Every year when students are counting those days left of summer time fun, teachers are going back early. We have to get our classrooms ready and of course training. Tons and tons and tons of training. In fact, I've started my training 3 weeks before students come back to school and MAN am I learning a lot! We just got done with some fabulous STEM training done be Dacia Jones (@dacia92 if you twitter) from Durham, NC public schools. I encourage you to check out her blog over at Discovery Education HERE
Like many STEM conferences we learned about cool projects we could try out with our students, but she also helped to facilitate and grow our little STEM program that for 5th graders is in its infancy. She organized and helped us get lab coats, helped us with grant writing, gave us great resources and information, and did it with an energetic happy smile everyday regardless of the tech difficulties we sometimes hit (WIFI issues blah!) That was amazing week number 1!
On to week 2 and it begins, the all teacher "in-service" where you learn about logins and rules and protocols. Today alone I learned how to log into 8 different systems, and was told there are several more to come! Add that to trying to work up 2 weeks worth of lesson plans, and let's just say, the school year has definitely begun.
Since this is my first year in a public school I've got a learning curve. I've been exposed to private school children and private school ways for 3 years now. One thing I learned today: Buy as many extra supplies as you can afford on your teacher salary. Many of these children won't have them, and the school won't have anything to give you either! WHAT! No supplies??? It is a very sad yet true problems many school children in our country face. I would be interested in learning about what programs your community has in place to help teachers and their students with this cost. Please feel free to shout it out!
Tomorrow, I have PDAS training. Basically its the system Texas uses to do your professional evaluations. Does this really take a full day though??? Apparently yes :( My calendar says I will be doing this until 4PM. Prayers would be greatly appreciated. Until I can jump on here again, I wish all teachers, New and Returning a fabulous school year!
Like many STEM conferences we learned about cool projects we could try out with our students, but she also helped to facilitate and grow our little STEM program that for 5th graders is in its infancy. She organized and helped us get lab coats, helped us with grant writing, gave us great resources and information, and did it with an energetic happy smile everyday regardless of the tech difficulties we sometimes hit (WIFI issues blah!) That was amazing week number 1!
On to week 2 and it begins, the all teacher "in-service" where you learn about logins and rules and protocols. Today alone I learned how to log into 8 different systems, and was told there are several more to come! Add that to trying to work up 2 weeks worth of lesson plans, and let's just say, the school year has definitely begun.
Since this is my first year in a public school I've got a learning curve. I've been exposed to private school children and private school ways for 3 years now. One thing I learned today: Buy as many extra supplies as you can afford on your teacher salary. Many of these children won't have them, and the school won't have anything to give you either! WHAT! No supplies??? It is a very sad yet true problems many school children in our country face. I would be interested in learning about what programs your community has in place to help teachers and their students with this cost. Please feel free to shout it out!
Tomorrow, I have PDAS training. Basically its the system Texas uses to do your professional evaluations. Does this really take a full day though??? Apparently yes :( My calendar says I will be doing this until 4PM. Prayers would be greatly appreciated. Until I can jump on here again, I wish all teachers, New and Returning a fabulous school year!
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