Comments on: Blindly Moving Forward http://supteach.edublogs.org/2008/12/07/blindly-moving-forward/ teachers are people too. Wed, 18 Feb 2009 18:32:31 -0500 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.2 hourly 1 By: Mr. D http://supteach.edublogs.org/2008/12/07/blindly-moving-forward/comment-page-1/#comment-98 Mr. D Sat, 10 Jan 2009 21:12:53 +0000 http://supteach.edublogs.org/?p=94#comment-98 The day before school started back in August, my principal emailed me to say that instead of teaching all Algebra I classes, I would have to also teach Algebra II. I didn't think this would be such a big deal, but even with years of experience under my belt, there was still a learning curve. There always will be when you start a new subject or grade level. There are lots of great ideas and supporters out there though, just keep looking! The day before school started back in August, my principal emailed me to say that instead of teaching all Algebra I classes, I would have to also teach Algebra II. I didn’t think this would be such a big deal, but even with years of experience under my belt, there was still a learning curve. There always will be when you start a new subject or grade level. There are lots of great ideas and supporters out there though, just keep looking!

]]> By: Jackie Ballarini http://supteach.edublogs.org/2008/12/07/blindly-moving-forward/comment-page-1/#comment-90 Jackie Ballarini Sun, 14 Dec 2008 01:57:33 +0000 http://supteach.edublogs.org/?p=94#comment-90 New preps are tough. This is my second year and I have three sections of a new prep (that is also a new prep for the school). Luckily I'm with a great group and we do a lot of collaborative planning during our late start times. It would be really nice if we had a common period off to plan though. Still, there are so many things that I'd do differently next year. Hopefully I get the chance! New preps are tough. This is my second year and I have three sections of a new prep (that is also a new prep for the school). Luckily I’m with a great group and we do a lot of collaborative planning during our late start times. It would be really nice if we had a common period off to plan though.

Still, there are so many things that I’d do differently next year. Hopefully I get the chance!

]]> By: Mr. K http://supteach.edublogs.org/2008/12/07/blindly-moving-forward/comment-page-1/#comment-86 Mr. K Tue, 09 Dec 2008 17:17:17 +0000 http://supteach.edublogs.org/?p=94#comment-86 FIrst year teaching is tough. But getting a prepared curriculum makes it too easy to do things the same way later on (parallels to the kids who get introduced wrong and never correct?) so I think you need to keep it there. I've got the same problem, 5 years in. I have two preps that I've never taught before (Algebra and Geometry) and I feel like I'm failing all over again. Algebra is allright, because it's a step above the 7th grade stuff I'm proficient at, and I've got a pretty good guess at where kids' hangups are going to be. But I think I've got a lot more failures than successes with geometry this year. My real problem is this: our school loops - which means I won't see this curriculum again until two years from now. How am I supposed to get good at that? FIrst year teaching is tough. But getting a prepared curriculum makes it too easy to do things the same way later on (parallels to the kids who get introduced wrong and never correct?) so I think you need to keep it there.

I’ve got the same problem, 5 years in. I have two preps that I’ve never taught before (Algebra and Geometry) and I feel like I’m failing all over again. Algebra is allright, because it’s a step above the 7th grade stuff I’m proficient at, and I’ve got a pretty good guess at where kids’ hangups are going to be. But I think I’ve got a lot more failures than successes with geometry this year.

My real problem is this: our school loops – which means I won’t see this curriculum again until two years from now. How am I supposed to get good at that?

]]> By: mr. g http://supteach.edublogs.org/2008/12/07/blindly-moving-forward/comment-page-1/#comment-85 mr. g Tue, 09 Dec 2008 00:33:43 +0000 http://supteach.edublogs.org/?p=94#comment-85 I agree. I don't think people realize the steepness of this learning curve. Ideally, new teachers should be granted easier schedules and more resources because they're not only teaching, they're LEARNING how to teach. Then again, in joining a teacher program like TFA, OTF, or NYCTF, we're in a sense agreeing to tackling the toughest of situations... I don't care though. It's still hard!!!! We need more help! I agree. I don’t think people realize the steepness of this learning curve. Ideally, new teachers should be granted easier schedules and more resources because they’re not only teaching, they’re LEARNING how to teach.

Then again, in joining a teacher program like TFA, OTF, or NYCTF, we’re in a sense agreeing to tackling the toughest of situations…

I don’t care though. It’s still hard!!!! We need more help!

]]> By: ms. a http://supteach.edublogs.org/2008/12/07/blindly-moving-forward/comment-page-1/#comment-84 ms. a Mon, 08 Dec 2008 04:07:45 +0000 http://supteach.edublogs.org/?p=94#comment-84 Mr. G, Do you write your own curriculum? I had to write mine for chem and it was (and still is) brutal. I'm beginning to think that 1st year teachers deserve more resources so that they can focus on learning to teach instead of learning what content to teach. The baby teacher gauntlet is too monstrous...agree? disagree? Have a great week Mr. G,

Do you write your own curriculum? I had to write mine for chem and it was (and still is) brutal. I’m beginning to think that 1st year teachers deserve more resources so that they can focus on learning to teach instead of learning what content to teach. The baby teacher gauntlet is too monstrous…agree? disagree?

Have a great week

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