February 25th, 2011

Morning....

I found this website yesterday as I was trying to get a better understanding of the drivative function.  This might be a nice website to use with students as it gives the formal math definitions of the derivative function with a nice applet so they can actually SEE the derivative function in action in real-time. 

http://www.calculusapplets.com/derivfunc.html

More thoughts on what is going on in Madison, WI.....

Teachers are being disciplined (docked pay) for falsely calling in sick and getting fake doctor's notes.  This is tottally reasonable.  You don't show up for work, you don't get paid.  Period.  I can understand that teacher's want to voice their opinions about their collective bargaining, but are you seriously going to skip work and get a fake doctor's note to do so?  Plus, isn't that border-line illegal?

Listening to the radio this morning

Welcome back....  I am a fan of talk radio and was listening to an AM station this morning on the way to work.  The hosts were talking about the strike going on in Madison, WI and a teacher called in and essentialy said, "I've been teaching for a while now, a teacher who has been in the system for a while gets  paid more than the average person, and the retirement benefits are more than adequate."  The hosts then proceeded to talk about how student achivement is pathetic (bad teaching implied here)  and how America scores on the low end of the scale, etc.....  oh and how people should go into teaching because of their love for students, not the money.  Ok, so here are my thoughts....  1)  I can't speak for every teacher, but I know I am in this profession for the love of students and wanting to see them successful in live... not the money.  2)  Teachers have to make a living too, therefore money is important, not the most important thing, but still important.  3)  Its amazing how people automatically connect low performing students with "bad teachers."  Are there bad teachers in the system?  Unfortunately, yes.  These people should find another profession, how about fly fishing?  But consider how there is zero parent and student accountability (you can't be "fired" from being a bad parent).  Teachers cannot control what goes on outside of school and therefore has little control over how much studying or working on educational material occurs.....  These are my thoughts for this morning, what do you think?

My First Post

So I'm a teacher.... and I take about 10 to 15 minutes before and after school everyday to read about things going on in the field of education.  I love reading and talking about education with other teachers, parents, and whomever else has an interest, especially those not in the field.  So I created this blog to be just that, a blog where others and myself can discuss, agree, and disagree about topics in education.  Please comment, share opinions, openly disagree with me if you do, express your thoughts on the subject, etc....  Let the blogging insanity begin!!!!