DOUBLE HOOKS IS BACK!
My adventures begin once again with the NYCTF as I am about to finish my application for the 2011 Cohort. To my old and new friends I have looked death in the face more times then I wish to admit. I have won. I look forward to going through the process once again with my health being 100%.
I will write about Jahra and the information provided later. I am hopeful that all of you are successful and are well. I must go now but this Blog will once again be active and all the rules I stated so many moons ago still apply. God Bless and let me know how you all are doing.
Cheers!
Monday, November 8, 2010
Tuesday, September 1, 2009
Until we meet on fiddlers green
Double Hooks
October 12, 1976 - September 1, 2009
The cavalrymen's poem is as follows:
Halfway down the trail to Hell,
In a shady meadow green
Are the Souls of all dead troopers camped,
Near a good old-time canteen.
And this eternal resting place
Is known as Fiddlers' Green.
Marching past, straight through to Hell
The Infantry are seen.
Accompanied by the Engineers,
Artillery and Marines,
For none but the shades of Cavalrymen
Dismount at Fiddlers' Green.
Though some go curving down the trail
To seek a warmer scene.
No trooper ever gets to Hell
Ere he's emptied his canteen.
And so rides back to drink again
With friends at Fiddlers' Green.
Beneath a saber keen,
Or in a roaring charge of fierce melee
You stop a bullet clean,
And the hostiles come to get your scalp,
Just empty your canteen,
And put your pistol to your head
And go to Fiddlers' Green.
Cheers
Jahra
Wednesday, July 1, 2009
IT ALL HAPPENS FOR A REASON
How often have you heard that phrase in life? For me... Countless times...The scenarios in which we hear this phrase are never good and the last time I heard these words was no different.
I was diagnosed with cancer shortly after my last posting .
The last month and a half has been an adventure in the exploration of mortality, life, and all those emotions surrounding the moment you are told your survival is based upon a rate or mere percentage.
For medical reasons it was impossible for me to enter into the NYCTF 2009 cohort...
I equate the difficulty of informing the fellowship that I was no longer a fellow with the feelings I had when writing the families of the soldiers under my command after their loved ones had been killed on the battlefields of Iraq.
I will not go into great detail (right now) into the surgeries and treatments I have been enduring during the past weeks but I assure you that life has not been pain free.
I am hopeful that all of my former fellow fellows are finding success during their pre service training...I am sure that the hours are long and the work difficult (and at times tedious). Keep moving forward...Keep energy levels high...Keep your eyes on the prize.
I am not sure as to the status of the hiring freeze and if it is not lifted I am hopeful that it soon will be. You all have sacrificed too much to be shafted.
Know that I am one of your biggest cheerleaders and while I cannot join you now....God willing...I will be right there with you in a mere 365 days.
I plan to continue this blog at such a time as I am strong enough to proffer intelligent thought in a format greater than bullet points....until then my friends..................
CHEERS!
I was diagnosed with cancer shortly after my last posting .
The last month and a half has been an adventure in the exploration of mortality, life, and all those emotions surrounding the moment you are told your survival is based upon a rate or mere percentage.
For medical reasons it was impossible for me to enter into the NYCTF 2009 cohort...
I equate the difficulty of informing the fellowship that I was no longer a fellow with the feelings I had when writing the families of the soldiers under my command after their loved ones had been killed on the battlefields of Iraq.
I will not go into great detail (right now) into the surgeries and treatments I have been enduring during the past weeks but I assure you that life has not been pain free.
I am hopeful that all of my former fellow fellows are finding success during their pre service training...I am sure that the hours are long and the work difficult (and at times tedious). Keep moving forward...Keep energy levels high...Keep your eyes on the prize.
I am not sure as to the status of the hiring freeze and if it is not lifted I am hopeful that it soon will be. You all have sacrificed too much to be shafted.
Know that I am one of your biggest cheerleaders and while I cannot join you now....God willing...I will be right there with you in a mere 365 days.
I plan to continue this blog at such a time as I am strong enough to proffer intelligent thought in a format greater than bullet points....until then my friends..................
CHEERS!
Thursday, May 14, 2009
Logic...Double Hooks Style!
I would like to thank thirdgenerationteacher.com and Mystery "M" for their groovy comments. You both give me some rather great points to ponder. One day in the future I hope to buy each of you a round at some local watering hole.
I am very thankful that people can critique without making personal attacks. I believe critiques help me become a better person and ultimately a better teacher. My positions on the observation program and assumptions on turnover rates have recently been challenged by a friend from cohort 17.
My fellow fellow stated that :
"The point (of the observation program)was to see effective schools with good special education programs. You can't replicate what you've never seen."
