Dr. Morrison stumbled upon an article in the Washington Post this weekend that we have shared with her EDU 200 students. I'd like to share it here, also. I'm including the link to the post as well as the text of the article for your benefit (and in case the link expires). We'd love to hear your comments on the topic of alternate routes to teacher licensure.
Did you know that JSRCC participates in a Career Switcher Program? Check it out HERE!
Teacher Has to Learn by Listening
By Mary Ellen Slayter
Sunday, March 16, 2008; Page K01
Q: I have not taken the traditional route to teaching -- I started after a few unsatisfying years in another career. Because I am teaching in a high-needs area, I was hired "conditionally" and have not finished my master's in education or my teaching certification. I recently had an observation meeting with my principal. She unfairly dumped on me, calling my teaching unmotivating, not fun, and saying it was obvious the student I was working with didn't like me. While I agree the lesson she observed had some flaws, I believe that a lot of these criticisms (and other things she has said) come from her belief that, as someone who does not have an undergraduate degree in education and has never done any student teaching, I am unfit to teach, period.
In my former job in the business world, I would have addressed this with the superior giving the evaluation. Here, I feel like that would be fruitless and would further alienate me, as everyone else in the school thinks this principal is great.
A: You're not the first new teacher to experience this problem -- except the problem isn't what you think it is.
"When you enter a school, you have to be humble," said Tara Williams, site manager for D.C. Teaching Fellows, an alternative teacher certification program geared toward career-changers. It takes time and a lot of work to become an effective teacher, she said, something that high-achievers coming from other fields often have a particularly hard time accepting.
And you do want to be good at this, right?
If so, you need to schedule a follow-up meeting with your principal (a.k.a. your boss), and this time really listen to her thoughts about what you are doing wrong. As you acknowledge, most of the people who work for her think she is great. That probably means she knows a thing or two about teaching.
"Your principal is your employer," Williams said. "Instead of saying 'I don't agree,' ask what you need to do to improve."
Perhaps your principal can pair you up with a mentor, or you can find one on your own. You want an experienced teacher you trust, and who will share honest feedback with you. Oh, and you have to actually listen to that person, too.
Williams said your assumption that your credentials (or lack thereof) are the problem might have been true five to 10 years ago, but it's an attitude that's rapidly disappearing. Principals care less about the route that people take to enter the profession, she said. "They just want people that make effective teachers."
Wednesday, March 19, 2008
Tuesday, March 11, 2008
We're Not Closed During Spring Break!
Good day, JSRCC Students and Friends!
While the CTE Students are away, the office staff has no time to play!
Well - there was a little time to play yesterday. Yesterday was a Professional Development Day for the Classified Staff here at JSRCC. That meant that Dr. Morrison had the day off while I spent the day attending professional development classes. Don't get me wrong, I took three wonderful classes!
My first of the day was "Hip Hop in Education". It talked about the influence of the Hip Hop Culture at JSRCC. It was really informative and I loved learning some of the history that I did not know. I also felt rather cool because I knew a lot of the songs, raps, videos, and artists that we talked about.
My second class of the day was "Unlocking the Body's Innate Intelligence". This was an incredible class taught by a local chiropractor. He wasn't pushing his business (though he did give out cards at the end), but instead spoke to us about the body's ability to heal. He talked about America being over-medicated (I can't agree more) and how some of those medications are more detrimental than we think they are. It was a very informative talk and he may just have talked me into needing an adjustment. I have experienced migraine headaches and lower back pain since I was in high school (quite a while ago). He also had migraines until he began to have his spine adjusted. After that, he hasn't had a single one. Of course, he also gets regular adjustments. It was really interesting and I really enjoyed learning from him.
Lunch came next - Homemade's By Suzanne! After a little coercing of the tables around me, I was able to play musical desserts to get everyone what they wanted (including getting myself some chocolate pie instead of bread pudding). The speaker was great and encouraged us to use "Dibs & Fives", something he's learned from his teenage sons and their friends. We were encouraged to take "Dibs" on our students, claiming for them a great college experience that we help shape, and "Five" minutes of our time to help shape that experience. It was very encouraging!
