Adventures with the Lower Level

The teacher have a great role for nation.

2012-05-21T05:26:17.250-05:00

The teacher have a great role for nation.

Good insight though. Reflection is an important ke...

2012-05-15T17:06:35.146-05:00

Good insight though. Reflection is an important key to being a good teacher in the science classroom.

Bryce McMinn

Teacher must have helping mentality and honesty al...

2012-05-14T13:19:15.541-05:00

Teacher must have helping mentality and honesty also.

Education is the backbone of a nation.So theacher ...

2012-05-14T12:44:24.013-05:00

Education is the backbone of a nation.So theacher is very importent for nation also.

These are still the ones I use. Not every target i...

2012-05-07T10:15:01.641-05:00

These are still the ones I use. Not every target is assessed on each lab. For example, we just did a lab where only 5,6 and 8 were actually addressed. I am for the most part happy with these, but I really would like to rewrite them. My kids seem to have a hard time remembering that #5 is the analysis. I'm not sure why :)

Tracie, are these still the skills you use? I als...

2012-05-06T08:57:18.259-05:00

Tracie, are these still the skills you use? I also have a long list of lab skills and scientific method skills that I would like to condense. I have had some luck scaffolding these skills by grading just a few at a time and having students revise their work and turn in another draft.

The Global Physics Department has helped me keep u...

2012-04-26T07:34:23.217-05:00

The Global Physics Department has helped me keep up the good fight to provide quality instruction in all of my classes. I am humbled and inspired by members of this group and the presenters each and every week!

I'm very sorry to hear about this. We had a st...

2012-04-25T00:03:19.280-05:00

I'm very sorry to hear about this. We had a staff member commit suicide last year and I wandered around in a fog for quite some time. We were lucky and had a week break not long after and many of us were able to clear our heads during that time. I wish I could tell you it goes away, but it doesn't. But like your student said, life goes on and it gets easier.

Thank you so much to everyone who has reached out ...

2012-04-24T14:37:22.388-05:00

Thank you so much to everyone who has reached out and offered support. It's funny how easy it is to forget how many people, whom I have never met in person, are willing to offer encouragement and to help move me forward. In so many ways, I don't know what I would do without you.

GPD is amazing! Just the idea of being able to con...

2012-04-24T14:23:25.887-05:00

GPD is amazing! Just the idea of being able to connect with teachers all over the world gives me goosebumps :) I am definitely a better teacher because of these interactions.

A good teacher is asset of a country.he musst be h...

2012-04-24T02:06:48.541-05:00

A good teacher is asset of a country.he musst be honest.He teach moto also.This wonderful blog represent that very nice way.

I am so sorry to hear about this loss of a wonderf...

2012-04-23T17:31:45.939-05:00

I am so sorry to hear about this loss of a wonderful young person. Your writing expresses almost exactly how I remember feeling on the two occasions when one of my students passed away. The students you talked with and cried with will remember how you were there for them, not any of the things you "should" have said.

They certainly don't teach you how to help students deal with grief (while you are grieving yourself) in grad school. You, Grant, and your students will be in my thoughts as you try to go on after such a terrible loss.

Sending positive, healing thoughts your way. These...

2012-04-23T13:56:38.989-05:00

Sending positive, healing thoughts your way. These are the things that you do not learn during student teaching...I don't think there is a right or wrong thing to say during a time like this. Your students need you and you need them. In my 16 years of teaching I have been through my fair share of tragic events. It is never easy to deal with...Just know, you have this place to share your thoughts and your readers are here to support you...

You has a great blog. I'm very interesting to ...

2012-04-23T11:25:25.325-05:00

You has a great blog. I'm very interesting to stopping here and leaves you a comment. Good work.

Lets keep writing and share your information to us.

Nb: Dont forget to leave your comment back for us.

I whole heartedly agree with this post. The Global...

2012-04-22T08:55:21.871-05:00

I whole heartedly agree with this post. The Global Physics Department is a refreshing antidote to the isolation that many physics teachers experience. I look forward every week to listening to and exchanging ideas with people who puzzle over the same questions I do.

It says "Thought you might like him. PS He...

2012-04-09T11:10:29.888-05:00

It says "Thought you might like him. PS He's still alive."

Turns out it was a giant moth :) Much tamer than what I was imagining, but he still managed to push the box to the edge of the desk!

Wait. I need resolution on this! What was it???

2012-04-07T23:18:29.722-05:00

Wait. I need resolution on this! What was it???

Hilarious!

2012-04-02T12:30:05.468-05:00

Hilarious!

Thanks Chris I am struggling with the same things....

2012-03-28T06:47:52.446-05:00

Thanks Chris
I am struggling with the same things. I think a big part of my issues is that I am the only one in the building that is trying to take the emphasis off grades, so it is a battle every day to get kids to buy in. My admin supports how I assign marks and I have had teachers ask me about it, but it isn't really catching on. I think part of the reason is that it is a massive amount of work up front. It's hard to get through that first year.
Good Luck!

