[etni] more about HOTS
- From: "R. Borenstein" <rachcb1@xxxxxxxxx>
- To: <etni@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
- Date: Sun, 26 Feb 2012 15:03:14 +0200
I've been following the comments on HOTS, for and against, and two features
stand out. Those who have a highly motivated 5 point class tend to enjoy the
program more than others. Those who teach weak 4 pointers are less
optimistic. I also noticed something else, which is also related to where
one teaches. Those, like me, who teach in an Ulpana, feel that it's
impossible to cover everything, especially with four pointers, but I'm sure
it's not just us. I wrote an entire breakdown of how hard it is to cover the
material when the projects were introduced, taking the long school days and
number of cancelled classes into account. Not only have things not changed
for the better, they've gotten worse.
I currently teach a twelfth grade 3-4 point class(and even though they can't
be together once HOTS come into play, that doesn't mean the school has the
budget to divide them. 3 pointers will be forced to be 4 pointers). It's a
small class, only 13 girls: All but two have hakraat sheelon or shichtuv,
one has her entire test read to her ('vocally'). At least 4 have ADHD. I
haven't seen 70% of my class since the winter bagrut and have no clue how
they expect to get a tziun magen for the final module, let alone pass.
Covering two short stories with them last year and one play with them this
year was hard enough when I tried to fit each one in, the "old fashioned
way", within a week and a half or less. The HOTS program says students have
to make up the work they've missed - for girls who are barely in school
because of multiple days off looking for sherut leumi or undergoing army
tests, planning for Chodesh Adar followed by bagrut exams, and NO
MOTIVATION.when should they make it up? Do they even care? Are the seven
components going to bring them begging for English class? Gone are the
discussions in English on current events, and other "fun" material with no
strings attached. There's no time.
In the last few days, I've been sitting on a UP for Thank You, Ma'm for LD
students for a hishtalmut (why, oh why, do LD students who struggle with
English, have two short stories with Ebonics?????). Literature, listening
comprehension, unseens, vocabulary, a project and all the key components for
every piece of literature.WHEN????? Did I mention I teach another 135
students per week, with everything that entails? I've already cut back to
teaching part time in the MOE b/c the amount of work was literally
detrimental to my health. Working out of the system is keeping me going,
which is very sad, indeed. Once I have to work on HOTS on a regular basis,
especially in multiple classes, I don't see myself lasting too much longer.
Now that's a lesson in Cause and Effect!
Rachelle
Other related posts:
- » [etni] more about HOTS - R. Borenstein
