I taught in public schools for ten years. Eventually the standards-based movement, particularly No Child Left Behind, drove me out of teaching kids into graduate school. Eventually, I took a Ph.D. from the Education Department of University of Oregon.
But I did not learn anything about how to teach kids to read at UO. I learned how to do statistics. What I learned about teaching reading to kids who are no longer of an age to be given basic reading instruction (i.e. fifth grade) even though they are still reading at a second grade level . . . This I learned from other teachers and from my sister Jayne.
I had a nightmare about being perceived as a member of the educational industrial complex by disrespectful teachers at an in-service I was conducting . . . hence this article:
LINK to "How To and How NOT To Teach Reading in Non-Fiction/Memoirs/A Teacher's Lot
But I did not learn anything about how to teach kids to read at UO. I learned how to do statistics. What I learned about teaching reading to kids who are no longer of an age to be given basic reading instruction (i.e. fifth grade) even though they are still reading at a second grade level . . . This I learned from other teachers and from my sister Jayne.
I had a nightmare about being perceived as a member of the educational industrial complex by disrespectful teachers at an in-service I was conducting . . . hence this article:
LINK to "How To and How NOT To Teach Reading in Non-Fiction/Memoirs/A Teacher's Lot
Did you ever hear the joke about the teacher who died and went to heaven? So she's driving around heaven in a golf cart with Saint Peter at the wheel, taking a tour. They get to a giant mansion with a shady lawn and cocktail bar and comfortable chairs under big umbrellas and the teacher says, "Oh this looks wonderful. Is there were I will be staying?"
But Saint Peter says, "No, this is where the doctors and nurses stay."
They drive down the shady quiet road a little further and arrive at another mansion with a huge swimming pool right out in front with dozens of happy people swimming, diving, and splashing in the pool. "Oh this looks so fun. Is there where I'll be staying?" says the teacher.
But Saint Peter again says "No." He adds, "This is where the firefighters and EMTs stay. Your place is just a bit further."
Finally they get to the place where school teachers stay in heaven, but much to the teacher's surprise there is no one there at the magnificent stately mansion. "Where IS everyone?" she inquires.
"Oh don't worry, they'll be back later. Right now they're down in hell at an in-service."
But Saint Peter says, "No, this is where the doctors and nurses stay."
They drive down the shady quiet road a little further and arrive at another mansion with a huge swimming pool right out in front with dozens of happy people swimming, diving, and splashing in the pool. "Oh this looks so fun. Is there where I'll be staying?" says the teacher.
But Saint Peter again says "No." He adds, "This is where the firefighters and EMTs stay. Your place is just a bit further."
Finally they get to the place where school teachers stay in heaven, but much to the teacher's surprise there is no one there at the magnificent stately mansion. "Where IS everyone?" she inquires.
"Oh don't worry, they'll be back later. Right now they're down in hell at an in-service."
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