I have recently started a new job as a first grade teacher for a charter school. I had always had jobs with a county, so taking on a charter school was a whole new adventure for me. However, what a wonderful adventure it has been. First of all in my old school, they played favorites with the technology that was purchased for the school. It was very noticable that that the classes with the more advanced students were given the smart boards, software, and science equipment while the rest of us either bought our own or had little to nothing at all. Now in my new school we all have smartboard, I have 8 computers in my room( not counting the one on my desk) we have carts full of laptops if we need them and doc cams.
Many times I have said that I wish I had better stuff for my students. Now I do. Many times I had said that I wished that I could allows all my students to research on computers. Now I can. Many times I had said that it is the administration not caring about the lowest 20% that is keeping them down. It is just so. At the charter school, I have experienced the other side of the financial coin. I am now allowed to really expose my students to everything that there is to offer. We are able to take virtual field trips around the world. We are able to visit the online planetarium as a group. My students are learning responsible research techniques. I have even pulled many resources from EME5050 and my fellow classmates to use in my classroom. I am so excited about this new future for my students and for me.
This is such a dream for an educator wanting to incorporate technology into their classroom!! It is so unfortunate that favortism is shown in the allocation of resources. Not only is it unfair, but it also sends out a bad message to our students who understand more than we often give them credit for.
ReplyDeleteI have always wondered what it is like in charter schools when it comes to issues like this and it's so nice and refreshing to know that you can literally take your students around the world from the inside of your classroom! Just think of the thousands and millions of students who will NEVER get the opportunity to explore the world outside of their window. Doesn't seem like we're doing them much of an educational justice :-(
Sandra,
ReplyDeleteI'm so jealous of you! I'm currently seeking for a teaching job (I think it's too late in the year though). I can only imagine the difference that you have experienced with having all of the technology resources available to you to having nothing. It's true what you say about county schools having little to no technology resources available (I remember my internship school having 4 computers-always crashed and a projector). I can only hope I'm as lucky as you and end up in a charter school with all the resources at my feet.
Sandra, It is so wonderful to read a blog about someone who seems to have been inspired not only by the passion to teach, but by the environment they work in as well. I left the public school system five years ago. It breaks my heart to hear about teachers buying copy machines for their classrooms because they are only allotted 30 copies per month from their district. How wonderful to have the resources you do and being empowered to DO YOUR JOB! What wonderful opportunities are there for you and your students! YEAH!
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