HIGHLIGHTS
As a classroom teacher, a certain teacher (we’ll refer to her here as “Mrs. Cho”) likes to imply to her principal husband that non-full time classroom teachers’–a position He once held as her coworker–don’t have as demanding of a job. “You pull out a few students at a time–oh yeah, that’s great classroom management,” she’d say. “That’s sooooooo highly effective for 2D.”
What I’d like to say in support of this embattled principal is that teachers who provide indirect services often do so much behind the scenes that the actual teaching is probably 10% of the job. For example, Ms. Zwillick.
Here are some of the non-direct instructional tasks she completed last week: 1) Came up with an intelligent report for me to quickly see how upcoming IEPs can impact our class organizations next year, with clear explanation along with different projections based on what we can play around with and what we can’t.
2) Review all IEPs to project the amount of speech periods we need to program for 2017-2018
3) Met with a parent to explain the realities of self-contained classes in a 6,7, 8 bridge model, and what is possible with differentiation and what she can expect for her 6th grade child to be in a class with 8 other 7th and 8th graders. Then she quickly researched a range of alternatives along with the hoops sher’d need to jump through for each, ultimately helping the parent come to a new decision and doing so confidently.
Everyone of these tasks are crucial to our operation and planning, and the last example especially so since it can potentially change the educational trajectory of a child. None of them has anything to do with lesson planning, and you’d never know that Ms. Zwillick did any of this, unless you just happen to have a principal who has something to proof. Thank you, Ms. Zwillick!
THINGS YOU NEED TO KNOW
DIRECT FAMILIES TO THE PROPER AUTHORITIES should there be a non-school based issue. As schools continue to assume more and more responsibilities, it is important that staff do not over-step the limits of our roles and capacity. Emergencies, home issues, transposrtation, safety concerns, we need to direct them to the right resources.
We all want to help, but it is unfair to families when we usurp the support trained personnel would’ve provided. Should you have any questions about how you can help our families, speak with your AP and/or myself for clarification.
PARTIAL TEACHING LOAD POSITIONS will be mailboxes Monday. These openings are based on early projections for next years’ program, and more positions may open as we see needs change.
PARENT CONTACT is vital. Struggling students should always be accompanied by a clear log of the year’s parental contact from the teacher, and you should plan for Tuesday parent contact time each week by proactively scheduling calls and meeting.
MAY 17th is FAMILY DAY and one of its objective is to make sure parents of promotion in doubt students are familiar with the promotion portfolio process. We will meet as a staff on May 15th to discuss and prepare.
COUNCILMEMBER DANIEL DROMM will be visiting tomorrow. He serves as the chair for the education committee, and successfully advocated for making sure all NYC classrooms are air conditioned by 2018. And you know I support that. (Now he just need to make sure we give teachers the remotes)
TOMORROW AFTERNOON: (OPTIONAL) ADVANCE PROFESSIONAL LEARNING OPPORTUNITY “CONNECTING WITH EMOTIONAL INTELLIGENCE THROUGH KINESTHETICS”
2:50-4PM. Wear appropriate gear to kick a ball.
mrkobot.com 