Preparing for the first week

I have a LOT to think about over the next few days.

Today was my second day of New teacher orientation and I have learned many things. Since this is my second year teaching, I am not as overwhelmed but there is still much to do in order to prepare for the first day of students. So far I have been comparing everything I am doing this year with my new county, to everything I did last year in my old county. My new and old counties are completely different with how they run things.

Yesterday's introductory day was good in many ways. First of all, I got to meet a few new teachers from my new school. It was interesting to hear everyone's stories about where they were coming from. In the opening remarks, the head woman asked for everyone who was from out of state to raise their hand. Over 1/3rd of the new teachers raised their hand. Another interesting thing she said was "This county has a 93% new teacher retention rate". I thought that was amazing! In the morning session, I was with other High School teachers. This session was not as useful to me because it was geared more towards first year teachers. In the afternoon, we went to our high schools.

At my high school, I got to meet a lot of important people who help run the school. I was excited to see the science wing at my school. It is AWESOME! Newly renovated classrooms with computers, projectors, smartboards, nice lab stations with water hook-up..etc. I couldn't have asked for anything better.. (now I hope they don't throw me a curve ball and tell me I don't have a science room).

I also got to take a look at the science curriculum for the two classes I am teaching. Both Matter and Energy and Forensics are "project-based". Project-based means instead of giving tests each unit, the students have to complete a project. I LOVE LOVE LOOOOOOVE this way of teaching because instead of memorizing facts, the students are doing hands on activities which produce a product they can be proud of. During the entire unit the class works on the project and they are learning things along the way. For example, our first unit is about systems and their project is creating a rocket. So during the unit we talk about the scientific method, how systems are created, and how scientists use different methods to create something that solves a problem. At the end the students get to see if their rocket works and then they get to modify it and make it better. All things REAL scientists do. Project-based teaching is a lot more difficult to prepare because I can't just stand up in front of the class and lecture or hand out a worksheet.

Since my last weekend of freedom is coming up, I have been thinking a lot about what I am going to do the first day of school. Everyone always talks about how the first day is SOOOO important. If you give your students the impression that you don't care, or you don't know what your doing, or that your unorganized.. then the rest of the year is going to be a disaster.

One thing I want to do this year that I did not do last year is make the first day FUN! Usually, on the first day teachers go over the rules, syllabus, grading, safety... That stuff is so BORING. I want to do something fun that the students will remember. Now I just have to figure out what that will be.

Until next time..