The Theme for the Year!

If you do not know Simon Sinek and his work then take a look at it. My first love was business education and I really love business books. I think the public sector can learn a ton from the private. I think that taking ideas used in business and transferring them into the classroom can be beneficial.

Simon Sinek's thoughts are the backbone for my classroom this year. His philosophy of starting with why is huge in education. We have removed ourselves from this notion of why something happens to the simple question of what is happening. This question is surface level and leaves our students only being able to complete the rote memorization  that we require of them.

One tactic I am implementing is following a "What" question with the "Why". This makes the students answer the next level question. If the student does not know find someone who does but come back to the original student, which is not a new tactic. I will keep you posted on more tactics and lessons.

Some new tactics

So far we are three weeks into the school year and I have barely taught a thing. You may be thinking aren't you paid to teach? No, is my response. I am paid to facilitate learning. I have worked to provide students a platform for learning on their own and the scores are showing it. At this point, I have had some great scores on formative assessments and I attribute it to the fact that I am not teaching. Soon I will be having the student analyze their tests scores and responses to the questions across all my classes.

I feel that through cooperative, independent, and social learning, the student who I teach will be more successful than those in other classes. I am trying to be outside the box. I am looking to incorporate some Singapre-type Math Problems using video. I will keep you posted.

STROKE OF GENIUS

So after going to the challenge based workshop and learning all these great multimedia tools I have come up with a project for my worst class to do. I know they can pull it off but I will keep you posted on what I find. It will be interesting to see what comes of it.

Technology in my classroom

Today I unrolled edmodo in the classroom and it is looking promising. I will be establishing a routine for it and using for exit slips and bell work. I am trying to get inspired to try something and think I am on to a good idea. Keep you posted on the project.

My First Time

So this is the first post on the new blog. I guess I should answer some questions about the purpose of me blogging. I want to be able to begin to document my ideas, thoughts, and other miscellaneous minutia that comes out of my mind. I want to begin to be a reflective professional and look at what I am doing in my life and classroom. I want to maximize my circle of influence. I think and hope this is the easiest way to accomplish these desires. So, to anyone who may be following enjoy the journey.