It's a New Year!

Happy New Year!

I hope you are looking forward to 2014

If you are a Senior, at the beginning of the new semester, you will have 18 weeks of school left.
If you are a Junior, at the beginning of the new semester, you have one year and 18 weeks of school left.

Some of you are well positioned for success after High School.  Some of you haven't thought about it yet.  Junior or Senior, you should be making plans. It's never too late to begin.  Don't let things just happen to you, make things happen that you want to happen.  

As John Lennon said, "Life is what happens to you while you're busy making other plans."

This week, you will choose three things that you can do to positively impact your second semester.

The title of your Blog this week is - My Year Ahead
You should  list at least three things you want to change or improve on.
Number them and remember to address:

• What you want to change
• How you will do this
• What you hope the result will be

Number them 1. 2. 3...   Oh, and I forgot to tell you, I will be putting it on the screen to share with your classmates next week.

An Example:
 1.   I want to make better grades during the second semester. In order to accomplish better grades I will need to study more,  spend less time on meaningless social networking.  I will focus my efforts on things that matter.  By focusing my time on what matters and meeting deadlines, my grades should improve. If I improve my grades, I will have an easier time getting into college and will have a more enjoyable second semester.

Don't embarrass yourself by not doing your blog this week!

This blog post is Due in class on Friday, Jan. 10. Always follow the blog rubric.

Perot Field Trip

This is an example of what your Perot Field Trip assignment should look like.  Embed your Prezi when you are finished.  Sign in or set up an account on Prezi.  Save to Public.  Give a brief description of what your Prezi is about.  Your blog post is due on Monday, Dec. 9.  Click here for a link to the Prezi rubric.  

Please visit my virtual field trip to the Perot Museum of Nature and Science.  My Education and Training classes recently visited the museum and learned about many different things that would make for interesting lessons and activities inside a classroom.

Procrastination?

Procrastination?

This is a repost of a blog from past years. 

It seems ever so appropriate again this year!

If you are a victim of procrastination this six weeks and have less than a 70 cumulative grade for your blog test grade, you may do this blog as a sort of redemption.  It will count as one of your zero's.  Get busy and don't procrastinate. 

 

If you have faithfully been doing your blogs and have completed all three blogs from the 2nd six weeks, you do not need to do this blog. 

This Blog is Due:  Friday November 15

What is Procrastination?

Have you ever procrastinated?

I think I probably know the answer to both of those questions. Do you?

Click on this link and read about Overcoming Procrastination.

The Title of your blog this week should be: Why Do I Procrastinate?

1. After you have read the article, choose at least one of the bullet points under "Why do students procrastinate?" and address how it relates to you. If you have never procrastinated, you can use someone you know as an example, but don't use names.

2. When you have completed part one, look over the "How to overcome procrastination" suggestions. Choose at least one of the bullet points that you will honestly try and write your comments in your post about how you will try to overcome procrastinating. 

• Your post should be well thought out and you should use complete sentences.
• Less is more. I would rather read three well written and thoughtful sentences than three rambling paragraphs!
• Restate the chosen topic, then write your comments.

 

Refer to the Rubric if you are in question of how your blog will be graded. This is the same rubric that is used every week. Click here to view blog rubric.

 

 

 

Initiative

 

 

Definition

in·i·ti·a·tive

iˈniSH(ē)ətiv/

noun

noun: initiative; plural noun: initiatives; noun: the initiative

1.

the ability to assess and initiate things independently.

"use your initiative, imagination, and common sense"

 

2.

the power or opportunity to act or take charge before others do.
"we have lost the initiative and allowed our opponents to dictate the subject"

 

Assignment

You are now beginning your third week as an EAT intern.  You should begin to get a feel for what needs to be done in your classroom.  You should begin to show initiative in your classroom.  The assignment this week is as follows:

 

1.  What does initiative mean to you?  In your own words please!

2.  Make a list of at least 10 ways you can show initiative as an EAT intern in your field site classroom. (whether you have actually done them or not)
3.  Find at least five words that are synonomous with initiative.  List them.

