1) My non-English-speaking student, who enrolled at our school two weeks ago, straight from Mexico, who cannot even read on a Kindergarten level, was transferred to the middle school because he is 11 years old. Mind you, this kid, poor thing, cannot navigate himself around an elementary school where he has ample support. However, our ESL department at Central Office seems to believe that based on his age, he is better suited for rotating schedules, exams, and larger buildings to get lost in. If age determines our level of comprehension and mastery, why do I have general education students ranging from age 9 to 12? Do these oh-so-intelligent directors know that in North Carolina parents are not mandated to enroll their children in Kindergarten until age 7? Well, so be it, the kid knows his body parts in English and a little bit of classroom vocabulary, let's promote him to middle school. I know my multiplication and division facts, can I have my Master's, please?
2) My ILT meeting, or Teacher Talk, as they have termed it, was an utter waste of my time and oh, about eight months LATE. These meetings are meant for teachers who are initially licensed, within their first four years of teaching, in order to offer guidance, support, etc. Basically, supposed to help us keep or sh*t straight. Today's topic: Teacher Evaluation Process, also known as the TEP. Over the course a school year, a teacher is to be evaluated using this instrument four separate times. Basically, each quarter of the year. The first three are to be done by administration and the last by a peer. These observations and all of the artifacts and documentation that accompany them are due on FRIDAY. People, it's Tuesday. This is pertinent information that would have been helpful at our first meeting in August. Luckily for me, I have mine covered, since they also mentioned that without this, your license is no longer valid. Poor men and women who raised their hands in disbelief. Wake up Central Office. Strike two for you today!
...glad I got that off my chest.
Now, for good stuff. Inspiration. This cool cat, Austin Kleon, is an artist who not too long ago published a book titled Newspaper Blackout. I read an article of his today and felt inspired. It's an article pieced together after a speech he gave. Meant for artists, I feel it is applicable to many. As I was reading, I caught myself thinking about my own creativity, career, and aspirations. Plus, I love when writers quote other works relevant to their writing, and he does. Click on the title and read, read, read. Hope you like!
His book looks pretty cool too. It's poetry; love! Instead of writing words, he blacks out words in articles that he doesn't need. Genius! I'm adding it to my list.
