A “BAD TEACHER" CONFESSES I give a lot of credit to New York City special education teacher William Johnson for his candid article in The New York Times, Perhaps if we start the conversation there, things will start making a bit more sense.
Feb 23, 2016
A “BAD TEACHER" CONFESSES
I give a lot of credit to New York City special education teacher William Johnson for his candid article in The New York Times, Confessions of a "Bad Teacher".
Perhaps if we start the conversation there, things will start making a bit more sense.
1Pronoun LineHe 4
who 10
her 15
her 31
she 43
their 53
He
I give a lot of credit to New York City special education teacher
William Johnson for his candid article in The New York Times,
Confessions of a "Bad Teacher". In it Johnson writes about the
challenges of large classes, fewer support staff and more
students with severe disabilities. He writes:
He
I give a lot of credit to New York City special education teacher
William Johnson for his candid article in The New York Times,
Confessions of a "Bad Teacher". In it Johnson writes about the
challenges of large classes, fewer support staff and more
students with severe disabilities. He writes:
1Pronoun LineHe 4 William Johnson
who 10
her 15
her 31
she 43
their 53
1Pronoun LineHe 4 William Johnson
who 10
her 15
her 31
she 43
their 53
who
I had a conversation this weekend that relates to the question of good
and bad teachers. A friend who is often in classrooms told me about a
teacher he considers one of the most effective and dynamic he’s ever
seen. But when he first encountered this young teacher three years
ago, he thought she was terrible and the students in her class were
being shortchanged.
who
I had a conversation this weekend that relates to the question of good
and bad teachers. A friend who is often in classrooms told me about a
teacher he considers one of the most effective and dynamic he’s ever
seen. But when he first encountered this young teacher three years
ago, he thought she was terrible and the students in her class were
being shortchanged.
1Pronoun LineHe 4 William Johnson
who 10 A friend of William Johnson
her 15
her 31
she 43
their 53
1Pronoun LineHe 4 William Johnson
who 10 A friend of William Johnson
her 15
her 31
she 43
their 53
her
But it was the teacher’s first year, and she had no idea how to manage
her classroom and spent most of her time trying to maintain order.
Now, she has control of her class and has had time to perfect her
teaching practices and according to my friend she's wonderful.
her
But it was the teacher’s first year, and she had no idea how to manage
her classroom and spent most of her time trying to maintain order.
Now, she has control of her class and has had time to perfect her
teaching practices and according to my friend she's wonderful.
1Pronoun LineHe 4 William Johnson
who 10 A friend of William Johnson
her 15 The teacher/ A friend of William Johnson
her 31
she 43
their 53
1Pronoun LineHe 4 William Johnson
who 10 A friend of William Johnson
her 15 The teacher/ A friend of William Johnson
her 31
she 43
their 53
her
When the assistant principal walked in, one of these students, a
freshman girl began cursing. When the assistant principal ignored her,
she started cursing at me. Then she began lobbing pencils across the
room. Was this because I was a bad teacher? I don’t know.
her
When the assistant principal walked in, one of these students, a
freshman girl began cursing. When the assistant principal ignored her,
she started cursing at me. Then she began lobbing pencils across the
room. Was this because I was a bad teacher? I don’t know.
1Pronoun LineHe 4 William Johnson
who 10 A friend of William Johnson
her 15 The teacher/ A friend of William Johnson
her 31 a freshman girl
she 43
their 53
1Pronoun LineHe 4 William Johnson
who 10 A friend of William Johnson
her 15 The teacher/ A friend of William Johnson
her 31 a freshman girl
she 43
their 53
she
Earlier last year, this same assistant principal had observed me and
instructed me to prioritize improving my “assertive voice” in the classroom.
But about a month later, my principal observed me and told me to focus
entirely on lesson planning, since she had no concerns about my classroom
management. A few weeks earlier, she had written on my behalf for a
citywide award for “classroom excellence.” Was I really a bad teacher?
she
Earlier last year, this same assistant principal had observed me and
instructed me to prioritize improving my “assertive voice” in the classroom.
