When I went to grad school my favorite master teacher there
always talked about the small things that make it or break it for student
success. He taught us the importance of
making sure all papers given to students were three hole-punched so that they
could go into their binders, about the nuances of grading that could keep a
student that didn’t turn in a final project, but learned the science from
failing.
When it comes to our success I think it is the small things that
make the difference too. The two other
physical science teachers that I work with are at the opposite sides of the
building for me so I never see them to talk about common assessments or lessons
that worked well. We share supplies so
science teachers spend a lot of time walking the halls to get what we need to
run class. Small “one time” meetings
here and there have prevented our PLC group from working together on a Wednesday
for well over a month. The small things
done during scheduling keep us apart too.
An extra new math class for a teacher to teach or volatile combinations of
struggling students in the same periods, these seem like small things, I'm sure, when the huge job of master scheduling is in front of you, but they eat away at our time and effect student success.
What do you think?
What small things eat away at your time and sanity?
What small things eat away at my sanity? I could fill volumes with that! But I will just mention things like...
ReplyDelete...the seven period day (as opposed to 5 or 4) with tiny periods that eliminate much time for the guided practice and shared work time.
...the well-meaning parents/counselors/admin/secretaries/coaches who want up to date information as soon as a student hands something in.
...the number of colleagues who are too busy/tired/overworked to have meaningful conversations on a regular basis to provide support to each other (we used to have an atmosphere for this, not sure where it went.
...the well-meaning parents/counselors/admin/secretaries/coaches who have so many activities for kids that they miss a lot of class. (As OAKS tester, I contribute to that somewhat as well.
Well, you asked!