+ I added the parenthesis for clarification +
I would like to say that I did see very good schools with very good programs during the observation. The fellows and administrators in each of the schools worked very hard to assure an excellent experience. It was truly a job well done. I take nothing away from their efforts.
The logic behind my thoughts focuses on the results of the experience.
Based on the observation I could (though I do not) come away with the belief that all students are well behaved, hard working, and really want to be in class. Likewise, I could come away with the feeling that all educators are high speed and low drag.
Now fast forward a new fellow's first day of class in a High Needs classified school. You have a recipe for disaster when one takes previously instilled faulty beliefs and coalesce them with the realities of many High Needs schools.
Observing and Teaching during summer school is no substitute from observing the proverbial real deal.
Additionally, I have no desire to replicate a doggone thing when I enter the classroom. Will I take advice and adopt good practices from my colleagues. You Bet! But, everything has to go through the Double Hooks filter and become something specifically mine.
To say that I should replicate what I saw during the observation is to say there is a one size fits all approach to teaching every single Special Education student population. I do not ascribe to such a belief.
In all honesty I do not really think my friend in cohort 17 ascribes to such a belief either. I am most likely looking too deeply into cohort 17's words...If I am...Sorry...I am always the first to admit when I make an error.
My friend from cohort 17 went on to say:
"I also don't know why you speculate that people will drop so quickly. As for the bad schools, which one's have you visited?"
Laws of averages and to a certain extent Darwinian philosophy leads me to an assumption that there will indeed be people who will quit the program (for whatever reason) in late September into early October. I believe an immediate turnover of 1.5% is conservative.
I know that I could inquire the actual rates from the NYCTF or file a Freedom of Information request...However, I am fairly certain that I am in the ball park.
I think those folks in the 1.5% should be scared off before day one...I think a week long observation *during the academic year* in some of the Highest Needs Schools in the city would naturally weed out the dead weight and save valuable financial resources.
Let us do some math based on a 1000 person cohort:
1.5% = 15 folks
summer stipend @ $2500 per person
$37,500
Pace University Tuition: 12 total credits @ $763 per credit (includes 2 summer and 2 fall classes)
$137,340
1.5 months of salary on a 10 month period based on $45,000
$101,250
My estimated total spent on folks who will leave by mid October
$276,090
I think the value is really closer to $300,000. A huge waste of limited resources.
Turnover is indeed a natural part of a program like the NYCTF... The goal should be to minimize turnover by making sure that only the truly dedicated are admitted to the big dance.
As to what schools I have had contact with in the past days and weeks....I will tell you at the watering hole with some adult alcoholic beverages in hand!
Cheers
I am very thankful that people can critique without making personal attacks. I believe critiques help me become a better person and ultimately a better teacher. My positions on the observation program and assumptions on turnover rates have recently been challenged by a friend from cohort 17.
My fellow fellow stated that :
"The point (of the observation program)was to see effective schools with good special education programs. You can't replicate what you've never seen."
+ I added the parenthesis for clarification +
I would like to say that I did see very good schools with very good programs during the observation. The fellows and administrators in each of the schools worked very hard to assure an excellent experience. It was truly a job well done. I take nothing away from their efforts.
The logic behind my thoughts focuses on the results of the experience.
Based on the observation I could (though I do not) come away with the belief that all students are well behaved, hard working, and really want to be in class. Likewise, I could come away with the feeling that all educators are high speed and low drag.
Now fast forward a new fellow's first day of class in a High Needs classified school. You have a recipe for disaster when one takes previously instilled faulty beliefs and coalesce them with the realities of many High Needs schools.
Observing and Teaching during summer school is no substitute from observing the proverbial real deal.
Additionally, I have no desire to replicate a doggone thing when I enter the classroom. Will I take advice and adopt good practices from my colleagues. You Bet! But, everything has to go through the Double Hooks filter and become something specifically mine.
To say that I should replicate what I saw during the observation is to say there is a one size fits all approach to teaching every single Special Education student population. I do not ascribe to such a belief.
In all honesty I do not really think my friend in cohort 17 ascribes to such a belief either. I am most likely looking too deeply into cohort 17's words...If I am...Sorry...I am always the first to admit when I make an error.
My friend from cohort 17 went on to say:
"I also don't know why you speculate that people will drop so quickly. As for the bad schools, which one's have you visited?"
Laws of averages and to a certain extent Darwinian philosophy leads me to an assumption that there will indeed be people who will quit the program (for whatever reason) in late September into early October. I believe an immediate turnover of 1.5% is conservative.
I know that I could inquire the actual rates from the NYCTF or file a Freedom of Information request...However, I am fairly certain that I am in the ball park.
