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.
Tuesday, March 4, 2014
Prosser Theorm 15
I know that I often times feel like meeting certain criteria as a teacher can feel rigid and standardized, but one of the luxuries of my job is that I get a sense of freedom in my classroom when it comes to teaching my course. I agree that vocational, or career and technical education, should not be set to a standardized way of thinking. Careers as a whole are always changing and always evolving, so I think it is our obligation as educators to make sure our curriculum meets those changes. In my two years teaching, I have noticed that comments are often made along the lines of “but you teach a fun class”, or “the kids want to take your class”. I know that teachers don’t mean this as an insult, but it can feel like they are saying I am not good at what I teach, that instead, the curriculum is drawing the kids in. Even if that is the case, how lucky am I to be able to teach a “fun” class that is always changing and always evolving!
I can’t agree with you more Taylor. You bring valid points that I really didn’t even think about in my initial post. This idea that our students feel that the classroom is “fun” is definitely a plus. The students at my school are very much into the change of pace that my classes bring because I do go outside of the box more often than not. I play several videos for Employability Skills and I have had several of my students say that those videos not only make them understand each point, but are great fun to watch as well.
ReplyDeleteI also get the point that sometimes it seems other teachers may assume you do not teach it correctly if it’s not just another “boring” class. It’s funny because anytime I have had instructional strategies or inputs with fellow teachers; I still bring that same attitude and dynamic to the table. It solidifies just how unique we are in so many ways. And that is a good thing!
Mr. H