Today is the last day of school here at McNair Secondary. I never thought a year ago at this time, I would be completing my first year of teaching, which included 5 months of being TOC, and 5 months of teaching computer programming, digital media and other info tech topics. I have loved being able to teach technology. I have learnt so much along the way. It is also about relationships,... with students, EAs and other staff. I believe that I will remember each student in my class, and wish them the best in their next steps. Over the years, it's memories of these students that will cherish.
It has been quite a journey. What a career change.
Friday, June 15, 2012
Sunday, February 6, 2011
Week one - tuning in to "the bell"
Everything is so new to me. This includes the sound of "the bell". First few days, I would panic when I hear the bell. "Oh no, where do I have to be now?". By Day 5 I was increasingly aware that I need to give myself (and students) warning, that "the bell" is sounding soon!
But I still "missed" it on Friday. The bell rang just when I was about to play the Mac.vs. PC video. It's like playing these video games where you play against the clock. Next time I have to beat the clock!!
Lyle came to my math class. Some good ideas. Wait 20 full seconds to get their attention, and stick to it. Next strategy is to warn them that they may be moved away from their friends if they keep talking.
I think I realised why the projector was not working - the setting on my pc was not set to dual mode for projector setup!
My task this weekend is to do some major re-organisation of my binders, notes, and record sheets.
In addition, to prepare for hand-in next week of lesson plans.
But I still "missed" it on Friday. The bell rang just when I was about to play the Mac.vs. PC video. It's like playing these video games where you play against the clock. Next time I have to beat the clock!!
Lyle came to my math class. Some good ideas. Wait 20 full seconds to get their attention, and stick to it. Next strategy is to warn them that they may be moved away from their friends if they keep talking.
I think I realised why the projector was not working - the setting on my pc was not set to dual mode for projector setup!
My task this weekend is to do some major re-organisation of my binders, notes, and record sheets.
In addition, to prepare for hand-in next week of lesson plans.
Thursday, February 3, 2011
Day 4 ... moments
I'm exhausted, and exhiliarated.
I don't think I've felt like this since being a new mom.
After each class, I am ready to crash. So intense. So much happening.
A few aha moments:
- When the new girl from China from my math class asked if the workbook is $10 american money, or $10 canadian money. I tried not to smile too much. I couldn't help but think of her family, if her parents are here with her, and how totally strange and bizaare this place called highschool must be from her former home of school in China. I hope she does not transfer out of my class.
In ICT:
I learnt that grade 9's and 10's really don't have enough life experience to write a resume. A different assignment would have been better.
I learnt that the programming group are way too fast. I need to beef up their assignments.
And yes what to do with the helpless handraiser in the second row?
I created what I thought was a brilliant spur of the moment warmup to look for the unicode of the Chinese character "fu" (blessing), but didn't have time to do it. Tomorrow.
In Math:
I was pleased to see the students teach and help each other. Halo Halo! Must quickly praise them for this. They liked the "Create a Skill Testing Question" activity.
I need to test out a new projector cable, the tablet is not working.
Tomorrow I must work on getting the attention of the boys in the back table.
I can't believe it's Day 4.
I am exhausted but feel exhilarated.
Randy said I should ask "is teaching for me?"
So far the answer is "yes". I loved it when the students say "this is cool", or say "wow".
But I am exhausted.
How can I survive the long-haul?
I don't think I've felt like this since being a new mom.
After each class, I am ready to crash. So intense. So much happening.
A few aha moments:
- When the new girl from China from my math class asked if the workbook is $10 american money, or $10 canadian money. I tried not to smile too much. I couldn't help but think of her family, if her parents are here with her, and how totally strange and bizaare this place called highschool must be from her former home of school in China. I hope she does not transfer out of my class.
In ICT:
I learnt that grade 9's and 10's really don't have enough life experience to write a resume. A different assignment would have been better.
I learnt that the programming group are way too fast. I need to beef up their assignments.
And yes what to do with the helpless handraiser in the second row?
I created what I thought was a brilliant spur of the moment warmup to look for the unicode of the Chinese character "fu" (blessing), but didn't have time to do it. Tomorrow.
