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).
Tuesday, March 16, 2010
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
Saturday, February 27, 2010
doing my school's website
it's kinda tricky b/c even though i've done websites before this one has all kinds of crazy html codes and such but it's coming along! :)
take a look
http://www.kcmsd.net/schools/home2.asp?schoolid=58
take a look
http://www.kcmsd.net/schools/home2.asp?schoolid=58
Tuesday, February 23, 2010
1/2 way through 3rd quarter!
i can't believe it.... even though days and weeks are long... the time seems to go by so fast! hard o explain really...
but this week is going good so far! which is nice and welcome over last week. last week i got soo frustrated with the kids, and then i realized it was b/c we were both TIRED of work work work work work and needed more fun in the classroom- so this week we're sitll working REALLY HARD (get smart my kids would yell) but we're also including fun and some sillliness (like my leprachaun hat i put on when we do MAP prep)
yesterday was an interesting day. we had school.. when it hsoulda been a snow day caues the roads were soo bad. bu we had it, nad i had 10 out of 26 kids! which was great. i got to 1-on-1 tutor each kid, and really work with kids who really needed it.
AND i didn't get frustrated or annoyed once1 today i dind't either.. i just gotta really work on that and not take things personally! they aren't OUT to attack me, and if they are soo what, they're little kids!
just getting back into the groove of grad school and school and tutoring spanish after school 2 nights a week now, but handling it well soo far! and getting excited that even though it's SUPER cold the days are getting longer which means i can walk the puppy more :)
and getting excited to go to chicago in 2 weeks to visit wonderful friends!
but this week is going good so far! which is nice and welcome over last week. last week i got soo frustrated with the kids, and then i realized it was b/c we were both TIRED of work work work work work and needed more fun in the classroom- so this week we're sitll working REALLY HARD (get smart my kids would yell) but we're also including fun and some sillliness (like my leprachaun hat i put on when we do MAP prep)
yesterday was an interesting day. we had school.. when it hsoulda been a snow day caues the roads were soo bad. bu we had it, nad i had 10 out of 26 kids! which was great. i got to 1-on-1 tutor each kid, and really work with kids who really needed it.
AND i didn't get frustrated or annoyed once1 today i dind't either.. i just gotta really work on that and not take things personally! they aren't OUT to attack me, and if they are soo what, they're little kids!
just getting back into the groove of grad school and school and tutoring spanish after school 2 nights a week now, but handling it well soo far! and getting excited that even though it's SUPER cold the days are getting longer which means i can walk the puppy more :)
and getting excited to go to chicago in 2 weeks to visit wonderful friends!
Friday, February 5, 2010
what a wonderful day
well right now it's snowing like carzy outside... but of course we're still in school, so weird to me.. haha
but anyways it has been a wonderful mornign and i wanted to share.
first i gave a test and ALL MY LOW KIDS (consistently scoring low) kids scored 100% or at least A's! I was soo excited and so were they!
2nd two of my english speaking students answered their FIRST EVER QUESTSIONS in spanish.. i was very excited :) VERY VERY excited, it was simple, it was something i say everday but they said it IN SPANISH!!! WOOO HOOOO!
and it's friday, i really can't complain, hope the evening goes the same
what a welcome from the past few days of crazinesss, and yestyedays 8-7:30 parent teacher conferences (42 out of 50 paretns!) so exciting :)
but anyways it has been a wonderful mornign and i wanted to share.
first i gave a test and ALL MY LOW KIDS (consistently scoring low) kids scored 100% or at least A's! I was soo excited and so were they!
2nd two of my english speaking students answered their FIRST EVER QUESTSIONS in spanish.. i was very excited :) VERY VERY excited, it was simple, it was something i say everday but they said it IN SPANISH!!! WOOO HOOOO!
and it's friday, i really can't complain, hope the evening goes the same
what a welcome from the past few days of crazinesss, and yestyedays 8-7:30 parent teacher conferences (42 out of 50 paretns!) so exciting :)
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