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, March 16, 2013




Thank you NTI!

I take this opportunity to say thank you to the NTI program and my fellow classmates for making me a better teacher.  I had some teaching experience prior to entering the world of high school and CTE however it was always with adults.  I have taught at the technical school level and also in hospital systems, but not high school other than an occasional time or two as a guest. Teaching the younger student is definitely in my opinion harder to do. The high school student sometimes comes in with the attitude that “I have to be here and don’t want to be.” or “The counselor put me here.” or that “My parents said I had to take this class.” The difference with technical level teaching is that the student has invested money into their education therefore has a more vested interest in learning. I find that in teaching high school students there is not “currency” to motivate them other than those few students that do care about their GPA. This presented a challenge for me that almost made me give up last year. I came into the system just before the holidays in 2011, and by the time the school year ended in May of last year, I had decided I would not come back.  The subject of taking teaching courses through NTI came up and I thought why not give it one more try.  I am glad I did! I have learned how to deal with the high school learner by not trying to change their attitudes and beliefs but by changing my own.  I had to take an inventory of what was working and not working for me and integrate what I have been taught by NTI over the past year. What I have learned in my opinion is invaluable and will guide me to being more successful this year and every year I stay with teaching. So, having said this,  thank you Dr. Burns, Dr. Montrois and Ms. Chillis for sharing your expertise and advice. Thank you to each of my fellow NTI classmates as well. I have learned so much from your shared experiences and shared learning!  I think that the NTI has given me a gift –

Never Teach Insecurely (again).

3 comments:

Brandon said...

I am glad that I decided to NTI earlier in my career rather than wait anymore. Sometimes I wish I had some of the strategies that we have learned last year in my first year. Going in to the classroom with no experience and no strategies was rough. I can tell that my time at NTI has helped improve my teaching practice.

Unknown said...

I think it should be required that within 1 year NTI should be started. I also taught at the technical college level but 2 1/2 months after being with high school students, I knew I needed much more that what I had (which wasn't much, I've learned). I just hung up with a friend/neighbor and we were discussing our newest school in Douglas County and academic teaching in general. I began telling her about some of the things we have learned such as Project Based Learning and Scorecards, etc. She said she wished all teachers could culminate their last year of study by going through NTI. I don't know how people do it without having gone to the location we have. I truly count it a blessing and understand why I was told I had to take it and where. Surely, all of our classmates are saying...Amen (or nodding in agreement) to your post. :)

Unknown said...

I love this post especially your acronym for NTI! I am very glad that I experienced this program, and even thought I can not honestly say that I will continue teaching, I am too indebted to Dr.B, Dr. M, and Ms. Chillis for showing me how its done. I thank all of my classmates as well, you all are some of the smartest, most compassionate people that I have ever met.