Sophomore's most mentioned activities

Of the several activities that I did in class the first three days of school, the sophomores mentioned two the most.

They really liked the norms we did in class. Normes are the classroom guidelines that the class creates. Many students mentioned that felt they had a more relaxed classroom after creating the normes and that they had some ownership. It is a three step process: 

1. Brainstorm
2. Clarify (make sure each norm is understood by all)

3. Come to a consensus.

The other activity that was mentioned frequently was creating quotes for their groups/ class. My sophomore class will have home groups. They had to come up with a quote for both their group and the class.  I would love to see a collaboration develop with the students where they root for their classes, but can also appreciate other's work as well. Maybe we'll try for a bit of competition. Both activities invited them to feel more like team players both in their individual groups and in their classes.  It is my idea that both activities will be able to sustain themselves. I want the classes to be able to remember and re-adjust the norms to where they are good for all participants. I hope that they are maintainable. I will readdress both these topics later to reflect over the effect of these strategies in the classroom. I would be very interested to hear of any first week stories especially if something was done to get the kids more involved. 

First Day of School

So, the first day of school has come around again. Let me tell you it was kind of fun having the knowledge that I already knew several of the students who would be in my class. My final change to my room was to change my desks for tables. I think this change will be the most beneficial to my teaching style as it is mostly comprised of group work.

My activities today included a line-up according to vacation spots (who was the closest versus the farthest), swimming number, and technology expertise.  Although I liked learning about all the information, by far my favorite was the technology expertise. As an educator we hear so often how we are in the presence of the digital natives (the kids who have grown up with technology in their hands), but it is interesting to see just how comfortable the students are navigating the internet, or even better their; their fearless acknowledgement that whatever is asked of them technology wise, they can trouble-shoot it. (I realize that sentence is a little blotchy so any grammar gurus willing to help me out feel free.) The amount of students uncomfortable with technology is dwindling. Most of my students are at least at the point I am. I had maybe a couple of students in each class claiming discomfort, but I wonder how modest they actually are.

My other activity was going over norms with the students. What really interested me about this activity (One where you allow the class itself to make up its own guidelines, thus giving ownership) was how many teachers besides myself were doing this activity as well. By the time the students in the afternoon reached me, they had an idea of what they wanted for their classroom, and simply rolled with the idea of creating their own guidelines for the classroom. I am really interested in the long term application of norms. Will the students feel invested, thus creating a better atmosphere in the classroom? Will the teachers be able to maintain the guidelines along with the students allowing for a more trusting atmosphere to generate in the classroom? Both these questions are general hypothesis that I would like to revisit later in the semester.

I didn't get through my entire lesson plan, imagine that. I can't wait for us to come up with group names, and individual, group, and class quotes tomorrow.

Data Driven Even Farther

A whole day of data pummeled the LHS faculty today. The most interesting part of the day was where we were able to look at the data, and figure out how we can better address the academic needs of our students. I hope we get to share ideas from all the different faculty groups. One of things my groups came up with having the students become more aware of their scores and reward students who were proficient. I hope we can get that done. However, I also feel that the motivation piece is very important as well, but somehow we need to instill the want in our students to do well for their own means, not simply for the reward that they may get for getting proficient. Now, how we instill that want is a question I have been working on for the last year. I will continue trying. We educators fight a hard battle. By the time students reach high school, somewhere, they have lost their drive for education, or at least a lot of them have.

Maybe, if any of my students are reading my blog, they can help a teacher's plight. What can we do to make school more interesting to you? How can learning be something that is fun and entertaining? What is worthwhile and meaningful to you?

School begins tomorrow. I am very excited to have my old freshies again. I think we will have a good time. The class of 2012 have a lot of spunk, flare, and are not afraid to question the system. I can't wait to see what they will do!

An iPhone Relationship

August 12, 2009, the professional development was a fortune telling activity where the faculty reflected on past achievements and then created future achievements they were looking forward to seeing in the year to come. I think the final part of the activity went well. The faculty came up with some good ideas on how to make the activity work for them, including using it to build team and individual student goals. The beginning of the activity, had me coming out in a poorly masked parody of Professor Trelawney which seemed to get some guffaws. I wonder now if the good humored motivational bit lined up more with Michael Scott from The Office. What actually can be used in humor while still maintaining the integrity of the activity? Deffinately it should tie togther, but if the fun motivational bit ends up falling flat then what you've got is a yokel making nonsense up front while the rest of the group are avidly watching whether or not the DVD screensavor will actually hit the corner of the television screen this time.

As I delve farther into the realm of technology, I am trying new things. One is to blog from my phone. It has given me some trouble, but I think I am getting closer to achieving sustainability. If all goes well, it enable me to blog more frequently and with more ease.

Have I commented on the luxurious freedom of the iPhone? Well, there have been several technology "to dos" that get done more frequently with the use of this new tool.

1. I facebook more often, which is good because some of my friends are exclusive facebook communicators. . . .hmmmm, if that is so for the 30somethings, what does that mean for young adults I teach? How can I make this piece more accessable?

2. I check my email more. At least my google account sufffered some neglect.j

3. I am looking forward to the posts that I can look at from my phone during school.

4. I can't wait try the Microsoft Office Application that would allow me to create documents from my iPhone.

5. I have an automatic camera that I used frequently.

Ok. I think I will stop geeking out over my phone. . . . for now.

I am about to begin a new endeavor. A new goal is to attempt to reflect at least weekly concerning lessons and professional development that have been conducted during that time frame. I would like to have something I can look back on that shows what was done well and what could have been done better. I would love any comments that anyone would care to make concerning my ideas. One big, repetitive bit of research was to reflect. So, this will be it. I invite any fellow colleagues or students to follow along and comment their own reflections or not as they see fit.