New Standards Inservice

Well, today was the New Standards Inservice training that we have been preparing for. All the K-2 teachers in our county gathered at East Chester along with several of the "special" teachers... We had worked very hard preparing a day that hopefully was fun as well as informative. We included the following in our day:

1. Icebreaker Game - we used the doorprizes for this game - I think we ended up with about 20 or 25.

2. Music Video - "It's Not on the Test"

3. More or Less Activity - teachers had to decide which strategies we need to use more and which ones we should use less

4. Tennessee Diploma Project Video

5. Language Arts Powerpoint Presentations

6. Flip It Activity - group stands on a shower curtain and flips it over with everyone still standing on it.

7. Science Explanations

8. Tower 1 Activity

9. Tower 2 Activity

10. Video - "Change is Good - You Go First"

11. Video - "The Top 10 Things You Didn't Learn About Teaching in College"

12. Math Activities

13. Video - "212 Degrees"

We had also prepared notebooks for each participant which contain all the new standards and strategies for teaching them. I'm SOOOO glad it's over!

Prizes for Inservice Presentation

In June Nancy Burns and I went to Lexington Middle School to attend training on the New Standards that the Tennessee Department of Education has instituted for the 2009-2010 school year. Several teachers were sent from all the schools in Chester County, but the K-2 teachers are me, Nancy, Susan Willis, Sherry Thompson, Sherri Henson, and Denise Davidson. We now have to present what we learned at the training to the faculty of our schools, and that training is scheduled for Monday, January 5. As everyone who knows me can attest, I do not like to speak in front of big people. Kids are great, and I love teaching them, but I get extremely nervous speaking in front of grown-ups. I've worked and worked on my part: made a powepoint presentation, highlighted codes in 45 sets of handouts, searched for motivational videos and songs about "change," and just generally thought and thought about what would be most beneficial to share. After I completed the academic part of the presentation, I decided to try to make some simple door prizes. Maybe I can bribe the group to like the presentation....Anyway I've prepared 17 gifts to give away and wrapped them. When I was out shopping on the day after Christmas, I picked up all kinds of snowman stuff really cheap that I've used to hopefully help our day go more smoothly. Now I'm trying to think of something neat to use for an Oprah moment. Three of us are trying to come up with 45 little gifts to give away like Oprah does on her favorite things shows. We're trying to keep a positive atmosphere going when we're presenting some pretty intimidating material. If anyone has a great idea, PLEASE let me know!!!