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High School Teachers Chatboard

what works with high school class management-talking, phone

by alex com

May 14, 2013

Can you guys share your experience and what works with high school class management-talking, phones, noise etc I would love to peak at your classroom policies and rules. Please be realistic, its for today's California public high school, plus I am a fresh teacher and I can't bend over backwards yet:) Thank you!

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P. Kiefer I had no trouble with my physics classes and phones. The freshman science classes didn't know how to follow the rules. I asked my physics students if they had any phones that were broken and, if so, could I have them. They brought me four. In the freshman classes, I began class, then excused myself to the class and told them that I had to handle a ...See More

Jun 4, 2013

Novel On 6/04/13, P. Kiefer wrote: > > I had no trouble with my physics classes and phones. The > freshman science classes didn't know how to follow the rules. I > asked my physics students if they had any phones that were broken > and, if so, could I have them. They brought me four. In the > freshman classes, I began class, then excuse...See More

Jun 4, 2013

The "Flipped" or Inverted Classroom

by John Gerhardt

Jun 5, 2013

I am a relatively new teacher at a school in the Greater Cincinnati area. I am interested in how the "flipped" or inverted classroom method is being used in secondary education.

I have used the method a few times this year in my social studies classes, but am looking to incorporate the tool with greater frequency in coming years.
...See More

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Sara That's interesting because the way it was presented to us was that our classrooms would become discussion-based. I just don't get it. Today someone came to school trying to sell us a testing program that would go well with the flipped classroom ....we would be able to see students' answers while they actually wrote them onto their tests and address...See MoreThat's interesting because the way it was presented to us was that our classrooms would become discussion-based. I just don't get it. Today someone came to school trying to sell us a testing program that would go well with the flipped classroom ....we would be able to see students' answers while they actually wrote them onto their tests and address the problems 'immediately' - I don't get that either.

Did anybody ever read 'The Emperor Who Had No Clothes On.'?? > On 6/10/13, Still skeptical wrote: >> On 6/09/13, Nan wrote: >>> It probably is the latest fad, but that doesn't mean it can't be >>> effective. I personally love the idea, but I don't want to really >>> "invert" my classroom. I don't think all of my students would >>> take to that. However, I do want my notes videotaped so students >>> >> >> Well and good but what you're describing is not the "flipped >> classroom". You're speaking to a traditional class being >> videotaped and put online for students to use,view and review. My >> school has homeschoolers - for reasons of illness - and we've been >> videotaping our classes for years. We used to send the videotapes >> home and now we put them on our website. >> >> But neither what you're describing nor what I'm describing is the >> "flipped classroom". >> >> Which of the many fads that have come down the pike have made an >> appreciable difference? That's a different question than my other >> but certainly they're related. >> >> >>> "notes" in class, but not spend the time waiting for students to >>> write them down. If students want to take traditional "notes" they >>> can do it later. >>> >>> I am focusing on choice menus and will be using the video tapped >>> notes as just one "choice" for my students. >>> >>> Many of the assignments will be done together as a class. But if >>> a student just "happens" to miss a quiz and wants to take it the >>> next day after their classmates get the quiz back, the answer is >>> "No, choose a different assignment." >>> >>> If students miss a lab, they may need to do an internet assignment >>> or a take home lab. Many of the "outside of class" assignments >>> require oral defense. So I will be able to make sure they >>> actually understand the material. I'll choose some of the in >>> class assignments for oral defense just to keep the kids on their >>> toes. >>> >>> Nan >>> >>> On 6/09/13, But the latest fad? wrote: >>>> On 6/05/13, John Gerhardt wrote: >>>> >>>> Our administration gave us an inservice on the flipped >>>> classroom - catchy name but is this anything more than the >>>> latest fad in teaching? >>>> >>>> I don't get the excitement. >>>> >>>> >>>>> I am a relatively new teacher at a school in the Greater >>>>> Cincinnati area. I am interested in how the "flipped" or >>>>> inverted classroom method is being used in secondary education. >>>>> >>>>> I have used the method a few times this year in my social >>>>> studies classes, but am looking to incorporate the tool with >>>>> greater frequency in coming years. >>>>> >>>>> I am working on a research project that deals with this >>>>> topic and would very much like your input! I invite you to >>>>> complete a short online survey that deals with this subject. >>>>> >>>>> Thank you in advance for your assistance! >>>>> >>>>> John Gerhardt > > I think that this is interesting. We had an inservice in the beginning > of the year. Flip teaching was tied in too google docs. It seems that > they want the student to get the lessons first and then come to class > as a tutorial hall to do thier home work.

