It's survival of the fittest for me these last few weeks. I took a long term job at South/West Park for second grade class, which was explained to me as "a handful."
It took me four days of behavior management to feel like on the fourth day I was actually teaching something. I've tried to keep it as positive as I can, but when you have 32 monsters kids, half are WAY below basic second grade standards, and 10 are behavior problems with 4 on medication, I have my moments when I'm not so positive.
It's very sad really. I'm the only conventional class, so any kid who doesn't speak Spanish or isn't approved for GATE goes to me. It doesn't matter that their classes are all under 22 with some only have 18. These kids need serious help. I gave them the practice STAR (state mandated) test over the last two weeks and their scores were unbelievable. 14 under 40%. 10 between 40%-70% (which I consider still failing). 7 above 70%. And 1 who has only been to school 2 out of 16 days that I have been subbing has a no score.
So 77% of this class is failing second grade.
It didn't surprise me that there scores were low, but the reaction I received from a few teachers. Like it was the norm; that these kids were just doomed for failure. I look at programs like the charter school my kids go to and wonder why more schools aren't adapting to this model. Where every child is getting instruction at their level, so at least SOME growth is made through the year. I talked to the first grade teacher who had most of these kids last year and she said some of them have gotten worse. How is THAT possible???
This experience has made me grateful for so many reasons and has open my eyes to a few factors.
1. Teachers who work at lower performing schools should get paid more. Just hands down get paid more. Most of the teachers at South/West are just itching to get out of that school. There is no incentives for them to come to work everyday, deal with low, behavior ridden kids with no help or guidance from anyone. They should be compensated when they have to make 4 phone calls home after school, 3 kids who threw up in class because the parents sent them to school sick, children who don't take their meds and end up getting suspended because he believes he is wolverine and tries to claw at another student with 3 sharpened pencils. (Yes, this kid is extremely disturbed). If they are to do their job well, and all the time without getting burnt out, they should get some kind of compensation for it.
2. I'm so grateful NOT to have my kids in Tracy Unified Schools. Every school I have subbed at is just awful. Not the staff, but the situations. Everything is about money.
EVERYTHING.
It's not about what is best for the kids. High kids get ignored because they can pass the test, low kids get ignored because they are "just too low to help," so you have this weird middle that everyone focuses on wether every kids needs it or not. My kids are at a wonderful school, are learning and growing everyday, and love it. They LOVE to learn and I know that the teachers and program at TLC has helped them with that. I wish more schools would look at how their program is run and adapt to it.
3. I'm grateful not to be working full time. It is So stressful right now. I can handle this job because it's literally only for another week (15 total days). I'm not responsible for making sure that those kids are ready for 3rd grade. I feel sorry for the poor woman who is. It's an UPHILL BATTLE the whole way.
I love my family, my life, the ability to go in and help teachers to do their jobs. I like that they like me and are reassured that I can do it. I appreciate those poor women who stay late, get up early, and come back for more each day to fight the fight. I'm grateful to just be a substitute.
