School Shootings: What has happened to our safe schools?

The Crisis of School Shootings

Where are Our Safe Schools?

What has happened to our safe schools? The term "active shooter in school" is becoming all too familiar. It's heart-breaking and gut-wrenching. I can't imagine what the latest victims' parents are going through, or what the parents before them went through, or even the ones before that. I don’t even want to ponder what the children went through. Children who died at the location where they were required to be. Children who died while laughing, learning, and just being kids. Our children’s safe place is being stolen away, one shot at a time. Teachers are being robbed of a safe work environment, one shot at a time. A parent’s sense of security is being stripped away, one shot at a time.

Facing the Unthinkable

It’s all unfathomable. Unimaginable. Unthinkable. To fix a problem, we must face the problem. We shouldn't tiptoe around it, only talk about it for a fleeting moment, and then move on. It's a vicious pattern that keeps repeating itself. It has become a cycle of catastrophe. I don’t know the answer, but I do know this is big. It’s bigger than me. It's bigger than you. It’s bigger than any single person.

Personal Reflection

As a teacher, I'm acutely aware of the gravity of this situation. I'm married to a teacher. I have children in school. My family is positioned in five different schools on any given day. This is a national epidemic. The news reports state that we have had 18 school shootings within the first two months of 2018. EIGHTEEN. They stretch across the country, and no one is immune. It's becoming commonplace. Shootings in our schools are happening so often that we don’t question if it will happen again, we wonder when it will happen. It’s a brokenness that has become the breaking news on far too many occasions.

The Changing Landscape of Schools

Cafeterias were once seen as dining and gathering places, not as vulnerable large crowds. Classroom doors once remained open and learning could be heard. Fire alarms once signaled smoke, but now they instill fear and make you question if it's legit. Calculating how to create chaos was the latest choice plan, with the simple sound of something our children had been trained to respond to. Kids didn't flee to safety. They walked right into the fire. Gunfire!

There was a time when teachers, students, and parents thought such tragedies could only happen in other communities. We are quickly realizing that no one is immune to this latest national terror. And it is national. We can't deny it. One look at a map of the 18 latest school shootings proves just that.

The Psychological Impact

When I imagine school, I think of a bright and happy place, full of learning and fun. We as educators work hard to maintain that feeling of hope and success. It saddens me to think that children, even high school kids, are gradually being robbed of feeling that school is a safe place. Yes, we as educators are there to try and counteract that fear by making it a warm and inviting place to be. We don't dwell on the worry, but I can assure you, it's in the back of our minds. We plan, engage, and strive to make the classroom a place students want to come to each day. What we have to realize, though, is the harm being done to the psyche of our school children and even to our teachers. Our once open doors are now key-padded entries. You can't help but think about the tragedies each time you place your key in the lock. And now, after the latest, I can assure you that I, and many others, will think of these 17 deaths each time the fire alarm sounds in our schools.

Seeking Solutions

When solutions are talked about, it tends to become political and sometimes heated. We can talk about gun control, better mental healthcare, metal detectors on all school doors, and so much more. But in the end, this is about solutions and saving lives. It's about salvaging our safe schools.

This is big. Big problems need big solutions—bigger than one school, one community, and even one state. What is the answer? Possibly we need more counselors in schools. Perhaps we do need better mental health care. Is it conceivable to put metal detectors on all entries to all schools? Would safe-school government funding provide resources and personnel needed? Will it take an act of Congress?

As I ponder the question of what can be done, I realize this is a complicated issue. Safeguarding entries to high schools seems to be far more difficult than at the elementary level. For me personally, I feel quite safe where I work. All doors are locked at all times. It's a step in the right direction. But I also know that not all systems have that safeguard in place. Funding and priorities can throw up a roadblock.

For now, I feel that we as a nation need to remain vigilant in seeking solutions. We need to work towards ending the cycle of praying, debating, and moving on until a short time passes... moving on until we tune in yet again to the latest breaking news of "active shooter in school".

Conclusion

School shootings are a national crisis that affects us all. As educators, parents, and community members, we must acknowledge this harsh reality and work together to find solutions. Our children's safety and well-being depend on it. Let's break the cycle and restore our schools as places of learning, joy, and security.