3.  Write a paragraph that indicates some actual things you did during the week to show initiative in your classroom.  How did this impact your mentor teacher or students? 

4.  Why is initiative such an important characteristic for a teacher to possess?

 

This blog is due on Monday November 4.  Follow the rubric for best results. 

 

 

First Day of School

By now, you have experienced your first day as a teaching intern.

Hopefully, it was a good experience for you.  You may have had a substitute on the first day, or there may have been an assembly to disrupt your time there, or there might have been a fire drill, whatever might be the case, you survived!   Things will be better and things will be worse.  It's just the way it is with education.

Todays blog will be one of those easy blogs.  Follow the steps below to create your blog for today.  It is due at the beginning of class on Monday, Oct. 21.

1. Name of your blog is:  "My first day as a teacher"
2. Write one paragraph reflecting on your first day as a teacher.
3. Insert a picture of your new site school.  You can probably find a picture of your school on Google images.
4. Include a hidden hyperlink to your site school.  Example:  BCTAL (hidden means not the long link)
5. Clearly state the name of your site school teacher in BOLD and the Grade level and subject he or she teaches while you are there.  If you are not sure, look up their schedule on their website.  Example:  Susan Stevens teaches Education and Training I and II during 2nd and 3rd periods at BCTAL.  Include a hyperlink to your site teacher's school website.  (you may want to hyperlink the teacher's name)  
6. Check to see that all of your links are working.
7. Close the post with a few sentences about what you are most looking forward to this year in your new classroom.
8. Watch your spelling, grammar, i's and do your best.
9. Most of all - be sure your post makes sense.  

Link to rubric

What should you do?

Blog Due on Friday, October 16.  Year 1 Only

Read the scenarios below.  Choose ONE of the potential situations you could encounter in your internship.  Post an entry on your blog that reframes the outcome by generating a solution that would be an appropriate and professional way to handle the situation as an EAT intern.  Your response should have clarity while avoiding vague recommendations.  Be sure you state which Scenario you are writing about.  

Scenario 1

You left campus for lunch and when you returned to campus you missed the bus that transports EAT interns to your field site campus.  You don’t have a car, but your boyfriend (girlfriend) said that he (she) could take you to your field site.  You took him (her) up on the offer.  When you boarded the bus to return to your home campus, another intern asked why you weren’t on the bus earlier.  You asked the intern not to point this out to your EAT teacher, Mrs. Crabapple, since no harm was done.

Scenario 2

You are at your EAT field site.  Although you know you are supposed to have your phone put away at your field site, you check it and see that you have a message from another intern in your class.  He said that he had an early dismissal and left the field site campus just a little early, but when he did, he forgot to sign out.  You think this is a bit strange because you never saw him ride the bus to your field site in the first place, but you agree to sign him in and out because you want to let him know he can trust you.  After all, Mrs. Meddlesome, your EAT teacher, stressed that it is important to establish relationships with your students and others with whom you work.

Scenario 3

You have just arrived at your field site.  Your teacher is absent and you have a substitute.  Previously, you have been in charge of monitoring the reading groups each day, and even though you were not aware that your mentor teacher would be gone, you know that you need to follow the routine so the students will progress. The substitute tells you that she has everything under control and you may leave because there is nothing for you to do. You decide your field site mentor will have plenty of time to get the reading groups caught up tomorrow so you go to the classroom next door where your EAT friend is interning.  The two of you move to the corner of the room and work on homework the rest of the period so you won’t disturb anyone.

