Friday, January 2, 2009

2nd Semester is coming!


How has this happened so fast? Seems like just a few weeks ago we had shortened days due to heat...Now, we shiver with the north wind!

I have high hopes for the new semester. These hopes include change. During the winter break I have had time to look back at the school year and see that I could do some things better. Some related to students, some with teachers.

On the student side I would like to take more time to individually conference and chart/graph progress. This is something my SPED team is using for goals and objective tracking; but, I would like to expand that for areas not covered by IEPs. This could be assignment completion, blurting out, etc. This requires extra work on my part but the benefit is worth it.

As far as the teacher side, I can not communicate enough. The students I serve have multiple needs which require many accommodations and modifications. My downfall is with non-core class teachers. We call them academic connections. I am not in any of these classes as a co-teacher and therefore may not be as quick to pick up on needs of both teacher and student. Since we do not have common plan time I need to find other times such as before/after school to check in. Maybe weekly email? Not sure, just know I need to make it work!

So there you have it...I am a work in progress. I am most certainly NOT perfect.

3 comments:

Anonymous said...

I think these are some great goals to have in the coming semester. Let us know how it goes.

loonyhiker said...

I made a weekly checklist (easily printed off computer each week) for the the other teachers to fill out once a week and put in my mailbox. I tried to give the most frequent answers and all they had to do was check the right one. They could also check a box if they wanted me to see them in person. It worked well and I used this sheet during conferences when the other teacher couldn't be there.

Anonymous said...

I commend you for your "mid term" goal setting... and I'm going to take your lead in setting some of my own!

As a former "academic connections" teacher, I can appreciate your willingness to extend your expertise into those classrooms. Too often, I hear that teachers in those subject areas feel as though they are "forgotten" or "dumping grounds" for difficult students who have run out of options. Your commitment to meet your students' needs wherever they may roam during the school day is a testament to your leadership!