Sub Vision - Returning to work - Chapter 2

 

My previous post described my journey to returning to school after one year of retirement, a journey that started May 2021, and was still going on a year later. In January 2022, I was invited to what I thought was a final interview, to find out that my long one hour trip, each way, was just to submit forms to a lady behind a thick glass, but I was promised that it is just a matter of days now.

So I waited a week, then a second week, and when the third week ended with no signs of communication, I touched base with my latest contact person. It was already mid-February, and I was scheduled to start a jury duty in few days. When, at last, I heard back from them I was well into my jury duty time, followed by few weeks of medical appointments. However, I didn’t waste time, and attempted to complete the next necessary step - some pre-requisite training.

Now, a new adventure started. For some reason the system would not let me log in to the training site. Thus a new, long, correspondence and phone calls, with an extended list of officials, had begun. I was bounced back and forth between the different departments:  IT, HR, Health Office (theorizing that I didn’t upload my vaccination card), Community Health, and supervisors of all the above, alongside with intensive text conversations with a well-intentioned HR employee.

The whole ordeal lasted until May, but with a special permission to postpone my training until the issue is resolved, I was allowed to start working in April. I am still not sure what was the source of the problem, or how it was eventually resolved, but apparently one powerful nurse was able to unblock my access to the training. How and why? I am not sure.

By the time I was able, at last, to start working I was as nervous as if I had never worked before, or been to any of those schools. However, the welcome I received compensated for all the frustration. I found my friends; was delighted to discover that almost every person I care for was still there, including those who told me two years earlier that they would retire. At another school I had a nice lunch reunion with collogues, and here and there reconnected with acquaintances. Best of all –the cafeterias were still the same, run by the same kind ladies, with a c55 coffee and $2.50 lunch, a generous 20 minutes nutrition break and 30-35 lunch break. What else do I need?

Well, I still needed to be paid, of course. Not surprisingly, a new issue surfaced there too. I first assumed that it was related to the previous issue, but when it was not resolved I was wondering what next. This time, however, it was an easy fix. My phone call was answered by an actual person, who was patient enough to listen to my story and knew exactly what to do. It so happened that my previous employee number that worked well for all other functions, was not good for the payroll, and schools needed to use a new assigned number to pay me. Strange, but an easy fix.

Now I was completely ready! Almost a whole year later… And only two short months before summer vacation...

Sub Vision: Returning to Work as a Substitute Teacher

 

In mid March, 2020, schools abruptly closed their doors, together with most social, cultural and business activities. A whole nation came to a halt due to a pandemic.

Arguably, the most effected people were students, and history will tell us how the two years disruption to their young life will be manifested.

As a substitute teacher, my situation was considerably better than most people’s. I was paid to the end of the school year while happily settled at home.

When the next school year started and it was clear that life is still far from back to normal, I decided to retire, with a plan to be back when better times return.

It felt like a good a long break from hard work, and I dedicated the time to build a new program to teach algebra, as well as engaging in other projects.

Another whole school year passed by, and at last, when things looked better for the following school year I decided to feel my way back. It was the end of May 2021.

In an email conversation with a nice district recruiter I checked what documents do I have to submit and which documents I may assume are still in the system.

The first communication from the recruiter invited me to go on line and enter an application with updated details. A second communication was “I am out of office” with a promise to get back to me at the beginning of June. The third, replying to my inquiry, came in July. It did let me know that the district prioritizes filling full time vacancies, and won’t review substitutes until an unknown date in the Fall.

Now, that I realized I am not a priority I relaxed and waited for better times. In September, however, when phone calls from schools that know me started to come, requesting my service, I wrote another letter to ask to move the process faster.

Few days later I received a phone call, and a follow-up email, from a new recruiter. After back and forth emails regarding forms and documents I was invited to a Zoom interview. The interview consisted of questions that would prove my competency as an educator. That was held toward the end of September.

Following the remote meeting I received an email with a long list of steps I need to complete before the next stage, thus the better parts of October and November were dedicated to filling more forms, adding clarifications, more questions and answers, finger printing (why again?) and doctors’ signatures. At the beginning of December I announced to the recruiter, by email, that I completed all the steps.

By the beginning of January, I realized that there was no visible progress in the process so I wrote to the recruiter again, reminding him that I have not heard from him in a while. My email, he replied, confused him as he thought he had already sent me the list of the steps, but would send it again. I told him I do have the list, I followed and completed it, and that I told him so a month ago. And I could not resist adding that in the current personnel shortage they should be moving faster.

