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?

Saturday, September 19, 2009

I can't wait until summer so I can sleep!!

The first six weeks of school have been exciting, tiring, and frustrating all at the same time. I learned so much this summer from NTI that I wanted to implement everything at the same time. I have not read anyone else's blog yet on purpose. I wanted to speak with a clear mind about what I have experienced first. I think maybe all of us had dreams of making our classrooms perfect from day one. Well, at least I was hoping that would be the case. But, some of my dreams of implementing have been shattered by the fast paced, never-ending days of high school life. I had my lesson plans ready. My syllabus was copied and waiting. My procedures poster was hanging on the wall. And now...I am here on Saturday afternoon wondering if I actually learned anything this summer in NTI. Not to reflect on NTI too much, but I heard someone say the analogy "I was getting so much information at one time that is was like trying to drink water out of a fire hydrant." I believe over time the incredible stuff we are learning will be so a part of my teaching style that I won't have to even think about it, but right now, it seems to have added to the stress and overwhelming feeling that a teacher gets. I guess now to address the real question. From the first day of pre-planning, I found out they moved my planning period (I don't like change much!). It moved from third block to second block. I don't know why, but it seems to have thrown off my rhythm to teaching. To make it worse, there is another teacher teaching Broadcasting during my planning period that doesn't know anything about Broadcasting. She is an awesome Business and Computer Apps teacher. So it isn't that she is a bad teacher, she just has tons of questions which tends to take up most of my planning period. My classes have been an odd mix of personalities. First block is composed of very intelligent kids, but the first couple of weeks I had a really hard time getting them to stop talking. I think sometimes creative individuals get bored easy and that is where I have to adjust as a teacher. My third block has a lot of popular kids, football players, cheerleaders, etc. They seem to believe that my class ought to be a time for them to take a video camera and try to re-create things they saw on "Saturday Night Live" (I actually have an 'I'm On A Boat' re-creation from last semester if anyone would like to see it.). My fourth block is just ready to go home. I haven't had any problems out of them, but I had three students that after three weeks, they didn't have anywhere to put them so they put them in my class. They really don't want to be there. To top it off, I do our football show for our local television station. With me being such a perfectionist, I spend about 12 hours a week on a thirty minute show. So, as my title says, I am really looking forward to this summer so I can get some sleep.

6 comments:

GETZ said...

Dwayne - I know how you feel with the teacher new to the program. Be patient, and if they are a good teacher, like you said , they'll commit themselves to learning the area. Think about giving them enough information to get through each project and try to encourage her to work alongside the students without coming to you with questions. If they are learning together, maybe it will make things easier. I always try to work on videos during class when everyone else is working on their projects too. I feel like this sends the message that I believe in what WE are doing and that I WANT to be doing it. Maybe the new teacher could try the same - they might even learn something new! Imagine that, teachers learning.

Penelope said...

Hello Dawayne. I am definately on board with what you are saying. I look forward to summmer so that I can get some sleep and do some of the things that I don't have time to do during the year because I am a perfectionist as well. With my perfectionist attitude, I sometimes get on my own nerves. Everything that I do, has to be so perfect, i.e. lesson plans, class, lectures, demonstrations etc.

I am like you, after NTI this summer, I was ready to take on the world. Little did I know, I am only one person, I can only do so much, and change does not happen over night, but over a period of time. I have become somewhat frustrated at times because I want everything to be "perfect now". As I shared in my post, things do get better as times goes on. I overheard some teachers say that teachers really don't know what they are doing until the 10-15th year. Oh well, that means that we have a long way to go. We just have to hang in there and do the best that we can do. We both have to work on our perfectionist attitude. This attitude has caused me to become hypertensive and stressed out. It really is not worth. Our families deserve so much more from us. Let's both agree to help each other work on that.

Ginger said...

Dwayne,

I know you said you had not read other posts but I wrote some similar concerns. I am so glad to hear that someone is in the same boat. Which reminds me I would love to see that video :) I was beginning to think that I was the only one who was still having trouble. I think I was looking for a miracle and eventhough things are much improved, I still have not implemented as much as I had hoped.

Dr. M said...

Hi, Dwayne - what an insightful post, and great advice from your colleagues. I particularly like what Bruce said about working on videos during class - taking advantage of time. For all new teachers feeling stressed to be perfect in everthing, you will learn to do what you can with the time and material you have, and your perfection will find itself within those parameters. Experience will improve your stress level as well. For now, breathe deeply and accept what you can do at this time - pace yourself!

Kennis said...

Dwayne - I understand the problem of having other duties that can get in the way of teaching. I am still working on the other 200 copies of the football program here. The good thing is that since I have changed the format of the publication, it should work much better from now forward. My days are getting better since I am not as stressed about the extracurricular stuff. My fourth block is still a challenge because they are essentially five classes in one block (I have cut the assignments to two curriculum, intro and advanced). Still plowing through.

Chris J said...

Dwayne-
You are certainly not alone in how you are feeling. I have definately been overwhelmed. I go home most every day questioning my ability as a teacher. Getting my students focused has been a great challenge. Making progress, but it is not as fast as I would hope. I NEED things to be perfect yesterday. I had a phone call from one of my former students this evening. She called to tell me she had passed her GA State Board licensing test. Her words were "I can't thank you enough."
Maybe I can teach after all.
Have faith in yourself and be patient. (That comes from someone who has all the patience in the world. HAHAHA)
Chris J