“This kid stood up and told my wife F*#@& you right to her face in front of me and that kid didn’t even get suspended.” “Classrooms are wild these days. Kids are so out of control, it didn’t use to be like this. And the Principal never suspends anybody, that’s why it is so outContinue reading “It’s About Relationships.”
Category Archives: Professional Development
Yet Another Example of Great Professional Development
Yesterday I had the wonderful fortune to be able to attend an Edcamp. It didn’t take much to convince me to go since it was held at the little elementary school in Yosemite Valley. Yes, THAT Yosemite, the one that also happens to be a national park, and one of the most beautiful placesContinue reading “Yet Another Example of Great Professional Development”
Lets Make a Conference Team
I go to a lot of conferences. Maybe not as many as some people I know, but certainly more than most teachers. It is important to me that I get out of my school and district and see what other people are doing. I need to talk to other teachers to understand the challenges theyContinue reading “Lets Make a Conference Team”
Vocabulary
The topic of teaching vocabulary has been coming up a lot in my circles lately. The conversation goes like this: Teacher: “These kids need to get motivated. If they don’t want to try I can’t do it for them.” Me: “Well, what are you asking them to do that they aren’t doing?” Teacher: “Like vocabulary.Continue reading “Vocabulary”
Summer Professional Development
The participants of the CUE Rockstar Teacher Camp aboard the USS Hornet. One of several amazing edtech events I attended this summer. (Photo from http://www.rockstartechcamp.com/) I just came home from my last professional development of the summer. Today was the first ever EdCamp San Joaquin. This was a free “un-conference” that was sponsored by the TeachersContinue reading “Summer Professional Development”
No More iPads
Innovative uses of edtech. The graduate school I attend has announced they are no longer providing iPads for their students. They gave two reasons; budget cuts, and they have observed students don’t use the iPads. No one can deny the impact of budget cuts, the school is also no longer going to loan textbooks- studentsContinue reading “No More iPads”
So THATS what good teaching looks like.
This year I have been spending one day a week at an elementary school as part of my administrative credential program. At first I was a bit apprehensive; I am a high school teacher, I have no interest or knowledge in the k-8 world. I have found the experience to be very interesting. I am learningContinue reading “So THATS what good teaching looks like.”
Fall CUE
This weekend was the 2012 FallCUE conference. First a huge tip ‘o the hat to Jon Corippo for the ride to the conference. I wouldn’t have been able to attend on Friday at all without Jon’s generosity. Another tip ‘o the hat to Wayne Stagnarro for pushing me to attend. FallCUE has only been around a few years. ThereContinue reading “Fall CUE”
Back to School
About a year and a half ago I was notified by my school district that 269 of my fellow teachers and I were no longer needed. My district had to cut 28 million dollars from the budget, and layoffs were necessary. I am very grateful that I was among the first to be rehired and didContinue reading “Back to School”
Stuck in a Rut.
This year has seen a dramatic change in my professional development. I made the decision last summer that I need to take more control of what I was learning and I needed to share more as a way to learn more. I really felt stuck in a rut. One of the manifestations of that decision has beenContinue reading “Stuck in a Rut.”
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