I started this semester with a shop overhaul. Actually we did all of that during the last two weeks of last semester so we would be ready for this one. I rearranged the location of the tool room and materials rooms. I had to rearranged my classroom to accommodate a 27 student 3rd block. I really liked the way It was set up before but I'm glad to have the numbers this semester. My other 2 blocks are easy to manage; the numbers are lower. I'm splitting my 3rd block into 4 groups. Safety, Materials, Tools and Cleaning. Each group will switch responsibilities with the others on a weekly basis so everything will be fair. I'm creating rubrics for group grading as well as individual grading.
This semester, because of lack of funding, I'll be spending more time in the books. The kids should still get plenty of shop time but not as much as last semester. I revised my Student Handbook to accommodate the wide array of new and improved "tactics" as used by the students last semester. Cell phone still seem to be the biggest problem. I gave a test the other day and my 3rd blockers were trying to draw my attention while they passed answers. Being a fractions test, (5th and 6th grade material), I told them they needed to show their work for a grade. These fractionated calculators are o.k. but if you ask them to work the problem out long-hand a lot of the kids are lost! This may be a bunch that we are allowing to be lazy! Computers, calculators, cell phones etc.! But overall I feel more confident, virtually no first day jitters, a little wiser and more organized.
Dwayne,
ReplyDeleteIt will be interesting to see how the four group split works for you. It makes sense to me. Be sure you have responsibilites for each group - sort of like a job description - or bulleted tasks. Made them accountable with a daily group grade. See if this helps- theoretically it should. I'm impressed with your reorg, and also happy for you that there were no first day jitters. Dr. J
Hi Dwayne, splitting the class into four groups sounds like a really good plan. Keep us posted as to how this works for you. I'm wondering how I might use your idea for a few of my classes....
ReplyDeleteCell phones and iPods are still a big issue at my school too. I don't know what the answer is. Sometimes I wish our principal would ban them from campus altogether. But I don't know if that would be fair to those students who are responsible and follow the rules. I think the girls are worse than the boys about cell phones. The girls will sit there with their purses on the desk and text message. I guess they think teachers are not aware of what they are doing with their hands in their purses. So, all purses go under their desks or on the floor. I guess they will soon try to text message with their toes! Ha! Ha!