Merit Pay for Teachers

 Merit Pay for Teachers: An In-Depth Look

Few topics regarding education reform spark as much debate as merit pay for teachers. Merit pay, or performance pay, is a compensation system where teachers' salaries are based on their job performance, typically measured by student achievement and standardized test scores. But is this system genuinely beneficial for our educators and students, or does it come with significant drawbacks? Let's delve into the pros and cons of merit pay for teachers.

What is Merit Pay?

Merit pay is a system where teachers receive financial bonuses or salary increases based on performance. The idea is to reward those who excel in their teaching duties, thereby incentivizing high-quality education. Performance metrics can include student test scores, classroom observations, and other measures of student progress.

Pros of Merit Pay

1. Encourages Excellence: By tying pay to performance, teachers may feel more motivated to improve their teaching methods and invest in their students' success.
2. Attracts Top Talent: Competitive pay based on performance can attract highly qualified professionals to the teaching field, raising the overall quality of education.
3. Rewards Hard Work: Teachers who go above and beyond, dedicating extra time and effort, receive recognition and financial rewards for their commitment.
4. Focuses on Results: Emphasizing student outcomes can lead to innovative teaching strategies and a stronger focus on effective educational practices.

Cons of Merit Pay

1. Measurement Challenges: Determining a teacher's merit can be complex. Student performance is influenced by numerous factors beyond the teacher's control, such as socio-economic status, home environment, and previous educational experiences.
2. Unfair Pressure: Merit pay can place undue pressure on teachers to "teach to the test," potentially narrowing the curriculum and stifling creativity in the classroom.
3. Morale Issues: Teachers working with disadvantaged or high-need students might feel penalized despite their hard work and dedication. This situation can result in decreased morale and high rates of employee turnover.
4. Collaborative Barriers: Education thrives on collaboration, but merit pay can foster competition rather than cooperation among teachers, harming a school's culture.

An Analogy to Understand Merit Pay

Imagine a gardener in a community park. The gardener's pay is determined by how well the plants and flowers bloom. If the weather is favorable, with plenty of sunshine and rain, the plants flourish, and the gardener receives high praise and a good salary. However, if there is a drought, poor soil, or an infestation of pests, no matter how skilled and dedicated the gardener is, the plants won't thrive as well. Similarly, teachers work with students whose "growth" can be significantly affected by external factors beyond the teacher's control, such as their home environment and socio-economic status. Just like the gardener, a teacher's "garden" (student performance) can vary greatly based on these external conditions.

Balancing Merit and Circumstances

The complexities of tying teacher pay to student performance are significant. Teachers often work with students facing substantial challenges, from poverty and homelessness to lack of parental support. These circumstances, which are beyond the teacher's control, are crucial to a student's academic performance.

A merit pay system must account for these variables to be fair. One way to address this is through a value-added model, which measures a student's progress rather than just their achievement. However, this approach has limitations and needs to capture the nuances of teaching and learning fully.

Conclusion

Merit pay for teachers is a contentious issue with valid arguments on both sides. While it aims to reward excellence and improve educational outcomes, it also poses significant challenges in fair implementation. As we consider reforms to our education system, it's crucial to recognize and address the diverse circumstances that impact teaching and learning.

Creating a balanced approach that acknowledges both the merits and limitations of teachers, as well as the circumstances of their students, is key to fostering a fair and effective merit pay system. Only then can we truly value our educators and support them in their mission to educate and inspire the next generation.

Goal Setting for Teachers

How can you set goals as a teacher?

If you are anything like me, then you set goals for yourself. When it comes to my goals, I tend to set lofty ones, and I often set too many. I end up being hard on myself when I don’t meet them, and I am sometimes left feeling defeated, almost like I haven’t accomplished much at all. This can apply to goals in teaching, fitness, family, and more. Sometimes with my goal setting, I aim high, usually looking too far into the future, which can be a real problem. It can cause me to skip over the present, making me lose sight of all the “baby-step goals” that I need to accomplish in order to meet the ultimate long-term goal.

Think of baby-step goals as the step-by-step plan for reaching the “big-picture goal.” My big-picture goal may be to lose 20 pounds, but my baby-step goal for today might be to walk for 30 minutes. Another big-picture goal could be to have all students in my class reading on grade level by the end of the year, while today’s baby-step goal might be to implement a strategy to help Johnny learn the basic sight words he has been struggling with.

