Okay, to clarify my previous blog since I had comments.
First, the last entry was what I've been doing the last week and a half two weeks.
School let out the Wednesday before Memorial day. I was in the first week of an intensive graduate fcourse. For the next two and a half weeks, I spent my days reading and writing two papers each day. For it to have been an entry course to the graduate program, it was the roughest course I had to take for the degree.
I taught summer school for two weeks during the beginning of June. It was an all day affair this year, which made it a new challenge to everyone. Can't say I really enjoyed it since I felt rushed trying to get everything the superintendent wanted taught.
During this time I was also taking another graduate course, in order to comeplete the Curriculum and Instruction degree I was pursuing. Everyone asks what's that. With this degree, I can move into a district position where I'm in charge of what's taught and how -in other words, which textbooks the district uses and what's going to be taught when.
I have been reading also, not just comics (altho they sometimes offer much better teaching ideas than novels and textbooks). I've read several things on teaching strategies, the new Harry Potter, and various other teen novels that were suggested by students.
Many teachers, myself included, review their curriculum and make decisions on what to teach and what can be omitted. Keep in mind, while the school year may cover nine/ten months; the various testing Bush requires takes quite a bit of time out of our actual teaching. Out of 185 academic days, my building used 45 of those days to complete the various required tests. In other words, one nine week quarter lost due to testing.
Many teachers take college classes to maintain their teaching creditials. In the state of Kansas we are required to take 8 hours of college credit every five year to maintain of license. Other states have different requirements. We go to workshops and trips to gain new ideas and perspectives. A numer of teachers take on a summer job to help make ends meet.
I developed new beginning of class activities to get the students started while I take attendance. I reviewed the textbooks to determine which BCA would work best with what lesson.
Unlike some areas, teaching math doesn't change from year to year. Students change and the way I approach those students change, but I still cover the material at roughly the same point each year.
So yes, the last complete of weeks I've been lazy. I wore myself out and needed time to recharge. Now, I'm getting bored and restless. That simply comes from living in a small town without much entertainment for a young(er) person. Someone asked if we had any museums in town. Yes, we have an air museum, Coronado Arts Museum, and the House of Dorothy for all things related to the Wizard of Oz. Unfortunately, two of them are closed for renovations this summer. And the House of Dorothy doesn't change -feel free to come to Liberal and I'll give you the tour myself. Just let me find a gingham dress and some ruby slippers.
Starting Monday, I'll return to my classroom and start setting it up. Getting my bulletin boards ready will take most of Monday. Tuesday I'll hang posters and prep the rest of the room. Wednesday I'll take the day off since I have to get my routine labs done to gauge my control over my diabetes -bloodwork while fasting, I'll be grumpy and hungry the rest of the day. The on Thursday and Friday, I'll work enrollment and be able to gain some first impressions of my students. Week after that is back to inservices.
First, the last entry was what I've been doing the last week and a half two weeks.
School let out the Wednesday before Memorial day. I was in the first week of an intensive graduate fcourse. For the next two and a half weeks, I spent my days reading and writing two papers each day. For it to have been an entry course to the graduate program, it was the roughest course I had to take for the degree.
I taught summer school for two weeks during the beginning of June. It was an all day affair this year, which made it a new challenge to everyone. Can't say I really enjoyed it since I felt rushed trying to get everything the superintendent wanted taught.
During this time I was also taking another graduate course, in order to comeplete the Curriculum and Instruction degree I was pursuing. Everyone asks what's that. With this degree, I can move into a district position where I'm in charge of what's taught and how -in other words, which textbooks the district uses and what's going to be taught when.
I have been reading also, not just comics (altho they sometimes offer much better teaching ideas than novels and textbooks). I've read several things on teaching strategies, the new Harry Potter, and various other teen novels that were suggested by students.
Many teachers, myself included, review their curriculum and make decisions on what to teach and what can be omitted. Keep in mind, while the school year may cover nine/ten months; the various testing Bush requires takes quite a bit of time out of our actual teaching. Out of 185 academic days, my building used 45 of those days to complete the various required tests. In other words, one nine week quarter lost due to testing.
Many teachers take college classes to maintain their teaching creditials. In the state of Kansas we are required to take 8 hours of college credit every five year to maintain of license. Other states have different requirements. We go to workshops and trips to gain new ideas and perspectives. A numer of teachers take on a summer job to help make ends meet.
I developed new beginning of class activities to get the students started while I take attendance. I reviewed the textbooks to determine which BCA would work best with what lesson.
Unlike some areas, teaching math doesn't change from year to year. Students change and the way I approach those students change, but I still cover the material at roughly the same point each year.
So yes, the last complete of weeks I've been lazy. I wore myself out and needed time to recharge. Now, I'm getting bored and restless. That simply comes from living in a small town without much entertainment for a young(er) person. Someone asked if we had any museums in town. Yes, we have an air museum, Coronado Arts Museum, and the House of Dorothy for all things related to the Wizard of Oz. Unfortunately, two of them are closed for renovations this summer. And the House of Dorothy doesn't change -feel free to come to Liberal and I'll give you the tour myself. Just let me find a gingham dress and some ruby slippers.
Starting Monday, I'll return to my classroom and start setting it up. Getting my bulletin boards ready will take most of Monday. Tuesday I'll hang posters and prep the rest of the room. Wednesday I'll take the day off since I have to get my routine labs done to gauge my control over my diabetes -bloodwork while fasting, I'll be grumpy and hungry the rest of the day. The on Thursday and Friday, I'll work enrollment and be able to gain some first impressions of my students. Week after that is back to inservices.