tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7605926763598675958.post8391037435073327658..comments2024-03-23T21:08:20.365-07:00Comments on Forever in First: Saturday Sayings: Day In and Day OutTammyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18053983168084838303noreply@blogger.comBlogger19125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7605926763598675958.post-48791425867840643532014-03-25T14:56:31.586-07:002014-03-25T14:56:31.586-07:00Jana, I'm sorry about the cuts in your distric...Jana, I'm sorry about the cuts in your district. I hope it doesn't affect what happens in your classroom too much. Tammyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18053983168084838303noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7605926763598675958.post-27719143878550678482014-03-24T20:32:08.068-07:002014-03-24T20:32:08.068-07:00Tammy,
I feel your pain. I teach in a district of...Tammy,<br />I feel your pain. I teach in a district of only 425 students and we have to cut half a million dollars out of our budget next year. I have no idea what they will cut. It is a scary prospect. However, as you said, "money doesn't guarantee good teachers and good teaching." This is what I am going to have to keep in mind as we find out what changes will be coming our way next year.Janahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14159980763514025413noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7605926763598675958.post-84769771459627066192014-03-24T15:21:03.756-07:002014-03-24T15:21:03.756-07:00Crystal, you're not losing your mind! Thanks ...Crystal, you're not losing your mind! Thanks for the shout out. I'll send you the link.Tammyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18053983168084838303noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7605926763598675958.post-17198251563519396542014-03-24T14:38:39.000-07:002014-03-24T14:38:39.000-07:00Hey, Tammy. I'm looking for your Walter's ...Hey, Tammy. I'm looking for your Walter's Strategy post to link to (and give your blog a shout out)... Am I losing my mind? I thought that was you and now I can't find it!<br /><br />CrystalTeaching Little Miracleshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15694650140067870645noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7605926763598675958.post-89110247554074184882014-03-24T13:30:58.034-07:002014-03-24T13:30:58.034-07:00Great thoughts, Tammy! You are absolutely right. G...Great thoughts, Tammy! You are absolutely right. Great teaching can happen in any school district - "rich" or "poor!"<br /><br />CrystalTeaching Little Miracleshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15694650140067870645noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7605926763598675958.post-12212290523672150402014-03-24T07:50:47.102-07:002014-03-24T07:50:47.102-07:00Em, thank you. Your kids probably don't know ...Em, thank you. Your kids probably don't know how poor their district is either. I'm glad we can keep it that way. :)Tammyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18053983168084838303noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7605926763598675958.post-39600030612935838082014-03-24T05:46:20.842-07:002014-03-24T05:46:20.842-07:00Great post! You are completely right. It is abou...Great post! You are completely right. It is about what goes on in your classroom and the teaching we put forth. That is why I love this job. I work in a school similar to yours but I would not have it any other way.<br />Em<br />Curious FirstiesEm Hutchisonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02714399463592010921noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7605926763598675958.post-51606401303221880502014-03-23T18:28:29.534-07:002014-03-23T18:28:29.534-07:00I don't remember the last time I had 20 studen...I don't remember the last time I had 20 students. I know what you mean though. It becomes harder to reach all their needs when the student to teacher ratio is high.Tammyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18053983168084838303noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7605926763598675958.post-10703298648690756392014-03-23T16:02:38.790-07:002014-03-23T16:02:38.790-07:00So sorry you are in that situation! Our student t...So sorry you are in that situation! Our student to teacher ratio is so much lower! I notice such a big difference in classes that get to 20 students. I have only had a few that got over 20 and it was very difficult to meet individual needs of any students. My state spends quite a bit on education but they are always talking about ways to spend less. The Math Maniachttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06177173988483052908noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7605926763598675958.post-47772392269932125922014-03-23T14:51:21.998-07:002014-03-23T14:51:21.998-07:00Lee, we have the same kindergarten problem which i...Lee, we have the same kindergarten problem which is really too bad. Our k kids come every other day. I totally understand class sizes too. It's amazing the affects of only one or two extra bodies. I had 18 my first year of teaching. Oh for that number again. Tammyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18053983168084838303noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7605926763598675958.post-17906945122497800552014-03-23T14:48:46.844-07:002014-03-23T14:48:46.844-07:00Connie, Yep