I hope these posts aren't held against us, but since I was asked, here goes my two cents.......
I would love to have had a thorough orientation process as a new teacher. I think that I may have had more than most, by beginning NTI the summer before school started. Even armed with all of that wonderful information, I still felt MASSIVELY unprepared when school started! There were those well meaning folks who offered their "first year war" stories as consolation, but it felt like anything but consolation. I mean, the worst thing you can tell someone who is in the midst of the battle is "keep fighting because the war will end in 3-5 years". I was told that almost daily for the first week or so! An orientation process where you are paired with someone who has not only the experience, but the desire and the TIME to help you would be ideal. I have been paired with a mentor, since I am a new teacher, but my mentor is 5 times as busy as I am!
There just always seems to be such a chasm between what you learn in school and how things work "for real". Receiving "realistic" orientation would help to better manage expectations of new teachers. I came in ready to save the world and make a mark that couldn't be erased. The reality is, that I have been so incredibly overwhelmed my first year, that it is considered an accomplishment (for me) just to remember which class periods I see on which days (we have block scheduling). And lets not forget the acronyms! No one prepared me for the acronyms!!! I would liken my first year of teaching to being taught how to swim while standing on the pool deck fully clothed. No matter how frequently you rehearse how to swim while standing on deck, it is a TOTALLY different experience once you are actually in the water! An effective, realistic, thorough orientation process would be quite beneficial and very much appreciated. Maybe once I make it out of the war zone in 3-5 years, I will create the program that I think would help others that find themselves "on deck" like me.
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.
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.
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?
1 comment:
Thank you for your post. I would like to spend some time with the class next semester asking for suggestions of things to keep and things that need changing to make NTI in the summer a better program for all of you. Dr. J.
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