This is an update on Jen Sparano who is in New Jersey and very quiet. Her story over these past five years makes me remember that I have a heart, because when I read what she has written here, usually on the Forum, over the years my heart wants to go out to her and try to help make things better but I can’t – nobody can – and here is why:
Ben,
It has been awhile. I lurk on the forum. The last I wrote to you, it was to ask for advice to have a meeting with my principal regarding the CI/TPRS method. I was just pulled into his office and told unequivocally, I “may NOT use TPRS”. Those were the exact words. My colleague and I who both use CI in the classrooms are now being blamed for the low numbers of kids going into honors classes and there is such separation in our department (which I agree that there is) that WE are being blamed. I just nodded my head and said I didn’t feel there was anything wrong with speaking Spanish to my students and having them read a lot of Spanish. I said I also taught grammar but just not in the same way as my traditional colleagues. And I agreed that the kids may feel confused by having one or two years of CI when all the rest of their language classes before and after me are traditional. I said if our whole department taught with this methodology, we would see numbers go through the roof, to which my principal replied “But we don’t.”
So that’s that, Ben.
What you’re sensing is the frustration that I feel now knowing I must teach straight from a textbook next year. Kids have to have the books in front of them. At any given time, if I’m observed, I am to be working with the textbook. This principal does not mince words and does not listen to alternate suggestions. And I’ve already signed a contract for the coming year plus I need a job….