565 WK 3

This week I have semi enjoyed the videos I watched during the course work. Some where a bit repetitive, but I feel as though there are some good points. I especially like the discussion about mellinals and how they relate to older (sorry veteran) teachers. This has been a really big thing in my young career because I came in 3 years ago with a bunch of energy, ideas, and a world beater attitude. Not that any of that is bad and not that any of it has worn off, but there was some adjustment from my ideas to the real world. I have made a lot of changes to my program since I started teaching and a lot of these changes are new tricks that are technology based. I have always known how to value experience and take the advice of those who have been there. There WAS a teacher that started the same time as me that wanted to change everything in her area and did not listen to anyone. She was too smart and too stubborn, and now she is looking for a job. I apprecieate the help and guidance of other teachers and my administration and I mix that with my own feelings and ideas and hopefully when the day is done I continue to grow and make changes, learn, and get better at this job.

565 wk 2

This week I am very interested in looking at statistics for my district. I have used WINSS and the DPI site before for my PDP, but I have never looked at testing or anything like that. There is a lot of information on these sites and it is interesting to see how your school performs and how it compares to other schools in your area and the state. I was glad to see that Freedom performed well and it averaged about what I expected. It is also interesting to see how the scores can fluctuate from year to year. I don't know how to drastically improve these scores and since I am not a regular ed teacher, I am not going to be the one to tell the math department (for example) that they need to do a better job. I am looking forward to hearing the ideas and opinions of others on this topic!

565 wk 1

I am crazy busy and this is the latest I have ever posted a blog. I have not even started course work for this week which is also uncharacteristic. I am working 60+ hours a week which is less than I have for most of the year, but still too much to have time for homework. I am moving into my new house, painting, and redecorating. The wedding is only 3 weeks away and my bride and I are still working on that too! Oh well, I dont know what to expect from this class, I know its about leadership in our schools, but that is hard when your not even off probationary status yet. I am looking forward to finishing up this program, I have learned a lot more than I thought I would, I have enjoyed myself to a certain extent, but I am ready to be done.