Reply #154: Not to mention modifying curriculum to meet the needs of sped kids [View All]

yet challenging and engaging those who are "gifted." Hm.... how about matching test questions to state standards?

My guess is those dissing the value of pedagogy think teaching means standing in front of a group of kids and spewing "facts" that the kids absorb and regurgitate on an exam thus proving that the teacher is great. Wow. Kids can memorize. Obviously, those of us in the trenches know that this scenario out of Leave It to Beaver does not engage kids or challenge them to think critically or meet the needs of kids who don't fit the mold.

But, what can we teachers do? There's no convincing these armchair education experts who think that since they've been to school they know how to do our jobs. Well, there is one way to convince them and P2B offered it up: come do my job for an hour, for a day. Plan to spend two days prepping for it, you know, aligning the lesson to the state and district curriculum, noting the modifications for the sped students and documenting them, preparing the "manipulatives" or lab materials, handouts, powerpoint/other lecture materials that will be used. Pencil in time for parent emails/phone calls, discipline issues that might arise, attendance recording, grading and recording, helping/mentoring colleagues as necessary, chatting with students, observing student behavior and being alert for the need to refer students whom you suspect might be harming themselves or be in danger to the social worker, be aware of students who are facing difficulties with concepts/reading/math/processing and who should be referred for sped testing, and of course, pee and have lunch when you have a second or two here and there. Did I forget anything? Oh yeah, make sure you have a really thick skin to protect you from the shit thrown your way by every idiot who's been to school and think your job is easy.