midterm hell

Expect the unexpected.
You think you know but you have no idea.
The Shock to my system.....


Everything I thought I knew about my students changed when I graded my students midterms. It was probably the biggest shock to my system. I thought they understood, were they tricking me? How will I know? Imagine your sitting in class teaching and your students are actively listening and responding. They should do great on the midterm, or so I thought. I thought my colleagues were messing with me when they told me not to hold my breath but it happened. Do a feel like a failure, yes a little? But My question to you readers in what would you do next. You can't force students to study.




My plan of action:

1. The students who care will be at tutoring.
2. Extra Credit assignments galore.
3. Enforcement of interactive review websites.
4. The use of retesting through Plato software/ online class.
5. Test Corrections.
6. Adjust my expectations
7. Adjust my teaching methods and go outside my comfort zone.

Will it work? Will this improve test scores? Or will this just prove as a wake up call for them and me.

Readers post comments and suggestions I need your help.

time management

So its 7o'clock on a Sunday and I just finished lesson planning for Monday.

In all honesty I'm an easily distractable person who sometimes has a tendency to wait until Sunday to plan for the week or day ahead. So this blog entry is to discuss time management.

Every teacher pretty much gets 2 prep periods a day, well at least in my school in addition to lunch. For me I have 3rd,4th and 5th periods off. Most days I struggle to find something to do for 3 periods straight.

Suggestion number 1: Do as much as you can while your at work and during your prep periods
-I'm finally starting to realise I can't save it all for home. Home is where you should rest.
-learn from your mistakes and mine

Suggestion number 2: Grade everything right away so it doesn't build up on you.
- I know teachers with piles of ungraded homework and quizzes etc.
-Don't let that be you

Suggestion number 3: When in doubt...over plan
-in this case at least you have material for the next day.

Suggestion number 4: plan at least 2 days in advance in case you need worksheets run off
- Because I have 3 periods off I use those to copy my own worksheets while I should have them done by the school.
-Lessen your work load and have someone do it for you, its their job anyway.

Suggestion 5: My AP keeps telling me not to take my work home with me. So for tonight I planned for one day and preplanned for Tuesday and tomorrow during prep I will actually lesson plan.

My first Bulletin board

Bulletin Board Advice

1. Get creative
2. Involve your students
3. Show off only good work, I was told to put good and bad but I think that could be potentially embarassing.
4. Choose students who need a boost of confidence (I posted 3 special ed students and they have since really bloomed in their work)

my first back to school night

Thursday October 28th and Friday October 29th I experienced my first back to school night and afternoon. This was probably one of the most nerve recking experiences I had so far besides the quality review. Why so scary? What do I expect? How will they react to a first year 5 foot 1 teacher that looks like shes 16 even in a suit? All I knew was I was scared.

How did I handle it?
I handled it like I handle everything, one step at a time.

My advice to future teachers:

1. Be prepared have all your paperwork, test grades, lab data, attendance ready on your desk before the parents arrive.
2. Keep it organized I got side tracked during  one of my conferences was and forgot where I put something.
3. Start with a positive Always start with a positive comment even for your worst student this way you can gain their confidence and then...bam but it won't be as bad for you because they see you as compassionate.
4.  Candy Sweeten them up before you knock 'em down. Provide your parent visitors with candy.
5. Don't get your hopes up I only had a total of 20 parents over 2 days, if your working in any school for the most part the parents won't come especially if you don't teach freshman.

workshop model lesson plan

Aim:  How do you solve for rate of change?
Objective: Students will be able to set up a rate of change problem.

Motivation: I will introduce familiar terms to students and then explain to them that they are actually rates.
Do Now:  What do the following terms have in common?
miles per hour    words per minute   texts per day   rotations per day field goals per game

Anticipated response: they all have per in it
Correct Response: they are all rates of change
Now looking back at the examples on the board what do you think rate of change is?

Notes
Rate of Change: How much a measurable aspect of the environment, called a field, is altered over a given time--- years, hours, seconds.

Example: miles per hour, words per minute, texts per day, rotations per day, field goals per game

Rate of Change= Change in field value
                                 Change in time

Do we need to memorize this formula?
No it is in the reference table, but what you do need to know is how to use it.

Example:
A hot air balloon rose from a height of 100 m to 400 m in 3 minutes. What was the
balloon’s rate of change?

