Department of Science and Mathematics Education
Alumni Connection: Letters
Back to alumni

Jessica Hartman

From Jessica Hartman, Biology Education,'00

Good morning!   Thought I'd jot you a quick note to let you know how things are going here. How should I say it..... Hectic, tiring, frustrating, exciting.... well the list goes on.   This year has been a tough one as far as teaching goes. I think it was my first, "Oh my, can I really do this?" year. The students have just been very difficult. I have 4 classes that are learning center and one regular group. The regular group is okay. It is physical science and I do a ton of hands on activites with them, at least one lab a week. They really don't know how to study, so I do the activities to help make the concepts stick. Actually, they have gotten so good at activities, that a lot of times they want to extend the activity to test other variables. Most of the time I let them, if time allows.

The other 4 classes are difficult, to say the least. I have tried everything, short of standing on my head, to get them to pay attention and study. They just don't want to. It is a little depressing, when I go to grade tests and they don't do as well as they should. It is even more depressing when I look at the test that I give them. They are so unchalleging, and not at all like the ones we were taught to construct or made during student teaching. I know I make them too easy, but when I make them any more difficult or use critical thinking, they all fail. So I result to testing them with simple basic tests, so that I can get at least a few to pass. I'm tired of being the mean teacher, who gives too much work, and the kids can't pass my class. Hopefully next year I'll have a group of kids that I can actually feel like I make some progress with. Honestly, other than the regular group, I feel like it has been a waste of my time and their time.  

Well, along with that, I went back to school. I started my masters degree through Lesley University's online program. I really enjoyed the first class and learned a ton, but, boy, what a lot of work. There were times, I'd end up crying, because of all the things - in work, school, and personal life - that I had to do, and I didn't know where to start. But, I made it through with only one major break down. ;)  I am going to be taking Physics over the summer, then Biology in the fall. I am really looking forward to taking them and learning more. I wish I was in the states so that I could actually sit in the classroom and learn. I really miss that. Not the tests or projects, but listening to lectures, discussing topics, and then doing labs. But that isn't in the cards right now, so I will have to make do with the online learning.  

Other than that, I have a few other little side projects that keep me going. As, I reread the second paragraph, it sounds a little harsh. I guess it is just frustrating, that these kids never had the desire to learn instilled in them and they are unwilling to change their mind about education. I always loved learning and for me it is hard to accept that not everyone has that love like I do. Don't get me wrong, sometimes I can be as stubborn as and ox, and I keep working at it and I am not ready to give up yet, I just get very frustrated with the whole situation. No support from the kids' parents and only a little from the administrators.  

I have a friend who is trying to find a teaching position in Fl. She has all of the required things except for the tests. I remember that there were study guides to the tests. Do they still have them? I have the biology one, but she wants the one for the education test. She is nervous about it, even though I told her it was a piece of cake, especially since she has been teaching for 10 years, but she would still like a study guide. Do you know where I can tell her to get one from? Also, I am interested in keeping my Fl teacher's certificate updated so that if I ever go back to the states, it will be easier to get a position. Can I do that even if I am not living in Fl? If, so, do you know what I have to do to maintain it?  

I hope everything at F.I.T is going well and that you are having a good year, now that things are back on track after the hurricanes. Any plans on coming to PR again? If so, I have another place to take you ;) It is called Camuy Caves. Pretty interesting place.  

Take care! Jess

Back to top