Taking all APPS!

Hey all... Well its official. Barnum has posted a full time CHEM and PHYSICS position for the 2014-2015 school year. Tell your nerdy science buddies with multiple science licensures! Added bonus: They get to teach in a room next to me!! (No comp pay :) )This person would also be teaching our chemistry and physics and most likely a section of 9th grade Physical Science and a STEM elective for Juniors and Seniors. Has anyone ever heard of GAME: IT through STEMFUSE? http://www.stemfuse.com/shop/gameit 
We are looking for a cool new elective and are up this year for ordering. Our district is "strongly recommending" online textbooks and courses so we are thinking of purchasing this and giving it a try.
If you have any input our science department would greatly appreciate it! APPLY NOW!!

Half Day Happenings: All Qs no Answers!

How does your school provide teacher collaboration or PLC time? We have what we call half-days. We run our normal schedule except that classes are 24 minutes instead of 45. The students go home after lunch. We do them every other month on a Friday and end up with 2 1/2 hours of collaboration time. Not the best... but I have had worse. Chime in if you have something that you think really works well...

Anyway, yesterday Barnum had a half day.

The first thing on the agenda was a presentation by the chair of our technology committee. He was presenting the pros and cons of a desktop vs a lap-top. Also the pros and cons of PC vs MAC. I realize that eventually comes to to either A. personal preference or B. money But... assuming we get a choice anyone what to chime in any words of wisdom? What should I get and why?

The next hour was spent coordinating the use of something called "Share 911" Its a new cell-phone app for lock-downs procedures. If you have not heard of it check out the link and consider bringing the information back to your school district. It works pretty slick! http://www.sharewith911.com/  No more calling room to room or doing attendance while hiding under your desk with the lights off!!

The last hour was spent reviewing our current  grading policy. We discussed why we have an inflated grade scale and how our formative and summative weighting is going. 4 years ago we decided we wanted to help our students graduate being more college ready. So we begin to put more emphasis on summative work (tests, projects, show-its) vs formative, (practice, daily work.)
7th graders have 40-60 (formative-summative)
8th 35-65
9th 30-70
10th 25-75
11-12th  85-15
Does your school do anything like this? I'm not sure it is working out as intended. We might be teaching our students that homework (and daily in class effort) isn't worth it...?? All questions and no answers today!
 

PS--BS!

We have talked a lot in class about how to generate ideas for lessons. My AR was all about incorporating more inquiry style and using collaborative groups. As I was sitting one night, finalizing the quiz I was giving the next day, I wondered... How am I going to present the next concept to my students? The quiz covered the structure of DNA and RNA. The students have an outside of class project they have been assigned... creating a model of DNA due this Friday. I had just gone over notes on the process of replication (DNA making copies of itself) with a classroom sized puzzle of the process. So now what? What should I do next?

I know what's coming down the hatch. Its complicated and difficult. In fact the next concept is probably the hardest thing we will learn all year in Biology.  I did the usual... I Googled lesson plans on "protein synthesis." Then I looked up lesson plans using Lesson Planet. The hits were endless in both regards. I read and scanned and clicked and dragged. And then it dawned on me... why am I the one trying to figure this out? My students should be looking at all these resources... not me! I already know this stuff! Duh.

Then the idea struck. After the quiz... I put up the collaborative teams of four I had created in advance on the board and a simple direction... "In your team, create a relay race that other teams will do around the concept of protein synthesis!" You want to see them squirm... Holy Moly... and then questions started... and more questions... and the whining and complaining... then more questions... and NO ANSWERS from me. I sat quietly correcting quizzes. On purpose... because if I don't stay busy I'll crack!
Finally...they got to work!
I had tricked them into at least attempting to teach themselves and their group protein synthesis.

As I graded... (and smiled inwardly at myself and them)
--I quietly recommended watching some online animations with the ipads I had brought in the room...
--I quietly recommended reading Chapter 12-Section 3 in their book on Protein Synethesis...
--I quietly recommended that they "Google LESSON PLANS of PS" and re over them together...
--I quietly recommended creating experts in their teams... on each part of the process...

But the rest was up to them.
Duh.

 

Winter Survival

Well... It's that time of year again! Winter Survival is here. Seems strange to be planning this unit in the midst of the Governor canceling all schools in MN. :) I sat down and used the principals of backwards design to try and determine what my true goals are for the unit. It is certainly not standards based but in my eyes still worth the time and effort. I am going to take one day per needed topic... 5 types of heat loss, clothes/food,  fire and snow shelter construction, planning/lists/positive attitude and a reading called: "no word for luck" about Eskimos and winter! It's the bare minimum but I want to cut back on the fluff. I need each and everyday day if we are going to make this happen on Wednesday, January 15th so I thinking of sending Dayton a smart wool sweater!! Stay positive to stay warm!

Happy New Year Idea!!

Happy New Year!! 

Here's an idea I saw that I would like to bring into my classroom...Could do one jar for each hour... (HS)

Then read at the end of the school year! 

Starting January 1st... Write good things that happen to you on little prices of paper and put them in a "fancy 2014 mason jar" --surprise gifts, accomplished goals, the beauty of nature, LOL moments...

then on December 31st (or whenever your feeling down) read all the great things that happened to you throughout the year!! 

Lets make 2014 your best year yet!! 

Break for perspective!

Nothing like Christmas break to give you the time you need to analyze data. I have been staring at numbers for the past couple days and have been able to come to a few ahahas. Mostly that the AR process has made me a better teacher. More focused, more aware, most apt to change and grow. I have also been spending a lot of time outside enjoying the beauty of the season. Santa got Nikolai snow shoes which have been a real blessing!! Time and peace bring perspective. I know that my project helped me grow, now it's just a matter of how to streamline my process so others may learn from what I have accomplished. Perspective is good.

December Updates...

Alright... so where did the time go... I just noticed that I have not posted since THANKSGIVING! WTF?

What's been happening lately... well a lot actually...
I have finished collecting data for my AR and am now in the process of trying to summarize what happened. I can tell you that in Biology I have taught three months of new cirriculum and although it was a lot of work it really was worth it. When I started to analyze my data and was looking over a list of all the new lessons and labs we did I had a rare moment of "wow, I really did it!" I organized binders along the way to be sure that I will have references for next year but I really did what I set out to do... use inquiry style teaching. At first thought I believe that the impact has been more on ME and my way of thinking then on the students... but when I think and act differently of course they are impacted too. I am excited to see what the data will bring to light, but I can see the light at the end of the tunnel. We have the tools to go about solving or working to improve any sensed need in the future and knowing the process makes me glad.