Illuminate

Bringing light to the education field

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Post college day

So I subbed my 5th graders the day after college day at their school.

As a warm up I had them write at least 3 sentences of what they are doing after high school. Most of them put that college was too expensive or that they wanted to go to college to get a good job and good money. Very few students said they wanted to study art or a certain topic, not get money. But, its 5th grade. When I was in 5th grade, college was the last thing on my mind.

After their warm up I let them ask me questions. Most were about dorms and if I had a job on campus.

Later that day I showed a movie and called them one by one to talk to them about what they wrote. I talked to them about different things to study in college, how learning as much as they can in public school is important, how there’s scholarships available, how hard work pays off and how asking questions is okay.

I basically had a heart to heart with these kids. I couldn’t believe that the whole time I student taught with them that I didn’t talk to them about what it means to be a college student. That college was more than getting a degree.

I’m really glad I talked to them individually. I felt like it meant a lot more after student teaching, bc I worked with them for a semester.

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ikenbot: Partial Solar Eclipse over Texas Image Credit & Copyright: Jimmy Westlake (Colorado Mountain College) & Linda Westlake It was a typical Texas sunset except that most of the Sun was missing. The location of the missing piece of the Sun was not a mystery — it was behind the Moon. Sunday night’s partial eclipse of the Sun by the Moon turned into one of the best photographed astronomical events in history. Gallery after online gallery is posting just one amazing eclipse image after another. Pictured above is possibly one of the more interesting posted images — a partially eclipsed Sun setting in a reddened sky behind brush and a windmill. The image was taken Sunday night from about 20 miles west of Sundown, Texas, USA, just after the ring of fire effect was broken by the Moon moving away from the center of the Sun. Coming early next month is an astronomical event that holds promise to be even more photographed — the last partial eclipse of the Sun by Venus until the year 2117.

ikenbot:

Partial Solar Eclipse over Texas

Image Credit & Copyright: Jimmy Westlake (Colorado Mountain College) & Linda Westlake

It was a typical Texas sunset except that most of the Sun was missing.

The location of the missing piece of the Sun was not a mystery — it was behind the Moon. Sunday night’s partial eclipse of the Sun by the Moon turned into one of the best photographed astronomical events in history.

Gallery after online gallery is posting just one amazing eclipse image after another.

Pictured above is possibly one of the more interesting posted images — a partially eclipsed Sun setting in a reddened sky behind brush and a windmill.

The image was taken Sunday night from about 20 miles west of Sundown, Texas, USA, just after the ring of fire effect was broken by the Moon moving away from the center of the Sun.

Coming early next month is an astronomical event that holds promise to be even more photographed — the last partial eclipse of the Sun by Venus until the year 2117.

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5 Tips to Avoid Teacher Burnout

revolutionizeed:

1) Push Out Content in Different Ways

You know what’s exhausting? Preparing PowerPoints, presentations and other lectures! Guess what? You don’t have to do this all the time. Yes, there is a time and a place for a lecture or direct instruction, but there is also a place for a variety of strategies to have students take ownership of content learning. Use jigsaw techniques, games that teach, reciprocal teaching and other effective strategies that put students in the driver’s seat of learning. Move from sage of the stage to guide on the side. While all lessons require preparation and planning, a variety of lesson types can not only keep your students interested, but also keep you energized to try new ways of teaching.

I gave out a research project this week and one of my students said, “teachers don’t even teach these days.”  I just ignore it.

How do you see to avoid teacher burnout?  What advice do you have for others?

(via missclaxton)

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Being a waitress as an education major

Is just torture.

And I’m not talking about the fancy restaurants that you go on dates or they serve wine. I’m taking about a small country restaurant where farmers, truck drivers and ranchers still pay 5% tip and 10% if they’re really happy.

I worked this job every weekend student teaching and will be working for the next few months until my new teaching job contract starts.

The hardest part is getting little to no respect from customers. Its a different when I’m the teacher. I expect and command respect. Its made clear. But I can never cross these lines as a waitress. Because then I get complaints and less tips.

Last week I started to get conceited because I was a few days from graduating. And now I’m graduated. I hope I’m not a big jerk. But its a horrible situation for a job. I’m paid the bare minimum by both hourly wage and customers.

You’re probably asking why I started working there and why I haven’t left yet. Well, its a family restaurant so I’m obligated to work there.

My professor for student teaching always gave me a hard time for juggling both priorities. If anything, having both responsiblities helped train me for if I plan to teach public education and had a 2nd job or did night school for masters.

I learned not to do just the minimum this semester. I learned that life isn’t about putting all your time and effort into perfectly typed lesson plans. Its the hard work in the classroom and the other priorities you do to juggle to be there for your students.

So this weekend I go into work now as a graduate with a college degree. I survived student teaching every weekday and teaching on the weekend. I basically worked everyday for 7-8 hours and got off on holidays. I am thankful for my journey so far. I just hope this doesn’t make me conceited.

Really, I’m just the same as anyone who works hard. Im a hard worker. Im a recent graduate trying to make it.

Please remember to tip your waitress well. 15% is the minimum.

Filed under education teaching college graduation waitress

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magicalteacher: teachersintiaras: Use clipboards on the bulletin board to hang up student work. Simply change the title with each assignment and hang the work on the boards rather than switching the bulletin board each period. Or use the same title (such as writing in this one) to display writing work from the whole year.  Perfect. Next classroom….I’m doing this.

magicalteacher:

teachersintiaras:

Use clipboards on the bulletin board to hang up student work. Simply change the title with each assignment and hang the work on the boards rather than switching the bulletin board each period. Or use the same title (such as writing in this one) to display writing work from the whole year. 

Perfect. Next classroom….I’m doing this.