I think those folks in the 1.5% should be scared off before day one...I think a week long observation *during the academic year* in some of the Highest Needs Schools in the city would naturally weed out the dead weight and save valuable financial resources.
Let us do some math based on a 1000 person cohort:
1.5% = 15 folks
summer stipend @ $2500 per person
$37,500
Pace University Tuition: 12 total credits @ $763 per credit (includes 2 summer and 2 fall classes)
$137,340
1.5 months of salary on a 10 month period based on $45,000
$101,250
My estimated total spent on folks who will leave by mid October
$276,090
I think the value is really closer to $300,000. A huge waste of limited resources.
Turnover is indeed a natural part of a program like the NYCTF... The goal should be to minimize turnover by making sure that only the truly dedicated are admitted to the big dance.
As to what schools I have had contact with in the past days and weeks....I will tell you at the watering hole with some adult alcoholic beverages in hand!
Cheers
Tuesday, May 12, 2009
IT'S 10PM...Do You know where your jobs are?
Hey folks it has been a few days since last we spoke and much has happened.
To start... All of the interviews I had set up have now been canceled with no alternative dates established...A big thank you goes out to Joel Klein for his leadership and vision to have some of the most piss poor teachers in creation come out of the reserve pool and into positions that could go to people that actually want to teach. I know that not all 1100 folks in the pool are poor educators and those that are worthy should be placed first and foremost.
Prior to the decision by my buddy Joel, I interviewed at 4 of the most difficult schools in New York. 2 schools offered a position on the spot. All offers were rescinded after the announcement by the chancellor.
I fear that we will all be waiting to INTERVIEW until after labor day. Thus not having regular employment until after October 1st. I hope I am wrong.
I am not a big political guy but...Where the heck is the one trillion...That is $1,000,000,000,000 the President printed up to get out economy going? I guess the largest educational system in the nation does not merit any financial support...I am beginning to think the change I believed in is turning into change I can fear in.
Enough with politics...I generally hate the mere mention of the word.
The observations set up by the NYCTF were both a sham and a disservice to the people who participated.
NYCTF sent the approx 70 folks in the observation to model schools with ideal examples of the Special Education Program. There was nothing "high needs" about the schools that 90% of the participants were sent to and as I said during an after meeting...If I were offered a job by any of the schools I visited during the observation, the NYCTF would be giving me the speech about how we need to be working in high needs schools.
I think that there are some folks out there that have no idea about the kinds of schools that we are expected to work in and the populations we are to serve...The candy coated observation program was in no way the reality we face.
I told the NYCTF staff that people really need to see the reality not the fluff...I think some folks would be scared off by reality...Which is fine with me... Some folks need a reality check. I think the person who will be quitting in late September or October when faced with the reality of teaching in High Needs schools wastes the limited resources of the city and takes up valuable space in the University they attend.
Drop the dead weight early NYCTF and make space for the folks who really want to fulfill the goals of the fellowship.
I am not happy about the current lack of opportunity I face as I go forward in the NYCTF...I feel as if I have wasted many many man hours making contact with schools and setting up interviews.
I cannot say that I feel that the job situation will be vastly improving anytime in the near future.
I really feel for my colleagues that are moving to New York from all over and their prospects for employment are zero at the present time.
I am glad that my license to practice law is and will continue to stay current.
Cheers
To start... All of the interviews I had set up have now been canceled with no alternative dates established...A big thank you goes out to Joel Klein for his leadership and vision to have some of the most piss poor teachers in creation come out of the reserve pool and into positions that could go to people that actually want to teach. I know that not all 1100 folks in the pool are poor educators and those that are worthy should be placed first and foremost.
Prior to the decision by my buddy Joel, I interviewed at 4 of the most difficult schools in New York. 2 schools offered a position on the spot. All offers were rescinded after the announcement by the chancellor.
I fear that we will all be waiting to INTERVIEW until after labor day. Thus not having regular employment until after October 1st. I hope I am wrong.
I am not a big political guy but...Where the heck is the one trillion...That is $1,000,000,000,000 the President printed up to get out economy going? I guess the largest educational system in the nation does not merit any financial support...I am beginning to think the change I believed in is turning into change I can fear in.
Enough with politics...I generally hate the mere mention of the word.
The observations set up by the NYCTF were both a sham and a disservice to the people who participated.
NYCTF sent the approx 70 folks in the observation to model schools with ideal examples of the Special Education Program. There was nothing "high needs" about the schools that 90% of the participants were sent to and as I said during an after meeting...If I were offered a job by any of the schools I visited during the observation, the NYCTF would be giving me the speech about how we need to be working in high needs schools.
