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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?

Friday, October 2, 2009

Surprise

The most rewarding experience I've had as a teacher happened yesterday in the lunch line. I rarely eat lunch in the cafeteria but decided to give it a try since I had not brought lunch from home. Teachers are allowed to break into the student line so we don't have to wait for lunch. I happened to enter the line beside one of my students. This student struggles to stay on task, doesn't take redirection well and can be argumentative. Unexpectedly, this student looped her arm around mine and said with a smile, "I'm with Ms. Redding". What a surprise! I was so happy that this student, despite having behavioral difficulties in my class, felt comfortable enough to acknowledge me this way. Her positive reaction to me seemed completely genuine and sincere. What a great way to welcome October 2009.

3 comments:

Ginger said...

Yay for Melissa. It is always so nice to know that you are making a difference!

Hal said...

I know exactly what you mean. Sometimes I feel like all me and a certain student will do is butt heads. Then when I see them around school, they have a really positive reaction to me. Of course my reaction is complete shock, but I use that out of class relationship as a tool inside the class. I approach them with the "you don't have to mark your territory in here, it's all of our territory." It seems to work, so I try to be as visible as possible to my students outside of class, so perhaps we get other opportunities to interact. It's a shame how many of my colleagues stay locked in there own little space, when a simple stroll through the halls could make all the difference.

Dr. M said...

Hi, Melissa - I can just picture that happening in the crowded lunch line - thanks for sharing! Building that kind of relationship can also help you separate the student from the behavior, so to speak, in your class. Makes it easier to deal with the challenging behavior without taking it out on the student - keep after it!