Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!

The day went well for me and I hope for you as well!  The only person missing was my son.  I hope he comes next year.

This is also the day that I begin to develop my 2017 calendar, my word of the year and events that I want to attend or accomplish.

The 2017 calendar is filling up quickly.  I have the months listed in my notebook, my guidebook and my pinterest calendar.

My word of the year is a theme for the year.

The events guide what I want to do throughout the year.

Next week, on January 1, 2017 I will share all and grade myself on how did from what I wrote on my blog last year.

This year will be better!

Let's Salute the Week

This week will hold the last few days of school for the 2016!  Wow!

School, teaching has been interesting and not quite what I would like to accomplish this year.  I am praying for a new year.

I had a dream last night that I was holding a new baby.  According to dream analogies I want to start new beginnings,

So for those of you who off this week, have fun!  Those of us that have a few more days, we'll get through it!

The new year is coming!

Deadlines, Data, Evaluation and Oh Yeah Teaching!!

Deadlines, Data, Evaluation and, Oh Yeah Teaching

Today, I did all of that and still have deadlines to meet before tomorrow morning.  I have list of  accommodations that I need to turn into to the Site Assessment Leader.  I have been promising that poor woman the list for over a week now.  

In addition, the progress reports are due tomorrow.  I have a re evaluation to complete by Thursday morning.  Today, the administration team came in while I was administrating one of the test and the paraprofessional in the class worked with the students. 

Two of the mild moderate teacher met with me so I could makes sure that we were on the same track, they didn’t need help and they remembered that the progress reports were due tomorrow.  Now I need to write up my notes, send them to the teachers and adminsteremtion because I need to make sure that they have been completed.  

Teaching, oh yes, I did some of the at today.

Did I mention that three administrators come in at the same time? One had a laptop, one took pictures and the other looked around!

I am very thankful that the paraprofessional who works in my class, cleaned the room on Friday.  I was sick all weekend!

Oh well!  This is why I became a teacher and thank goodness for technology!  It will all get done!!!

Let's Salute the Week

Let’s Salute the Week!!

This week ended with me leaving work early because I had a bronchial cold and flu. My husband bought me the medicine I needed, an inhaler, congestion cold medicine, and Tylenol.  In between tending the fire and reading books, I thought about some things.

Presentations for Professional Development:

There are two webinars that I have presented for SimpleK12.com and one for and Australian educational website.   Right now I am working on some new presentations to pitch online.  One of them will be online in the new future.  Consequently, I will share it when it is completed.  If you have any ideas, please share them in the comments. 

Technology in the Classroom

This is my passion, but you wouldn’t know it by my classroom.  This is my  PASSION!

Technology is something that is new and it is new every day .  Our children need to learn how to be global citizens. We need to learn how to use technology and we need to teach our students how to be global citizens.  We need to use technology to close the achievement gap. 

The Achievement Gap

The “achievement gap” in education refers to the disparity in academic performance between groups of students. The achievement gap shows up in grades, standardized-test scores, course selection, dropout rates, and college-completion rates, among other forms in which success is measured.

The achievement gap is a problem, no doubt about it, a very serious problem in education.  What is the cause of this problem?  According to several sources, the achievement gap is the result of:

            a.  cultural relevance understanding within the school community
            b.  performance of the school as a whole
c.  socio economic status of the school location
            d.  location of the school in the district
            e.  quality of the educator

 As I listened to my co workers speak at oue meeting today, I became more and more upset.  There were countless references about how tests, curriculum and other school materials were not made or relevant to “our children”, but they weren’t referring to all of the students at the school.  They were referencing the African American children at the school. Our school is so much more than that, we have over 20 difference cultures represented at our school.  We mirror the population of the United States which currently illustrates how the nonwhite population has increased by 1.9 percent to 116 million, or 37 percent of the U.S. The fastest percentage growth is among multiracial Americans, followed by Asians and Hispanics (http://www.cbsnews.com/news/). Our school has about 37%, probably higher, of African American scholars, followed by non white hispanics, Native American, Muslim etc. .  . down to less than 1% of white scholars.

The staff at this school seemed to represent the population of the school, which I thought was great.  It also isn’t a red school (a low performing school), we are thin sliver away from green (a good school).   In addition to a such an ethnic difference among the staff, there are male teachers at kinder level.  Granted the male is a special educator, but still we have male teachers in the general education classroom as well.  Finally, a school where the staff and the scholars mirrored one another.

However, when there is talk of cultural relevance, the reference is African American vs White, not Muslim or Hispanic.  Nor is there any discussion of the individuals who are mixed and believe me there are several scholars who fall in this category as well. Little discussion of developing good teachers, just recruiting good teachers and hope they stay. As a result, only one part of the problem is discussed and addressed, the other issues are not mentioned.  If they are mentioned, it is only for a moment and no solutions are discussed.

