Teacher's Diary

The End of the World

My kids are all hyped up about the end of the world. Tomorrow, apparently, we will all die. I'm guessing Saturday school attendance is going to be particularly low in light of these far more pressing events - which to me actually might be the end of the world.

To be honest, I'm getting nervous about the upcoming Regents exams, especially now that the Board of Regents wants to make student pass rates part of teacher evaluation. While I don't necessarily disagree with them on the importance of having more standardized measures for evaluating teachers, I'm concerned that schools like mine will become places where no one wants to work. Why would I work somewhere where students are several grade levels behind if I know my evaluation depends upon them passing a test that may be too high level for them.

I love working with high-need kids. I like the challenge of having to fight through years of baggage to get that one moment of understanding. It is tough and sometimes heartbreaking, and I know that I will have a fairly low pass rate. I imagine it will be exponentially greater than last year, but that doesn't mean it will be close to 100%. I strive to give every student a chance to pass the Regents, but I'm also being honest with myself that some won't have the lab hours, some won't show up for the test, some will show up and give up half way through. And every time they miss Saturday school, my students are missing out on the opportunity to learn even more.

Sometimes I worry that I am getting jaded, but I think I'm just more realistic this year than I was last year. I know I taught better and I know more student are going to pass for sure. But how many, I still couldn't tell you. I'm hoping maybe 30%, maybe even close to 50%, but I am also preparing myself that that may not happen.

I'm still trying to convince myself that that won't be the end of the world.

Photo of the Week - Red Rock Canyon

Last weekend, I spent a wonderful whirlwind 2 days in Las Vegas. I went to Death Valley around this time last year, but I had actually never spent any time in Las Vegas itself. Of course, being the science nerd I am, I ended up going hiking in Red Rock Canyon (where I took the photo above) instead of wasting the days in the casinos - though I gave those a brief try too. I highly recommend this scenic state park for anyone out in the area. It was spectacular, great views and a great hike, plus a lovely drive through the canyon to get to the trailhead. The rocks show beautiful sedimentary layers that certainly tell the ancient story of these hills. Thanks to my boyfriend for using his skills to process the photo!

Inquiry Teaching - A New Thing?

My roommate forwarded me a New York Times article about how scientists are developing new techniques for teaching science that improve student understanding. I was intrigued, since I'm always looking for ways to improve my teaching.

In the study, researchers looked at two undergraduate freshman physics classes. The classes were huge - over 260 students, according to the article - and most of the instruction was delivered traditional lecture style. In one of the classes, however, researchers went in during the 12th week and did experiential learning with students, having them engage with the material and answering their questions as they came up. The results: their experimental group did much better on a final test than the group that got only lecture.

My question: ...and...?

Is it really a new discovery that kids learn better when allowed to interact with the material, rather than sitting through passive lectures? My school, a public high school in New York City, was founded on the principle of teaching via inquiry three years ago and it had many older schools to look to for guidance. I read the article, very confused about how scientists think this is remotely a new idea. I have been teaching for a grand total of almost 2 years and I could have told you exactly the same thing this article did.

Usually, the world of secondary school is far behind in terms of up-to-date pedagogy. Researchers are constantly developing new and better techniques for teaching our students, and then it takes 5 or 10 or 15 years for it to trickle down to the classrooms and actually benefit the kids. However, that is not the case here. Public schools are already using inquiry teaching and the Universities, it seems, are the ones who need to catch up.

Dave Eggers on Teachers

I read an interesting article in the New York Times about teachers and teaching, check it out for yourself!

Basically, Eggers argues that teachers are underpaid and overworked (which they are) and that this is affecting the quality of our education system. Every year, a high percentage of teachers; natioinwide, 46% leave before they have completed 5 years. Eggers then offers solutions to these issues - namely, raising teacher salaries to attract the top tier of college graduates to become and stay teachers.

Many argue that the cost of our education system is too high already, but Eggers argues that we shouldn't blame teachers for flaws in the system, comparing that to blaming front line soldiers if a war isn't going well. No one would do that. And I would argue, isn't the education of our children the most priceless thing we have to offer? If teachers were more highly paid, teaching jobs would be sought after and more competitive, which would drive the best of the best to be placed in the classrooms. I think we all agree this would be better for the future leaders of our country - and the world.

Photo of the Week - Unconformity

 As we get towards the end of the school year, I am finally teaching my students about rocks and minerals and Earth History. I saved this unit until the end of the year this year because it is hands on and moves quickly, plus it is the largest portion of the Regents. I want it to be fresh in their minds when they walk into the test.

I have been saving this photo, taken by Bill Lesniak and generously shared via the ESPIRIT listserv, to present to both my students and my readers. It is a fabulous example of an unconformity, where the passage of time is shown in the missing layers between the folded, darker brown part of the rock and the lighter upper layer that still lies flat.

Once we have finished talking about what rocks and minerals are and figure out how to identify them, we will start talking about how landscapes change over time. This photo is great because it shows two processes, disturbance and weathering. The bottom layers have been deformed by a seismic event, while the missing layers have disappeared because of wind and water that has broken them down and eroded them away. The photo makes both things very clear.