Montclair Meeting of the Board

December 3, 2007
Montclair Public Board meeting
-2nd Flood Divided room, Montclair Board Building
-Mixture of adults and students
-Mixed conversation
-9 board members

Topic One
-Inclusive schools' week
-Dec. 3- Dec- 7
-statement read: students learn in a unique environment
-Montclair sets an example for other school districts
-educating whole, beyond testing

Topic Two
- High school AP tests in Calculus and Statistics
-change in tests during school year along with AP exam
-mother of student speaks about how syllabus was changed significantly after beginning of the school year.
-student speaks - option of dropping down to high honors with added ten points to grade. AP and high honors same course load except ten point grade curve.
-student 2 speaks - addresses applying t college already changing transcripts if they lower the class
-mother of another student speaks- mentions curriculum includes 80% marking period grade- 1 graded test and 20% quizzes
-student 3 speaks mentions grade on practice AP tests should reflect on report card grade A=5, B=4 etc.
-Student 4 speaks says his grades do no reflect his grades.
-Dr. Alvarez speaks of decisions made on the problem
-spoke to high school administration
-Principal speaks- applauds students on presentation of problem to board.
-disappointed in last year's test scores.
-students perform to best of their ability with preparation
-end result- wait until the end of the semester to determine whether or not students will step down to high honors.
-change in curriculum was done before school started.
-students and parents do not agree.
-students want decision made soon so to reflect on 2nd marking period grades
-Principal agree they will get together with math chair to straighten problem out sooner.

Snow Storm Part 2

Work this morning at 7 am led me outside in the bitter cold at 6 to try to clean up and drive an hour, normally takes 20 min, to work. I returned home and saw my good neighbors attempting to shovel the heavy wet snow. Knowing that now I will be looked upon to clear away snow for the rest of time it still feels great when I come inside and my girlfriend says that I am a good man. I'm cold, hungry, and hate snow. But I rest easy knowing that the couple next door can go to the store if they need to tomorrow, and don't risk hurting themselves.

community service

Our group for our inquiry project spent two Saturday mornings in Newark picking up garbage in Branchbrook park. Before we went there we thought that the park would be filthy and disgusting because its in Newark. This was a poor assumption for us to have because the park ended up being nice. The park had many trees and a lot of land to roam. There is a play ground area for the children and many benches for people. When we saw this we were blown away. The park was extremely sanitary and looked like a social place to be for all families. We a;so enjoyed ourselves when we were at the park. It felt good to clean garbage because we were helping out the community. Even though it might have been a small gesture to clean the park, we were still making change. Our group also became closer that day. Working in groups for our inquiry project was a great idea because we get to interact with others and meet new people.

Community Service

So this morning at 730 am I went outside to clean off my car and my grilfriends, after getting through the ice that had covered the entire car I headed toward my apartment to warm up after being covered in ice for an hour and a half min. The elderly couple had just come outside, they were in their late 80's and having trouble getting down the stairs. I explained to them to give me their keys and I would take car of their cars. So two hours pass by and I am now inside freezing but feeling really good about helping them out.
Its about being part of your community helping out those in need. I know that I will have a cake ready for me when I get home tonight for work, and I have the simple satisfaction of taking care of couple so they can stay inside and keep warm.


PS. Who would've thought ice could cover entire cars so that its just sheets, and also that it would tkae an hour just to clean off each car? I hate winter.

Newark Arts Shadowing

“The anxiety of first-time teachers is often largely the result of a conception of teaching based on traditional lectures, which places the teacher at the center of the classroom experience, the academic equivalent of grounds zero (Croteau 28-33).” Emailing between my teacher and I started off to a bad start. She said that she had no idea what I was talking about and sent an email back that was very unprofessional. I had assumed that emailing between the two would have been professional and the phraseology used turned me off to the idea of meeting with the teacher. Further emails told that the teacher was a first year teacher, this led to the assumption on the my part that he would learn very little and that he would not enjoy the visit.

“In short, the majority of disadvantaged students and families of color live in inner cities (Obidah 249).” Arriving at the school Eric and I went together since Eric was unable to get a teacher to shadow. I had assumed that the classroom would be over crowded, loud and out of control. The day started with a meeting of a group of teachers to discuss standardized testing prompts. The teachers were unprepared and confused over the rules and regulations that came with the prompt. My teacher; Mohawk, dress shirt, and sweater vest, though cheery to met them at the beginning of the day had know grown quiet and reserved. The diversity at the table was outstanding; white, black, and Hispanic teachers talked and discussed their task. All were very articulate, and some had tattoos hidden by their normally unrolled shirts.

My assumptions of the first year teacher fell apart when the unruly students came in to class and she demanded her authority. The class quieted and began their test. There was no taking advantage of the first year teacher, but she worked around their needs. Her second classes, freshmen, were hyper, loud, and out of control. She used a game to quiet them down; ad took control of the class through a democratic, yet educational environment. The assumptions of an out of control inexperienced teacher were true in some respects but overall she was a great orator and leader in the classroom.

“…recognizing that teaching behavior is a composite of beliefs about educational psychology, sociology, structure of knowledge, philosophy of education, and many other concepts (Williams 82).” There is more to teaching than the material; there is more to teaching than the experience of a professor. The assumptions made were thought out of not knowing what it was like for a first time teacher in the classroom. Through interviewing the teacher we learned that she takes home situations that happen with her students, that there is a bond that is made. You are their teacher, not their friend, but you can help them through difficult situations by being someone to trust and someone who will listen.

Nclb

I understand that many are opposed to NCLB, and I agree on many levels. Yet I want to say this; if teachers are worried about not being able to teach what they want we can find out ways to work the curriculum into what we want it to be. Yes I understand it would be incredibly difficult but that by no means makes it impossible. We go to college to become teachers, we receive degrees, this means that we obviously can think, so we can find a way to teach the way we want.
I do not find it fair that a woman who grew up in Paterson still has trouble reading and needs to speak the entire passage for her to understand it, when I know of people in my school system who had the same problem years ago and had help in 2nd grade to solve it. There is an unbalance in our education system, and it needs to be fixed.

Soccer

My best friend played soccer throughout high school, and was known for getting red carded and thrown out of games. Soccer is a smaller sport in my town compared to football. Maybe 100-150 people will attend a game, and most are parents. Games are played on the field below the football field. Not really a flat piece of land, I remember having gym out there regularly and falling because of dips and unseen holes.
The crowd watched in enjoyment and overall seemed to pay more attention than the football games. There were no bleachers and most people brought lawn chairs and blankets. The field was old and beaten just as it was when I graduated and will more than likely stay that way.
Sports are important in my town when we win, if we're not winning people don't go. That is not to say that, looking back on it now, teachers do not appreciate their students being involved in an extracurricular activity instead of being at home playing video games.