A Learing Strategy FLOP!

I experimented with the Read and Run learning activity. I found that this does not work in my small classroom. It was almost a disaster. The students that I thought were in the “best” class (my advanced level) to utilize this strategy were also not capable of self control. Because of space, I could not use the rows that Ms. Hayden demonstrated with the chairs at the end. Instead, I put the desks in groups of 4 and used the whiteboard tray to hold their stapled questions. I made sure all book bags were out of the floor and set to the side. I explained the game and students repeated the directions and my expectations; however, as soon as I said “go” the students were extremely competitive and what sounded great in the beginning almost turned into a disaster. Students were cheating, bending the rules, etc. I had some groups take it seriously with well written responses using patience and good research skills, while other groups tried to write what they assumed to be “common sense” answers which were not in their content packets. Groups were placed but with the high number of special needs students coupled with the very small space, this activity proved to be more than they, myself, and my paraprofessional teacher could handle. Can anyone suggest another activity that would cover a large amount of material in a 90 minute block that isn’t a Power Point presentation?

Something Sad

A student who had been absent many times since the beginning of the school year told me that she would be leaving at some point to live in a group home.  She did not want to discuss why, so I didn't press the issue.  I've just been doing what I can to make up the work that she had been missing. 

This week, her guardian (her mom's sister) emailed and asked if she could meet with me.  I agreed and it turned out to be a really good meeting.  Her aunt said the mother was on drugs and not wanting to have anything to do with the child. The Dad was not in the picture and stayed in jail or intoxicated.   She's had her in her custody since February, but the child had attempted to run away by hitching a ride with some guys that she didn't know.  When she found her way back home, the guys had given her the date rate drug and she had to be admitted to the hospital for treatment.    After that incident, the aunt felt she should go to more secure surroundings, the group home, so the child could be safe.   While waiting for placement, the child and the aunt agreed that they both really wanted her with the aunt, so they cancelled the group home placement with the condition that she would not try to "escape" again.

The aunt stated that the child really liked my class and was always excited when talking about it.  We agreed to work together to keep her engaged and excited and current in her work.  She actually has a good grade at this time, so we thought telling her this would boost her confidence.  

I also had another student, who I talked to about her bad attitude state that I didn't know what she was going through.  She stated that she has an anger problem, depression and a lot of trouble at home (her step dad gets put out of the house once a month). 

I am just in shock at the problems these kids have and have to admit I was very naive about it. I'm glad that her guardian and all of her teachers are working together to make it better for her and look forward to reporting good progress about her accomplishments in class to you in the future. 

week 2 surprise

One thing about teaching is that it's always full of surprises. This week, I was unpleasantly surprised that my third year students don't share the same enthusiasm as I do for a particular project.

Here's the background that builds up to this week: This summer was when I received my pleasant surprise. A group of my 2nd year students had made a commercial for our school store's very popular product, the Breeze Freeze, 100% frozen fruit juice. These ads were a hit on our daily news broadcast. I uploaded these videos to YouTube so everyone could continue to enjoy them. Lo and behold, the Breeze Freeze company found the videos, and they were so impressed by them that they instituted a national YouTube competition. The school of the winning video will win two free cases of Breeze Freeze product - enough for 320 cups of frozen delight. The school store will decide on how to reward the winners.

Now, you would think that my students would try to exceed in this project, but it has been rather lack luster. They just don't share my enthusiasm, and I don't know what I'm doing wrong. I set the deadline for this project on Wednesday. I still have two groups that haven't finished. Granted, the quality of this year's videos don't compare the those of last year. Perhaps that shouldn't surprise me, but it does. Maybe I'm just disappointed.

Brenda, Week 2

Last week was really a busy week with the HSGT writing assessment test and planning for the HOSA Fall Leadership Conference on September 25-27th. I had originally registered 14 students to attend the Fall Leadership Conference, two of which I sponsored because of their loyalty to HOSA and their determination to work in the health care industry. The other 12 were sponsored by their parents and several of the teachers in our school. I was really appreciative to the teachers for stepping in to assist with the cost of this affair for some of our students. My colleagues, like me, really go above and beyond the call of duty to make sure our students have positive life experiences and opportunities to help them improve their leadership skills and knowledge levels.