It so happened, that at the end of the long steps list there was a comment in small letters telling applicants to report, when done, to the sub unit head. I missed it.

So, few days into January, I started a new correspondence, this time with the sub unit supervisor. After more clarifications he announced, ceremonially, that I was added to the processing list. He also warned me that my fingerprints are valid for only 60 days so I should hasten my steps (to which I had to ask him which of these, exactly, depend on me). The new correspondence detailed further steps I need to take before “The interview”. When those were done I received a new email, this time scheduling The Interview, and instructions what to bring. Surprisingly, a new form, needing a doctor signature, was added. The interview had to be postponed.

Two weeks later the big day arrived. I had all the forms ready, made sure my passport is with me, the tax forms that we worked on the night before were carefully arranged. I woke up early, dressed up, drove almost an hour and a half and got there on time.

When I finally found the (closed-door) office, I earnestly announced to the window my name and the purpose of my visit, The Interview. The lady behind the thick glass was somewhat puzzled, but when realized it is for substitute processing asked for the forms, made me sign the pages I missed, took photocopies, added few more details, and then told me it will take few more days, but promised to update me.

I waited, then, patiently, to be invited into the office for the highly anticipated interview. When it did not come I timidly asked about it. “Interview?” she asked, “There is no interview!” she stated. “You came here just for the forms…”

Sub Vision: It has been a while...

 

It had been a while. A school year had dissolved away, a new one had come and gone, and now another starts, with fresh plans and hopes to be a comeback to old times schooling, where kids are in an actual building. However, it may not happen after all...

In a shoe store, a young woman looked at me trying to figure out behind her mask, and mine, if I am the substitute teacher she remembers. I realized she was a student at my favorite school, a graduate of the class of 2020, the class that did not have graduation, at least not a conventional one. I worked with these students since their 9^th grade. Most know me, and I know many by name and face.

It was a bittersweet reminder of other times; times when I tried hard to handle crowded classrooms, every so often just thankful for being able to keep them safe within the classroom walls. On fortunate occasions, though, I enjoyed being able to bring clarity to a confusing subject, or, better, discuss topics of the day, politics, character, future plans, thus watching these students mature from freshmen to seniors.

It also reminded me to check on the status of my application to return back to work.

When I checked on my application, I was told they are still busy filling full time teachers’ positions, and would not get to substitute teachers until the fall. It prompted me to ask the unthinkable question: “Do you need me as a full time math teacher?”

Did I mean it? Truthfully, I don’t know. I still feel I missed my calling, being the good teacher I meant to be; clearing misunderstandings associated with math, making it easy. There were too few occasions in which I was able to be that teacher, so many obstacles on the way: huge class size, unacceptable discipline criteria, unclear learning material, lack of a uniform standard defining a goal.

So… in the hypothetical occasion in which a school calls and asks me, I mean – pleads with me, to go back to teaching, here is my answer: I will do it! I will teach any student of any level, but on two conditions: First – I do not deal with discipline problems. Students who don’t want to learn cannot disrupt others. Second – I teach my way, using basic, clear, easy material of my own choosing, reserving complicated, challenging problems for the capable and or motivated students only.

If you are a school that agrees to these conditions – I am in!

Sub Vision: Mathematics Again

After many months of staying home, enjoying a flexible time and trying to fill this period with different activities, I find myself drawn toward math again. My first project, creating a program for learning and teaching algebra, is done, waiting for me to decide if I want to advertise or publish it, and now I am debating what will be my next project. Remarkably, mathematics still appeals to me...                      

I am looking at my college ‘intermediate algebra’ book, the equivalent of high school algebra II, and thinking I should keep on developing algebra, continue to trigonometry and maybe even get to calculus. Crazy… I know…

Maybe it is just that I am a frustrated math teacher, who was never able to use her full potential as a teacher. I am not as good with math as I am good in explaining math; maybe because I understand what other people don’t understand.

My, relatively, short teaching career is a sequence of unsuccessful experiences with unmotivated, unwilling and undisciplined students. The whole literature of how to become a good teacher, acquired during my teaching credentials program, proved to be completely useless, and rather aggravating. The philosophy that throws all responsibility on teachers, and the system that allows students not to do their work, or pay attention or even just be quiet, system that does not require students to be responsible for their materials, or even bear the consequences of having no skills by 12^th grade, make it impossible for teachers to do their job.

