Monday, February 23, 2009
Working
I'll be interrupting my life of leisure for seven days of work this week and next. After agreeing to it several months ago, I'm now finding that actually doing it is cramping my style. Oh well, I shouldn't complain. Right now lots of people are desperate to find any work at all.
I will be administering the English Language speaking portion of the Washington Language Proficiency Assessment to ELL students at my local elementary school, the same school I retired from three and a half years ago. I have come back to do this testing each year since I retired. This assessment is done one-to-one for all of the qualifying students K - 6th grade. While Spanish is now the most common second language, we have a wide range of other languages. Immigrants from every place in the world that has created refugees are likely to show up in our district.
I started today with kindergarten kids, coaxing them to talk to a perfect stranger in a language they aren't all that proficient in. It was a challenge, but fun so far. I will get tired of saying the same thing over and over again by the 150th student.
I also am enjoying catching up with the staff members that remain with whom I previously worked. The school has gone through a lot of changes in staff in the last four years, with major changes yet to come. This is the last year for this building. The students and staff will move to a temporary site while this building is torn down and a new structure rises from the rubble. There will be a new principal. And the kids with special needs keep pouring in.
Special blessings should be bestowed on public school teachers. They have an impossible job, with no relief in sight.
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My thoughts and my heart are with you! You do good things, things that we all should be doing to help our country and our people. Thank you!
ReplyDeleteGood for you for helping out, Linda. It's a tough world out there for teachers. I don't think people fully understand how hard teachers have to work.
ReplyDeletethat's very true, we don't appreciate our teachers enough unless we've been one. the first year I taught first grade I had two little boys from vietnam or a surrounding country who spoke no English-it was a challenge. I wanted to keep them back for another year of first grade but the administration wanted them pushed through the system. No special classes or aides in 1970s.
ReplyDeleteI have a real problem with all of the assessments called for in 'Leave No Child Behind' and the pressure that gets put on the classroom teachers to get those good test scores....
ReplyDeleteWhat an interesting job. I envy you since I am out of work myself. I took some classes in teaching ESL back when I was at the University (a long time ago). I found it fascinating. I'm sure much has changed in the field since then.
ReplyDeleteGood work. Hope you are enjoying the work. Yes, teachers don't have it easy these days. Very stressful work. - Dave
ReplyDeleteWonderful opportunity for you and the children. Always fun to carch up with the staff you may not have seen for a year. MB
ReplyDeleteI think teachers have tougher jobs than lumber jacks... they just lift a different type of load.
ReplyDeleteI admire anyone with the patience and commitment to teach.
AMEN to that last statement.
ReplyDeleteI can't believe that a new school building is going to be built! It seems that it is rare, and the older ones are falling apart!
ReplyDeleteA retired teacher friend of mine scores the state ELA tests and thinks the bar gets lowered every year. Our education system needs help, and it won't be easy. I hope that people will give Pres. Obama a chance. Rome wasn't built in a day.