One of my student came to be at the last minute and expressed an interest in attending the HOSA Leadership Conference. The last minute was after the registration had closed and all late submissions would have a late fee attached. She stated up front that she did not have any money but she really wanted to go to Jekyll Island and that she had already found a couple of sponsors. I thought it would be really great for this student to come along on the trip because she is an extremely intelligent young lady with a great outlook on life. She has a 3.9 GPA and is very active in lots of school activities including being a SGA officer. In order for this student to go on the trip I had to put things into action shortly after the conversation in order for the trip to become a reality for her. I confirm the sponsorship with the teachers as stated by the student and felt reasonable safe to go ahead and make plans. I e-mailed the HOSA Headquarters and asked for an add on and the request was granted with a final cost for this student being $206.31 to include membership dues, HOSA shirt, registration, meal plan, late fees, and her share of the hotel room. I called the student's home on Saturday morning and spoke with her mother who was extremely happy that we could help her child go on the trip. The student was happy when I told her that the last minute add on was approved and the cost. I offered to
go ahead and send the registration and membership fees to expedite the registration. And so I mailed the check for $125.00.

On Monday afternoon the sponsoring teachers for this student asked me why she had not come for the money for the HOSA trip. I informed them that I was not certain of the reasons but I would find out and mostly because I needed to finalize the trip plans. When I finally located the student she told me she was not going and did not have a good explanation at this point. She did say the cost was too much for the teachers to pay and she did not want them to pay that much money for her. I reminded her of our conversation of Saturday morning and all she said was "I am sorry" but I don't want to go now. After school another student told me that the student had told them that the HOSA trip was going to be boring and they would not learn anything about leadership.

Needless to say at this point I was a little distressed. First, because I had lost $125.00 trying to help someone I thought would benefit from attending the leadership conference. Secondly, because I had given this student more credibility than what was being displayed. And third, I am questioning how I will respond the next time a student express an interest in attending the HOSA Conferences. I am not unhappy, jolted, or shook up about the money. I was mainly caught off guard by a good student whom I thought would have benefited from such a good opportunity to travel and enhance her leadership skills and qualities.

Administrative Support

Well, my surprise happened Wednesday night at parent teacher conference. A parent attacked me verbally about lack of communication for the HOSA trip (her daughter did not tell her the whole truth about the room assignment nor did the mother read the paperwork that she signed). However, the women was very rude and I asked her to change her tone of speech or I would not talk to her about the issue. Of course, her tone did not change and I walked out of the room. Another parent overheard the interaction and walked with me to calm my nerves. She was very supportive and offered to talk with administration about what she had witnessed with the other parent. Next, I was called to the main office for my side of the story. To my surprise the administration team accepted what I said, told me not to worry, to have a great trip with the student in JI and that they would take care of the rest. I could have fell out of my chair! I was very please and happy to know that I was being supported in my actions. To have an administration team that support me is sooooooo nice and makes me want to do more for them, the students and the school.

PS, my trip to HOSA was a lot of fun and the student were great.

KJ; Surprise Event

Boy do I have a good one for this. I had one of my female students approach me and ask if she could invite another female student out in the hall to confront her about some accusatory comments she had made about her.
I’m not sure if I handled this situation properly or not. I told her it would be alright with me as long as she could guarantee me that nothing physical would happen and she could wait until the assignment had begun and I could stand by the door to monitor their behavior and actions as well as the other students in the class. Luckily everything went well and they talked it out like adults.
After the situation had been resolved, I thought about it and I should have invited an Assistant Principal to monitor my class or monitor the hall situation. I also am very proud that a student has that much trust in me that she would come to me with her problem and inform me of the situation at hand.
Any thoughts or comments would be appreciated.

Lori-Blog Week 2

     I had something that shook me up this week. It effected me so much, that I have considered changing professions. I considered the change because of pressure, not because I dislike teaching. I truly enjoy training students in the area of broadcasting. I feel that I have a lot to offer, considering that I have twenty years of business experience. 

     The first year that I came to my current high school, I began a new technology area in my county. I was given the opportunity to pave the way for other teachers and the chance to see if the program would be successful. Successful is has been, as far as the number of students signing up for the class. Students naturally gravitate to computers, cameras and microphones. I spent the first two years of teaching using limited equipment provided by the county, supplemented with my own personal equipment. I willingly brought in my personal equipment because I wanted to accurately teach according to standards set by the Georgia Professional Standards Committee. I needed my equipment to do this. 