My only satisfying school job was teaching a Pre-Calculus class. It was my hardest assignment, as I was not familiar with the material, challenged to the top of my knowledge, but it was also my finest. Students did want to learn. They knew they needed to put an effort to get where they wanted to be; they did their work, came up with good questions, and kept asking until they understood. And when they did, there was a sparkle in their eyes, and they did appreciate it.

Looking back, perhaps I should have invested more effort in becoming an advanced level math teacher, working with motivated students, bringing the light to their eyes. As it is now, I can expand my knowledge and understanding, taking advantage of the time I have, and hope to be able to use it sometime in the future...

                                          

Sub Vision: Graduation 2020

 

It had been a rough year of pandemic and political turmoil... a year that I would have liked to be in a classroom, serving as the educator I wanted to be…

Through the first semester of the 2019-20 school year, before the pandemic had started, I knew that soon I will have to choose my approach to work. It was good to have preferred schools, and be their preferred substitute, yet I wished to be able to select only assignments that I desire and not compromise with schools’ terms.

I realized that while deciding on a new path, retirement seem a reasonable option; quitting and waiting out the cooling period of six months, and then returning to jobs that I prefer to do. But the routine kept me going…

It all came to a halt when we were hit by the pandemic, and with almost no warning schools have closed their doors. As we thought it was temporary and will be over soon, we waited for few weeks, then few months, but as graduation came closer we realized that this is the way 2019-20 school year will be manifested.

It was exciting, yet heart breaking, to see graduation turn into a parade of cars, and diplomas handed through a window. I can imagine seniors’ disappointment staying home instead of becoming kings and queens of the campus, enjoying special activities, festivities, recognition. Exceptional and memorable graduation as it was, never has been like that, never (hopefully) will be, it was an agonizing letdown.  

As summer was drawing to an end and virtual learning seemed to be the only way, I decided the time is right to quit and wait for a better time to be a teacher, or a sub.

I still love teaching math, and still wish one day to be able to show the light to those confused math learners, who say they’ll never understand the subject.

During the long months of staying home I developed a plan for teaching algebra in a logical, commonsense method, with the expectation of using it one day through the right channel, private of established.

I do hope to get back to a school, even only as a volunteer, to do just that …

  

Sub Vision: History in The Making

                                                 

     

At this unusual time I wish we were at school, especially high school, where we could discuss the events of these days.

Unfortunately, very few high schools, and even middle schools, leave any time for a discussion of the day. Where I grew up we had a designated teacher, referred as the ‘educator’, with whom we would discuss issues other than the subjects learned at school, during a designated time.

The closest we get here are those 5-10 minutes extension to one of the period, to facilitate special announcements and recite the Pledge of Allegiance. Our district used to assign twenty minutes a day for these routines and for a ‘Silent Reading’.

Regrettably, very few schools still keep that routine. Out of the schools that I usually visit, I know of only one school that still does it. And worse, even there, very few teachers still follow it. This valuable time is usually just a wasted time...

Whenever I can, during those twenty minutes, or as an occasion arises for a ‘teaching moment’, I talk to the students, discuss current events, many times starting with informing them, as most are completely ignorant of the events surrounding them.

I wish at those moments that I was a history teacher, with the perspective knowledge, and understanding. History teachers can do so much to expand students’ awareness and horizons. It is, in my mind, the most important subject learned at school, and a good chunk of it should be dedicated to ‘Citizenship’.

If we were at school now, it would have been the perfect time to talk about inequality, injustice, racism, discrimination, bullying, along with standing up for what is right, being strong in sticking to your convictions, empathy, good citizenship, differentiating between right and wrong, good and evil. And most of all – the obligation to vote to make a change!

These events will be part of history and will be learned, hopefully, as a turning point in our justice system. Won’t it be nice to be now alongside our students, witnessing, and participating with them the making of history, enlighten them on the unprecedented events that are unfolding in front of their, and our, eyes…

Sub Vision: School Closure 4: The Graduating Class

The graduating class, that I will probably not see before they graduate and before they leave school, includes a variety of students that I came to be attached to over the years at my favorite school, and I will miss them…

There is a whole group of students from the special education program, smart, nice, polite and friendly. I have known most of them since they were in 9^th grade and noticed how they grew up over the years… Eduardo, Randy, Samantha, Emmanuel, Nicole, Luis are only some of the faces I am going to miss.

