Open Mic #2

I just wanted to say how much I have learned during my time in NTI. As a brand new teacher, I felt so much more prepared having taken NTI courses before starting teaching. I want to thank Dr. Burns, Dr. Montrois, & Ms. Hayden for sharing all of your experience and real life knowledge. I appreciate your dedication to making better CTAE teachers. I also want to thank all of my fellow classmates. I have enjoyed getting to know all of you and I hope to keep in touch as much as possible. Good Luck to everyone for the rest of the school year and have a great summer!! Love ya, Shellee

Open mic

Sorry this is late-I went by the syllabus that stated that the blogging was done the week of March 30th. My open mic statement is that I am glad this whole year is almost over. Only a few more NTI classes, only a few more weeks of my "rookie" year, and only a few more weeks until relaxation begins!! I have enjoyed the experience and it has enriched me, but I will be glad when it is over-I will have a little more free time or down time. Have a good Spring!! See you on the 25th!

Shellee Student

"The most important thing I've learned about myself as a STUDENT during the past three semesters in NTI is . . . that I have more energy and certainly more guts than I thought I did. This past year has been full of changes for me. I changed careers, moved to another county, and took on college, all whilebeing the fulltime parent for my two young daughters and their various never ending needs. If anyone had asked me even a year ago if I could accomplish all of this and still remain sane-I would have laughed my head off at them. The sane part is still an issue at times, but I have learned that I can do most anything I set my mind to do. I have learned to prioritize my life and I have learned if there are dishes in the sink, it is okay. I moved an entire home with only my kids and my mother to help, my kids got to cheerleading and gymnastics and have never missed a homework assignment for school, and I can honestly say that I am a much richer person for the experience. I have learned so much and met so many interesting people during my experience as a student this past year. I have learned to get out of my comfort zone and meet people that I never would have met had I not attended GSU this year. I rode Marta all by myself several times and only got lost once-and did not get killed!! If that is not an accomplishment, then I don't know what is :). I am so glad that I took these courses when I did! We are completing the GAPPS at my school as I write this and everything my administration told us to do in our classrooms during our observations-I was already doing because I have not learned to do it any different. This was a plus!! Thank you all for the experience-it has been so worthwhile!!

The most important thing I have learned>>>>take 2

The most important thing I have learned about myself as a teacher is that I can do a great deal more than I ever thought I could. I learned how to be even more organized and time efficient so that I don't have to take work home with me all that much. I think I have gotten better at this since the beginning of the year, and I can tell that I can get so much more done now than when I first started and felt like I was working in circles!! I have alos learned that it is okay to change it up a little if something is not working. I have tried some new stuff in class-projects and things, and if they seem a little flat to the kids, I have told them "hey, this doesn't seem to be working quite the way I thought it would-any suggestions?" and have taken it from there. Each unit and each day proves to be a learning opportunity. I think I have become more comfortable teaching and I enjoy it even more than I ever thought I would. I still have so much more to learn, but I have really learned the following:
1. Organize and plan-for everything!!
2. Have backups-for everything!!
3. Use your planning period for planning when possible, nothing else.
4. It is okay to shut your door to prepare-you won't seem like a snob!
5. STep outside between classes every once in awhile and breathe-each class is different and each class is a new opportunity to improve my teaching and the way students can learn in my class.

Administrators

The most important thing I have learned about working with administrators is that they are people too and some days they have good days and some days are bad just like they are for myself. I try to remember that they are working for the same goals as I am, just on a much larger scale. While I am trying to manage my 3 classes, they are trying to manage the entire school and all that encompasses. Whenever the administration asks us to do one more report or come to one more meeting, this can be frustrating, but in the end, if it will help all of our jobs to be more productive and more worthwhile, for us as well as the students, then it is worth it. Our administration really works with its staff and students and they are very open to changes and any help they can get from the staff and community. I have enjoyed working with my administrators this year.

The most important thing...

