Hello All,
My name is Tina Davis. I currently live and teach in Northeastern Oklahoma. I taught Spanish I & II for eight years before taking the Oklahoma Subject Area Test for English and Speech/Drama/Debate certification. I was very happy with teaching Spanish. I only took the tests as a way to help my principal out of a jamb. We, like most schools in the nation, are in a major budget crunch. When a teacher leaves our school, they are not replaced. Another teacher already in the system takes up the slack. We work well together. We make a good team. However, there are several of us, myself included, who are muddling through.
I was told three days before this year's Christmas vacation that I would be teaching a "Communications" course when second semester started. Did I have books to teach this class? No. Luckily, I came across www.my.hsj.org . My principal wanted a traditional newspaper produced. As we already have a major paper shortage at my school, I convinced him that www.my.hsj.org was the way to go.
In short, I am completely lost and need direction. I am so very excited and grateful for this opportunity. My students deserve so much more than a teacher who is muddling through. Please be patient with me. Any advice will be gratefully accepted.
Tina Davis
Ketchum High School
Ketchum, Okla.
Wow! That is all I can say. I can't believe you have taken on so much in such a short amount of time. I will be happy to offer any help I can.
ReplyDeleteEmily Miller
Arlington High School
Arlington, Texas
Thanks for you're post, Tina. Your situation is pretty common. One year we had a Latin teacher who got the newspaper because that's what the Latin teacher has always done. You're coming to the right place. Your fellow fellows will be great resources.
ReplyDeleteSteve Elliott
Arizona State University
Phoenix
Tina,
ReplyDeleteI took over our newspaper two years ago. Well, when I got to school on the first day and started looking for the last adviser's notes regarding the newspaper, I was stunned to find that she left nothing. Thus, I was on my own. We made (and continue to make) mistakes, but each issue gets better, and that is my goal.
And you will help your students make each issue a little better, too.
This is such a wonderful opportunity for all of us, not only to gain knowledge from the experts, but also to network with teachers across the states.
In fact, I went through last year's fellowship names, found someone in a town near me, and emailed her to get information on the program. She went to Texas, but she raved about the program, as well as the personal connections.
There are so many things out there, but by focusing on a few items each year, you will see a difference.
I look forward to meeting you.
Karla Erdman
Freedom High School
Bethlehem, PA