There is a girl in that group that I can’t think of her name but can clearly see her face. She was quiet and reserved, and during her first few years was often absent from class, but projected a strong character. She became teachers’ favorite in her senior year; teachers bestowed responsibilities on her and granted her privileges.

Then there is a student who was in a science class that I taught, an artist, who kept drawing in every class, regardless of the subject. I saw him at a computer art class few weeks before closure, still drawing on paper, not using computer art tools…

Another bunch is a troop of mid-eastern students who are both annoying and charming at the same time, doing the most irritating things. When they are in my class they walk around and talk to each other, shake hands with friends, and find an excuse to leave the class. When I am in a different classroom they pop in their heads and disrupt the order... They call my name during break and pretend it didn’t happen. They recently discovered my phone number and call me with a fake ID… And yet they are charming, cool, and funny enough, they think that I am cool…

There is this student that I remembered from his middle school, and not for a good reason. He had long blond hair and was rude and disruptive. When I tried to show familiarity, he sarcastically rejected my friendliness. Then he started 11^th grade and he changed, working at a nearby supermarket, he became a mature, serious student. His manners became polite, and even his haircut turned short and civilized.

And then, there is this cute boy who was in a 9^th grade math class where I helped a new teacher. He kept appearing at my side as I walked the school holes, checking if I still remember his name, always carrying a big book, dreaming of a big career.

I hope to see some of them in the community college, where I, sometimes, take a class. I would probably not recognize them, but hopefully they would recognize me…

Sub Vision: School Closure 3 - Social Distancing

During the last week of school before the closure, we started to be aware of social distancing, but not quite.

On the last day I worked at school, I was at one of my favorite classes, with one of my favorite assistants, and after a short hesitation we hugged. Later that day, at lunch, I saw a friend, a teacher, and this time I hesitated a little longer as I know her to be quite anxious about germs, but she did not seem to mind a hug. There were six of us at a small lunch room, around a small table, not too aware or worried about social distancing.

In one instance that day, when I worked at a different part of the school where I seldom go, I saw a staff member I haven’t seen in a while. When I offered a hug I noticed a clear hesitation, and this time I thought that I should be more careful not to make people uncomfortable invading their space.

Everything has drastically changed few days later. Schools were closed. People were distancing. Neighbors stopped casual meeting, friends stopped socializing. Media warned us not to get close to anyone, and I started to take it seriously.

Students are now at home, as well as all my friends from school. Occasionally we text each other, or talk, nostalgically, about our fun routine gatherings. We know it will be a while before we congregate for another casual lunch break. Ironically, now even the most frustrating working moments at school are remembered fondly.

I am paid for doing nothing, and feel guilty about that. What about students’ families, many of whom cannot afford staying at home and missing a paycheck? Hopefully feeding programs will continue, but would it be enough? And what about their other needs?

It is a strange and worrisome time, where wonderful people are doing wonderful things, especially health workers, and all I am doing is staying at home and worrying… And at a time when everyone needs at least few warm hugs a day, we are all asked to shelter in place and social distance…

Sub Vision: School Closure 2

On the last week of school before closure, I was at one of my favorite special education classes. This school has the best special education program, with the most qualified and dedicated teachers, most of whom I had known for years, since I worked there.

This group of students I was teaching just before the closure, are 12^th graders now.  I had taught this same group, for several weeks, four years ago, when they were 9th graders, as the school lost their permanent teacher and before they hired a new one.

This was quite a difficult group of students, smart but resentful, especially because their previous substitute teacher was much more lenient…

Over the years, I had seen them in different classrooms and watched them growing up. Some of them gained a foot in height, boys added facial hair and deeper voices, and the girls became young, smart looking, ladies. Most of them are now thoughtful young adults, taking responsibilities and seriously planning for their future.

With time, even the students who resented me most, became more friendly and appreciative, and just on that same week, the assistant told me, to my surprise, that one of the boys, with whom I  had many discipline issues, said he likes that I am their substitute teacher.

