Does size really matter? According to research, you bet it does. And according to my personal opinion, it should be one of the biggest issues in education.
Research has been conducted on the academic effects of small class sizes. It has been proven small class sizes are effective in helping struggling students. The problem the education system is running into is the research does not justify the extra cost of additional teachers and classrooms. Two main points are highlighted about class sizes: reduced class sizes can expect to increase student scores and benefits of a reduced class size occur when there are 20 or fewer students.
The Center for Education Reform provides information on two studies conducted to promote small schools not necessarily small classes. Although flaws from the studies are outlined, the benefits are also noted. Specifically in California, small schools have been a mission of theirs. But the research has shown it isn’t the small school that makes a difference. It is the small class sizes that make the difference in a child’s education and their success.
But are there any long-term effects from small class sizes? According to an article on Disney Family Parenting, it has been researched how small class sizes lead to an increase in graduation rates. The study highlighted how not just one year of small class sizes makes the difference. It states 3-4 years of small class sizes leads to higher graduation rates, an increase of almost 12%. The study also shows how the importance of small class sizes occurs early on. The most benefits happen when students are in small class sizes in grades K-3.
Finally, the National Teachers Council of English provides guidelines for class sizes and teacher workloads. Some guidelines I found were similar to those I currently follow. Such as keeping class sizes fewer than 25 students, 30 minutes of planning time each day, the availability of clerical assistance and access to a computer. One guideline I found very interesting stated a half-day each month should be devoted to long term planning. I think this would benefit all teachers if they had a half-day off each month just to plan long term.
So what needs to happen to get smaller class sizes? Does more research need to be conducted? Does there need to be more funds devoted to promoting smaller class sizes?
What would you do with fewer students? Would it make a difference in your teaching if you didn’t have as many students in your classroom as you do now? What could you accomplish if you cut your class in half or maybe by thirds?
I will wait for the day when I start the year with fewer than 20 students, until then I can only dream what it would be like…
Thursday, November 26, 2009
Thursday, November 19, 2009
PTC: Stressful or Not?: Blog 13
The time of the year approaches when everything in my room is exactly where it should be. All my student’s desks should be cleaned. Student work is neatly hung all over my walls. No papers linger in my hand in basket. Everything is ready… everything is clean… I walk in wearing my best looking suit and prepare myself for the road ahead. Parent teacher conferences. Do they have to be so stressful?
Every year as conferences approach, there seems to be stress in the air. Teachers are at the top of their game. They are more organized than usual. They are working on report cards, and pulling out their hair. They are administering assessments and correcting like crazy. But does it always have to be this way? What can I do to be more relaxed when this time comes?
Teachervision has an extensive list of tips to help prepare you for parent teacher conferences. Not only does it offer tips to prepare you before conferences, it offers tips to help you through your conferences and then to follow up after your conferences are finished. One tip I found especially useful was keeping a note card on each student with topics you want to discuss, this way I won’t forget to mention anything, whether it is good or not so good.
I have found no matter how prepared you are and how much you have communicated with a parent, you still can have a not so friendly conference. I remember my very first conference I had a parent begin firing accusations of me not doing my job correctly even before the previous parents were out my door. Since it was my first year teaching and only my fourth conference, I was totally caught off guard. I wish I would have come across Handle with Care before now. The article offers more tips for conferences, but focuses on handling difficult situations. First, before the conference, document, document, document. It is important to document any difficulties you are having in the classroom. Some of the tips they offer for during the conference include, taking notes, having support present, and allowing for anger. After the conference, don’t forget to follow up, and continue to communicate with the parent.
Finally, Education World offers tips and strategies for both teachers and administrators to help get the most out of conferences. Sometimes I think teachers get so wrapped up in just making it through their conferences, they forget the real reason they are there meeting with the parents, to keep them involved in their child’s education. For the administrator, prepare the teachers, let the parents know what the goals are from the conference and make it easy for every parent to attend. For the teacher, notify parents of the conferences, plan for a successful conference, and allow for parents to get the most from their child’s conference.
Hopefully these sites will help prepare some of you for successful conferences. Maybe you don’t need any help. But it never hurts to be extra prepared, especially for those unexpected conferences that catch you off guard.
Every year as conferences approach, there seems to be stress in the air. Teachers are at the top of their game. They are more organized than usual. They are working on report cards, and pulling out their hair. They are administering assessments and correcting like crazy. But does it always have to be this way? What can I do to be more relaxed when this time comes?
Teachervision has an extensive list of tips to help prepare you for parent teacher conferences. Not only does it offer tips to prepare you before conferences, it offers tips to help you through your conferences and then to follow up after your conferences are finished. One tip I found especially useful was keeping a note card on each student with topics you want to discuss, this way I won’t forget to mention anything, whether it is good or not so good.
