Classroom

2022 - 4 - 25

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Image courtesy of "Chalkbeat Colorado"

Reina Cruz, Milken Award winner, on creating classrooms 'open to ... (Chalkbeat Colorado)

Reina Cruz, a teacher at Northfield High School in Denver, recently won a prestigious $25000 award for early and mid-career teachers.

I’m reading “Radical Candor: Be a kickass boss without losing your humanity,” by Kim Scott. I have enjoyed reading it because, as a leader in my classroom and school, it really emphasizes the importance of being honest with the people you are working with. In the beginning, I was fearful to call parents with negative news because I didn’t want to hurt the relationship with my students. So when you get in a tough spot, look at the penny I have gifted you and think about this lesson: Is it worth it, or is it time to stop?” I have never had more than a couple of weeks off in the summer. I have always felt that the classroom should be open to the world and not just an isolated experience. I wanted students to learn they had a voice, and they could have a direct impact on policies that impact them. It took time and confidence to realize that families are key in building a robust learning community and deepening my relationship with students. When it came to Dr. Zimbardo, who joined us in a Zoom call, organizing that was a matter of luck. What I did enjoy was the work I was doing with the university’s LGBTQ+ organization, Spectrum. Being on the leadership team gave me opportunities to work with other organizations, organize events, and ultimately lobby in the State Capital. Students who are first-generation Americans and feel they have to prove to the world that they can set their ambitions to any height. This is an extravagant April fools joke.” Then I realized it wasn’t and that I am not a fan of surprises, even incredible ones. When the presenters began talking about a teaching award, she thought maybe the friend and fellow teacher sitting next to her would get it.

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Image courtesy of "al.com"

Half of Alabama's new teachers leave classroom within three years ... (al.com)

The report focused on two big issues, support for new teachers and declining employment of certified teachers.

Another problem contributing to Alabama’s teacher shortage, according to the report, is that since 2015, one in four teachers who received their first-time teaching certificate in Alabama do not teach in the state’s public schools. Beyond the 14% of Alabama teachers voluntarily exiting the classroom each year, ACES found that about 4% of Alabama’s teachers were terminated every year since 2013. Alabama’s current efforts to keep teachers in the classroom aren’t enough, the report states, costing taxpayers millions of dollars every year. Mentors receive $1,000 each year - called “modest” by the report’s authors – for a minimum of 90 hours of work. ACES criticized the state’s lack of data on teacher vacancies, a standard measurement used by other states, that could help pinpoint where needs are the greatest. The report put the national five-year exit rate at 44%.

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Image courtesy of "NASA/JPL Edu News"

Back in the Classroom and Getting Creative With STEAM - Teacher ... (NASA/JPL Edu News)

This fourth-grade teacher is finding creative ways to get her students back into the flow of classroom learning with the help of STEAM education resources ...

My district does not have an adopted or prescribed curriculum for teachers to follow, so we have a lot of freedom for when and how to make the time for STEAM. Our favorites always seem to be Make a Paper Mars Helicopter and Art and the Cosmic Connection. I use a lot of manipulatives in my math lessons and try to make their learning as hands-on as possible. There is a lot of pressure on teachers right now to make up for all the learning loss and for students being behind on grade-level standards. I think a lot of time that happens because teachers feel like they do not have enough background knowledge to teach high-quality science lessons or they think that the lessons will add to the already enormous workload teachers have. I want to help my students be the very best versions of themselves and being happy and comfortable with themselves is a huge part of that. Last year, I had the amazing opportunity to teach science for two elementary schools’ summer programs. It was very hard to balance meeting the individual needs of each student and getting them used to the structure and expectations of the classroom. I am still a teacher (even after the craziest two years ever) because every kid deserves someone to fight for them, and I know I can be that person for at least 32 kids a year. Bring the wonder of space to your students. Now, she's back in the classroom but facing new challenges getting students up to speed academically while reacquainting them with the social aspects of in-person learning. She began her student-teaching in person only to find that she would have to switch to teaching remotely just four months into the job.

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