But about a month later, my principal observed me and told me to focus
entirely on lesson planning, since she had no concerns about my classroom
management. A few weeks earlier, she had written on my behalf for a
citywide award for “classroom excellence.” Was I really a bad teacher?
1Pronoun LineHe 4 William Johnson
who 10 A friend of William Johnson
her 15 The teacher/ A friend of William Johnson
her 31 a freshman girl
she 43 William Johnson’s principal
their 53
1Pronoun LineHe 4 William Johnson
who 10 A friend of William Johnson
her 15 The teacher/ A friend of William Johnson
her 31 a freshman girl
she 43 William Johnson’s principal
their 53
their
How, then, should we measure students and teachers? In ninth grade, my
students learn about the scientific method. They learn that in order to
collect good data, scientists control for specific variables and test their
impact on otherwise identical environments. If you give some students
green fields, glossy textbooks and lots of attention, you can’t measure them
against another group of students who lack all of these things. It’s bad
science.
their
How, then, should we measure students and teachers? In ninth grade, my
students learn about the scientific method. They learn that in order to
collect good data, scientists control for specific variables and test their
impact on otherwise identical environments. If you give some students
green fields, glossy textbooks and lots of attention, you can’t measure them
against another group of students who lack all of these things. It’s bad
science.
1Pronoun LineHe 4 William Johnson
who 10 A friend of William Johnson
her 15 The teacher/ A friend of William Johnson
her 31 a freshman girl
she 43 William Johnson’s principal
their 53 variables
2Which word in lines 1-4 means “honest”? ___________________
honest = adjective
I give a lot of credit to New York City special education teacher William
Johnson for his candid article in The New York Times, Confessions of a
"Bad Teacher". In it Johnson writes about the challenges of large
classes, fewer support staff and more students with severe disabilities.
He writes:
Adjectives
• An Adjective is a word that describes a noun or pronoun.
Adjectives
There are two typical place where adjectives appear:
1. Before the noun.2. After the verb be or other linking verbs.
Adjectives
1. Before the noun.Look at the tall basketball
player.
Adjectives
…..the tall basketball player.
Adjectives
…..the tall basketball player.
Adjectives
…..the tall basketball player.
Adjectives
1. After certain verbs.Brian is very tall.
honest = adjective
I give a lot of credit to New York City special education teacher William
Johnson for his candid article in The New York Times, Confessions of a
"Bad Teacher". In it Johnson writes about the challenges of large
classes, fewer support staff and more students with severe disabilities.
He writes:
honest = adjective
I give a lot of credit to New York City special education teacher William
Johnson for his candid article in The New York Times, Confessions of a
"Bad Teacher". In it Johnson writes about the challenges of large
classes, fewer support staff and more students with severe disabilities.
He writes:
2Which word in lines 1-4 means “honest”?
candid
3From lines 5-8 we can infer that an A rating is ______.
a) very goodb) very badc) humiliatingd) unsatisfactory
3From lines 5-8 we can infer that an A rating is ______.
a) very goodb) very badc) humiliatingd) unsatisfactory
InferenceNick forced himself to wake up and get dressed. He looked out of the grubby window of their bedroom and couldn't believe his eyes. The rain had stopped at last.
InferenceNick forced himself to wake up and get dressed. He looked out of the grubby window of their bedroom and couldn't believe his eyes. The rain had stopped at last.
• How had the weather been the previous day?
• Had Nick gone to bed early or late the night before?
• Was Nick married?• Was Nick's apartment clean or
dirty?• How old was Nick?
3From lines 5-8 we can infer that an A rating is ______.
a) very goodb) very badc) humiliatingd) unsatisfactory
5-8
On top of all that, I’m a bad teacher. That’s not my opinion; it
is how I’m labeled by the city’s Education Department. Last
June, my principal rated my teaching “unsatisfactory,” That
same year, my school received an “A” rating. I was a bad
teacher at a good school. It was pretty humiliating.