I think this is great. I've recently begun see...

2012-03-21T08:31:44.068-05:00

I think this is great. I've recently begun seeing the damage that grades can be, and how learning seems to stop as soon as the grades have been assigned. I think out of your list of 4, I jive more with number 2 - that grades need to be the start of a conversation and not the end (seems like a blog post for me pretty soon...).

So what I've begun to do is grade less and assess more. What I have found is that students truly are learning more (AND I spend less time grading, ha!). However, I can't seem to get to the place in which I give a grade, students relearn, and I am able to reassess in such a way that I feel the new "grade" (since I have to assign it) seems justified. How can I give students more points for "relearning" something, when I don't have the time to reassess them properly, ie - make another quiz?

The whole problem that I can see, is the whole points/percentages concept in general. I can't knix grades altogether, but if you've got any ideas or wisdom to share, please don't hesitate!

Great post

Chris

Teach - I have actually had kids come to school on...

2012-03-09T07:18:06.224-06:00

Teach - I have actually had kids come to school only to come to my class. While I don't really want them to have to make that effort necessarily, it tells me that they think it is important not to miss. I am still working on coming up with ways to make it easier to make up the work when they are gone.

I was so proud the moment the word unGoogleable was said :)

Knaus - I think we agree! Obviously, you had an in...

2012-03-09T07:15:13.803-06:00

Knaus - I think we agree! Obviously, you had an incredible question that was enough to get them going. I love days like that, and every once in awhile I come up with something that sparks with my kids. My huge difficulty is coming up with the questions. At that, I am horrible.

I agree with your premise. I want to know that wha...

2012-03-09T05:26:45.680-06:00

I agree with your premise. I want to know that what I have to share with students is pretty valuable and will really help them out - in more classes than just the ones I teach. That when students do miss, they realize that they missed something important, and not just something they can read in the text. Our goal is to make content meaningful, while also engaging the students in developing a particular set of skills that they can apply to any facet of life.

Oh, and way to go on making tests that are "unGoogleable" haha

Chris Mitchell

Tracie, Thanks for blogging on your Modeling Works...

2012-03-09T00:53:17.233-06:00

Tracie,
Thanks for blogging on your Modeling Workshops and your implementation -- they are insightful and helpful to others. For teachers who would like to take a Modeling Workshop, here is information. Modeling Workshops in high school physics, chemistry, and physical science are offered each summer at two dozen or so sites in many states. Modeling Workshops are peer-led. Modeling Instruction is designated by the U.S. Department of Education as an Exemplary K-12 science program. Some sites offer stipends, usually for in-state teachers. Graduate credit is available at some sites. (Biology Modeling Workshops are in initial stages in 2012.) Visit http://modeling.asu.edu/MW_nation.html or http://www.ptec.org/pd .
cheers, Jane Jackson,
Co-Director of Modeling Instruction Program.

I think I disagree. If your tests are unGooglea...

2012-03-08T19:29:17.230-06:00

I *think* I disagree. If your tests are unGoogleable, then you are doing it right.

However, on the other side, often times, I don't feel that I need to be in the room. The kids are engaged in activities that I have set up to spark the learning.

For instances, we are doing a fact finding unit where students are given a slide of pictures and words and they need to research the truthful who, what, where, when, why, how. I literally gave 1 minute of instruction after their warm-up. They all spent the next 45 minutes engaged in research and note taking. I spent that time in mini-conferences about what they are doing and answering questions. It was differentiated by the students. I met them where they were at. Some had extensive notes, some had just a few word, but all got the main idea.

So, no parrots. No spitting stuff back at me. I'm guessing that some of the students don't really need me. They need me only to make the tasks interesting, engaging and relevant. After that, they take charge and DO the learning.

Okay, I *think* I agree with you but for different reasons. Ah, well, it's late and I probably should go to bed.

Adventures with the Lower Level

The teacher have a great role for nation.

Good insight though. Reflection is an important ke...

Teacher must have helping mentality and honesty al...

Education is the backbone of a nation.So theacher ...

These are still the ones I use. Not every target i...

Tracie, are these still the skills you use? I als...

The Global Physics Department has helped me keep u...

I'm very sorry to hear about this. We had a st...

Thank you so much to everyone who has reached out ...

GPD is amazing! Just the idea of being able to con...

A good teacher is asset of a country.he musst be h...

I am so sorry to hear about this loss of a wonderf...

Sending positive, healing thoughts your way. These...

You has a great blog. I'm very interesting to ...

I whole heartedly agree with this post. The Global...

It says "Thought you might like him. PS He...

Wait. I need resolution on this! What was it???

Hilarious!

Thanks Chris I am struggling with the same things....

I think this is great. I've recently begun see...

Teach - I have actually had kids come to school on...

Knaus - I think we agree! Obviously, you had an in...

I agree with your premise. I want to know that wha...

Tracie, Thanks for blogging on your Modeling Works...

I *think* I disagree. If your tests are unGooglea...

I think I disagree. If your tests are unGooglea...