First blog

This was our first short week we had four days with kids and our first professional learning day. We had a speacker from the DOE his name was Wendell Christen. The discussion was on the Georgia keys to quality-preparing for school improvement. Some of the topics that were discussed applied to the CTAE but most of the topics did not, so I really feel that the day was a long and boring day. Most of the discussions that were discussed applied to the discussions that we already had at NTI, so I really feel that I have an edge on most of the other teachers. I don't know about all of you but, I would rather be teaching in the classroom with my students. Riley

Hello Everyone,
It looks like you have survived the beginnnng of the new year. It should only get easier from here. I wish you all a very fun Labor Day weekend. You all have labored well so far! Dr. J

TGIF to all..

TGIF and I know you all share my sentiments. At the end of 3 weeks now and every morning I wake up more tired than the day before. But once I get going, I am full of energy and ready to take on the students and whatever comes my way. I'm in a new school this year and working as a stellar sub. FYI, I float around the school assisting teachers with emergencies or just filling in on full day assignments. Good news is this year, we have full benefits as Stellars. I am only at 1 school and so now I've got to get to know the teachers and hear, "Oh, your our new stellar sub." Many welcomes and nice to meet you expressions. Thanks to Dr. B and Ms. H, I am truly using the knowledge acquired from NTI this summer. It has been very helpful during the minor discipline problems I've encountered thus far.

Today, I caught a student cheating on a Spelling/Voc. test and simply, took her paper from her and paneled it until after class. I discussed with the school rules and the fact that she would not get a 2nd chance. I continued administering the test to the rest of the class and gave her other seat work to complete. After class, she tried to give a GOOD reason for cheating, but I simply said, I caught you in the act and your name will be given to your teacher.

On Mon., Tues. and this morning, we had no air for the first 2 periods. I am in the old part of the school, but am teaching my field, Business Ed. "Hurray for that", but next week, who knows where I will be. I guess the joy of it all, is that I get to learn many different styles of teaching, view different types of lesson plans and get to know all the students.

Anyway do enjoy your 3 day weekend, sleep in and do something YOU REALLY ENJOY doing this weekend! Because we don't have a lot of FREE Sat. left... :)

TGIF!

V

Success (Take 2)!!!!

Wow, what a week it's been! On Monday I was ready to throw in the towel and give it all up. This is my third year of teaching and it has been the rockiest start yet! We are finishing up our 5th week of school and I was beginning to feel like I wasn't going to be an effective teacher this year. After having migraines for three days, I was looking at going back to work at the hospital. However, that all began to change a couple of days ago...

Wednesday (Day 23 of school): I tried out the scavenger hunt on my Healthcare 2 students. They searched their book for the answers to the questions pertaining to body planes, directions, etc. I had thrown in a couple of "advanced" questions requiring some of them to delve further into the text to find the possible answers. THEY LOVED IT! I enjoyed it too because it gave me a chance to see how they were going to work together as a team. Originally they were in groups of two's. Slowly, they started working in groups of 4's and before long, it was an entire team effort! There are 14 girls in that class and they all helped each other through it! SUCCESS!!!

I had a difficult time with one of my 7th period students. She was upset because I gave her a Grade/Attitude Alert form to have her parent signed. She sulked the entire class period and tried her best to get to me. She was very disruptive until the person she was sitting next to told her to straighten up that I don't play games (he knew from getting into trouble the previous few days). She finally heeded his warning as I was about to send her to ISD.

The guy she sits next too starting a rap song. I looked up and was like "Dude, that's my ringtone on my phone!". He didn't believe me so I asked him to stay after class. I plugged his phone number into my phone, set up the ringtone and told him to call me. He did and his eyes lit up like saucers and we both started to sing the song! SUCCESS!

Thursday (Day 24): Again, the Healthcare 2 class...we were preparing to study for the exam they will have today when I thought, let's do something different. So, instead of playing Jeopardy like we always do, I had them do the concentric circles and I passed out my Jeopardy cards for them to use. The class was split about 50/50 to whether or not they liked the activity. There were some things that could have been done better so we will try that next time we do it. The ones that loved it REALLY loved it and the ones who didn't like it so much were just concerned about issues that can be fixed. SUCCESS!!

Remember the guy from yesterday and the girl who was causing problems? Well, they both came into class with huge smiles on their faces (I have to admit I wondered what they were up to) and were the "perfect little angels" in class. Both began to answer questions and the girl asked me what she had to do to make it to the Healthcare 3 class! (GASP! YEAH!) Of course, I showed her the handbook where I had lined that out for them and invited her to stay after class to talk more about it. As the bell was ringing for the day, the guy started the rap song again and was like "Mrs. J is so cool! She likes rap music!" SUCCESS!!

