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?

Sunday, March 7, 2010

Get Organized

The most important things I've taken away from NTI all center around the importance of organization. Before NTI, I was much more unorganized than I am today. Even lesson plans were often hand scrawled outlines of broad topics that were thrown together at the last minute. I spent most of my first year trying to help my program recover from the confusion that the teacher I replaced left it in. That left little time for planning, and because I have always been good at doing things on the fly, I did just that. I would never go back to that, simply because it is too stressful to spend an entire year waking up each morning and try to invent new lesson plans. Now that I have my year planned out, I can work on other projects without worrying that I'm dropping the ball on something. The other organizational tools that have changed my world are all simple things that I never thought of until someone in NTI told me about them. I have someone take my roll each day, and then I double check it (thank you Penelope). My student groups consist of an appropriate number of students (thank you BVP folks). I don't get angry with students and try my best to put effective communication first (thank you Mr. Lavoie). My classroom management plan is in effect, and the day to day operations of my class are much smoother (thanks be to Burns, Montrois, Chillis). My final evaluation was on Friday and when Ms. Greene left I had a moment to think about how far I've come since first finding out about NTI this time last year. The fact that I was excited to see Ms. Greene and not nervous about my evaluation let me know that NTI has worked and the knowledge I've gained has helped me tremendously.

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