Comments for The Demanding Classroom http://thedemandingclassroom.com Sun, 07 Aug 2011 19:29:00 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v= Comment on Paraeducator Central: Our New Blog by Dee http://thedemandingclassroom.com/2011/02/paraeducator-central-our-new-blog/comment-page-1/#comment-3798 Dee Sun, 07 Aug 2011 19:29:00 +0000 http://thedemandingclassroom.com/?p=1218#comment-3798 This should be required readings for all individuals who engage in student learning. This should be required readings for all individuals who engage in student learning.

]]> Comment on Paraeducators Need to Speak for Ourselves by kathy http://thedemandingclassroom.com/2011/01/paraeducators-need-to-speak-for-ourselves/comment-page-1/#comment-3464 kathy Mon, 20 Jun 2011 19:03:30 +0000 http://thedemandingclassroom.com/?p=1192#comment-3464 I have a comic strip that addresses the issues that para's encounter in a humorous satirical manner. Are you interested in providing feed back? I have a comic strip that addresses the issues that para’s encounter in a humorous satirical manner. Are you interested in providing feed back?

]]> Comment on What Are 10 Things a Paraeducator Can Do To Help a Child? by readers1 http://thedemandingclassroom.com/2009/12/what-are-10-things-a-paraeducator-can-do-to-help-a-child/comment-page-1/#comment-3395 readers1 Wed, 15 Jun 2011 02:52:26 +0000 http://thedemandingclassroom.com/?p=702#comment-3395 Jeannie: Well, I'm a teacher, so I guess I will dare to venture a few thoughts here: 1) In most districts nowadays, paraprofessionals have instructional duties. They teach kids. This is why you see them leading small groups, tutoring, and performing other instructional tasks. 2) The classroom teacher is neither the superior nor supervisor of the classroom aide. It is the administrator of the school who determines the aide's duties, conducts performance reviews, etc. 3) I would hope that a classroom aide or other parapro would question a teacher's authority under some circumstances. I've seen aides question a gen. ed teacher's directive to give kids answers on benchmark exams, call out a teacher for providing incorrect information to students (my absolute favorite? "Captain Cook was looking for the Northwest Passage, but he couldn't find it, so that's why he built the Panama Canal") and refuse to impose behavioral consequences that made no sense. Teachers are neither infallible nor dictators. Paraprofessionals are neither servants nor slaves. They are our partners. 4) It is the height of arrogance to make stupid and demeaning pronouncements about paraprofessionals on a blog that promotes rigorous instruction and high standards, particularly when said comments contain the words "how dare you". One might assume that rather than lifting colleagues up, the speaker spreads misery and discord. 5) If you had bothered to learn anything about the author of the article, you'd have realized that he is a journalist and attorney who chose to retire from both to work with kids with autism and other learning challenges. He chose NOT to get his credential when he was a mere credit away, because he preferred the joys of working with individual students rather than a whole class. No need to apologize; Richard doesn't sweat the small people. <strong>Sara Finegan, M.Ed.</strong> Jeannie:
Well, I’m a teacher, so I guess I will dare to venture a few thoughts here:
1) In most districts nowadays, paraprofessionals have instructional duties. They teach kids. This is why you see them leading small groups, tutoring, and performing other instructional tasks.
2) The classroom teacher is neither the superior nor supervisor of the classroom aide. It is the administrator of the school who determines the aide’s duties, conducts performance reviews, etc.
3) I would hope that a classroom aide or other parapro would question a teacher’s authority under some circumstances. I’ve seen aides question a gen. ed teacher’s directive to give kids answers on benchmark exams, call out a teacher for providing incorrect information to students (my absolute favorite? “Captain Cook was looking for the Northwest Passage, but he couldn’t find it, so that’s why he built the Panama Canal”) and refuse to impose behavioral consequences that made no sense. Teachers are neither infallible nor dictators. Paraprofessionals are neither servants nor slaves. They are our partners.
4) It is the height of arrogance to make stupid and demeaning pronouncements about paraprofessionals on a blog that promotes rigorous instruction and high standards, particularly when said comments contain the words “how dare you”. One might assume that rather than lifting colleagues up, the speaker spreads misery and discord.
5) If you had bothered to learn anything about the author of the article, you’d have realized that he is a journalist and attorney who chose to retire from both to work with kids with autism and other learning challenges. He chose NOT to get his credential when he was a mere credit away, because he preferred the joys of working with individual students rather than a whole class. No need to apologize; Richard doesn’t sweat the small people.
Sara Finegan, M.Ed.