If the closure continues until the end of the school year, as they predict, it means I would not see this group of students at the school any more. I was already feeling sad every time I saw them, knowing they will graduate this year. Now I may not even see them before graduation…

Of course, I feel for them too. They will miss the thrill that comes with being the graduating class, respected by the younger students, befriended by teachers and staff, as they absorb the last memories of school days, realizing they will be leaving soon. And what about graduation ceremony, prom, senior activities and pranks? all those memories that carry you throughout life…

All through the school year students, teachers and staff are waiting for few days off, and the more the better. Now that we have them in abundance we wish we didn’t…

Sub Vision: School Closure

As soon as schools closed, everything got a new perspective… all of a sudden the irritating routines, the inefficient staff, the strict administrators, the rowdy students, all becomes near and dear…

Last week was just another week, with the bright spots of getting some agreeable comments from students, working with a good assistant, having lunch with friends, but also with some of the usual annoyances like miscommunications, misunderstandings, huge classrooms crowded with rude students…

Now that there are talks about possibly closing schools until the summer, it is depressing even for people who love staying at home, let alone for students who strive on social connection, and parents whose livelihood depends on going to work to provide for their families…

Last time I was employed was the week just before the closure. As I was working in different classrooms, I noticed the new types of desks most classes had. They are shaped like a trapezoid but with curvy sides, and can be put together in various forms. Different teachers combine them in diverse ways. Some put them in threes or more, the conservative teachers arrange them in twos, and the progressive ones arrange full circles, which makes me feel like I am in a summer camp…

As an old-fashioned teacher, I always liked the conservative arrangement of one student per desk, or two at the most, to break the social connections and make students pay attention to the teacher…

Now, like probably most of the students , I feel nostalgic for the combined desks, where students do communicate and socialize, and sometimes even help each other… because maybe socializing is the most important thing they do learn at school, after all…

Sub Vision: Dear Substitute Teacher

 It is the start of a new school year and whether you are excited to go back to work or wish you had a longer vacation, your summer vacation will probably last a little longer, as most teachers are still present in class. By the time calls start coming you will be mentally ready…

When that happens, be prepared with few items to help you in case you are sent to a class that is not ready for you. Think ahead of some activities that would occupy students in case they don’t have anything to do. Although many of them would not want to participate, some will, and it will make a difference.

I usually carry with me Sudoku to draw on the board and challenge students to solve it. If they are too lazy to copy it (occasionally I copy for them), some will be happy to do it on the board. You may also look for various brain puzzles. I recently found one with symbols representing expressions, and students really enjoy it...

Most classrooms are equipped with an electronic device that can run a movie. You may want to fetch few DVDs, as they are easy to carry. I usually bring a classic, not anything students would watch on their own, to introduce them to good old, yet entertaining, movies, like Charlie Chaplin’s or the Marx Brothers’.

For your own entertainment, bring something to read in case students are busy. Try not to use your cell phone, as it looks unprofessional. Reading a book or magazine will make you look professional, and will give students a good example. I usually carry with me the Time Magazine; it contains current news, fun facts and stories…

Take with you a snack and a bottle of water; you never know what the school cafeteria provides. Bring a hat in case you are to supervise an outside action, and a light sweater in case air-conditioning is too chilly.

Make sure you are cozy and mobile. Use a light handbag, comfortable shoes and be as self-sustained as possible; you may be at an unfamiliar school, or doing unplanned activity at the gym, out on the field, or in an office filing papers...

And my favorite… go to the cafeteria for nutrition and lunch (make sure you have few one dollar bills), and talk to someone; There is nothing as effective in relieving daily stress as talking to another adult who deals with similar situations...

Sub Vision: Dear Teacher...

I know, I am just a substitute and what do I know about your unique style, your great students, and your special relationship with them. You do want a good substitute to guard your precious learners and protect that distinct dynamic. I do understand that, and would love to follow your heart, however it is not that simple... I know the endless hours you invest in your profession; I used to do that too. I see both sides. However, I learned from experience that the special balance you have with your students exists only when you are there. As soon as a replacement is present, students become the rebellious kids, who want to play, not to learn…

No matter how much you trust those perfect students of yours, please leave them with some distinct work, to be completed by the end of the period; not tomorrow, not next week. It cannot be an ongoing project they are working on this week, or a paragraph to read, or studying for a test. They won’t do it! If the work you assign is not on a paper, collectible by me, the preferred way of accountability, if it is electronic, make sure that the deadline is by the end of the period. Make sure they know it, they know you are going to check, and please do so. If they don’t have to show a completed work by the end of the period, trust me, they would NOT do it.

