p.s. as a forewarning, yes this is long, no i didn't proofread... it's 11 oclock on a school night and i just couldn't sleep.. but i think it's a good reflection on what i've experienced this first year.
http://www.youtube.com/user/KauffmanFoundation#p/u/0/JPCeGrDWsLs
So I'll start by posting that, b/c that really motivates me and makes me realize how important the work of inner city teachers especially in the Kansas city region is. That video shows several of my friends who are working hard to make sure their students receive the best education that can be given to them.
I've decided that throughout the year I was an awful blogger... the only time I would think to blog was on really bad or really good days, and most of the time those were spent talking to others about my experiences or just resting and relaxing and trying to breathe in between grad school, school, planning, trying to keep up with old friends, making new friends, and discovering who I am as a person.
I have gained SOO much this year, both from my work, my students, being "an adult" and just reflecting on what I do and who i want to be. Even though I've got to say that I'm very excited for the year to be wrapping up, and looking forward to several months of summer, it's a bittersweet kind of feeling. i'm really going to miss seeing my kids faces everyday. Each one of them have touched me in a different way, and i know that I'm going to miss many things:
J-always making me things and telling me i'm the best teacher in the world
a-constantly getting out of her seat asking for affectoin, attention, and when i didn't give it acting out
G-showing SUCH phenomenal growth from the beginning to now, and actually TALKING in the classroom, to the point where i even have to tell him to be quiet! he raises his hand and shares!
T and T-answering questions i ask... IN SPANISH.. and responding.. IN SPANISH, without even realizing they are doing it
A-Hugging me every chance she gets, begging for a true mother figure in her life
D-missing so many days of school because of abuse and homelesness, but yet everyday she is in school working 10 X harder than all the rest.
T-with that sweet little smile, that he gives when he's embarassed that you're praising him
G-shouting out answers that have nothing to do with what i've asked, but sincerely wanting to be a part of the learning and trying again even when i say "what?!?!?"
J-knowing EVERY answer to EVERY question, and STILL raising his hand when i don't call on him because i want to give everyone else a chance to get it right
D and J-who ALWAYS ask what they can help me with, konw that they have a problem for talking, but within minutes of being reprimimanded are the first to write me a love letter begging for my forgiveness
V-out of uniform everyday, and usually late, but in reality it's never her fault, she's only 8
S-telling me so nonchalantly about robbers in her house, and people taking away her brother, yet knowing deep inside she holds a true sadness and pain
M-never working unless you hound him, but really showing growth knowing that i actualy believe in him, and that he is starting to believe in himself, he has afteral gotten 3 100%s!
and i really could go on and on, and i almost want to so i don't lose the memory of all these students who helped me get through my first year teaching. some days i feel like i did them such a diservice because really what do i know? i've never taught before, i'm kind of flying by the seat of my pants (and of coures all the advice/rules/recomendations of tfa nad grad school) but in reality... kind of feeling like i have no idea what i'm doing! But then looking at the progress my students have made, all growing in their reading, hopefully all getting proficient or close to it on the MAP, and looking at the progress i have made, knowing how to deal with problemed students, knowing how to crank out lesson plans that will succeed, knowing when something is about to flop....
all this has made me SOO excited for the new year, and even though i'm very sad, especially because i don't know where i'll be, in what grade, or with what students, i know that this year has prepared me for what is yet to come, and i hope that the same can be said of what i have done for my student's and their future lives.
Monday, May 17, 2010
Sunday, April 18, 2010
MAP TESTING BEGINS
SOO i really wish that I wrote in this more..
but i wanted to blog a little bit about last week!
so we have been preparing for the ever important MAP tests for MONTHS and they are finally here. we started last week on thurdsay with a 2 hr WRITING test... WHICH MY KIDS DID AWEsome@!
first they were quiet and sat still for 2 hrs..which i have been told is amazing for kids of my age in a classroom! 2nd they ALLLLL made webs before startin their writing then they all wrote at least one page! looking over their shoulders andnot being able to tell them (don't forget tha period! spacing! spelling!) but overall they really made me proud!!! one of my girls said "ms. gerlach that was easy! u were right! we were ready!!!"