5-8
On top of all that, I’m a bad teacher. That’s not my opinion; it
is how I’m labeled by the city’s Education Department. Last
June, my principal rated my teaching “unsatisfactory,” That
same year, my school received an “A” rating. I was a bad
teacher at a good school. It was pretty humiliating.
5-8
On top of all that, I’m a bad teacher. That’s not my opinion; it
is how I’m labeled by the city’s Education Department. Last
June, my principal rated my teaching “unsatisfactory,” That
same year, my school received an “A” rating. I was a bad
teacher at a good school. It was pretty humiliating.
3From lines 5-8 we can infer that an A rating is ______.
a) very goodb) very badc) humiliatingd) unsatisfactory
4According to lines 9-17 what helped the woman to become a wonderful teacher?
a) her friendsb) being shortchangedc) experienced) We are not told.
4According to lines 9-17 what helped the woman to become a wonderful teacher?
a) her friendsb) being shortchangedc) experienced) We are not told.
9-17I had a conversation this weekend that relates to the question of good and bad teachers. A friend who is often in classrooms told me about a teacher he considers one of the most effective and dynamic he’s ever seen. But when he first encountered this young teacher three years ago, he thought she was terrible and the students in her class were being shortchanged. But it was the teacher’s first year, and she had no idea how to manage her classroom and spent most of her time trying to maintain order. Now, she has control of her class and has had time to perfect her teaching practices and according to my friend she's wonderful.
9-17I had a conversation this weekend that relates to the question of good and bad teachers. A friend who is often in classrooms told me about a teacher he considers one of the most effective and dynamic he’s ever seen. But when he first encountered this young teacher three years ago, he thought she was terrible and the students in her class were being shortchanged. But it was the teacher’s first year, and she had no idea how to manage her classroom and spent most of her time trying to maintain order. Now, she has control of her class and has had time to perfect her teaching practices and according to my friend she's wonderful.
9-17I had a conversation this weekend that relates to the question of good and bad teachers. A friend who is often in classrooms told me about a teacher he considers one of the most effective and dynamic he’s ever seen. But when he first encountered this young teacher three years ago, he thought she was terrible and the students in her class were being shortchanged. But it was the teacher’s first year, and she had no idea how to manage her classroom and spent most of her time trying to maintain order. Now, she has control of her class and has had time to perfect her teaching practices and according to my friend she's wonderful.
4According to lines 9-17 what helped the woman to become a wonderful teacher?
a) her friendsb) being shortchangedc) experienced) We are not told.
5
In lines 18-23 European teachers are contrasted
with those in the US. Which two advantages do
European teachers have?
5
In lines 18-23 European teachers are contrasted
with those in the US. Which two advantages do
European teachers have?
18-23
One of the other participants in this conversation was a woman who
trained as a teacher in Europe. There, she spent a year observing and
working under a master teacher. And then she taught in a classroom paired
with a master teacher. She talked about how vital it was to have that time
to watch and learn. I know that more schools have adopted team teaching,
but I still wonder if new teachers have enough supports in place and
enough time to observe.
18-23
One of the other participants in this conversation was a woman who
trained as a teacher in Europe. There, she spent a year observing and
working under a master teacher. And then she taught in a classroom paired
with a master teacher. She talked about how vital it was to have that time
to watch and learn. I know that more schools have adopted team teaching,
but I still wonder if new teachers have enough supports in place and
enough time to observe.
5
In lines 18-23 European
teachers are contrasted
with those in the US.
Which two advantages do
European teachers have?
They spend a year observing and working under a master teacher.
They teach in a classroom paired with a master teacher.
6Complete this table of “Cause and Effect” in the context of lines 25-45:
Caused A girl began to curse the assistant principal.
Caused
Caused The girl began to curse the teacher and threw pencils.
Caused
The teacher’s lesson was rated unsatisfactory.
25-45Last May, my then assistant principal observed me teaching in our school’s “self-contained” classroom. A self-contained room is a separate classroom for students with extremely severe learning disabilities. In that room, I taught a writing class for students aged from 14 to 17. Their reading levels ranged from third through seventh grades.