In Math:
I was pleased to see the students teach and help each other. Halo Halo! Must quickly praise them for this. They liked the "Create a Skill Testing Question" activity.
I need to test out a new projector cable, the tablet is not working.
Tomorrow I must work on getting the attention of the boys in the back table.
I can't believe it's Day 4.
I am exhausted but feel exhilarated.
Randy said I should ask "is teaching for me?"
So far the answer is "yes". I loved it when the students say "this is cool", or say "wow".
But I am exhausted.
How can I survive the long-haul?
Wednesday, February 2, 2011
Day 3
These last three days have been a whirlwind of high intensity and anxiety and excitement. Eventhough I am only teaching two blocks, I feel exhausted at the end of each block, overwhelmed by all the things that happened, all the organisational tid-bits that need to be remember here and there, and the faces of students. As well, the excitement of trying out new ideas and activities has kept me awake at night eventhough I am exhausted.
Yesterday on the drive home I had a game idea. It was solidified on the drive to school this morning! I wrote the decimal, hex, and binary chart on the wall. Asked each row to help me do the counting. Asked each student to create a "message" for sending in binary across the ocean to a recipient. Near the end of period, I distributed to each student a binary message that they are supposed to encode.
Rationale: to appreciate the grunt work that computers are so great at - working on 0s and 1s. To see how amazing it is that human beings can build on top of this digital logic, and create complex software applications and solutions!
Yesterday in math, I wrote 5 clues on the board for them to guess "who am I". They found 2 numbers 5, and 6, that both meet the criteria. Oops! I was only thinking of one. So I asked if they can think of one bonus clue that will help us decide for sure that it is a five, and not a six. Turned out to be a great teaching opportunity. I was so happy to see this mistake turn into a useful exercise. Then each table took turns creating clues for a special number. Other tables guessed. It was fun.
Today in math, I asked them to write squares of 1-20 on a piece of paper, and asked them to memorize it. They took turns doing it, and I felt that it was valuable and worthwhile. Tomorrow I just might quiz them. I was surprised to see the boy with challenges come ask me for practice questions.
Today in math, we did a round-robin think-pair-share with 3 coloured slips of problems. They moved tables, to explain to each other. Whenever someone asked me a question, I would redirect the question to their partner. And I could see them learn by teaching one another. That was cool. One boy really went out of his way to patiently help a challenged boy. I praised him later. I told the class that being able to explain, and teach, or make up a new problem, is one of the best ways to test that you really know something.
I am exhausted. The lack of sleep lately is really going to get me. I must find ways to be more efficient if I want to survive these 13 weeks!
Yesterday on the drive home I had a game idea. It was solidified on the drive to school this morning! I wrote the decimal, hex, and binary chart on the wall. Asked each row to help me do the counting. Asked each student to create a "message" for sending in binary across the ocean to a recipient. Near the end of period, I distributed to each student a binary message that they are supposed to encode.
Rationale: to appreciate the grunt work that computers are so great at - working on 0s and 1s. To see how amazing it is that human beings can build on top of this digital logic, and create complex software applications and solutions!
Yesterday in math, I wrote 5 clues on the board for them to guess "who am I". They found 2 numbers 5, and 6, that both meet the criteria. Oops! I was only thinking of one. So I asked if they can think of one bonus clue that will help us decide for sure that it is a five, and not a six. Turned out to be a great teaching opportunity. I was so happy to see this mistake turn into a useful exercise. Then each table took turns creating clues for a special number. Other tables guessed. It was fun.
Today in math, I asked them to write squares of 1-20 on a piece of paper, and asked them to memorize it. They took turns doing it, and I felt that it was valuable and worthwhile. Tomorrow I just might quiz them. I was surprised to see the boy with challenges come ask me for practice questions.
Today in math, we did a round-robin think-pair-share with 3 coloured slips of problems. They moved tables, to explain to each other. Whenever someone asked me a question, I would redirect the question to their partner. And I could see them learn by teaching one another. That was cool. One boy really went out of his way to patiently help a challenged boy. I praised him later. I told the class that being able to explain, and teach, or make up a new problem, is one of the best ways to test that you really know something.
I am exhausted. The lack of sleep lately is really going to get me. I must find ways to be more efficient if I want to survive these 13 weeks!
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