Are teachers pressured into "getting all the curriculum in" instead of getting it all taught well?

[Amy Wright]

I've discovered that far too often our students cannot achieve at the level they should be able to , because teachers are often concentrating on getting all the curriculum taught, instead of taking the time to make sure that the students are even understanding what is being taught. Any thoughts?

[Amy Wright]

In defense of the teachers, I feel that they receive this pressure from other sources, so sometimes certain children get pushed ahead, not really understanding what is being taught in the first place.

[Knox County Teacher]

I find this to be true in Knox County. We are given a pacing guide and are expected to follow it precisely. I often find myself looking for time to re-teach skills and there is not any extra time. We barely have enough time in the day to teach what the state and county requires. What makes it even more difficult is when you have to use multiple grade leveled material in a class to meet the needs of all students. I am not planning for the grade level I teach, I plan one grade below and at least one above to meet the needs of all learners.

[Heather Marshall]

I too have pacing guides for the math classes that I teach in the high school. For the class on block scheduling, I would agree with Knox County Teacher...it does not allow for re-teaching time or any real extra time when needed. This semester I am teaching a 9th grade class that is a full year long (and not on the block schedule), and there is extra time for re-teaching, extra review, etc. At one of the community forums with Mr. McIntrye, I did ask him to look into the block scheduling for high school math classes, as I think a year long class would be better for many students.

[Pamela Treacy]

So if we don't have enough time to teach the required cirriculum, what do we need to do:
extend the days per year,
increase the length of the school day,
increase the number of years from 13 (k-12) to 14 or 15
add more summer school

I would first ask -- are we wasting time during the day? I revert back to a previous post on inschool assemblies to watch the basketball team. Or an "elected" snow day that most kids spent watching movies.

What is out of whack?

[Knox County Teacher]

I'm in the primary grades. I think teaching science, social studies, and health take away time we could spend on reading and math. Those subjects are covered fairly well in the reading curriculum, so I see no reason to allot 30 minutes everyday to those subjects when I'd rather use that time re-teaching struggling students, let students on target do practice activities, and let thriving students complete enrichment activities. Another thing I notice is when we have a scheduled short week, for in-service or holidays, we are still expected to teach a full week's curriculum. Even students who excel have difficulties during these weeks. I say tack on a few more weeks in the school year and use those short weeks for review, reteaching, and retesting.

[Debi]

Do you feel you are receiving enough help in the classroom for students with IEPs? How do you think KCS could help you achieve individualized teaching federal laws require you to do? Do you think our system is ignoring those laws?

[Amy Wright]

That's interesting. I wasn't aware that you were still having to put the same curriculum in a short week as you do in a regular week. I can see why that would make it difficult, not only for the teachers, but the students as well.

[Helen]

We need to hold kids accountable. They have been coddled by our society so much that they feel everything will be given to them. I would venture to say that parents who post here have kids who do study and I do too, but the majority of my students might do the bare minimum. Kids need to start working and studying again and we need to go back to year long schedules in math and English at least so that kids are practicing those skills on a daily basis instead of only half the year as they do on block schedule. My kids are not coming to class prepared, so I have to reteach a lot, then I can't get the curriculum in. Then, I get pressure from higher ups at the County to make sure I get it in and "review" for TCAPS and Gateway. If the kids put in a little effort and learned basic skills to begin with, we wouldn't be so "test stressed".

[Heather Marshall]

Helen, I could not agree with you more!

Does anyone have any ideas about how we can get high school level math, science and english classes back to year long classes? I did bring this up at a community forum with Mr. McIntrye, but have not heard anything since then.

[Amy Wright]

I was wondering if you all who have high school age children could enlighten those of us who don't. I am not aware of what curriculum is and isn't being offered. Could you please tell us so that we have a greater understanding of the system?

[Heather Marshall]

I have a high schooler and also teach part time in a Knox County high School.

Block scheduling here in Knox County is where high school students have only 4 classes per each semester. Each class lasts about 1 1/2 hours. So students only have math, science, english, social studies, foreign language, etc for 1/2 of the year. I believe that students should be practicing their language and writing skills all year long, as these skills are very important. I also believe that for many, a year long math & science class would be better and give students more time to think about the material being learned and hopefully retain more after the class is done.

[Cathy McCaughan]

Are you asking what classes are required for graduation? The current requirements are HERE. The new graduation requirements are HERE. If you are asking what classes are offered, that is different at each Knoxville High School.