Jun 10, 2013

rw From an English teacher perspective I don't get it. Maybe the concept makes sense if you're in a field that has been traditionally lecture, but shouldn't everyone be beyond lecturing and into class-discussion and activity anyway?

On 6/09/13, But the latest fad? wrote:

> On 6/05/13, John Gerhardt wrote:

>

...See More

Jul 10, 2013

the hard teacher

by lamaestra

Jun 9, 2013

I teach foreign language - there are five of us in our department. I guess I am old-fashioned, but I do not have the energy or desire to be a bouncy, youtube- using, game-playing, friendly teacher; the other 4 teachers are all of these things. They are much younger than I and had much different high school language experiences than I did (of course...See More

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Old Teacher On 6/09/13, lamaestra wrote:

You can't be older than I am and I love youtube. I couldn't teach without it - it takes No energy to use youtube. There are English language cartoons that have been dubbed in Spanish. Have the kids translate the cartons.

Do you want to stop teaching? I think it would be awful to stop because you thin...See MoreOn 6/09/13, lamaestra wrote:

You can't be older than I am and I love youtube. I couldn't teach without it - it takes No energy to use youtube. There are English language cartoons that have been dubbed in Spanish. Have the kids translate the cartons.

Do you want to stop teaching? I think it would be awful to stop because you think you're out of date or out of step. I certainly do not have the energy I had 30 years ago but having less energy than younger teachers doesn't make them better teachers than I am.

I did have a colleague who would sleep on his desk in his free periods and his teaching was going downhill - his curriculum was stale. If I did 't change some things every year, I'd be bored.

I'd recommend "One Froggy Evening" - it's on youtube - watch it in English and then the Spanish language version.

I sense just a bit of defensiveness in what you say - warmth to students is not 'bouncy'. While you nicely say you don't regard yourself as a better teacher, there is a suggestion of derision whe.n you deem your younger colleagues 'bouncy and game-playing'. Modern children -in my opinion - have remarkably shorter attention spans and I don't see that changing any time soon. I've had to adjust my teaching in response to that or I would live at constant odds with students. The visuals that can be found on youtube offer valid teaching material that works to hold their attention and teach the lesson.

> I teach foreign language - there are five of us in our > department. I guess I am old-fashioned, but I do not have > the energy or desire to be a bouncy, youtube- using, > game-playing, friendly teacher; the other 4 teachers are > all of these things. They are much younger than I and had > much different high school language experiences than I did > (of course, my experiences are MUCH further removed!). > > The problem is, I am now known as the "hard" or "mean" > teacher. Probably even the boring teacher...and my grades > tend to be lower. I do not want to compromise what I > consider to be my teaching integrity by easing up. My > students leave knowing much more than the other teachers' > students, but they have to work MUCH harder. > > I know administration is fielding requests from parents who > want their children OUT of my class, and I can imagine that > this is getting old for them. Do I give in and make it all > fun and games ( I don't think I can do this...) or do I > accept my dinosaur status and call it quits? > > P.S. I do not think I am a better teacher than the others - > I just have different expectations and methods.

Jun 11, 2013

Granjero Hi lamaestra!

I think Vet Teacher did give you some good points to consider, but also I think there are some very real and unique challenges to us as FL teachers - especially in the arena of perception of what we do. Many if not most people, even our colleagues in education, seem to think that if we just "show a video" that counts as viab...See MoreHi lamaestra!