There are a couple of kids left in that class who are minor problems. They were both issued detention for Tuesday after school. I think that was a wake-up call to them as well. We'll see what happens today!

Friday (Day 25): I was EXCITED to come to school this morning! I haven't had a migraine in a couple of days now. They all have either a quiz or a test today and I hope to see some improvement after our study session yesterday. I'm looking forward to a three day weekend, but scarily enough, I think I'm going to miss these kids on Monday!!!

Have a great 3 day weekend!!

Crazy Week

Hi everyone! This has been one crazy week. This is our fourth week of school and this is the first week that I have really felt overwhelmed.
I have really enjoyed teaching so far this year. Because of NTI, things have been so much better! The problem that I am experiencing is that the counselors of my school keep putting students in my class and expect me to catch them up on 4 weeks worth of material. I have already given a project, daily work and a test. Just about everyday I get a new student. Some are moving in from out of state and have not been in school and others just simply want to be in my class. I don't mind but, I do not have the time to go back and reteach everything. I am also trying to get my HOSA members together, paid and ready for Fall Leadership Conference.
Like I said it has been crazy. If it was not for the fact that I love my students, I would think I was crazy for teaching! It seems that my students are better behaved this year. One of my students that I had last year commented that she is proud of me. She said she that she can see a big difference, that I seem more organized. I definitely took it as a compliment.

Wednesday, August 30th

Hi everyone!

I hope everyon'e year is off to a great start! Here at KSU things are up and running for the fall semester fairly smoothly except for terrible parking issues. I hope to interact with you all over the semester --to share and collaborate on ideas!

Looking forward to a great semester-
Christina

Hello Everyone,
Well my 1st period class has been decreased from 49 students to about 30. I am struggling with trying to get some order since the decrease. Most of the students have been placed in Health Science against their will. So trying to get them interested is a "CHALLENGE ". I will continue to plug along with them. Take care.
Julia

First Blog

My first blog
i was so happy to see everyone on Saturday. I really enjoy our class and all the people in it. The support from all is great and i really feel that you all know how things are really are as a new teacher.

well at my school i have about 120 students plus an advisory group of 14 girls and 1 boy. i asked for an all girl group but they are upset because they believe that we will lose in flag football against the other houses. (I told them that may not be true, girls can do anything, but I do believe they are right--we will lose in flag football ):

I was the first to have my classroom observation. it was Monday and my student behavior was the same as if I did not have a guess in the room. they are very talkative, active, and a joy. I though they would go off, but they didn't. I was so nervous about Dr. B coming to class and i was up all sunday and sunday night trying to get ready and i was still working when she came to the class. She was great so don't worry-be happy about her coming to your class.

To my consultants on Saturday, you idea worked on my male students in the class we talked about football and standards for that profession and or their position on the team. all my football players started raising their hands and asking questions. So Monday was a good day.


today, i wake up with a cold and my asthma has got the best of me. i could not talk without a lot of trouble breathing and had to go home. now i am worried if i should go to work tomorrow or stay home and rest. i don't want to look like i am not a good employee. any advise from the group. talk to you latter.

1st Blog

Made my first grading rubric today. I look forward to using it in my next graded lab assignment. My students have made comments about that I am stricker this year. In reality it's not stricker, it is more organized because of what I learned this summer at NTI.

Funniest question from my student's so far is, "why do I have to read books to work on cars!"

It seems like each week gets easier and easier. With all the things I learned at NTI over the summer it is much easier to keep the students engaged. I also feel I am doing a better job than I did last year. The overall average of my first test was much better than last years.

Teacher MIA

Hello to all! Just wanted to drop you all a line to say "what's up" and sorry I missed everyone on the first day of Saturday NTI! I hope to see you at next one and I hope that everyone's first year is going smoothly!

-Corey Crockett

New Year

Night and day difference between this year and last in the classroom. Came to NTI kicking and screaming but NTI has made teaching what I hoped it would be.

Saturday Blog

I think I am going to really enjoy the Saturday sessions for NTI...the summer was very informative

too many Passwords

Ok, The real question is can I get back in using the same passwords?

HOPE THIS WORKS

So, this is my first blogging experience. I hope that for grading purposes I don't have "posting" and / or "commenting" issues. So far, not to seamless...

