PARENTAL INVOLVEMENT

Finally, the mother returned my call to schedule a conference.  Her daughter was failing because of attendance and missing work.  I asked if it would be an inconvenience to meet the next day.  The mother said, "Oh, you probably see me every day.  I work in the front office."  "What? You work here?"  "Yes, I don't like for teachers to know,"  she said with a little laugh.  She sounded embarrassed, but I was confused.  If she was at the school, why wasn't she bringing her daughter along?  Her daughter had failed the last marking period and she was in danger of failing for the year; yet I did not hear from the parent for weeks, and she was right there--in front of me--so near, yet so far!

Many schools require parents to sign contracts stating what they will do to participate in their child's success at school; however, some parents forget once school is underway.  Students succeed when their parents are involved.

Project Appleseed is a wonderful resource for parents and teachers.

http://www.projectappleseed.org/sixstandards.html

HOW TO TEACH ABOUT HAITI

During my interview, I told the principal that I was born in Port-au-Prince, Haiti; therefore, I was very interested in knowing how many Haitian students were at the school.  She said that a few did come after the earthquake, but the percentage was very small.  After I was hired, I was surprised to find several Haitian students in each of my classes.  They told me they kept a low profile because there was a lot of racism (even after the earthquake), and people just assume they are African-American.  I believe that Haitian students will feel proud when they have an opportunity to read about Haitian people.

The Memoir

The memoir is the most popular form of writing because it helps the reader to understand everyday, regular people and how they overcame and survived.  Students have read the memoirs of people in history, but I think they feel more connected to modern-day writers.  Therefore, I was very interested when I found this lesson. 

Haitian-born writer, Edwidge Danticat is a gifted scholar and she is considered the literary spokesperson for the Haitian people.   Her memoir, Brother, I am Dying, centers on the universal themes of family, reunion, home, and the immigrant experience.  After students have read the memoir, they complete three Learning Activities.

Teaching African American Literature Resources for High School Teachers in Southeastern Carolina provides learning activities for teaching about Phyllis Wheatley, Fredrick Douglass, Harriet Jacobs, Zora Neal Hurston, Richard Wright, Toni Morrison, Octavia Butler, and Edwidge Danticat.  Resources include three separate lessons with excellent handouts, essential questions, and information about Enduring Understanding.

http://www.uncp.edu/home/hickss/taal/

LOW EXPECTATIONS=LESS STRESS

Comments like these used to make me feel insecure:
"I like Mr. B. At first, I thought he was gonna be hard, but he's just like one of the kids.  He plays and jokes around and we don't have to do so much work!"  As students were leaving my English class, one student told another, "The next class will be better.  All we have to do for the final is write a little essay and then we can talk." In his evaluation essay, a Hispanic student wrote,   "This year really sucked.  My day had to start with my two worst classes: Spanish and English.  Those teachers work you to death."  (Is he talking about me and Ms. Sanchez?  We believe in him and we know he can do the work!  I talked to Ms. Sanchez and she's really nice.  Besides, I modify the lessons and shortened them.  So why is he saying that I'm working him to death?)

I wondered why students preferred the teachers who had very low expectations and offered few challenges to students.  Many young people may enjoy the "easy" class where they "don't have to work so hard."; but I wondered why a teacher would lower his expectations.  I came to the conclusion that some teachers must consider their health when they are teaching. Teaching itself is not a stressful occupation. It's fun to share what you know and you feel a sense of pride when you see that a student "gets it." You get to encourage students to move to the next level. You help them to understand themselves and their world. 

The result of low expectations begins to manifest in middle school; and by the time some students get to high school, they have a developed a history of failure.   Stress levels are high when you try to force students to do an assignment they don't want to do.  Therefore, teachers must provide a curriculum that is relevant, meaningful, and rigorous.   
(http://www.ncrel.org/sdrs/areas/issues/students/atrisk/at6lk11.htm)