This is the second meeting of our favorite multi-generation teaching duo, Jim and Micah, from Blog Post #2. In case you forgot, this is the setup: Scene: Two teachers from different eras meet up in a coffee shop. The elder one, Jim, taught in the 1980’s and 1990’s and is currently retired. He is friends with the father of Micah, a current teacher. Jim taught at the secondary school level, from 7-12th grade. Micah does the same.   Jim : Good seeing you again. How is the teaching going? Micah : Well, unfortunately, I have been put on leave while they investigate an incident. Jim : Jeez, what happened? Micah : Well, one of my students is a bit passive-aggressive. Often, he is ok, but sometimes he can be a real jerk, bullying some of the kids in class. He will get right in their faces and talk about kicking their butts. Jim : So, what were you doing about it? Micah : I was following the teacher policy guidance for Fairfax County, on minimizing physical han...

  Blog Post 11 Journal Entry, April 18, 2021 Well, it has been quite a whirlwind introduction to the field of teaching. The more we learn, then more I understand how much there is yet to know. As we delve into methods of teaching, it is clear that there is room for improvement, and that teaching entails a constant quest to become a better and more effective educator. I have gone through some of my previous journal entries, and realize it has been over a month since my last one. Much of my writing and thoughts have been captured through other blog posts and papers I have been working on for my classes, so I do have some of my thoughts captured. Many of the readings and videos we have reviewed recently have provided a view of the classroom that is revealing and intimidating at the same time. I know that there is an added dramatic flair to the productions, but they seem to indicate a zealous effort towards constant improvement. Admittedly, there is a steep learning curve, a...

Blog Post 12 Opening Remarks from a Teacher's Conference on Student Assessment Good morning fellow teachers, Thanks for making the trip to our conference. We are excited to have you all here. Now, I was a teacher for a long time before I became an education consultant. In the 1980’s, when I started as a clean-behind -the-ears social studies teacher, we did not collaborate like we do today. I taught social studies the way I felt best, and my fellow teachers, teaching the same subject, might be doing it differently. They might have been pulling from different sources, pacing the class faster or slower, and testing as they saw fit. I had a particular style and had a reputation for being challenging but fair. My style represented what I thought best for the students, and nobody ever really questioned it. Well, maybe a few parents, but generally their kids would blind-side them with a bad grade. My too honest answer to them, at least at the time, was that their child was either not putt...

 

Teaching tips by Jordan- An Advice Column for Teachers This week we are going to answer questions regarding teacher feedback. This is an area I get many questions about and one that causes significant consternation from our teacher community. One of the biggest concerns is the inconsistency in with which people receive feedback. Some teachers report they get excellent feedback, and it is the part of a school’s philosophy to provide continuous feedback, especially to new teachers. Others report that their schools often tout their mechanisms for feedback, but they often fall flat pretty quickly, especially when mentors get busy. Others report that they have had excellent mentor relationships, but it is only because their individual mentor is motivated and fully engaged. The biggest problem often lies in the unwillingness of mentees and new teachers to ask for help or advice, for fear of looking unprepared or too needy. They also worry that that are being too intrusive to busy colleag...

Lesson Plan with Inclusion Options Teacher: Jordan Glashow School: Frost Middle School Subject/Grade level: Social Studies, 7th gr., regular Lesson Title: Virginia and US History: The Civil War and Reconstruction 3/17/21 Lesson Planning Performance-based Objective(s): The Civil War was a critical event in the history of the United States. The objectives are to: Understand the factors that brought about the Civil War. Understand how minority races were treated in different areas of the country, before and after the war Understand the legacy of the Civil War, and how it influenced changes to the government, voting rights, civil rights, and the military. Local/State/National Standards: Lesson Standards: VUS.7c Civil War and Reconstruction: evaluating and explaining the impact of the war on Americans and on the future of the country. Materials: Class textbook Assigned readings and videos. Vocabulary list Class lectures (transcripts and videos will be posted online) Inclusion commen...