I do nothing to change my classroom management during the holidays except maintain it at a high level. The kids struggle the week before Thanksgiving as they want the break, their parents are taking them out early and when they get back its a short three week learning time. I am focusing on the Holocaust and that is a subject that keeps them engaged.
The only incentive program I am running is in our Daily Math Minutes program. We spend 15 minutes each day and do math drills on basic 8th grade math units called probes. When the class average is above a score of 90, three times, (points not %) we can move onto the next probe. The Science Teacher and I have our classes in a competition (the math and ELA teachers are invited but they don't want to compete) and my class is the first to complete the first probe if we do it on Monday. I promised a pizza party if they do it. Also, we go down the hall and do cheers in front of the science room when we score higher than them. The spirit is infectious and even the slackers are bringing up their scores to be part of the average!
Saturday, November 28, 2015
Semester 3 and Active Engagement.
Active engagement is all about movement. Standing at the front and speaking causes boredom and disengagement. If I am moving about the room, asking questions randomly, doing crazy things, and forcing students to wonder, what's he going to do next? then I have engaged them. They are actively listening and learning.
Semester 3 STEM and Social Studies
I focused on using www.timetoast.com in my class both last year and this year. This website allows students to create interactive timelines that show supporting pictures, videos, and data and is so much more than a poster timeline. The kids enjoy being creative and like showing off their work.
Another thing I do with STEM is have the kids make historical Vines and short videos. Its important to screen the prep materials to make sure there is nothing inappropriate. 8th graders can be a bit crude! Academic language is ore important than crude humor.
Another thing I do with STEM is have the kids make historical Vines and short videos. Its important to screen the prep materials to make sure there is nothing inappropriate. 8th graders can be a bit crude! Academic language is ore important than crude humor.
Semester 3 School Councilor
Until this year I have not had to go to the school councilor at all. In fact when I found out this year that she often see teachers for personal/professional issues, I was shocked. However this year I have worked with the school Psychologist (we don't have a Councillor per se) as I am the Child Study Team (CST) Coordinator. As it is my job to evaluate kids to see if they can move onto her list for testing for additional supports (screen for special needs both academic or behavior) I have worked with her a lot. The relationship has been good and mostly telling teachers they need better management rather than kids needing support. All in all things are good.
Semester 3 Common Core
I honestly have no major concerns with Common Core--and in fact support it. My minor irk, before Arizona voted to not follow Common Core , is that states can tweak their CC and not follow a national standard. If states received federal funds for education, they should be forced to follow a Common Core.
Another minor concern is the weakness of the Social Studies and Foreign Language Core Standards. The standards state "Student can describe Totalitarian Governments" This is so braod that there is no standard.
The final concern is how my district can deviate from (before it was ended) the AZCCRS. 8th grade Social Studies is supposed to cover (whoever came up with this need to share the good stuff) the American Revolution, US government, and US history from WW2 on. No Colonialism, No Early Republic. The 7th grade core covers the Civil War and WW1. No Progress Era or Early Republic. My district has 7th grade cover Colonialism to the Civil War with a unit on government and 8th grade covers US history in the 20th Century. I don't understand how they get away with this. (Yes the they is left vague).
Another minor concern is the weakness of the Social Studies and Foreign Language Core Standards. The standards state "Student can describe Totalitarian Governments" This is so braod that there is no standard.
The final concern is how my district can deviate from (before it was ended) the AZCCRS. 8th grade Social Studies is supposed to cover (whoever came up with this need to share the good stuff) the American Revolution, US government, and US history from WW2 on. No Colonialism, No Early Republic. The 7th grade core covers the Civil War and WW1. No Progress Era or Early Republic. My district has 7th grade cover Colonialism to the Civil War with a unit on government and 8th grade covers US history in the 20th Century. I don't understand how they get away with this. (Yes the they is left vague).
Friday, April 17, 2015
Alfred Semester 2 Blog 5
Poverty has had an effect on my life. I went form a rich kid to one who ate a lot of squirrel when my mother remarried. I've used poverty as a motivator in my life. I don't want squirrel stew any more!
In my classroom I've seen kids think that they cannot escape poverty and that being poor makes them dumb. While there are some indicators that lower socio-economic status hinders growth, students has so many tools that students can use to gain a college or quality trade school post K-12 education. If a student can get free or reduced lunch they can get a grant. Junior Colleges are cheap but effective means of obtaining and quality education. Being a minority is a path to many scholarships as well
I often show student show goingt o a JC and then ASU they can make money going to college, if they live at home. Students do not need a Harvard degree to be successful. They just need the best education for their jobs. A UTI mechanic is going to make more than the monkey at Jiffy Lube!
