So here I am on the eve before I report back to work. Tomorrow is normally the day I begin copying all the items for the first day with kids. On those sheets is the grading policy.
Yeah. I've been thinking about this since the beginning of July and still have not come up with anything. Obviously with modeling class discussion is a big part of it. How should I grade that? I know myself. I am not a good record keeper. I can't make a tally mark every time someone speaks. So what should constitute an 'A'? Because of this I am hesitant to make participation a huge grade but it should definitely be included.
Add that to the normal war I have waged with myself for the last 13 years of points vs. percentages for grades and it will undoubtedly be a late evening.
Monday, August 30, 2010
Thursday, August 26, 2010
It's all falling into place.
Whiteboards from home depot bought and cut? Check.
Composition Notebooks? Check.
Buggy cars and push/pull spring scales ordered? Check.
Ready for the first day of school? Not even close.
As the day approaches I am beginning to freak out. Will the students buy
in to the process? Will I totally screw up this first month? Will I
make it through and be a successful modeler? Of course the answer to
all of these questions is yes, but still the butterflies are unusually
strong this year.
Composition Notebooks? Check.
Buggy cars and push/pull spring scales ordered? Check.
Ready for the first day of school? Not even close.
As the day approaches I am beginning to freak out. Will the students buy
in to the process? Will I totally screw up this first month? Will I
make it through and be a successful modeler? Of course the answer to
all of these questions is yes, but still the butterflies are unusually
strong this year.
Tuesday, August 24, 2010
Getting geared up.
School is around the corner and I am getting it in high gear to start a new phase of my teaching career - modeling. I have debated since my workshop this summer over attempting to go modeling across the board as I also teach Biology in addition to Physics. But after wrestling with it I have decided only to do it with physics for now so I can get comfortable with the process. Once I am more accomplished with the methods I will start to phase some of the techniques in at that point.
I plan to use this as a way to document the progression as I start this new phase. I plan on inviting my workshop mates to read along and join in the discussion if they like, but even if I am just typing to myself I hope the reflection will do me good. Plus maybe some poor soul starting out on this path a few years down the road may benefit from my ideas and situations. Onward and upward!
I plan to use this as a way to document the progression as I start this new phase. I plan on inviting my workshop mates to read along and join in the discussion if they like, but even if I am just typing to myself I hope the reflection will do me good. Plus maybe some poor soul starting out on this path a few years down the road may benefit from my ideas and situations. Onward and upward!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)