The following is a threefold question that relies upon the information shared in our assigned reading, Keeping Good Teachers: Why It Matters, What Leaders Can Do by Linda Darling-Hammond and the question also asks each one of us to reflect upon our reasons for remaining in this profession. You may choose to answer any two of the questions posed.
1. What are the reasons that you reamin in the teaching profession?
2. Which of the following suggestions made by the author would, in your opinion, help to improve teacher effectiveness: higher salaries, better working conditions, better preparation, or better mentoring?
3. Which of the suggestions made by Darling-Hammond would, in your opinion, help school districts retain its novice teachers?
I REMAIN IN THE TEACHING PROFESSION BECAUSE I DO LOVE IT. I LOVE EACH AND EVERY DAY GETTING TO WORK WITH MY LITTLE ONES. IT IS A HARD, STRESSFUL, EXHAUSTING, BUT JOB BUT IT GETS SO MANY REWARDS WHEN THE JOB IS DONE WELL.
ReplyDeleteAS FAR AS WHERE I AM WORKING, WE CAN USE SOME ADJUSTMENTS. OF COURSE SALARY WOULD BE GREAT, BUT MOST TEACHERS IF NOT ALL KNOW THEY ARE NOT GOING INTO THIS PROFESSION FOR THE MONEY. I DO THINK THAT WORKING CONDITIONS HAVE A HUGE IMPACT ON A TEACHING ENVIRONMENT. IN MY DISTRICT WE GET $100 FOR OUR YEARS SUPPLIES, DO YOU KNOW WHAT I GET WITH THAT, PRACTICALLY NOTHING. MOST OF WHAT I DO IS TAKEN FROM MY POCKET, THIS IS WHERE THE HIGHER SALARY WOULD BE NICE BEING ALL THE MONEY WE TAKE OUT OF OUR POCKETS TO BE EFFECTIVE TEACHERS. EVEN OUR COPY PAPER IS MONITORED! ALSO, WITH THE CLASS SIZES IT MAKES IT ALMOST IMPOSSIBLE TO DO CERTAIN THINGS, SUCH AS EFFECTIVE CENTERS.
BETTER PREPARATION COULD HAVE HELPED AS WELL. I WOULD HAVE LIKED TO HAVE HAD MORE CLASSES IN COLLEGE THAT HAD TO DO WITH REAL LIFE CLASSROOM SITUATIONS ON DISCIPLINE, CLASSROOM MANAGEMENT, ETC...
AS FAR AS MENTORING SUPPORT, I COULD HAVE USED A BETTER ONE AT HAND IN MY FIRST FEW YEARS OF TEACHING. I WILL ADMIT I WAS ONE OF THOSE TEACHERS THAT WAS SECOND THINKING THIS CAREER. I WAS HIRED IN AUGUST THROWN INTO A 2 BY 2 BASEMENT CLASSROOM WITH BOOKS, DESKS, AND CHAIRS. NOTHING ELSE, NOT EVEN A CLASSROOM START UP LIBRARY. I WAS LOST! MY MENTOR WAS NOT OF MUCH HELP, SO I DID MOST OF IT ON MY OWN ASKING THE NOVICE TEACHERS FOR SUGGESTIONS.
One of the nice things about having teaching as my 2nd career is that I truly appreciate it.. I realized through my experiences in business what I wanted to do and didn't want to do in my career. Additionally, I wanted to enter a profession that would allow me to interact with others, share my knowledge to make others more knowledgeable, and that would provide a new challenge each day. After much reflection, I knew being a math teacher was what I wanted to do.
ReplyDeleteTeaching is my fifth career. I loved the business world, but I love teaching as much, if not more, especially now that I am in my late 50s. I came through the Alternate Route Program, which was really rough, but I had an awesome mentor, and had already started in Caldwell's Post Bac Program, so I was already starting to get my feet week, from a pedagogical standpoint.
ReplyDeleteI remain a teacher because I am strongly committed to guiding my current and future students into the real world of either college or the job market. My business experience has really added to my being well-rounded as a teacher.
I get out of bed every school morning with a smile on my face because I know I am doing what I was meant to do.
