Rules For Posting To This Blog and Weekly Blog Question

1. Only use your first name (no last names, addresses, IM screen names, 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?

Sunday, February 1, 2009

Interview with School Counselor

I am hopeful that the interview with the school Counselor will give me an extra opportunity to explain the Health care Science Pathways again. I have already had many discussions with the school counselor regarding the need to place students in my class when they can't find an appropriate fit. These are usually the students that do have an interest in health care and are usually the ones that will cause class disruptions. Most importantly I want to discuss class size and find out what can be done to limit the class size to around 20 students. Large classes in HSTE Pathways are difficult to manage when performing hands on skills and making certain that all have meet the criteria. I am very curious about the practices and procedures used for placing students in the HSTE classes. Certainly there has to be a set of guidelines used to make these decisions. I am also concerned about the push for every child to go to college and the realistic expectations for every child. I really don't hear much in my school about the Technical School/College approach and the good opportunities offered in those educational settings. I a really looking forward to the face to face opportunity to sit and have that one on one conversation with the School
Counselor. I can see that she works very hard but she also seems very relaxed mosted of the time even during the hectic scheduling time. If nothing else comes out of the interview I hope she can share some of her techniques for relaxing with me.

3 comments:

paulette said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
paulette said...

I agree that it will be an opportunity to share about the Healthcare Science program with the counselor during the meeting. You also mentioned about how difficult it is to do some of the skills lesson plans when the class is above 20 students. I totally agree that when the numbers start climbing in the mid 20's it can be quite challenging to manage the classroom in a skills lab. I like your idea about discussing with the counselor what criteria or guidelines are used when selecting students for the HSTE Pathways. College does not fit for every student and it is important that students know what other options are available to them. When we are better informed we are able to be a better resource to our students.

Dr. M said...

Hi, Brenda - yes, large classes are a challenge, and we are caught in the middle between having manageable-sized classes and system resources. State mandates have been set at 28 students per class for CTAE teachers and they have been that way for years, unless recently changed. 28 is manageable if you are on top of things and do careful planning and resource allocation, and keep all students focused and busy with meaningful lessons.

One of your questions to your counselor may address the push at the legislative session this year for increased class sizes due to budget issues. An interesting question for us as professionals is - would we accept more students per class if it meant no lost teachers?

It will also be interesting to see what relaxation techniques your counselor shares with you. We look forward to hearing all about it.