It's the last day of spring break 2020 and we are still in the midst of social distancing, self-isolation and quarantine living. I've spent the last few days trying to design a suitable project for my science class. I'm convinced that switching to project-based learning for the last half of my practicum is the way to go. I've recruited the advice of an expert and got the OK from my co-operating teacher to proceed. I'm giving the option of doing a project as their final unit assessment instead of a unit test. Not only will this be good for my students but will given them some variety in the way they are expected to learn. Most teachers are giving reading and worksheets, or at least most of the teachers that I've talked to. The result should be interesting.
I've given smaller projects before, usually research based but this is the first one being used as a major assessment. It's a little nerve racking, and a little exciting. I hope I'm teacher enough to pull it off.
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We are two days into spring break 2020 and it was announced that the in-school classes have been suspended indefinitely. I can't stay that it comes as a surprise. I had anticipated this from the time the government decided to close the schools last week.
I am prepared to continue my practicum through distance learning for as long as it takes, but it does pose unique challenges. How are my cooperating teachers to support my learning? Provide feedback? How is my practicum advisor provide a summative evaluation? What are they to evaluate? How am I to foster a nurturing relationship with students to support their learning? After all, isn't that one of the foundations of teaching? Being an educator is more than just delivering curriculum. In the next week, I will review the remaining topics to be covered the units I am responsible for, and develop some interesting ways to engage students that isn't just another worksheet. Since exams for high school students are cancelled perhaps this is a way to facilitate some inquiry or project learning, or at least some hands on activities. That might be something I can talk to my cooperating teacher about, although from day 1 he has given me complete autonomy in the classroom. It is certainly worth looking into.. The timing couldn't have been worse! Sunday my laptop died. I couldn't believe it. This was going to be a tough week. It just wouldn't charge. I thought it was the battery and had ordered one on Amazon. It's an easy installation so could do it myself. The bad news was it was going to be at least a week before it arrived, and who knows if there will still be deliveries by then.
On Monday, I decided to call someone. I described the problem and he suggested I bring it in. So, I did. They checked it out and as it turns out - it was the cord. It wasn't charging anymore. So with my new cord in hand ($80 later) I returned home to cancel my Amazon order and continue to work on my distance learning lessons. With 2 kids in the house, down to one laptop it would have been challenging. We borrowed an iPad from my parents to ease the technology flights and how everyone is happy - more or less. If only fixing my dryer will be that easy. In the realm of social distancing and isolation - we are exercising patience. We are all keeping up with the school work but also trying to do something fun and something physical everyday. Lately the boys have been walking the neighbour's dogs. They also helped me make a video for my class - static electricity demos. As much as I hate to see myself in video, we had fun. Today was the last day schools are permitted to be open. The Manitoba Government has ordered schools to be closed due to the Covid-19 pandemic. During my practicum block I usually disable my blog but this time it's different. I implemented Science Writers (see early blog post) for my science students in this block. I wanted to give them an outlet to talk about any fears or concerns they may have during this uncertain time, science related or not. Science Writers started with one of my professors a couple years ago and I found it very therapeutic. In the age of increased mental-health awareness, I thought it was important to offer it to my students. For my own mental well-being and reflections, I decided to keep my blog live.
As pre-service teachers we are in a unique position. We are still expected adapt to the new reality of virtual classrooms and distance learning with little or no experience. Every Teacher Candidate I have talked to have embraced the challenge whole-heartedly, doing whatever we need to do to support our Co-operating Teachers and the students in our care. This is uncharted territory for EVERYONE, teachers, students and parents. We can weather the tides but we must have patience; and we must do what we need to do to take care of our families and ourselves. This is one of the tent pole moments in our lives when we will remember exactly where we were and what we did. (One of those moments for me was 9/11) We will make it! Speaking with colleagues, especially those of us graduating are concerned about actually graduating, certification and generally speaking... our future as educators. Our faculty and advisors have all been supportive, but not all the questions are ready to be answered. We should have faith that if we do what we are supposed to do, that things will work in our favour. Even though things look a little different, we can still do the job we are called to do: teach, guide and support the learners in our care. Stay healthy my friends Self-Care is the Best Care This morning I was watching "Morning Joe" on MSNBC, and the host, Mika said something today that struck a chord. She was talking about how our cultural traditions and stories reflecting the beliefs and values of that culture. This really echoed what I was thinking this summer during the research project I was working on. In our case, we were looking at stories about the Northern and Southern Lights but when reading all this stories, from all over the globe it occurred to me that these stories really do reflect the values of that culture.
During this time of year, we are inundated with traditions and stories; religious stories, secular stories and family stories all with a purpose; to educate and share the beliefs and values of what we hold dear. Now that we are in the midst of the holiday season; take the time to tell and re-tell the stories, embrace traditions new and old, and reflect on what the season really means. And may God bless us, everyone. I spent most of the weekend (Sept 14) at Scout camp with the boys and aside from a little sunburn, a lesson idea emerged.
Sitting in our sections, I was helping a group of scouts with knots. We have quite a few new scouts this year that have not been through the program in Beavers or Cubs so they needed a little extra help. During the practice time, I ended up tying a series of figure 8 knots in a Fibonacci sequence. Later that afternoon, I had an entire lesson plan for teaching “Series and Sequences” using knots. Each group gets a set of ropes with difference sequence tied into it. From this, answer questions about each. What is the equation? Complete a table of values. What is the next value? It might be an interesting way to do it, rather than a bunch of numbers on a worksheet. What’s a math teacher’s favourite knot? Fibo-“knot”-cci. I don’t know if I’ll have a chance to use it, I can write it out and add it to my portfolio. Keep checking my lesson plan and activity section for a full lesson plan. Now that my research project is done, or at least paused my mind has been swinging back to "back to School" both for me and the kids. Jack spent the morning shuffling through school supplies and making a list of what is missing. Danny really only needs a very expensive calculator and a bible. Everything else I have in stock or can be reused from last year.
On Friday, I spent some time lesson planning. I had a good idea for a lesson or my "Teaching Science Through Pop Culture" class. I started an outline, and couldn't stop. At this point I am about 80% done including activity and rubric. I also have an idea for an lesson to do at practicum for Ada Lovelace Day in October, assuming I am lucky enough to teach computer science first term. No, not going to dress up but will find something to properly celebrate her life and contributions. This is why I love lesson planning. My booklist has changed slightly so I may find myself on campus once more before the start of class, but am feeling ready to get started. |