I think that there are some folks out there that have no idea about the kinds of schools that we are expected to work in and the populations we are to serve...The candy coated observation program was in no way the reality we face.
I told the NYCTF staff that people really need to see the reality not the fluff...I think some folks would be scared off by reality...Which is fine with me... Some folks need a reality check. I think the person who will be quitting in late September or October when faced with the reality of teaching in High Needs schools wastes the limited resources of the city and takes up valuable space in the University they attend.
Drop the dead weight early NYCTF and make space for the folks who really want to fulfill the goals of the fellowship.
I am not happy about the current lack of opportunity I face as I go forward in the NYCTF...I feel as if I have wasted many many man hours making contact with schools and setting up interviews.
I cannot say that I feel that the job situation will be vastly improving anytime in the near future.
I really feel for my colleagues that are moving to New York from all over and their prospects for employment are zero at the present time.
I am glad that my license to practice law is and will continue to stay current.
Cheers
Monday, May 4, 2009
April showers bring May...Interviews
I have spent the last week completing my remaining tasks at my former law firm... My final billable hour has been logged and I am going to enjoy the roughly 45 day break until the commencement of the fellows program. I look at this time as the calm before the proverbial storm. The hurricane flags will be raised soon my friends so be ready.
My proactive approach to the job search has yielded rather positive results. I have been able to secure 15 interviews throughout the city before June 15th. To say that I am pleasantly surprised is an understatement. I was thinking that I may only secure maybe 2 or 3 interviews before June. I am not saying that I would expect an offer of employment on the spot but, I am glad that I am afforded the opportunity to potentially have a choice of schools. I am a rather huge proponent of choice and selection.
I believe that a good fit between candidate and school is of tremendous importance. Professional development is tremendously curtailed when you are not happy in your situation. Nobody wins when you go to work and dread or despise the very environment you are supposed to love.
I have completed the Special Education online course and the previous comments I have made on the subject remain my
position....It was full of great information. It was poorly written (in a technical sense) and the overt passive nature of the writing made reading and following the author(s) a painful experience.
The multiple choice questions were appropriate for the format but, I could have done without the essays. Essays like the ones compelled during the course have their place. That place is not on an impersonal online course. My gut tells me that we will all be writing similar if not identical writings throughout the summer. Redundant work is a waste of everybody's time and energy. In my opinion, redundancy of tasks (in our particular situation) do not foster learning but creates frustration and anger.
The web seminar was alright. For the most part it was a rehash of information easily obtained on the NYCTF web site and in the Special Education Online Course. The main benefit came from an explanation of forms that will be required to be filled out during the course of the observation.
This week I have one interview and will be participating in the Special Education observation program. I will take some time to digest the entire program so I figure my next post will be on Friday May 8th.
Until next time my friends be well and start making contacts with schools. Be the lead dog and not a follower!
Cheers
My proactive approach to the job search has yielded rather positive results. I have been able to secure 15 interviews throughout the city before June 15th. To say that I am pleasantly surprised is an understatement. I was thinking that I may only secure maybe 2 or 3 interviews before June. I am not saying that I would expect an offer of employment on the spot but, I am glad that I am afforded the opportunity to potentially have a choice of schools. I am a rather huge proponent of choice and selection.
I believe that a good fit between candidate and school is of tremendous importance. Professional development is tremendously curtailed when you are not happy in your situation. Nobody wins when you go to work and dread or despise the very environment you are supposed to love.
I have completed the Special Education online course and the previous comments I have made on the subject remain my
position....It was full of great information. It was poorly written (in a technical sense) and the overt passive nature of the writing made reading and following the author(s) a painful experience.
The multiple choice questions were appropriate for the format but, I could have done without the essays. Essays like the ones compelled during the course have their place. That place is not on an impersonal online course. My gut tells me that we will all be writing similar if not identical writings throughout the summer. Redundant work is a waste of everybody's time and energy. In my opinion, redundancy of tasks (in our particular situation) do not foster learning but creates frustration and anger.
The web seminar was alright. For the most part it was a rehash of information easily obtained on the NYCTF web site and in the Special Education Online Course. The main benefit came from an explanation of forms that will be required to be filled out during the course of the observation.
This week I have one interview and will be participating in the Special Education observation program. I will take some time to digest the entire program so I figure my next post will be on Friday May 8th.
Until next time my friends be well and start making contacts with schools. Be the lead dog and not a follower!
Cheers
Monday, April 27, 2009
The Special Education Online Course.
Those that know me well would define me as a hard worker and one who suffers from chronic happiness. Absent my feelings towards my current employment , I would have to say that I live up to that definition. Or maybe I should say that I try to live up to that definition.