My final class of the day was following lunch - "Introduction to Pilates". This was taught by the owner of a gym located just a couple minutes from JSRCC's Parham Road Campus, New Fitness for Ladies. Well, we did get quite an introduction! I was so sore following that class! We also got invited to come experience the gym for free and to have a membership for only $20 a month! I may have gotten roped into that one, too. I need to join a new gym and having one that is convenient is key. Yes, I work at the Downtown Campus, but I go up 95 to Parham Road to go home. I can hit the gym right after getting off the interstate.
My other goal this week- to get my final 12 placements confirmed and completed. Yes! You read that correctly! I only have 12 placements to go! Two of those are already tentatively placed, Nine of them are still waiting for an answer, and for one placement I have had to go to the student to ask for more options. This is incredible. I made much better progress this semester than in any other semester!
Well, that is all for now. We are in this week, though our schedule may be a little off from normal. For example, we will be spending some time in the morning at Thomas Jefferson High School talking with a group of students who will be in our pilot pre-college Urban Teachers Academy this summer.
I hope you are all having a WONDERFUL Spring Break! Do not party too hard & keep lathering on that sun screen. (Yeah, right! Like you are checking this from the beach!)
We'll see you back here on Monday, March 17!
~Evelyn Cronin
While the CTE Students are away, the office staff has no time to play!
Well - there was a little time to play yesterday. Yesterday was a Professional Development Day for the Classified Staff here at JSRCC. That meant that Dr. Morrison had the day off while I spent the day attending professional development classes. Don't get me wrong, I took three wonderful classes!
My first of the day was "Hip Hop in Education". It talked about the influence of the Hip Hop Culture at JSRCC. It was really informative and I loved learning some of the history that I did not know. I also felt rather cool because I knew a lot of the songs, raps, videos, and artists that we talked about.
My second class of the day was "Unlocking the Body's Innate Intelligence". This was an incredible class taught by a local chiropractor. He wasn't pushing his business (though he did give out cards at the end), but instead spoke to us about the body's ability to heal. He talked about America being over-medicated (I can't agree more) and how some of those medications are more detrimental than we think they are. It was a very informative talk and he may just have talked me into needing an adjustment. I have experienced migraine headaches and lower back pain since I was in high school (quite a while ago). He also had migraines until he began to have his spine adjusted. After that, he hasn't had a single one. Of course, he also gets regular adjustments. It was really interesting and I really enjoyed learning from him.
Lunch came next - Homemade's By Suzanne! After a little coercing of the tables around me, I was able to play musical desserts to get everyone what they wanted (including getting myself some chocolate pie instead of bread pudding). The speaker was great and encouraged us to use "Dibs & Fives", something he's learned from his teenage sons and their friends. We were encouraged to take "Dibs" on our students, claiming for them a great college experience that we help shape, and "Five" minutes of our time to help shape that experience. It was very encouraging!
My final class of the day was following lunch - "Introduction to Pilates". This was taught by the owner of a gym located just a couple minutes from JSRCC's Parham Road Campus, New Fitness for Ladies. Well, we did get quite an introduction! I was so sore following that class! We also got invited to come experience the gym for free and to have a membership for only $20 a month! I may have gotten roped into that one, too. I need to join a new gym and having one that is convenient is key. Yes, I work at the Downtown Campus, but I go up 95 to Parham Road to go home. I can hit the gym right after getting off the interstate.
My other goal this week- to get my final 12 placements confirmed and completed. Yes! You read that correctly! I only have 12 placements to go! Two of those are already tentatively placed, Nine of them are still waiting for an answer, and for one placement I have had to go to the student to ask for more options. This is incredible. I made much better progress this semester than in any other semester!
Well, that is all for now. We are in this week, though our schedule may be a little off from normal. For example, we will be spending some time in the morning at Thomas Jefferson High School talking with a group of students who will be in our pilot pre-college Urban Teachers Academy this summer.
I hope you are all having a WONDERFUL Spring Break! Do not party too hard & keep lathering on that sun screen. (Yeah, right! Like you are checking this from the beach!)
We'll see you back here on Monday, March 17!
~Evelyn Cronin
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