Seeing that I'm a new teacher and my contract doesn't start for another month, I was surprised when my principal asked me to attend a professional development. I figured that the only teachers who would get to attend the rather expensive conferences would be veteran teachers who have been with the school for at least a year, but I was more than happy to go; ultimately, I would be getting even more tools for my "teacher toolbox" to use in my classroom!
I had the privilege to be invited to go with some of the teachers and administrators from my school to an AVID Summer Institute. AVID is a program created to help students achieve their highest potential. Students can take AVID elective classes at their school which are designed to give them the tools and support they need to be successful. The program also provides teachers school-wide with tools to help their students connect to the class, be engaged, be successful in a rigorous class.
Summer Institute is a three-day intensive training session during the summer (I know, who would've guessed it would be during summer). At their institutes, AVID provides many different 'strands' for attendees to choose which area they want to focus on and learn more about. The strand I attended was their "Critical Reading 1", designed to help teachers provide students with techniques for understanding a complex text.
I had some apprehensions about attending something based solely on reading, after all, I am a science teacher. But it was the strand that my school had put me in, so I figured that they knew more about it than me, and I was right. I learned many useful tools that I can actually apply in my classroom. Not only did I learn what these tools were, but I also learned how to teach these strategies and experience what it's like to be a student using these strategies. That was probably my favorite part of the whole conference (aside from getting to know the other people from my school who came), the learning experience wasn't simply a "do as I say, not as I do" experience. I actually was required to use these as a student would.
For many of the English teachers in the class with me, it seemed review, but I had never been taught a good way to mark a text, chart a text, make a writing template, give a prereading or summary prompt, or change what I was asking students to do in order to give purpose to rereading.
I had a great time at the AVID summer institute and learned a lot...up next, the AP Chemistry Conference in Phoenix! Not that I'm a nerd or anything, but I'm super excited to be a student doing the lab experiments.
Saturday, June 29, 2013
Sunday, June 23, 2013
Curriculum Mapping
I was asked to work on the curriculum maps for my new school's Applied Chemistry, Chemistry I, and AP Chemistry classes with their former AP Chem teacher who is leaving for an opportunity to go to grad school in Texas. We divided up the work and he took the AP Chem course while I took the Applied and Chem I classes. Our job was three-fold: re-arrange the curriculum maps to work with how I will be teaching it, complete the maps, and incorporate Arizona's new Common Core Standards. I ended up having almost the exact same map for the Applied Chem and Chem I classes, but considering I plan to teach them almost the same way (maybe adding some more hands-on while taking away some math for the Applied), I think that makes sense. Plus, they still need to meet the same state standards...
The curriculum maps had many parts to them, some which made sense and others that seemed a little over the top. The one that I really wasn't a fan of was the "assessments" part where you had to put in exactly what assessment should be used for each standard. Sure, I understand having that in a lesson plan so that you can prove that you really did teach the standard, but to put it in a curriculum map that's been created by one or two teachers to be used by two or three, that doesn't make sense to me. I understand that we want to keep each class on about the same pace, but at the same time, teachers should have the autonomy to assess their class the way they see fit, not exactly like someone else. I have a hard time believing that even if we do use the same performance-based assessments that me and the other chemistry teacher would grade each student the exact same way.
We'll see how it works out--besides, for now I'm still making the assessments to go along with what I put into the curriculum maps.
The curriculum maps had many parts to them, some which made sense and others that seemed a little over the top. The one that I really wasn't a fan of was the "assessments" part where you had to put in exactly what assessment should be used for each standard. Sure, I understand having that in a lesson plan so that you can prove that you really did teach the standard, but to put it in a curriculum map that's been created by one or two teachers to be used by two or three, that doesn't make sense to me. I understand that we want to keep each class on about the same pace, but at the same time, teachers should have the autonomy to assess their class the way they see fit, not exactly like someone else. I have a hard time believing that even if we do use the same performance-based assessments that me and the other chemistry teacher would grade each student the exact same way.
We'll see how it works out--besides, for now I'm still making the assessments to go along with what I put into the curriculum maps.
Upcycling
If you're a part of the crafting world, or follow any sort of crafty people on Pinterest or other blogs, you know that "upcycling" is the new thing. This is where you take something that you would normally throw away (such as an old pill bottle, mint tin, soup can, etc.) and instead, use your crafting supplies (like yarn, spray paint, fabric, etc.) to make it into a fashionable new container or decoration.
Then, as that dried, I made some chalkboard paint. Everything I read said that it's expensive and the link I followed had a recipe from Martha Stewart, so I figured it was good. She says on the recipe that you can use any type of paint, but I made the mistake of using latex paint...bad idea.