What keeps me in teaching is my interaction with young people each day, and my belief that I can help them to lead richer, more rewarding lives by encouraging them to explore the world and to be critical thinkers as they do so. However, I find lately I must make a deliberate effort to ignore the oppressive bureaucratic mandates that seem to stampeding over our morale. For instance, today in our faculty meeting, our principal announced that the state is toying with the idea of requiring additional observations for teachers of core subjects (currently defined as math and English), and also that some observations will be done by pairs of administrators who will subsequently compare their assessments and come to an agreement. I never mind having any observer in my classroom, but the vision of two administrators squabbling over how to assign a score to my observation was absolutely demoralizing. Are you kidding me? How about spending the time and money on some meaningful professional development instead of pretending that the "PLC's" are actually doing something? How about resisting the urge to introduce a new "this is THE thing" initiative every year and then abandoning the following year in favor of the NEW thing? How about finding an alternative to 24 days of standardized, online benchmark testing in addition to 4 days of NJASK 8? Why not make real teacher leaders instead of designating people who are then just expected to be mouthpieces for decisions they had no hand in?
ReplyDeleteOK Maureen, beat that for a vent session!
I do feel that my courses at Caldwell and my student teaching were invaluable in getting me ready for the classroom. I was also extremely lucky with my cooperating teacher. I was assigned a mentor, but she gave me little or no support. Fortunately, the district did (at that time) hold a class for new teachers that met regularly twice a month after school for the whole year. That was fantastic, because it introduced me to district practices and initiatives such as differentiated instruction and inclusion. In my second year, I volunteered to be part of a core group who received extensive training in Formative Assessment, which was a fantastic learning experience.
One of the challenges of my first few years was turnover by administration! In the 6 years I've been in the district, I've worked for 4 different superintendents and four different principals and three different vice principals. The curriculum director also changed during this time. This has led to a lack of continuity in district vision and goals, which has adversely affected staff morale. I think that the professional preparation and development of administrators is also a weak point in education.
OK, I'll stop now!
What are the reasons that I remain in the teaching profession? I have been pondering this question more and more as the face of education continues to change. Initially I became an educator because I could not imagine doing anything else. I love education and I recognize it to be the great equalizer for those of us born into less than affluent lots. Through education I have been able to develop a strong sense of self and a value system that continues to sustain me. I have always realized as an educator I would never be rich or famous and have accepted these truths; as notoriety is not what I seek in life. However, I never realized that education would come under fire the way it has over the last decade. I believe education to be a noble profession worthy of respect.
ReplyDeleteWhen I seriously consider the question, “What are the reasons I remain in the teaching profession?” I must respond; I remain in this profession because I sincerely believe I can make a difference in the lives of the children I encounter. I teach because I get a level of personal satisfaction from my vocation that is inexplicable. It is arduous work and an uphill journey at times but it is noble work and I wouldn’t trade it for anything in the world. To teach is to touch lives!
The reason that I am still in the teaching profession is simple. I could not see myself doing anything else. It is not just teaching children that I truly enjoy, it is the children that I work with that makes me enjoy it. Hopeful every teacher can say the same thing, but for m teaching children with Autism is truly rewarding. I have worked with many different children and may different challenges in this profession but at the end of the day I still would not want it any other way.
ReplyDeleteAs for what I think that could improve teacher effectiveness, higher salaries is a given. Not that I want more money, if that was the case I could see myself in another profession) but to add in what I do. As Jennifer said, a lot of supplies and other materials cost comes out of my pocket. It would be nice to still continue to give my students what they need and what will help them, without having to pay the cost out of pocket.
With better working conditions I can see how that can help in some districts, but for me working conditions is not a problem. But as for better preparation this I agree with. I had the privilege of working in a private school for children with Autism can go to school at the same time. Not only was I going to school and working in the field, but the school I was at always had training and sent everyone out for training. However where I currently work it is a different story. The teacher assistants that I have are not trained, more than the one hand training that I gave them. This is not a enough, all of my students are different and most of them need one on one teaching. Each of them has different academic goals that need to be met every day. So this leaves my assistants to have to work with all the children in intensive teaching. This would be more effective if they were trained better, them and the students would both benefit from it.
The reason that I have stayed in teaching was that I love the students. I like making a difference in the children's lives. They bring great joy to my life each and everyday. I love to see the smile on their faces. It is very rewarding for me.
ReplyDeleteI think that better working conditions are very important. This year has been one of my most challenging years ever. I find that it is important to have a safe and healthy work envirnoment in my class room. Also, I think salaries play a big part to. If a teacher makes more money they will probably teach to the best of their ability. The way that districts keep their novices is by offering them more money and better work conditions and good benefits. They also offer to help pay for their masters education and as they continue going to school and getting more credits. They will give them more money.
Like Kanchan, I feel that I appreciate my profession more so because it is my second profession. I have a perspective on my career that many of my colleagues do not share. I do believe that the combination of salary concerns and poor working conditions/environments leads many teachers to look for other options.
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