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?

Wednesday, October 2, 2013

An Inspirational Moment

So far this year, my feelings of inadequacy and levels of stress have really been interfering with my ability to come up with exciting lesson plans and creative projects for my class. Summer NTI really taught me to keep things moving in the classroom and move away from the lecturing stance I would take from time to time. So, with the standards changing and the great instructional information that I had acquired, I felt a surmounting pressure (self-inflicted of course) to perform in the classroom. This being said, I felt as though my performance had been below par, especially for my intro class this year. I am not sure if it is due to the fact that the class exceeds the set limit in seat numbers, the students are a bit unruly, or it is due to my inability to keep them engaged. Whatever the reason, it seemed to me as though I had been able to teach them much of anything this year. Last week, we started the first full hands on project in the shop/lab. I gave instruction on what to do when we got to the shop, but did not include a process sheet due to the fact there were numerous new machines that students would be using that I wanted to go over with them personally as the project progressed. The students listened and followed through, once finished they moved back to their lab seats to layout their hole locations and awaited further instruction. After all students had returned to their seats, I began to give further instruction, but there were a couple of groups that continued to talk. A few students spoke up and quieted these groups down. Something I am used to with the students I have had in the past, but this was the first occurrence for this class. This was a good sign to me, showing that students were interested in knowing what was going to need to take place next. When I completed safety and final instruction on all the remaining machines, students went to work, all of them. My wild, uncontrollable class was following instruction to perfection. I had only one safety violation (that I observed) and it was corrected by another student, students were helping one another, and not a soul was off task. Not even my log bumps that usually want no part of anything resembling work. I felt as though I had reached a point with these students that I did not see coming in the near future. I congratulated them upon the close of class by literally applauding them. Even all of the closing questions were answered by a number of students unlike most days when the same four answer them all. Since that day, most all of the students have been much more attentive and interactive. Their interest has increased and involvement is more common. Students have become more apt to quiet one another down when instruction begins, relieving me from dealing with discipline. They’re attentiveness has redirected my thoughts of inadequacy, letting me know that I am getting through and being successful in my efforts.

1 comment:

Jama said...

Hey!! I'm so glad your year is going well. It's so helpful when the kids manage each other and keep each other on task. Hope things keep going well!