---------- Forwarded message ---------- From: Esther Revivo <estherrevivo@xxxxxxxxx> Subject: Bravo Renee! Renee wrote, "What I mean with my comments is that one size does not fit all. This program is going overboard. There are other teachers who feel suffocated by the program and its demands."BRAVO Renee! I wish I could hug you! I cannot count the number of colleagues I know either planning or hoping to retire primarily due to this program. I have been ENSLAVED since September subbing for a colleague on maternity leave with a weak yud aleph class in addition to my own classes. I'm proud to say that the majority of them WILL successfully pass their 4 point bagrut exams, G-d willing. However, this HOTS nonsense, (sorry folks, I am still allowed my personal opinion, and in my humble opinion HOTS should be taught in L1 from 7th grade on,) has meant that I can no longer spend time doing what I adore: teach LITERATURE!! Rather, I have become a glorified clerk with the online handbook open, carefully checking that indeed I am both composing and marking Summative Assessments accurately according to the current rubrics. I have no doubt that had I had opportunity (like my esteemed colleague and dear friend Bari Nirenberg) to teach 5 pointers rather than extremely weak 4 pointers, my opinion regarding the new literature program might be different. Sorrowfully, I am not in her shoes and find this program has drained all of my joy out of teaching literature. Yes,I come to class enthused. Yes, I come to class well prepared, often with wonderful ideas to teach the HOTS (See the p.s. to this missive.) However, as we are doing the log, too much time is wasted on paperwork, time that in the 'good old days' was utilized in activities such as class debates; acting out scenes and so on. Additionally I cannot refrain from mentioning the ridiculous fact that the MOE chose the very beginning of the year to publicize changes in the existing program. Changes that teachers like myself who do NOT vacation abroad would have gratefully accepted during the summer. Then we'd have been able to tweak material or draft new assessments at our leisure rather than scramble like 'eegits' at the start of the school year. Despite these complaints, I salute Dr. Judy Steiner for lessening the number of works we must cover. For, as the vast majority of schools do not give adequate hours to teach English, it was a blessed relief to have less pressure this year due to this decision! To summarize: I love my job and my pupils. But I'm grateful to be at the tail end of my career rather than at its commencement with what I consider an attempt to 'tack on' HOTS material better taught in L1 to already overburdened high school EFL teachers! All the Best (and good luck to everyone on Thursday!) Esther Revivo Ulpanat Tzvia Sedot Negev P.S. Someone sent me a marvelous short youtube clip for "predicting": http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0XRZmTQuYP0&feature=related I stop the video twice in the middle and ask my girls to predict what will happen next. The end is so unexpected- it's awesome! ************************************** ** Join ETNI on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/groups/31737970668/ ** ETNI Blog and Poll http://ask-etni.blogspot.co.il/ ** Etni homepage - http://www.etni.org ** post to ETNI List - etni@xxxxxxxxxxxxx ** help - ask@xxxxxxxx ***************************************