On the Reservation
Jessica Shyu was a special education teacher at an elementary and middle school on the Navajo Nation in New Mexico. Once a journalism student from the Washington, D.C., area, she traded the Beltway for the sprawling mesas of the Southwest. In this opinion blog, Jessica chronicled the good, the bad, and the occasionally amusing of being a young teacher at an underresourced school in a rural community. This blog is no longer being updated.
Education
Opinion
You're invited: Field Trip on Thursday
Dear parents and guardians (and readers),
The C-Wing math class has been working very hard over the past year learning how to count money, make change and solve word problems in everyday situations. While these math skills are critical to improve on our IEP goals and school-wide assessments, they are critical for real-life situations.
The C-Wing math class has been working very hard over the past year learning how to count money, make change and solve word problems in everyday situations. While these math skills are critical to improve on our IEP goals and school-wide assessments, they are critical for real-life situations.
Education
Opinion
Test, test, test, test, test, test
I am so tired. It isn't even dark yet, and I'm already slouched over my laptop in bed, ready to call it a night. Is it because I have been pulling late nights constructing award-winning unit plans? Is it because I have been toiling long hours at school to develop high-interest, multi-sensory centers that touch on all of the multiple intelligences? Not even. I haven't taught jack yet this week and won't be providing services until next.
Education
Opinion
Confessions of a Former 13-Year-Old
As a middle school teacher, I spend an inordinate amount of time trying to recall life at 13.
Education
Opinion
Bringing the East back to the West
I shop at Safeway, I pump Chevron gas and I can still order a No. 2 McDonald's breakfast whenever I want.
Education
Opinion
Working Overtime
Today was definitely a four-letter word morning. I woke up 28 minutes before I had to be at work. It's a 35 minute drive from Gallup to my school. I still needed to shower. And I had playground duty. (Luckily teachers have to arrive half an hour before school begins.)
Education
Opinion
Responses to Comments
More confessions:
My assistant and I eat 90 percent of the candy folks send to our students.
My assistant and I eat 90 percent of the candy folks send to our students.
Education
Opinion
Bribery: Confessions of a middle school teacher
I lie. I cheat. And yeah, I steal.
At least when it comes to my students.
At least when it comes to my students.
Education
Opinion
Are slumps normal?
Are slumps normal?
I care about my students, I’m dedicated to my job and I think I’m somewhat competent at what I do. But as the days drag on, as the slush turns to ice, then back to slush again, I’m beginning to sense a loss of energy and enthusiasm.
I care about my students, I’m dedicated to my job and I think I’m somewhat competent at what I do. But as the days drag on, as the slush turns to ice, then back to slush again, I’m beginning to sense a loss of energy and enthusiasm.
Education
Opinion
Kids say the kindest things
You can’t buy sympathy, my mother always said, and it’s probably the hardest thing to teach. My mother, a nurse, would say this proudly as my brother and I would bring home lackluster grades, but would wheel the grandmas and grandpas around the halls of the nursing home after school as we waited for her to finish her shift. Our grades weren’t stellar, but at least we were quick to hug the elderly folks with dementia and even faster to call out BINGO numbers during afternoon games.
Education
Opinion
Public Education v. Baby Einstein
Don't get me wrong. I like Baby Einstein. The way my boyfriend's baby nephews gaze at the TV screen when those farm animals bobble about to Old McDonald mesmerizes me. And early childhood educational programming is a lucrative industry I wouldn't mind tapping into one of these days.
Education
Opinion
A real cowboy
I had a blog entry ready from a couple months ago about one of my students with mental retardation and physical disabilities. This is how it was going to start: