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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.
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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, March 2, 2014

Elasticity and Fluidity

When I read Prosser's Theorem 15, I almost laughed. I totally agree that in CTE a certain level of flexibility and flow are necessary to achieve success in and out of the classroom. I chuckled because of the lack of flexibility and flow I feel on most days. Let me explain. We are forced to include differentiation in our lesson plans so that the needs of ALL students can be met. Differentiation mirrors Prosser's Theorem 15. We are flexible in that we understand students learn differently. We do not expect them to "fit" into one particular style of teaching strategy so we plan using several teaching strategies. The hope is that every students' strength is acknowledged in the course of the lesson by this type of flexibility. I chuckled because although I have to differentiate for my students, nothing is differentiated for me. I am forced to "fit" into a specific style of planning that is not conducive to my learning style. I feel as though flexibility and fluidity are thrown out the window and the cookie cutter expectation is the only acceptable method of planning. I truly believe that if teachers could experience the flexibility and fluidity that Prosser dreamed of for students test scores would rise, classrooms would run more efficiently, and teachers would be less frustrated at the end of the day!

5 comments:

Unknown said...

I agree with you that most of the flexibility is for the students, not the teachers. I do however see Prosser's point that we, as teachers, have to adapt as well as adapt the curriculum to meet the demands of today's workforce. However, this is not easy considering the demands put on us daily in the classroom. If we could just show up and teach and expect students to leave our classrooms better prepared than when they came in the door, I think we would be much better off.

Trenton said...

Your statements can be very true. We, as humans, all perceive things in so many different manners. So many things come into account when learning, especially in a CTE class, that which a student is exposed to a different style of learning. I have recently attempted to instruct on gear ratios, a concept I am familiar with and understand, but conveying it became a challenge. I used three different styles of instruction, and still some students were tying, but didn't quite grasp it. Finally I had another students offer their technique and I allowed them to put it on the board, and it seemed to aid a few students stuck in neutral. So many things in education can't be planned, we have to adapt.

Unknown said...

I totally agree with both of your statements. I can plan for one thing and possibly have to go on the fly to fix my plans... I like having the capability of doing so. I think it is just part of my nature. What I am most frustrated by is the rigidity of the planning format.

Terry said...

Homerun Statement! I totally agree with you about teachers having little flexibility in how they lesson plan. I am totally not a structure person. I feel I do my best work when thinking quickly and reacting to the flow of a situation. I guess I do conform somewhat by using a lesson plan template for my planning purposes, but, many times once my class is underway I realize there is a better way to teach that lesson. There really isn’t a way to build that flexibility into a structured lesson plan.

Unknown said...

That's fantastic Terry that you can go on the fly even if it doesn't match what is on your plan. We have so many people coming in and out of our classroom looking at our plans and what we are doing that there is really no room for change. The one time I did, I was "busted" by one of those evaluations and questioned about why my plans didn't match.....UGGGGHHHHH!!!!