Tuesday, March 30, 2004
Scary Parent...
I have a little boy in my class that can barely read. His Grandma and Auntie bring him to school and even showed up for his "Parent" Conference in November. In February I had to make a list of potential hold-overs for next year (kids that are basically struggling big time and may repeat third grade next year). This little boy was on the list (along with 10 others from my class) and his parents received a letter in the mail explaining the situation.
Enter the Scary Parent. This boy's father got the letter and was outraged and stormed into the school last month. This was the first I'd heard from him all year. He showed up during school and the Security Officer downstairs called me and I set up a time to meet with this dad. I had been warned by the Auntie (really nice woman) that this Dad could be a little hard to handle and I should have "back-up" when meeting with him. So, after I set up the time to meet with him (the following day during my prep time), I talked with my Assistant Principal to make sure she was in on the meeting. The next day I waited in the office for this man and he never showed up. I wasted 45 minutes waiting around for this "concerned" parent and he never showed. Typical. While I was at lunch that afternoon he came in expecting to see me. The Assistant Principal informed him I was on lunch and she met with him. She later told me he was "hopped" up on something and carried a big chip on his shoulder and was not the most pleasant man to be around ("Don't ever meet with him alone" is how she put it to me). I still had yet to meet this man (or even see him).
A few weeks later, as I was dismissing my kids downstairs, I turned around and there he was- right in my path. I introduced myself and he wanted to know this boy's reading progress. I explained that things had been progressing and the boy seemed to be trying much harder, and the dad must have liked that answer because he moved out of my way to let me pass. In the car I was relaying the story to my friend J and we saw him on the sidewalk outside of the school. He looked so fucked up like he was ready to fall over. He was standing there with a cell phone and could barely punch in the numbers he was so wobbly.
Last week, his boy was taunting one of my behavior problems at lunch and the other kid smacked him upside the head. The boy complains and says he did nothing wrong. However, talking with the Assistant Principal later he confessed to "asking for it." The next day I was in the office at the end of lunch and the Scary Parent came barreling in talking loudly about some kid hitting his kid. He was not in the best of moods and sat right across from me and wanted to talk about it- actually he was more into he yelling kind of mood. I had to get my class and the Assistant Principal came out and ushered me out of the room. When I spoke with her later she said he was really scary and she was glad they were in the office with all the people around because she felt uncomfortable with him. She said after talking with the Dad and his boy the dad turned his anger from the AP and onto his son. Never a good sign when a parent talks poorly to their kid. Anyway, she basically reiterated I am never to be alone with this man because who knows what he is capable of (seems to be a gang banger druggie). I had a feeling I shouldn't walk out with the kids after school and possibly run into this angry Dad on the street so I went out the front of the building and not the side doors where I dismiss my kids. Sure enough, my girlfriend J said she saw him standing in the doorway with his arms crossed like he was waiting for someone. Well, he wasn't waiting for his kid because I had already dismissed them- therefore, it was me he was waiting for.
I mention this incident to my Principal today and he says the AP informed him of the entire scenario last week. He brushed it off and told me not to worry. Thanks for the concern there Big Guy! When I later told my AP was happened after school she told me to steer clear of this man and to use different exits just in case. What the fuck? This is what I have to do after school now? Hide? That's fucking great!Just another Scary Parent in Sunset Park to deal with on a daily basis.
But this is nothing compared to finding out today that T's mom has reservations about our relationship. Apparently I'm a "taker" and not a "giver" in our relationship. And here I was hoping there would be a proposal soon...It hurts and I don't even know what to think about it all yet. I'm not mad at her or T- I'm just hurt. It's strange too because my mom was just saying last week she knew this was the guy for me because she's never seen me happier. Funny how different people have such different observations and opinions.
I have a little boy in my class that can barely read. His Grandma and Auntie bring him to school and even showed up for his "Parent" Conference in November. In February I had to make a list of potential hold-overs for next year (kids that are basically struggling big time and may repeat third grade next year). This little boy was on the list (along with 10 others from my class) and his parents received a letter in the mail explaining the situation.
Enter the Scary Parent. This boy's father got the letter and was outraged and stormed into the school last month. This was the first I'd heard from him all year. He showed up during school and the Security Officer downstairs called me and I set up a time to meet with this dad. I had been warned by the Auntie (really nice woman) that this Dad could be a little hard to handle and I should have "back-up" when meeting with him. So, after I set up the time to meet with him (the following day during my prep time), I talked with my Assistant Principal to make sure she was in on the meeting. The next day I waited in the office for this man and he never showed up. I wasted 45 minutes waiting around for this "concerned" parent and he never showed. Typical. While I was at lunch that afternoon he came in expecting to see me. The Assistant Principal informed him I was on lunch and she met with him. She later told me he was "hopped" up on something and carried a big chip on his shoulder and was not the most pleasant man to be around ("Don't ever meet with him alone" is how she put it to me). I still had yet to meet this man (or even see him).
