Monday, July 16, 2012

Summer of Changes!

It's been a very long time since I've updated this blog! The 2011-2012 school  year has come to an end, and I am preparing for a new challenge for the next two years. In 2009, our district was awarded the Bill & Melinda Gates Grant, which is a seven year/$100 million investment. Part of the grant is being used to develop a new system for how teachers are supported, evaluated and compensated, which, in turn will increase student achievement. One component to the grant is the addition of New Teacher Mentors, which is the position that I will be undertaking for the next two years! I will be providing weekly support to brand new and second year teachers. This support includes, but is not limited to, observing, co-teaching, modeling lessons, analyzing student work, and conferencing. Mentors will also conduct observations using a variety of instruments. These include anecdotal records, observation tools from the New Teacher Center, and other observation templates based on Charlotte Danielson’s Framework. I have been attending trainings this summer to help me prepare for this exciting adventure. I would like to keep this blog going, since I have almost 300 followers (woo hoo!), and I would like to continue to share some of the ideas I have picked up along the way. I was also thinking about sort of combining my teaching blog and my family blog into a more general blog. I'll work on trying to figure out how to do that!   

18 comments:

  1. What a wonderful new position! Congratulations.

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  2. Congratulations! As a potential first year teacher, I would love to glean from your support to new teachers!

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  3. Wow!! Congrats Heather! I am very excited for you and I would love to hear some of your ideas and insight you gain from this position! What a great accomplishment! :)

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  4. Thanks, ladies! I am both excited and a little nervous about taking the plunge and trying something new. I don't usually like to leave my little comfort zone. : )

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  5. I just stumbled on your blog today and I'm so excited for you even though this is my first visit! I will be starting my second year working as a fully released mentor. We were also trained by NTC and you are in for an amazing year! I can't wait to hear how it goes for you and your school district!

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  6. Congratulations on your new adventure!

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  7. I love your blog, and as a second year teacher in third grade, I was comparing your first week of school lesson plan to mine. I'm confused by the layout. Is it a Mon. Thru Fri. horizontal, vertical, or do you check off what you get done? Would love to encorperate your ideas with mine.
    Thanks,
    Nancy

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  8. Nancy - I can see how my first week of school layout might be confusing! Creating a positive classroom climate, teaching those necessary procedures, and providing intellectually stimulating activities are essential that first week of school. Since there are soooo many things to teach our new kids, and it's difficult to pinpoint how much tome to allot to each lesson, I have laid out my first week plans in more of a checklist format. Every day, I want to be sure that I have taught a few lessons from each column. Hope that makes sense!

    Thanks again for the well-wishes!

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  9. Hi! I just found your site through Pinterest and I LOVE everything you have on here! I can't wait to see what else is to come!

    I'm your newest follower! Stop by my blog anytime!

    Ashley
    Inspire, Dream, & Create!

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  10. I just found your blog through interest and I LOVE your Faces of a Reader bulletin board. Do you have those posters available for download or purchase anywhere???
    Thanks!
    Molly

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  11. i just happen to find your blog to be a interest im marilys massas rodriguez and i just love your website its so cool im in your 6 grade class 2013

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