3. Eventually upcycled mint tin--this pinspiration
Well, as we all know, I love getting inspired by Pinterest, and I've done just that with these new upcycling things for my classroom:
1. Upcycled pill bottles--my pinspiration
I took the labels off a couple pill bottles and covered one with green and gold yarn using hot glue to keep it in place and the other I covered in extra fabric from the binders I covered a few weeks ago. I secured the fabric with mod podge (which I'm starting to really like).
2. Upcycled soup cans--This one I combined a few pins to make
I took the labels off a couple pill bottles and covered one with green and gold yarn using hot glue to keep it in place and the other I covered in extra fabric from the binders I covered a few weeks ago. I secured the fabric with mod podge (which I'm starting to really like).
Here's how they turned out!
I kept one at home and put Q-Tips in it and put it in the guest bathroom, and the other I have at my desk for all those loose paperclips.
I took some cans from not soup, but canned oranges (I make a mandarin chicken salad that my boyfriend insists I make 3x a normal batch for every time I cook it) and started by spray painting them.
Then, as that dried, I made some chalkboard paint. Everything I read said that it's expensive and the link I followed had a recipe from Martha Stewart, so I figured it was good. She says on the recipe that you can use any type of paint, but I made the mistake of using latex paint...bad idea.
The materials needed for this project
The paint tried to peel off when I took the painters tape off the cans, something else that I would avoid next time as it didn't work due to the groves in the can (picture below) and took some of the spray paint with it.
But, I fixed the spots left by the painters tape, and this is how they ended up. I haven't had a chance to see if the chalkboard paint actually works because I don't have any chalk yet!
I plan on putting magnets or velcro tape on these and using them around my classroom for things like whiteboard markers, pencils, pens and a lost-and-found.
I haven't finished the altoids yet, but once I do, I plan to use this for either tacks, or another desk item that I use often.
Monday, May 13, 2013
Titles
I've noticed that my blog normally links to the page with EVERYTHING on it. This is one of my biggest pet peeves when I'm looking at stuff of Pinterest and then it links you to a page like that...but since most of those pins are from people who are looking at the blog, not the blogger herself (usually the ones I look at are from female teachers), I can't blame the blogger.
To try to help make things easier for people who (hopefully) will be lead to my blog from something like Pinterest, I will try to make my titles as specific to the topic as possible so that the links off to the right can be used to get to exactly what you want. Hopefully this will work and I won't have people unable to find what they're looking for. Good Luck!
To try to help make things easier for people who (hopefully) will be lead to my blog from something like Pinterest, I will try to make my titles as specific to the topic as possible so that the links off to the right can be used to get to exactly what you want. Hopefully this will work and I won't have people unable to find what they're looking for. Good Luck!
Personalized Binders for InterActive Notebooks
The school I will be working for has an AVID program and try to utilize many of the ideas from the program into all their classes. One of the techniques they especially like for the science classes are the InterActive Notebooks. I love the idea of incorporating both the left and right sides of the brain, and encouraging students to think through what they just learned and try to internalize the information.
I also like the idea of having all the handouts, homework and notes for a topic all in the same place so that students can see that they all go together; but I can't understand why it should be a notebook instead of a binder. To me, a binder makes more sense because then the students can keep everything together and looking good. The only drawback I can easily see with a binder is that the students could, theoretically, put in the information at a later date instead of right then and there, but if they're going to do something like that, I'm pretty sure they could figure out a way to do it with a notebook too.
I've already talked with the chair of the science department, and he doesn't see a problem with using binders instead of notebooks either. So that's my plan, use InterActive Binders instead of InterActive Notebooks. I will also want to keep a sample notebook for each of my classes, just in case a student falls behind, because to me, it seems more important for the students to have the information together in a useful way rather than not be able to use their notes, even if it isn't on time. I wanted to be able to easily identify the notebooks, but also have them look good, so-as usual-I found something on Pinterest and made my own. Here's what they looked like:
And here's how I did it:
I got two different pattern Stash Starter fabrics from Walmart (I got a whole yard of each, but you could easily use just a half yard, or maybe even a quarter yard), some Mod Podge (this was also my first time using Mod Podge, but everything I've read says to use the real stuff, not to make your own), a pair of scissors and a foam brush and I got started. I basically just followed the directions in the pin. The only thing I saw that she did, but didn't put in the directions was to cut a small area out around the edges for the binder rings and opener. I think this project cost me about $10 total for the binders (assuming they were new), the fabric (which could have been less if I'd gotten a smaller size), and the Mod Podge (the most expensive part at about $5 a bottle, but I hardly used any of it to cover the whole binder inside and out).