When I think of goal setting in education, I can't help but consider the lofty long-term goals and the stress they cause teachers. Reflecting on my goals as a teacher, I recall all the grand goals set over the years. Often, someone else set those lofty goals for me, which is why I always felt so stressed. It was up to me to figure out how to meet those goals.

Having baby-step goals can give you a sense of accomplishment, especially as a teacher. Teaching can be overwhelming and stressful, and many days we leave feeling like we worked hard but barely made any progress toward the big-picture goal. The problem is, you can't see and appreciate the present because you are so focused on the future. Sometimes, we need to "stop and smell the roses."

And that's where sticky notes come in.

It's a bright idea that helps me focus on the present.

Each week, when you are making your lesson plans, take a minute to think of one "baby-step goal" for that day. For example, on Monday, maybe you want to make sure you meet with your low readers for 30 minutes. You can write the goal on a sticky note and place it with the plans for that day. On Tuesday, you might set a baby-step goal to pull five kids in math to review multiplication.

Remember that those baby-step goals are both factors in helping you meet the "big-picture" goals. For instance, pulling low readers is a baby-step goal that will help you reach the big-picture goal of having all kids on grade level by the end of the year. Similarly, reviewing multiplication with five kids helps work toward the goal of getting 100% of your students on grade level.

Once you accomplish your daily baby-step goal, you can throw the sticky note away, leave it in place in your plans, or keep a journal of all your accomplishments. By the end of the week, you will have met five goals. By the end of the month, you will have met around 25 goals. By the end of the year, you will have met 180 goals. That's a lot of sticky notes to reflect on! It's something to be proud of.

Why just one goal a day? I know I can do more than that.

You are not just accomplishing one thing each day. You might accomplish ten things or more. That's great! The idea behind this sticky note goal-setting plan is to start each day with one goal, one thing you want to make sure you accomplish, and then walk out each day having met that goal. It's a way for you to feel accomplished and leave work each day knowing that you achieved what you set out to do. That's a good feeling!

So, what are you waiting for? Take a look at your lesson plans, grab some sticky notes, and start setting a daily goal.

And here's something else wonderful about this goal-setting activity. If you get to the end of the year and don't have 100% of your kids on grade level (after all, you knew they set an unrealistic goal for you to begin with), you will still see 180 goals you did accomplish. Don't feel defeated. Feel proud!

Sticky notes for goal setting? Yep! It's so easy and worthwhile.

OH! And here is something else wonderful about this little goal-setting activity. If you get to the end of the year and you don't have 100% of your kids on grade level (after all, you knew they set an unrealistic goal for you to begin with), you will still see 180 goals you did accomplish. Don't feel defeated. Feel proud!

Thank you for visiting my TpT store for great lesson ideas.

Elementary Lesson Plans TpT Store

Teacher Burnout

Although I have been in the classroom for  nearly twenty years, it has been the last ten years or so where teacher burnout has become so prevalent.  It's a sad reality that great teachers all over the country are leaving teaching, or even the field of education, to never return.  We all see the open letters floating around the Internet from teachers exiting the classroom.  It's their way of saying why they simply can't do it any longer.  
The start to a new school year is a great time to give yourself a little reminder that teachers are not Superheroes.  Even though we are pushed into Superhero expectations, we are not.  So, take a breather, enjoy my little video, and start your new year knowing that you are not alone when you feel overwhelmed.  Remember to take a moment for yourself when you need it.  
Also, you might find this little list of back-to-school teacher tips helpful.  It's from a former post and can be found here: Back to School Teacher Tips Teacher Superhero
Feel free to share a link to this post.  Thank you. 