Teacher model

Step 1: Write the formula
Rate of Change= Change in field value
                                 Change in time
Step 2: Plug in the given information
R.O.C = 400m-100m
              3minutes
Step 3: Solve
R.O.C= 300m       =   100 m per minute or 100 m/min
         3 minutes

Activity:
Working with the person next to you, please answer questions 2 and 3 on the hand out

Evaluation: I will then ask for 2 groups to put their work on the board

Summary:  We use rates every day even if we don’t realize it. When we are exercising or go to the doctor we are monitoring our heart rate. When we are driving or walking, how long it takes up to go a certain distance is a rate. How we get paid is a rate. Later if the semester we are going to learn about other rates as well for example the amount of time it takes earth to complete 1 revolution around the sun (also a rate.)

Homework- complete the hand out

Follow-up exercise: graphical analysis lab

visit following site for the worksheet

http://newyorkscienceteacher.com/sci/files/media2.php?media=Worksheet&subject=earth%20science

The Workshop model

The one teaching tool all new teachers should have in their pocket is knowledge of the workshop model. Some schools worship this method and so does the state education department....but what is it?


The Workshop model is basically is a framework for your lesson plan. The lesson is mainly student oriented, so there is less teacher talk. It's built on the ideal of a constructivist approach where students build on the material you taught to teach themselves and their peers.


The first part is about 10-15 minutes where the teacher gives a mini-lesson in which they give background information and model an activity or problem. For example if you were teaching a lesson on rate of change you would create a Do Now introducing the topic. So what I did was give a bunch of words that had to do with rates (ex. texts per minute) and asked them what they had in common. Then I explained they were all rates and gave them a definition and modeled a rate of change problem and gave out a student worksheet. When you give the model you explain your expectations or a rubric how many points they would receive for each problem and what a grader looks for. Next students were to work in pairs (think pair share) and worked on 2-3 problems together. Then you have the students present their work and explain what they did. After student presentations you would evaluate their work. Grade each problem while reviewing whats good and whats bad. This also gives students a chance to correct their work. Then assign a homework so my students completed the remainder of the problems for homework and I graded them for a quiz grade. Then you give a summary with real world applications. Where would I use this and why?


Below is a webpage explaining workshop model in more detail and I will also post a lesson plan for workshop model next post.


http://www.teachersnetwork.org/ntny/nychelp/Professional_Development/workshopmodel.htm

Everyone needs to start somewhere

This blog is going to focus on the ups and downs of a first year teacher. I will focus on my experiences and suggestions for future teachers.


The first entry is called everyone needs to start somewhere.


It's May and you just graduated college you start sending your resumes out.
Tips
1. Don't be closed minded everyone needs to start somewhere.
2. Apply to NYC schools on-line and get that application in early so you can become eligible for the teacher finder and TRQ select.
side note: What is TRQ select? http://schools.nyc.gov/TeachNYC/incentives/trqselect/default.htm
3. Send letters to public and private schools
4. Research Research Research.... some schools may require you to apply online but it doesn't hurt to send a paper resume.
5. Attack from all directions ( obtain email addresses of principals and those on hiring committees, send by mail, call to follow up, make friends on the inside)
6. Network ( find out about job fairs and networking events, make friends with veteran teachers so they can put your name in)
This day in age its all about who you know so make connections early in your education, don't piss off your site supervisors and professors they are your first step to getting a job. My site supervisor still sends me job opportunities that she submitted my name for even though I have a job.
7. Build up and review your resume early most colleges provide resume workshops and you should attend.

visit http://www.bestsampleresume.com/ for help

8. Be yourself, its the only way to stay calm and get through an interview. My current job was obtaine through an interview that played out more like a conversation than an actual interview.

9. Be Prepared. Save all your work and good lesson plans ( focus on ones that show differentiated introduction and that you have tried out before and reflected on.)

10. Keep an idea book during your student teaching and observations, even if your CT doesn't want you to do something in their class doesn't mean you can't use it in your own in the future.

11. Ask questions and never fear to ask for help your college is a good resource.

12. Learn the buzz words for interviews

13. Request a school tour of your top prospects, some schools look good on paper but may fool you.

14. Don't give up too soon for NYC schools people may decide not to return good into the first semester so there always hope

Thats all I have for now....stay tuned