class size can make an adequate teache...Connie, Yep class size can make an adequate teacher feel inadequate, especially if there are extreme behaviors in the mix. I know this from personal experience. It would be so much easier with 5, 6, 7 fewer kids.Tammyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18053983168084838303noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7605926763598675958.post-76777440802498498042014-03-23T14:47:36.887-07:002014-03-23T14:47:36.887-07:00Jenny, you're right. Sometimes the more gets ...Jenny, you're right. Sometimes the more gets in the way of growing up and life in general. Tammyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18053983168084838303noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7605926763598675958.post-91187789859983110822014-03-23T11:04:53.714-07:002014-03-23T11:04:53.714-07:00Here in Utah, we have the lowest per-pupil spendin...Here in Utah, we have the lowest per-pupil spending in the nation -- $1,000 per student less than the next lowest state, which is Idaho. The result is that we can't fund full-day kinder and we have larger than ideal class sizes. When I taught in another state, K-3 was capped at 20 students and back then I would notice the difference in my effectiveness if I even had one or two more students in class. Now, I have about 27 each year -- which is low for my area. I try my best, but class size really does make a huge, huge difference. (I am so thankful for our amazing kinder teachers who manage to achieve magic with 27 kids for only 3 hours a day.)Lee Knapphttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16358905438289255108noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7605926763598675958.post-85767320509862027832014-03-23T07:09:04.426-07:002014-03-23T07:09:04.426-07:00Well said Tammy! It is, first and foremost, the c...Well said Tammy! It is, first and foremost, the classroom teacher that makes the difference. However, class size (as you mentioned) can be a game changer. Thirty or more students in a class is becoming the norm. It is hard for me to be the kind of teacher I want to be when I have that many kids. I remember reading an article years ago in an education magazine (NAEYC) that said the recommended number of students for K-1 is 15 to 18 students. Many school districts have doubled that number to save money. Mrs. Andersonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05292753700972397708noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7605926763598675958.post-21606669541081077532014-03-22T19:57:54.670-07:002014-03-22T19:57:54.670-07:00Sometimes little is more...My students want to pla...Sometimes little is more...My students want to play games on ipads on Fridays. I ALWAYS say no. I want them to play with each other. I love what our friend First in Maine said recently...Make sure your kid has a sandbox before they get an ipad...paraphrased...she is much more eloquent than I!<br />JennyOwl Things Firsthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10978780415995185795noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7605926763598675958.post-85650728709320363682014-03-22T16:33:46.268-07:002014-03-22T16:33:46.268-07:00Miss Trayers, your stick and sand analogy makes me...Miss Trayers, your stick and sand analogy makes me smile. You're right. We make do with what little we have sometimes.Tammyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18053983168084838303noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7605926763598675958.post-86394698506733785882014-03-22T16:32:50.214-07:002014-03-22T16:32:50.214-07:00Lori, yep a little bit of funding would ease the s...Lori, yep a little bit of funding would ease the stress at times no doubt. If I had just enough funding to keep my class size down, I'd be good to go I think.Tammyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18053983168084838303noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7605926763598675958.post-63601178903164145482014-03-22T14:59:35.779-07:002014-03-22T14:59:35.779-07:00I'm also sorry to hear about the potential cut...I'm also sorry to hear about the potential cutbacks. We went through that in my state a few years ago and to hear them talk about cutting millions, you just wonder how that can be done. But you are absolutely right-good teachers can teach on a deserted island with a stick and the sand! The extras are nice, but certainly we can make do.Miss Trayershttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07994698870486768685noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7605926763598675958.post-25586974953717514462014-03-22T14:51:15.454-07:002014-03-22T14:51:15.454-07:00I am so sorry to hear that your district is in thi...I am so sorry to hear that your district is in this situation. Schools need resources. I think you stated it well though that poor teaching occurs everywhere and good teaching is good teaching. But a little bit of funding sure would help you and your co-workers!<br />Lori<br /><b><a href="http://conversationsinliteracy.blogspot.com/" rel="nofollow">Conversations in Literacy</a></b>Lorihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14511344892381128298noreply@blogger.com