Monday-full day but activity bell schedule for class meetings
Tuesday-early dismissal (after 4th period)
Wednesday-2 hour delay
Thursday-snow day!
Friday-full day normal bell schedule
To say it was a crazy week is an understatement. I don't really have any good stories from this week since it was such a short and weird week. Monday we made homemade root beer, Thursday was the day we had to put it in the fridge to stop the fermentation and Friday we drank the root beer (well tried it since it's so different from store bought) and ate chicken that the students raised at the school. About Thursday...we closed not only because it was cold but there was a water leak in one of the other Technology department classrooms so they shut off some of the water lines. Mr. Haussener went in to check the rabbits thankfully and so moved the root beer to the fridge. I was at Wal-Mart, halfway to the school so I almost went in but I came back "home" and got some other things done instead!
Things I Learned:
- flexibility-literally changing things the morning of because of the changes in schedules
- I need a lot of help if I want to live out BECOV, just not sure exactly what to ask
BECOV Progress:
I'm going to start this subheading to show my progress on truly living out BECOV. Obviously there are more weeks than there are parts of BECOV and just because I'm focusing on one doesn't mean I'm throwing everything else out the window.- constantly working on Enthusiasm
- focused on working on Clarity last week (and will continue to)
- will focus on Variability this coming week
Advice Wanted:
- how to keep my energy up (yes I go to bed at reasonable times most nights)
- how to keep my mind focused when I am teaching 6 classes straight (it goes Ag 1, Ag 2, Ag 1, Ag 3, Ag 2, Ag 1). I teach 3 of the same thing with plants (Ag 1), 2 of the same thing on foods (Ag 2). I find that it is hard for me to remember what class I am on and what I need to do during that specific class.
- any resources on varying instruction!! and how to implement that when Power Point and notes is what you're used to but DEFINITELY NOT what your students are used to (also kind of scared that if I do anything else I will lose control)
- last one! how to pull the students in after they're talking during group work (they aren't disrespectful per say but it takes longer than it should to reel them back in)
Sara,
ReplyDeleteI am going to grab one of the questions to respond to: Regaining students attention.
Often teachers will create a signal. It could be word (ie Eyeball) and when you say it all mouths are shut and eyes on you. You create the signal word, the routine and you practice it so that when you take calculated risks in trying new instructional methods, you have something to bring the crowd back.
Think about what class might be the best class to video tape re: some of your concerns to use the Edthena Video.
I putting together the BECOV acronym (Enthusiasm, Clarity, and Variability) but since I missed the lesson on it, I'm still not sure of the B and the O. Please share. (Side note: Defining acronyms becomes a repetitive function in an ag teacher's life. Sure, we may all know the SAE, POA, NAAE, ACTE lingo but when sharing with a broader audience, we have a responsibility to spell it out for them.) As I read the BECOV section, which I have a feeling it a central theme of your blogs now, I found myself asking "how" (ex. How did you focus on clarity? How do you plan to work on variability?)
ReplyDeleteNow let's look at some of your questions:
* How to shake up instruction - even in note taking and powerpoints you can add some variety with foldable notes. (Here's a huge resource http://www.k12.wa.us/IndianEd/TribalSovereignty/High/CWP-HS/Unit4/Level1-Materials/foldables.pdf ) I've used them for content related to monocot and dicot comparisons, soil profiles, and more. Do you have one-to-one devices for your students? You could try creating and using a Nearpod (https://nearpod.com/) You'd be able to upload your powerpoint into it but break up the content with assorted activities - Draw It, Collaborate, and other interactive moments you create)
* Keeping focus - It can be a struggle. I only have 4 different classes in a row and sometimes forget who I am with. Something I saw a colleague post on Facebook today was color coding. She had notes for herself on different colored post its depending on the class. Maybe this could help you out?
PS - There is a fine line between losing control and letting students embrace knowledge in a way that creates meaning for them. I encourage you to toy with where that line is. :)
Thank you! BECOV is Business Like Behavior, Enthusiasm, Clarity, Opportunity to Learn and Variability. To actually answer your "how" question from BECOV, I focused on clarity by sitting down the night before or the morning of and breaking down my directions word by word. Truly making sure it was clear enough for someone who isn't me to understand it. I plan to focus on variability by sitting down and making sure that I have different methods of instruction in each lesson. For me, that also includes trying not to use the same method 2 days in a row. I will try to explore many new things this week! I have lesson plans but I am going to try and change several things in them to reflect variability. (and yes its one to one)
DeleteFor me, energy and enthusiasm is a mindset that I always try to embrace whether I am teaching, at the firehouse, my personal life, etc. Who wants to be around a friend or co-worker that lacks enthusiasm? We need it even more with teaching students though. How can I expect my students to be excited about the content if I am not? Page back through your Energy Bus book that you had to read this summer and pull some things to try for this week.
ReplyDeleteSara,
ReplyDeleteFlexibility is critical. Keep that in mind for the rest of your teaching career! I like the way Mr. Haussener addressed enthusiasm. We all go through times of lower energy, but you need to try to have enthusiasm for each class each day. You have to remember that the students are seeing you/your class for the first time for that day.
-Dr. Ewing