Starting this semester has been in many ways better. The first day, new teacher nervous jitters are not as bad. Confidence level has improved, so overall much, much, better! Half way to summer!
The start of the first day of second semester was very similar to the first day of school in that I went over the expectations and classroom procedures as a review for the students. We also had a school wide assembly to ensure that all the students were familiar with the expectations set forth and there would be no excuses for violations. The rationale for the review was to ensure the students were clear on the classroom expectations. This made the start of second semester great. No behavior problems so far. (knock on wood :) )
The one thing that I did differently this semester is stand up for myself and speak to the counselors right of the bat when I was receiving new students who have not had the first semester of HSTE. (or any HSTE) They actually understood my plea and changed the students schedule. I told the counselors I would be more than glad to have these students next year for a full year, but not for part of a year. They would not place a student in Algebra second semester without having first semester, would they? The reason I went to the counselors is because of a few students that I have that should have never been in my class, (resource only students)but by the time I realized it, the counselors told me that it was to late to move them.
Hopefully second semester will be even better than first. there is so much still to learn and do.
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.
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2. Show respect and consideration of others when posting and commenting. This includes individuals, students, organizations, political parties, colleagues, etc.
3. Check all posts for spelling and grammar errors before posting.
4. Protect the privacy of others. Gain permission from other people before you write about them. Avoid sharing someone else's last name. Use job titles or pseudonyms when writing about experiences with your co-workers or students.
5. Watch your language. Use politically correct and non-offensive language.
6. Make sure you write about things that are factual.
7. Keep your postings education-oriented. Avoid discussing plans for the weekend, etc.
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?
6 comments:
Thats strange that you mention this semester feeling much like the first day of school. Im in my second year and I still come in with butterflies in my stomach when the new semester starts. Even with well know students.
I'm glad to hear that your counselors are finally listening about making sure your students are properly sequenced. I wonder if they realize that they are setting them up for failure if they dump them in 2nd semester without first?
We have done the samething with our automotive program.The students have to take the semsester of electrical before they can move on to the other automotive classes,because electrical is used so much in every aspect of working on cars.This is the first semester that we have fully implemented this and it seems to be working well.
Hi Esther,
I am proud of you for working with your counselors. Unless you inform them, they really don't have experience with your program so they don't understand why sequencing is important. They have a ton of paperwork and students to place and unless we work with them to understand our programs they have no other way of knowing. You also advocated for those students, whether you know it or not. They were being set up for failure. I applaud you! Dr. J.
Esther, I still had those butterflies too. But I did feel much calmer in a lot of ways. I think already knowing who the students were was a big help. And I am so glad you talked to the counselors and got the students out of your class. It was not fair to you, but even worse, it was setting the students up for failure. I agree with Dr. Burns. I think some of the counselors just plain don't know what it is we do. They have to place the students somewhere, anywhere. They don't realize that Healthcare Science is not an arts and crafts class!
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