educator blog response

Mrs. Mimi's "it's not all flowers and sausages" blog takes a very humorous approach to the colleague interaction aspect of teaching.  I read a very funny post on the hectic period of report cards/parent teacher conferences.  I think this is going to pose as one of the many initial challenges that all teachers must face.  Grading and testing is one of the darker sides of the teaching profession, and it seems like it is only getting worse.  The onslaught of tests from state and federal sources poses a major barrier for teachers across the country.  These one-size-fit all tests fail (no pun intended) to accurately assess teaching/learning.  The parent conferences are another hurdle for most new teachers.  Mrs. Mimi makes a great point in highilghting the importance of being properly prepared for these meetings.  I think being honest with parents about the student and keeping them involved and informed is extremely valuable.  I look forward to communicating with parents in a meaningful way that will benefit both students and parents.  As a future teacher, I will face a series of ups and downs.  I hope I can take valuable lessons from all my experiences and use them to constantly grow in my teaching abilities.

obstacles

I think the number one obstacle facing teachers is the intrusive and negative presence of federally mandated testing.  This testing format forces far too many teachers to teach to the test.  It also presents a conflict of interests to the teacher, as many teachers are assessed on the test scores of their classes.  I think the students are the ones who lose most in this unfortuante cycle.  There are many other obstacles that I believe all teachers encounter in some form or fashion.  Technology can pose a major problem in keeping students focused and engaged.  The increasing size of classes and lack of quality teachers is another daunting challenge.  Time management, and classroom management is also a major obstacle in many classrooms.  Lastly, I think that involving parents and the community is becoming more challenging as families have less direct influence and impact in schools.  I am hopeful I will overcome all these barriers and obstacles.  I am sure I will encounter many stumbling blocks, but as long as we keep student goals and school objectives in the forefront, I believe all these obstacles and problems can be solved.

testing 1, 2, 3

testing testing testing