I have learned so much about my students this past year that sometimes I am overwhelmed by it all. I guess the most important thing I have learned is that although times have changed since I was in high school, the basics have not changed. When I was in high school, the main things in my life were friends, activities, the phone, music and my family. Although the walkman has turned into the ipod, the home phone has morphed into iphones and sidekicks, the basics are still the same.
Another thing I have learned is that although I often think of my classes as a whole group, each student is very individual in their own way. They are each dealing with much more pressure, both from their peers and from school, than I ever had to deal with as a student in high school. I have a few students who have no family, and some who have as many as 8 brothers and sisters in their home. There is the 'popular crowd' and the 'not so popular crowd' and those that are in between. I still see a bit of the "Breakfast Club" in the high school environment.
The last thing I will mention that I have learned is that my mother was right-I can't believe I just said that-HA!HA! She told me before I ever started teaching that if I treat the students like I would want my own children to be treated, that for the most part, I would do just fine. I have tried to really remember to do this by treating the students with respect, calling them down when they needed it (without calling them out), and trying to build relationships with them as I taught. This has really worked well for me in my classroom. I have some really great kids, no matter what group they are in or where they come from or where they are going. I have learned so much from them that I have a much richer and fuller life, both at work and at home. I have learned alot about today's culture and about why my children behave the way they do sometimes (like crazy people.) They are kids in grown ups bodies most of the time, and I hope when they take away at least some of the life skills I have tried to teach and model to them in the classroom-skills like respect, grace, humor and caring.

Week of 3/2/09-3/6/09

Hello! I have checked each day to see if this week's question was going to be posted,but there has not been a new one added as of today. I did not want to miss a week, but I am going to be out of town this weekend and won't be near a computer where I can check the blog. I figured if I post something, you would know that I am trying to do the weekly blogs and not forgetting about completing my blogging assignments. Hope everyone is having a great week. Have a great weekend-it is supposed to be very pretty weather, so enjoy!!

Proof of improvement or learning teaching skills

I have an overall feeling that I have improved because I feel more comfortable in the classroom in general. I have my routines down. my kids follow my routines for the most part, and I feel more at ease when dealing with a student who is not acting appropriately. I know I have alot to learn, but I feel like it is a continuous process and I learn something new every single day. One example of this learning process is allowing enough time for completion of a project, but not enough time to allow for getting off task. I wrote down notes on each project on how long each project should last realistically based on how long they lasted last semester. I have found this has really helped with my planning for this semester. I have also learned that unless it is an emergency, I don't take work home. This has helped alot with my motivation and energy levels in the classroom. I use my off time as off time and my planning and before school time as work time. I am much more efficient this way.

Survey

I finished the survey.

Portfolio

I think the eportfolio is a great career tool. In doing my eportfolio, I have learned a new skill in creating a google site, I have updated my resume and it has made me go back and review how my lesson plans are helping my students to accomplish their own career goals for the future. I believe this will enhance my own professional marketing by creating a professional site where my personality, career highlights and technological skills can be displayed and shared with those I work for and colleagues with whom I currently network. It is an easy tool to use and I have even incorporated it into my own lesson plans.
I am currently using the eportfolio method in my Applications classes. I am having my students create their own websites where they can start to build their educational and professional resumes. They have loved the idea of creating their own website, and they like the technology involved. They have a scetion for their clubs, achievements, philosophy, resumes and educational/community involvement. Several students have said they are going to use this as a link to view on some of their college applications. I have really enjoyed sharing this information and they really like that their instructor is also having to do one for school!

Elluminate

If I were going to use elluminate in one of my classes, there are lots of things that would have to be considered. The first consideration I would have to address would be if my students had access to the necessary technology needed to participate in the course. My students are from the lower economic level and alot of them don't have computers at home and rely on the ones at school or the library to complete their work. I would have to jump over that hurdle first. The second consideration would be their level of computer knowlege and ability to access Elluminate. I would have to educate them on the program, how to use it and how to hook up the headset and microphone and then assess thier abilities to use the system by trial and error, much like we have done for this class. Another consideration would be their level of maturity and motivation. As adult learners, we are motivated to attend these sessions and focus on each lesson because our job depends upon this and because we have paid for the course. I don't feel like most of my lower level students would have the maturity to attend class and pay the necessary attention that an elluminate lesson involves. As for the activities I would include, I would like to use short film clips, group work and PowerPoint lessons. The white board would be used for student presentations and of course classroom discussion would be a major activity.