I think Vet Teacher did give you some good points to consider, but also I think there are some very real and unique challenges to us as FL teachers - especially in the arena of perception of what we do. Many if not most people, even our colleagues in education, seem to think that if we just "show a video" that counts as viable, valid curricular content, and that that must be pretty much all we do. We both know that this is demonstrably false :)

I've been the bad guy and the "fun guy" and am currently quite content to be somewhere in between. I think one of the most powerful tools that we have in the classroom is to give students a voice in what they are doing. Have you considered putting together a brief questionnaire that you could conduct throughout the semester? I do this, and get running feedback from students about how they think the class is going, what I and we need to do better or more of, and what each of us can do. If you'd like I can email you some of the materials I use for this purpose - students have pretty much all commented on how they appreciate that their feedback matters in the conduct of the class.

Of course, I don't give them the keys to the asylum! :) But I do take their suggestions to mind and the suggestions you get might surprise you - They frequently point out to me things that I don't even realize that I am doing!

Keep your chin up! Cheers, Granjero

On 6/11/13, Old Teacher wrote: > On 6/09/13, lamaestra wrote: > > You can't be older than I am and I love youtube. I couldn't > teach without it - it takes No energy to use youtube. There > are English language cartoons that have been dubbed in > Spanish. Have the kids translate the cartons. > > Do you want to stop teaching? I think it would be awful to > stop because you think you're out of date or out of step. I > certainly do not have the energy I had 30 years ago but > having less energy than younger teachers doesn't make them > better teachers than I am. > > I did have a colleague who would sleep on his desk in his free > periods and his teaching was going downhill - his curriculum > was stale. If I did 't change some things every year, I'd be > bored. > > I'd recommend "One Froggy Evening" - it's on youtube - watch > it in English and then the Spanish language version. > > I sense just a bit of defensiveness in what you say - warmth > to students is not 'bouncy'. While you nicely say you don't > regard yourself as a better teacher, there is a suggestion of > derision whe.n you deem your younger colleagues 'bouncy and > game-playing'. Modern children -in my opinion - have > remarkably shorter attention spans and I don't see that > changing any time soon. I've had to adjust my teaching in > response to that or I would live at constant odds with > students. The visuals that can be found on youtube offer valid > teaching material that works to hold their attention and > teach the lesson. > > >> I teach foreign language - there are five of us in our >> department. I guess I am old-fashioned, but I do not have >> the energy or desire to be a bouncy, youtube- using, >> game-playing, friendly teacher; the other 4 teachers are >> all of these things. They are much younger than I and had >> much different high school language experiences than I did >> (of course, my experiences are MUCH further removed!). >> >> The problem is, I am now known as the "hard" or "mean" >> teacher. Probably even the boring teacher...and my grades >> tend to be lower. I do not want to compromise what I >> consider to be my teaching integrity by easing up. My >> students leave knowing much more than the other teachers' >> students, but they have to work MUCH harder. >> >> I know administration is fielding requests from parents who >> want their children OUT of my class, and I can imagine that >> this is getting old for them. Do I give in and make it all >> fun and games ( I don't think I can do this...) or do I >> accept my dinosaur status and call it quits? >> >> P.S. I do not think I am a better teacher than the others - >> I just have different expectations and methods.

Jun 14, 2013

the "hard" teacher

by demelzabunny

Jun 9, 2013

I am also an experienced, more traditional teacher, but I have over the years tried to keep up generally with new technology and techniques. You needn't sacrifice your values as a teacher while at the same time boning up a bit w/the "new" stuff. You may even find that using some new stuff makes your life easier. For example, I'll used youtube vids ...See More

Oral defense - Nan, can you elaborate?

by hst

Jun 11, 2013

I appreciated your comment in the Flipped Classroom thread. I will be teaching higher level students next year and am looking to alternatives to written assignments as part of my assessments.

view previous comments

hst Thanks, Nan! I will be looking into this. On 6/12/13, Nan wrote: > I'm not an expert or anything, so take everything I say with a > grain of salt. I tried a unit using layered curriculum before > school got out. Oral defense was probably the best part of the > whole deal. > > Basically when a student is done with an assignment you...See More