I also like the idea of having all the handouts, homework and notes for a topic all in the same place so that students can see that they all go together; but I can't understand why it should be a notebook instead of a binder. To me, a binder makes more sense because then the students can keep everything together and looking good. The only drawback I can easily see with a binder is that the students could, theoretically, put in the information at a later date instead of right then and there, but if they're going to do something like that, I'm pretty sure they could figure out a way to do it with a notebook too.
I've already talked with the chair of the science department, and he doesn't see a problem with using binders instead of notebooks either. So that's my plan, use InterActive Binders instead of InterActive Notebooks. I will also want to keep a sample notebook for each of my classes, just in case a student falls behind, because to me, it seems more important for the students to have the information together in a useful way rather than not be able to use their notes, even if it isn't on time. I wanted to be able to easily identify the notebooks, but also have them look good, so-as usual-I found something on Pinterest and made my own. Here's what they looked like:
And here's how I did it:
I got two different pattern Stash Starter fabrics from Walmart (I got a whole yard of each, but you could easily use just a half yard, or maybe even a quarter yard), some Mod Podge (this was also my first time using Mod Podge, but everything I've read says to use the real stuff, not to make your own), a pair of scissors and a foam brush and I got started. I basically just followed the directions in the pin. The only thing I saw that she did, but didn't put in the directions was to cut a small area out around the edges for the binder rings and opener. I think this project cost me about $10 total for the binders (assuming they were new), the fabric (which could have been less if I'd gotten a smaller size), and the Mod Podge (the most expensive part at about $5 a bottle, but I hardly used any of it to cover the whole binder inside and out).
Thursday, May 9, 2013
Getting Crafty While I Wait/Objective boards
Seeing as the current school year isn't over and I can't get into what will be my classroom, I am doing what I can while I wait. Today I went out and bought all kinds of supplies to get things started for my classroom.
For starters, I saw this post on Pinterest. I really love her idea of using picture frames to post the objectives, but I think I will be putting mine somewhere other than on the whiteboard to save precious board space. I took these supplies,
I cut the wrapping paper to fit into the frames, wrote in the words "Objectives, SWBAT..., Chem, and AP Chem", and I ended up with this:
I plan to actually write the objectives for each day on the large frames on the bottom in the picture.
I also got eight of those easy to change, standing, plastic picture frames so that I can put station instructions at the lab stations without having to worry about needing to replace them each class period. I also took that idea from pinterest, here.
If you're interested in what else I have on Pinterest, here's a link to me; I sift through all the elementary, math, and reading pins so you don't have to!
Introduction
I have just gotten my first job as a chemistry teacher. I will (most likely) be teaching Chemistry 1 and AP Chem my first year. I am very excited about this, and a little nervous. While I've taken all the education classes and stayed on track during my student teaching while also working nights as a Lab TA at the college, I still feel that I am not fully prepared. I know I will make mistakes, but I want to do all I can to minimize them.
And, I am a planner, so plan I shall. My intentions for this blog are to:
1) Be able to write and reflect about my lessons
2) Share my success and failures with other teachers
3) Help others avoid making the same mistakes I will
4) Look back at my first year and find areas of growth and goals for the next year.
I've learned through my classes how important it is to be able to reflect on my classroom management and lessons. During my student teaching, I fell behind in this and didn't learn as much as I know I could have, and I regret it. I'm hoping that I will gain followers and have something to encourage me to continually write my reflections in a timely manner, before I forget the details.
Along the way, I will also be sharing my DIY creative solutions (mostly taken from Pinterest, because I've faced the fact that when it comes to artsy stuff, I just don't have what it takes) for my classroom. I'll try to avoid sharing anything that doesn't have applications in the classroom.
...Here goes nothing!
And, I am a planner, so plan I shall. My intentions for this blog are to:
1) Be able to write and reflect about my lessons
2) Share my success and failures with other teachers
3) Help others avoid making the same mistakes I will
4) Look back at my first year and find areas of growth and goals for the next year.
I've learned through my classes how important it is to be able to reflect on my classroom management and lessons. During my student teaching, I fell behind in this and didn't learn as much as I know I could have, and I regret it. I'm hoping that I will gain followers and have something to encourage me to continually write my reflections in a timely manner, before I forget the details.
Along the way, I will also be sharing my DIY creative solutions (mostly taken from Pinterest, because I've faced the fact that when it comes to artsy stuff, I just don't have what it takes) for my classroom. I'll try to avoid sharing anything that doesn't have applications in the classroom.
...Here goes nothing!
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