We enter our second week of the student led teaching assignment on chapter 9. Our classrooms seem to emulate much of a modern school. Throughout the classroom are questions that seek to define what constitutes “essential concepts,” queries that hope to analyze how students “get it,” and the proverbial issue as to how students learn. I think this assignment models much of what teaching in the modern setting embodies. There are some very inspired notions of how teaching can be transformed. Scavenger hunts, games, innovative lessons, and classroom designs are being forged. At the same time, there are teaching assignments that are striving to be heard. Just as in the modern educative setting we have teachers who demand to be heard and some teachers who need assistance, we are seeing all forms emerge in our teaching assignment. The most important element that must be pursued in all of our students is the idea that teaching must embody some commitment to outside of class time. When students do this, there is a greater chance of good things happening in the classroom realm.
The focus of this message is to outline how things will progress while students are assembling their teaching assignment. Monday will mark the first week of using our daily points rubrics. Students will be assessed daily on how well their focus is presented in class and will also receive points of mandatory credit for working well during class and ensuring that their focus is on instruction. In addition, students will be receive updated third trimester progress reports on Monday, 3/23. These reports need to be signed and returned by Wednesday, 3/25. At this point, students who have made the commitment to their teaching assignments are progressing quite well into third trimester. Those whose commitments are not as strong are seeing their grade advance as such. My hope is that one of the most fundamental aspects of teaching is revealed through this assignment. The need to follow through on one’s commitment is the only way to academic, personal, and intellectual salvation.
Naturally, all stakeholders can access student grades through mygradebook.com. A log in widget is present on the left hand side of this blog. In addition, students are encouraged to access the class wiki in the hopes of advancing their commitment to the discussions that are ongoing in class. Finally, students have been made aware that signed syllabi for extra credit will be phased out in the upcoming weeks. While I will still offer writing based extra credit, I will be phasing out this aspect of the extra credit domain. We are advancing towards the end of our journey. While we progress towards this end, we should not tiptoe in inches, but rather strive in yards with our heads held high and a sense of striving complemented by an air of triumph has to be evident.
March on, you intellectual soldiers, purveyors of “the good, the true, and the beautiful.”
Mr. Kannan
P.S. As you sojourn in a powerfully compelling demeanor towards your goal of scholarship, don't forget that you might need some help along the way. Hubris is fatal in a journey of this magnitude. I have some ppt lessons that students have composed for their teaching assignments. You can find these under the link of "Recent PowerPoint Lessons" and look for the folder called "Student Exemplars." In addition to this, check back to the blog, as I will be featuring some links below to a website called, "Teachertube.com"- a forum for teachers to post examples of student work. Some of these items might help you in your quest to prepare a lesson. Enjoy!
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