I am a teacher

[spirits]

https://www.facebook.com/hashtag/nocellphones?source=feed_text&story_id=10152679453471025
Long Post

Hi everyone. I am a teacher and am going through a very stressful weekend. Just venting. (;

Cellphones are an appropriate tool for education and as a teacher I am obligated to utilize it as a personal learning device using student's own phones. New rule in our school for Sept. My grade 12 academic English class are getting ready to write diploma exams next week and I have been getting ready to take home a whole class set of King Lear questions...5 acts......30 students. (And a class set of Macbeth) My folder of student work was on my desk and students were not to touch itbecause I had documented all work handed in, had it sorted into the acts and if someone wanted to hand in their assignment they needed to give to me personally so I could enter it into the log. Deadline was on Fri no excuses because I needed to have assignments back Mon and get ready for final exams and final essays. To top it off it was a cooperative project where students used technology,(phones) worked in their groups and once assignments went back to students on Mon I would not have any originals to check for plagarism.

We were all watching the King Lear movie....my desk is at the back of the room and my computer at a side desk near the front. All students.....most students were facing the front watchng the movie. This was Thurs,test on Fri 5 minutes left in class and I went to my computer desk to do electronic attendance. Bell goes, kids go...except for 3 girls who sit in front of my desk.....they told me while I was gone from my desk a girl from across the room...they did not know her name....went to my desk, took an assignment out of my folder, went back to her desk, took pictures of the assignment, went back to my desk and put the assignment back. They had to go catch the school bus so had to leave but wanted to let me know.

My heart sank....more work to track things down, and more importantly, HOW COULD SHE BE SO BRAZEN. Thank goodness for the honesty of these girls....it is very difficult for teenagers to do this sort of thing. One of the girls was terrified that the girl who took the paper saw my good student watching her and would take revenge. But they did the right thing....mostly because they worked like dogs for honest marks and someone was not behaving ethically. Love those girls.

So I reported the incident to administration, and the next day let the whole class know what had happened....."I know who the person was....I had had multiple people tell me (to protect my girls that was technically true)(when the girls described the girl, I could tell who it was) they needed to tell their parents, phone me on the weekend and we would deal with it. This was a serious offence and needed to be dealt with. I also asked anyone who knew anything to also call me and put my home phone number on the board.

Then we wrote the test. There was 10 minutes left...we were all done writing and I was doing attendance and a student asked me to give him an extension over the weekend to hand in act 5. I said no...they all knew my reasons...they had had Christmas holidays to be caught up (we only had act 5, the movie and the test for this last week.) But I was here till 5, he could stay after school and finish the assignment but I needed it in my folder before I left. He said he had to go work out at the gym and I told him he had a choice to make. This boy had also not done any work in class the whole time...he is very intelligent (really) and said he had it all under control when I asked him about why he was not working the last 4 weeks.
Two minutes later I saw him using a phone under his desk while writing (students with a phone under their desk is teacher talk for illegal use) told him I needed to see his phone...asked whose it was and it was another student;s phone with their act 5 work on it. The student had been using their phone legally to work with others and their phones and they had been mailing their work back and forth for the last month. THis was his work and he had given his phone to his friend.

I lost it......like this teacher in the video.... and told them in the old days I would have taken both papers, compared them for copying and they both would have gotten 0,parents would be notified and a record would be made for school use. But now it was 3:30 on a Fri and I needed to give the phone back to the student.

I spent Fri after school talking to the boy caught cheating...and being manipulated for 1/2 hour....and another hour discussing both incidents with administration....and this weekend marking 2 exams, Macbeth and King Lear..I promised the students to post their exam marks online before tackling their written work.

As a teacher I am asking all those of you who have kids or grandkids in school how are they ethically dealing with wrongdoing. As a teacher all this is new to me.....cheating is not new...but the kids are so savvy with technology, the ways they are finding out how to cheat are new to me.

I used to believe that the school division I work in is one of the best in the world. I have worked there 35 years...ok 37 I have taught some of their parents and aunts and uncles....my fellow teachers, admistration, my school board, and almost all of the parents and students I have dealt with here in my school division are some of the best people in the world. And this is what I told them Fri before the test. Then after the test I get this. Wow. Still trying to make sense of it. I have not called the boys' parents yet because I am waiting to hear from two more students...but they may be away for the weekend.

I am getting ready to call the parents of the two boys involved in a couple of hours. Wish me luck.

 

[DeniseM]

I used to believe that the school division I work in is one of the best in the world. I have worked there 35 years...ok 37 I have

I retired from teaching last year, and it took the weight of the world off my shoulders. After 37 years, maybe it's time to start thinking about it?

