3-16-07

Okay, so we've been doing this for awhile now. . . long enough for everyone to be fully aware of what works, what doesn't, what your needs are, which things we do in class that are a waste of your time (but you're afraid to tell me), which things we never get to that are really important, which things you wish you just had time to sit and work on, but can't because you are in class, etc.

So now that you've "really" taught for awhile. . . your turn! What would the perfect class for March 16 look like if you were in charge of designing it, could reenvision it, reinvent it, etc.? I'm open to complete paradigm shifts, so if you've got a bright (or wild, or crazy) idea, this is your chance. For those of you who get scared by a blank screen, (and for those of you who need to be reminded of what we've been doing in order to reinvent it), I've listed (in alphabetical order) some of the major categories we typically use below.

As you add your comments, think carefully about what you really need (as both a student and a teacher), about what you have learned in your internships thus far, about what you hope you get before the semester is over, etc. Much of that may have to do with specific content, or strategies, or conceptual content, but some of it may not. Some of it may have to do with face-to-face interactions in the classroom, some of it may not. Some of what you need may be from me. Some of it may not be. In other words, let's make sure when we wrap things up in April, we don't have regrets of any kind! :-) user:chericem1


 * Announcements**

Wiki & Angel postings: 1 per week for each week we have MSU classes or for each week of the semester period? user:flanne13 Should be 10 total user:chericem1
 * Assignments for Next Week**


 * Break**

Let's discuss what our mentors/field instructors have said are our weaknesses. We always celebrate when we get good reviews; let's take on the negative press.user:armst136
 * Improving Our Professional Practice: Forming Personal & Professional Identity Through Writing**

I'm not sure about the other mentor teacher meetings in GR and Lansing but I just wanted an update on what happened. Did our mentor teachers get our suggestions? user:kimdebra

Writing in the Foreign Language classroom. . . how might we use it to support students' identity development, language development, etc.? What kinds of scaffolding do students need in order to do it well? Why teach writing anyway? user:chericem1

How can we use the various kinds of writing we do to figure out who we are as teachers, to align our beliefs about teaching and learning with our classroom practice, and to represent ourselves in authentic ways that will help move our professional careers forward? user:chericem1

What about digital composing. . . just another pencil or does it change our thinking, our motivation, and influence our identity? user:chericem1


 * I would really like to talk about how to help our students write. I assigned a paragraph this week and was mortified by the work my students handed in. It seemed to me that the very thought of writing made them lose any language skills they have acquired. user:drosteb1

Insights & Issues**

Applying to a job online (ex: MIREAP)....what exactly should we do? Should we also send in a hard copy? Has anyone had any prior experiences with applying through MIREAP or something very similar? user:whitesa6
 * The Job Search**

Do you know about the online MSU profile for interns? I saw it earlier and I can't seem to find it anymore.user:kimdebra


 * Swap Shop**

I'm sorry, where are we supposed to put the handouts we brought to class?user:kimdebra

For the technology project, I think that we need to discuss exactly what we are supposed to turn in at the end of the semester. Briefly. I cannot emphasize that enough. Maybe I will stand alone on this, but I think that, especially with technology, we need to start standing on our own. We need to play on our own. We lose time because we do too many demonstrations: we've been babied. It's time to take the plunge, guys; we are the computer generation. We need to do it without the help!!user:armst136
 * Technology Projects**
 * I agree with Carl. I just need to be reminded of exactly what is DUE and when with the technology project and I will be ok. user:whitesa6

Okay: We can take care of this right here! Due dates:

3/30 - Self-videotape and Reflection Due 4/20 - Professional Portfolio Due Teaching Demos - Whatever day you signed up to do yours Technology Project - Was supposed to be due 2/9, but we postponed that. So I'd say they have to be in by 4/20 at the latest. user:chericem1