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teacher appreciation ’ Category
Education reform is well-meaning but does not always further teachers’ ability to teach. I would like to put forth a shopping list of teacher needs. Our primary need is to add back our lost funding, because our students are slipping through the cracks as programs are cut, and class sizes burst at the seams. Oregon teachers need to work in schools where the focus is not on cutting resources.
Secondarily, we need:
Time
- Restore lost teaching days, and give us a longer school year. It’ll be interesting to see the results of Chicago’s experiment with a longer school year, but I bet more hours in school will mean greater learning gains.
- Limit the amount of time that we have to do administrative work like data entry. In Japan, teachers teach longer hours and have assistants who grade and do production work. We used to have instructional assistants that would handle some of this, but cuts to personnel and increased demands at the top for accountability through data collection has cut into our time to plan quality instruction. (more…)
Category:
career paths for teachers, teacher appreciation, Teacher Effectiveness, teacher preparation, teaching strategies |
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Tags: common core state standards, education reform, funding, Oregon Education, resources, Ruth Wallin, school funding, time, training, trust
The following excerpt is from the Oregon Department of Education’s November newsletter. To read this newsletter in its entirety and to read archived newsletters, visit the ODE Education Update webpage.
It’s hard to believe that the holidays are just around the corner, but as Thanksgiving approaches, I want to take this opportunity to express my deep gratitude for everyone who works in and with our schools. Specifically, I want to thank all of our amazingly dedicated, passionate, and highly skilled teachers. Our teachers are the backbone of our education system and make a huge difference in the lives of students every single day. They are definitely something to be thankful for—now and throughout the year!
We ask a lot of our teachers. They have been faced with years of budget cuts and increased class sizes at a time when we are asking more of our schools and our students, adopting new and more rigorous standards, and working to redesign our education system around improved supports and outcomes for all kids. (more…)
Category:
Chalkboard Project, teacher appreciation |
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Tags: Chalkboard Project, Distinguished Educators Council, Making Oregon a Great Place to Teach, ODE, Oregon Department of Education, Rob Saxton, Superintendent Rob Saxton
The pinch in the state budget has made the teaching profession the subject of much criticism. I often hear about how my benefits, pay, and retirement are devastating state services. Recently, someone in business asked me if I was a Tier 1 PERS employee. She said she could ask me that because I “worked for her.” She also mentioned that I needed to realize that my summer vacation and my 8-3 job are courtesy of all the hard workers in the private sector. Ouch! I thought, if someone is willing to say that to my face, many others are probably thinking it.
I think this attitude is a product of the fact that many people think they know what a teacher does all day. After all, everyone went to school, many have kids in school and some even volunteer in schools. Some vocations are veiled in mystery. What is a day in the life of a market analyst like? What does an investment banker do? The mystique often seems to deflect questions about huge pay, bonuses and tax breaks. We all know what teachers do, and because it seems so straightforward, the profession is an easy target for those who think educators are overcompensated. (more…)
Category:
teacher appreciation, teacher compensation, Teacher Effectiveness |
8 Comments »
Tags: PERS, reevaluating the teaching profession, Ruth Wallin, teaching
At the Chalkboard Project, this is one of our favorite times of the year: National Teacher Appreciation Week! Of course, we believe the hard work and dedication of our educators deserves recognition all year long, but it’s been great to have a chance to pause in our busy schedules and really take the time to show our gratitude.
If you’re a teacher, let those who inspired you to this career know about the impact they had on you. If you’re a parent, remember to thank the teachers who are partners with you in your children’s learning. And if you’re a student, well, just be extra nice!
In that same spirit, we’d like to share a big THANK YOU to the memorable teachers who made a difference in our lives. And to all the teachers doing the most important work in Oregon, thank you!
What teacher did you most appreciate? Share your memories with us in the comments.
(more…)
Category:
Chalkboard Project, teacher appreciation |
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Tags: Chalkboard Project, inspiration, reflection, teacher appreciation
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