Lord give me patience at School

[kitkatz]

I found out Monday all of my students have Biography History projects and Science Projects due around the same time the first two weeks of January. Oh hell!   You know RSP (LEarning disabled) students will not do major projects without alot of time and help, as well as pushing from me. So my lesson plans have gone the hell in a handbasket while we do science research papers and  biography papers this year.  It is even crazier because I have 56 students in 6th and 7th grade this year.
My aide and I are going to go nuts! 

Assignments:
Biography Paper
     Research- read and put into their own words
     Notes on person- I have a chart for them to fill out.
     Introductory paragraph
     Write rough draft
     Have teacher proofread and make corrections
     Rewrite into final draft form
     Title page
     Bibliography
Then they have to make a project of some sort from their research!

Science Project
Find project get it okayed by teacher- I have tons of science project books I collected over the years.
Research the topic.
Notes
Write research paper
Do experiment
Keep notebook on experiment
Write up exeriment in science notebook
Add research paper to notebook
Bibliography
Title page
Science project mini board
Big display board if going to science fair


Let me repeat 56 kids have all of this to do. Someone shoot me please!

Twirl can you come to California for two weeks and help out? 


     

[jessup]

Hooley Dooley
Kids her in the top end go on 6 weeks holiday starting next Friday.

Wow "your" curriculum learning outcomes seem different to "mine".
We have individual learning outcomes for all special needs students.  Plus at most of the schools up here (or down here - depending where you are in the world) have inclusive policy which means children with learning difficulties are not segregated from the so called "normal" students.  In my class I have 18 students "at risk" (that's what the ed. dept. labels such students)and 5 students who reach national benchmarks. 

My suggestion is .....................................
run and hide   
Win tatt's (Tattslotto- think you have Golden Basket) and no need to work 

[MIbarra]

Notes, research, and bibliographies, OH MY!

Why do they pack those things in right around the holidays?

Ugh.. we have testing next week and all the kids want to think about is S-A-N-T-A!

[Mimi]

Oh woe is me.  Poor kids and poor Kat, too.  It would be hard for regular students to get all that done, much less learning disabled kids.  And right here at the holiday's.  That's a bum, bum, bummer.

Mimi

[skyedogrocks]

All teachers are SAINTS.  I don't know how you guys do it, you are amazing  .  My son has ADHD,but he is very smart (always on the honor roll).  I dread the report he gets each month because writing is so not a talent of his.  I start out with a ton of patience and by the time the report is due, I'm twitching. 

[kitkatz]

I have my big stick out every day and am getting them to work on their projects. They get to choose which one they are working on each day. They can switch when they get tired of one.

[kitkatz]

I need even more patience. I have been told today that all IEP paperwork has to be done before the CST test in April and I have to redo a page on all of the IEPS I already did and have parents come in and sign them.  I am sick, sick sick. In addition I have to fill out a two page form on the kids CST performance, on the assessments, class assessments and how they do in class.  This all because of a modified CST test our principal wants the RSP kids to take.  God help me. I may go nuts.  This is in addition to all the teaching I am doing already! Plus the twenty or so IEPS I have to do already. 

AAAUUURRGGGHHH! 

[petey]

kitkatz,
I hear your pain and frustration.  Though I'm a "regular ed" teacher, I, too, have mounds and mounds of paperwork (though not nearly as much as the special ed teachers with all those IEPs).  I absolutely LOVE teaching -- well, the actual "teaching" part of it.  I absolutely HATE, HATE, HATE all the paperwork we have to do.  Just planning lessons, teaching classes, and grading papers is enough for any one human to do; add all the "paper trails" we have to keep to that mix, and it's sometimes just too much.  When I first started teaching (21 years ago), I don't remember having this much extra paperwork to do.  It seems like we have more, and more, and more forms to fill out and folders to keep than we used to.  Teaching has certainly changed in the last two decades.

[twirl]

this makes  me homesick for teaching
I miss it so much and I love making tests and grading and bulletin boards
I could do without the ard papers and case managers
but I miss it
it was so much fun
I had junior high and yes, I still miss it

[Katonsdad]

Wow . All that work .....My sons teacher is not even doing spelling
home work for the next 2 weeks .

He has an indian project to do this weekend and thats all.

Katonsdad

[thegrammalady]

kit, you must have my sister's "class from hell" from a few years ago.....no those were first graders. she told her principal that year it was time to retire and raise puppies..... hang in there i know you can do it. your students need you. i know you are wonderful and they do too.

