Reply to Please SOUND OFF if you think FCPS is in decline!

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[quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous]I went to FCPS as a kid and got a solid education, back in the late 70s and 80s. Then I have taught here for 30 years. Here is what has changed in elementary schools.

No textbooks or workbooks. Well, one for social studies that was riddled with errors and corrected. Every lesson has to be downloaded off the computer by a teacher. [b]Every lesson has to show differentiation if a principal walks in.[/b] Did you notice the part about no books? [b]I have to group the kids into reading groups and then go find multiple copies of a book to read with them while the rest of them work on something independently and then we switch. I have to keep anecdotal records on every kid in the reading groups, and I can’t help the kids who are working at their seats because I am in a reading group. [/b]

[b]I’m supposed to do project based learning along with drilling for Ecart and SOLs. I have to think up projects and find supplies and manage all that while I am keeping data on how many times the three special ed kids get out of their seats and I am checking the kid with autism every ten minutes to give him a token if he has not hit anyone.[/b] I have no spelling or grammar books.[b] I’m supposed to teach that as embedded in my writing lessons, as kids are ready. The ESL kid is writing a complete sentence. The AAP kid is writing a book. [/b]

For math we are drawing pictures of times tables instead of memorizing them, and I want the kids to do actual problems on paper I must download a worksheet and go copy it. 
[b]The behavior is out of control but the principal wants to show reduced statistics so there are no consequences and we are told to not send kids to the office. Kids punch a teacher and arexdight back in class after taking a calming walk with an adult, which is reinforcing to them. [/b]
Now we’re going to give every kid a computer so they can increase their screen time?

It breaks my heart, and I’m a teacher who has won teaching awards and honors. I’m sick about it.[/quote]

I am just short of your 30 years with FCPS and I agree with and can relate to all that is in bold. In all my years of teaching grades 2, 3. or 4 I have never had a grammar or spelling textbook, so that hasn't changed. I never have been one to expect the students to just memorize multiplication tables and I do like the math workshop model, but we are just spread too thin when also planning and implementing reading groups, book clubs, reading workshop, and writing workshop. Add in morning meeting, Positivity Project and PBLs it's tough, if not impossible to do everything well.

Behaviors have become my biggest obstacles. I can't even begin to fathom how much instructional time has been lost this year due to disruptive behaviors. The SR&Rs basically states that protected is a student’s right to learn in an environment that allows them to acquire the best education available and that students have a responsibility to behave in such a manner that does not interfere with the safety and learning of others, but interference is almost constant. Sending students to the office used to be a last resort, it was seldom needed and it had to be a fairly major offense. Now after being told to not send students to the office for what I deemed pretty important issues or that it needed to be handled at the classroom level, I just don't send them. The behaviors have worsened, I continue to try every trick in the book within the range of what is allowed by administration, but I can't make them want to behave and not be disruptive. They [i]should[/i] want to follow procedures and expectations for the good of the group. They [i]should[/i] be willing to meet expectations after having basic procedures modeled for them over and over and over, but they don't I'm wearing down. I'm only one person and I'm outnumbered. Yes there is a 40 year age difference, but I'm outnumbered and overrun by elementary students.[/quote]

Wow.  This is eye-opening. I have always felt for the teachers in this regard.  There is only so much they can do. [/quote]

Yup, these are the pathologies of high poverty schools. It's absolutely the result of the fact that the school system's poverty has increased. [/quote]

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