Jun 13, 2013

Debbie G On 6/12/13, Nan wrote: > I'm not an expert or anything, so take everything I say with a > grain of salt. I tried a unit using layered curriculum before > school got out. Oral defense was probably the best part of the > whole deal. > > Basically when a student is done with an assignment you ask > them a few questions about the ...See MoreOn 6/12/13, Nan wrote: > I'm not an expert or anything, so take everything I say with a > grain of salt. I tried a unit using layered curriculum before > school got out. Oral defense was probably the best part of the > whole deal. > > Basically when a student is done with an assignment you ask > them a few questions about the assignment. If they can answer > all the questions they get full credit. If they can't answer > some simple questions, then they really didn't learn what they > needed to learn. (say they just copied the answers or found > the answers in the book but didn't really think about the > assignment) > > I literally sat down with each student in the class at least > once a week and talked with them individually. I asked > questions like "what are the primary colors of light" or "How > do you make yellow light from the primary colors." > > Even more fun, students who chose to do some research on how a > microwave oven worked. I'd ask them where do the microwaves > come from? Or, if there are more cell phone towers in an area, > do the microwave ovens work better? If they didn't look at me > strange and talk about the magnetron inside the microwave as > the source of radiation, I knew they hadn't done their research. > > Next year I am going to incorporate more of this type of > assignment. > > Nanette > > PS if you Google "layered curriculum oral defense" you will > find a lot of information > I have used "Layered Curriculum" for years. You have to teach the procedures and have rubrics for your expectations, but once the students work with it they build a love/hate relationship with it. There really is very little room to cheat/leach off others. The oral assessments are individual. I maintain a notebook for each lesson with questions and prompts, these start out simple and spiral up. Frequently others listen to the responses but only one is officially being tested. I don't ask same questions in same period to avoid cheating. I have more time individually and in small groups and they learn. I set up different centers for different activities, they chose how they want to learn. There is always a written and verbal presentation to earn the A. The "A" has the highest level of blooms involved. This works great at higher grades to meet all students needs. Absents are not a problem, they have the requirements from day one. Students "test" on a first come basis. They run to get to my room and sign up. I am able to test them wherever we run across one another: during duty, lunch, after school, extracurricular activities. > > On 6/11/13, hst wrote: >> I appreciated your comment in the Flipped Classroom thread. >> I will be teaching higher level students next year and am >> looking to alternatives to written assignments as part of >> my assessments.

Jun 27, 2013

Trying hard to be politically correct

by Kirsten

Jun 14, 2013

I'm a new teacher and I feel like I put my foot in my mouth in front of students on a daily basis.

I used the term "Indian giver" in front of the students. As soon as I came out, I realized that it was an offensive term (I'd never used the term before, although I have heard it). I apologized to the students and explained that I hadn't tho...See More

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Vet Teacher On 6/14/13, Kirsten wrote: > I'm a new teacher and I feel like I put my foot in my mouth > in front of students on a daily basis.

We all do - teaching a group of high schoolers often requires a quick response or quick retort and it's natural to make some missteps in what we say. I doubt you can lose your job over a single statement....See MoreOn 6/14/13, Kirsten wrote: > I'm a new teacher and I feel like I put my foot in my mouth > in front of students on a daily basis.

We all do - teaching a group of high schoolers often requires a quick response or quick retort and it's natural to make some missteps in what we say. I doubt you can lose your job over a single statement.

But if I were your Principal and an Indian parent called up about this, I'd wonder why you use the term 'politically correct'? I'd be careful to not use that phrase because it could be misinterpreted. As you say, the phrase Indian giver gives offense. It's a derogatory phrase. Being rude to Indians has nothing to do with 'political correctness'. Rude is rude.

And you didn't intend to me so sincerely apologizing to your students demonstrates that and the moment demonstrates that you're human, you can make a mistake, own up to it, and apologize for it and put it to right.

That moment shows your students that you're more than a teacher in the front of the room - it shows them your humanity and your caring. It also models appropriate behavior for them - it's a great example of what they should do when they make a mistake. Own up to it, apologize for it and put it to right.

