Disclaimer: This is a personal perception based on my personal and working experiences with educators from these programs. Neither is better or worse than the other. Please also bear in mind that this is NOT a generalization. This is not an attempt to box the fellows of each program. No intention of offending anyone. NOTHING but a Gen X Teacher thinking-out-loud or writing-thoughts out.
On Classroom Design
DCTF: Usually traditional in nature. Preferred to be told what’s good for classroom poster, chair arrangement, etc. But if you see a good DCTF classroom— it’s going to WOW you!
TFA: Always colorful and organize. Most materials are handmade and handwritten. Even if they are told what’s good for classroom design, arrangement— most prefer to follow their graduate professors. (Well, you got to get the class credit!).
On Classroom Behavior Management
DCTF: Most of them are soooo patient. They keep following-up on concerns even though it seems no one pays attention. At times, this makes some of them think it’s personal and they have the tendency to become withdrawn to the school community.
TFA: Very assertive and thoughtful in planning rewards and consequences. But if things don’t work their way or no buy-in from school administrator, you’ll hear endless complaints. Never yielding and at times, too stubborn to re-think the approach.
On Building Relationship with Colleagues and Administrators
DCTF: Mostly shy and sometimes timid to a fault. They prefer to be approached before warming up.
TFA: They tend to mingle only with their co-fellows. Sometimes this is interpreted as being cliquish and exclusive.
On Instruction
DCTF: At the beginning, they tend to be transparent with their inadequacies in the classroom. Tend to be good in lesson planning but not in the delivery of the lesson.
TFA: Try to cover-up inadequacies by exuding an elite attitude. Tend to be good in lesson planning, delivery of lesson, PLUS assessment.
(Next: On Extracurricular Activities, On Creative Initiatives/Projects, On School Politics, On Communication, On Dedication to Education. To be continued…)
For more information about the programs click these links: DCTF (http://www.dcteachingfellows.org/) and TFA (http://www.teachforamerica.org/)
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
14 comments:
I am a DC Teaching Fellow and here is what I want to ask you: how many times have you, as a veteran teacher, approached a Teaching Fellow and offered your hand to help them? Personally I have done well in both schools I have taught in (5 years and continuing); I have made good friendships with teachers who were in both schools for over 20 years. My colleague relationships have helped to sustain me and grow as a teacher. I valued their advice and their encouragement - as I was taught to do in my program. Your list of how to spot DCTF and TA teachers is really not very helpful. Good teachers can come from anywhere just as bad teachers can come from anywhere. I have seen good and bad in my program, among TA teachers and certainly among DCPS veterans. I could pull up plenty of horror stories about bad teachers I have worked with (DCPS veterans)and write up points on how to identify them. What would that serve? Would that improve anything? It is amazing to me when I come across the anger and resentment directed towards people who came in to teaching for good reasons just because they haven't taken a traditional route. Are the TA teachers arrogant - yes, I've met some who are very arrogant, but, hey, are they any more arrogant than some of the veterans I have met over the years? No, there's really no difference. Instead of increasing a divide that is unnecessary, try closing it. As DCPS teachers (all of us) we need as many allies as we can get.
what's your point for posting this? and, how many teaching fellows or tfa teachers do you know?
Hi lodesterre,
To answer your q: I can't count how many times I have offered my hands (and sometimes pocket)to help/encourage them. I usu lost track when I reached 20x.
I met some of the best teachers in DCPS and let me assure you, some of them are from DCTF and TFA programs. I bow to their dedications whether temporary or long term. I must admit though, one of these two groups is generally more fun to hang out with after work. Say dinner, coffee, or happy hours...
Three points of writing this:
Hi, Anonymous 6:42pm.
Thanks for your q. Here's the gist of my thesis here:
One, primarily to express my thoughts and pov.
Two, it is only through realization how we are perceived and who we really are that we can close the divide.
And three, we have to know and respect who "they" are and who "we" so that DCPS can become "us".
At times, divide happens because we don't acknowledge who "they" are and who "we" are. Realization must dawn that we are diverse and DIFFERENT from one another.
TO CLOSE THE GAP, we have to acknowledge first that we have different needs. Veterans and new teachers. Regular and SPED. DCTF, TFA, or traditional. Green or Red. Then, find the common ground. And move on.