A few weeks later, as I was dismissing my kids downstairs, I turned around and there he was- right in my path. I introduced myself and he wanted to know this boy's reading progress. I explained that things had been progressing and the boy seemed to be trying much harder, and the dad must have liked that answer because he moved out of my way to let me pass. In the car I was relaying the story to my friend J and we saw him on the sidewalk outside of the school. He looked so fucked up like he was ready to fall over. He was standing there with a cell phone and could barely punch in the numbers he was so wobbly.
Last week, his boy was taunting one of my behavior problems at lunch and the other kid smacked him upside the head. The boy complains and says he did nothing wrong. However, talking with the Assistant Principal later he confessed to "asking for it." The next day I was in the office at the end of lunch and the Scary Parent came barreling in talking loudly about some kid hitting his kid. He was not in the best of moods and sat right across from me and wanted to talk about it- actually he was more into he yelling kind of mood. I had to get my class and the Assistant Principal came out and ushered me out of the room. When I spoke with her later she said he was really scary and she was glad they were in the office with all the people around because she felt uncomfortable with him. She said after talking with the Dad and his boy the dad turned his anger from the AP and onto his son. Never a good sign when a parent talks poorly to their kid. Anyway, she basically reiterated I am never to be alone with this man because who knows what he is capable of (seems to be a gang banger druggie). I had a feeling I shouldn't walk out with the kids after school and possibly run into this angry Dad on the street so I went out the front of the building and not the side doors where I dismiss my kids. Sure enough, my girlfriend J said she saw him standing in the doorway with his arms crossed like he was waiting for someone. Well, he wasn't waiting for his kid because I had already dismissed them- therefore, it was me he was waiting for.
I mention this incident to my Principal today and he says the AP informed him of the entire scenario last week. He brushed it off and told me not to worry. Thanks for the concern there Big Guy! When I later told my AP was happened after school she told me to steer clear of this man and to use different exits just in case. What the fuck? This is what I have to do after school now? Hide? That's fucking great!Just another Scary Parent in Sunset Park to deal with on a daily basis.
But this is nothing compared to finding out today that T's mom has reservations about our relationship. Apparently I'm a "taker" and not a "giver" in our relationship. And here I was hoping there would be a proposal soon...It hurts and I don't even know what to think about it all yet. I'm not mad at her or T- I'm just hurt. It's strange too because my mom was just saying last week she knew this was the guy for me because she's never seen me happier. Funny how different people have such different observations and opinions.
Sunday, March 28, 2004
I sent a letter to the author of a great article in the NY Times:
Thank you for writing the article "For a Teacher, Nothing to Do but Shrug and Teach" that ran in the NY Times on March 14, 2004.
As a new teacher to the New York City Public School system, I am starting to doubt my choice of profession. I started my teaching career in California and was surprised to come to the largest city in America to find myself reading from scripts the Teacher's College prepared for the specific units of study in Reading and Writing. I think the idea of genre study is important but, like Miguel Figueroa, many of my students are below reading level and need to be taught the basics on how to read (phonics and spelling patterns).
I am a third grade teacher and am feeling the pressure from the city (Mayor Bloomberg) to get all of my twenty-six students to pass the city-wide tests next month. It is reading articles like yours that keep me grounded and give me faith in what I am doing. The only way I will survive the rest of the year (and the many years to come) is to continue to read Mr. Figueroa's inspiring words:
" Because my knowledge will be in you...I may go, but you'll have it.
You're my representatives when I go."
Thank You,
Ms. M****
Brooklyn
This is her response:
And thank you for this nice note. I hope you will find a way to stick with it and bring all your obvious creativity and literacy to the third-graders you are teaching. Miguel is right -- it's you whom your students will remember, not the Department of Education.
best,
anemona
Interesting and uplifting knowing someone is actually reading what I think. I just wish the Department of Education in NYC was this understanding. Em has convinced me to pursue Education Policy for my Master's program and I have decided that is the way I am going with my future as an educator. I will go for my Master's in Early Childhood Education and then get my Master's in Education Policy with emphasis on Urban Education. Turns out TC might actually come in handy for my career.
Thank you for writing the article "For a Teacher, Nothing to Do but Shrug and Teach" that ran in the NY Times on March 14, 2004.
As a new teacher to the New York City Public School system, I am starting to doubt my choice of profession. I started my teaching career in California and was surprised to come to the largest city in America to find myself reading from scripts the Teacher's College prepared for the specific units of study in Reading and Writing. I think the idea of genre study is important but, like Miguel Figueroa, many of my students are below reading level and need to be taught the basics on how to read (phonics and spelling patterns).
