Sweat to Inspire

Day 8-  @TeachThough 30 day reflective teaching blog challenge 

 

What’s in your desk drawer, and what can you infer from those contents?

 What is in my desk draw? Not much! A few odds and ends, some rulers, headphones, highlighters and discount cards. I do not spend much time at my desk. I rarely open the drawers or sit at the desk. Often the top of the desk is just covered in papers and other classroom supplies. I don’t think I had open my desk this year until I opened it to take the picture for this blog.

The items in my draw imply that I don’t use it for things of value or need. They tell that I rarely open the drawer. When I looked at the receipt it was dated 2012. Been awhile since it has been cleaned out, but nothing of much value really in this draw. Was looking for my CVS Extra Care card, YEAH! hidden treasure! I guess you never know what you will find when you look in the teacher’s desk!

Day 7 – @TeachThough 30 day reflective teaching blog challenge 

Who was or is your most inspirational colleague, and why?

Well it isn’t a colleague it is a community! Twitter influences me the most. I could not pick a single person out from my #PLN because there are so many people that influence me every day from the twitter community. From #michED peeps to #COLchat participants to My own #MSchat crew.

First the incredible #michED community, that started as a twitter chat but is growing to so much more. We are working together to connect Michigan Educators spreading the AWESOME that is going on in our classroom. This group inspires daily!

Second the #COLchat community focused on creating an incredible culture of learning in our schools. Passionate about make students gain a growth mindset in our schools. The weekly chat inspires. Their “chat to action” conference this summer was one of the most powerful PDs I have ever attended. 

Finally the #MSchat community that I moderate on Thursdays 8-9 pm ET. A diverse group of educators from all over the county that are proud to be educators in the middle. All focused on helping each other be the best middle school teachers possible. Can’t wait to see many of them at the Annual AMLE conference in Nashville this November. 

Twitter has changed my teaching career. If you have participated in any of these communities you have had a major influence on my teaching life. THANK YOU for being an inspiration! Your ideas, energy and knowledge inspire. I see all you do, and try to do more for my students. 

Day 6- Reflective Teaching 30 Blogging Challlenge for teachers by @TeachThough

Explain: What does a good mentor “do”?

What does a teaching mentor do? The simple answer is everything possible to help their mentee. Mentors need to be readily available to help when needed. This is often the challenge in education. Teachers are often too busy teaching their own classes to help out in another. Mentors need to set aside time to listen to needs, observe teaching and be observed by their mentee. With out a plan for how to maximize the use of limited amount of time. Mentors need to use technology tools like Twitter and Voxer to keep the flow of communication going when time does not permit  a face to face meeting. 

Ideally Mentors have unlimited time to LISTEN to the needs of their mentee. From my experience the biggest hurtle for mentors to overcome is Judging. Mentors are to HELP new teachers adjust to the job of teaching. Giving advise, being the guide on the side. THEY have to be care in the language they use to NOT offer judgement. When mentees feel judged they stop asking questions and sharing concerns. Effective teaching can look 1,000s of different ways, mentors just need to focus on helping mentees with their needs. 

 

 

Day 5 – Reflective Teaching : 30 day blogging challenge for teachers by @TeachThough

Post a picture of your classroom, and describe what you see–and what you don’t see that you’d like to.

 

This picture represent my classroom. I see students working in a group with spaces provided for them to work collaboratively. Group work is an essential skill for the workplace. Students need to know how to work with others to complete a task. I see problem solving. The students pictures are attempting to find a solution to a problem. There is no right or wrong solution to this problem. Students need to realize that there are many paths to a solution, not just the ones we find on worksheet. I see authentic engagement. The students are working on the task and trying to complete it to the best of their ability because they want to get it done.

Missing from the pictures is technology. I would love to see IPODS, IPADS or any device with a camera so the students can document their progress and write about their learning experiences. Every school should have devices in every room for students to use. Sadly budget cuts have prevented this in our district but we are working to remedy this in the near future. 

Day 4- @TeachThough Reflective Teaching Challenge

Respond: What do you love the most about teaching?

Simply put: The Fire! Taylor Mali says it best: In his poem “I teach for the Fire” 

 

I love seeing students have the fire lit inside them! Seeing students go from not understanding to finally getting get is so powerful. Lighting the fire gives you a sense of accomplishment. Students come back to thank the teachers for lighting the fire! This also means I love teaching because of the students. They make it worth while. They are the reasons I get out of bed. I want to see another students have the fire lit. I want to make sure the fire keeps burning everyday. 

Day 3: Discuss one “observation” area that you would like to improve on for your teacher evaluation.

I would like to improve on my use of assessments in my instruction. I feel I need to be more purposeful in planning my assessment calendar for class. Assessments should not be the end of instruction but a marker in the road map of learning. Time needs to be build in to use ALL classroom assessments in a formative matter. I can’t schedule an assessment and then expect to start teaching the next unit the next day. Time needs to be build into my calendar to look at the data an allow student to reflect on their learning. Students need the feedback from assessments to measure their progress towards their personal goals.