I have found no matter how prepared you are and how much you have communicated with a parent, you still can have a not so friendly conference. I remember my very first conference I had a parent begin firing accusations of me not doing my job correctly even before the previous parents were out my door. Since it was my first year teaching and only my fourth conference, I was totally caught off guard. I wish I would have come across Handle with Care before now. The article offers more tips for conferences, but focuses on handling difficult situations. First, before the conference, document, document, document. It is important to document any difficulties you are having in the classroom. Some of the tips they offer for during the conference include, taking notes, having support present, and allowing for anger. After the conference, don’t forget to follow up, and continue to communicate with the parent.
Finally, Education World offers tips and strategies for both teachers and administrators to help get the most out of conferences. Sometimes I think teachers get so wrapped up in just making it through their conferences, they forget the real reason they are there meeting with the parents, to keep them involved in their child’s education. For the administrator, prepare the teachers, let the parents know what the goals are from the conference and make it easy for every parent to attend. For the teacher, notify parents of the conferences, plan for a successful conference, and allow for parents to get the most from their child’s conference.
Hopefully these sites will help prepare some of you for successful conferences. Maybe you don’t need any help. But it never hurts to be extra prepared, especially for those unexpected conferences that catch you off guard.
Thursday, November 12, 2009
Did you read the newsletter? How about my blog?
Hello??? Is anybody even reading this?
Do you ever feel like this when you send out parent emails or newsletter?
How do I reach all my parents? How do I keep them involved in their child’s education? How much is too much information? What will my parents take out of my communication? Is technology the answer? Am I ready to try classroom blogging?
First things first, what types of parents are out there? How much involvement do they want in their child’s lives? There are three main parenting styles. First you could have a “cop” for a parent. They demand their children obey and accomplish all goals with perfection. When communicating with this type of parent, they will want to know everything that is expected so their child can achieve perfect results. Second, you could have a “social worker” for a parent. They minimize consequences and try and protect their children. When communicating with this type of parent, they will make excuses for their child and try and cover for their child. Finally, you could have a “coach” for a parent. When communicating with this parent, they will be active but allow the child to take responsibility. They will not cover for their child and will respect you as the teacher. Now, how do you reach all types of parents in a reasonable yet effective way?
Scholastic offers several different ideas for communication with parents. Ideas like phoning home, writing a note or email, or sending out a newsletter, are great ways to keep your parents involved. The site also offers tips for writing a great newsletter. Keep the tone the way you want to convey your room, keep the length short and to the point, and decide how frequently you want to send a newsletter. But what can be done to showcase the technology generation z is so used to? Is classroom blogging an answer?
Education World describes blogging as “elementary. Students as young as kindergarten are blogging daily. Research has shown students become better writers when they have an authentic audience over the internet. So what does this mean for my classroom? Students can blog along with their teacher, or contribute their own information for a blog. Education World offers tips in getting started with blogging whether you are a primary or an intermediate teacher. You can also find advice for safety tips.
Since research shows students become better writers when they have an authentic audience, ThinkQuest is a tool you can use to not only keep parents active in their child’s learning, but you can allow your students to publish more than just their writing on the internet. It has tons to offer for all ages of students and is a free program. Blogging would only be the beginning.
Whether you choose to communicate through blogging with your students or not, I think all students need to learn to be Cybersmart. They will not only benefit from it in the classroom but at home as well. There are so many resources in technology to use for communication, take the plunge and try one out. Your generation z students might thank you and it might rub off on your parents too.
Do you ever feel like this when you send out parent emails or newsletter?
How do I reach all my parents? How do I keep them involved in their child’s education? How much is too much information? What will my parents take out of my communication? Is technology the answer? Am I ready to try classroom blogging?
First things first, what types of parents are out there? How much involvement do they want in their child’s lives? There are three main parenting styles. First you could have a “cop” for a parent. They demand their children obey and accomplish all goals with perfection. When communicating with this type of parent, they will want to know everything that is expected so their child can achieve perfect results. Second, you could have a “social worker” for a parent. They minimize consequences and try and protect their children. When communicating with this type of parent, they will make excuses for their child and try and cover for their child. Finally, you could have a “coach” for a parent. When communicating with this parent, they will be active but allow the child to take responsibility. They will not cover for their child and will respect you as the teacher. Now, how do you reach all types of parents in a reasonable yet effective way?
Scholastic offers several different ideas for communication with parents. Ideas like phoning home, writing a note or email, or sending out a newsletter, are great ways to keep your parents involved. The site also offers tips for writing a great newsletter. Keep the tone the way you want to convey your room, keep the length short and to the point, and decide how frequently you want to send a newsletter. But what can be done to showcase the technology generation z is so used to? Is classroom blogging an answer?