I use a phrase 'gyp in line' and try hard not to - one reason being the kids have no idea what it means - and the other that I came to realize it refers to gypsies - who have never done anything to me or anyone I know so why malign them by saying 'gyp in line' because that phrase was meant to suggest that gypsies do something like stepping in front of other people. I have no gypsy parents or gypsy students but why use such phrases - I don't see them as politically incorrect, I just see them as casually rude and potentially hurtful and setting a bad example for my students.

Things happen - via Google I went to what had been a perfectly appropriate website on our video projector - and one I had used for years - this time it came up with a picture of a woman half-clothed instead of an linguist about to delinate the evolution of the English language from Indo-European.

Where did the website on Central European ancient languages go?? I apologized profusely and was genuinely embarrassed but even the girls were more interested in seeing the new website with the half-clothed woman than they were in the evolution of the English language.

> > I used the term "Indian giver" in front of the students. As > soon as I came out, I realized that it was an offensive > term (I'd never used the term before, although I have heard > it). I apologized to the students and explained that I > hadn't thought about what I was saying in depth and hadn't > meant to use offensive language. Is there anything else I > should have done, or done differently? Besides not saying > it. > > Could I lose my job?

Jun 15, 2013

Some Non PC Advice I agree with Granjero's response. If nobody has complained, forget it. It's an idiom from the past that has perhaps seen its day. Don't use it again, but don't beat yourself up over it. I wouldn't apologize or mention it again in front of the class, and if there has been a complaint, deal with the complainant in an office or somewhere away from the...See More

Jun 15, 2013

Advice for New Teacher

by Josie

Jun 20, 2013

Hi everyone! Currently, I am a credential candidate in CA for a Single Subject English Credential and I am going into student teaching in about 2 months at the HS level. I just thought I would ask those of you already in the field for anything you think I might NEED to know. Thanks for your help! Have a wonderful day!

Novel On 6/20/13, Josie wrote: > Hi everyone! Currently, I am a credential candidate in CA > for a Single Subject English Credential and I am going into > student teaching in about 2 months at the HS level. I just > thought I would ask those of you already in the field for > anything you think I might NEED to know. Thanks for your > hel...See More

Jun 21, 2013

by Teach Like a Champion

Jun 27, 2013

I'm reading this and wonder what others think of his ideas. Are there any you think really make a big impact on the HS classroom? Which ones are your favorite?

Nan

Honestly, I think it's mainly written for primary teachers On 6/27/13, Teach Like a Champion wrote: > I'm reading this and wonder what others think of his ideas. > Are there any you think really make a big impact on the HS > classroom? Which ones are your favorite? > > Nan

It's been a couple of years since I read it, but the author seemed to have a lot of malleable K-5 kids in mind....See More

Jun 27, 2013

Teach Like a Champion That's awkward. I mixed up my name and subject.

Are there other books that you think are geared more toward the high school classroom?

I don't get an elementary feel from this book, but if there is something better out there, I'd love to check it out.

Nan

On 6/27/13, Honestly, I think it's mainly written for p...See More

Jun 27, 2013

backing out of a contract

by Anna

Jul 18, 2013

I was offered at a job located near my college before I graduated, but I didn't sign my contract until later in the summer. Today, I was offered a job near my family's and one that pays much better. I've been wanting to be closer to my family for a long time, so I can't pass up this job offer. How do I go about breaking my current contract?
...See More

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Sara On 7/18/13, Anna wrote:

This happens all the time - don't worry about it. Make sure you sign your new contract before breaking your old!

Then - how brave are you? If very brave, go to your principal and explain - or call - don't e-mail, email is tacky in this situation. "Mr. Smith I love your school and sincerely appreciate the ...See More

Jul 19, 2013

Math Teach What Shayla said.

I was actually told by my state's (Connecticut) SDE that they DO go after a teacher certificate if one backs out within a certain time. And the applicants who got turned down due to your being hired are really going to love you. It's a small world out there.

On 7/18/13, Shayla wrote: > You need to be very care...See More

Aug 10, 2013

Math teacher opening

by Bill

Jul 31, 2013

At Grandview high school. Apply at gsd200.org

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