If it Ain’t Broke…
They’re doing it again. Mom, make them stop! 
At our school, we have approximately a 90% and above pass rate for our standards of learning. Every year we keep striving for higher, which is good, but it means people start tinkering with the system.
Do you ever find this happening in your work environment? When something is working well, we have to now add MORE requirements and more paperwork? Hey, we’re doing great! Let’s now heap even more things on our work force! 
Let’s write daily objectives on the board (never mind the fact that the kids often won’t read their homework assignment off the board)! Let’s diversify our learning and have three separate lessons going on! Let’s give them Internet-based work assignments (never mind that we have only three computers in the classroom)! 
Truly, this is all bells and whistles. For me to teach these kids, I have to know them. I have to understand their interests, their funny little minds, and their needs. That’s what it’s about: people, not paperwork. Every child is different. The needs are different. Until you know your classroom, all the lesson objectives, learning styles, and motivators won’t work.
Besides. It’s much simpler than folks with a PhD in education could ever imagine.
A child will learn anything if bubble gum is involved. 
Michelle posted in Writing @ 7:37 am | Viewed 1210 times
ValMarie Says:
LOL! My husband is a music teacher at a private Christian school and I was a teacher’s assistant there last year. We went through so many classes on diversification and such and they just kept piling on more and more paperwork and requirements. *rolls eyes* Ron decided to put more of his focus on the kids, then the busywork, and he got his job done. Other teachers got bogged down in all the nonsense.
kacey Says:
LOL on they’ll do anything for a treat. Much better than
it into their minds.
Katie Says:
LOL! Yes! You know MY kids, at least!
StDebb Says:
Michelle, I really, really wish you were my kid’s teacher.
Debbie
Mary Says:
People with Ph.D.s think to much. Believe I know.
Tori Says:
Oh, lord! I swear, no matter what job I’ve worked at, at some point they’ve had to “improve” things to the point of making things impossible. Silly people!
Melissa McClone Says:
So do you keep cases of bubble gum in the classroom?
Danica Says:
LOL @ the bubble gum!
Rene Says:
It does seem like schools districts look for ways of making things difficult. Weren’t these administrators teachers at one time? When I had my full-time job the company started an efficiency program called “Lean Electronics” which was supposed to streamline and simplify the company. What a bunch of hooey.
MaryF Says:
I do know where you’re coming from, Michelle!