My Principal likes to say, and I think he actually got it from Oprah, that we as teachers have the awesome responsibility to teach our students to " do differently". Unfortunately we are not only teaching a microwave generation (want everything immediately without working hard and waiting for it to payoff) but a generation of followers. Sadly for our students, and many of those in inner city schools, the path they follow does not end on a college campus. We are constantly challenged to show,model expose our students to alternative paths. However the road less traveled for anyone is scary, it is imperceptible for the majority of our students. So how do we get our students to " do differently"?How do we teach them to do the opposite of what they have been taught, (explicitly or implicitly) from their environment?
If there is an answer or a solution I believe it lies in what we learned this week in class-social skills. In creating small groups in my classes, I really wished I would have focused on teaching my students how to interact with one another " differently" then they are accustomed to. How to be assertive not aggressive, how to disagree agreeably and most importantly how to resolve conflicts civilly.
This site is a class blog space for new Career and Technical Specializations and Heathcare Science teachers enrolled in the New Teacher Institute (NTI) at Georgia State University in Atlanta, Georgia.
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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?
2 comments:
I started group activities today and assigning students into groups. You would have thought it was the north against the south as I began assigning groups. Friends were devastated and ethnic alignment was pushed to the brink of calamity. Some of them were down right hostile toward each other. I had to give time outs and explain that this is a work group and how everyone was expected to act. After the initial shock they settled into the groups and we did some team building activities and things started looking up.
Melanie the good thing is it’s not too late to impact them socially and help them realize that the world is a wonderful place to live and work. Teach them the fighting and bickering doesn’t have to be the norm. I loved your verbiage and will use the quote if I may. "Teach them to be assertive not aggressive, how to disagree agreeably and most importantly how to resolve conflicts civilly". I’ll tell them that a very astute and profound teacher once said that’s what she wanted to do.
I like your post. To often we are seeing the same distructive behaviors with the same distructive results. For some reason the kids have this belief it want happen to me or I don't care attitudes,despite seeing bad choices leading to bad consequences all the time. The one thing that they do have is a willingness to fight and, I must say some do it well. What I told a student recently is I appreciate her willingness to fight. Then I asked her but what are you really fighting for? I went on to explain that if you must fight. Why not fight for a cause. Fight to make a better life for yourself. Fight for an education but not control of my classroom and having your way. I'm not sure if I reached her yet, but the next day her behavior was better in class.
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