We are dear, we are teachers,
As a junior high school teacher, I am afraid of Valentine’s Day for many reasons, but among them there is a terrible Valentine Grum PTO at my school. It is essentially a candy gram system, but there is a range from a two -dollar candy bar or a lollipop to a $ 20 teddy bear. Actual items not only cause the confusion of the classroom, but every year, students are crying for the politics of this system. The teacher has been dissatisfied for many years, but our principal has refused to face PTO. What can we do to remove this nightmare?
-Love hurts
Dear LH,
When I mentioned the balloon, I was physically shaking. These latex ones need to be illegal everywhere, but it is another day soap box.
It would probably be too late to change this year’s Valentine’s Day donation activity. But now it’s a great time to start a conversation on how to return to this fundraising activity next year. In order to establish a more powerful connection with PTO, you will need some muscles on your side to include teachers in the feedback/planning process. For me, they seem to be dependent on the annual donation activities without greatly speaking teachers. Maybe they were desperate to help teachers! From their viewpoints at the candy diagram table, they probably don’t understand how fundraising activities become a fearful house in the classroom.
However, we will tread lightly. Please participate in the conversation with curiosity and empathy, not the attitude of “I’m here to shut down this party.” Ask questions instead of accusing. Instead of painting with a wide range of brushes, we will collect actual data, proposals, and real -time observations through this year’s fundraising activities. You can get feedback yourself.
Finally, it’s easy to get involved in frustrated children, but don’t forget that PTO has the same goal. You are in the same team (literally, parent and teacher organization). My husband and I remind each other when our infant threatens our patience and rational shops. “Same team, man. Same team.”
We are dear, we are teachers,
The story of the immigrant attack made my second -year classroom a nightmare. Half of my students are afraid of themselves and classmates. A handful of my students reports that other students and their families are expelled abroad. There is a guidance from the district for the processing method when ICE is displayed, but there is no information about how to handle this very sensitive topic in a classroom that causes obvious pain. What do you recommend?
-What do you tell the children?
Dear wdwttk,
Now, by the end of the day, please request guidance on how to process this in writing. Very specific, including quotes (not student names), indicate exactly what kind of situation they are dealing with. I’m an adult with a completely formed front leaf, and “What-IF” is surprised at me. I can’t imagine how the children feel.
But in the meantime, please say this in the class. “I have heard a lot of people about being expelled abroad. For now, we need to know the two things. Not so. So, until we know more, we are. I don’t talk about it at school, my first work, my library, and nurse. If you feel scared at any time to keep you safely, you can get a better message from the district.
We are dear, we are teachers,
We won a new principal during the break, and we were overnight from the “Jolly, beloved grandfather leader” type to the “extraordinary microma manager” type. Some of the new principal implemented only in the first month:
-Exmen to the staff who is late for the meeting for 1 or 2 minutes
-Send e -mails at all schools every morning and list the teachers who have been absent
-For all teachers sign in to the front desk binder every morning and use the front door despite the huge size of the campus
I am one of the most experienced teachers in our school. I have met a new principal and I’m starting to wonder if she should give her feedback on how she is recognized. I want to know! What are your thoughts?
-Nelly is there
Dear wtn,
These types of changes feel like a shock to the system. In particular, take particular consideration of your grandfather’s grandfather’s type leader you had before.
But I am here to tell you: All these changes are quite standard practice in most schools. Using one general entrance is not a management tactic but an important safety protocol. In addition, the Central Recruitment Committee may have told your principal that you need to tighten a little at the school.
My advice is to give time. If she turns out to be a powerful authority, you will want to stay as much as possible from her radar. But if she is just trying to work and turns out to be a good principal, she will probably be grateful for the two -month blessings there.
Do you have any burning questions? Please email askwearetEachers@wearetEachers.com.
We are dear, we are teachers,
It’s been four years since I taught junior high school. Every year from January to March, I feel that there is no way to take it. It’s the same song and dance. I have to be absorbed in my work and take a break job hunting. But miraculously, April hits, and I’m fine again. What is this magic? And how can you fight this year?
-Heartford’s HOPLT
