CTE New Teacher Institute Forum: My Proud Moment

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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?

Monday, September 5, 2016

My Proud Moment

The proud moments in the classroom are some of the greatest rewards of teaching for me. The "Ah ha!" moments, the "finally getting it" moments, or the moments when a kid comes running to tell you about a connection they made with course content outside of the classroom.

My biggest "proud" this week was in a young lady who has been in my class before...and, in fact, failed my class before. Frankly, this student has struggled through much of her academic career with low grades and poor study habits. She has some personal difficulties that have contributed to her troubles. She is now a senior.

From the beginning of the year, she has worked very hard improving her study habits, getting her work done on time, engaging in group assignments and even volunteering to answer questions in class. This week, she made the highest grade that I have ever given her on a unit exam: an 86! I was so excited as I was marking her test. I honestly can't wait to give her answer sheet back to her in class tomorrow. I know she will be as proud of herself as I am of her.

I certainly can't take the credit for her new-found success and motivation, but I hope that my persistence and coaching has helped promote the positive changes that she has made this year. She is inspired by her own struggles with emotional health to pursue a career in mental health care. I believe she can do it!

2 comments:

Unknown said...: It's always great to see a student understand what you have been trying to beat in there heads. It's even better when that student has been a problem in class and has made a turn toward better behavior. Hopefully she will continue down this path the rest of her life,keep it up Jessica.; September 6, 2016 at 7:01:00 AM EDT
Anna Miller said...: Jessica, this is definitely a "win" for you as a teacher. I wouldn't say that you can't take credit for her motivation. Sometimes we motivate kids without even realizing it. I'm sure that in some way you encouraged this young lady to want to succeed. Either way, you deserve to be proud for this! I hope she keeps it up.; September 6, 2016 at 8:56:00 PM EDT