     The second year of teaching, I was made aware of the possibility of receiving grant money for equipment. My husband and I filled out the paper work and submitted it. To our excitement, my high school received the grant money which has remade the studio into a wonderful state of the art studio for students. I realize that our school's program is extremely blessed and advanced in their opportunity  to learn.

      With receiving expensive equipment, I set up a check-in and check-out policy. This will ensure the safety of our equipment. On one occasion last week during homecoming week, I found a flaw in the system that made me reconsider my job. My advanced students took an expensive microphone outside to videotape the homecoming candidates. It was a tremendous interview, in which the filmers were all very proud. This was until the next morning, when the lab manager could not find the microphone. We looked all day and could not figure out what had happened. Couldn't we trust the advanced students ? Noone remembered who brought it back inside the equipment room. Noone told the teacher that they were taking it outside of the classroom. Noone checked it in or out, because it was an in class project. We waited for the weekend to pass, hoping that it would surface, and praying that it was not hijacked. The check out system had failed, because we did not have an "in class" policy set up for the responsible students who were lab managers. The check out procedure was mostly for off campus shooting and for "underclassmen". Advanced students were flawless..... weren't they ?

     A few days later, I was summoned to an administrators office. The meeting is the crux of why I question my continued career pathway. He pointed his finger at me, leaned over his desk and stated that " your check out policy is not working" and "that if I did not get it corrected, I would be looking for a new job next year".  Needless to say, he is a little worried about the new lab that has come our way. This is the first incident of lost equipment under my watch. Although I did not approve it going outside, I am ultimately responsible. Now I am checking in and out all equipment personally. Thankfully, a bus driver who was smoking near the shoot, found the missing bag.  My question is.... should I live under this bondage ? Is this a program destined for failure ?  Will I be spending all my time worrying about missing equipment, instead of being able to teach ?  In defense of myself, the microphone went straight from the library where it was being tagged to the interview outside. It surpassed me. I can work out as many kinks as possible, but what if there are more that I haven't considered ?  I felt very depressed after this incident. I checked into teaching in other counties where I can make more money for the stress that is involved. However, I enjoy this county, but now I am not so sure about this school. I feel confident that I am very hard working and I try to be responsible. I don't feel appreciated for what I have brought and can bring to the county. I am glad that I can bring this before other NTI teachers for their advise and keep my thoughts away from my fellow teachers at school. 

Shocking Observation (Vincent)

This week was really smooth until Thursday morning my upper level courses have entered the topic of Capital Punishment in Criminal Justice we have had interesting activities on the Web, Textbook work and Discussion on who agrees or disagrees with the subject of Capital Punishment. Thursday Morning I set up a Powerpoint to show my class the different types of capital punishment instruments used on Inmates for the last 100 years, Electric Chair, Gas Chamber, Lethal injection, Hangings, Firing Squad etc. While I was doing my set introduction to start the Power point the Projector went out. Immediately my prinicpal walked in the classroom to observe me WOW. My students for some reason understood the problem and immediately started asking me question about Capital Punishment. Some way we ended up using the topic to go into the controversial topic of abortion which had differences of opinions between both male and female students, which also entered into the topic of Brian Nichols the court shooting in fulton county, which lead into the discussion of 18 year high school graduates fighting in Iraq, which lastly lead to the Democratic and Republican candiates and their views on the topics discussed in class and Friday's upcoming debates. My Principal stayed in my class about 20 minutes. Although some may feel we went down a slippery slope in class on all the different topics, I really was proud of my class how they applied the topic of Capital Punishment to everyday current life and topics and how the good discussion made way for some good productive thought when things didn't work out with the Power Point Presentation.

Happy Moment in Teaching

Several weeks ago Delores shared with me about a website called quia.com where you could create tests and games. I signed up for a free 30 day trial of the site. This past week I created a test for my Applications class and it went so well that I am still amazed. The students took the test online and received their scores right after the test. They were able to see immediately what questions they answered wrong and the correct answer on those questions. I was able to print a copy of each students test and also a report that showed what percent of the students missed each question as well as a graph that showed each students score. As a new teacher creating test and grading them can be quite time consuming. I am so thankful that Delores shared this wonderful website with me. The best part of all is the membership is only $50 a year. What a deal!



