I couldn't go an entire month without doing something related to school. Mostly because I, A. have no real life outside of school; B. am bored out of my mind. Yes, I am bored. Just sitting around my apartment waiting for it to stop raining... which it does only in the evenings, when there is nothing to do but sit in the bar. So it was either become a raging drunk or find something to occupy my mind.
I signed up for two online courses. I probably won't get any clock hours for them since they "weren't approved" and they're online - but they're both from seemingly recputable sources. The first one is offered by ASCD (the people who publish Educational Leadership). It's about motivating students - something I can always use help with. For some reason, students don't just walk in to class intrinsicly motivated to work - go figure. Anyways, it's fairly cheap and gives you access to a lot of ASCD resources, which are fantastic.
The second one is via HeinemannU. I discovered it via the university I will probably end up completing my professional certification thru since they've got some sort of deal with the district or ESD and promises not to bankrupt me. The course is "Teaching the Classics: A Practical Guide for Helping Students Read and Enjoy Classical Literature." One of the biggest problems I had the past year (besides consistantly forgetting my lunch and being later to almost every staff meeting) was getting students to view the reading assignments as something not reminiscent of hot needles poked into one's eyeballs. I'm not really sure that anyone enjoyed reading anything in the class for the entire year - ok, I'm exaggerating, but not by much. I'm hoping this course and the interaction with others will help me find a way to make literature something other than pure torture.
I signed up for two online courses. I probably won't get any clock hours for them since they "weren't approved" and they're online - but they're both from seemingly recputable sources. The first one is offered by ASCD (the people who publish Educational Leadership). It's about motivating students - something I can always use help with. For some reason, students don't just walk in to class intrinsicly motivated to work - go figure. Anyways, it's fairly cheap and gives you access to a lot of ASCD resources, which are fantastic.
The second one is via HeinemannU. I discovered it via the university I will probably end up completing my professional certification thru since they've got some sort of deal with the district or ESD and promises not to bankrupt me. The course is "Teaching the Classics: A Practical Guide for Helping Students Read and Enjoy Classical Literature." One of the biggest problems I had the past year (besides consistantly forgetting my lunch and being later to almost every staff meeting) was getting students to view the reading assignments as something not reminiscent of hot needles poked into one's eyeballs. I'm not really sure that anyone enjoyed reading anything in the class for the entire year - ok, I'm exaggerating, but not by much. I'm hoping this course and the interaction with others will help me find a way to make literature something other than pure torture.
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