A friend of mine who has read through my posts called me today. Amy seemed displeased to say the least. She asked me when I became so negative and cynical...I was perplexed to say the least. I had no idea where this statement was coming from.
She said that the general tenor of my posts were somewhat negative...I had to stop, think, and reread...It is a true rarity to have Double Hooks and negativity in the same sentence. I wanted to know the basis for this observation made by a dear friend.
I conclude that Amy had mistook passion for negativity. Though I can see how someone can misinterpret some of my words as negative. I assure you that there has not been nor will there ever be implied or expressed negativity or ill will in my words.
I believe that I am part of a cause greater that myself. That cause being the NYCTF. Like it or not we are all representatives of the NYCTF program and failure is not an option. I have pledged 110% of my efforts to become a success in this program and in the classroom come September. While I will never be perfect, I can strive for perfection. Is it wrong to wish the same for program management and my fellow fellows?
The beach was great on Sunday...91 degrees and perfect...That was yesterday...Today was The Special Education online course...Chapters One and Two.
What I enjoyed about the chapters:
I liked the K-W-L Chart on Special Education. Admittedly it is a cheesy chart but, I think it was a good base point for the progression of the reading.
The history section and use of US case law (Brown v. Board) was informative. It gave a good background of where we have been, where we are now, and where we are going as it relates to education.
The Special education today section focused on the Federal Statutes. Remember that just like in the legal world, the Statutes will be your bible...Respect your IDEA...Pay close attention to all statutes. The section was a good mix of statues and practical information.
LRE was informative and I enjoyed the use of the perspective scenarios.
The breakdown of the 13 identified disability categories gave good background information. I liked the technical definitions of the categories. The definitions allowed for a better understanding of the categories.
What I did not care for:
The writing structure was very very poor. I did not know whether I was supposed to read the pages or bust out my red pen and mark up my computer screen. The passive sentence structure of the entire chapter made the reading very tedious.
I cannot stand contractions in professional writings. My jaw dropped when I saw them throughout the online course.
I would have like to see hyperlinks to ALL of the cited materials. I wanted to see where the NYCTF's research material originated.
Overall I would give chapters 1 and 2 a solid B...Great information but, the writing style was too distracting.
I will continue with the next chapter tomorrow...Until next time.
Cheers!
A friend of mine who has read through my posts called me today. Amy seemed displeased to say the least. She asked me when I became so negative and cynical...I was perplexed to say the least. I had no idea where this statement was coming from.
She said that the general tenor of my posts were somewhat negative...I had to stop, think, and reread...It is a true rarity to have Double Hooks and negativity in the same sentence. I wanted to know the basis for this observation made by a dear friend.
I conclude that Amy had mistook passion for negativity. Though I can see how someone can misinterpret some of my words as negative. I assure you that there has not been nor will there ever be implied or expressed negativity or ill will in my words.
I believe that I am part of a cause greater that myself. That cause being the NYCTF. Like it or not we are all representatives of the NYCTF program and failure is not an option. I have pledged 110% of my efforts to become a success in this program and in the classroom come September. While I will never be perfect, I can strive for perfection. Is it wrong to wish the same for program management and my fellow fellows?
The beach was great on Sunday...91 degrees and perfect...That was yesterday...Today was The Special Education online course...Chapters One and Two.
What I enjoyed about the chapters:
I liked the K-W-L Chart on Special Education. Admittedly it is a cheesy chart but, I think it was a good base point for the progression of the reading.
The history section and use of US case law (Brown v. Board) was informative. It gave a good background of where we have been, where we are now, and where we are going as it relates to education.
The Special education today section focused on the Federal Statutes. Remember that just like in the legal world, the Statutes will be your bible...Respect your IDEA...Pay close attention to all statutes. The section was a good mix of statues and practical information.
LRE was informative and I enjoyed the use of the perspective scenarios.
The breakdown of the 13 identified disability categories gave good background information. I liked the technical definitions of the categories. The definitions allowed for a better understanding of the categories.
What I did not care for:
The writing structure was very very poor. I did not know whether I was supposed to read the pages or bust out my red pen and mark up my computer screen. The passive sentence structure of the entire chapter made the reading very tedious.
I cannot stand contractions in professional writings. My jaw dropped when I saw them throughout the online course.
I would have like to see hyperlinks to ALL of the cited materials. I wanted to see where the NYCTF's research material originated.
Overall I would give chapters 1 and 2 a solid B...Great information but, the writing style was too distracting.
I will continue with the next chapter tomorrow...Until next time.
Cheers!
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