Happy Moment in Teaching

Several weeks ago Delores shared with me about a website called quia.com where you could create tests and games. I signed up for a free 30 day trial of the site. This past week I created a test for my Applications class and it went so well that I am still amazed. The students took the test online and received their scores right after the test. They were able to see immediately what questions they answered wrong and the correct answer on those questions. I was able to print a copy of each students test and also a report that showed what percent of the students missed each question as well as a graph that showed each students score. As a new teacher creating test and grading them can be quite time consuming. I am so thankful that Delores shared this wonderful website with me. The best part of all is the membership is only $50 a year. What a deal!

Hinz-Week 2

My kids have been working on power point presentations as a career exploration activity in which they began sharing last Thursday and Friday. Because of the variation of student learners within my classes, I knew some students would finish their presentation promptly while others would use more time to work. So, I came up with another assignment for those who were finished to move on to independently and also using a computer. I was a little worried that having two separate assignments going on at once would not work because I was afraid that those finished with the power point would not take moving on to the next assignment seriously. Yet, I introduced the new assignment with a set induction that worked rather well and to my surprise, the students worked well within the classroom on two separate assignments.

Also, I was really, really pleased with the power point presentations that were presented lat week. The students did a wonderful job displaying the information that I asked for. They were also respectful to presenters (this is something I always worry about and try to encourage students to do). I am also using the red/yellow sheet from NTI this summer to manage the time during each presentation. That is working well too!

Comments to Connie

Connie, I thought your comments were very philosophical. I do agree with the comments in some respect. However it is also human to feel sadness and happiness when your beliefs are inaccurate. I also agree that this was a chaotic week. I am glad that HOSA went well for you as it did for me. It sounds like your students behaved very well as did most of the students in attendance. I was pleasantly surprised by my male students that attended in that they behaved like real gentleman. They are so playful at times, I wasn’t sure how they would behave on this trip, but as you stated just giving them the benefit of the doubt sometimes is all that is needed. Go MAXWELL wow.

My Surprise was Sad

To say the least, this has been a very busy week. In addition to getting 10 students ready to attend the Fall Leadership Conference for HOSA in Jekyll Island, we were told in a staff meeting to call all parents (even though we are not the Home school) regarding absenteeism. Surprisingly, I had a parent tell me that her child had decided to move out of her house and in with a boyfriend but she was maintaining responsibility for this student. She was totally unaware of the absences and very hurt since she had spent a lot of money on her child for lab supplies and a car (of all things). The student is very attentive, interested, excited about the course, and participates enthusiastically whenever present. Initially I thought she would excel in this course and achieve certification. I was very disappointed to hear this news from her mother and additionally saddened to hear the mother’s account of her own struggles. It seems that the student was a result of a teenage pregnancy and the mother was only able to obtain a GED that has limited her in so many ways. She confided in me that she has struggled as result of this and wants so much more for her child. The entire conversation made me very sad both for the mother and the student.

Teaching this week

This has really been a chaotic week to reflect on. It really only consisted of two days of productive time. I had to be an examiner for half the day Wednesday during the GHSG writing test. Surprised perhaps that one student did nothing for an hour and then frantically wrote for the second hour to be the last one to finish. However, not surprised because he was the only one who jokingly stated that he didn't plan on graduating (perhaps not a joke after all). I was then gone Thursday and Friday to attend the HOSA Fall Leadership Conference. I could have easily worried myself sick wondering if my students were going to behave but found the calmness not to over react to normal teenage behavior when other advisers jumped on kids the minute they appeared to be doing something wrong. Pleasantly surprised by the fact that my students said I was the best but then maybe I gave them the benefit of the doubt that they could be good and they were. What I am getting at is that I feel like I am a person who is rarely surprised in a good or bad way. I just don't get surprised very much. I think that is because I like to take things day by day and never assume anything about anything. To be surprised negatively usually means you put that person on a pedestal or didn't allow them to be human and falter. If you are surprised positively you may be limiting your view of the individual and or situation. We should always be prepared for things to work out opposite of what you expect or that people will at some point disappoint you. I am a realist. You hope for the best, expect the worst, and you are then usually happy with the in between you get.

