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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?

Thursday, October 9, 2014

Oct. 6th Topic...Jennifer Whitfield


"You may be disappointed if you fail, but you are doomed if you don't try."

 

Wow, What an appropriate topic! I am really struggling this year. Last year it seemed everything came very natural. I don’t know if it was that I was doing something different or if the difference is the students. This year I don’t feel like I can get the students to “buy” in like last year. I won’t say last year was perfect by any means but the students really seemed “into” what I was teaching. It was like they were sponges and could not absorb enough. This year I don’t get the same vibes. I’ve left more days frustrated than I have feeling like I made a difference. I’ve done a lot of evaluating and reevaluating how I do things. I’ve still not found the solution. I’ve talked with my department head about my concerns on several occasions and she has offered support and advice. While I’m not giving up I am starting to come to the conclusion that it isn’t a reflection on my teaching but rather just a different group of students. I will continue to work to find ways to engage them but I’m trying to learn to accept that they are very different from the group I had last year. I will also focus on the positive interactions I have with them and the few students who are really interested in my subject matter and make sure they are getting the most that they can while accepting the fact that some of the students are here because they didn’t know what else to take or thought “it will be an easy A”.  Being a type A person it is difficult for me to accept something like this but in the long run it is better to accept it than continue to feel frustrated, like I am not doing a good job and becoming bitter and burned out.

3 comments:

Unknown said...

Jennifer, I think there should be an AA group for us "type A" personalities! We don't accept failure or less-than-best well at all, and understandably so - coming from a nursing background, less-than-best can kill. I am so grateful to have you to relate with in this situation since I've been having the same issues. It may be morbid, but I tell myself often that I always have nursing to fall back on if I fail here (even though that hurts my heart). I spoke with one of our administrators today about my concerns on the SLO, and she truly healed my heart and concerns. She asked why I felt like the students hadn't done well, and I explained my concerns. I also explained that clearly my lessons for this group needed revamping, and she became so excited about some of my ideas that she was helping me improve them while we were there. She also told me that the mark of a good teacher is that I use my assessment data to improve upon my teaching. It has been such a difficult undertaking for me to realize that I will not always succeed in everything I do. I wasn't prepared to be coming at a crossroads in my life. I mean, this is a career, after all, right?

e.lear said...

I also feel this way this year more than last year. I feel like there have been many struggles that have been brough up and many fires I have put out. WE the industry are sooo pationate about what we do that we "dont get it" when the kids are not as excited! I am told by year 5 all of this will go away. ha I sure hope so.

Unknown said...

I understand completely Jennifer. Some days I feel like I need to stand in front of the class a do a song and dance to get their attention. Last year I had larger classes, but I feel like I reached more students than with my smaller classes now. I have put a lot of thought into it. Honestly, after summer NTI, I feel as though I am doing a better job teaching. I feel much more organized and have come up with much better lesson plans. Therefore, it must be the students. They are good kids and most of them do want to go into the healthcare field, but they just don't put forth a lot of effort. There must be a way to get through to them, but right now I don't know what that is.