Overall, I love the elluminate technology for myself, but I feel that it may be a little advanced for my students just because the motivation to attend an independent learning session such as this type requires just is not there most of the time.

Interview

I have set up an appointment to interview one of our school counselors. We have 3 school counselors and they are incredibly busy with over 2000 students to place in 4 blocks every semester and all classes must be toward their graduation goal. It took the counselor 2 days just to find a good day for me to come in so that I could do the interview, so I know they are always backed up. It astounds me that not only do they do all the scheduling, but they also help students with crisis issues, help with all standardized testing and help arrange assemblies and speakers to the school in general. I believe that knowing this information will help me to appreciate the counselors even more than I already do. It will also help me to know when to send a student to a counselor and when I need to just tell the student that just because they want to take health occupations but is now placed in cosmetology (because that is what they put on their schedule card last semester) they cant' just randomly change their mind at anytime during the semester. I will also be able to recommend resources to students that the counselors offer and know more about what may be helpful to the students throughout the year.

Lavoie Post

The 2 Lavoie videos that we have watched in NTI have made me more aware of students' needs in general, special needs or not. What really struck me was when he mentioned that the number one most important thing an adolescent wanted to avoid was embarrassment. This made me stop and think about when I was an adolescent and I can remember that feeling of 'Oh, please just don't let me stand out in a bad way or look wierd.' This has made me more sensitive to the social students' needs and I have tried to implement his advice in my classroom. What also has made a difference is my mother's advice. She was a Special Education teacher at the high school level for over 10 years and she told me to treat all the students like I wanted my own children to be treated. She reminded me that not all of these kids have such a great home life or foundation to begin with and she echoed Lavoie's statement that I have to watch everything I do in the classroom because any little slight could tear down a student's foundation.

Reflection

The aspect that I am improving on is adapting my classroom teaching style and lesson plans to the student's strengths and weaknesses. I have learned that I can't do the smae stuff for every class and this has helped me out with classroom management as well. For example, my third period is very loud in general and very active, so I g ive them alot of activities where they move around alot and can discuss the material or lab activity. They get the work done, but they don't have to stay quiet while completing their tasks. My first period is very quiet and work better with worksheets or small group activities, so I try to keep their activities on a smaller scale. My fourth period is a mix, so I have learned to try to provide a medium level of action in their learning activities. I have found this flexiblilty works better for me and my students.

The one thing I need to improve upon for next semester is time management. I have let a few lessons last a day or more than they should have and have found myself a little pressed for time to cover some of the material here at the end of the semester. I have worked around this so far, but I don't want to be in the same position next semester, so I have looked back over my lesson plans and placed a reasonable, realistic time limit on each activity, based on what was really needed for the lesson this semester. I guess practice does make improvement-certainly not perfect, but better.

I am thankful for...

I am thankful for my family-my two daughters, my mom and my sister. 2008 has been a rough year for me-I got a whole new career, went back to school, was in a pretty scary wreck where my car was totaled, got divorced and packed up me and my girls and moved to a new location-all within a 6 month time span. My family has been my rock and has really gotten me through all of this without letting me lose my mind-too much at least!! I am thankful for my faith in Christ and for my new job. I really love my students and my school staff-we are all a big team at DCHS. I am thankful that Christmas Break is almost here-I spent Thanksgiving break unpacking our new home that we moved into last month, so I am really looking forward to a good long break from everything in 3 weeks!! I am just thankful that not only have I survived all of the interesting new changes in my life, but I think I am starting to thrive again.

Onlinie...pros & cons

I really liked the Online portion of EDBT 4570. It allowed me to fit the work into my schedule and when I was most ready to really focus on the activities. Most of the in class sessions, I was so tired by the time I left school, caught Marta and made it into the classroom, that I was just kind of there, but online I could arrange it to suit my needs. Some of the lessons were hard and time consuming-but I have found that that is true for all things in life-just like in the real classroom setting. The few things I did not like about the online sessions were that it made me more accountable to remember to do them, and that the ULearn site kept going down after only being on the site for about 5 minutes at a time. It kept kicking me off the site each time I would go to another section. That may have been my computer or user error, but it was annoying. Overall, I really liked the online sessions.

