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.
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.
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6. Make sure you write about things that are factual.
7. Keep your postings education-oriented. Avoid discussing plans for the weekend, etc.
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?
5 comments:
Glad you made it onto the Blog. From your description, it sounds like you are handling the chaos of the intrusion of new students into your class quite well. I agree with you that you cannot possibly get everyone entering your class 4 weeks into the semester caught up. Could you have one or two strong students give the new students a sort of recap on what you've done so far? Maybe you could also assign the new students some extra homework to get caught up.
Does anyone have any suggestions to offer Tracy about how to deal with these latecomers?
Tracy,
I only wish I had your problem! As a matter of fact, mine is the exact opposite. Our drop/add closed 3 weeks ago and I still have kids managing to get out of my class somehow. They tell me that I'm not the reason they are leaving but that the class is too hard. My numbers are so low (I only have 65 total students) that my program may be cut in the next year or two if I can't get the numbers up. I hate to think I put all this time and effort into a class that will be cut because the students don't want to actualy do some work to learn a life skill or two!
I concur with Jessie's comment and would be interested in what the rest of you out there could offer as suggestions to Tracy. Thank you, Dr. J
Do the best you can,The counselors are just trying to do their job.I've found sometimes you have to educate the counselors about your class and what it consist of,it might help them understand how far a student can get behind by missing the first three or four weeks of class.With automotive class we only have books for the classroom,the students can't take them home so I use a few automotive websites that students can use to do assignments on at home,if their willing to do them at home it will help them to catch up.
Hi Tracy,
I have been overwhelmed myself lately as you can read in my blog. I suggest that you just start these students out fresh. Just exempt them from everything up to this point. That is what our computer grading system does automatically when a student enrolls late. You can also pair them up with a strong student in the class to help them understand what is going on. Homework/independent study would be the best thing but in my class we can't give homework because we only have one set of books and workbook. Hope these ideas help. Jamie
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