I know this sounds simple BUT this is definitely a herculean task.
btw lodesterre, i'm also not from a "traditional route". i'm a career-shifter myself.
Gen X... smh... a teacher is a teacher...end of discussion. And I am not a career changer or a DCTF... stop insulting people please!
Who cares if one group is more fun after school? We didn't become teachers to find friends, we became teachers to make a difference. Stop pretending that you're trying to help 'close the gap'. If you want to bash TFA and DCTF, just do it.
hey gen x teacher,
i agree somewhat with lodesterre that your characteristics of teaching fellows v. tfa teachers is not very helpful. what point does it serve? you did say that you are trying to help teachers find common ground by acknowledging how we are different, but i really do not see how your post achieves that objective in any way. just wondering:)
you also said that you are a career shifter. what did you do before teaching? i am sort of a career shifter too! well, i am pretty young, so i can't really make a case for my previous jobs being a full fledged career... i worked in higher ed nonprofit for a few years after college. why did you decide to make the change? do you think you will stick with teaching for the long haul?
Mommilan, I would have to disagree. A teacher is a teacher-- NOT TRUE. Not just because someone teaches or in school or in a classroom qualify him/her as a teacher.
And please, enlighten me and tell me which part is insulting?
Anonymous 2:31,
"Who cares if one group is more fun after school?" -- I DO.
"We didn't become teachers to find friends, we became teachers to make a difference." -- ISN'T A GREAT DIFFERENCE WHEN YOU WERE ABLE TO TEACH AND BE A FRIEND AT THE SAME TIME?
"Stop pretending that you're trying to help 'close the gap'". -- STOP PRETENDING YOU KNOW ME.
"If you want to bash TFA and DCTF, just do it." -- I DON'T.
Your comment here tells me a lot how you are as a teacher.
hi ms. mindless,
i think i lack the eloquence on making my purpose clearer through this entry.
despite the seemingly 'bashfulness' (for lack of better term) of this entry and the comments here, i hope it's clear i meant no harm.
if a post generate discussion or even just provoked critical thinking, i think its a step (however small it is) closer to understanding/acknowledging a situation. ergo, a possible step closer to an informed solution.
"what did you do before teaching?" corporate world paid my bills before. business and finance.
"why did you decide to make the change?" unlike OTHERS who claim to make a difference, i'm an educator because it meets my physiological needs.
i STRONGLY believe that one MUST meet his/her needs first before s/he can extend him/herself. teaching meets my needs and it ables me to extend my fulfillments.
i abhor crappy ideas like 'teaching to make difference' when in fact the change must happen first to the teacher who spoke the words.
in my teaching experience, the worst teachers were the ones who kept yacking advices. all talk and NO WALK type of individuals.
"do you think you will stick with teaching for the long haul?"-- i don't know how you define 'long haul' but i can tell you that i'm enjoying what i'm doing. INCLUDING the craps and the crappers. I eat them for breakfast. :)
it's always a breath of fresh air to know 'pretty young' educators. we need more of you.
btw, i'm not pretty old either. i'm still on my mid-late twenties.
It shows that you are in your 20's...lol, time to let go of the early 20's and late teens, don't worry, I was the same.. Ms. Know-it-all...
I do take that back... a teacher isn't a teacher, because a lot of these dummies have gotten us caught up and been part of why this contract wasn't approved.
BUT! You speaking on a specific group of teachers is uncalled for and unesscessary (sp, I never knew how to spell this word! lol, I teach leters, not spelling, don't shoot me!)!
mommilan,
i don't know you YET but i think i like you already. :) weird. in a good way... :)
thanks for retracting the comment "a teacher is a teacher". i couldn't agree more about the "dummies" in the profession.
i MUST disagree though that "i'm ms.-know-it-all". i'm a learner first before a teacher. it never ceases to amaze me how even comments here can strengthen my beliefs and opinions AND AT THE SAME TIME open my mind on others' point of views. AND learn from them too. BIGTIME learning.
yes, I'm 20's. no, i'm not a spelling police in blogging. if there is a police spelling here, i'm the first that will run and hide. GROSS MISUSE of grammar kills my 'teacher spirit' though...
I was saying that I used to be Ms. Know it all... but fair enough... thanks for the compliment! *wink*
Post a Comment