Miami Central - An Infectious Enthusiasm!
As I have this spare HOUR between flights, I want to go ahead and get my thoughts down about today's training. Every time I leave a school district, I feel badly for not giving the teachers a voice for follow-up concerns and issues. Yeah, sure, when Prevatte stands before you, you are certain every idea she shares will work, right??? Well, that's what I'd like to know =0)
After a dicey beginning (ummm . . . it's not real fun to be lost in Miami), Lisa LoConte-Allen (the Math Vertical Teams trainer) and I finally made our way to Miami Central High School. Waiting for us were teachers from various subject areas, and as they introduced each other, I kept thinking, "These teachers are SO enthusiastic!" For those of you who don't know, Miami Central serves approximately 2,500 high school students - a school that as the Dade County district web page put it has been "under state scrutiny for âFâ accountability grades". You would hardly know the dark cloud that hangs over these teachers heads when you work with them for six hours on a Saturday (a day NO teacher wants to be "inspired"!).
After some spirited introductions of teachers who obviously have great respect for one another, these teachers got right to work - never once did someone tell me, "Prevatte, this stuff is TOO hard for my students." Honestly, Miami Central is exactly why I travel for College Board. Sure, they're sick of negative school grades, frustrated by the numbers of students who can't imagine an education as a benefit to their lives, and often defeated by the stresses that go with working in an inner-city environment. But, and it's a strong but, they maintain a sense of humor, dedication, and pride for their jobs and their students. I believe in those teachers, and I left feeling like the opportunities for success were great.
What did we cover? Remember proximity. If you allow a low-performing student to choose a seat, it will be in the back of the room. Move around the class, and create opportunities for discussion about HOW they learn as well as what they are learning. Model the behavior you want from your students, and create an atmosphere that is safe for sharing (try those discussion techniques!). Time is your friend - use timers to set limits and challenge your students to recognize what rigor FEELS like - it could be as simple as wanting another chance to create a better answer than their first try or using a famous line of literature as a model for their own writing.
Now, I'm forwarding 'The Split Infinitive' webpage to my new buddies at Central. I hope they will honor me with their take on the whole situation. Remember, the hope here is that teachers have a place to bring their concerns to the table about Vertical Teams and, well, teaching in general. So, ROCKETS and RATTLERS (there was a large showing of the FAMU alumni) tell me what's up! Was it worth it? Are you ready to take this on? Is it worth it? (Did I already say that?)
From here out, I will be posting issues and topics that are important to teachers: classroom management, parent communication, legislation. Feel free to ask questions, make comments, or ask for a discussion.
I just want to wrap up by saying that I will be in Homestead next week (after the FRA Conference in Orlando). I just hope that crowd will be nearly as accepting and open-minded as 'The Rockets' of 95th Street! I am proud to know you, and I hope we have the opportunity to be together again! Please keep in touch!
After a dicey beginning (ummm . . . it's not real fun to be lost in Miami), Lisa LoConte-Allen (the Math Vertical Teams trainer) and I finally made our way to Miami Central High School. Waiting for us were teachers from various subject areas, and as they introduced each other, I kept thinking, "These teachers are SO enthusiastic!" For those of you who don't know, Miami Central serves approximately 2,500 high school students - a school that as the Dade County district web page put it has been "under state scrutiny for âFâ accountability grades". You would hardly know the dark cloud that hangs over these teachers heads when you work with them for six hours on a Saturday (a day NO teacher wants to be "inspired"!).
After some spirited introductions of teachers who obviously have great respect for one another, these teachers got right to work - never once did someone tell me, "Prevatte, this stuff is TOO hard for my students." Honestly, Miami Central is exactly why I travel for College Board. Sure, they're sick of negative school grades, frustrated by the numbers of students who can't imagine an education as a benefit to their lives, and often defeated by the stresses that go with working in an inner-city environment. But, and it's a strong but, they maintain a sense of humor, dedication, and pride for their jobs and their students. I believe in those teachers, and I left feeling like the opportunities for success were great.
What did we cover? Remember proximity. If you allow a low-performing student to choose a seat, it will be in the back of the room. Move around the class, and create opportunities for discussion about HOW they learn as well as what they are learning. Model the behavior you want from your students, and create an atmosphere that is safe for sharing (try those discussion techniques!). Time is your friend - use timers to set limits and challenge your students to recognize what rigor FEELS like - it could be as simple as wanting another chance to create a better answer than their first try or using a famous line of literature as a model for their own writing.
Now, I'm forwarding 'The Split Infinitive' webpage to my new buddies at Central. I hope they will honor me with their take on the whole situation. Remember, the hope here is that teachers have a place to bring their concerns to the table about Vertical Teams and, well, teaching in general. So, ROCKETS and RATTLERS (there was a large showing of the FAMU alumni) tell me what's up! Was it worth it? Are you ready to take this on? Is it worth it? (Did I already say that?)
From here out, I will be posting issues and topics that are important to teachers: classroom management, parent communication, legislation. Feel free to ask questions, make comments, or ask for a discussion.
I just want to wrap up by saying that I will be in Homestead next week (after the FRA Conference in Orlando). I just hope that crowd will be nearly as accepting and open-minded as 'The Rockets' of 95th Street! I am proud to know you, and I hope we have the opportunity to be together again! Please keep in touch!
posted by Lynnie at 5:27 PM
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