CTE New Teacher Institute Forum: Meeting of the minds

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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 11, 2009

Meeting of the minds

Last week we had an early release day. The kids were gone by 1:30 and I hosted a meeting of the other Auto teachers within the county. They all have nicely stocked shops with 10 of each shiny tool you can think of. I have a dump with not enough tools to do a brake job on many of the cars that come in. I don't even have supplies to clean the floor after an oil change. They all proceeded to harass me about doing "livework". That is when I work on teachers actual cars. I charge a small fee for services and this helps me replace all the tools the last guy took home when he bailed. They all insisted that I discontinue livework immediately and conform to their teaching strategy. I have worked this out with my administrator in a way that I actually will be able to provide worthwhile hands-on work while simultaneously generating supply funds. How dare these outsiders attempt to dictate how I run my program. I have been stewing about this since Wednesday. I am glad it caught me by surprise, otherwise my reaction would have been very harsh indeed. My administrator told me not to give their input another thought. He seems to think that I am genuinely interested in student welfare instead of the payceck. I think he is right, I hope he is right, I am just too angry at the moment to accurately evaluate that idea. What do you folks think?

2 comments:

Ginger said...: Patrick,

I am so glad that you stood up for what you want to do and also glad that you have the support of your administration. It is difficult to be compared to other schools especially when they have such nice things. I just had an epiphany the other day, realizing that I do not have to be like everyone else. Lord only knows I am different so I think it is ok that my class is different too. We are very thrifty in my class but that is because that is what it is like in real life. Very few restaurants have brand new shiny equipment and even if they do, it doesn't stay that way for long. I am also teaching them respect and appreciation for what we do have.

I am glad you did not react to the other teacher's comments because this way you can hold your head up high. I am sorry that you had to ponder over this for awhile but I am glad everything is resolved. Just remember that your heart is in the right place and that is what it takes to be a GREAT teacher.; October 11, 2009 at 11:04:00 PM EDT
Dr. M said...: Hi, Pat - it is a balancing act to do livework while still maintaining a serious focus on a challenging curriculum. I have seen auto programs where the focus was on livework and making $, to the detriment of following a curriculum and teaching students all aspects of the auto industry. If you can blend livework in with the curriculum, and maintain focus and structure with your students, I say keep it up, just make sure it does not become the driving factor, as it easily could. Keep us posted.; October 16, 2009 at 10:20:00 PM EDT