Please leave with me a seating chart. There is nothing as magical for behavior control as seating charts. As long as they know I can find out their names, and they will be answerable for their behavior, they will behave. Don’t just leave me a note to report to you the misbehaving people. They know I don’t know their names and they trust their friends not to tell me.

Please leave me some space on your white, or black, board, where I can find room to put on the date and my name. I would also like, if possible, to write your instructions on the board, just in case someone will claim I never told them…

Whatever instructions you gave the students before I came, please give them to me too. I would like to be informed of what I am supervising, and what your expectations are. I want to be able to tell students to do their work, and to know they really do have work, otherwise I will have to trust their word that they have nothing to do…

And… when they tell you I was mean, it is OK to sympathize with them, if you need their affection, but please be assured in your heart that I was doing my job…

Sub Vision: Re-checking Full-time Teaching

For the past several months, I am looking for any new view or interesting occurrence while substituting. I had few long terms assignments, one to three weeks long, and many daily jobs, mainly at good high schools, mostly close to home, in many cases at schools that I know, and for teachers I identify, but nothing seems to change my mind of the likelihood of becoming an effective teacher.

I keep asking myself; would I be able to do things better next time around? 

Working at different classrooms I observe what other teachers do, how they handle discipline, how they make sure students are on task, and how they verify their knowledge, and I still can’t see an effective way to do a good job.

With an average of forty students in class, no assistants at the General-Ed track, lack of students’ motivation to succeed, absence of bar to meet, minimal parents involvement, or even care, and with budget cuts to all the support staff, there is just no way to succeed; no way to achieve real academic results, no way to motivate, or to compel, students to strive to a goal.

I am in good schools, with excellent staff, fine student body, and yet I don’t feel I could be successful as a teacher, and worse, that any of the other teachers meet my definition of success. Some of them are effective with some of the students, yet the majority of the student population is still untouched by the light …

Sub Vision: Strike Rationale

I would never cross a picket line, let alone interfere with teachers’ strike, even if I miss workdays for which I won’t be paid... and despite my somewhat differ views…

Teachers are hard working professionals, whose quality of work is judged, unlike other office and industry professionals, daily, by over 200 students, almost double that number of parents and guardians, peers, supervisors, administrators …

When it comes to earnings, do I want a six percent salary increase? Of course I do, but is it the most important part of the dispute? Teachers are arguing now for far more valuable claims, and to fulfilling them, they should stress resources over salary; funds to reduce class size, increase art and vocational education, counselors, deans.

I don’t know much about elementary school teachers’ job, but I can’t imagine their work load in preparation, and in grabbing so many young students’ attention…

I do know, however, what it means for middle and high school teachers to manage over 200 students a day, keep them focused, follow their progress, spot students who need aid and help them, and evaluate everyone’s achievements…

I do know about the need for extra curriculum classes where students can experience success even when their academic accomplishments are lagging…

I do know about the system’s demand on a teacher to be an educator, discipliner, psychologist, social-worker, special needs expert and parental like figure…

And I do see the damage that charter schools are doing to our community schools, draining their resources, reducing their able bodies, and all of that with very little to show as superiority in education; most of them are concealed pro-profit institutes, with false promises, deprived performance and poor results…

If I were a Union decision maker, I would stress the need to solve first all the other budgetary needs for good education. And to show good faith I would compromise on smaller raise in favor of larger funds, funds that would also include appropriate compensation for teachers working in inner city and lower performing schools…

Sub Vision: Some Hope, Maybe?

I was called for a substitute assignment on the last day of the semester, just before the holidays’ vacation.

I don’t know how the full time teachers feel, but I feel the school year is flying bye fast; already half way gone...

Knowing who the teacher I am replacing is, and recognizing her style, I was sure no lesson plan or suggested activity would wait for me, so I came ready with ideas, hoping they will keep students involved, for at least part of the time…

I drew a table of Sudoku on the white board and explained the rules to the few who were interested, and sure enough several did show curiosity. With exception to my own usual rules, I did let them come to the white board and fill the blanks.

Then I drew some brain puzzles, those frames with few words and/or  numbers that symbolize a word or an expression…(e.g., ‘GO IT IT IT IT’ is ‘Go for It’; ‘CAST CAST CAST CAST’ is ‘Forecast’; “Right = Right’ is “Equal rights’)

After showing them few examples students did display some excitement, and soon became real good at that. They were able to figure out every expression I threw their way (a lot faster than I was when I first tried it).

