It’s been a little while since I’ve updated on here, but nothing has really changed. After being called out by my principal because of a parent complaint, I started wearing my mask again, but I still did not remind students to put theirs back on. The last week or so before winter break, I took my mask back off.
I think I’m going to continue not to wear it in my classroom when we go back in January. Studies are showing that cloth and surgical masks do not prevent the spread of the delta and omicron variants, and those variants are also less deadly than the original. I know my actions might put my principal in a tough situation, as he’ll likely be expected to write me up if there is another complaint about masks in my classroom. He told me privately that he thinks we’ll be masking until the 2022 election when MLG is on the ballot, and I’m not doing this another year.
I am working with Sarah to get some of her cards into the staff restrooms and maybe also teachers’ lounge at my school. I’ll be interested to see who might respond and fill out the contact form. I think it will be helpful if multiple teachers at the same school are all standing up together.
I think I’m going to continue not to wear it in my classroom when we go back in January. Studies are showing that cloth and surgical masks do not prevent the spread of the delta and omicron variants, and those variants are also less deadly than the original. I know my actions might put my principal in a tough situation, as he’ll likely be expected to write me up if there is another complaint about masks in my classroom. He told me privately that he thinks we’ll be masking until the 2022 election when MLG is on the ballot, and I’m not doing this another year.
I am working with Sarah to get some of her cards into the staff restrooms and maybe also teachers’ lounge at my school. I’ll be interested to see who might respond and fill out the contact form. I think it will be helpful if multiple teachers at the same school are all standing up together.
I’m currently reading this book (listening on Audible). It’s a very important book, and I said as much when I shared on Facebook and was promptly blasted to no end. Apparently this is a dangerous book, and the author is transphobic.
I currently know two 18-year-old biological females who identify as transgender; one I babysat when she was a little girl, and the other I met for the first time when she was 13 when I was working at a summer program. One appears to be medically transitioning, and the other seems to be considering it.
At my school, to the best of my knowledge I don’t currently have any transgender students, but I have colleagues who do. Some go by a different gender at school than at home. In a training, I was informed that should a child come out to me as transgender, I am not to tell the parents unless specifically asked by the parents whether the child has said this to me.
I can see myself in these girls, the ones I know in real life and the ones described in the book. I’ve told a few friends that I am glad nobody ever told my tomboyish, awkward self at 10 or 12 years old that the reason I didn’t fit in with other girls was that I was actually a boy. This idea was never planted in my head, and I grew up to be an adult woman, still somewhat awkward, but a woman nonetheless. Saving these girls feels personal to me.
Irreversible Damage: The Transgender Craze Seducing Our Daughters https://www.amazon.com/dp/168451228X/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_glt_fabc_9VTYJQJ8VPDQAZ5HE2WE
I currently know two 18-year-old biological females who identify as transgender; one I babysat when she was a little girl, and the other I met for the first time when she was 13 when I was working at a summer program. One appears to be medically transitioning, and the other seems to be considering it.
At my school, to the best of my knowledge I don’t currently have any transgender students, but I have colleagues who do. Some go by a different gender at school than at home. In a training, I was informed that should a child come out to me as transgender, I am not to tell the parents unless specifically asked by the parents whether the child has said this to me.
I can see myself in these girls, the ones I know in real life and the ones described in the book. I’ve told a few friends that I am glad nobody ever told my tomboyish, awkward self at 10 or 12 years old that the reason I didn’t fit in with other girls was that I was actually a boy. This idea was never planted in my head, and I grew up to be an adult woman, still somewhat awkward, but a woman nonetheless. Saving these girls feels personal to me.
Irreversible Damage: The Transgender Craze Seducing Our Daughters https://www.amazon.com/dp/168451228X/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_glt_fabc_9VTYJQJ8VPDQAZ5HE2WE
Amazon
Irreversible Damage: The Transgender Craze Seducing Our Daughters
On their i-Ready diagnostic at the beginning of the school year, 42% of my 7th grade math students placed three or more grade levels below, and on their December diagnostic, that was reduced to 34%. Additionally, zero students scored on grade level at the beginning of the year, and now 8% are early on grade level and 1% mid or above grade level. Onward!
