateful to be reassured that I have a great support system.  It is parents like her that will make this school and my first year the best.

An introduction August 3, 2009

I graduated this past spring from Dixie State College in St. George, Utah with a Bachelor of Science in Elementary Education.  I accepted a job at Exclesior Academy in Erda, Utah, because I was impressed with the vision for the school.  I’ll be teaching 5th grade.

I’m excited and nervous and trying not to be overwhelmed.  I am confident in my abilities and my training, but I just don’t know exactly what to expect.  Fortunately, the fear of the unknown is keeping me humble and thus forcing me to think more about the upcoming year.

Excelsior Academy is a charter school and brand new this year.  As I type, construction continues on the building.  It is scheduled to be completed on August 14.  I’m hoping, praying, knocking on wood, all while crossing my fingers that it will be completed on time and that we will receive all our supplies in a timely fashion so that we can open as scheduled on August 24.

The facultly is from all over the United States representing such locations as Maine, New Hampshire, Georgia, Florida, Texas, Nebraska, Iowa, Michigan, Wyoming, and Washington with three colleagues recently teaching in a remote location of Northwest Alaska.  I’m excited for the diversity and hope that we all bring the best of our backgrounds and experiences to the table.  This diversity has the potential to create the best school around.