Exit Interview Thoughts

I would like to propose that we do NOT have any exit interviews on this Thursday April 10th or Friday, April 11th. I think you are all very stressed and have tons on your plate that I wasn’t even aware of. The last thing you need to be thinking about is putting your portfolio together in a hurry and coming to the exit interview stressed and tired. I am proposing that we wait until the following week (Thursday, April 17th and Friday until 1:00 p.m. , April 18th) as originally planned.

I know that some of you may be leaving the city and if this is the case, we will arrange an earlier date for you. These exit interviews are very important as this is the last official contact we will have before I attend the large student review meetings where student progress is discussed and final decisions are made. I will be sending this out in WebCT so you can respond to this proposal. I’m hoping that this will take at least one thing off your mind so you can enjoy your last 2 days with your students.

Also, I regret to say that I will not be able to visit everyone over the next two days. It is an extremely busy and stressful time for me right now trying to finish the semester - I’d much rather be in the schools with you right now! You all seem to be having so much fun!

Inspiring Passage from Tomlinson

I’m not sure if you remember me reading you this passage, from one of Carol Ann Tomlinson’s book, in September. It is what I’ve tried to instil in you throughout our time together. Think about what this means to you…

“Classrooms are messy agendas, complex material, and imperfect lives. Procedures designed to make the day go smoothly don’t always work the first time - or the fourth. Students don’t always grasp ideas on carefully prescribed timetables. Young people are as likely to resist challenge as to embrace it. The teacher needs to help students understand that this is a place where persistence is a hallmark. To do that, the teacher must communicate the following:

•  You’re growing, but you’re not finsihed growing.
• When one route doesn’t work, there are others we can find.
• Let’s figure out what works best.
• There are no excuses here, but there is support.
                                  There is no finish line in learning.”

Tomlinson, Carol A. (2004). Fulfilling the promise of the differentiated classroom: Strategies and tools of responsive teaching.

I hope that many of you will take the time to respond to this blog.
 

School Visits

I so enjoyed my visits to many of you last week! I may have surprised you but I didn’t want you to worry and get nervous knowing I was coming. I plan to drop-in and see the rest of you before your block is over. The time is going so quickly!

You may be feeling stressed with your assignments, exam and so on but try and relax and enjoy spending time with ‘your kids’. You have such a short time left with them and you need to focus on the learning (both theirs and yours).

The blogs have been incredible. Many of you have an extremely strong writer’s voice - I feel like I’m in the room with you. Your reflections paint a picture of your experience and your caring and analytical reflections provide me with a glimpse into your ‘process of becoming’. It’s like I’m watching you grow before my eyes…I’m proud of you. I don’t think you realize just how much you’ve learned. I’m honestly amazed when I’m reading and I’ll be sure to share with your other instructors how you are thinking about and applying many of the theories and practical ideas shared this year.

Blog Responses

(I have also sent this in WebCT if you would like to respond to me there)

I have been reading your blogs and am responding so be sure to check. Some blogs accept my comments immediately and others have to be accepted by you (so I’m hoping it all works). Please check  - I hope to have responded at least once by Friday and once next week.

I noticed some of you are not blogging daily and maybe you are finding that it is just too much to expect when you are busy planning for your next day teaching. If you are only able to blog 3-4  times throughout your block, that’s fine.

Your reflections are absolutely wonderful and I love reading them. I am trying to do pop-in visits and I want to make sure to see everyone (at least I’ll make every attempt possible).

All your hard work is paying off - you are an amazing group of soon-to-be teachers!!

April Unit Plans

BRING A COPY OF YOUR UNIT TO SHARE WITH YOUR ADVISOR ON MONDAY, MARCH 31ST. I will also be ‘taking a peek’ on Monday - I’m excited to see your initial plans.

Please post your unit plans on the Wiki for me to go through while you are in the field. I will email you comments/suggestions/questions in WebCT. This initial copy that is posted will be your ’working copy’ and you can replace with your completed one at the end of your field experience.

 For your reflections, you are expected to blog at the end of every teaching day. I will read daily and plan to respond to a few of you each day as time allows.

BubbleShare Slideshow

Please feel free to add bubbles to the BubbleShare Slideshow that has been created as a thank-you for Kathy Cassidy. Go to http://www.bubbleshare.com and the user name is my email address: julie.machnaik@uregina.caUse the password that Marnie gave you in class. There are 2 slideshows so please be sure to add your bubbles to the one that is called, “Thanks, Kathy!” Please do not edit the longer version. Have fun!  Check out our BubbleShare Slideshow ‘full-length feature’ sharing our EPS Learning Experience!BubbleShare: Share photos - Powered by BubbleShare

Happy Easter!

Just wanted to wish everyone a Happy Easter! I understand how stressed and tired each of you are feeling right now and I want to reassure you that you WILL get through it (and I’m here to make sure you do)! 

If it would help you to schedule an individual meeting time with me to talk about your unit planning or to discuss any questions/concerns you have, just email me some possible times and we’ll set it up for next week. I want to be sure you are feeling prepared for your final preinternship field experience.

I think that many of you are taking the ‘challenges’ on your unit plans as negative feedback rather than the ‘positive’ challenges they are meant to be. We are all on a learning journey together!

Inquiry Minds Want to Know

As an interest-based group, your task is to read, discuss, analyze and prepare a visual representation of your inquiry. You will begin today and have some work time to finish it on Mon. March 24th. You will share your understanding and further questions on your topic with the whole group on Monday, March 24th.

Check out the Graphic Organizer website for ideas (from the Constructivist site)! You may also choose to use Synectics (from Best Practice site) as a way to understand and present your thinking in a meaningful way.

Orientation to Internship

The excitement builds…
The Orientation to Internship (with Jerry Orban) will be held on Friday, April 11th at 8:30 a.m. to 9:30 a.m. in the Education Auditorium. This session is for all sections of preinterns.

You will also have one last final meeting with your advisor (schedule will be posted). Everyone is to meet in CW 113 following your advisor conference and we will have a field debriefing and farewell luncheon.

For Wednesday & A Tidbit of Info on Teaching Block

1. Make the changes needed to your unit plans on the Wiki (compiling, renaming, uploading)
2. Complete ‘missing blogs’ - you know who you are…
3. Add to your ‘delicious’ accounts - start organizing all those bookmarks so you have a web space for easy access (I know, I know, that means me too!!)
4. Bring a hardcopy draft of your preliminary April unit plans for Wednesday’s class.

Note: In your April teaching block you are to include one-half day teaching OR two quarter-day teaching as a part of your field experience. I think most of you have already had an extended teaching time but you still need to include this as a part of your pre-internship experience.