Education World describes blogging as “elementary. Students as young as kindergarten are blogging daily. Research has shown students become better writers when they have an authentic audience over the internet. So what does this mean for my classroom? Students can blog along with their teacher, or contribute their own information for a blog. Education World offers tips in getting started with blogging whether you are a primary or an intermediate teacher. You can also find advice for safety tips.
Since research shows students become better writers when they have an authentic audience, ThinkQuest is a tool you can use to not only keep parents active in their child’s learning, but you can allow your students to publish more than just their writing on the internet. It has tons to offer for all ages of students and is a free program. Blogging would only be the beginning.
Whether you choose to communicate through blogging with your students or not, I think all students need to learn to be Cybersmart. They will not only benefit from it in the classroom but at home as well. There are so many resources in technology to use for communication, take the plunge and try one out. Your generation z students might thank you and it might rub off on your parents too.
Thursday, November 5, 2009
When will the correcting stop? Blog 11
How many days does it take for a teacher to have had enough?
An article posted by TimesDaily.com states nearly half of teachers quit within the first five years of teaching. When people think of dropout rates, they usually think of students who don’t make it through high school. But actually the dropout or burnout rate for teachers is even higher. The teachers who dropout first are usually the most qualified teacher and leave because they have an easier time finding work somewhere else because of their qualifications. Why are teachers leaving? Due to budget cut backs, NCLB, and increased paperwork teachers are finding they can be of service in some other career.
What is causing such a fast burnout rate? Teacher burnout is caused by several reasons and may vary from teacher to teacher. A new teacher soon finds out the day does not stop when the last bell rings and also finds out the work does not stop even on the weekends. Correcting papers, planning lessons, evaluating test scores, and other resource gathering takes time, lots of time. State and Federal guidelines also put burden and stress on a teacher to meet goals in student growth which sometimes seem unattainable. Finally the lack of funding and support can cause missing materials, textbooks and a substandard workplace, which can push a teacher to find work someplace else.
So what can be done to prevent teacher burnout? First things first, THINK POSITIVE! Make to do lists that are attainable and detailed. If you make a list with huge expectations, you are more likely to fail. But setting goals which are easy to attain quickly will give you a sense of satisfaction and pride. Accept there are some things in teaching you cannot change. Relax, watch a movie that makes you laugh, and try something new. Don’t bring your work home with you, leave the teaching at school. Get plenty of sleep every night. Talk with positive people, especially teachers. Finally, celebrate what it means to be a teacher and be thankful for what you have.
Still struggling to continue teaching? Check out the Top 10 Reasons to Become a Teacher, from student potential and success and daily humor, this list sums up some great reasons to become a teacher. Not only will you stay younger when you are teacher, but will have your summers off (which they listed as number 10). But I think the most important reason is the impact a teacher has on the future. They have their hands on so many lives; they will have a huge impact on the future and many more to come.
An article posted by TimesDaily.com states nearly half of teachers quit within the first five years of teaching. When people think of dropout rates, they usually think of students who don’t make it through high school. But actually the dropout or burnout rate for teachers is even higher. The teachers who dropout first are usually the most qualified teacher and leave because they have an easier time finding work somewhere else because of their qualifications. Why are teachers leaving? Due to budget cut backs, NCLB, and increased paperwork teachers are finding they can be of service in some other career.
What is causing such a fast burnout rate? Teacher burnout is caused by several reasons and may vary from teacher to teacher. A new teacher soon finds out the day does not stop when the last bell rings and also finds out the work does not stop even on the weekends. Correcting papers, planning lessons, evaluating test scores, and other resource gathering takes time, lots of time. State and Federal guidelines also put burden and stress on a teacher to meet goals in student growth which sometimes seem unattainable. Finally the lack of funding and support can cause missing materials, textbooks and a substandard workplace, which can push a teacher to find work someplace else.
So what can be done to prevent teacher burnout? First things first, THINK POSITIVE! Make to do lists that are attainable and detailed. If you make a list with huge expectations, you are more likely to fail. But setting goals which are easy to attain quickly will give you a sense of satisfaction and pride. Accept there are some things in teaching you cannot change. Relax, watch a movie that makes you laugh, and try something new. Don’t bring your work home with you, leave the teaching at school. Get plenty of sleep every night. Talk with positive people, especially teachers. Finally, celebrate what it means to be a teacher and be thankful for what you have.
Still struggling to continue teaching? Check out the Top 10 Reasons to Become a Teacher, from student potential and success and daily humor, this list sums up some great reasons to become a teacher. Not only will you stay younger when you are teacher, but will have your summers off (which they listed as number 10). But I think the most important reason is the impact a teacher has on the future. They have their hands on so many lives; they will have a huge impact on the future and many more to come.
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