I attended a regional workshop in Anniston, Alabama yesterday sponsored my our professional organization, The Alabama Education Association. Met up with some teachers I teach with from my school and also some from my school district and had a great time. AND-the food was good! 🙂 That always helps!
There were several different mini-sessions presented. One was on the use of social media-the legality of it. We weren’t told that we COULDN’T friend our students on facebook, etc, but it was HIGHLY SUGGESTED. So guess what my weekend project is going to be? Yep, deleting all students from my facebook page. Sigh.
Another session was on being professional all the time-this went along the same lines as above. I looked over my American History course of study for next year during this session. 🙂
A 3rd one I went to was about Money Island-a free online computer game program sponsored by a credit union in Alabama. It has the kids reaching different levels as they learn about checking accounts, investments, savings, etc. It seemed VERY COOL! It’s a 5 week program, but can be used however a teacher wants to use it in the classroom. Did I mention it is F.R.E.E.? 🙂
I am going to look into using it all year-maybe go to the computer lab once a week. The kids NEED to learn these things, and I can tie it into our technology, character ed, and literacy course of studies. 🙂 I can pretty much make ANYTHING meet a standard. Teehee. 🙂 But, it actually does go back to teaching students about citizenship.
The opening session was our state school superintendent-Dr. Tommy Bice. And I was amazed by what he said. These are the 2 things that I took away from his session:
1. It’s a new day in Alabama
2. You can teach your kids HOWEVER you see fit
Oh, boy!! That sounds like a green light to me. 🙂 🙂 🙂
So everybody give me a high five!
As long as I teach the standards I can teach ANYWAY I WANT TO to get it across to my students.
Creativity-HERE I COME!!!! 🙂
If you teach, how flexible can you be in your teaching?
If you don’t teach, aren’t you still happy for me???? 🙂
i run read teach 
As a teacher who has only had the $/budget/state standards to worry about (you know, no biggies) I am totally thrilled for you! I have been allowed to create my own curriculums based upon my own anchor texts for the past six years and I LOVE IT!!!! So thrilled for you!
On the Facebook front – I created a Facebook account that was JUST for school, and I encouraged my students to “friend” me there, and I would post school assignments, due dates, and photos from class projects. However, all of the same things could be accomplished with a Wikispace page. I say avoid the drama and legality issues.
Amanda,
I think there are so many teachers that are afraid to veer away from a textbook (which may or may not even cover the standards) because it’s so easy to start on page 1 and just go. I’m hoping to be able to pull from our history textbook and pull from other resources as well to cover the standards in A WAY THE STUDENTS CAN GET IT! 🙂
I’m just going to delete all my students from facebook. If I want to communicate with them during the school year I’ll just create a class blog or something like that. Because I definitely don’t want to open myself to any trouble!
I teach middle school Language Arts in an IB school. Our county has a “Core Curriculum” they paid a lot of money for, complete with pacing guides so everyone in the county will be at the same place at the same time. I was told I don’t have to follow it for next year since we have IB standards to teach to. At the end of the year new hires at the district office wrote that they are looking at the core curriculum because they see problems with it. You can’t differentiate instruction if you expect every child to be at the same place at the same time. Can you say “DUH!!!” I know how you feel. I was able to step out of the box and let the creative juices flow. I brought in history and math. Yes, I feel and understand what you are saying. Congratulations, I am very happy for you.
Sandra-
I have been saying that for years. They tell us to follow something to fidelity, and at the same time they tell us to teach to the child. 🙂 Out of both sides of their mouth at the same time. Hmmm…. 🙂 I’m very excited!!
Interesting!I teach reading right now ( i change every year). Anyway, i work in the school system that Dr. Bice was the super. Reading has not had a choice in teaching for at least 6 years. In fact we have no say in the curriculum to adapt or even the length of days. It will interesting to see if this theory trickles down. Scott Foresman MUST be taught to fidelity. At the last meeting we heard whispers of flexibility but we will see. We need to adopt the philosophy that the school works to help the teachers teach their student the best way they can Not tell teachers to adapt to a purchased curriculum (Harlem Academics 100% profiency) i will also be teaching social studies.
Gwenn,
I hope Dr. Bice lives up to what he was saying-it would make it better for everyone. I did my student teaching in Alex. City about 9 years ago-Jim Pearson and Radney. I also graduated from BRHS a looooong time ago-1989! 🙂 Have you ever taught social studies before? And what grade?
i teach 6th grade. I taught social studies during my internship but otherwise no. I will be doing the same summer preparing as you. The only subject left for me to teach is gym- I am all for that!
Gwenn,
You have taught almost everything!!!! Are you on pinterest?? I’ve been pinning social studies stuff like crazy, probably can’t use all of it but oh we’ll!!!
Shannon,
I’ve started planning for The Guiding Readers Book Study and you mentioned you would like to be involved. Here is the link to the schedule if you are still interested.
https://docs.google.com/spreadsheet/ccc?key=0Al132pff8HrZdHl1dDlpNlc4WGZoNjhBVHNJei13WVE
Beth
Beth
Thinking of Teaching
Beth,
Thanks so much! I signed up for the chapter on non-fiction since I will be teaching history next year. I can’t wait to get this started-guess I need to go ahead and get the book! 🙂
Yes, i am on pinterst and follow you. I will go and look at your social studies board. We (reading teachers) ordered avideo series that covers all of the content to add to our plans. In my internship I did a cold war unit and printed out brochures that told what to do in case of a nucleur war. However, it is in a box somewhere in the garage -so i wull have to start digging!
Gwenn,
Ok. I’m following you, too, and about to look at your social studies board. That cold war unit sounds INTERESTING! 🙂
So we are going to have to do curriculum mapping. They mentioned next year but I want to be prepared. Have you done that before?
I’ve never done it-we did pacing guides one time in our county when I taught kindergarten, and I sort of thought it was a joke the way we did it. We were hurried and didn’t really have time to go over things. Addition was put in the 1st 6 weeks-kindergarten. Really? 🙂 I would love to map out my curriculum for American history for 5th and 6th next year!! I’ve looked at the textbooks we use and of course there are too many lessons to get through the year, but it does seem to be easy to read and understand.
I am a pacing chart wiz! I am a little OCD and like to have it all planned out. i am getting ready to do the 6th grade soc st. We use Horizons Harcourt. I will pin what I make.
Alex city has had pacing charts as long as i have been teaching and as long as I know what I need to teach and how long I have I can get it done. Granted at this point I am an expert with standards since I learn new ones each year!
Gwenn,
Yea!! Glad you are the wiz at pacing guides!!:) I’ll be looking for your stuff!! Will you make up your own tests or use what they give you?
I love that you love to teach and that you are so excited about it. YOU must be a GREAT teacher!!! Thank YOU!
Deanna,
I do love to teach! Don’t know about the great teacher part. LOL! 🙂