Bell Ringer How can teachers better integrate technology into their lessons?

Challenges of Teaching

Every job has its challenges! The challenges of teaching is unlike the challenges of any other job! – Long working hours – High stakes testing – Challenging students

Long Working Hours New teachers are usually young energetic idealistic people fresh out of college. The first year will be a long one! Benefits: New source of money, freedom to control your new life, feeling that you have a role in society. With that comes responsibility. – Not just yourself, but for your students.

Long Working Hours Work Hours (Paid Hours): – High school = 7.25 hours per day – Elementary school = 7 hours per day Other Hours (Unpaid Hours): – Lesson planning – Speaking with parents – Grading papers – Attending professional development – Other paperwork

Long Working Hours Teachers commit themselves to: – Planning events (Homecoming, Prom, etc.) – Sponsoring clubs – Coaching sports – Tutoring students – Open houses – Teacher meetings (Grade level, Department) – Student events (Games, performances, etc.)

High Stakes Testing Like it or not, teachers and schools are judged by how well their students perform on high stakes tests. (ACT, AP, REACH, etc.) No Child Left Behind (NCLB): Mandates statewide testing in reading and math each year. NCLB provides funding to schools. (Federal government doesn’t fund schools, states are responsible for funding education.)

High Stakes Testing If schools want Federal funding, they must follow NCLB guidelines to receive this money. School districts can decline the funding and not follow NCLB guidelines. Under NCLB, schools must meet adequate yearly progress (AYP). Schools who fail to do so would be penalized. (Pay for transfers, tutoring, etc.)

High Stakes Testing Under Obama, NCLB was renewed, but parts were changed. Race to the Top Program: No more Federal oversight. States would adopt higher standards “voluntarily”. States “earned” money with higher standards and higher achievements. We are judged by our ACT scores, # of students passing AP exam, Explore & Plan scores, REACH performance tasks, etc.

Challenging Students Today’s students have grown up with smart phones, tablets, laptops, etc. Schools have not been able to keep up with students. Teachers are often ill-equipped to integrate technology into daily lessons, creating a gap between teachers and students. Students have better access to information than at any time in history!

Challenging Students Special Education: – Learning Disability (LD) – Emotional Disability (ED) – Autism – Severe and Profoundly Handicapped – Intellectual Disabilities (ID) These students are included in the general education classrooms more now than ever before.

Challenging Students Learning Disabilities (LD) – Teachers must make accommodations and modifications to lessons and assessments. Emotional/Behavioral Disabilities (ED/EBD) – Teachers must create/follow action plans to help students deal with their disabilities. Autism – More are mainstreamed for the social benefits of being around non-disabled peers.

Challenging Students Challenges of Poverty: Students come to school with more to worry about than just school. – Hunger – Little/No resources – Little/No parental support – Must take care of siblings/adults – Neighborhood violence/deaths Vicious cycle that results in students falling further behind every year.

Read and React Read the short article. Annotate, highlight, underline, etc. Tomorrow: With a partner (a different one than you had the last time), identify 3 interesting points and discuss them. Together, write 3 questions about the text. Do not write comprehension questions, but questions that you had that the text didn’t answer. Bring these documents to class on Friday!

Exit Slip What were the three main challenges today’s teachers face?