This just in! Newsflash! Newsflash! In case anyone out there was unaware, not every student that enters our classroom each day is destined for college. 1) Some students quite simply do not have what it takes to get into college, particularly at the university level, and 2) some students quite simply have absolutely no desire to attend college.
Want to prevent and/or decrease drop out rates? BRING BACK VOCATIONAL PROGRAMS AND GIVE OUR STUDENTS SOME FRIGGIN OPTIONS. IF WE PROMOTE AND NURTURE OUR STUDENTS INTEREST, THEY WILL STAY IN SCHOOL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Monday, March 28, 2011
Monday, March 14, 2011
Successful versus Unsuccessful
Before I begin I would like to apologize to myself and my few, but passionate, faithful followers for my lack of blogs in recent months. Without boring you to tears, I'll just say that I've been very busy. I have made a promise to myself to write at least one blog a week from now on. I think I can, I think I can....
It is said that your first year of teaching is the most difficult. Whoever says these things have also said that one of the best things about teaching is that you can always start fresh each year. I bring all this up because my experience this school year has included aspects reminiscence of my first year in that I went from teaching 7th grade to 8th grade. I've also had to adjust to working with new colleagues (principal included) and a new curriculum. As I have mentioned in previous blogs, teaching the same students two years in a row has had both advantages and disadvantages. All in all I feel like teaching the same students from last year has made me a much better teacher, primarily because it has forced me to think outside the box. Essentially, I was not afforded the gift of a fresh start this year. I began the year knowing most of the students very well and vice versa. Again, this provides advantages and disadvantages...if you're a teacher I think you can infer what these are.
The purpose for bringing all this up is to say that I decided before this school year began to use this year to try many different teaching and classroom management strategies. As with most things in life there have been ups and downs. One of the positives is that I really feel like I have a better understanding of what it takes to be a successful student at the middle school level. Of course that means I also feel like I have a better understanding of what it takes to be an unsuccessful student at the middle school level. Please enjoy my breakdown, and feel free to add, subtract, agree, or disagree with anything on my lists.
Successful students...
listen and obey directions
follow rules and procedures
complete all assignments on time
are intrinsically motivated
having caring and supportive parents
value education
study
apply themselves
Unsuccessful students...
rarely listen and/or follow directions
pick and choose what rules and procedures to follow (if any)
Pick and choose what assignments to complete and
whether or not to turn them in
are motivated by receiving incentives for doing stuff
they are supposed to do anyway
have uncaring and nonsupportive parents
place little or no value on education
cannot even spell the word study
are lethargic superstars
It is said that your first year of teaching is the most difficult. Whoever says these things have also said that one of the best things about teaching is that you can always start fresh each year. I bring all this up because my experience this school year has included aspects reminiscence of my first year in that I went from teaching 7th grade to 8th grade. I've also had to adjust to working with new colleagues (principal included) and a new curriculum. As I have mentioned in previous blogs, teaching the same students two years in a row has had both advantages and disadvantages. All in all I feel like teaching the same students from last year has made me a much better teacher, primarily because it has forced me to think outside the box. Essentially, I was not afforded the gift of a fresh start this year. I began the year knowing most of the students very well and vice versa. Again, this provides advantages and disadvantages...if you're a teacher I think you can infer what these are.
The purpose for bringing all this up is to say that I decided before this school year began to use this year to try many different teaching and classroom management strategies. As with most things in life there have been ups and downs. One of the positives is that I really feel like I have a better understanding of what it takes to be a successful student at the middle school level. Of course that means I also feel like I have a better understanding of what it takes to be an unsuccessful student at the middle school level. Please enjoy my breakdown, and feel free to add, subtract, agree, or disagree with anything on my lists.
Successful students...
listen and obey directions
follow rules and procedures
complete all assignments on time
are intrinsically motivated
having caring and supportive parents
value education
study
apply themselves
Unsuccessful students...
rarely listen and/or follow directions
pick and choose what rules and procedures to follow (if any)
Pick and choose what assignments to complete and
whether or not to turn them in
are motivated by receiving incentives for doing stuff
they are supposed to do anyway
have uncaring and nonsupportive parents
place little or no value on education
cannot even spell the word study
are lethargic superstars
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