Baltimore City schools just sent out an email stating that school will be closed through Friday. This just leaves me with the question of "what should I be doing?" I can only imagine how bad it'd be for the students.

oh, its wonderful. enjoy it.

personally, i'm baking and sewing and reading and NOT worrying about school. School stresses me out to the point that my doctor is concerned - trust me, i'm enjoying the snow!

We cannot control nature and safety must be the first concern. I am sure everyone including teachers, parents, and yes, even children are suffering from a bit of cabin fever. I hope that the children are spending some of their time reading and writing. The more you read and write, the better reader and writer you will be! As for MSA...you can't "cram" for this type of assessment. It measures growth over time. Let's hope all is back to normal soon. In the meantime, learning continues.

As soon as I found out Baltimore city was going to be out for the rest of the week I made use of the parent email list I had made at the beginning of the year. Hopefully, some students will take this time to work on those science fair projects I assigned. Otherwise, I'm enjoying the time off just as "City Teacher" is - baking, crocheting, and catching up on reading.

The way they handled the first round of snow, it'll be a miracle if there's school on Tuesday, especially considering they are now forecasting more snow on President's Day.

Two thoughts:

- The teachers probably need this break more than the students. We have had so many fights, altercations, etc. at my school that it's exhausting just to show up to work sometimes.

- There is no way that posting assignments online will make any difference, at least in the city. Many of our students do not have computers at home, or internet access for that matter. And if they did, do you REALLY think they would be logging into TS3 or anywhere else to look for work to do? They are going to be on MySpace and Facebook, and when they get back to school they'll just say they didn't know there was an assignment. Plus, if everyone doesn't have equal access, how can you hold them accountable for what you put online? It's just not fair.

I am having cabin fever but mostly because the snow removal issue is difficult for me. I am not worried about what the students are doing. When they come back, they will do just like they do after winter break--socialize like they haven't seen each other in months and still not do the work that needs to get done. I can only do so much to accept responsibility for what they need to do. So I am cleaning and cooking and enjoying my own children.

Well there is a rumor that the CEO is thinking about opening schools on Monday, yes Monday. I hope that he has taken the time to drive around these city streets where our children will be walking in the middle of to get back and forths to school. Anyone who thinks schools are ready need to get out of you cars and pick a neighborhood that has a school within a 6 to 10 block radius, and walk it the way our children will be walking it...in the streets. Most areas only shoveled from their front to the streets because there was so much snow and no where to put it. Please AAA, take a look around further down North Ave, Pennsylvania Ave, Edmondson Avenue, Hilton Avenue, Mulberry, Franklin, Frederick etc. These areas are still piled to the brim with snow and it is still hazardous for those children who walk to school.
Also, the same should be said for have Central Office opening tomorrow, too many of us use public transportation which is still not running in all areas, and we still need to get out of our neighborhoods to the bus stops to stand out in the street hoping a bus will come by and no one gets hit by a car that cannot see pass the mounds of snow on the corners. I will be the one deciding when it is safe for me and my child to venture out. My life and my child's life will always come first. Unless you plan on taking my child to school and me to work, it will not be happening tomorrow and not on Monday.

Technology really helps with this issue. My wife and I are both teachers and have utilized our websites to communicate with parents and students. We have posted assignments and special projects online that can be completed at home. I am hopeful that systems find a way around the 180 day requirement - it sounds great but in reality is a joke. We waste 10 full days of instruction administering MSA testsin the spring - when students aren't testing, they are usually watchng movies. We spend countless days bagging the "curriculum" in order to prepare students just for these tests by completeing practice assessments.

Private schools have already demonstrated its about quality and not quantity.

first year ap teacher here... posted notes, powerpoints, review sheets, study guides, etc etc... and still not sure that the kids will have it. our school's policy is that they know to check websites daily, so there's no excuse for not checking in... but who knows how they will come back.

lost what was supposed to be a HUGE crunch week too (two chapters in a week). so helpful.

meanwhile... how are schools sending students in tomorrow with most sidewalks not cleared and many roads still very limited (including bus routes). anyone drive in columbia lately? even 175 is a nightmare. walkers in the streets, bus-riders in the street too waiting. good luck.

Cabin fever? Absolutely not! This break is wonderful. I m not worried about the children one bit or what work has to be done. I am a very firm teacher and my students do not act up with me one bit. When they get back to school after this break they will be fine as they have always been after weekends, and the Christmas break. This is wonderful, I absolutely dread going back! I hope the same thing happens next Feb. honestly. Hopefully they will not take away Spring break. My fifth graders are fine.