I have not written on this blog for a year and a half because my world has been in chaos. I added a new link to my cousin's blog [https://caffeinatedrage.com/] for those interested in a blow by blow account of how North Carolina is dismantling public education at all levels.
My thoughts on this blog are more of a reflective nature and a bit more personal so read on if you're interested in a front line account of the changes in North Carolina education. My school shifted from a 7 class (August to June) model to the Block (4 classes per semester) model. Why? I do not get into local politics, but I'm sure at least some of the motivation was financial. On a block schedule I teach six classes a year as opposed to the five classes a year on the traditional schedule. There are arguments other than finances for the change, but whatever the motivation, the impact has been huge.
My biggest frustration has been the change in my AP Biology class. I was expected to teach 21 students to master two semesters of college level biology in 85 days. We had more time together in class on the block, but about 3 weeks less time than on the traditional model. I am just back from reading AP Biology exam essays and had many conversations with others whose students had twice the time in class as mine. The exam essays are scored based on a rubric, but the overall designation of scores 1 to 5 take into account overall student performance on each essay. How can my students compete? How can I help them be competitive? This has been my focus and my frustration.
What I really needed to be focused on was the evolution of scientific thought in my students. The AP curriculum revolves around students being able to analyze evidence for a claim (or hypothesis) ideally that they make themselves. According to the College Board, "This course requires that 25 percent of the instructional time will be
spent in hands-on laboratory work, with an emphasis on inquiry-based
investigations that provide students with opportunities to
apply the science practices."
So this summer as I reflect, I am discouraged and disturbed by the lack of support for education. The decision to make AP Biology (and ALL AP courses) a one semester class demonstrated the lack of understanding and respect for what students are asked to accomplish. I have felt pulled in two opposite directions all year. On the one hand I am asked to actively engage students and monitor their learning and then adjust my teaching based on the data I have about their comprehension. On the other hand, I am asked to cover as much as possible as quickly as possible and pay close attention to just the objectives that will be tested to maximize performance!
I've never worked so hard in my life - and neither have many of my students! I know technology is there to help me gather and analyze the data from student responses. I've used Kahoots, Plickers, Google Classroom, and Memrise to name just a few. The turn around time was brutal - collect the data in class on one day and apply that data to lessons the next day, but I did it. If you check my AP Biology website you'll see I posted daily resources for my students to supplement their textbook reading assignments. BUT - students need time to absorb, process and make information their own! I grouped students based on their understanding so that they could learn from each other. Some groups were mixed ability and others had similar abilities. I had hands-on activities and many of the labs the AP curriculum suggests. To really do the labs well meant several days of class time including pre-lab and post-lab analysis which slowed the pace of instruction, but increased student learning.
I feel good about the job I did with the limitations I had, but there's no guarantee I won't have to put everything else in my life on hold again for some new change in teaching schedule or curriculum. In fact, I don't even know what I'll be teaching next year! This is where the frustration hits me hardest. In a perfect world, all that hard work I just put into my job will be a seed I can build from....that's the way it is supposed to work. That is why veteran teachers are supposed to be so valuable. But we do not feel valued and there is little respect or appreciation for us in North Carolina anymore. Thanks for listening and remember to vote in November.
