The year has started off with a whirlwind, I have prepped for the majority of my new classes here on my website - thanks to my wife Mrs. Allison who has been an invaluable collaborator! I have become acclimated to a classroom - my very first own classroom in 10 years of teaching :-D - and have discovered the protocols of a new school environment. Even what to do during a moose lockdown...lol a classic rural school procedure! I very quickly have learned the names of all students grade 7-12 - despite not teaching some - and have really enjoyed the fact that the amount of students in my classes have been cut by 1/3 to 1/2. Moreover, I am really enjoying the relationships that have been forming with all of the students. I feel re-energized!
I love working closely with the other Jr. High teachers - as there is a sense of caring and positive energy that will really benefit the students but also myself - as they constantly are coming up with creative ideas and ways to do things that I just wouldn't have done! The High school teachers are great as well! And the rest of the staff!!! :-) I have really enjoyed working with the newer teachers on staff - as I remember how stressful it and mentally exhausted it was in my first few years - I'm sort of experiencing that now with my new classes :-) Constantly thinking on my feet!
My wife and I have also been able to help several teachers, students and parents both in our district and others by directed them to our website. We truly believe that teachers should not recreate the wheel but simply share their resources so more students can benefit! If you are reading this, please pass it along to all teachers and students....and please tell them to take, use it, and modify it to suit the needs of there students. We are not finished this website by any means.....I really wish we had more time to improve it weekly but as we carry on it will surely become better! Some cool tools that I am working with right now are: Socrative testing - a great formative tool that can be used with any I-Device, Remind 101 - a great tool that allows a teacher to send one-way reminders to both students and parents I-Devices, I have a new apple T.V. connected to my smart board and am planning a skype lesson with the students of Mrs. Allison's St. Kateri class, I-Pads, I-devices and dropbox - a great tool that allows students to submit their online work.
I have been fortunate to belong to St. Mary's Social Justice club which is traveling to Calgary this week to attend We Day Alberta! I am so excited for this trip. After watching some of the things that the St. Joes social justice club has done over the past year, I really wanted to be apart of this great movement. Our students will benefit greatly!
I was wrangled in last minute to coach the Sr. Boys Volleyball team - a first at our school! A great set of kids who have come an incredibly long way in a very short period of time! I love country kids athletic ability! I really love the relationships that form outside of the classroom!
Finally, I have been collaborating very closely with Mrs. Allison on project based learning. So far, all of my Science 7, 8 and 9 students have been working on 2 projects each and at the same time - my Math 8 students have been working on 1 as well. Although it has taken both my students and I some time to get used to this style, it has been worth it. The projects that I have seen so far have been great and so diverse! I really like the fact that they have several choices when picking their projects and it shows in their work habits and product. I will be posting these shortly on this website! I am in search of some great ideas for science fair or even final projects (we have also decided to give a final project along with a final exam in all of our classes, however, the one that the student does better on will be the mark that they get to keep. They have to do both to help them get ready for the P.A.T's) This was a real change in my mindset but I think a great one!
Things to look forward to: A practicum student working with me from November to December, Nighthawk & Powderking ski trips, and of course a new baby due February 5th! I can`t wait!