Contacting parents

I have had a good experience with contacting parents. Most of my contacts have been phone or email, but I have had a few face to face meetings with parents and one in particular stands out. It was during my 3rd block and I was trying to get a particulary active freshman to sit down and quit talking so I could explain an assignment. Every time I tried to give directions, she would hop back up in her seat and talk to another student. AT the same time, another student heard a knock on my classroom door and opened it-for the freshman's mother. I moved to greet her and introduce myself, and all this time, the student never even looked up to see that her mother was standing at her desk. The mother grabbed the student by her arm, led her to my desk area and proceeded to "discuss" her behavior with her-in front of the entire class. Before I could get them to the hallway for privacy, the mother pinched the student on the end of her nose and told her to "get focused or else" and then thanked me for my time. She then started to fuss at the student again, so I showed them the hall and tried to ge tthe class back on track with the assignment. The student and mom came back into the class, the student was much more quiet and has been more focused in class ever since. I was not even the teacher who called the mom, it had been another teacher that had been having problems with the student in her class. Turns out the mom just wanted to surprise the student and see "what was going on" according to the mother. This is one parent contact I won't likely forget for some time.

New post

Well, obviously I am having some trouble keeping up with everything since I am a day late in posting on this blog site. I tried to log on last night, but technical difficulties prevented me from doing so until today. I am, overall, enjoying my new career as a teacher. I enjoy my students and my classes, the hours work well with my children's schedules and I have been using my planning time and early morning times wisely so I don't have alot of take home work. The only thing that I kind of do not like is that we have so many workshops we must attend. I am a club sponsor and extended day teacher, so I have workshops that I have to attend for that in order to gain points toward my annual club goal. Then I have the mandatory school related workshops that are required by my district. I am averaging about 2-3 days a month out of the classroom just for workshops. I know I am new to teaching, but alot of these workshops kind of overlap in their material. I am not complaining (too much) because I am blessed to have a good job that allows me and my children to afford the kind of life we live, but does the workshops slow down later on or do they stay pretty much the same? Just wondering. Thanks.

Presentation-good points and bad

My first PowerPoint presentation project for my Introduction class was good in theory. They were to research an assigned part of the HIPPA law and complete a PowerPoint presentation to the class what they learned. They used their time wisely and I thought all was going well with the groups until they got up to present. Only 2 groups actually presented what they had learned about the law. The other 4 groups had copied and pasted and basically read their presentations straight from the slide show. They really did not have any grasp of what they were reading and they even mispronounced some of the words in their own presentations. I had given them a rubric on what was expected and had gone over in class before they began their research that plagarism was not allowed, but when I mentioned this to the groups after their presentations, they really did not consider copying and pasting for a presentation plagarism because they put their websites on the end slides. The next PowerPoint presentation worked better, because we discussed in detail what I expected from each group-no copying and pasting and they needed to be able to answer basic questions on the material without notecards or the slides.

Body Planes Win, Lose or Draw

I had a request to post my idea for Body Planes Win, Lose or Draw game. I used this in my Applications class to review the body's directions, planes and movements. Basically, I took the part in unit 6 of Diversified Health Occupations book and put each plane, direction and movement term on a slip of paper with the term's definition. I had two sets of these slips for 24 students(you can create however many you need depending on class size.) I divided my class up into 2 sets of 12-one on each side of the room facing the white board, and then divided each of those sets into competing teams of 6 students. Each side of the room got an envelope with the slips of paper inside. The white board was divided into 2 big sections, one for each side of the room, then on each big section, there was a scoring section for each team of 6 drawn. The competing teams chose who would draw for them and the teams took turns drawing one of the terms on the white board. Each team had one book to look things up and the first team to get the correct term got a point. At the end of the class, the 2 teams who had the most points got a free dress pass or extra credit on their test. It was fun and lasted the whole class. They did not even stop for the bell.