New place for me

Hello,

The 2014-2015 school year for me is something new, completely different. I now teach all levels of high school math, science, and reading at RFK in South Hadley, MA. RFK is a treatment facility for young women committed to DYS for a period of 5 to 9 months. It is a well structured teaching day, with all levels of students in each class. It is very interesting teaching just young women: they are bold, fearless, and take chances working through tough material. I never had the chance to see a one gender class at the high school level before, so this has been an eye opening teaching experience. The girls ask questions, ask for help, are strong willed and competitive with each other.

Some of the young women that I teach at RFK have gaps in their education. I see this most often with their middle school math and reading skills. In the small setting at RFK, it allows me to focus on each student and help them learn at their own level, and challenge them at their own pace. The new gig is really suiting me well. I am excited to motivate each student, to help me help them achieve what they want in their individual education plan.

The setting at RFK really works well with project based learning. The students focus on their own goals at their own pace with their learning. I find this so rewarding for everyone. I’m very happy teaching at RFK. There is a lot of excellent support in this system, and I meet with other teachers from all over the state regularly to share lessons, successes, failures and new ideas! I’d post a picture of RFK, but I’m in the process of changing up my room. From the outside, it looks like any other DYS facility. I decided to leave the picture of Commerce up on the blog entry since many of my girls leave RFK and go back to the Springfield Public School system, a few go back to Commerce. This connection to Commerce really helps me understand what my students will face once they leave the structured classes at RFK. My students and I have some pretty intense conversations about what their plan will be once they leave. Since some of my students recognize me from teaching at Commerce, they really open up with concerns about what direction they want their lives to take once they are on the outside.

A little background music

 

Hello!  My name is Karen Fisher and I am a first year teacher at The High School of Commerce in Springfield, MA.  We are a Forward 5 school, so we have extended days – and sometimes it turns into extended nights!  I work with some of the most devoted teachers I have ever encountered and I’m excited to be part of turning our school around.  I teach Biology and ELL Physics – a tough first gig teaching two subjects, but my teams are supportive and my students, well, they’re awesome.  I’m also taking Special Education courses at night through the Springfield Public School System.  These courses have helped me  differentiate  my lessons and labs for all of my students.  I hope to also certify in Special Ed once I complete the coursework.