then friday totally different story. they musta been tired from testing the day before, but they could not stop talking! chatty chatty chatty! i was excited b/c it was day 1 of my 6 day unit on earth day! This lesson went all right, but after that i could not get them quiet or under control in hte hallway, in between lessons etc.
i got to the point where i finally said, fine, instead of watching the movie (they were going to watch charlotte's web with the other class since we read that book in class) we are oing to put our heads on our desks til i say. a couple kids who had been great got to go see the movie immediately while the others sat there as i called them to the back of the classroom 1 by 1 to call parents. HOPEFULLY this makes htem aware the threat "no recess, i'll call your parents" is NOT an empty threat.haha
but i'm super excited about this week. we start language arts testing tues, wed, thurs,but there's not much i can do at this point but hope they remember what they've learned. AND i have a week worth of fun earth day lessons so i hope it goes well!!!
but i wanted to blog a little bit about last week!
so we have been preparing for the ever important MAP tests for MONTHS and they are finally here. we started last week on thurdsay with a 2 hr WRITING test... WHICH MY KIDS DID AWEsome@!
first they were quiet and sat still for 2 hrs..which i have been told is amazing for kids of my age in a classroom! 2nd they ALLLLL made webs before startin their writing then they all wrote at least one page! looking over their shoulders andnot being able to tell them (don't forget tha period! spacing! spelling!) but overall they really made me proud!!! one of my girls said "ms. gerlach that was easy! u were right! we were ready!!!"
then friday totally different story. they musta been tired from testing the day before, but they could not stop talking! chatty chatty chatty! i was excited b/c it was day 1 of my 6 day unit on earth day! This lesson went all right, but after that i could not get them quiet or under control in hte hallway, in between lessons etc.
i got to the point where i finally said, fine, instead of watching the movie (they were going to watch charlotte's web with the other class since we read that book in class) we are oing to put our heads on our desks til i say. a couple kids who had been great got to go see the movie immediately while the others sat there as i called them to the back of the classroom 1 by 1 to call parents. HOPEFULLY this makes htem aware the threat "no recess, i'll call your parents" is NOT an empty threat.haha
but i'm super excited about this week. we start language arts testing tues, wed, thurs,but there's not much i can do at this point but hope they remember what they've learned. AND i have a week worth of fun earth day lessons so i hope it goes well!!!
Wednesday, April 7, 2010
post spring break post
SOOOO today marks the last day of spring break. which means it's actually more work than ever (since i didn't do anything any other day) but it was TOTALLY worth it and wonderful to go home to see family friends and get to celebrate my birthday with them!
As i was sitting her i was working on a project for my special needs grad class.... and i realized that it actually helped me reflect on G my student with down syndrome and i wanted to share the last part of the report to help people see how working with a student like G has changed my view.
h. Reflective Narrative
I think that participating in this activity was extremely beneficial for I, as the teacher as well as G my student; we learned from one another. Going into the experience G was always the student in my class who sat in the back (where she would not really both me) and would be given a coloring page or a simple book to “read” to keep out of my way as I was trying to teach the rest of the students. This experience made me realize that she is ready for so much more than that.
During this experience I learned that G is able to learn quite a bit, even though it takes a lot more effort on the teacher’s part for her to learn. I learned that she IS able to read words (on a first grade reading level in English) and that she knows how to sound words out. I also learned that when pushed, she performs at a much higher level than when she is not given expectations. If you expect her to read a story with you, on most days she will read it.
I say on most days because G is not always the most predictable person; but when I thought about it, all my students have good and bad days. Even though on most days G can be expected to follow directions, stay on task and want to work hard, there are certain days where she will have no part of learning. I would get extremely frustrated with her because her demonstrations of refusal to learn are much more intense than other students (sitting under desk without moving, cursing out students, hitting her classmates). However, what I realized is that every single person in my class (including the teacher) has days they do not want to learn or to work hard. This does not mean that you should stop pushing the child but rather, that you have to work extra hard on those days to see what you can do to help the child learn even when they do not want to.
G proved to me that with developed strategies, such as using pictures to add or subtract, that she can perform and master material that in my years prior to working with students with down syndrome, I never thought would be possible. She can add like other students (not on her grade level, but once again on a first grade level). The only thing that still frustrates me about that, is that sometimes I wonder if she could do it without me. In class I always have to be with her every step of the way through problems. If we are subtracting I have to say: How much do we start with? How much do we take away? How much is left? This sometimes feels like “cheating” to me, but I think that I am starting to realize that it is ok to give her cues and other hints, because she does learn differently than other students, which is something I tell my students each and every day “We all learn differently.
