Free At Last!

For the first time in a looong time, I feel free... As a teacher, I often feel like anyone can do my job.... We are so wrapped up into the Whole School Reform Model: America's Choice that I don't get to do what I want to do with my students. More importantly, I don't get to do what I need to do with my students... Any "idiot" can follow a calendar and read words out of a guide... What did I spend years in college learning all of amazing things I learned at Jersey City State (now, New Jersey City University) for???? New Jersey and the whole NCLB Act has it all wrong... Models don't work!!! They don't work because there isn't ONE way to teach every student... This week, in last minute preparation for the NJASK, we've been allowed "freedom" to teach... It has worked WONDERS in my room... My kids are responding, "This is fun!" "Can we do more of this?" I'm actually doing activities "my" way and my kids are getting it... We can't be tied down by a "model." I can't wait to bid farewell to "America's Choice."