As a teacher, I've learned that everyone is not like me.
Don't get me wrong, uniqueness is what makes the world go 'round (among other things). But when I do not achieve or meet the expectations placed on me, I feel an immense amount of stress.
Which leads me to the topic of this post: To outline for you the expectations placed upon me as a 6th grade teacher. We do have a 1 hr 20 min planning period each day, but 3 of these days each week are dedicated to required meetings.
So here we go.
EXPECTATIONS FOR THE MODERN TEACHER
- To teach content/standards of my subject
- To create a positive atmosphere in which children can learn
- To plan lessons for each day of the school year
- To create meaningful assessments for my students weekly
- To grade those meaningful assessments weekly (132 students = 132 papers to grade per assessment)
- To contact parents on a regular basis
- To update my school website which parents/students visit weekly
- To take my students to lunch and make sure all 32 of them eat in a timely manner-they only get 20 minutes.
- To stand in the hallway during class change to monitor behavior
- To question whether or not children really need to use the restroom or if they are just trying to get out of class.
- To teach curriculum with outdated textbooks that are not standards based
- To please parents whenever possible
- To teach 32 children at one time, in which it is almost necessary to try and fit children into a "box" to teach the necessary content (sad)
- To collaborate with counselors and keep our eyes open for at-risk children
- To help my fellow teachers who do not understand how to use technology (because they are being left behind)
- To fill-out paperwork during each meeting to prove that we are doing our job (paperwork goes to our administrators and then to the county)
- To work "car-duty" in the afternoon for 20 minutes and direct traffic for our students who are car-riders
- To collaborate with elementary and high school teachers in vertical planning to discuss gaps and parallels
- To attend faculty meetings
- To attend meetings for special ed children in our classes to confirm we are following accommodations (following the law)
- To make copies of handouts/content related information/tests
- To create rigorous questions and activities in order to promote higher level thinking
- To become experts in our content areas
- To meet with any parent who requests a parent/teacher conference
- To spend a meaningful amount of time with each student within our classes so they grow to trust and respect us
- To organize the paperwork given to us by colleagues and administration
- To come up with our own ideas on how to increase morale (of teachers and students)
- To mold the character of our students
- To assist those children who do not speak English as their first language (or at all, for that matter)
- To explore the resources and technology we do have
- To defend our professional decisions to parents, administrators, and board members whenever necessary