[kitkatz]

Plus today the school server went down! No internet, which means no research for the science or history projects. No attendance being taken.  God help me.  I am going to go to the gym and work out today, then I am going to the liquor store!

[del]

Can I come to the liquor store with you kit???    Pleeeeese!!!  I have 20 grade 2's.  10 of them are well below grade level in reading. at least 5 are super hyper and even more so this close to Christmas. I have had to use my    several times in the pass week or so.  And the paper work - We don't have any of that to do    I am so sick of paperwork most of which is usually stuck in some drawer and never looked at!!!  We are practicing for our Christmas program and that is crazy    Thank God we get out for Christmas vacation next Friday. 

[kitkatz]

I asked my principal for a day to do the paperwork that was handed to me. Hopefully next Wednesday I will get the 58 pages of forms i have to fill out completed. He was cool with the request. We shall see.

[Lucinda]

Come over to Oz, Kit.  Our kids have twice as many holidays as anyone else!  You could do a teacher exchange and holiday here while they work over there.  I don't know how teachers do it.  I hated school and my teachers had to wear it.  We did Robin Hood for end of year play one year and I played Maid Marion and I had to call out to Friar Tuck when Robin Hood was shot with an arrow.  So, I called out Friar Tuck, Friar Tuck, come quickly, come quickly.  Only it came out as Triar a F... Totally an accident, but that was it for me at the strictest of strict catholic private girl's school.  OK, OK.  I'll take the bit stick....I deserve it!! xx

[jbeany]

Triar F. . . .
 

[kitkatz]

I am up to student 12 tomorrow on the new paperwork out of 24. Sigh! 

[okarol]

You better just stay home to finish. 

[kitkatz]

No, no I left the work on the desk at school!

[Bajanne]

All this reminds me why I should be glad I am not teaching anymore.  But I MISS IT!!!!

However, it seems that I got out just at the right time.  My former colleagues have been giving me horror stories about how they seem to be searching for ways to tighten the screws on teachers every month!!!   All the paper work has been increased.   They are now changing to a new online system where parents can access it 24/7, checking on homework, grades, etc.  this means that all work has to be totally up to date, everyday! or they will hear about it!!
Everything has increased except the pay!!!

[kitkatz]

I did the extra paperwork and got it done Tuesday afternoon.    Then today I graded the persuasive essays.  Third period did good, 5th left a lot to be desired.  I have 6th grade history project papers to grade, but it is good now!  I told the other 6th grade special day class teacher she was banned from my room because every time she cones over she brings me work!  Our district is nuts!  Oh well!   TWo more days till Christmas vacation!
 

[kitkatz]

How many pieces of paper work have I done this week?

Let's see.

Computer excell sheets taped together with test scores of kids =  8
2 page form for 24 kids =  48
A one page essay from 27 7th graders= 27
A three page report, title page, research, paper, bibliography from 22 6th graders =66
Not to mention getting articles off of the net for kid's research= 100 at least
And finding pics of ancient people on the net = 100 at least

We did so much printing I ran the color and black ink out on y desktop printer and had to ask for more from the school secretary!

So I am a bit tired of paperwork already.

Tomorrow?
I have Lesson plans to write for January.
IEP meeting notice for January to get out.


AAAAAUUUURRRRGGGGHHHHHHHH!   

[kitkatz]

The madness is over and done with!   The paper work race is done. Every sixth grader turned in a research paper to me this week and they are graded! Hot damn!


I just have a month's worth of lesson plans to put together in two weeks. 

[kitkatz]

I have written the first two weeks of lesson plans today. I wrote nineteen lesson plans. Two complete story outlines put into lesson plans and math plans covering fractions.   This the form I have to fill out for each plan I write for each day or lesson. Remember I teach 6th and 7th grade RSP Language arts and 6th grade math!  Nineteen of these suckers are done! Cannot type or think


Name:   K.Soto         Day:           Date:

Subject:Language Arts      Grade level: 6

Objectives:

CA Standards:

Materials:

Key Terms/Vocabulary:

Anticipatory Set:


Differentiated Instruction:
ELL:
RSP:
GATE:

Direct Instruction
Input:
Modeling
Checking for Understanding:
Guided Practice:
Independent Practice:
Closure:

Homework:

Self Reflection:

[okarol]

What a vacation you've had!