The Ball is Rolling

It was GREAT to see everyone Saturday!! I've already managed to implement a few ideas some of you all suggested (seating arrangements, sign language, detention) during our counsel vs problem activity. :o)

Don't forget to take care of your assignments in D2L. The first "scan" was a challenge yet I was better with the second one. Ha! I was thankful for my "dinosaur" desktop...my printer/scanner is not connected to my laptop!! If I can do it, any of you all can do it!!!

Remember to schedule your observation, too. Perhaps I'll let you know how mine goes on Wednesday. Now that I have a date and a time, I'm NERVOUS!!

Summer School

I learned so much this summer to make me more confident for my first year teaching in a public school (secondary)
I learned to make a stronger Lesson Plan on my own not from using my Milady's Standard Cosmetology materials. My Lesson Plans have worked great!  The students have been very engaging and great discussions have evolved from them.  I am excited with the thought of creating new and funny activities!

Yes, I am much stronger and confident with the help of Dr. Burns, Jama and Dr. M
Looking forward to many more interesting discussions with my students and what I can teach them

Answer First Week Question

Back in the summer NTI classes I think I learned a lot that has benefited me in the first few weeks of class.  One of the things that I think benefited me the most involves one of the behavior management tools we were given during class.

When I first heard the "I know this may not seem important to you, but it is to me" method, I thought to myself that it was the dumbest thing I had ever heard of.  It just seemed so odd to me to validate the student, who was already being an issue. 

So, imagine my surprise when during the first full week of class when a student was challenging me on the importance of an assignment, all that my brain could quickly pull up was the "I know this may not seem important to you" method. 

Before I knew it, I had started the method.  "I know this may not seem important to you," I said.  "However, it's very important to me that you learn the vocabulary before we move on in the unit."

I cringed inside as I expected the room to burst into laughter from this lame attempt to control the situation. 

Instead there was silence. 

The student sat there with a silly look on his face, speechless. 

It had worked. 

I probably had the same silly look on my face when I realized what had just happened.  I ran through the rest of the class with a new found confidence. 

I used the same method later in the day on a kid that probably didn't even see it coming.

I'm now the king of "it may not seem important to you..." (At least in my own tinly little realm.)

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?

During the summer NTI program, I learned a lot new strategies to implement this school year. The new strategy that worked for me during the first weeks of school was the Classroom Rules Poster. I started teaching in the middle of last school year and I had no idea about structuring rules/expectations for a classroom. I completed the school year and never posted any class rules. I am using the poster I created during summer NTI and it has proven to be very helpful. I have it posted in front of my class and visible to students while sitting at their desk. Learning to create the poster using action verbs was helpful in directing students to do what is expected in my classroom. I use this poster daily to address any issue of disruption. I direct students to look at the rules poster and remind them of their expectations. Thus far, the students are starting to adhere to the rules. Last school year, this was a major problem for me. I am glad to have learned about this classroom management strategy this summer because it has given me a strong start to this school.

Fall 2015 Week One Blog Post

Sadly, I was not able to attend the Summer NTI session. I have however, had many struggles this semester. My biggest struggle is classroom management. I have trouble with a lot of talking and cell phone usage in my classroom. I am a bit of a pushover! I need to learn how to really enforce the rules I have placed in my class. I hope with time I will be able to gain better control of my classroom.

Fall Semester 2015 Blog Post - Week 1

Fall Semester 2015 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?

 

My savior for my start up to the year was my classroom management plan.

I arranged my classroom to flow smoothly. Clutter has been removed so the students can focus on the lesson. I have an area set aside to place all assignments for the week so if the student were absent they know where to go to get missed notes, and place their late assignments in the late assignment tray,

I have assigned a student in every class to pass out pass out papers, a student to help with supplies. My expectations Class rules and Responsibilities are posted .

Class work is displayed as they complete a chapter

 

Fall Semester 2015 Blog - 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?

