CTE New Teacher Institute Forum: And the Beat Goes on

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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?

Monday, October 12, 2009

And the Beat Goes on

This week I am trying to look at the positives that are before me and go from there. I spent my week-end preparing hearty lesson plans chocked full of engaging activities and ideal group participation. I also intended to record my 1st period class and review the tape during planning today. Well as Fate and Mr. Murphy (of Murphy's Law) would have it, three teachers from my hall were absent today and no sub showed. My neighbor and attendance buddy was one of the absent educators so I had to get her class situated with a movie of some sort as well as notify the main office of our lack of a sub. Did I mention, this was my task all last week as well? Lucky for me, my 1st period class is pretty "with-it". They were able to take our attendance and attempt to set up the video cart for our session. After countless calls to the main office, someone finally showed up for my neighbor's class. I am now frazzled and thrown off track for my own class. Just as I was heading to my darlings, another baby from an unrelated class and department called to me and said 'Mrs. Jackson, our sub is waiting on you.." I was floored. I am but one body in three classes and still unable to get my lesson started. What's going on? I feel like I am in an episode of "groundhog day"....the same scenario keeps repeating over and over and over. I am uncomfortable speaking with my Dept. Head on this matter because I do not want my feelings to be misconstrued. My Admin. as well as the others appear to be pushed beyond their reach so I can't talk to them. My neighbor and mentor ( from across the hall) is in Jamaica funeralizing her sister so I have no other place to go but the blog. I am trying my darnedest to push back tears and avoid an emotional meltdown as I blog about my day. It is hard. I confided in my husband at the beginning of the school year that my goal is to become Teacher of the year. I went on to say, with a goal that high, I am bound for Teacher of the Month at least once this semester. I can honestly say that I have not missed a day of work this semester, I have not been late, and I have changed my attitude towards a lot of things at my school. All to no avail. I am praying for a silver lining beyond the rainbow..It is raining today so I may be in luck. Thanks to everyone for your encouraging blogs; at least I can find some peace and fulfillment from the majority of you all. Well as they say, and the band played on, the beat goes on and so off I go to 4th period. Until this evening~AJ

1 comment:

Dr. M said...: Hi, AJ - You may want to re-consider not talking with your Dept chair, and speak with her/him about your situation as it appears you are being heavily leaned on. While it is nice that you 'help out' with other classes, your main concern should be your own. If, however, admin expects you to take over for missing or unprepared subs in other classes repeatedly, that is something that needs discussing. You don't have to be confrontational, but share your concerns with your administrators and dept chair, as what you are doing should not stand for long, and your own students are being shortchanged.; October 16, 2009 at 6:33:00 PM EDT