 

[ace2000]

As a teacher all this is new to me.....cheating is not new...but the kids are so savvy with technology, the ways they are finding out how to cheat are new to me.

I teach at a local university and it doesn't get any better when they get older. If the teacher lets them get away with it and has a conducive environment, the cheating will happen. I don't care how good you feel your school is.

Don't take my words the wrong way though, I've caught cheaters in my class too. I'm definitely not blaming you. And you deserve credit for taking action. You'd be amazed how many teachers either turn a blind eye or just don't care.

 

[pedro47]

I teach at a local university and it doesn't get any better when they get older. If the teacher lets them get away with it and has a conducive environment, the cheating will happen. I don't care how good you feel your school is.

Don't take my words the wrong way though, I've caught cheaters in my class too. I'm definitely not blaming you. And you deserve credit for taking action. You'd be amazed how many teachers either turn a blind eye or just don't care.

Problem.. there are to many teachers that will turn a blind eye because of the pressure from outside forces. :-(
:-x

 

[wackymother]

Sorry, I'm just trying to follow.

In the first incident, a girl took pictures of an upcoming test?

And in the second, the boy was copying his own work from a group project off his phone onto his test?

My DH is also an English teacher and I want to explain to him what you're dealing with.

 

[DeniseM]

1. A student took an assignment(s) off the teacher's desk without permission, and photographed it with her phone.

2. Students were cheating during an in-class assignment, by sharing info. on their phones.

 

[Zac495]

Wow that's brazen. I'm a teacher too. I teach elementary gifted. One of my second graders took the answer sheet to fill in the answers one day. I just couldn't believe it.

Teaching isn't what it used to be. It's so political. Very difficult. I still love being in the classroom with the kids, but most of the rest........ well, I agree with Denise.

 

[spirits]

Love my support group

1. First girl took another student's work from my folder, took pictures of the work on her phone and replaced the work so it would reconcile with my records. Deadline was the next day

The girl had been to Cuba for xmas holidays and did not take King Lear with her. Her cogroup workers told me this so since they had handed in their work she was required to do the work by herself...her choice her conseqences

2. The assignment was to work in a group of their choice, or individually if they chose.....on questions from King Lear. The questions were designed to be very complex, needing computer resources, higher level thinking skills. In the olden days I would have booked a computer lab for 3 weeks so the students could do research. Impossible in a school with limited resources.
BUT....with every student in possession with a cell phone, some of which cost more than my first car.... and school wide internet access...it is possible to do this type of work. Each question is designed for complex thinking skills....and even when students are working together their marks will be different based on each student's own writing abilities. I was talking to one girl who had her phone open on her desk...her partner was at the dentist but had done some work and had just sent a picture of her writing to my student at school. So she was writing out a response with ideas of her own and get ready to send it to her friend at the dentist and do some other work when more info came back....basically as if they were sitting right beside each other.....amazing and I love it....so that was what I saw...but to tell you the truth a lot of this happened over the holidays...they were in contact with each other and...I think really enjoying the complex work:whoopie:

So.....the deadline for handing in work was 3:30pm Fri. Final exams are next week and we need to get ready for final essays and do reading comprehension practice. NO MORE KING LEAR after Fri...which was test day by the way.

I marked their tests Sat morning.....in my opinion the test was very difficult. It was an open book test, no notes or phones..only their King Lear textbook. But because I had taken some time to talk to my students about the incident from the day before....I had taken about 15 minutes. So to do the test that day......I made a decision to make the test cooperative. They could work on the test with their research partners....kind of appropriate I think.

Anyway, with about 10 minutes left in the class a boy asked for an extension
till Mon. I had not seen him do any work in class, he had extra time over the holidays...and I told him no. He could have till 5 that day to complete Act 5...then I was going home and his time was up.

A few minutes later I saw him with his friend's phone.....his friend had his assignment in paper format in my folder.....but he still had work from the assignments on his phone.....and he gave it to the first boy.

So.....I do not have the phone proof...but the intent was not to help each other learn....the intent was to submit another person's work as their own.....that is the way I see it....that is the way my administration sees it. But I do not have proof...this is the part I am having trouble dealing with. My principal says that I cannot prove that the first boy was not using his friend's work to learn from...which I would have allowed......I do not have 2 identical copies as evidence...I am just like a street wise cop without justifiable cause.

No proof no foul. But I am still phoning parents to let them know....oh by the way, the first boy told me I allowed the girl to cheat with her phone so that was what he was doing.

He may be smart.......but I am right. I have dealt with this behavior all my life. But always I have had support from my administration and parents. This year I have support from admin but I am finding parents who will go to the wall for their kids.

