Web 2.0

Went back to my google reader and found two interesting blogs that Cool Cat Teacher had posted.  In “Do What You Can.  Share What You Can”, [http://coolcatteacher.blogspot.com/2009/03/do-what-you-can-share-what-you-can.html] she gives some encouraging adages that I’ve heard, like her, from the older, wiser women and men in my life (mom, dad, grandparents…)  Basically she’s giving encouragment to the encouragers…the teachers.  Teachers want to encourage others, but we’ve got to remember what we tell our kids…when you give your all, it’s enough.  In “So If Teachers Won’t Read It, What Are We Doing With Kids?”, [http://coolcatteacher.blogspot.com/2009/03/so-if-teachers-wont-read-it-what-are-we.html] she talks about the importance of teachers continuing to learn so that we can do our best to help the kids we have.   I agree with her, but I have something to add.  She talks about reading with her son 30 minutes to an hour every night.   As a language arts teacher, I applaud her.  There’s nothing you can do to help your child more than reading with them.  What I’d like to add is that most teachers WANT to meet their kids’ needs…they WANT to change with the times (most will).  I can’t speak for others, but I can speak for myself.  I find that there’s so very little time to learn  and then perfect new things.   She says that , “He goes on to say that teachers are so focused on test prep that they don’t have time to do anything else. “  How true, how true…and how sad.     Unfortunately, I believe that teachers have to teach to the test now.   I think this is NOT what education is supposed to be, but teachers are trying to survive and help their kids survive, too.    If I had the time to learn and practice new techniques without feeling like I’m falling further behind each day, I’d LOVE to learn how to teach, as I’ve been told, “smarter.”    There is stress from the time I arrive at work to the time I leave…if I didn’t leave it at work, the stress would follow me home,too.  Teachers have to be able to go home and just be parents and/or spouses if they are to be good teachers at school and good moms and spouses at home.  I don’t have any easy answers, but I think one is that education has to become TRULY important, no essential, to the federal government.  Our government is really good about passing tough legislation, but then they don’t back anything up with even barely adequate funding to see it through.

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