This is a touchy issue!  How do we resolve the achievement gap? Obviously, there is a problem, but what is the solution.  Brown vs. the Board of Education illustrates without a doubt separate but equal is not equal.  It is up to us to make it equal, make it equitable to everyone.   My own opinion is that when we develop a relationship with our students and their families.  We can work on the achievement gap by working on relationships among our school community. Educators can work together. We can also work on closing the achievement gap by promoting, developing and PAYING good teachers all over the nation.

Standardized testing will not show or bring good teachers forward.  Time shows how good a teacher is based on their students achievements over the years.  Good teachers , who are present for the students, have good relationships with their students and educate their students are needed in all schools.  We as a nation need to promote this so our children, all of our children will be successful.







Reference:

The Associated Press. (2013) retrieved from http://www.cbsnews.com/news/whites-losing-

majority-in-us-in-under-5-group/

Editorial Projects in Education Research Center. (2011, July 7). Issues A-Z: Achievement Gap.

Education Week. Retrieved December 6, 2016, from http://www.edweek.org/ew/issues/achievement-

gap/chievement-gap/index.html

Salute the Week!!

The week has begun in a new month.  December is here and the holidays will beginning soon.  In addition, my family will not be together this holiday, for the first time and I am not sure how that will work out for all of us.

Holidays:

This month, my students and I will be celebrating the following holidays: Hanukah, Kwanza, and Christmas.  It is always interesting to me that Hanukah and Kwanza don’t always begin on the same dates each year.  Depending on how the calendar is situated that is when the holidays will be celebrated.  Last year Hanukah began in November and this year it won’t be until the end of December.

Old Colorado City

During Thanksgiving, we spend some time in Colorado Springs, CO.  We visited Old Colorado City, Fairview Cemetery and Bear Nature.  There was a German Bakery that we visited and some other areas.

Professional Development

I present my first professional development for my new school.  I am attaching the powerpoint.  If anyone would like the documents please let me know.

http://www.slideshare.net/michelledragalin/general-education-powerpoint
(copy and past link in search bar)

This is the outline for this week.  I really want to share it with all of you!

Teacher's Vacation

All teacher's look forward to the holiday vacations with a combination of dread, anticipation and relief.  All three feelings are natural and if a teacher denies that they are looking forward to vacation without these emotions, (even a little bit) are less than honest.

The feeling of dread is because when they return special educators need to take a baseline to see if there has been any regression.  The return baseline is compared to the previous data collected to see if there has been any regression in learning.  If there has been then data is collected to determine how long it takes to return the student to their state prior to the vacation.

Anticipation because, NO MORE SCHOOL, time to work on themes, vacation (rest) and time with family.  Also, it give the students the same opportunity to help.  It just time to exhale and reflect on how the year is progressing.

Finally, relief.  Just time away, away from school and regroup.

Personally I like this time, I am an introvert and I can work withought a low level anxiety.  This is something that I am working on because I know God is helping me to become more self confident and find my niche.

Professional Development in a PowerPoint

(c) Michelle Dragalin 2016

There are two powerpoint I need to prepare for the week after Thanksgiving.  One is regarding the roles and responsibilities of the General Education teacher regarding Independent Educationa Plans.  The other powerpoint is my submission to InnEdco.  I will show teachers how to utilize information regarding how request assistive technology in order to help a student access the general education curriculum.

It makes me feel good and a huge ego boost for me to have a chance to present these powerpoint as part of a professional development.  I am really looking forward to my submission to InnEdco, which hasn’t been approved but hope springs eternal.  I have submitted a a proposal to DonorsChoose.org for money in order to attend. 

This is really exciting for me!!!

At this stage I am grateful to have a job.

InnEdCO 2017

Innovative Education Colorado (InnEdCO) formerly TECHNOLOGY IN EDUCATION COLORADO, INC. (TIE) is a Colorado-based organization founded in 1986 by a group of teachers with a vision of hosting a conference focusing on the increasing role technology plays in education.

I attended this conference in the summer of 2015.  It was my first and only time, but I enjoyed it so much that I tried very hard to go again the next summer.  I even submitted a grant proposal through DonorsChoose.org professional development.  I submitted a proposal, which was rejected.  My school would not fund me as I was not returning the next year.  You guessed it, I did not attend InnEdCo 2016. 




 I was so disappointed!

Espcially since the ISTE (The International Society for Technology in Education is a nonprofit organization that serves educators interested in better use of technology in education.)  would be part of the convention.

WELL NOW!!!  IT IS A NEW YEAR!!

I have applied to be part of the selection committee for the proposals and I will be submitting my own proposals.

The last year I submitted and presented two webinars for Simple K12.com which services educators interested in better use of technology in education.  (See a theme here)  Stay tuned!! It will occur!!