The fact that we all learn differently is something that my students have come to comprehend in my class, but I worry that in the future years they might not be as understanding. I remember being a middle schooler and high schooler, and people that were different were always made fun of and often seemed miserable. Even though G is a happy little girl now and has lots of friends, I worry that this will change as she and her classmates get older. She is currently much smaller than all her classmates and I feel that this discrepancy, as well as her intellectual ability will cause her friends to slowly push away from her and choose other friends. I hope that this is not the case, and that I have taught my students that prejudice against people such as G is not right, and that we are all special and unique, but I fear that because they are only human and young kids, that the words of one or two teachers will not be able to combat the way they see students like G.
While this is a fear that I have for her and other students similar to her, I do know that students like G have much more hope than I ever believed prior to this experience. When I think about her and her accomplishments I am overwhelmed with the positive aspects that I find, and know that people’s ideas about others are changing as they become more comfortable and aware of people different than them. In order to understand others, one just needs to take some extra time, like I have with G, to really get to know a person and see them for who they are: all their strengths, and all their weaknesses.
As i was sitting her i was working on a project for my special needs grad class.... and i realized that it actually helped me reflect on G my student with down syndrome and i wanted to share the last part of the report to help people see how working with a student like G has changed my view.
h. Reflective Narrative
I think that participating in this activity was extremely beneficial for I, as the teacher as well as G my student; we learned from one another. Going into the experience G was always the student in my class who sat in the back (where she would not really both me) and would be given a coloring page or a simple book to “read” to keep out of my way as I was trying to teach the rest of the students. This experience made me realize that she is ready for so much more than that.
During this experience I learned that G is able to learn quite a bit, even though it takes a lot more effort on the teacher’s part for her to learn. I learned that she IS able to read words (on a first grade reading level in English) and that she knows how to sound words out. I also learned that when pushed, she performs at a much higher level than when she is not given expectations. If you expect her to read a story with you, on most days she will read it.
I say on most days because G is not always the most predictable person; but when I thought about it, all my students have good and bad days. Even though on most days G can be expected to follow directions, stay on task and want to work hard, there are certain days where she will have no part of learning. I would get extremely frustrated with her because her demonstrations of refusal to learn are much more intense than other students (sitting under desk without moving, cursing out students, hitting her classmates). However, what I realized is that every single person in my class (including the teacher) has days they do not want to learn or to work hard. This does not mean that you should stop pushing the child but rather, that you have to work extra hard on those days to see what you can do to help the child learn even when they do not want to.
G proved to me that with developed strategies, such as using pictures to add or subtract, that she can perform and master material that in my years prior to working with students with down syndrome, I never thought would be possible. She can add like other students (not on her grade level, but once again on a first grade level). The only thing that still frustrates me about that, is that sometimes I wonder if she could do it without me. In class I always have to be with her every step of the way through problems. If we are subtracting I have to say: How much do we start with? How much do we take away? How much is left? This sometimes feels like “cheating” to me, but I think that I am starting to realize that it is ok to give her cues and other hints, because she does learn differently than other students, which is something I tell my students each and every day “We all learn differently.
The fact that we all learn differently is something that my students have come to comprehend in my class, but I worry that in the future years they might not be as understanding. I remember being a middle schooler and high schooler, and people that were different were always made fun of and often seemed miserable. Even though G is a happy little girl now and has lots of friends, I worry that this will change as she and her classmates get older. She is currently much smaller than all her classmates and I feel that this discrepancy, as well as her intellectual ability will cause her friends to slowly push away from her and choose other friends. I hope that this is not the case, and that I have taught my students that prejudice against people such as G is not right, and that we are all special and unique, but I fear that because they are only human and young kids, that the words of one or two teachers will not be able to combat the way they see students like G.
While this is a fear that I have for her and other students similar to her, I do know that students like G have much more hope than I ever believed prior to this experience. When I think about her and her accomplishments I am overwhelmed with the positive aspects that I find, and know that people’s ideas about others are changing as they become more comfortable and aware of people different than them. In order to understand others, one just needs to take some extra time, like I have with G, to really get to know a person and see them for who they are: all their strengths, and all their weaknesses.