Hello to Tracy

Hi Tracy,
I hope you get logged in soon.
Connie

1st blog

Today is the first day of Fall semester for NTI. I am enjoying the class but I am also sad because I am missing my son's first football game of the season. My husband is videoing the game and I will watch it tonight but it is not the same as being there.

My school year has started out really well so far. I feel much more prepared this year than last year. I have really great students who all seem interested in Healthcare. I am really excited that this year has started out so great and pray that next semester is as good as this one.
Jamie

Blogging for the first time

My school year has had an interesting start. I met some resistance by returning students about the "New Mrs. J" but they are now loving it! The hardest thing I have encountered so far is dealing with students who like to talk. My 7th period is my largest class (19 students) and I have re-organized them numerous times to try to get the talking to cease. These kids will talk across anyone! There are 2 seniors, 1 sophomore, and 16 freshman in the class. It's the freshman class from the Badlands this year!
The other major struggle I have had is dealing with teachers being so negative about the Freshman class. They aren't all bad! Some of the kids I have been told are the worst are actually my best students! I am on the Freshman team so listening to these comments gets exhaustive at times.
The biggest celebration is my Healthcare 3 class. They are taking their class at a local community college under a dual enrollment agreement. They are all making EXCELLENT grades and are really enjoying the class. I have an AWESOME group of Healthcare 2 students who are excited about what they are going to learn this year. HOSA has gotten off to a great start, all due to my very organized president! Finally, due to the information I learned this summer in NTI, I feel much better prepared for having success in the classroom! I am having more fun teaching this year than ever before!
Let's go eat!

Here we go again.

I dont know if I got smarter students this year or if I learned somthing at NTI. I do know that this year is going much easier than last year.

Perry

Ed, I see dead people.

Hey Everybody,

The first week of school was a breeze thanks to the Summer NTI classes. I was able to report for pre-planning and have all of my documents ready to copy while everyone was trying to make time between meetings and getting our room ready.

OFF AND RUNNING

Hello class

The year has started and things have gone well thus far. I must say, that I though it would be a whole lot more stressful than it actually has been. I added another course this year, Public Safety III, Introduction to Law, which has been very interesting. My kids have done a wonderful job attempting to learn how to prepare good, quality and convincing "OPENING ARGUMENTS" in court. Students have really been interested, because they ALL believe that they can win every case.

From a discipline standpoint, I have implemented the use of the officer system in my class, allowing all students to be held accountable for their actions. This process has worked well. We go to court every WEDNESDAY, which is where students go before a jury of their own peers to account for their actions. The punishment that is issued is the final and the desire to not to want to appear in court before those mean kids anymore. IT'S BEEN A GREAT DETERRANCE....

First few weeks of school

The first few weeks of school have beem alot smoother then the first week of school I feal that I have more control in my class room my second week of school I had a student throw a wrench at the RVI teacher the student was removed from my class due to a safety violation, other then that its been great.

My first Blog

Hi everyone,
Hope all of you had a great start to the school year! Can't wait to hear from all of you.
Esther

Hello and welcome to the automotive world.

Hello all! I hope your beginning teaching weeks were rewarding. Click on the video link and then on hiramradio to listen to some well deserved music by Enya.
Have a great year,
Garyb

My first blog

Well, hello everyone. Here we are back in class. I can't believe 3 weeks of school have already gone by. So far, so good.

I am learning all sorts of new high-tech skills. I am learning to Blog!

Enjoy your school year! Best wishes to everyone!

Connie

A new beginning

Beginning a new year is like a great journey. You have an idea ofwhere you want to go, but how you'll get there seems like a mystery. Your travel companions are your students;your compass is NTI. Sometimes they follow closely in the correct direction;occassionally you have to correct course in midstream. Your way may seem beset with all kinds of obstacles;with the strength of the NTI team you will overcome all.

My first weeks of school....

Wow! What a difference an active administration can make! I feel that I am a better teacher now than last year but last year could have been so much easier if only the rules would have been enforced at a level higher than the classroom.
I had a turning point within the first few weeks of school that really opened my eyes. I feel that the students can learn more effectively when they have a firm grasp on basic skills such as writing and reading. I feel that I can have a more effective classroom by taking a few steps back and veering away from the curriculum to freshen up a bit on these basic skills before stepping into the technical aspect of the class. It is quite evident that there has been a gap in the learning process and it seriously needs to be fixed instead of patched over. Having this point of view that I have aquired, I am going to make a difference whether it seems ethical for an Automotives class or not. The next time you feel that you are having a bad day or you decide to be lazy, think about the future issues you could create by bringing it to the classroom with you. Make every day count, you might make the difference.