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Post by freecharlie on Aug 7, 2022 21:36:00 GMT
Years ago when I was at an elementary school, we did the ropes course. They had the high ropes and the low ropes. As a staff we did one activity together and the you could opt in or out of everything else. I am terrified of heights but did it anyway... I'd love to do it again. Last couple of years, we've done a scavenger type hunt in out building. We get put into teams and the teams have to stay together. It is a lot of fun for most people, but some hate it and some can't run. We try to have other things for the non runners to do (like throw the flour filled socks at people or be the medics). Those type if team building things, I like. I hate the come up with a team name and flag and other sitting crap I wonder about very active (ropes, race) teambuilders and how that impacts disabled staff members. We have staff members who use wheelchairs or crutches, or who, because of unseen disability like chronic pain or illness, cannot participate in those kinds of things. How does this build community with them? If I were a new teacher to a district and disabled, that would really bother me. Like, I get that it's active and more fun, but if it's not an optional thing (or if the alternative is that you are just excluded), I have problems with that. It sounds like your schools have at least built in some options or alternative roles, but I'm betting lots don't (e.g., just go work in your room by yourself). I get that. I think you probably have to know and respect your staff. Our school currently has maybe 40 staff members. We know which ones would have a hard time and definitely find a different way for them to participate or have a different activity. It is like when they make us do a potluck on an in-service day. At least five of us have dietary restrictions and can't eat 95% of what is brought/offered.
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Post by mollycoddle on Aug 7, 2022 21:36:46 GMT
Not a teacher-an SLP- and I am kicking myself for agreeing to go back full time this year. Oh well, it will work out. And since I’m a retire/rehire, I’m hourly, which I love. I don’t have to go to the 4 days of PD next week-Hallelujah! Of course I don’t get paid, but that’s ok. Those PDs are always awful, so I am happy to miss them. I am going in for a couple of days this week to move stuff and get myself sorted. The salary SLPs will work all week, but I am hoping that I can get done what I need to do in 3 days if I push. Oh, you got sucked back in, too? I swear schools are like the hotel California. They’ve budgeted to pay me a max of 30 hours per week so I’ll find out from my principal tomorrow what portions I don’t need to attend. 😏 I did get sucked in. I like working, but would prefer 2-3 days a week. I don’t know why I said yes. 🤷♀️
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Post by freecharlie on Aug 7, 2022 21:38:26 GMT
Our opening day is tomorrow with a big hour long hoo-rah meeting for the whole district (superspreader!?) and then we have to travel back to our buildings for meetings all day. I WILL be rolling up with the largest cold brew I can get. I WILL be group texting my BFFs throughout the opening meeting. LOL We had one of those "inspirational" first day meetings- whole district (about 150 people) in the performing arts center (seats probably 200?) for 2.5 hours. I wore a mask! Hell to the no do I need Covid at the start of school! I spent most of the time texting my peeps (who were sitting right next to me) and thinking about everything that I needed to be doing in my classroom. I tried to sneak out with a friend who was falling asleep (she has apnea and doesn't use her CPAP) and needed to get out and walk and my principal was at the door. I told him I needed to step out and would be right back. Came back with friend 10 min later and the meeting was done less than 5 min after that. LOL were you not in person last year? Texting and thinking is exactly what I will be doing as well as making snide comments under my breath and planning where to go for lunch.
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ddly
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 3,947
Jul 10, 2014 19:36:28 GMT
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Post by ddly on Aug 7, 2022 22:40:07 GMT
I strongly dislike team building activities. We have very little turn over with our staff. We had 3 people leave this past year. Two moved with family and one was part time and went to another school full time. She was ELL and there just wasn’t a need for more hours. She was the only teacher and the others were a library aid and head custodian. We do stupid activities with our assigned table group. Things like make a coat of arms. I haven’t missed this and am sad we’re back in person and able to be table groups. It’ll be interesting to see how it’s handled this year. I am still recovering from my knee replacement so I’ll milk that if I have to. I’d be okay with my department, we got really close last year being a group of 3 when we needed 5. I don’t like to get cozy with a lot of the staff. I have those that I really like and am okay doing this stuff with but it’s a small number and they’re never in my group. On a good note, our Sped Director approved 2 additional days for me and one of my coworkers to go in and do para schedules and get IEPs for staff ready. Not looking forward to going back but it will be worth it. Plus, the extra 2 days of pay won’t hurt. Your knee is still kind of stiff sometimes, especially after you sit for awhile, so you need to stand and take a little walk every once in awhile. And if that "once in awhile" happens to coincide with table groups, well... that's not your fault! You must follow doctor's orders and exercise that knee! Indeed! I’m just about 6 weeks out and only need my cane for longer durations. I may need to start school with it! LOL Nothing like setting the bar low for me!