This episode has already been taken down on YouTube. We’ll see how long it lasts on Spotify!
https://open.spotify.com/episode/3SCsueX2bZdbEzRtKOCEyT?si=kFk8H1r6ShGjHk_68jdUFQ
https://open.spotify.com/episode/3SCsueX2bZdbEzRtKOCEyT?si=kFk8H1r6ShGjHk_68jdUFQ
New COVID policies from Albuquerque Public Schools
When will it end? No really - not a rhetorical question - when will they stop? When there is zero covid?
https://www.aps.edu/schools/covid-updates-for-2021-2022/documents/plan-for-implementing-enhanced-covid-safe-practices-pdf
When will it end? No really - not a rhetorical question - when will they stop? When there is zero covid?
https://www.aps.edu/schools/covid-updates-for-2021-2022/documents/plan-for-implementing-enhanced-covid-safe-practices-pdf
Call for assistance:
I am interested in an age-appropriate resource that is as noncontroversial as possible to explain to my middle schoolers that:
1. Omicron is much, much less deadly than the original COVID strain, and the chances of dying are less than the seasonal flu.
2. Cloth and surgical masks do not work against omicron, as stated even by Dr. Scott Gottlieb.
We have a mask mandate, and I’m trying to push back, but my students are still scared to take off their masks. I teach math, so discussing current events and news is not really part of my curriculum; this needs to be able to be presented quickly and casually.
I am interested in an age-appropriate resource that is as noncontroversial as possible to explain to my middle schoolers that:
1. Omicron is much, much less deadly than the original COVID strain, and the chances of dying are less than the seasonal flu.
2. Cloth and surgical masks do not work against omicron, as stated even by Dr. Scott Gottlieb.
We have a mask mandate, and I’m trying to push back, but my students are still scared to take off their masks. I teach math, so discussing current events and news is not really part of my curriculum; this needs to be able to be presented quickly and casually.
I have a set of business cards that direct people to askhealthyquestions.com/teachers, and I’ve been leaving them around my school in the restroom, workroom, lounge, etc. I have found them in the restroom trash can multiple times already! If they are ripped up like these, I have to leave them, but if they’re salvageable, I dig them out and return them to a visible spot. Joke’s on you, offended colleague(s), because I have 250 of these!
These cards, however, were right where I had set them when I checked hours later!
The aforementioned NM teacher/school personnel page of the Ask Healthy Questions website
https://www.askhealthyquestions.com/nmteachers
https://www.askhealthyquestions.com/nmteachers
AskHealthyQuestions
NM Teachers | Ask Healthy Questions
My school has a program that lets 8th graders in the dual language program earn a bilingual seal. They can then earn their high school bilingual seal in 12th grade. Our kids have been working on this for months, and it’s a big deal. I was excited to see their presentations, especially since I’m new to this school and being in a dual language program.
Well, the presentations are actually going to be… virtual to slow the spread. Way to go, New Mexico.
Well, the presentations are actually going to be… virtual to slow the spread. Way to go, New Mexico.
I have a cold that may or may not be COVID. I had a fever over the weekend and threw up, but I’m better and even took today off to rest. Do you think it’s reasonable to go back to work when I feel better rather than getting tested? If I’m positive for COVID, I have to stay home from work for ten days.
An interesting proposition! https://www.abqjournal.com/2459572/out-of-the-school-box.html
Two teachers from my school signed up at https://www.askhealthyquestions.com/nmteachers after seeing the business cards I’ve been leaving around. I am debating “outing” myself to them as the person with the cards and asking if they want some cards, too, to leave around school. I assume they wouldn’t out me to others; after all, I could out them right back, right? 🤔
APS is changing the guidelines to include masks indoors and outdoors and no spectators at sporting events. https://www.aps.edu/news/news-from-2021-2022/all-aps-schools-to-implement-enhanced-covid-safe-practices
Albuquerque Public Schools
All APS Schools to Implement Enhanced COVID-Safe Practices
Beginning Wednesday, Jan. 19, schools will take extra precautions to help reduce the spread of the virus.
This looks like a good resource! I’ll probably try this with my middle schoolers. Everything is cited, so I think I could defend using it in class. I can also tie it to middle school math standards. https://www.classicalhistorian.com/johns-blog/category/all?fbclid=IwAR00J8UrbAdlVc2RABHUz_L--U9gAspnlabdZvQCTu1weXPJHoCRhVZ8qEk
The Classical Historian
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On September 11, 2001, 19 Al-Qaida terrorists from various countries in the Middle East and Asia hijacked four airplanes and purposefully crashed them. Two airplanes hit the “Twin Towers” in...