Of course, not everyone participated, only about a third of the class. Later I offered cookies as rewards and that helped too… but each student who did participate escaped for few minutes the tyranny of the digital world, and enjoyed the freedom of creative thinking and solving a puzzle, using their intellect.

So, does it mean that there is hope for disconnecting the young brains from their addiction to the screen if we just challenge them, energize their imagination and encourage their competitive instinct?

Would we be able to apply it to other areas in education, like math and beyond?

Some hopeful thoughts for the holidays’ season…

Sub Vision: The Face of Diversity

The other day I worked at a school located at a relatively good neighborhood, with a diverse student body.

I was assigned to replace an English teacher, and one of her classes was training for the Academic Decathlon competition.

This class consisted of eleven students, seven girls and four boys. I would expect, maybe, more gender balanced group, but what really amazed me was the racial diversity of these top-notch competitors.

I am not a great judge of racial identity, but using my humble tools (looks, dressing items, last names...) I would think that almost every fragment of the population was represented. There were few black student, few white and Asian, about half of Hispanic origin, and there was one Muslim girl.

If that doesn’t warm your heart with gratitude to our diverse, equal opportunity, society and school system, I don’t know what would.

And if diversity is not your ‘thing’ then too bad! It is happening and it is here to stay! 

Good for us!

Sub Vision: A New Low for Mathematics or just the New Normal?

The other day I was asked to cover a math class at a reputable school. The system didn’t give the teacher’s name but when I got to the school I realized I had worked for that teacher before, and he is the math department head.

As in previous times, he left tests for each of his classes with instructions how to sit the students and in what order to distribute the tests, part A then part B.

I was alarmed, though, when I discovered in his instruction that he wants me to grade the tests. Most of the tests were geometry, for sure within my skills, but hey, I am a substitute teacher for that specific reason, so I don’t have to grade 200 tests.

I decided to ignore it and just made sure students were doing their job, answering their own tests (using their own brain), but when a student came to me with what she claimed to be a completed part A, and it was very easy to see that she didn’t bother to solve the equations, I told her she needed to go back and complete it.

She did, but not before she told me it doesn’t matter, what matter is that she showed some work. I rejected that notion and sent her back to her seat.

Later that day I saw the teacher and he asked me if I graded the tests. I asked him if he really meant that I give grades to his students. “Oh no” he said, “all I want you to do is to count the number of problems done, give 10 points for each problem, and write the total, so that my TA (usually a student) can put down their grades…”

So here is my questions, does he also go back to check that the answers were correct? Is it a separate grade or ‘my’ grade is THE grade?

Additional question is, of course, is it reasonable for a teacher to check methodically 200 tests? Is it doable?

My personal challenge was what deserves 10 points. If someone just puts a numeric answer without any proof of work, does that merit ten points? If an equation is clearly incorrect, does that count? What about an unsolved equation (correct or incorrect), does that deserve ten point?

I made my own decisions and I am so thankful not to be accountable for them!

Sub Vision: Private High Education

It was recently in the news that our new secretary of education, and the people surrounding her, think that it is a good idea to ease the accreditation process on private high education institutes… 

It was around the same time that one of my friends told me how her grandson did not like his out of state public university and wanted to move back, but prefers a prestigious private school that is willing to accept him, rather than risking not being accepted to a state university.

 

So here is my dilemma... our state has a large variety of public universities, and every student who wants to learn can find the right place... Some of the schools are better, best in the country, some are just ok, but there is plenty of choice. If a student is not doing great at the present time then he should work his way up through the community colleges. A reasonable performance there will guarantee his accepted to at least some of the state universities. Why go to a private school? And if a private university is the choice for the not so great students, then the last thing we want is easing its accreditation process. We want to make sure that a student who is willing to pay hundreds of thousands of dollars for a degree gets the very best education, the sort that is above and beyond of what state universities offer.

