April 2012
61 posts
captain-bubblebeard asked: Hey! This is actually thesocialmedianerd (thanks Tumblr's dual-blogging system!), just wanted to thank you for offering your thoughts on my social media in the classroom question! Have you had a positive experience using social media with the separate professional profile? Does it make anything easier, or is it an extra inconvenience?
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Adventures In Substitute Teaching
I am a little behind on my adventures.
For the past two days I have come home exhausted. Subbing in the Special Education class that I am familiar with is not difficult, except when there is a new student and I do not know any information from her Individualized Education Program (IEP) or anything else for that matter. On her first-day of school she made a positive impression on the teacher so...
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Adventures In Substitute Teaching (Role Reversal...
I worked in a CAPA/Special Education class today, the same one I used to work in when I was a Special Education Instructional Assistant two years ago. I get to sub the class for the next three days.
When I walked into the classroom this morning, the Special Education Instructional Assistant I subbed three months for asked why I was there, not in a condescending way, but in a sincere curious...
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WEBSITE: Grammar Ninja →
theinsidelane:
A fun site to practise identifying all parts of speech.
Okay, okay…I admit, this was pretty fun! And, according to the website, there is a Wii version. Read the command and throw a ninja star at the correct word. Your score will depend on time, number correct, and you will be given a ninja rank.
You’re also given three different levels to choose from:
Beginner...
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My first 5K (that's 3 miles) walk!
Yesterday, I went out to the Rose Bowl and joined my friends, their son, their family, and our close friends for the Autism Speaks 5K walk.
I never thought I would be the type to participate in these sort of charitable events. Sometimes I think just a monetary donation would be all I need to support such a cause, but when you actually walk with people supporting a cause, the donation becomes...
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Adventures in Substitute Teaching (Almost cried...
That’s right, I almost cried.
I came home after subbing an 8th grade Middle School Math class almost wanting to cry. I stress ate (not good: a bowl of cereal, left over lasagna, and two cookies within an hour), vented to my elder brother, and had a self-debate of whether to head to the gym or take a nap.
I napped and so I am here to recount the adventure of the day.
I was offered the...
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Substitute Teaching and technology
Just when I think I’m just another Substitute Teacher, a tweet comes along to change things:
Kelsey Sheehy from US News sends me a tweet: @classroomchaos I’m writing about how classroom tech impacts substitute teachers. Would love to talk to you about your experience!
Of course I asked myself, Me? Why me? I decided to help out whichever way I can.
The interview took place...
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Adventures in Substitute Teaching (STAR version)
I have been wondering why I have not been called for any sub gigs. I smell my armpits to see if it’s me, and it’s not me. I’m clean. I’m fresh. My classroom management is pretty good. It can’t be me, can it?
Then when I noticed my teenage niece and nephew have not been sitting at the table doing homework lately, I barked at them in question:
ME: (stern look) Uhm,...
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WatchRobert Gupta is a violinist with the LA Philharmonic. In this inspiring TED talk, Gupta addresses how he met and worked with Nathaniel Ayers, a former student of Julliard whose masterful music can be heard in the streets and tunnels of Downtown Los Angeles, California, where Nathaniel resides and performs. Nathaniel is also a schizophrenic who escapes the trauma of his past through music. Robert...
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Interactive Learning Sites for Education →
Karen Ogden, a technology integration specialist, put together this website of useful links for the elementary grade level student, with tabs divided by subject-matter. It is also helpful to see screenshots of the website before clicking on it. The site is a work in progress and I look forward to see what she adds.
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Inspiring. #Education Tag Videos
All sorts of awesomeness. Yes, I typed awesomeness.
About a week ago fellow Tumblr-user BeTheChangeYouWant posted a great idea about inviting our education community to create education tag videos.
Turn on your video camera, answer a few questions, and post on Tumblr with the #education tag video. Most of the videos have the questions listed on their Tumblr just below their videos.
I...
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Review Games?
novicephoenix:
I’ve gotten wonderful and amazing Tumblr suggestions in the past, and I was wondering if anyone knew of some cool review games. I teach 7th grade English. I figure I need to do some type of fun review game with my class before the ELA exam to release some tension but also go over important things. I’m looking for something that is different from Jeopardy or Bingo to excite my...
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Music teacher in training: How to rock at the... →
Know a teacher job fair coming up? Read these tips before you go!
music-teacher-in-training:
As promised, here are some tips for surviving at the job fair based on my recent experience. I will gladly update this with more advice/tips if anyone wants to add their two cents!
Be professional at all times: This is an obvious one, I know. But when I was waiting in line to meet with a…
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charellabon asked: Ahah! Found your Ask button! When did you start substituting? And what grade level/s do you like? I've only been substituting for almost a year now.
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Adventures in Substitute Teaching (CAPA version)
I subbed in a CAPA (California Alternate Performance Assessment) class today and I just did not have my bag of tricks today.
Though I have worked in this class before as a Special Education Instructional Assistant and I am familiar with the students, I just did not have it in me to teach or instruct exciting activities as I would have liked. I explained this to the Instructional Assistant I...
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Miss Voss: Bitter-Sweet →
A great post by a first-year teacher. Bitter-sweet, indeed. Ms. Voss, may your first year end just as positive as your second year will begin. G’luck!
msvoss:
Being a first year teacher has been the hardest, yet most rewarding year of my life; staying up late preparing for the next day, staying after school helping students and grading papers, dealing with parents and other faculty...
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Hey it's Mr. O!: The Dos and Don'ts of Substitute... →
Great tips and great gifs! And by far, my most favorite post from a fellow Substitute Teacher.
heyitsmro:
People always ask me, “Tom, what’s it like being a substitue teacher?” Actually, no one has ever asked me that, because unfortunately my life isn’t an interview on The View. I have a feeling that people already have their own ideas as to what the job is like; it could be gritty...
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I'm raising my eyebrow...
Tumblr,
WHAT.
ARE.
YOU.
DOING?!
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Today in the Teacher's Lounge...
johiart:
“No honey, you are not a part of our world.”
4th grade ex-art-on-a-cart teacher telling me once again I am basically not a teacher.
I am so done with her.
I have learned early on, working as a Special Education Instructional Assistant, that the teacher’s lounge is, unfortunately, the place where the teachers whine and complain. I DID discover that the amazing teachers are...
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What makes a teacher a good educator?
theagelessvampirediva:
The best teachers are usually unconventional people. I don’t mean crazy or weird. I mean that they can be law abiding citizens with very normal boring lives who simply have an unconventional approach to life. Maybe some 4D personality traits. Maybe just eccentric. But usually good teachers can teach well because they know how to make any subject alive and interesting. And...
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Educational Chats on Twitter →
Here is a very useful link to Education Chats on Twitter (created by Cybraryman), which includes a calendar, schedule, and descriptions of each chat. #EdChat is very popular among established educators. #spedchat (Special Ed) is also a popular and informative educational chat.
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May I suggest that you establish a PLN?
Technically, if your are a Tumblr account user and follow the #Education tag (or any other tag that relates to your personal and professional growth), you have established some sort of Personal Learning Network (PLN). Back in 2009, it was then that I first learned about establishing my professional Twitter account and was redirected to the blog that informed me about establishing a PLN....
