Teacher Venting!

[Daxx]

I'm a Kdg. teacher. I love my job, love my students but have to vent about one thing. On Fri., we have to go to this day-long conference. While I don't mind attending conferences, esp. if they pertain to and suit my teaching needs, this one is irking me. We were asked to pick lectures that we'd be interested in attending. Unfortunately, most of the lectures were geared to upper level students. I managed to find 6 lectures that somewhat suited my needs/curriculum/etc. **Keep in mind, they offered about 30 lecture topics and we had to sign up for 6 lectures. Of those 6 lectures, they would assign us 4 of the 6 lectures we chose.**

So, find out today that I did not get a single one of my requested lectures ... and nobody else in my school got any of the lectures they requested, either. For crying out loud -- there are about 5 schools attending and it's not this huuuge thing to begin with. They're offering something like 30 lectures and I can't manage to get into one that I've requested!?

I now have to sit through 4 lectures which do not pertain to anything I teach or do in my classroom. My lectures include Math Applications for 7 & 8 grades, Writing Techniques for Essays and Reports, Administering NY State Standardized Tests and something else that I can't recall the title of but know it is useless to me. I do not teach 7th & 8th grade math, do not need to administer NY State tests, and we certainly don't write essays or reports in Kdg.! In all honesty, I can't imagine what I will be able to take from these lectures that I can apply to my class/students/curriculum.

I would prefer to be in my classroom teaching my students. I feel my time would be better spent educating my students than attending lectures that I will draw very little or nothing from. It's not that I want the day off to myself -- I just think my time would be better spent in the classroom.

Thanks for letting me vent. I am going into this w/an open mind, hoping to draw something out of each of the lectures that I can apply in my classroom ... but I have a feeling it'll be a big snooze-fest.

 

[daisyduck123]

Sorry you're stuck with this. This has happened to me before. I'd much rather be in the classroom than having to make sub. plans due to irrelevant workshops. What my teammates & I do (if we can't take the day off) is bring other things to do while we sit there...like working in our plan books, grading papers, etc.
We usually though, are able to get into workshops that have some relevancy to our grade level.

 

[Kitty 34]

I'm a long term sub (for 7th grade Language Arts) who has been requested to go to an all day conference that has to do with changing their curriculum for NEXT year. I would much rather be in class.

 

[Boston Tea Party]

Sit in the back and work on lesson plans.

 

[Sonya]

I feel your pain. As a teacher who teaches foreign language I often have to sit though "How to teach 9th grade math" and "How to improve standardized testing scores in English". I ususally bring paper to take "notes" on and make lists of what I need to do for my classes and planning for my next Disney trip.

 

[leighe]

I totally understand! We do so much "professional development" around here that doesn't help me professionally develop at all! My time would be so much better spent with my students or working on lessons, in my room, etc. Can't education be frustrating!

 

[LoveBWVVBR]

What is the point of sending teachers to workshops that have no relevence to their work Does it have something to do with NCLB legislation or does it grant in-service credits or something? That seems really pointless.

I agree with bringing your planner or some papers to grade or something...at least make use of the time.