I am a third grade teacher and am feeling the pressure from the city (Mayor Bloomberg) to get all of my twenty-six students to pass the city-wide tests next month. It is reading articles like yours that keep me grounded and give me faith in what I am doing. The only way I will survive the rest of the year (and the many years to come) is to continue to read Mr. Figueroa's inspiring words:
" Because my knowledge will be in you...I may go, but you'll have it.
You're my representatives when I go."
Thank You,
Ms. M****
Brooklyn
This is her response:
And thank you for this nice note. I hope you will find a way to stick with it and bring all your obvious creativity and literacy to the third-graders you are teaching. Miguel is right -- it's you whom your students will remember, not the Department of Education.
best,
anemona
Interesting and uplifting knowing someone is actually reading what I think. I just wish the Department of Education in NYC was this understanding. Em has convinced me to pursue Education Policy for my Master's program and I have decided that is the way I am going with my future as an educator. I will go for my Master's in Early Childhood Education and then get my Master's in Education Policy with emphasis on Urban Education. Turns out TC might actually come in handy for my career.
Saturday, March 20, 2004
Pictures...
I think I figured out how to post pictures directly to my site and I'm so happy!
T and I love this comedian and are trying to get tickets to see him at Caroline's Comedy House in April. If you have cable and ever watch Comedy Central, Dave Attell's show is Insomniac. Pure genius this guy!
I think I figured out how to post pictures directly to my site and I'm so happy!
T and I love this comedian and are trying to get tickets to see him at Caroline's Comedy House in April. If you have cable and ever watch Comedy Central, Dave Attell's show is Insomniac. Pure genius this guy!
Friday, March 19, 2004
Oh, I Love Quizzes...
You probobly knew all ready but: your a Geek. Sorry
dude.
Ultimate ''What Am I Quiz?'' 15 possible answers. (goth, punk, prep, etc.)
brought to you by Quizilla
Which Famous Homosexual are you?
Brought to you by Rum and Monkey
Forrest Gump!
What movie Do you Belong in?(many different outcomes!)
brought to you by Quizilla
You probobly knew all ready but: your a Geek. Sorry
dude.
Ultimate ''What Am I Quiz?'' 15 possible answers. (goth, punk, prep, etc.)
brought to you by Quizilla
Which Famous Homosexual are you?
Brought to you by Rum and Monkey
Forrest Gump!
What movie Do you Belong in?(many different outcomes!)
brought to you by Quizilla
Thursday, March 18, 2004
I'm Sick...
Started last Saturday and hasn't let up- only worsened over the course of the week. Last weekend it was a head cold, sinus infection with the usual headache, sore throat, runny nose, cough, and sneeze attacks. I had to go to school Monday to send report cards home to the students. I had to go to school Tuesday to teach until noon and then meet with parents during Parent Conferences between 1-3pm and again from 6-8:30pm. I had to go to school Wednesday to teach the after school program until 5pm because I need the money. Yet, Wednesday at lunch I was sent home. I couldn't even stand up let alone teach for the rest of the day.
The reading coach gave me a doctor's card and the assistant principal practically pushed me out the door and told me not to come back until I felt better. This is understandable considering one third grade teacher was out for over a week with pneumonia, another third grade teacher has been in and out of school with an illness she can't shake, and yet another third grade teacher has had what seems like a cold for the entire school year. These are some of the adults I come into contact with daily- just imagine the germs my kids spread in that cramped, top floor, heat infused classroom (just last Friday my special needs boy came to me saying he had diarrhea). I guess it's no wonder I finally came down with something myself. This is knocking me senseless though- I can barely sit up for more than five minutes at a time and nothing I eat stays in my system for very long (read last sentence as what my little boy told me last week). What I thought was a common cold is now reducing me to laying in bed all day long drinking juice and water. I still can't taste or smell anything and I've now infected poor T with this illness. Our apartment is definitely a "host of disease" right now.
I hate being sick and missing school. If I'm going to take one of my sick days, I want to do something useful with my time. I took a sick day in December to get my passport and finish the X-Mas shopping. I took another sick day in February to see the doctor and get ready for our Barbados trip (pedicure, wax, etc.). I was planning my next sick days to be in April for our Italy trip and in June for Em's graduation. Fuck- now I'm wasting these past few days with an actual illness where I can't even take care of things on my "To Do" list. Damn.
The weather isn't helping matters much either and that's why people at school think I'm sick. Monday it was sunny and 60 degrees outside. Tuesday it started snowing at 9:30am, dropped about 4 inches, and didn't let up until Wednesday afternoon. Now we are expecting another big drop of snow this evening into tomorrow morning. Maybe there will be a snow day and I won't have to "waste" my sick day! Oh, wishful thinking!
This is how I feel...
