PSA for TNTOTB

The New Teacher on the Block has decided to make her blog private. If you would like to continue reading about her escapades in teaching children with autism, e-mail her at thenewteacherontheblock (at) gmail (dot) com.

Keep calm, carry on.

IMPACT question

Colleagues and friends in self-contained special education classrooms have all been observed by a Master Educator. Surprisingly, those in inclusion/resource rooms have yet to be evaluated by an ME. Is it just the crowd I mingle with, or is this the case city-wide?

Wilson reading wrap-up -- 2 thumbs up!!

Tomorrow marks my first day in the classroom this week. I spent the past three days receiving training in the Wilson Reading System. To say I learned a lot would be an understatement. Teaching reading has long been a mystery to me -- what's a digraph? What are the three sounds 'u' says? How do I teach inferences?! Teaching reading is not easy, and I think it's even more difficult for those of us who the subject came naturally to us.

I finally feel equipped to teach reading. Wilson clicked with me. It makes sense. It's systematic. It teaches phonics AND sight words. It takes ALL guesswork out of teaching the subject. I'm so confident in it that I'm going to sit my students (the boy band) down tomorrow and re-do our BIG GOAL. I'd like us to set the goal of raising our reading levels by not one, not two, but three grade levels by the end of the year. And I think it's totally attainable with Wilson.

Is Wilson a panacea for the District's abominable reading levels? Not necessarily, because it won't work for every student. But do I think it's going to work for an overwhelming majority of our students and really make a significant impact? Hell to the yes. I think the folks at 825 agree, too -- when's the last time we had a program stick around for more than a year?

Pumped for professional development

Tomorrow through Wednesday I will be out of my building for professional development. The District seems to be putting a lot of faith into the Wilson Reading System. I feel privileged to have been selected to participate in the training tomorrow.

It will also be a nice opportunity to meet new teachers in DCPS, as well as reconnect with some teachers I haven't seen in awhile. (And sleeping in an hour later is always a treat...)

A welcome day off

Hello strangers! I, like several other teacher bloggers, have been missing in action recently. My apologies. Nothing in recent news has piqued my interest, although I would like to see the rock Chancellor Rhee is currently sporting.

I'm looking forward to the day off tomorrow. I am feeling spread too thin, which is mostly my fault. In addition to addressing my students' needs, collaborating with my co-teachers, and pursuing a Master's degree, I've undertaken several leadership positions at school, including coaching cheerleading. Needless to say, it's a lot to balance, but I am enjoying being fully integrated into my school community.

I am looking forward to participating in a three-day workshop next week. The workshop is a training in a specific reading program that the District seems to be heavily invested it. Based on my research and conversations with other teachers, my students should greatly benefit from this reading program. I'm also looking forward to having another weapon in my teaching arsenal; despite a number of graduate courses on the topic of teaching reading, I still don't feel 100% confident in teaching the subject.

I hope to get back to more regular blogging, but in the meantime, check out these two new DCPS bloggers: Filthy Teaching and Mr. Jefferson's Teacher. Both are great reads!

Say what? D.C. Council vs. Rhee

From Fox-DC, a quick summary of the quotable moments of the D.C. Council vs. Rhee showdown:

"Why did you choose not to follow what the law (says?)?" asked Gray.

Rhee said hers was a better decision...

After speaking with the chief financial officer for the schools, it was revealed Rhee virtually created the budget shortfall by ignoring the council directive to cut $9 million from the summer school program. It's a decision that created a budget gap which then set the stage for mass firings.

I don't know whether to throw my laptop off my balcony or weep. I think instead I'll just go to bed, speechless.

Today's not-so-blind item

What alternative certification program, based in DC, is booting a first-year special education teacher for violating their seminar attendance policy? The teacher missed two seminars -- one for back-to-school night and the second absence? A 103-degree-fever accompanied by a doctor's note.

Mind you, my university, not some program seminar, has a more understanding attendance policy. In fact, we were all but told to stay home this semester if we suspect we may have the flu! In fact, I even missed three weeks of courses in college because of illness without potentially career-ending repercussions!

Hopefully, this program reconsiders their decision to boot a dedicated educator who was mindful of school responsibilities as well as their health and that of others.