My initial weeks of the 2015/2016 school year have been much smoother than last year, especially in the classroom. I believe having the pre-prepared lesson plans, an in-box, classroom rules poster, and many other ideas have contributed to my success. Students have really responded well to the in-box, I have referred back to my classroom rules on several occasions, and overall I feel much more confident.

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?

This summer we learned different classroom management techniques to redirect misbehaving students. It is very useful to employ those techniques as appropriate. My new students reacted well to the techniques used and responded appropriately. My returning students thought something was wrong because I very calmly redirected their behavior. Initially, they did not know how to "accept" my techniques, but eventually they responded accordingly.

I am very happy with the change and I look forward to implementing other techniques learned.

Fall Semester 2015 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?

 

One of the tactics that I was able to employ durring the first week of teaching infront of a live classroom was Classroom management skills.  In particularly Proximity re-correction and language of choice.  Occasionally, their would be students of task and not responsive to visual non-verbal correction.  By positioning myself near an off-task student it would stop the behavior without resorting to verbal commands 90 percent of the time. 

On the rare occasion where that did not work, I would attempt to address the student directly through the language of choice.. i.e. "You can either complete the assignment or you will have to make up the work after class.... it's your choice".  This allowed me to set a standard early in the year that carried over the entire semester.

If you were not in the Summer NTI, what did you struggle with most during your first weeks of school?

My first weeks have been interesting in the fact that I am new to teaching and am still learning the ins and outs of this experience.
I think the thing that I struggled with the most is remembering all of the processes and required materials that everyday teaching requires. Things like-taking roll, handing out all of my forms to my advisement, remembering that my block schedules are different on Wednesdays because of Advisement. TKES. SLO's. IEP's and infinite numbers of other acronyms which I had no idea what meant! Small things. But as you know small things can become big things if you gather enough of them. I suppose the short answer to this question would be routine. Getting used to the routine was the hardest part I think and not letting my amateur hour antics not disrupt my instruction.  I think that gets easier with time. It has thus far and I have learned enormous amounts in the last 4 weeks than I could have expected. I even sound mildly like a teacher when I talk about school now.

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?

What I learned and used from the NTI program is use of the transition and closure questions before and after lectures or discussions.  It worked really well because it keeps the students engaged and involved and is a great tool for review before you begin your next topic of learning for the day.  If absolutely got me off to a stronger start because it shows the students that you have a logical agenda of preparation for them on a daily basis.

Fall Semester 2015 Week 1 Blog

Throughout the first few weeks of class, I have been having a difficult time with misbehavior with my advanced students. They are not used to the structure that I am bringing to the classroom. The teacher before me was much less structured than I am. I have been dealing with several different kinds of misbehavior. One of the most prevalent misbehaviors has been off task behavior. The way I have found that corrects this behavior best is proximity. As soon as I locate any off task students, I walk toward them and stand next to them. As soon as I do this, the students get back on task. The proximity technique has been a great technique and has helped me very much throughout the first few weeks.

I didn't teach last year. But it has definitely helped me gain control of my classes this year.

Week1 Question

The first week of school, i used my classroom procedures which i created during the summer NTI class. I went over my procedures the first two weeks and i use them every day.Something else i used was the parking lot ,all of my lesson plans and the teaching strategies! I am using every thing i learned even down to dealing with students that interrupts while I'm teaching!

If you were not in the Summer NTI, what did you struggle with most during your first weeks of school?

The main issue I sturggle with is transition from a floater being in my room for a second period class and having to come in and then not having enough time to place my framework on the board before the class comes in.

Week 1 first post

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?

I used the syllabus and the lesson plans the first week. I also found the safety information very helpful.

I posted the classroom procedures (behavior) policy. I felt so well prepared the first week of school from all the things I learned from the summer NTI program.

Some parts worked very well. I had to redo the lesson plans to a weekly level instead of daily for various reasons.

Yes, it did get me off to a stronger start than last year. It was less things that I had to complete being in a new environment.