I believe my job is not to teach a subject but my most important job is to teach my students right from wrong. Ahhhh....I need to go for a coffee.

Oh by the way........my students ACED their exam!!!!!! The ones who worked together did WAY better than I expected. My principal is a huge proponent of project based learning and a lot of staff myself included were hesitant to devote a whole novel in a grade 12 class getting ready for diploma exams. But this resource was a sort of mini resource...each question was its own project. If the students had to do this individually they and myself would be running around like Lear in the storm....but together they did amazing work. The students who did work on their own scored significantly lower....up to 30 %. This is amazing in my experience.....

 

[spirits]

37 years

I forgot...I taught 2 years in another division my first 2 years (;

My husband is retired and does not like air travel...we love our road trips and timesharing.

I have been 1/2 for the last 5 years and love it...not retired because I would have to leave after 2 years....but just straight 1/2 time

I am 1/2 time because I have half the bullshit,1/2 the paycheck but if I was fully retired I would be divorced My husband and I love each other dearly but are very different. I spent 12 years as a substitute teacher to be home with my boys and really only came back about 20 years ago...I am teaching high level English just for the last 4 years and so am still a new teacher. I feel young and rejuvenated most days....

Also....my worst behaving students quite often became my best supporters. We will see with this one. He was in my grade 11 class last year and I loved him as a student. Something is wrong....and I am trying to help him.

 

[Talent312]

When it comes to dealing with juvenile minds, it's easy to be lulled into a complacency of trust.

Putting something a student should not see in a place that's accessible creates an almost irresistible attraction. No student should be allowed access to another student's work or anything considered confidential. Mechanisms can be employed to prevent it... I have a briefcase that locks.

There's no easy answer for cell phones, but there should be a clear and consistent penalty for misusing electronic devices announced in advance and enforced uniformly.
.

 

[pedro47]

When it comes to dealing with juvenile minds, it's easy to be lulled into a complacency of trust.

Putting something a student should not see in a place that's accessible creates an almost irresistible attraction. No student should be allowed access to another student's work or anything considered confidential. Mechanisms can be employed to prevent it... I have a briefcase that locks.

There's no easy answer for cell phones, but there should be a clear and consistent penalty for misusing electronic devices announced in advance and enforced uniformly.
.

One thought at this level of education there is no honor code.:-x

 

[spirits]

Confidentail

I was talking to one of my admin on Fri. She shared that just last semester our school put 4 different versions of the same test in the exam room for finals. Same questions but in different order. They caught some students with all the correct answers.....but not for the copy that they had.

We were asking students to put their phones in a box when they entered the gym at the beginning of exams and they could pick them up at the office when the exam was done. They would put a phone in the box but have another working phone in their possession and because hoodies have deep pockets and gyms are usually cold...they could text from their hoodie pockets with impunity. Hoodies are banned this year in the gym and now I know why (;

The only way we caught them was ahemmmm my young man was suspected of cheating last year...my admin could not prove it but the multiple copies idea was a result of his action. I was only told this because of what I was dealing with now. But since you do not work in my school.....I am not breaking confidence...anyway, this will be old news next year...the kids will move on to something else.

Actually, this post has really helped me see the humor in the situation so thank you. And if you really want to know...one of the funnest part of my job is working with my colleagues in trying to be one step ahead of the kiddlets.....it's just with technology...the pace seems to be ramping up

 

[Beaglemom3]

My hat is off to all teachers. I could not do the jobs that you do, nor would I want to. I don't have the patience for all of what you deal with.

I think that teaching has become a lot of classroom management, so to speak.

Thank you for your service in teaching.




=

 

[Patri]

I teach at a college, and a student told me that at her high school, some of them had used an app on their cell phones to disable PowerPoint presentations. The teachers could never figure out why they wouldn't work.

 

[spirits]

Disabling powerpoint

Oh my...that is a good one (; Have not heard about that one.

The way I see it.....kids are always testing boundaries...always have...always will (; That is their job...and on reflections...my most powerful learning experiences came from the school of hard knocks.

I look at it this way....I could sit at home and knit (did that 40 years ago when I was home with the kids so don't want to do it now) or stay engaged and learn new things....

My best friend retired and was looking forward to volunteering, reading, spending more time with her husband etc......she had a terrible experience with a very vindictive person at her golf club executive volunteer service....she got along with all the other executive members but they all had a lot of problems with this member....she was envying my life...at least I was getting paid for my stress (;

But she finished her year and left...I am still here...ha ha ha

 

[MommaBear]

My hat is off to all teachers. I could not do the jobs that you do, nor would I want to. I don't have the patience for all of what you deal with.