Resources:

Inspiring Digital Age Teaching and Learniing (2017) http://innedco.org/about/ 

ISTE (2017) http://www.bing.com/search?

q=ISTE&pc=cosp&ptag=N0004G1462D010815A316A5D3C6E&form=CONBDF&conlogo=CT3210127

Affective Needs Teacher

Affective Needs Teacher

            This year I accepted a job as an affective needs teacher. (Wait while I draw a deep breath)

This has not been a successful teaching year. I read a book called “Angry Young Men” by Aaron Kipnis, PhD., and I kind of understand why I haven’t been successful. 

            There are many reasons and while I would like to say that none of them are because of me, it just wouldn’t be true. I am not a male.  I am not a lot of things, but an affective needs teacher must be in touch with who and what kind of person you really are and not what you would like to be.  The core beliefs that are needed are cookie cutter, but they must be your own without any apologies.  The moral fiber has to be intact in your soul and confident in yourself. I am a white woman.

            I thought the main reason behind this was because these kids were street smart and could smell bull poopy and mile off.  This is true. However, I am coming off a bad year and I am trying to get my confidence back.  These kids on the other had have been through a lot and based on what I read in this book. The root cause is both nature and nurture.  The children have been born to young parents and were either preemies and/or had some form of fetal alcohol syndrome.  Since then, they have been part of an abusive home life, been in foster homes, and either don’t have a father figure or have an abusive father figure at home.

            As I read the book, I realized that all of my students have experienced all of the items a din some ways are on the seven pathways that lead to jail.  The sad part is that I am part of the pathway that leads to prison, not jail, not juvenile hall, and not an institution, prison. Dr. Kipnis is one of these angry young men.  However, he stats that he has had the help that he recommends in this book for boys who are on their way to become an angry young man.  What is really sad is that there is not one type, except to say is that they they are all boys.

            I read this book as part of a freelancing gig I accepted.  I will be reading it over again because I skimmed over most of it because of my time limit.  This helped me to understand why this has been and unmitigated mess. I highly recommend this book to anyone who works with boys, especially boys who are at risk.

Why I like my Scars !

Why I like my scars!

A scar is a mark left on the skin after a surface injury or wound has healed. 2. A lingering sign of

damage or injury, either emotional, mental or physical. (freedictionary.com)

I’ll be honest the picture isn’t me.  I do have a scar in that general area and if I open my shirt for the world to see, you will a few scars. One scar is from the portal I had inserted in order to make it easier for the medical personal to draw blood, insert medicine and attach my chemo lines.  The next scar goes from the center of my chest to under my arm. Go a little further down and there are my stretch marks from two pregnancies, scar from a C-section and epidural cut.

            On the back of my hands and wrist are scars from a student I held in a restraint who scratched very deeply. My arms and legs are covered with scars from various childhood, teenage and adult injuries. Some are long, some are narrow, some white, some are so old that only I can see them. Finally, some I don’t look at because those scars go all the way to my heart and soul.

Galatians 6:17

From now on let no one trouble me [by making it necessary for me to justify my authority as an apostle, and the absolute truth of the gospel], for I bear on my body the branding-marks of Jesus [the wounds, scars, and other outward evidence of persecutions—these testify to His ownership of me].

These physical scars are the result of life happening to me.  The scars are the reminders of a high risk pregnancy, a scary first pregnancy, a trip when I was hurt the most and scared I wouldn’t live through it.  These are my branding marks of Jesus; they testify to Jesus’ ownership of me. A time to remember that no mater what, God was there and put a hedge of protection around me and I am here to testify to that.

                                            There are mental scars:

·      You won’t pass the test, you aren’t smart enough

·      You are a basic teacher; we won’t be renewing your contract.

·      We don’t want you teaching anymore in that class

·      The writing, well, it isn’t up to our standards

The emotional scars:

·      I hate you, I wish you weren’t my mother

·      I wish you were dead

·      Don’t talk to me, you are . . ..

·      The friends who no longer are or will become . . .

                           because the scar is just to fresh from the last time

The scars that can’t be seen are the ones that hurt the most.  

When I look back at them I see how God stitched the wounds together that those words, situations, experiences produced. I wish I could say that I just moved on and they don’t hurt anymore, but no.

You see I have to forgive the person who said it, forgive the situation that caused it and forgive the person I was at the time.  That is the hardest part, but each time, I can forgive because I know that there is a great purpose> Not my will by your will God

Then Satan comes along and replays the situation in my head, whispering remember.

                        Then God brings me to another situation that is more hurtful and I remember that the                                                                                                        test isn’t over yet. 

Why? 

Proverbs 3:5-6 [Full Chapter]

Trust in and rely confidently on the Lord with all your heart And do not rely on your own insight or understanding. In all your ways know and acknowledge and recognize Him, And He will make your paths straight and smooth [removing obstacles that block your way].

We are in a spiritual warfare, the past is over and God is fighting behind the scene:

2 Corinthians 10:3

For though we walk in the flesh [as mortal men], we are not carrying on our [spiritual] warfare according to the flesh and using the weapons of man.

The scars?  

           The Emotional, Physical, Mental ones?  

They remind us that God brought us through once and he will bring us through again.