People are putting too much weight in to which university they, or their loved ones, go. They feel that their path to opportunities in life all starts with the university from which they graduate. There might be some truth to that, I agree, but mainly only for their first job. On their next job, they will be judges by their experience and past performance. If a person wants to start a career with a debt of a quarter of million dollars then by all means, especially if they believe in their ability to pay it back in a relatively short time, but they have to make sure that the prospects the university is advertising are solid, and should research potential future earnings… It is a hefty price to pay if the returns are not as great…

Yet, one’s choice is his business… Our business, as a nation, is to see that private universities don’t bring false expectations as to future careers, and their ability to make up for their expense, to their graduates. And our responsibilities is to see that a university that charges so much is also that much better than one that does not. We are (still) a country that expects its graduates to earn their degree with hard honest work, and not by purchasing it for a heavy price…

Sub Vision: Back to School? Already?

It is this time of the year, again, when you feel that you just barely started to enjoy summer vacation, and realize it already ended; time to start all over again…

Looks like no one is used to the new school schedule of starting mid-August; parents, teachers and especially students are not ready yet. I, for sure, am not. I still enjoy my time at home, sitting at my patio, drinking coffee. My plans for going out, seeing people, enjoying a shopping spree, are yet to be fulfilled…

We all grew up with the concept that summer months are for summer vacation; cooling at the beach or by the swimming pool during the hot long days, spending extended evenings with friends and family, the day light lasts into the late hours…

When September would roll in, somehow, magically, the weather would signal that it is time to go back to work. The first days of September be cooler all of a sudden, autumn would be in the air, and you would feel that yes, this is the right time.

Of course the reason for summer vacation had to do with hot days at times when schools had no air-conditioning, which made teaching and learning too hard. Now, with inside comfy temperature, there is no real reason why not starting school early.

The main logical reason to start school early is completing the first semester by the holidays and winter vacation. When schools used to start in September, the first semester ended a month after winter vacation, making it hard to maintain continuity. It does make better sense to complete the semester before the holidays.

But there are other ways to deal with this situation. Schools used to have trimester system, instead of semester. The first trimester would end by the winter break, second by spring break and the third by summer, a system that makes sense too…

I would claim that this is a better system, for students, for teachers, as well as for schools. The way it is set up now, teachers have to go through eight grading periods a year, every quarter of a semester, meaning every five weeks. A person who is not a teacher cannot grasp the academic and administrative work load that it entails… Entering grades to a computerized system that is never as reliable or as responsive as you would like, that very often crashes exactly during the time frame you needed it most, on top of all the prep time needed for creating an individual grade for 200 student.

Trimesters enable sufficient updates, and with a mid-trimester, on top of end of trimester grade, it provides six grading periods a year. No educator could claim it to be inadequate. And in addition - more time available for teaching and learning.

So I would say – let’s enjoy the whole summer, and maybe even the beginning of the fall, to have our mind and body much better prepared for another school year…

Sub Vision: World Cup Lessons

The World Cup (Copa Mundial) Soccer (Football) event happens every four years. We follow it closely not because we are such great soccer fans, maybe just a bit more than other Americans, but we do when the big competition takes place…

There is a lot going on around the games besides its sports aspect. There is the national pride, with the terrible disappointment of the losers and joyous triumph of the winners. There are laws known to everyone, but with endless interpretations; what is fair and what is not, who deserves a yellow ticket and who abuses the rules, and the ever going debate on which group to support, and which one not.

And then, there are the simple facts, like names of nations of which we may not have heard, the shape and color of their flags, and their geography and culture…

I wish it has occurred during school year to be used as valuable teaching moments...

There is so much to learn… basic details of the teams and whom do they represent, the hosting country, the star players. There are immense related emotions, there are rules, the consequences of respecting the rules, and the fall out of not respecting them, and above all the overview conclusion that “It Is a Small World After All…”

This is the time when I am musing on how great would it be if we could just direct our frustration, aggression, pride and nationalism into just a game, where the regulations are clear to everyone, when the best team wins, when in doubts we can check the facts on a slow motion TV screen, and even when we still don’t agree we do respect the judgment of the experts…

There are small wins to celebrate even when the final scores are not favorable, and there are small, embarrassing, loses even for the winners…

And maybe the most important aspect of it all is that there is always the next World Cup, where a loser can become a winner, even just in a small way; winning a single game, or scoring one goal in a difficult match. And yes, there is the ever existing possibility of winning the top trophy next time…

***
(Lesson to learn from Group 'F' of the World Cup 2018:
     The team that won, won [Sweden],
     The team that lost, won [Mexico],
     The losers won [South Korea],
     The winners lost [Germany]...)