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Post by Merge on Aug 7, 2022 23:38:22 GMT
Oh, you got sucked back in, too? I swear schools are like the hotel California. They’ve budgeted to pay me a max of 30 hours per week so I’ll find out from my principal tomorrow what portions I don’t need to attend. 😏 I did get sucked in. I like working, but would prefer 2-3 days a week. I don’t know why I said yes. 🤷♀️ Probably for the same reason I did - if you’re only there 2-3 days (also what I had hoped), some kids will not get what they need.
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Post by SAHM wannabe on Aug 8, 2022 1:51:35 GMT
Tomorrow is the first day of school with students! We had 3 teacher work days last week. Where oh where did summer go?
Our icebreaker was a hosted trivia game. The moderator was someone who runs trivia games at local bars. He’s a popular standup comedian and he kept everyone engaged. I think most enjoyed the activity.
My principal kept meetings to a minimum and gave us a lot of time to do what we needed to do. I can’t say that I’m “excited” about returning, but I’m ready. Jitter Juice for my students is chilling in the refrigerator!
I wish everyone a productive, safe, and joyful school year!
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Post by freecharlie on Aug 8, 2022 2:02:37 GMT
Tomorrow is the first day of school with students! We had 3 teacher work days last week. Where oh where did summer go? Our icebreaker was a hosted trivia game. The moderator was someone who runs trivia games at local bars. He’s a popular standup comedian and he kept everyone engaged. I think most enjoyed the activity. My principal kept meetings to a minimum and gave us a lot of time to do what we needed to do. I can’t say that I’m “excited” about returning, but I’m ready. Jitter Juice for my students is chilling in the refrigerator! I wish everyone a productive, safe, and joyful school year! I would LOVE trivia. We did it for an FAC a couple of years ago, I rocked it
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Post by 950nancy on Aug 8, 2022 2:09:01 GMT
My retirement that morphed into a part time return has morphed into an almost full time return. Whatever. I’m excited to make my own schedule and to not be in the regular specialist rotation (therefore not covering other people’s state-mandated planning period, which gives me a lot more flexibility), and I’m excited to start a guitar program at the school this year. Also after school choir, which I’ve missed doing these last few years. I’m also excited that as an hourly teacher I don’t have carpool duty. Haha. That’s the best of all. We go back for two weeks of in-service this Monday, and the kids come back Aug. 22. Let’s all stay Covid- and Monkeypox-free this year! When I retired in 2015, I made sure I did not renew my license even though I could have for another 5 years. I felt like I might get pulled back in. I did work mornings for a non profit unit 2020. During that time, I was contacted 4 times to come back and take a job in education. In Colorado, when you are getting your pension, you are really limited to what you can do and still get paid. It was a great reason to not go back. I did end up getting really bored during the pandemic and went back to mornings (3.5 hours) on kid days only. I do like it and I am not responsible for a classroom. I also don't have any duties. I work with cute, struggling kids for 10-30 minutes each a day and am home by noon. I go back August 16th, but teachers go back the 10th.
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Post by 950nancy on Aug 8, 2022 2:14:09 GMT
We have to go through Reading Academy training this year. Texas mandated it to be done by 2023 for all k-3 teachers. I do intervention, but mostly work with those grades, so I have to go through it too. Many teachers across the state have completed it in the previous two school year and from all accounts it’s pretty intense. It’s supposed to take 60 hours, but I’ve heard some say it takes closer to 120. I have a principal friend that has a PhD. She said it was totally like getting a 2nd master’s degree. I’m not looking forward to it! Colorado teachers k-3 (and anyone working with reading in those grades) had to take a 45 hour class last year. It was all online and the first two modules I was taking notes, reading every passage twice and it took me forever. After that, I just went through quickly and made sure I was taking notes because the 75 question assessment at the end was no joke.