Started last Saturday and hasn't let up- only worsened over the course of the week. Last weekend it was a head cold, sinus infection with the usual headache, sore throat, runny nose, cough, and sneeze attacks. I had to go to school Monday to send report cards home to the students. I had to go to school Tuesday to teach until noon and then meet with parents during Parent Conferences between 1-3pm and again from 6-8:30pm. I had to go to school Wednesday to teach the after school program until 5pm because I need the money. Yet, Wednesday at lunch I was sent home. I couldn't even stand up let alone teach for the rest of the day.
The reading coach gave me a doctor's card and the assistant principal practically pushed me out the door and told me not to come back until I felt better. This is understandable considering one third grade teacher was out for over a week with pneumonia, another third grade teacher has been in and out of school with an illness she can't shake, and yet another third grade teacher has had what seems like a cold for the entire school year. These are some of the adults I come into contact with daily- just imagine the germs my kids spread in that cramped, top floor, heat infused classroom (just last Friday my special needs boy came to me saying he had diarrhea). I guess it's no wonder I finally came down with something myself. This is knocking me senseless though- I can barely sit up for more than five minutes at a time and nothing I eat stays in my system for very long (read last sentence as what my little boy told me last week). What I thought was a common cold is now reducing me to laying in bed all day long drinking juice and water. I still can't taste or smell anything and I've now infected poor T with this illness. Our apartment is definitely a "host of disease" right now.
I hate being sick and missing school. If I'm going to take one of my sick days, I want to do something useful with my time. I took a sick day in December to get my passport and finish the X-Mas shopping. I took another sick day in February to see the doctor and get ready for our Barbados trip (pedicure, wax, etc.). I was planning my next sick days to be in April for our Italy trip and in June for Em's graduation. Fuck- now I'm wasting these past few days with an actual illness where I can't even take care of things on my "To Do" list. Damn.
The weather isn't helping matters much either and that's why people at school think I'm sick. Monday it was sunny and 60 degrees outside. Tuesday it started snowing at 9:30am, dropped about 4 inches, and didn't let up until Wednesday afternoon. Now we are expecting another big drop of snow this evening into tomorrow morning. Maybe there will be a snow day and I won't have to "waste" my sick day! Oh, wishful thinking!
This is how I feel...
Thursday, March 11, 2004
Personality quiz found by Shamus...
Very interesting results...Are the "gems" my students? Do I really see all of their potential and open future despite the torture they subject me to every day? I love the fashion part...Yep, Target is my way!
Results are:
Analytical
Trustworthy
Self-Assured
Your momentary sensitivity represents that which is of high quality and durable. Consequently, you like to surround yourself with little "gems," which you discover wherever they are overlooked by others.
Thus, culture plays a special role in your life. You have found your own personal style, which is elegant and exclusive, free from the whims of fashion. Your ideal, upon which you base your life, is cultured pleasure. You value a certain level of culture on the part of the people with whom you associate.
Very interesting results...Are the "gems" my students? Do I really see all of their potential and open future despite the torture they subject me to every day? I love the fashion part...Yep, Target is my way!
Results are:
Analytical
Trustworthy
Self-Assured
Your momentary sensitivity represents that which is of high quality and durable. Consequently, you like to surround yourself with little "gems," which you discover wherever they are overlooked by others.
Thus, culture plays a special role in your life. You have found your own personal style, which is elegant and exclusive, free from the whims of fashion. Your ideal, upon which you base your life, is cultured pleasure. You value a certain level of culture on the part of the people with whom you associate.
Oh Boy...This Isn't Getting Any Easier...
Week from hell and the stomach pains and headaches are back. My Assistant Principal says maybe the stress is doing me well because I look like I lost weight. That's great! T couldn't get over that- what a joke!
Today the same little boy who told a girl to suck his little dick at the beginning of the year leaned over to a boy and said, "Suck my balls." That was a fun phone call to his mom at lunch. Nothing like telling a parent your child asked another child to suck on his balls.
Then there was the boy (different one this time) who stood up at lunch , pointed to his "private area" and said, "You want some nuts?"
Wow-8 years old and SO knowledgeable...jesus...Get me the fuck out of here! Italy on April 2- thank god
Week from hell and the stomach pains and headaches are back. My Assistant Principal says maybe the stress is doing me well because I look like I lost weight. That's great! T couldn't get over that- what a joke!
Today the same little boy who told a girl to suck his little dick at the beginning of the year leaned over to a boy and said, "Suck my balls." That was a fun phone call to his mom at lunch. Nothing like telling a parent your child asked another child to suck on his balls.
Then there was the boy (different one this time) who stood up at lunch , pointed to his "private area" and said, "You want some nuts?"
Wow-8 years old and SO knowledgeable...jesus...Get me the fuck out of here! Italy on April 2- thank god
