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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?

Sunday, October 5, 2008

Challenge To My Lab/Classroom

My observation was last Monday and I received several ideas to use to keep students on task. The challenge is to be able to monitor several areas at one time. My movement has helped some of the time, but I need at times to closely monitor labs because of safety concerns. Somehow students really pick up on these times and choose to misbehave. I do not want to be bothered at all in the lab.
I tried during the past two weeks to have class work assignments that have to be done while I have a group in the lab. I have seen very poor results with the completion rate for these assignments being very low. I have had some success with small group special projects, but cannot supply all students with special projects. I am running low on ideas. I refuse to give busy work, and my students see right through it and hate it. Remember I have mostly young men to keep busy. This past Friday some off task student turned on my gas heat (full blast). The AC unit was trying to counter it's effect so I thought my AC was not keeping up and just running a long time.

1 comment:

Erika said...

Joe,

I am not sure if this will help you but I'll give it a shot. First, I hope your observation went well for you. I'm most certain it did.

I have a similar situation in that I too have to monitor several areas at one time. I am fortunate to have a parapro to assist, but in some classes I do not.

My "lab" (if you call it that) is essentially the entire campus. My class splits up and it's unavoidable that I am not with all my students all the time. I have radios that I can reach all of them and redirect and instruct them, but they have a great deal of freedom during those activities because my eyes can't see through walls.

To prevent misbehaviors I really laid down my expectations of their "lab" behavior. But the key here is enforcement. They know the consequences of their actions, but they know even more that I will follow through with them swiftly and consistantly. I have an associate whose class is always so rowdy. He fusses and threatens all day long but never follows through with discipline procedures. No wonder they push his buttons. He never set a limit for them to know when to stop or explained never to start.

Another strategy I use is to promote good behavior with praise - but not just the "atta boy/girl". I give the "you make me look good, I'll make you look good" speech. It was an accident when I said it, but it has worked in the majority of my classes. Basically, with that statement they know that good behavior and ontask completion equals a BIG reward. I keep them few and far between so it's not abused. When I feel the entire class getting antsy toward the end or middle of a long unit. I pull out the "reward" reminder. It seems to work every time!

Your friend and cohort,

Erika