Wednesday, September 24, 2008

Evidently, I am a Weakness

Imagine my surprise today when I walk into our conference room at FMS and see a poster from yesterday's Arkansas Leadership Academy meeting listing new teachers as one of the weaknesses of Fordyce Middle School.

Excuse me?

I tried my best not to get offended, but I can't help it.

Let me do some scenario setting for you.

I arrange my room each day so I can just walk in and start teaching. Some "seasoned teachers" rush around at 7:50am trying to get last minute copies made for 1st period.

I use High Yield Instructional Strategies almost daily in my room.
Some "seasoned teachers" are mad because the principal wants us to use ONE EACH MONTH.

I know about United Streaming and have been asking about it at our school for the last month.
Some "seasoned teachers" are technology illiterate and have no idea how to e-mail.

I have occasional discipline problems.
A "seasoned teacher" wants to put her 5th graders in my 8th grade tutoring class because "their personalities clash with the teacher's."
-I said no way, by the way.

I do my best to teach toward different learning styles as much as possible.
Some "seasoned teachers" complain about highlighting Bloom's verbs in their lesson plans.

I use graphic organizers at least 3-4 times a week.
Some "seasoned teachers" complain about having to use their copy machine limits in order to print lesson plans (when they can submit them via e-mail to save paper).

I already knew about most of the things addressed in our PLC meeting this afternoon thanks to the phenominal instruction by Dr. Hunnicutt, Dr. Zimmerly, Dr. Ghivan, Dr. Longing, and please forgive me if I left out anyone else.

I am young and have the energy to walk across the room.
Some "seasoned teachers" sit on their butts and teach from their desks and Elmo tables all day.

I am such a weakness to the school, yet no one has bothered to stick their head in my door and see for themselves that I am a weakness.

My literacy coach spends 4 out of 6 periods a day observing everyone but me.

While I am a weakness, my SPED kids are blowing the top off of my assignments, tests, and classwork.

One of my SPED kids does not want her work modified and can EXCEL with my normal classroom work.

Did I mention that I am the only 1st year content area teacher in the building?

Evidently, I am a weakness.

Obviously, I am not happy.
Is anyone else encountering these issues?

3 comments:

Dr. Z said...

Promise me you will never let anyone call you a "weakness". If and when that happens--call me and I will come beat them up! No kidding!

Sally said...

I thought about it. After all this time, that poster is still posted up in the conference room. I have to look at it every week. It burns me up. The nerve...

JoAnna said...

Sounds, to me, like typical Kingdom of God stuff... Inside out, upside down kind of world. Let them name away... and let the "weak" say, "I AM STRONG"!!! :)