![]() This is still the same for me 30 years later. Due to the lack of prep time at school, teachers work beyond school hours.And teachers everywhere do completely unnecessary and unread documents daily! But, no principals have all of the time to read all of the paperwork we complete. I am so thankful for having my laptop now! (Let’s not start on tech issues!). These two go hand-in-hand: paperwork overwhelms us, and we definitely lack prep time to complete said paperwork! Now 30 years ago, there was tons of work, and it was all done by hand.Why? Just, why? I am sure many of you question this annually, just like me! The tests may change acronyms and change standards, but every year, THERE… THEY… ARE. State assessments have been done every year in my classroom for 30 years.Teachers absorb constructive criticism and handle suggestions and evaluations fairly well but c’mon, do administrators have a secret camera in the classrooms to pick the MOST inopportune time? Unannounced observations, observations the day before or the day after a break, observations during a holiday party in your room.Does this sound like a hot topic of 2021? It was certainly a hot topic continuously over the 30 years that I have been in my classroom. People often outside of education decide what should happen in the classrooms they have never entered.Professional Development Teachers Actually Want to Attend ETTC recently published a blog with teacher responses to PD that was worth sitting through. Many don’t apply to all teachers sitting through them. ![]() ![]() It often rehashes information that we already know. Professional Development takes away from what teachers could have accomplished in our classrooms.Teachers sit through hours upon hours of staff meetings that could have been summarized in writing. But trust me, it remains the same after 30 years of teaching. Ok, so this one has changed slightly because teachers didn’t have email 30 years ago. Staff meetings that could have been a memo.Ugh, I imagine my room at dismissal daily and shudder. Then, don’t breathe just yet because there is always a little Johnny or Shay that ‘forgot’ they needed the bathroom, left their backpack behind or suddenly needs to search for the mittens that their grandma made. It only takes 1 late bus, 1 late parent, or 1 unexpected pick up to cause chaos in dismissal. Dismissal Time can be a well-orchestrated plan, but many times that plan goes right off the rails, even after 30 years.That is if you aren’t lunching with your students. This short block of time is usually spent running (literally sometimes) to the bathroom and copy machine, scarfing down your own lunch at rapid speed, and prepping for lessons in the afternoon or later in the week. Lunch that really isn’t duty-free remains the same after 30 years.But recess duty in the cold and wind or recess duty for an inside recess are things most teachers dread. Recess Duty is wonderful when it is 75 and sunny.As you read over my list, you can be the judge of what things should continue to remain the same and what things finally need changing. As many people call for education reform, I have found 18 things that remain the same after 30 years of teaching. But as I look back over the 30 years, some things in teaching remain the same. WOW! Over the years, I never imagined some teaching changes, such as Zoom, Smartboards, and YouTube. Sometimes it is hard to believe that I have now taught for 30 years.
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