End of year video 2017

 End of year video 2017

Welcome back!

Hello everyone! So glad you are in my class this year!

There are lots of changes this year at BCTAL.

• We have a new principal. Ms. Carol Adcock, formerly an AP at Richland High School and also responsible for online learning within the district.  
• We will have an enhanced cell phone policy within the classroom.  Cell phones are a wonderful tool for education, but they also can be a HUGE distraction.  We will have a new policy that ensures that you are learning while in the classroom, and will not let your cell phones be a detriment to your learning.  
• Here are links to the new Course Outlines for 2017-18.  EAT I     EAT II
• New TEKS this year.  See course outlines.
• We will be using Canvas as a learning management system.  Some of you have already used it with other teachers.  All assignments and information will be posted on Canvas going forward.
• We will be using Google tools extensively this year.  You will be required to use your g.birdvilleschools account on Canvas.  I will help you get onboard if you have not used it before.  
• Don't forget about TAFE and Educators Rising.  TAFE Region Competition is on December 1 at UNT.  Get Excited!

I am looking forward to seeing the familiar faces again and I can't wait to meet all of my new students!  This will be a great year!

Life Skills that Define Readiness for the Workforce

Are you ready for the real world?  What exactly are those skills that make you ready or not for success?   Click here and read this article about the 28 Life Skills that Define Success.  There are many overlaps with Habits of Mind on this list.

• Read and digest the infographic.  
• Pick out three of the skills you feel you don't have and elaborate on how you can work toward achieving this skill in the future.  Label as "Skills I need to work on"
• Pick three skills that you think you've got and explain why you feel this way.  Label as "Skills I Possess"

For best results, always use the rubric.  This blog is due on Friday, March 3 by the end of class.  

It all starts with a plan

We have been working on lesson planning for the past week or so.  Planning instruction for learning is one of the most important skills good teachers possess.  Taking it a step further, after you have formulated your plans, now is when you put it all together in front of  your class.  Good instruction is just as important as a good plan.

What is good instruction?  Take a few minutes and think about effective teachers you have had in your life.  Think about ineffective teachers you have had.  What was the difference in the two types of teachers?  I am thinking it probably has something to do with the way they presented the information.
Some hints to make you an effective presenter:

• Know your material!  If you don't know what you are talking about, your students will sense this.  
• Speak with a loud enough voice to be heard by all of your students.  Relax the nerves. 
• # 1 rule is to be prepared!  Students know when you are winging it.  Don't be that teacher!
• Practice with a friend or in front of a mirror before your lesson.  Those that practice do much better than those that don't!

A good way to be a good teacher is to watch videos of other good teachers.  The Teaching Channel is a good place to search for videos that show good teaching.  You can sign up for an account with your email address.  This will enable you to save videos and lesson ideas for future use.  

Your blog assignment is to find a short video of a teacher that teaches the same grade level as you are teaching on The Teaching Channel.  

• Write a review of the video. 
• Write down the "Questions to Consider" and Answer the "Questions to Consider" found on the side panel of your video.

Embed the video on your blog.  Look for the embed symbol on each video toolbar.  Click on it and it will give you the embed code to copy.

As always use the rubric for best grading results.  This blog is due on Monday, February 6.  

Absences add up

Attendance is important.  How many times in your site school, have you had to work with a student who has been absent?

Click on this link and search the website on things that can be done to improve attendance.  Regardless of the reason, they hurt a child's ability to succeed in school.  Look at your own attendance record, have you missed class two times per month?  If so, have you gotten behind in your work?  

In your blog, you need to discuss three ideas of how to prevent student's getting behind due to absenteeism.  What can be done to encourage good attendance?  Incentives?  Extra help? Consequences?  Talk to parents? Think about this.  If you are wanting to become a teacher, you should be modeling good attendance to your students.  

The  title of your blog is "Absences add up."  As always, use the rubric for best scoring results.  This is due on Friday, Dec. 9 in class.  

Student Projects

Congratulations and BRAVO to all of the hardworking BCTAL Richland TAFE students who competed and qualified for state contest.  The TAFE Teach for Tomorrow Summit is scheduled for February 17 - 19, 2017 and will be held in Arlington the Arlington Convention Center, Sheraton Convention Center and University of Texas Arlington.

Todays blog is due Wednesday, November 9.  Whether you competed or not, now is the time to show off your project or teacher created material.

TAFE Competitors:
Include a description of each project you entered.  Show a picture of each event you were in, can be a screen shot, etc.  List what you placed and what you will need to do to get ready for state.  Include a picture of you at the awards ceremony.   Title of your blog is - Region competition results

Non Competitors:
Include the directions and steps for using your teacher created material.  Include a picture of  your TCM on the blog.   Make arrangements to show this in your site classroom.  Title of your blog is - My teacher created material

My first days as an intern

This blog is for YEAR 1 Interns only.

My first days as an intern:
What I was feeling as I walked into my classroom the first time. What was I wearing?  What happened next?  It should be a narrative, not in a list!

• What school you have been placed in?
• What is the grade level?
• Your mentor teacher / teachers name.  How long have they been teaching?
• Link your teacher's webpage to your blog.
• What subject is going on while you are there?
• What do you do when you are in the classroom?
• What are you most looking forward to doing in your classroom this year?
• Take a picture of your mentor teacher and include in your blog.  

As always, use the rubric for best grading results.  This blog is due on Friday, October 28.