I think that teaching has become a lot of classroom management, so to speak.

Thank you for your service in teaching

=

I second this! I think teachers have the hardest job in this society with the vast range of parenting styles from helicopter to neglect to attentive to "my child can do no wrong" to totally disengaged. You deserve a raise and a thank you. I know there were teachers who made a pivotal difference for each of my children and I am eternally thankful.

 

[travs2]

I have been a retired college professor for 17 yrs. As I was reading your post those old anxious feelings crept up in my stomach. I deeply admire anyone who is in this profession. I had never experienced discipline problems until my last 5 years of teaching. It was extremely difficult dealing with these problems and cell phones were not even an issue back then. Non teachers have no idea how stressful it is. They only look at the days off for summer vacation etc. Those endless hours marking assignments, preparing lessons and researching papers takes one away from their family throughout your entire teaching career. Administration issues and having to deal with budget cutbacks etc also created added pressure. I remember feeling so frustrated with the lack of spelling skills and basic grammar of these "pick of the crop" students. I retired and have never looked back. Timesharing and spending time with my family have replaced those stressful years. Try it....you may like it!

 

[rapmarks]

I teach at a college, and a student told me that at her high school, some of them had used an app on their cell phones to disable PowerPoint presentations. The teachers could never figure out why they wouldn't work.

this brought back memories of a large study hall, and some student had something on his watch that could turn the TV's on, and disrupt the study hall very thoroughly. His mother came in to tell me he was innocent, and the last day of school he smirked and told me it was him all along

 

[rapmarks]

I remember one speaker telling us that school was a place to learn from mistakes, and to take a soft landing, rather than a hard landing in later life. The number of parents who would defend to the end for a simple after school detention, to insist they had not copied the work

Two cases in mind:
one student copied another essay (handwritten) and included all the remarks I had made in the margin, such as marking sp for spelling, but no she didn't copy it, she wrote it all herself.
\One student turned in two weeks of work in one day, written in a form of distorted English which was the hallmark of her friend. I asked her to stay and talk to me. Next thing I know i am getting called into dean's office, yelled at, and then an irate call from mother that I accused daughter of cheating. I had never mentioned a word to the girl, but she thought the best defense was a good offense.

 

[sue1947]

The way I see it.....kids are always testing boundaries...always have...always will (; That is their job...and on reflections...my most powerful learning experiences came from the school of hard knocks.

Another former teacher here. Sounds to me like you are doing an excellent job and most of your students recognize that fact. Keep up the good work!

I agree wholeheartedly with your quote above. The real problem are parents who don't think their darlings can make mistakes. They've always been around, but it seems to have magnified in the last 20 years. Add in cell phones etc and cheating has gotten too easy to get away with. It's a tough battle to fight. The lucky students are those whose teacher and parents hold them accountable and let them make that 'soft landing' that rapmarks referred to. The unlucky ones have parents that always bail them out by throwing temper tantrums. I used to wonder if 10 years later, the kid would call mommy and daddy to yell at their boss when they screwed up.

Sidenote: I quit teaching shortly after a similar encounter. I gave a take home test in a Math Analysis course over Christmas. Perfect Student's parents took him out of school for the 2 weeks immediately following for a vacation because "it's so much cheaper" (side message received by student was that school wasn't important). Perfect Student didn't bother to turn in the take home test so he earned a 0. Parents angrily went to principal (spineless) to complain about the teacher who didn't recognize their son's brilliance. Parents told me their son had scored very high on standardized tests so should have all A's. I asked what grade they would assign for something not turned in. They walked out; no apology or admission they were wrong. If I'd had a decent principal who didn't roll over at the first angry word I might have stayed. But life is too short.

Sue

 

[rapmarks]

I wholeheartedly agree. One year my friend and a former English teacher went on to become a dean. I brought in two girls who didn't think that I would notice that they had identical papers. she didn't accept any excuses and they learned that they couldn't get away with it.

Then there was the dean who thought appropriate punishment was to make the punishment to write an essay. when i said why don't you have them do a few math problems, he didn't know what i was talking about.

 

[Joe33426]

I teach at a college, and a student told me that at her high school, some of them had used an app on their cell phones to disable PowerPoint presentations. The teachers could never figure out why they wouldn't work.

I don't think that there is an app that can disable PowerPoint remotely, but I teach at a University and my students unplugged the keyboard and mouse at the podium computer right before a class when they were supposed to make presentations.

They must have done this right before I got to class and it actually took me a few minutes to figure out why I couldn't get the keyboard or mouse to work, but I figured it out..... much to their surprise .... Their presentations continued as planned....