When the assistant principal walked in, one of these students, a freshman girl began cursing. When the assistant principal ignored her, she started cursing at me. Then she began lobbing pencils across the room. Was this because I was a bad teacher? I don’t know.
I know that after she began throwing things, I sent her to the dean’s office. I know that a few days later, I received notice that my lesson had been rated unsatisfactory because, among other things, I had sent this student to the dean instead of following our school’s “guided discipline” procedure. I was confused. Earlier last year, this same assistant principal had observed me and instructed me to prioritize improving my “assertive voice” in the classroom. But about a month later, my principal observed me and told me to focus entirely on lesson planning, since she had no concerns about my classroom management. A few weeks earlier, she had written on my behalf for a citywide award for “classroom excellence.” Was I really a bad teacher?
25-45Last May, my then assistant principal observed me teaching in our school’s “self-contained” classroom. A self-contained room is a separate classroom for students with extremely severe learning disabilities. In that room, I taught a writing class for students aged from 14 to 17. Their reading levels ranged from third through seventh grades.
When the assistant principal walked in, one of these students, a freshman girl began cursing. When the assistant principal ignored her, she started cursing at me. Then she began lobbing pencils across the room. Was this because I was a bad teacher? I don’t know.
I know that after she began throwing things, I sent her to the dean’s office. I know that a few days later, I received notice that my lesson had been rated unsatisfactory because, among other things, I had sent this student to the dean instead of following our school’s “guided discipline” procedure. I was confused. Earlier last year, this same assistant principal had observed me and instructed me to prioritize improving my “assertive voice” in the classroom. But about a month later, my principal observed me and told me to focus entirely on lesson planning, since she had no concerns about my classroom management. A few weeks earlier, she had written on my behalf for a citywide award for “classroom excellence.” Was I really a bad teacher?
25-45When the assistant principal walked in, one of these students, a freshman girl began cursing. When the assistant principal ignored her, she started cursing at me. Then she began lobbing pencils across the room. Was this because I was a bad teacher? I don’t know.
I know that after she began throwing things, I sent her to the dean’s office. I know that a few days later, I received notice that my lesson had been rated unsatisfactory because, among other things, I had sent this student to the dean instead of following our school’s “guided discipline” procedure. I was confused.
25-45When the assistant principal walked in, one of these students, a freshman girl began cursing. When the assistant principal ignored her, she started cursing at me. Then she began lobbing pencils across the room. Was this because I was a bad teacher? I don’t know.
I know that after she began throwing things, I sent her to the dean’s office. I know that a few days later, I received notice that my lesson had been rated unsatisfactory because, among other things, I had sent this student to the dean instead of following our school’s “guided discipline” procedure. I was confused.
6
the assistant principal walked in
Caused A girl began to curse the assistant principal.
Caused the assistant principal ignored her
Caused The girl began to curse the teacher and threw pencils.
Caused I sent her to the dean’s office
The teacher’s lesson was rated unsatisfactory.
The assistant principal walked in.
Caused A girl began to curse the assistant principal.
Caused The assistant principal ignored her.
Caused The girl began to curse the teacher and threw pencils.
Caused The teacher sent her to the dean’s office
The teacher’s lesson was rated unsatisfactory.
7In lines 48-50 we learn about “another teacher” who couldn’t ____________. (one word)
48-50
I collaborated with another teacher who sought psychiatric care for
insomnia after a particularly intense round of observations. I myself
transferred to a new school after being rated “unsatisfactory.”
48-50
I collaborated with another teacher who sought psychiatric care for
insomnia after a particularly intense round of observations. I myself
transferred to a new school after being rated “unsatisfactory.”
insomnia
7In lines 48-50 we learn about “another teacher” who couldn’t sleep. (one word)
8The passage ends with ___.
a) a suggestionb) a questionc) a condemnationd) a defense
Until we provide equal educational resources to all students and
teachers, no matter where they come from, we can’t say — with any
scientific accuracy — how well or poorly they’re performing. Perhaps if
we start the conversation there, things will start making a bit more
sense.
8The passage ends with ___.
a) a suggestionb) a questionc) a condemnationd) a defense