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, October 24, 2009

My Four Days of Working on the Work

As most of your know from our class on Monday night, I was in downtown Atlanta from Sunday afternoon until Wednesday afternoon. My school system had sent me to a conference designed around a book entitled "Working on the Work". As most of us are, I am new to this whole thing of teaching. As I was going to this conference, all I kept thinking was, "Here is something else to add to my plate." All of these theories and practical teaching lessons that I am getting feel like they are all swirling around in my head. But, I had one of those epiphany moments at the conference. For the first time in my teaching experience, I felt on par with all the other teachers that were at my table. The conference had us group with people that we did not know. So there was an agricultural teacher who had been teaching for seven years, a four year business teacher, a 15 year seventh grade teacher, a ten year shop teacher, a three year language arts teacher, and me. We were evaluating some student work and all of the sudden Bloom Taxonomy hit me right between the eyes. I sounded like a freakin genius. The other teachers at the table I think were shocked at my evaluation. A teacher that submitted the work looked shocked and pleasantly surprised at my answer. So, kuddos to all of our instructors. You guys are the best.

3 comments:

Ginger said...

Dwayne,

I feel you on feeling sometimes like more is added to your plate. It seems like if more people could explain things like the NTI group does then we could see the relevance in our curriculum. I am so proud of you showing up those other teachers. It is nice to know that what we are learning is useful and that we as newbies may actually be able to outshine some veterans.

Dr. M said...

Hi, Dwayne - I sure would like to have been there to see you shine, but not surprised actually. Hopefully you were able to take something useful home from the conference, in addition to the realization of your own 'teaching' knowledge. Great post, and thanks for sharing!

GETZ said...

Dwayne - I agree with Dr. M. Hopefully you'll take away something that works for you. So many teachers at my school are against Working on the Work. I think it's a good idea. It's a tool to help you, and last year it's the only thing I learned that helped get me through the administrative side of planning, etc. That's great that you showed your teaching chops. I am always feeling that I have to prove myself as a teacher. I don't think my laid back attitude and management style helps - but it works for me...back off uptight teachers. Dwayne, when you win, we all win.