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, November 14, 2010

The Rut Trap

When you get busy and tired it is easy to find yourself in a rut. You go back to more comfortable and familiar ground. I have noticed that many teachers are not just multi- tasker's, they are multi-multi tasker's. It seem that everything needs to be done now. In the end, students get remnants of the rut. At this point more discipline problems creep in.

Talking to the students and other innovative teachers is a great way to bust a rut. The students have great ideas. This week, instead of the students bringing current events, I brought in the article. After reading an article about the high school drop out rate in Georgia, the students worked in groups to discuss the article. They had three questions to discuss as a group. They wrote their answers on the tables with dry erase markers. They had great ideas and really liked the fact that I listened to what they had to say. Of course, writing on the table was the highlight for them. In the end. many students stated that they believe some students drop out because it is the same thing every day. Even though it seems easier to do things the more comfortable way, in the end trying new ideas not only help teachers out the rut, but the students are more interested and ready to learn.

1 comment:

Janet Mac said...

That was a great way to "bust the rut" Freda. I totally agree with your analogy of how teacher fall into a rut. I also found that when you involve the students more in the planning of activities they are more engaged and it also helps you to find new ways to re-invent previous lessons. I will sometimes ask my students how they felt about different assignments and they provide their opinions on how well they felt the assignment went and if they learned what they needed to learn. All of these things I think help teachers to stay out of the "rut" zone.