I have a problem. My students are doing great work. So great they are working on projects and doing things none of my classes have ever done before. They are taking the projects we do to places I have not seen high school students do before. It is a great problem to have, but IContinue reading “Breaking Stuff and Other Problems”
Category Archives: Uncategorized
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”
Where is my chair?
A couple of years ago I got rid of my classroom desk. I overheard a student talking about a teacher, saying that “teacher just sits there behind the desk all day…” I didn’t know if they were talking about me or not. I knew that they could be. I knew that I spent a lotContinue reading “Where is my chair?”
About those quizes…
Yesterday we held our annual SkillsUSA Regional Competition. For those that don’t know, SkillsUSA is a national student led career and technical organization. Students compete in career or leadership related events. Welding students, for example, are presented with materials and drawings and asked to produce the piece depicted in the drawing. Leadership students might present theirContinue reading “About those quizes…”
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”
Being proud and actually saying it.
I was able to attend Fall Cue this year again. It was, as usual, a great experience. It was a little different this year in that I didn’t come home with a great new tool. Usually I learn of a great tool that is new to me; an app, a web site, or a gadget.Continue reading “Being proud and actually saying it.”
3 and Out
I just finished the coursework for a Preliminary Administrative Credential at Teachers College of San Joaquin. In California prospective administrators have two options to become credentialed; take a test or take a year long series of courses. The test takes a Saturday and has a relatively small fee. The coursework option is several thousand dollarsContinue reading “3 and Out”
Have I Ever Told You How Much I Hate That Software?
I try to give my students choice. I don’t tell them how many slides their presentations have to have; I tell them they have to give a presentation, and I give them questions to answer. They usually choose PowerPoint first, because that is how they have been taught you do a presentation. Then they realizeContinue reading “Have I Ever Told You How Much I Hate That Software?”
Note to self: Do is the way to go.
The first day of school this year absolutely wiped me out. I was exhausted. I didn’t understand why the kids were so worked up. Some periods I was having a really hard time keeping the kids’ attention. I didn’t get it. I thought I was loosing my touch. I don’t have days like this,Continue reading “Note to self: Do is the way to go.”
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”
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