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The Great Carpezio
Pearl Clutcher
Something profound goes here.
Posts: 2,913
Jun 25, 2014 21:50:33 GMT
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Post by The Great Carpezio on Aug 8, 2022 5:38:31 GMT
I go back August 29th and students (just 9th grade) start on the 6th of September.
I do need to go in and do some work before that time. I’ve been working on curriculum and mapping this past week. I’m teaching a class I haven’t taught for six years, so better get on that too.
26th year. My own boys are entering 9th grade this year too. It will be weird to have kids that are the same age I teach (they go to a different district).
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vexedangel
Full Member
Posts: 359
Nov 4, 2018 20:14:04 GMT
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Post by vexedangel on Aug 8, 2022 14:36:26 GMT
I am late to this thread as I have been in denial. But I go back in a week, kids in 2, and I'm not ready. Feeling very anxious. Will go back and read the thread!
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vexedangel
Full Member
Posts: 359
Nov 4, 2018 20:14:04 GMT
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Post by vexedangel on Aug 8, 2022 14:51:17 GMT
I used to work in a district that was huge and we had the mega convocations at the start of the year. I kind of miss that, now. I'm in a multi-district position (countywide music therapist) in a small department, so we have a departmental meeting, then all the related services get together, and that's as big as it gets, and I don't have to go to the district convocations since I'm in multiples...I will have my CPI training to get scheduled next week, and building my schedule with my case managers....I usually enjoy the puzzle but am stressing it this year for some reason. My favorite part of back to school was prepping my classroom (music/art/leisure SpEd teacher) and outlining my curriculum for the year, and I really, really miss that stuff. ETA: it is helping to read other educators' experiences this time of year....<3
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Post by mom2rjcr on Aug 8, 2022 17:07:55 GMT
We have to go through Reading Academy training this year. Texas mandated it to be done by 2023 for all k-3 teachers. I do intervention, but mostly work with those grades, so I have to go through it too. Many teachers across the state have completed it in the previous two school year and from all accounts it’s pretty intense. It’s supposed to take 60 hours, but I’ve heard some say it takes closer to 120. I have a principal friend that has a PhD. She said it was totally like getting a 2nd master’s degree. I’m not looking forward to it! I did Reading Academy last school year. It took me waaaaay longer than 60 hours to complete. I probably spent double that! It is very intense and you have to take it seriously. You have to pass with 80% and there are two major projects that really take up your time. I am so glad I finished it. I was hoping to get out of it...I teach 4th and 5th grade special education resource. Then my principal said I had to do it because she was giving the 3rd grade resource kids too. Ugh! My district gave me a $400 stipend and one in lieu day for compensation. Not even close. I also have a master's degree in reading instruction and curriculum that I earned about 12 years ago. So why?
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Post by natscraps on Aug 8, 2022 19:28:00 GMT
I am late to this thread as I have been in denial. But I go back in a week, kids in 2, and I'm not ready. Feeling very anxious. Will go back and read the thread! Add me to the denial list. Administrator me (small preschool) is back in the office part time starting tomorrow. Staff meeting on the 17th, parent orientation the 24th, meet the teacher appointments the week of the 29th. Regular class starts September 6th. DS goes back on the 23rd. Most schools around here start back the 16th.
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johnnysmom
Drama Llama
Posts: 5,682
Member is Online
Jun 25, 2014 21:16:33 GMT
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Post by johnnysmom on Aug 9, 2022 19:50:56 GMT
Oh my gosh it’s like a mass exodus around here…. The MS/HS principal has announced she’s leaving, the elem counselor is now leaving and possibly 2 more elem teachers 😭. Everyday it’s someone else.
We hired two fresh out of college, not yet certified, people on the spot today. I’m told there have already been viable applicants for elem principal and the new superintendent signed her contract last night and was optimistic that things would be ok. We’ll see.
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