Real time notes: Chalk

-Mockumentary (parody of documentary)

Looking back at the teachers he had, he wouldn’t be who he is today. The impact teachers had were life-changing for him

50% of teachers quit w/in first 3 years of teaching

Mr. Stroope: 3^rd year teaching  history, he is very funny, asks his students about what they did over the summer. Engages his students, tells his students to not know so much and to use words everyone will understand. Keeps students who have issues after school to talk to them about issues that they might outside of school. Voted as one of the teacher of the year. Feels that he is lame for losing teacher of the year.

Coach Webb: 2^nd year gym teacher, depend so much on other people to help with your job, administration is a big part of that. Her best friend is the assistant principal. Might like Mr. Lowrey. Feels that Mrs. Reddell is not cut out to be the assistant teacher. Complains to Mrs. Reddell and she gets really angry about the conversation. Learned that she should be encouraging instead of being harsh on other teachers.

One teacher (Mr. Lowrey, 1^st year history teacher) has his students repeating what is on the board, asks them what history means to them? What is culture mean? Seems very boring. “How long have you been a teacher?” Came from computer engineering, first day of teaching. Struggling teacher, went to the library to get book on classroom management. Using humor to engage his students. Teaching takes up all of his time, no time in his personal life to be dating. Went to student’s house that he kicked out, to talk to his mother. Won the spelling hornet (spelling of slang terms). Made a connection with the kids from having them help him train for the spelling bee. Not sure if he wants to come back for a 2^nd year, hard first year for him. Teaching is a gift, you can learn, but “no one has taught me”.

Mrs. Reddell: 1^st assistant principal. Works very hard, comes home at 10:30 p.m. She deals with teachers complaining about their colleagues. Held accountable #1 is at home.

Mrs. Campbell, comes by to check on Mr. Stroope. He needs to work on organization, less sarcasm, lesson plans due the Friday before the week you teach them.

Tardy policy: One teacher doesn’t follow policy

Teacher of the year debate: Mrs. Townsend and Mr. Stroope. Mr. Stroope did not get teacher of the year award, his mood is affected and does not have same energy he did. He is really angry that he lost.

Seems like teachers who are in their first year of teaching don’t have much support as far as Mr. Lowrey saying at the end of the movie, “teaching is a gift, you can learn but no one has taught me.” I think it is tough for first year teachers and there should be something that they need to go through in order to prepare them to teach their own classroom. This movie reminded me of some of the teachers that I had throughout my K-12 years and it takes a lot to become a teacher that really stands out from the rest. I thought Mr. Stroope was an interesting character and found that it was encouraging (to some degree) that he kept his students after class to talk to them about issues that they might be having that is hindering their performance in class. I didn’t think it was encouraging when he told two of his students to tone down ‘being smart’ and using words that he couldn’t understand. This movie was from the stand point of teachers and it seems true that teachers work long hours. Mrs. Reddell usually did not get home until about 10:30 pm on some days and that was how it worked out. They never have a set schedule and  proved to be true when Mr. Lowrey said, “teaching takes up all of my time”, he doesn’t have time to date and to do other things in his personal life.