Penny - Week 2

Hello!

Something that really surprised me this year has been my lab clean-up process. Since I teach architecture and engineering classes, my classroom is generally very messy. Timing does not always allow for a proper clean up of the room so I decided to make Friday my clean up day. But, I make my juniors and seniors do it. So I implemented this new system two weeks ago and it was amazing. Before my class came in, I had made a list of jobs (enough for everyone) and posted it on the projector screen so everyone could see it. I explained what had to be done and they all volunteered for their positions. I turned on some music and set everyone in motion...and to my astonishment, everyone was performing their job and even helping others when they were finished. The room became an army of cleaners.

Since then, every Friday we have done the same thing. They know to come in, sign in for a job on a first come first serve basis and begin as soon as I enter the room. It is great. It is almost like they look forward to it. My surprise is that this works. Its not a miracle type operation but when you put responsibility and ownership into the hands of the students they respond. I guess if an easy management system can work to clean, it can work for just about anything!

Event in my teaching

An event in my teaching this week that took me by surprise was when one of my students started acting more positive in class. This particular student is one I had actually spoke about to some of you in class during our learning wheel exercise. According to him, he hated my healthcare class. There was also another student who verbalized the same sentiments. Both of these students would come to class, sit in the back and talk. Based on the information I received from you all, I reviewed my approach to this student and did somethings differently. First, I rearranged the seating in my class so that no one in this class sits in the back and my talkers are separated. This particular male student actually sits in the front now. I told the students that my reason for changing the seating assignments was to have the students closer to the front so that they could be more involved. I mentioned nothing about being punitive to the talkers. Secondly, one day when I came to class I took the first twenty minutes to ask the students what they thought they would learn in my introductory class and what types of things they thought they would do in labs. Needless to say most thought they would be working with the mannequins, taking blood pressures and conducting other health assessments. What I found out from this student was that he didn't like the class because it was not what he thought it would be. Once I showed him by a few examples of how important it was to learn basic health information in order to properly implement the labs actvities completed in the second course he began to change. He was on time for class this week and actively participated in all lab activities. I was so amazed I even thanked him for being so positive and participating in class even though it may be something that is not that exciting to him.
On the flip side of this, I had to make a call to the other student's parent because of her negative behavior. She had actually behaved worse. Dr. M shared some ideas with me for dealing with the male student that I actually had to implement with the female student because of her poor attitude. Now that I look back on the whole situation, I see why she acted out so much. I had removed her support when I placed her friend in the front. Since his behavior was changing, she no longer had someone to laugh or otherwise support her sarcastic remarks. When I spoke with her mother, I made sure I informed her of the student's positive abilities but asked for assisance on identifying strategies the mother found helpful in working through some of the negative challenges. As one might guess, mom is dealing with very similar issues at home but is supportive and willing to work with me on some possible positive reinforcements to help get this student on the right track as well. I will let you all know how this goes in a future blog!

What Surprised Me Most.

Hello Everyone, What surprised me most is how many personalaties there are in our students, and how one class can differ from another. I am constantly surprised by my students from one day to the next. One day talkative in class to model student. My classroom's may even change, though I had already thought I had that (personality) down. I find that it is not as easy to (label) our students as one might think. This one is model, this one could care less, etc. Our students are as complicated as we are, and should not be deminished by a one, two, three size fits all mold. Everyone has a purpose and ours is to try to mold. I hope I never loose my energy for this purpose, and never find myself judgemental to others. This has to be a calling or we would be crazy to do it. The hours spent are worth it if our resolve does not falter.

My Event This Week....

I had several things going on this week. I had just returned from a three day conference in Savannah, GA. To my surprise, my second and third year students (juniors and seniors) missed me, and were so glad I was back! They hated the substitute. Last year, they couldn't wait for me to be out for a day, so they could get a substitute.

My 1st through 4th period classes went right back to work, where we left off the week before. They are starting to manage each other in the shop, and my "shop foreman" is informing me of who needs to still do which tasks. This was awesome! My "shop foreman" is checking to make sure all repair orders are filled out correctly, that students are keeping their safety glasses on, and even checking to see who didn't put their full name on papers. I wish all of my classes worked this well together. Everyone is eager to get up and use the scan tool, or check brakes, or tear down parts on stands. Also, everyone keeps their safety glasses on! Last year it was like "pulling teeth" to get them to do much of anything.

