Blogger challenge Day 3

Day 3: Discuss one “observation” area that you would like to improve on for your teacher evaluation.

My official one is
2b Establishing a Culture for Learning • Importance of content • Expectations for learning and achievement • Student pride in work

This is because we are going into SBE.  What I am really trying this year is to reshape how I teach and grade.  I want to get out of the "worksheet" paradigm.  The problem with this is since I teach science, projects are not really the way to go.

I can do it in my Environmental Science class, and honestly I have not tried.  I have a few ideas using "bingo" and "menu".  But I have not done it.  My excuse is "these students can't do it."  I think my real reason is I have never done it before.  We have a new nine weeks coming so I can do it then.  I will be doing a project for my chemistry class in which they make paper dolls of famous scientists toward the end of the year.

Back to this.  I walk a line of having students work on their assessments, then not running around putting out fires. 

Blogger challenge 2

Day 2: Write about one piece of technology that you would like to try this year, and why. You might also write about what you’re hoping to see out of this edtech integration.


I am working with Educreations. This lets me write and speak at the same time then load the work onto a video. The advantage of this from Show me is the site is not blocked and the editing lets me go and "do over" pieces instead of the whole thing.

My colleagues use it now and sing the praises. Me? I just do not have time.

Blogger challenge day 5

Day 5: Post a picture of your classroom, and describe what you see –and what you don’t see that you’d like to.

I think I have everything where I want it.
The wall where the poster changes

Reactions posters, periodic table, world map and my "smart board."

Some posters from a person who did the elements as a school project.

 My usual view.

 The pathway.  What they are going to do today

My desk. this time it is semi clean.

Books I've offered my students to read.  World War Zl.  Rufus the Lab Rat puppet and a Bear skull I bought from a yard sale years ago.

Other books.  Thanks to Math Curmudgeon for the ideas.

Blogger teacher challenge number 1

(So I'm out of Sequence)

What are your goals for this year.

1.  Get the Standards based learning under control.

this changed since we did not go SBE all the way, just the 10th level learners (9th graders)
Then there were too many of them, so I picked up a class.

2.  Use the full classroom.

The moved me out of the lab.  I am using an idea called "math 360" which is simply the students stand and work and I watch.  This can work with the Chemistry class, and the AP is slightly sluggish though they are starting to see the need for it.

Now I am going to slowly move away from worksheets and more Classwork.

3.  Use computer more for class.

With midling results....

4.  Exercise..

yea..right.  well I am starting again.

Groudhog day is a good day for goals.

New goal...be a presenter at a conference.