Tuesday, March 16, 2010
haha i love letters from kids....
after he got in trouble and sent out of the room (well actually he CHOSE to get sent out, i asked him)
Dear Mrs. Gerlach (apparently i'm married now ;))
I'am sory for guafing (goofing) off today and I will try to do good when I come back. Again I am sorry for dioponing (disapointing) you and how you are a great theather for me and you teach me olot of stuf and I preashated (appreciated). Like I said you are a very very very very very very GOOD teacher mrs. Gerlach!!!! :) (P.s. I am sorry Mrs. Gerlach).
Dear Mrs. Gerlach (apparently i'm married now ;))
I'am sory for guafing (goofing) off today and I will try to do good when I come back. Again I am sorry for dioponing (disapointing) you and how you are a great theather for me and you teach me olot of stuf and I preashated (appreciated). Like I said you are a very very very very very very GOOD teacher mrs. Gerlach!!!! :) (P.s. I am sorry Mrs. Gerlach).
Sunday, March 14, 2010
letter from a student :)
So to preface.. this student on mon/tue/wed/thurs told me he hated me multiple times and hated to be in my class and work;
letter receieved on friday:
Dear Ms. Gerlach,
You are the best teacher in the hole wide world you make me feel happy you make me shine like north star the brightest in history. You help me with my math graphs. Somteimes you can be upset but your still the best teacher.
Sincerly,
T W
letter receieved on friday:
Dear Ms. Gerlach,
You are the best teacher in the hole wide world you make me feel happy you make me shine like north star the brightest in history. You help me with my math graphs. Somteimes you can be upset but your still the best teacher.
Sincerly,
T W
email i sent
Hey Guys!
So I know most of you have probably heard about or seen Kansas City Schools in the news, radio other people, or somewhere. And I know that a lot of you have been concerned for me because I've been getting countless messages and e-mails (which i appreciate :)) Asking WHAT is going on in Kansas City and with their schools. To try and clear up what you're seeing in the papers I will let you know what information I have been given from more direct sources. (P.S. Sorry this is super long... but there is much to say :) )
The Kansas City Missouri School District is a district that like any big city has had its problems for a while, and has gone through superintendent after superintendent year after year. The current superintendent is the 2nd superintendent that they have had since IVE been in Kansas City so that tells you a little bit about how the leadership in this district has been for the past 20 or so years.
Because it is an inner city school district, there has always been a heterogenous group of students who attend the schools. There have been African American, Mexican, Indian, White, many different races but there has always been a divide between the races. This divide and the quality of some of the teachers in the district slowly pushed many of the wealthier families to leave the district in search of safer, more "academically sound" schools; either in Kansas City, Kansas or in the Suburbs. Because of this massive outpoor of students Kansas City, Missouri schools have been underenrolled for quite a while. Now that's not to say that ALL schools are underenrolled (for example i have 28 kids in my class, and our school is filled to capacity!) BUTTTTT a majority of the schools will have 17 or so students in a class which is not using funds very wisely.
This is what has caused the recent news of KCMO schools, is that the Superintendent decided to make a bold move, and close almost half of the schools. In reality, this is one of the best things a superintendent has done for the district in a while. EVen though it's very hard on the families and communities who have had schools in their neighborhoods for years (even my school is moving which saddens many of the staff who have worked there for years); it is actually a good plan to save money, keep only the best staff, and make sure that all schools are filled closer to full capacity.
What does that mean for me and other teachers? I went to a meeting yesterday with the head of Teach for America here who has been speaking with people such as our superintendent a lot in the past weeks. She has informed us that OF the "700" staff they are firing, only 285 are teachers. Of this 285 they are trying to get at least 200 of the 500 eligible teachers who can retire to retire with a benefit of 20,000 dollars. This would save actually save the district quite a bit of money. So that leaves about 85 teachers to be fired; of this 85, with natural attrition, and the fact that many teachers do NOT want to leave their schools and move, there is a good posibility that about 85 teachers will leave. This will give principals the chance to keep a majority of their staff that they feel is working to push the students of KC, and those who are not they can let go based on performance.
