Wednesday, March 11, 2009
SEP's
Can you believe it-the last SEP's?! I was talking to a first grade teacher at Rock Canyon about SEP's and they do something like a walk-in report card for this SEP. I really liked the idea and I might try to modify it for myself. I am sure that you already have plenty to cover for your upcoming SEPs, but I thought I would share this idea if any of you would like to try it sometime. Instead of meeting with all of the parents (just at this SEP) all of the parents come into class (half in the morning and half in the afternoon) for an hour. They work through a packet with their child that covers concepts that they have been learning about recently. The parent is able to see for themselves what their student struggles with, their strengths and how they compare to other students in the class. During this time, the teacher walks around and visits for 5 mins. with each parent. If parents want more time with you, than they can set up an appointment. I know that it is not possible to do this right now, but I think I may send a packet like this home with my student on Monday and ask that parents work through it with their student and then perhaps I'll discuss it with parents at their SEP. It was just an idea-we'll see how it goes!
Hurray for March! :)
Can you believe it's MARCH?! Oh my goodness... I can't!!! But I'm so happy that it's ALMOST spring! (Depsite the lovely snow this week...) Anyway, I was just wondering if anyone had any fantastic, fun, exciting ideas for REVIEWS! We're almost DONE teaching what we need to for math this year! So we're going to start REVIEWING for the end of the year test! Teresa, if you have any great ideas, please let me know! Everyone else, please share your wonderful ideas! Thanks!!!
-Chelsie
-Chelsie
Sunday, March 8, 2009
TWS - Aleasha
What was the most challenging/horrible thing about the TWS?
I would have to agree with the previous post-the most difficult thing for me was to get the motivation to work on it. Had I not done most of the planning and charts over the summer in Social Studies than I would have been in big trouble. I think that the TWS could be greatly simplified and still be valuable and teach the things that it is designed to teach. The actual teaching of the TWS was not challenging, but creating an 80 or 90 page document that seems to repeatedly ask the same questions was challenging because I did not see the value in typing it up. I think it is important to create a unit, teach it, and assess it. However, the writing up of the TWS is what seems to be emphasized, rather than the actual teaching. I don't want to sound like a bum and complain about it because I understand there are things in school (and life) that may not seem fun, but we just have to stick it out and finish anyway. So I can now say that I finished the dreaded TWS and it really was not that bad.
What was the most valuable thing about the TWS?
Creating a unit and assessments based on an objective. Although, I could have learned how to do that without typing up a 90 page document:).
Stress level: This question reminds me of when the doctor asks you to rate your pain on a scale of 1-10. If you say it's only a 1, than he is going to tell you to suck it up and deal with it and probably to go home. If you say it is an 8 or 9, than you'll get into the doctor faster, you'll get some pain killers, and he will try to make it all better. So perhaps if I say my stress level was an 8 or 9 on the TWS, I will be helping future interns by reducing the amount of work that they have to do. If I say it was only a 1, than perhaps they will just have to 'suck it up' and do it as well. I will try not to read into this question to0 much and be as honest as possible. I did not stress out that much since I had already done most of it over the summer. It was a little bit stressful that last week when I had to finish it-I would say a healthy 5 on the stress scale.
I would have to agree with the previous post-the most difficult thing for me was to get the motivation to work on it. Had I not done most of the planning and charts over the summer in Social Studies than I would have been in big trouble. I think that the TWS could be greatly simplified and still be valuable and teach the things that it is designed to teach. The actual teaching of the TWS was not challenging, but creating an 80 or 90 page document that seems to repeatedly ask the same questions was challenging because I did not see the value in typing it up. I think it is important to create a unit, teach it, and assess it. However, the writing up of the TWS is what seems to be emphasized, rather than the actual teaching. I don't want to sound like a bum and complain about it because I understand there are things in school (and life) that may not seem fun, but we just have to stick it out and finish anyway. So I can now say that I finished the dreaded TWS and it really was not that bad.
What was the most valuable thing about the TWS?
Creating a unit and assessments based on an objective. Although, I could have learned how to do that without typing up a 90 page document:).
Stress level: This question reminds me of when the doctor asks you to rate your pain on a scale of 1-10. If you say it's only a 1, than he is going to tell you to suck it up and deal with it and probably to go home. If you say it is an 8 or 9, than you'll get into the doctor faster, you'll get some pain killers, and he will try to make it all better. So perhaps if I say my stress level was an 8 or 9 on the TWS, I will be helping future interns by reducing the amount of work that they have to do. If I say it was only a 1, than perhaps they will just have to 'suck it up' and do it as well. I will try not to read into this question to0 much and be as honest as possible. I did not stress out that much since I had already done most of it over the summer. It was a little bit stressful that last week when I had to finish it-I would say a healthy 5 on the stress scale.
Monday, March 2, 2009
TWS
1) What was challenging about the TWS?
The most challenging thing, for me, was getting the motivation to actually work on the TWS. From what I've heard, none of us had the time of our lives doing this project and would rather be teaching students and doing lesson plans that doing TWS. I feel that the most valuable source of how we teach comes from our observations from our CFA and facilitator. Anybody can type up repetitive information the way BYU wants it, but they will not know how we teach and the relationship we have with our students from the 65 page project. Feeling it is a waste of time, I did not make it a priority until after Christmas.
2) What was valuable about the TWS?
I guess the thing that was most valuable from TWS is learning not to procrastinate and motivating myself to do something I really do not want to do. Haha, j/k. TWS helped me get a better look at how to plan a unit. It helps to have it all planned out before you teach it and to know what exactly you want the students to learn and have the lessons tied to the post-test. (I also learned that caffeinated beverages can help you stay peppy while teaching your students on an hour and a half of sleep!)
3) On a scale of 1-10 (10 being the MOST stressed), how stressed have you been about the Teacher Work Sample? Why?
Before Christmas - probably a 0 because it wasn't due until February so why stress about it! The last couple weeks before it was due, probably an 8 because obviously this is a big project that is kind of important to pass! I also have 2 roommates that are interns and their freaking out about it 24/7 definitely did not help.
The most challenging thing, for me, was getting the motivation to actually work on the TWS. From what I've heard, none of us had the time of our lives doing this project and would rather be teaching students and doing lesson plans that doing TWS. I feel that the most valuable source of how we teach comes from our observations from our CFA and facilitator. Anybody can type up repetitive information the way BYU wants it, but they will not know how we teach and the relationship we have with our students from the 65 page project. Feeling it is a waste of time, I did not make it a priority until after Christmas.
2) What was valuable about the TWS?
I guess the thing that was most valuable from TWS is learning not to procrastinate and motivating myself to do something I really do not want to do. Haha, j/k. TWS helped me get a better look at how to plan a unit. It helps to have it all planned out before you teach it and to know what exactly you want the students to learn and have the lessons tied to the post-test. (I also learned that caffeinated beverages can help you stay peppy while teaching your students on an hour and a half of sleep!)
3) On a scale of 1-10 (10 being the MOST stressed), how stressed have you been about the Teacher Work Sample? Why?
Before Christmas - probably a 0 because it wasn't due until February so why stress about it! The last couple weeks before it was due, probably an 8 because obviously this is a big project that is kind of important to pass! I also have 2 roommates that are interns and their freaking out about it 24/7 definitely did not help.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)