Our ELA program is outdated.
Not standards driven.
Spends a LOT of time/paper on things that have nothing to do with our standards.
Doesn’t cover MANY of our standards.
Allows for minimal practice.
well… worthless.

Our district is totally aware of this. But… there’s no money for something better. So we have to make do.

No problem. Like most teachers, I don’t care about what text books you give me. I can teach those little ones what they need to know. Spend the money in better places.

But here’s the kicker.

They (the almighty district) doesn’t want us using ANY teacher created materials. NONE. We can only use core. YEP… that same core that they agree is worthless, doesn’t address the standards… blah blah.

They are also policing our rooms constantly to be sure the standards are posted, objectives are stated, all students can recite the objective and standard they are working on and that only core adoptions are being used and no teacher created materials are in place.

What?! This is a total contradiction, right? My teacher created materials are created BECAUSE core doesn’t meet the standards… and my teacher created stuff does.

Insane.

Usually I just ignore this stuff and shrug it off – and just close my door and teach – cuz I actually know how. {I know! Amazing, huh?!} But it was brought up AGAIN at our staff meeting today. So everyone was in a tizzy. I’ve been shakin’ my head over it all night.

I imagine with the state of education as of late, a lot of districts are going through the same thing. I think they are missing what’s important here. But who am I to think?

Anyhoooooo….

Here’s some more teacher created materials for ya! My posters needed to be replaced, so I made up some new ones tonight. I’m even going to use the school laminator to laminate them tomorrow. I’ll use my own tacky putty to put them up, though. 😛