Teacher at a JKLM school AMA (ask me anything)

[Anonymous]

What do you think of SEM?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:What do you think of Impact and Leap?

Yes, how much time do you spend in LEAP and what model do you use?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Don't you have anything better to do with your time?

I do - but I'm bored today and thought I could help people here. If you are not interested I understand. Otherwise I'll watch tv on a Tuesday afternoon and you can do whatever pleases you on this day.

Are you really a teacher, you say you're bored? Me thinks you are someone who is acting of someone from DCPS downtown or maybe Kaya, maybe she's bored!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Don't you have anything better to do with your time?

I do - but I'm bored today and thought I could help people here. If you are not interested I understand. Otherwise I'll watch tv on a Tuesday afternoon and you can do whatever pleases you on this day.

Are you really a teacher, you say you're bored? Me thinks you are someone who is acting of someone from DCPS downtown or maybe Kaya, maybe she's bored!

...teachers are on summer break.

*Not OP, but another DCPS teacher.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What advice do you have for parents at Title I schools?

Without a kid, here are my ideas for educational success (in regards to social/emotional/academic success)

#1 - read to them from birth to k-5
#2 - count/do basic math skills from birth to k-5
#3 - be involved in your child's schooling (classroom volunteer or just give $$ to the pta)

Of all my years experience, these 3 items have been crucial to success in K-5....only once have I taught a student without any of these three and the young lady was academically/socially/emotionally gifted by the time she got to me (grade 4/5).

I suggest for those on improving Title I schools in gentrifying areas. For the school and also for engaging and parenting an above grade level child in a mostly below grade level classroom.

Thanks, but I meant what do you suggest for those of us who are working on improving Title I schools in gentrifying areas. For the school and also for engaging and parenting an above grade level child in a mostly below grade level classroom.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Do you think the top kids in your class would benefit from a pull out gifted program or are you able to meet their needs in the classroom?

For me, personally, I teach to the gifted student. However, when I came to DCPS I was appalled at their lack of focus/curriculum towards our gifted students. I still cannot fathom the idea that they do not even IDENTIFY let alone service students with gifted tendencies. But what do I know? I'm just a teacher in the classroom with 10+ years experience and masters degree in the area to boot!

Fortunately, because of my admin, I have been able to introduce curriculum and/or gifted strategies to all of the students in my classroom. In my years of experience, the students will rise to your levels of expectations. Sure, some students need specific scaffolding to help them attain certain content, but most students (at least in a JKLM school) are yearning for a challenge.

Oh really? And what "curriculum" is that which you have introduced?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:How long have you taught in DCPS and was it all at one school?

I've only been at a JKLM school for my tenure in DCPS but in other states/districts I've taught at schools with similar profiles, so I can compare on so many different levels on student expectations, admin expectations, district expectations, and federal/state expectations.

Comparing schools with similar profiles, what does DCPS do right? What does DCPS do wrong?

How much does PARCC testing affect what you do in the classroom?

DCPS is FARRRRRRR behind other districts when it comes to educational technology. Most privates/charters and other districts are Google Apps for Education (GAFE) districts which provide a suite of educational tools for curriculum. The fact that the district does not support this is abhorrent. I would hope that people on this board would inquire about this BEYOND the school level (we have done so from the classroom and admin level, but parents are what greases the wheel).

As far as what they do right at a JKLM school, the PTA has been PHENOMENAL. I've been at schools with similar profiles but in DCPS, the PTA has given me anything and everything to support my classroom. It was weird at first (coming from a JLKM school without a strong PTA) but now I know how instrumental they are. Parental support (financially and labor intensive) are crucial to the success of a kid's education.

Different poster, former DCPS teacher (my children attend a JKLM school for pre--k). This is true, bring in MCPS and preparing for parcc is a hell of a lot easier. DCPS is always steps behind or half ass does something.

[Anonymous]

**meant to say being in MCPS**
Grrrr.... autocorrect!

[Anonymous]

What's the most outrageous interaction you've had with a parent? I always hear rumors about things the parents do at our JKLM - any good first hand stories?

[Anonymous]

Have you ever had any formal complaints filed against you by a parent?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Is there economic diversity among your students? How do you bridge any gaps that creates socially or academically?

A few students in each class have lottery-ed in prior to 5th grade. Fortunately, they do not face much discrimination from their peers (although racial discrimination is real, whether you are in a Focus school or JKLM school). If anything, they have felt it amongst their parents via play dates and sports leagues. If you are one of the parents that does not live in "in boundary zone" but you are active in your students education, then your child will be just fine, even if they are behind their peers (which is typical for OOB students)

In what ways have you observed racial discrimination?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Is there economic diversity among your students? How do you bridge any gaps that creates socially or academically?

A few students in each class have lottery-ed in prior to 5th grade. Fortunately, they do not face much discrimination from their peers (although racial discrimination is real, whether you are in a Focus school or JKLM school). If anything, they have felt it amongst their parents via play dates and sports leagues. If you are one of the parents that does not live in "in boundary zone" but you are active in your students education, then your child will be just fine, even if they are behind their peers (which is typical for OOB students)

In what ways have you observed racial discrimination?

OP - The question was about economic diversity. I didn't ask about race at all

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Is there economic diversity among your students? How do you bridge any gaps that creates socially or academically?

A few students in each class have lottery-ed in prior to 5th grade. Fortunately, they do not face much discrimination from their peers (although racial discrimination is real, whether you are in a Focus school or JKLM school). If anything, they have felt it amongst their parents via play dates and sports leagues. If you are one of the parents that does not live in "in boundary zone" but you are active in your students education, then your child will be just fine, even if they are behind their peers (which is typical for OOB students)

In what ways have you observed racial discrimination?

OP - The question was about economic diversity. I didn't ask about race at all

FAKE FAKE FAKE THE TEACHER THAT IS!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Is there economic diversity among your students? How do you bridge any gaps that creates socially or academically?

A few students in each class have lottery-ed in prior to 5th grade. Fortunately, they do not face much discrimination from their peers (although racial discrimination is real, whether you are in a Focus school or JKLM school). If anything, they have felt it amongst their parents via play dates and sports leagues. If you are one of the parents that does not live in "in boundary zone" but you are active in your students education, then your child will be just fine, even if they are behind their peers (which is typical for OOB students)

In what ways have you observed racial discrimination?

OP - The question was about economic diversity. I didn't ask about race at all

FAKE FAKE FAKE THE TEACHER THAT IS!

Donald? Kellyanne?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Is there economic diversity among your students? How do you bridge any gaps that creates socially or academically?

A few students in each class have lottery-ed in prior to 5th grade. Fortunately, they do not face much discrimination from their peers (although racial discrimination is real, whether you are in a Focus school or JKLM school). If anything, they have felt it amongst their parents via play dates and sports leagues. If you are one of the parents that does not live in "in boundary zone" but you are active in your students education, then your child will be just fine, even if they are behind their peers (which is typical for OOB students)

In what ways have you observed racial discrimination?

OP - The question was about economic diversity. I didn't ask about race at all

Trying to imagine the problematic economic diversity at a JKLM that does not intersect with race. Would that be the OOB parents that have HHIs of 300k (which is poor in DC, as we know) vs IB parents with HHIs of 700k?