Something that really disappointed me this week was the lack of effort and motivation in my first year students (5th & 6th periods). I handed out a detailed assignment for the students to get "signed off" for the CTAE Safety/Haz.Mat. Standards. This assignment should have taken two class periods, maybe three. No one was ready to present after the students had three class days to work, and also the weekend. When Monday rolled around, everyone said they forgot, or didn't want to do it, or didn't know they had to do or turn anything in for the assignment. I extended the assignment until friday, restated the "task" and what needed to be done about 10 different ways, gave examples, passed out about 80 copies (only 56 students) of the assignment, and wrote everything on the white board. Each day, very few students were on task. I have about eight ESEP students in each of the classes, but none have any accomodations/modifications for literacy. I re-stated the importance of the assignment, re-stated what was due friday, and kept reminding students that if they didn't present with their group friday that a zero is un-recovereable per the student handbook/grading policies. When friday came, only a couple were ready. Half of the students came up in groups of two or three and mummbled through a brief discussion on the safety assignment. The majority of the students that actually did something, failed. Now I'm in the sixth week of school coming up, and 90% of my first year students refuse to do work, they have no home phone or cell number to call the parents, and I would say at least half of the students in my first year classes are failing due to not doing anything. Help! My first four periods of the day go so smoothly outside of several ADD and ADHD students, which I've adapted to, but 5th and 6th periods don't want to do anything. I tried taking a slight "left turn" around safety to bring in a little automotive careers and shops into the safety lessons to grab their attention, but I'm not getting very far. I only have five or six students per class in the first year that want to be there, and want to learn about automotive.

Pleasantly Suprised

Event in Teaching
Second Week Blogg

This week all three of my classes had a power point and essay project that was due. The projects were assigned as group projects. This is the first time I had group projects of this size and wasn't certain of how well the groups would work together. At the beginning, I gave each group a rubric and a written guideline for their project. The groups were given a two week period to have their project ready for presentation in class.

On Friday of this past week, each group presented their project. To my astonishment, each group did an outstanding presentation. Each student in their group presented their own part of the power point. I was surprised on how well the groups worked together without the bickering. It was obvious that each team leader, the captains, took charge and handed out assignments to each person in their group. Obviously, each group worked well together because of the way the project was presented in class based on the rubric and written guidelines.

I was really amazed on how well my students all worked together in harmony to accomplish some remarkable work.

Week 2 the new world or teaching

Hallow ever one. this week I had a shock in my class and that was my lesson plans. I though that I had a long enough plan but I was wrong about that. What happened was a simple day of going over some power tool and parts turned in to a day of the students not even caring about it at all they just wont to run throw it and talk to etcher. So the next day we did the same thing but I gave them a grade on it. the students look a little so prise wen I told them that. they did not under stand why I was giving them a grade on this work because they were my 2 year student. well I said to them it has been a long time cents you all were here and I need to know what they remember from last year. But I was right a bout it they did not remember all of it so now they have a better look on what I am doing with them.

A little attention goes a long way!!!!

I must say this has been one of my best weeks of teaching. I'm sure you all can relate to those students that just want to talk, walk around the class, or just do absolutely nothing during class. Well I share you pain but this week I seen that a little attention goes a long way. I have three young men, not all in the same class but each one share the same challenge for me each day. I must say this week I decided to take a different approach to handling the situation. I'm a firm believer in letting the problem kids become your class helpers but this week I tried something new. I allowed each of these young men to lead their groups during lab. When I decided to do this I had to question myself. After announcing the news to the groups they wanted to know if I had lost it. Well I must say they ALL exceeded my expectations, each one of these young men done exceptional jobs. In each of the labs this week they made sure there group stayed on task, cleaned properly and completed each activity in the time required. Also the products that they each produced was absolutely wonderful. I made sure I commended each one of them in front of the class. They were smiling from ear to ear and the best part for me was they stayed on task the entire class time. It was the best!!!! They enjoyed the attention they received from their peers and comments from me. I had to one to come to me to ask if he could take pictures using his cell phone, of his work, so that he could show his mom and dad. I must say this week ended on a very good note!!!!!!