Quote Originally Posted by Surlygirl
I think they have stifled teachers and creativity in the classroom. Everyone teaches for the test all year. There are no more interesting projects or creative teaching. Kids never learn how to think outside the box.

That's one reason I was so thrilled with my scores. We're supposed to use this really boring text. Most of the stories have no meat to them. I did three units from it and taught five age appropriate novels instead. Three of which are adopted by my district as Core Lit. The other two were Lit. Circles - kind of like a book club. 4 kids read the same book and discuss it. So I had 8 different books being read in my class at the same time. Makes for a lively classroom.

Considering that my kids scored above the district average, I would say my approach worked. And I did not have all super brilliant kids.

The trouble is - our kids as a group are failing. And no politician really wants to put the blame where it belongs. There are people who should not have children, but they do and they don't take any responsibility for their kids' education or moral values. And I'm not talking about religion. I mean basic things that most people agree are wrong - lying, stealing, cheating and abuse of others.

25% of my students this year have questionable home lives. And I teach in a pretty decent area.


V.