]]> Comment on What Are 10 Things a Paraeducator Can Do To Help a Child? by Richard Finegan http://thedemandingclassroom.com/2009/12/what-are-10-things-a-paraeducator-can-do-to-help-a-child/comment-page-1/#comment-3394 Richard Finegan Wed, 15 Jun 2011 02:37:50 +0000 http://thedemandingclassroom.com/?p=702#comment-3394 Jeannie, Jeannie, Jeannie: I do not work for any teacher. I work for the same school district they do. My obligation is not to keep the teacher happy. My obligation is to serve the kids just like their's is. If you want a personal assistant, get over it. That's not our job. <strong>Richard Finegan, Juris Doctor, Paraeducator</strong> Jeannie, Jeannie, Jeannie:
I do not work for any teacher. I work for the same school district they do. My obligation is not to keep the teacher happy. My obligation is to serve the kids just like their’s is. If you want a personal assistant, get over it. That’s not our job.
Richard Finegan, Juris Doctor, Paraeducator

]]> Comment on What Are 10 Things a Paraeducator Can Do To Help a Child? by Jeannie http://thedemandingclassroom.com/2009/12/what-are-10-things-a-paraeducator-can-do-to-help-a-child/comment-page-1/#comment-3371 Jeannie Tue, 14 Jun 2011 03:47:22 +0000 http://thedemandingclassroom.com/?p=702#comment-3371 I like your tips, but let me be very clear---You are an AIDE. If you want to be a teacher, get your credential. You do what the teacher asks you to do and YOU, as an aide do not have the right to question. Did I say it clearly enough. You are an assistant. You follow the teacher's lead. How dare you assume you have the right to question his or her authority. I like your tips, but let me be very clear—You are an AIDE. If you want to be a teacher, get your credential. You do what the teacher asks you to do and YOU, as an aide do not have the right to question. Did I say it clearly enough. You are an assistant. You follow the teacher’s lead. How dare you assume you have the right to question his or her authority.

]]> Comment on Paraeducator Central: Our New Blog by Lee http://thedemandingclassroom.com/2011/02/paraeducator-central-our-new-blog/comment-page-1/#comment-2223 Lee Wed, 20 Apr 2011 18:27:12 +0000 http://thedemandingclassroom.com/?p=1218#comment-2223 required study for staff development required study for staff development

]]> Comment on Contact Us by Nikki Mellin http://thedemandingclassroom.com/contact-us/comment-page-1/#comment-1293 Nikki Mellin Sat, 02 Apr 2011 08:29:00 +0000 http://thedemandingclassroom.com/?page_id=9#comment-1293 My kid was diagnosed with Asperger's syndrome plus ADHD. A doctor,The Psychologist advised he lacks social skills, and yet this does not make any sense in my opinion because in the event that he's with his grandparents including a few friends, heessentially performs really quite normal. Shouldn't this kind of shows that he actually does possess the social skills and for whatever reason does not utilize them in many other places for reasons unknown.. My kid was diagnosed with Asperger’s syndrome plus ADHD. A doctor,The Psychologist advised he lacks social skills, and yet this does not make any sense in my opinion because in the event that he’s with his grandparents including a few friends, heessentially performs really quite normal. Shouldn’t this kind of shows that he actually does possess the social skills and for whatever reason does not utilize them in many other places for reasons unknown..

]]> Comment on Paraeducators Need to Speak for Ourselves by Richard http://thedemandingclassroom.com/2011/01/paraeducators-need-to-speak-for-ourselves/comment-page-1/#comment-999 Richard Fri, 11 Feb 2011 12:31:07 +0000 http://thedemandingclassroom.com/?p=1192#comment-999 Okay Paraeducators! I started another blog just by, for, and about us: Paraeducator Central at www.paraeducatorcentral.com Check it out. Leave a comment. Send me a post. Let's get some discussion going! Richard Finegan Okay Paraeducators!

I started another blog just by, for, and about us: Paraeducator Central at http://www.paraeducatorcentral.com
Check it out. Leave a comment. Send me a post. Let’s get some discussion going!

Richard Finegan

]]> Comment on What Are 10 Things a Paraeducator Can Do To Help a Child? by Angela http://thedemandingclassroom.com/2009/12/what-are-10-things-a-paraeducator-can-do-to-help-a-child/comment-page-1/#comment-987 Angela Tue, 08 Feb 2011 16:59:16 +0000 http://thedemandingclassroom.com/?p=702#comment-987 This is so important to know. I have such a passion to help children succeed in life. Education is so very important. This is so important to know. I have such a passion to help children succeed in life. Education is so very important.

]]> Comment on Instructional Strategies: Direct, Explicit, Step-by-Step by Julie M. http://thedemandingclassroom.com/2010/12/instructional-strategies-direct-explicit-step-by-step/comment-page-1/#comment-875 Julie M. Wed, 19 Jan 2011 03:13:11 +0000 http://thedemandingclassroom.com/?p=1176#comment-875 Thanks for this post. It really made me think about how to strike that balance for students. I work with students presenting with language-based learning differences, and though I love the idea of project-based, or exploratory learning, it raises questions about how we can still provide our students with what they need. The reality, as you state so well in your post, is that there needs to be some explicit, systematic instruction for these students to be competitive with their peers. The tough part is figuring out how to incorporate it into the changes that are happening in education. And how to still build on these students' creative and collaborative skills. Thanks for this post. It really made me think about how to strike that balance for students. I work with students presenting with language-based learning differences, and though I love the idea of project-based, or exploratory learning, it raises questions about how we can still provide our students with what they need. The reality, as you state so well in your post, is that there needs to be some explicit, systematic instruction for these students to be competitive with their peers. The tough part is figuring out how to incorporate it into the changes that are happening in education. And how to still build on these students’ creative and collaborative skills.

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