Let me say first that I can identify with something in each of the previous posts. There never is enough time to do what you need to do, let alone accomplish the things that you want to. I have lots of ideas in my head but they all take time to plan and implement, but there just aren’t enough hours in the day to get everything done.
There are a lot of frustrating things that go along with teaching (along with a lot of good things), but there is one thing in particular that I have to deal with every day in my second period class. This class is a multi-subject class (networking, web design & programming), and because of that I’m obviously not able to teach the class in a traditional way. While this situation presents lots of hurdles to jump over, the one that gets me every day is the flow of my web design class.
Since I have three subjects in the room at the same time, the students have to step up and take more responsibility for their learning than they are used to. They need to take the material that I give them; read and understand it, and implement it in their assignments. While they all have been good about doing that, the problem is that they all move at a different pace. Some of the students are very familiar with the material and move quickly, while the students at the other end move much more slowly and have a harder time grasping the material. Truth be told I could probably spend all day just working with these students, but obviously that’s not fair to the rest of the class. Unfortunately, it’s difficult for most of the students to do any of the work at home because they don’t have the proper software.
I struggle with keeping the students somewhat together. In class we talked about using enrichment activities with the faster moving students while the others catch up. I thought about it and tried floating that out there with some of my students. Most of them were not very interested (unless it meant extra credit). Most of them just want free time to do what they want.
It seems like every day I see the slower progressing students slipping further and further behind. I thought about just reducing the complexity and workload for those students, but finding the time to do that is hard (unless I don’t care about spending time with my family). I guess it’ll work itself out (it usually does).
Rules we all should remember:
Don’t sweat the small stuff
Everything is small stuff
This site is a class blog space for new Career and Technical Specializations and Heathcare Science teachers enrolled in the New Teacher Institute (NTI) at Georgia State University in Atlanta, Georgia.
Rules For Posting To This Blog and Weekly Blog Question
1. Only use your first name (no last names, addresses, IM screen names, etc.)
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2. Show respect and consideration of others when posting and commenting. This includes individuals, students, organizations, political parties, colleagues, etc.
3. Check all posts for spelling and grammar errors before posting.
4. Protect the privacy of others. Gain permission from other people before you write about them. Avoid sharing someone else's last name. Use job titles or pseudonyms when writing about experiences with your co-workers or students.
5. Watch your language. Use politically correct and non-offensive language.
6. Make sure you write about things that are factual.
7. Keep your postings education-oriented. Avoid discussing plans for the weekend, etc.
FINAL BLOG POST - OUR "DAILY TRIPLE" (DUE 12/1).
This week I would like you to use your imagination. You have just won the lottery and will leave your teaching post immediately to travel around the world. As you leave your keys you meet your replacement. You are asked to give this new teacher just ONE piece of advice. What would that be, and why? Enjoy your world expedition!
Blog Post - Week 7
This past week in my own teaching I felt a little disconnected which prompts my question to you, "What was the moment (or moments) when I felt most disconnected or disengaged as a teacher - the moment(s) I said to myself, I'm just going through the motions here?"
Fall Semester 2016 Blog Post - Week 6
For the past couple of weeks you have experienced asynchronous online learning (doing modules by yourself). Previously this semester you have experienced synchronous online learning (all together in the Collaborate room). Which do you think is more effective and why do you think that? Which do you like better, and why?
Fall Semester 2016 Blog Post - Week 5
This week we have what we call "open mic." You can write a post about anything related to your teaching that you would like responses from your classmates.
Fall Semester 2016 Blog Post - Week 4
Here is this week's question: "What was the event that most took me surprise this week - and event that shook me up, caught me off guard, gave me a jolt, or made me unexpectedly happy?"
Fall Semester 2016 Blog Post - Week 3
Please write a post about the following question, "In thinking about my past week teaching what is one thing I would do differently, and why?"
Fall Semester 2016 Blog Post - Week 2
Please write a post about the following question, " In thinking about my teaching activities this past week, of what do I feel most proud? Why?"
Fall Semester 2016 Blog Post - Week 1
Describe something you used in your program in the first weeks of school that you learned in the summer NTI program. How did it work? Did it get you off to a stronger start than last year?
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5 comments:
It sounds like your students might benefit from a curriculum design shift to learning modules. You could align your grading policy around these learning modules. For example, let's say you base your course on a 100 point scale, and you design 10 learning modules for the course. Each learning module would consist of a given number of assignments, activities, projects and/or tasks that were worth a total of 10 points.
You could set your course up so that the content of 7 of those learning modules were critical for students to complete and master in order for them to move on to the next level [or course] in your program. The other 3 modules would essentially consist of "bonus" material. These 3 "bonus" modules would essentially be in place to provide enough learning material to keep the more advanced students actively engaged in the course for an entire semester. The course would be fairly self-paced although you should give students an idea of how to pace themselves to complete a minimum of 7 modules during the semester.
Students who completed all 10 modules would more or less be assured of earning an "A" in the course. Students who completed a minimum of 7 learning modules would be more or less assured of earning a "C" in the course. Students completing less than 7 modules, would be at risk of failing the course.
Okay, those are my thoughts. What do the rest of you think?
I can relate with what you are saying about the students and not always being self motivated to take responsibility for their learning. I am having the same issues in my mixed classes. Jessie's comments sound like a good solution but............we need to find the time to write up and setup the courses in that format. I guess that is what we have summer time for? Your are not alone in your feelings Chad.
$$$$$I would love to be the one that sold the time$$$$$ There are just not enough hours in the day. I have to prioritize my lists to get anything done. We were about to go to dinner with friends & took a look at my list. OH yeah, I have to blog before we go or I will never get it done. IT's not just finding time for teaching, it's in every aspect of life. My fiance is always asking, "How long is it going to take?" I just wish we could snap our fingers for a quick fix.
Hi Chad,
I had to delete my other comment because I pressed the wrong button while I was trying to edit my previous comment! Whew, anyway...I have a challenge when it comes to time. There is so much paper work!!! Amazing! There are all these other requests of me and my students. Maybe people think we are just sitting around waiting for them to give us something to do because we are so bored! NOT!!! I love what I do, so I just have to deal with it...with a positive attitude of course. I can say 'No' and still remain a lady!!!
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