Scenario 4

You are about to change into your field site attire and realize you have forgotten your field site shirt and name badge.  The bus will be leaving in three minutes.  You have on jeans with holes, and a low cut top.  You saw Mrs. Picky, your BCTAL EAT teacher, at your field site yesterday.  Since you think she will not be stopping by to visit interns at your field site, you hop on the bus without your EAT attire, taking your chances that you will not be discovered.  After all, if your field site mentor teacher and principal don’t say anything, there is no harm done, right?

As always, follow the rubric for best results. 

Every Kid Needs a Champion

When was the last time you felt like a champion?  

Did you ever have a teacher that made you feel like a champion?

Using headphones, listen to this 7:48 minute video from TED talks.  Rita Pierson is a lifelong educator. Listen to what she has to say about the importance of making your students feel good about themselves.  She talks about "significant relationships."  Have you ever had a teacher make you feel significant?

The title of your blog this week is "Significant Relationships" and you will describe a significant relationship with a teacher that helped you to do better, try harder, keep on keeping on, etc.  Use the teacher's name, grade level, subject, and if you can get a picture, include it.  As you visualize your future classroom, how will you be a champion to a student in need?  Be concise and precise.

Follow the blog rubric.  Due on Monday, Sept. 29

Becoming a Teacher

Becoming a Teacher

You are here because you have expressed a desire to either become a teacher or are interested in pursuing a career that is closely related to teaching.  In order for you to reach your ultimate career goals, it is important for you to understand the road that is ahead of you.  

Here are a couple of useful websites that will help you navigate the road to becoming a teacher.

1.  For information by state on which colleges have quality education programs, click here.
2. Teach.com  can help you learn about the many teaching possibilities for you. 

Use headphones and listen to this short video about becoming a teacher.  

 

After you have watched the video and explored the websites.  You will go to your own blog and create a new post called:  Navigating my path to teaching.
1.  Look for college programs that offer what you are looking for.  Give two possibilities for you. Include location, tuition costs, types of degree programs available, and scholarship possibilities.
2.  List steps for becoming a teacher from the video.
3.  Click on the map and choose a state you might like to teach in.  Give five good reasons according to the state's page for teaching in that state.  Include salary highs and lows.
4.  Click on Teaching Abroad.  What would you think about teaching in another country?  What would you need to do in order to be certified to teach abroad?

For best results, don't forget to follow the guidelines of the rubric.
Click here to follow the Blog Rubric. 
This blog is due in class on Monday Sept. 16, 2013.

A New Year

It hardly seems like it is time for another new school year to begin.  I am excited to see each and every one of you!  Some are familiar faces and some will be new.  I am looking forward to getting acquainted with the new ones and reacquainted with the returning students. 

Take a look at the end of year video from last year.  If you are a returning student, it will be a reminder of the fun we had last year.  If you are a  new student, it will show you how much there is to be involved with - in this class. 

Embrace your inner blogger and comment below on what you are most looking forward to,  this year as an Education and Training Intern.  Yes, it is a grade.  You will click on the little pencil below.  You may need to log in to your gmail account.  Be sure and sign your name. 

This will be a great year! 

Reflection is good for the soul... Part 3 and 4

Quiz:  Part 4

EAT this Quiz!  This should be the easiest quiz you ever took!  Take the online quiz over a few of the things you should have learned this year in your Education and Training class.  It won’t take long.  Worth up to 25 points.  Click here and be sure and sign in with your name.  Once you begin, you will have twenty minutes to complete the quiz.  One attempt only.  

Reflection:  Part 3 of Final Exam

Reflection blog. Reflection is good for the soul.  It is an excellent way to analyze and assess effectiveness. You should reflect on the past year or two years as the case may be. How you felt in the beginning and how you feel now that you have spent nearly an entire school year (or two) as a teacher intern. Are you more or less enthusiastic about becoming a teacher? Do you still think teaching is for you? If not, why? If so, elaborate on your reasons. How did you bring closure to your classroom experience? What were your feelings as you departed your classroom for the last time?  You should include at least two pictures from your site school experience. 
As usual, use the rubric for maximum grading potential.  Worth up to 25 points.

