Resource Room Teachers

I've been at my new school for about a month now (well..only 7 days in Sept thanks to all the Jewish holidays!) and I've pretty much gotten into a good routine with the kids. I'm working really hard to keep up with all their work (It's high school so I have all 4 grades, plus many of them have different subject teachers!) and help them.

I feel really bad because I have some 9th graders that struggle with Math and I'm horrible with Math. I honestly cannot help them with some of the material. I've tried to get answer keys from the Math teacher (he doesnt have any) and he doesn't have any supplemental material. I've spoken to their grade level psychologist who has been trying to help me. But I don't know what else to do. The parents are very out spoken and I'm worried the kids will might say I'm not helping them enough with math. But honestly, with all of the subjects- how am I expected to be a master of all trades?

Anyone have any similiar problems they can relate to?

Re: Resource Room Teachers

We have several RR toom teachers in our building, one is the math expert that all our kids see when their having trouble. We trade kids. Can you do that?

Re: Resource Room Teachers

Does the math teacher at least have a math textbook? Even if is not the book he teaches from directly, you could use it as a reference.

Does the teacher have a smartboard? If he does, he could send you a copy of any notes from the day's lesson.

Re: Resource Room Teachers

It sounds lie the math teacher is a real winner.

Re: Resource Room Teachers

Thanks for the response.

There's another RR teacher, but she's the morning teacher and I'm the afternoon teacher so we can't trade.

I have a copy of the textbook..which does explain alot but there's no answer key AND he doesn't have an answer key.

I get alot of the notes from the kids- I always copy their notes so I have it. There's no smartboard and he doesn't seem to be willing to share much (or as he claims he doesn't have it).

I just feel so bad because I can't help this kid the way I should be.

Re: Resource Room Teachers

Re: Resource Room Teachers

This math teacher sounds like a really nice person!

Can you contact a math chairperson and ask for an answer key? or some curriculum maps or notes?

Do you have a supervisor? A special ed chairperson that you can try to get to help you get the materials?

If those don't work, maybe contact the publisher of the textbook and explain that you are a RR teacher and ask for a copy of the answer key. Some of them are online too which may be an option!

Good luck and I am sorry you are having a tough time with this one issue!

Message edited 10/14/2010 6:46:51 PM.

Re: Resource Room Teachers

Thanks everyone for your feedback. I managed (with the help of a psychologist who works with the kids) to secure myself an answer key!!

It's hard being in the school I'm in because I'm a private contractor, so I'm not technically employed by the school.

I've spoken to the principal about getting supplemental materials, but basically its up to the individual teachers if they want to share anything with me.

Re: Resource Room Teachers

If you don't mind spending the money, you might find a used teacher's guide on ebay. Good luck!