The Brilliance of Teachers Pay Teachers

Teachers Pay Teachers,  aka  TpT,  is the place to be. I am not overstating when I say 'brilliance' because I truly mean it.  As a teacher of twenty years, I am telling you... it is the hottest place on the Internet to get the most up to date, fun, interactive, common core related lessons.  The best part about these great lessons is that they are designed by teachers for teachers.  What does that mean?  It means they are tested in the classroom and reworked until they are perfected.  You simply can't beat that as an educator.  In addition, they are time saving for the buyer.  In a day when teachers are pushed to their limits with meetings before and after school, limited planning time during the school day, in addition to having family activities after school, time for creating the perfect lesson is slim to none.  That is where TpT is a brilliant idea.  It helps teachers all across the world be better teachers by providing them with the lessons they might not otherwise be able to create. The designing and creating is already done.  Sure, you can still add your own individual ideas as you go to implement your purchase into the classroom, but what TpT can provide teachers is like none other. It buys teachers time, it buys them peace of mind...It buys so much.  Like I said... it's brilliant.  

I also think TpT is a brilliant idea for the seller.  Let me say that I was creating long before TpT came about.  I am one of those stay late, spend hours researching on the internet, clip art junkie, software loving kind of teachers that wants something new, innovative, and eye- catching.  I want people to like my lessons. Actually, I want people to love them. I want people to walk down the hall and think, "OMG.. that is the cutest idea. I want to do that with my students!" So, with that said, when I came across TpT it was an avenue for me to sell my items, and of course give some away for free, too.  It was validation for the hours I was spending on creating lessons, games, centers, and more.  Keeping in mind that other teachers asked for my materials and even offered to buy them, TpT was like the perfect fit for me.  Many teachers I have gotten to know as my buyers on TpT don't really care to spend the hours I was spending creating, and they are very appreciative to spend five dollars for something that took me fifteen hours to make.  It is a win win for everyone involved.

Since I brought up the idea of selling on TpT, I want to take a moment to discuss that aspect of my TpT story.  I joined TpT nearly four years ago.  I was probably one of the first 1,200 to join.  I have believed in the concept of TpT from the moment I first read about it.  I would say that my success on TpT is something I am very proud of.  If you are a seller on TpT and post in the seller's forum on TpT then you are very familiar with questions like, "How long is it going to take me to start making money" or "I have been at this for two months and I have five products, and I have only had a few sales.  Is it worth it?"  Here is my thinking...

I like to equate TpT to a fine wine.  By the way, the funny thing is that I don't even really drink wine, but it makes for a wonderful analogy. So here goes...You have to work hard to make your wine. It may need to sit for a while for perfection. You have to package it up real nice and pretty.   In the mean time, you better advertise the wine if you want to sell it.  You also better be working on other flavors to restock the shelves. As far as TpT,  you need to create wonderful lessons and activities.  You need to package them up with pretty covers.  Your products may need so sit for a while, a long while, in order for them to be found on TpT, for the search engines to pick them up, and for word to spread about your wonderful store.  In the mean time, you need to keep on making items and stocking your TpT shelves. You need to advertise by doing things like building a blog, developing a brand, building a facebook page, pinning on Pinterest, and whatever else you can think of to get the word out about your lovely store.  When people buy your items and they love your 'wine' they are going to come back for more.  It sounds like a lot, doesn't it?  

Well, the truth is that there are a few people with a few great items that make really good money on TpT.  But the fact of the matter is that most people that make good money have lots of products, they spend countless hours creating, marketing, blogging, pinning, facebooking, etc., and they truly embrace TpT as a second job. I fall into the second category. Actually, in  many cases TpT might be someone's only job.  Regardless, it is probably in the best interest of new sellers to walk into TpT knowing that it's not going to be a 'money growing on trees' kind of endeavor.  If you are willing to invest time and energy, TpT can truly be a blessing.  It can be a blessing to you the seller, as well as you being able to bless many teachers with your wonderful work.

As you can see, TpT really is a brilliant idea.  I don't even think I mentioned all of the FREE stuff that the dedicated teachers make and are willing to give away.... yes..., GIVE away! Thousands of items for free!! Isn't that just fabulous.   Whether you plan to simply buy on Teachers Pay Teachers or if you are willing to take the plunge and become a seller, I do hope that you love the experience as much as I have. I really do love TpT!

Share the Sweetness!

Thank you for helping to spread the word about Classroom Confections.

We appreciate you 'liking' us on facebook, tweeting about us, or pinning us on Pinterest.

For more fun and creative ideas for the classroom, click the above picture to go to my store.

If you are a teacher and you like what you see, please visit often.