Part 2 Final Exam

Classroom Management (25 points)

You are the new Education and Training teacher hired for the 2013-14 school year.  You have decided to revamp some of the current policies and procedures to better serve students as they prepare for college and the world of work.  Select ONE of the areas below and write clear and concise policy for the Education and Training handbook.  Remember to include consequences when violations occur to the policy or procedure. 

• Dress code for field sites
• Transportation guidelines for field site travel
• Due dates on assignments and late work

Due at the end of class Tuesday, May 21.  Post on your blog as Part 2 final exam.  

Part 1 - Final Exam

Part 1 - Select a TEKS and Corresponding Activity  

(worth up to 25 points)

Visit the Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills for your class on the Texas Education Agency website (http://www.tea.state.tx.us). Using the field site classroom you were in this spring, select a TEKS for the grade level/content area.   Cut and paste it onto your blog.  Then, search for an activity that would help a student master the TEKS you selected. The activity should be an app or a web-based activity.  Link the app or the activity on your blog.  Follow with a brief explanation of the activity and describe what the desired student outcomes should be.

This is the first of four activities that will be posted on my blog.  Each day, you will have a new blog assignment through Thursday.  YOU should post your answers / activities on your own blog.   If they are not on your blog, they won't be graded.  

Due by the end of class today,  Monday May 20.  

The Year in Review

Today's blog is "Easy as pie!"

 EAT 2013                              

1. Embed your Animoto onto your blog.  
2. It is due today, May 13.  It will be counted late after today.
3. Embed, not copy and paste a link. 
4. The name of your blog should be the name of your Animoto video
5. There is no rubric today.  

Thank a Teacher!

Tuesday, May 7 is National Teacher Day, Thank a Teacher!

 

 

Click here to view great Teacher Appreciation ideas. 

Click here and view the first funny five short video clips. These are not necessarily good examples of teaching, but they are entertaining and funny. 

Your Blog assignment is:
1.  Locate an appropriate and short video clip about teacher appreciation or good teachers.  If you can't find an appropriate teacher appreciation video, make your own.  Embed the video on your blog and make a short comment about your chosen video.  Your video clip should be between one and three minutes in length.  Use YouTube to help you locate a clip. 
2.  Write a nice note of appreaciation to a teacher who has helped you out along the way.  Give it to them during the week of May 6 - 10.  It should be neat and heartfelt. 
3.  Copy the contents of your note on to your blog.  If you hand wrote your note, type it on your blog.  If you typed your note, copy and paste to your blog.  Include the teachers name. 

Blog is due on Friday, May 10 at the beginning of class.  As always, follow the rubric for maximum results. 

What teachers want parents to know.

Last year, one of the mentor teachers gave one of the interns an article to read and the intern gave me a copy.  The intern said, "we should blog on this."  I agreed!  Coincidentally, the article is written by Ron Clark.  I thought it was a good thought provoking article so I am running it through again.  

Read this article from CNN.

Your comments should come from the perspective of a future teacher.  Some of you have seen or heard of similar examples in your classrooms this year.

Use headphones and watch this news clip of  Ron Clark.  Click here to access the video.

Please post a blog from the perspective of a future teacher and address the following:

1. Do you consider teachers as professionals, like Doctors and Lawyers?   When is it okay for parents to second guess and question teachers when they make a professional assessment of a situation?  When should students take responsibility for their actions?  
2. Do you think it is acceptable for parents to make excuses to teachers and schools?  Example, call in sick for a student when they really aren't sick, just tired.  
3. How can not taking responsibility for ones own actions affect the student in the future? 
4. Describe a time when you failed at something and actually learned a valuable lesson.  
5. The title of your blog post should be "Parents"

As always, use the rubric when writing for a maximum score.  

This blog is due at the beginning of class on Friday, April 19.
We will be viewing your blogs together in class on Friday.  Do your best.