All in all we have been asured that we will have jobs next year. I know that promises can be futile, and that shit happens. BUT I feel pretty good about where we are now, the needs of the district, and the fact that us as Teach for AMerica teachers are making such gains with our students that we should not fear for our jobs. Because in the end we are really just here for our students and whatever is best for them is what we are here for.
I'm sorry that this email was super long. but i wanted everyone to get facts, and a insiders take on the situation.
i love and miss you all!
Sandy
So I know most of you have probably heard about or seen Kansas City Schools in the news, radio other people, or somewhere. And I know that a lot of you have been concerned for me because I've been getting countless messages and e-mails (which i appreciate :)) Asking WHAT is going on in Kansas City and with their schools. To try and clear up what you're seeing in the papers I will let you know what information I have been given from more direct sources. (P.S. Sorry this is super long... but there is much to say :) )
The Kansas City Missouri School District is a district that like any big city has had its problems for a while, and has gone through superintendent after superintendent year after year. The current superintendent is the 2nd superintendent that they have had since IVE been in Kansas City so that tells you a little bit about how the leadership in this district has been for the past 20 or so years.
Because it is an inner city school district, there has always been a heterogenous group of students who attend the schools. There have been African American, Mexican, Indian, White, many different races but there has always been a divide between the races. This divide and the quality of some of the teachers in the district slowly pushed many of the wealthier families to leave the district in search of safer, more "academically sound" schools; either in Kansas City, Kansas or in the Suburbs. Because of this massive outpoor of students Kansas City, Missouri schools have been underenrolled for quite a while. Now that's not to say that ALL schools are underenrolled (for example i have 28 kids in my class, and our school is filled to capacity!) BUTTTTT a majority of the schools will have 17 or so students in a class which is not using funds very wisely.
This is what has caused the recent news of KCMO schools, is that the Superintendent decided to make a bold move, and close almost half of the schools. In reality, this is one of the best things a superintendent has done for the district in a while. EVen though it's very hard on the families and communities who have had schools in their neighborhoods for years (even my school is moving which saddens many of the staff who have worked there for years); it is actually a good plan to save money, keep only the best staff, and make sure that all schools are filled closer to full capacity.
What does that mean for me and other teachers? I went to a meeting yesterday with the head of Teach for America here who has been speaking with people such as our superintendent a lot in the past weeks. She has informed us that OF the "700" staff they are firing, only 285 are teachers. Of this 285 they are trying to get at least 200 of the 500 eligible teachers who can retire to retire with a benefit of 20,000 dollars. This would save actually save the district quite a bit of money. So that leaves about 85 teachers to be fired; of this 85, with natural attrition, and the fact that many teachers do NOT want to leave their schools and move, there is a good posibility that about 85 teachers will leave. This will give principals the chance to keep a majority of their staff that they feel is working to push the students of KC, and those who are not they can let go based on performance.
All in all we have been asured that we will have jobs next year. I know that promises can be futile, and that shit happens. BUT I feel pretty good about where we are now, the needs of the district, and the fact that us as Teach for AMerica teachers are making such gains with our students that we should not fear for our jobs. Because in the end we are really just here for our students and whatever is best for them is what we are here for.
I'm sorry that this email was super long. but i wanted everyone to get facts, and a insiders take on the situation.
i love and miss you all!
Sandy
Thursday, March 11, 2010
interesting week
1 good day, and i implemeneted centers which were glorious :)
also a few articles.. enough said
http://www.nytimes.com/2010/03/11/us/11kansascity.html?scp=1&sq=kansas%20city&st=cse
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20100311/ap_on_re_us/us_closing_schools
http://www.democracynow.org/2010/3/11/headlines/kansas_city_announces_major_school_closures_layoffs
http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5itXI7J7kJ7Eka6sEx9IofeKycRqgD9ECN9C80
also a few articles.. enough said
http://www.nytimes.com/2010/03/11/us/11kansascity.html?scp=1&sq=kansas%20city&st=cse
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20100311/ap_on_re_us/us_closing_schools
http://www.democracynow.org/2010/3/11/headlines/kansas_city_announces_major_school_closures_layoffs
http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5itXI7J7kJ7Eka6sEx9IofeKycRqgD9ECN9C80
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