In my classroom I've seen kids think that they cannot escape poverty and that being poor makes them dumb. While there are some indicators that lower socio-economic status hinders growth, students has so many tools that students can use to gain a college or quality trade school post K-12 education. If a student can get free or reduced lunch they can get a grant. Junior Colleges are cheap but effective means of obtaining and quality education. Being a minority is a path to many scholarships as well
I often show student show goingt o a JC and then ASU they can make money going to college, if they live at home. Students do not need a Harvard degree to be successful. They just need the best education for their jobs. A UTI mechanic is going to make more than the monkey at Jiffy Lube!
Alfred Semester 2 Blog 4
I use assessments in different ways. At the beginning of the year I wrote large summative assessments. I've had to learn to use more, smaller, informal assessments to drive my instruction. I've learned if I wait until the end of the until to find out the students are learning, I am failing them. I don't know if they are learning.
I enjoying holding conversations with the students as they work on individual or group projects. A smile or nod is often enough to see if a student is grasping concepts. I also use plickers (plickers.com) for quick assessments as well.
Assessment is very important in K-12 education. It assures that teachers can modify and adjust their lessons to assure that students are working toward mastery. Teachers need to use a variety of assessment types--informal and formal to reach that mastery.
I enjoying holding conversations with the students as they work on individual or group projects. A smile or nod is often enough to see if a student is grasping concepts. I also use plickers (plickers.com) for quick assessments as well.
Assessment is very important in K-12 education. It assures that teachers can modify and adjust their lessons to assure that students are working toward mastery. Teachers need to use a variety of assessment types--informal and formal to reach that mastery.
Alfred Semester 2 Blog 3
I have seen staff here at my school act very unprofessionally. I've had a teacher sexually harass multiple other teachers and students. It took months to get him removed. He also belittled students and slept during his periods.
I joke with my students and bring in modern slang and idioms into instruction. I know its easy to fall over the line and become "cool". I need to remember that I am the teacher. I often remember the Spanish word for teacher is Maestro or master. I need to lead and not be part of the pack.
Besides his behavior I am appalled at the lack of concern by administration and district HR. I was a manager for 20 years before I became a teacher. The lack of professionalism at the admin level is driving my decision to leave the district and find work elsewhere.
I joke with my students and bring in modern slang and idioms into instruction. I know its easy to fall over the line and become "cool". I need to remember that I am the teacher. I often remember the Spanish word for teacher is Maestro or master. I need to lead and not be part of the pack.
Besides his behavior I am appalled at the lack of concern by administration and district HR. I was a manager for 20 years before I became a teacher. The lack of professionalism at the admin level is driving my decision to leave the district and find work elsewhere.
Alfred Semester 2 Blog 2
I was a victim of bullying as a young child. I was always big so I was not physically picked on by I was emotionally abused by other children. The kids used to call me "Jon, Jon the Leprechaun, went to school with nothing on." Looking back it seems silly but I used to get so angry I would cry and chase kids to said the limerick. Others joined in on the bullying due to my reaction. My mother gave me advice to ignore them and they would start picking on someone else. The next day I went to school but they continued to pick on me. I did not react but it hurt. I went home and screamed at her that it didn't work and they still were mean to me. She consoled me and said it would pass. It eventually did. The kids moved on to another target.
That always affected me so I hated bullies as I go older. I tended to beat up the bullies when they picked on others. I was big so it was easy for me. When I was 16 I moved to Utah and within a week I was suspended for knocking out two seniors who were picking on a severe SPED student. I don't like bullies....
As a teacher I have ending bullying in my grade. I go out to the lunch yard and watch the kids interactions, I prowl the halls during passing period and at the end of the day and stop bullying when I see it. The students, not just my eighth graders, see me as a safe place and come to me when they are being bullied. I then forward it to admin as needed. Many times, all it takes is a quiet word to the bully and it stops. My grade last year had many suspensions for physical and cyber bullying. There's only been one fight this year.
That always affected me so I hated bullies as I go older. I tended to beat up the bullies when they picked on others. I was big so it was easy for me. When I was 16 I moved to Utah and within a week I was suspended for knocking out two seniors who were picking on a severe SPED student. I don't like bullies....
As a teacher I have ending bullying in my grade. I go out to the lunch yard and watch the kids interactions, I prowl the halls during passing period and at the end of the day and stop bullying when I see it. The students, not just my eighth graders, see me as a safe place and come to me when they are being bullied. I then forward it to admin as needed. Many times, all it takes is a quiet word to the bully and it stops. My grade last year had many suspensions for physical and cyber bullying. There's only been one fight this year.
Alfred Semester 2 Blog post 1
What are my goals for this semester:
I have three goals for this semester. The first is to use and encourage the use of academic language in my classroom. The second is to create more active work for my students and third is to gain a better understanding of SPED paperwork.
I am receiving help from this from the cadre meetings and the master teacher at my school. Weblinks and links to resources on these goals would be appreciated.
I have three goals for this semester. The first is to use and encourage the use of academic language in my classroom. The second is to create more active work for my students and third is to gain a better understanding of SPED paperwork.
I am receiving help from this from the cadre meetings and the master teacher at my school. Weblinks and links to resources on these goals would be appreciated.
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