For full access, see here: https://docs.google.com/spreadsheet/ccc?key=0Av6Ur7z6haT3dEsyaXhXU1EzX2NVZTVIcExsYThBN3c&hl=en_US For a preview, see below:
Category: School Education
My Biggest Challenges as a Beginning Second Year Teacher
Right now I’m struggling with two things. One is pacing. The second is data. On the first challenge, my lessons are taking twice as long as I plan them to take. I think the next step is to sit down with someone, go through a lesson plan together, and then have them observe to see…
My Unit Planning Process: Take 3
One of my favorite bloggers on Teach For Us (a blogging platform for Teach for America teachers and alumni), Wess, wrote: “Why don’t we see any exemplars before they’re exemplary?”. I agree. I teach among amazing teachers, but it’s difficult to see how they got to where they are. It took nine months for me…
I’ve Implemented My First Project Based Learning Experience!
It’s incredibly exciting. I’ve spent a good number of hours planning a simple, four day unit on Safety in fifth grade science in which students work in teams to present skits that show scientists how to be safe and how NOT to be safe. Each team has a budget that they need to follow, a…
Go To Professional Development
As I’m plugging away at my new unit on safety (which will be awesome, by the way), I’m just reminded of how I got to this point after a year of trials and tears, and one of the most important things I think new teachers just HAVE to do is to seek professional development, all…
So It Takes Forever to Set Up a Science Notebook…
…but it’ll be totally worth it. I’ve spent the whole last period, and will spend a little bit of the next as well, setting up my student’s science notebooks. They’re a bit of a work of art, if I do say so myself. The cover of our science notebooks are the words the students chose…
So Guess Who Created the Paper Passing Procedure? That’s right, my students.
I didn’t think of this until my second class when I realized that paper passing can be really boring. But then, give students the challenge, and then all of a sudden it’s interesting! Guidelines I gave them: – Only one person can ever stand up during the whole procedure – These are pristine, white papers….
What’s Your Perfect Classroom?
What an amazing, inspiring, day. SO different from my first year teaching, when I walked into my first day of class with absolutely no idea of what to do, where my class and I were going, or what to accomplish. Contrast to my first day when all my students left the class excited to do…
11 Days Left!
Please help my classroom earn $913 to purchase two iPod touches. Donate here: http://www.donorschoose.org/donors/proposal.html?id=539929&challengeid=153026&more=true. My Students: “There are three basic skills that students need if they want to thrive in a knowledge economy: the ability to do critical thinking and problem-solving; the ability to communicate effectively; and the ability to collaborate,” Tony Wagner wrote in…
Teaching So Kids Actually Learn: My First Attempt At Project Based Learning
Think back to your clearest memories of elementary school or middle school. What do you remember? I know what I remember… my fifth grade oceanography project lead by Mr. Soderberg, teacher-extraordinaire. In teams of four, our group of fifth grade scientists were tasked with the challenge of saving the ocean floor. The project went something…
Deborah Chang 