 

[Patri]

I don't think that there is an app that can disable PowerPoint remotely, but I teach at a University and my students unplugged the keyboard and mouse at the podium computer right before a class when they were supposed to make presentations.

They must have done this right before I got to class and it actually took me a few minutes to figure out why I couldn't get the keyboard or mouse to work, but I figured it out..... much to their surprise .... Their presentations continued as planned....

As I recall, the girl said there was only one phone this worked with, or provider. Sprint seems to come to mind. I was surprised by the whole thing, because she was a very nice girl. She tried to demonstrate in my classroom but it didn't work. I can't remember why. But I believe her.

 

[DeniseM]

Cell phones are a nightmare in the classroom. Some kids are so addicted to them, that they sneak them out in class regardless of the rules or consequences.

It's impossible to monitor.

 

[spirits]

Ahhh the cell phone

We were told in Sept that cellphones are here...the kids have them and we must develop policies to deal with them. They are a tool.....that is all. But a powerful tool for good and a powerful tool for evil....like the force from Starwars..I said that in class

Today I had my grade 12'a and spent the whole block telling them what I told you in my first post....

Using the Point, Evidence Explain model....you English teachers will know what I mean

I gave them their critical response essay topic...and it was a serious question,

I asked them if they thought I was their Engish teacher- point

I asked them what the evidence was...my schedule said I was in room 702 block 5, their schedule said they were in room 702 block 5. There was an English book on our desks etc

And now for their writer's analysis....worth almost all the marks. Well, she marks our essays, so she is a teacher....the subject is English so she must be my English teacher. I told them that they would get about a 50%on their essay if that was the quality of their writers analysis.

I told them that a good essay would have detailed, insightful analysis. And here is how an excellent one might look.

A more insightful response to that question is that yes, I am partially your English teacher, but more importantly, I am a teacher who took an oath to uphold the standard of in loco parentsis. That is my primary responsibility to you, your parents, my school, and my community. I am here to teach you all right from wrong. That is my first job.....I teach English if I have the time. I have taught welding...I am a woman and could not allow power in the room but could let the students use hand tools and I was the best person at the time to help the school fulfil their obligations .....kindergarden, alternative education etc. The subject does not matter, but in all classes I am teaching you right from wrong. Most parents at parent teacher interviews do not come and ask me what their child's English mark is....almost every parent wants to know how their child is doing. As a parent I wanted to hear that my child was doing their absolute best. The mark was secondary. Now I may be wrong, but I have never been asked what the grade was but more importantly....HOW is my child doing and that is what most parents are concerned with.

And then I went on for almost an hour about most of the things I have shared with you. I was completely honest, got my point across, had some fun...the boy who was cheating fell asleep and almost fell out of his chair...I was concerned but not much....I promised I would wake him up when the bell went...not let him sleep like some teachers might. I know he was pulling my chain but I chose to be polite to him.

You could hear a pin drop...I had an ally of his put up his hand in the middle of my talk and ask to go the bathroom....I looked at him in amazement and asked him why on earth he was asking that question and really would need to ask him to stay at the end of the class to discuss his behavior. Then I forgot my train of thought......asked for some help, got it...said under my breath sotto voice....almost thought I was in a kindergarten class......the brighter ones smiled at me......and then went on.

Best class I ever had with them...and oh yes....I reminded them that tomorrow is our pot luck lunch.....I made a batch of homemade perogies yesterday for them...which was planned all last week....they are writing their diploma exams in the morning....I will wake up early(My shift is afternoons) be here at 8:30...work in my room, say a prayer for them (;
and we would have a debriefing class in the afternoon. Attendance was required....their classroom discussion...cooperative......would be assessed....if they worked well it would be formative...with a link to learning assessment.....if only a few showed up....it would be summative....and any confirmed absences would not be accepted since it was an in class assignment. Parents could call me personally if they had a good reason for a confirmed absence.
Yada yada yada...and yes, I was still working on my report for administration....still needed to talk to a few more people and get their reports....and then administration would take my report, assess my information with the records they have for each student involved and make their decisions then...did not know how long it would take.....(at least I think that is what my administration is planning:hysterical

Anyway, I have spent more hours on lessons that were total flops...the best ones have a real life component....and they are the ones worth the blood, sweat and tears.

Ok guys. I am exhausted. This is probably my last post for a few days. My great gr 11 class wrote an essay for me today and I HAVE to have feedback for them tomorrow since they write their exam the day after...that is my priority. Will let you guys know what happens in a couple of days.

I need to say that all the comments have been so good for my soul...Thank you for all your wise words they made a mostly miserable weekend soar with happiness and joy.