Today was the first day back at school for teachers. Actually, we were not at school, but, instead, had to go to the Gering Civic Center to attend an all day workshop. In my opinion, this is not the right way to bring teachers back after the summer vacation. For me, the first day back should be spent in our school buildings with a welcome back by the administration, an outline of what the major goals will be for the school year, and then allow us to spend time getting our rooms and lessons ready for the new school year. Instead, I and all the other teachers in the district had to spend the day listening to a presentation on how to improve literacy using RtI.

The problem I have with most workshops is that they are of not much use. I often find the ideas and concepts presented to be impractical and of no use to me. Even worse is that most of these workshops are boring and this was no exception. I often find it ironic that, while teachers are told to create lessons that will appeal to students and not be boring, these so called experts create workshops that are boring and unappealing. I have to say that having had to spend a day listening to this, I left having not really learned anything of much use. I suppose at least I did get paid and I should not have a problem when I am at least getting paid.

Tomorrow is another teacher “workday” in which our time will be spent attending a faculty meeting and then we are supposed to spend most of the rest of the day working with our individual departments. I can guarantee that this will be another waste of a day.