Blog Assignment #3 Due Friday, September 18

Title:  What Do Teachers Make?

You have just finished viewing the TEACH documentary following the year-long journey of four teachers transforming their delivery in the classroom.  At the end of the year the question, What difference did it make? could be asked.  To the students whose lives were changed, it made a significant difference.

Listen to Taylor Mali as he recites his poem, What Do Teachers Make.

 

Click here to view the poem

Image that you were at a get-together with family and/or friends and the same question was posed to you?  What would your reply be?

Support your response with evidence such as statistics, anecdotes, testimonials, interviews, etc.

Remember, your blog must link to the original prompt (this blog post) and include two other media sources such as a link to support material, an embedded audio or video, images, documents, etc.

Blog Assignment #2 Due Sept 4

Title:  Here's Where I Find the Treasure in Teaching

Create a post that demonstrates the following skills.  You will need to search for items that are examples that YOU like.

1.  Type in a favorite teaching quote.  Change the text features (font, size, color, underline, bold, justification) so that you like it and it is appealing to the reader.

A teacher affects eternity; he can never 

tell where his influence stops.

Henry Adams

Link to an educational site or your student organizations

Click here for TAFE

Insert a picture related to education

Link a video

Blog Assignment #1 Due Sept. 4 - Welcome to My Blog!

Title:  Welcome to my Blog!

Set up your own blog by visiting blogger.com.  Blogger is part of your Google account.
To log in, use your Gmail user name and password.  Then select "Blog."
Set up a template that is professional for this class and easy to read. Show your page to Mrs. Kallas before finalizing.

Bookmark your blog on your computer.
Record your log in, user name, and password in your "secret" folder.

Create a greeting POST for your blog.  It should welcome readers and indicate what your blog is about.  Of course, your blog is designed to comment on issues and topics that are current in the field of education.  It is designed for you to think critically and respond intelligently to hot topics. Your greeting post does not have to include media, but think about how you can use formatting and pictures to make it interesting.

HAPPY BLOGGING!

Blog Rubric - Comment #1 Due Sept. 4

RULES FOR BLOGGING IN EAT 901
(Look for your assignment at the bottom) 

POSTING:
You will create your own blog.  This is where you will POST a response to my prompt on your blog.  Here are some quick guidelines on how to make a good POST.  Expert blogger, Darren Rowse, offers ten tips that will help you become an expert blogger.
Ten Tips for Writing a Blog Post


COMMENTING:
Other times I will ask for a COMMENT.  You will comment directly on my blog.  A comment is exactly what the name implies.  It is short and to the point.  It gives your opinion in a short amount of words.  In many cases, it may be a sentence or less. 

GUIDELINES:
All posts and comments must be concise, contain meaningful content, avoid the use of inappropriate language or content, and make attempts to use proper writing mechanics - grammar, spelling, capitalization and punctuation.  

All interns will need to cite the reference material on which they are commenting.

All interns will need varied sources of media that include related pics, videos, links, etc.

Here is the rubric showing how you will be assessed.

Criteria	Points	Score
Quality of Writing, Organized Interesting style and voice Informative and reflective Organized	10
Writing Mechanics Grammar Punctuation Spelling Capitalization Construction	15 -1  for each error
Presentation Formatting Font Background Use of color Title	5
Multimedia - 3 different sources 1 should link to blog assignment 1 should link to reference article At least 1 pic, video, or additional link Adds perspective	10
Deadlines – Blog is posted by deadline (no late grades).	10
TOTAL	50

Assignment:
After you have read the linked article and reviewed the rules, make a comment on this blog.
Pick out the rule from the "10 Tips" article that you think is most important, and tell why.  Review the blog rubric and identify which area you feel you will have the most difficulty.

It's Time to do Your Kallas-thenics!

Kallas-thenics is the official blog for Birdville ISD Education and Training Interns taking class in BCTAL 901.  Exercise your intellect through writing exercises that will challenge your mind.  Use it as a forum for you to express your thoughts and feelings about the world of education throughout your internship.

It is your responsibility to check this blog regularly so that you can meet all required deadlines. Blogs not finished during class time must be completed on your own time.

Final Exam Blog - Seniors due on May 20. Juniors due June 1

Title:  What Will I Do to Create Change?

As a future educator, you will have an opportunity to influence the direction that education takes - especially in your classroom.  Of course this takes vision and a determination to use solid teaching strategies that incorporate teaching for today, not yesterday.

View this TED Talk by Canadian principal, George Couros, who challenges you to think about using your voice (and your students') to share with others what you are doing to change education.




View the graphic, 8 Things to Look for in Today's Classroom, below.  Couros proposes that these are the things you should spot in a strong learning environment.  Review it carefully and think about the following:

8 Things to Look for in Today's Classroom

• Which points resonate with you the most?  Why do you think that is?
• With which points are you uncomfortable, or maybe least familiar? 

For this component of your final exam, you will answer the question from Couros' TED Talk, "Will you be teaching for yesterday or tomorrow?"  To do this, incorporate the answers to the following questions in your response.  

• Think about your education throughout the past 10+ years.  Select three of the items on the graphic and comment on how you saw these items incorporated (or not incorporated) into classrooms that you had. Give examples of how each item was fulfilled (or omitted) in your classroom.  (Do not use teacher's names if you are giving a negative example).
• Now think about your future classroom.  Select three of the items and give an example of how you will bring these to fruition in your classroom.  What teaching strategies will you use to make these items visible to your students and their parents.  Be descriptive in your examples.

All blog rules for BCTAL 901 apply for this assignment.  Happy blogging!

Blog due Monday, May 11, 2015

Who is Your Teacher of the Year?

Who is the National Teacher of the Year 2015?  Watch below.  She's a fellow Texan!



Do you know who is BCTAL's 2015 Teacher of the Year?
Do you know who is the 2015 Teacher of the Year at your home campus?

Click here and complete the form to tell what most influenced your education.

Every student has had their personal "Teacher of the Year."  Think back throughout your education.  Who has your's been?

Post a thank you letter to your favorite teacher that includes how that teacher influenced you.  As always, use your best writing conventions because I will be sharing these with the teacher you thanked if they are still teaching in the district.

For this blog only:  You do not need to reference my blog post or any other media sources.  However, that means your letter format should be pristine!