Comments for The Other Side of the Desk http://othersideofthedesk.wordpress.com It's much more fun over here. Mon, 11 Aug 2008 02:25:51 +0000 http://wordpress.com/ hourly 1 Comment on AP Summer Institute 2008 by Beth Bradley http://othersideofthedesk.wordpress.com/2008/06/25/ap-summer-institute-2008/#comment-838 Beth Bradley Mon, 11 Aug 2008 02:25:51 +0000 http://othersideofthedesk.wordpress.com/?p=58#comment-838 Ick. Sounds like you had a terrible experience. Next year, see if you can catch an AP institute at TCU. I got some great stuff for AP World History, more than I can use. Also, sign up for the Saturday one day workshop - round about February, I think. The one last year was excellent. There is one problem with all of these institutes, though.The problem is, as you mentioned, that we are spoiled in our 1:1 school. I have learned and implemented more tech in the last two years than in all the other years I have taught put together. Most other schools have one or two aging computers per classroom and a few computer labs that you have to reserve ahead of time. The APSI must take all this into account when they present the institutes. Consequently, you get a lot of "traditional" teaching, which doesn't have to involve powerpoints, I might add. That being said, I took a look at Scrapblog as you suggested. I am going to use it somewhere this year, certainly in APWH. I've already used Smilebox and I think Scrapblog may be more suitable to classroom uses. Thanks for the tip. Ick. Sounds like you had a terrible experience. Next year, see if you can catch an AP institute at TCU. I got some great stuff for AP World History, more than I can use. Also, sign up for the Saturday one day workshop – round about February, I think. The one last year was excellent. There is one problem with all of these institutes, though.The problem is, as you mentioned, that we are spoiled in our 1:1 school. I have learned and implemented more tech in the last two years than in all the other years I have taught put together. Most other schools have one or two aging computers per classroom and a few computer labs that you have to reserve ahead of time. The APSI must take all this into account when they present the institutes. Consequently, you get a lot of “traditional” teaching, which doesn’t have to involve powerpoints, I might add.
That being said, I took a look at Scrapblog as you suggested. I am going to use it somewhere this year, certainly in APWH. I’ve already used Smilebox and I think Scrapblog may be more suitable to classroom uses. Thanks for the tip.

]]> Comment on Differentiation by OrdeleBreste http://othersideofthedesk.wordpress.com/2007/05/02/differentiation/#comment-837 OrdeleBreste Sun, 03 Aug 2008 11:39:13 +0000 http://othersideofthedesk.wordpress.com/2007/05/02/differentiation/#comment-837 Very nice!! Very nice!!

]]> Comment on Young Blogger in Kenya by Jerram http://othersideofthedesk.wordpress.com/2008/07/14/young-blogger-in-kenya/#comment-836 Jerram Sat, 19 Jul 2008 05:11:56 +0000 http://othersideofthedesk.wordpress.com/?p=63#comment-836 ...and now that we've read your post, you'll have a lil red dot from nairobi! ;) …and now that we’ve read your post, you’ll have a lil red dot from nairobi! ;)

]]> Comment on AP Summer Institute 2008 by Miss A http://othersideofthedesk.wordpress.com/2008/06/25/ap-summer-institute-2008/#comment-835 Miss A Wed, 02 Jul 2008 04:36:42 +0000 http://othersideofthedesk.wordpress.com/?p=58#comment-835 Conversations with other teachers are always the best, especially those who share their ideas, rubrics, etc! Thats why I try to be generous with my materials. And I suppose thats WHY Love blogging--hearing other's ideas and sharing my own. And that type of learning environment is the best ever! Conversations with other teachers are always the best, especially those who share their ideas, rubrics, etc! Thats why I try to be generous with my materials. And I suppose thats WHY Love blogging–hearing other’s ideas and sharing my own. And that type of learning environment is the best ever!

]]> Comment on AP Summer Institute 2008 by kwyrick http://othersideofthedesk.wordpress.com/2008/06/25/ap-summer-institute-2008/#comment-834 kwyrick Tue, 01 Jul 2008 13:54:27 +0000 http://othersideofthedesk.wordpress.com/?p=58#comment-834 Yours sounds a bit like my experience at an APSI. We too spent about two hours in a computer lab looking at websites. We also watched the US World Cup match (although most of us weren't too upset about that one) and were lectured to over PowerPoints. I even got a notebook full of shoddily photocopied handouts. Like you though I did take away a few good ideas, but often I felt it was more of a waste. The best parts were the conversations with other teachers. Yours sounds a bit like my experience at an APSI. We too spent about two hours in a computer lab looking at websites. We also watched the US World Cup match (although most of us weren’t too upset about that one) and were lectured to over PowerPoints. I even got a notebook full of shoddily photocopied handouts. Like you though I did take away a few good ideas, but often I felt it was more of a waste. The best parts were the conversations with other teachers.

]]> Comment on Exam time! by Kary http://othersideofthedesk.wordpress.com/2008/01/17/exam-time/#comment-823 Kary Thu, 24 Jan 2008 18:25:04 +0000 http://othersideofthedesk.wordpress.com/2008/01/17/exam-time/#comment-823 Wow, that does sound like a beating. I alway hated having to get all the unwanted programs off of my computer once I got it back. Wow, that does sound like a beating. I alway hated having to get all the unwanted programs off of my computer once I got it back.

]]> Comment on Two days until break! by musingsfromtheacademy http://othersideofthedesk.wordpress.com/2007/12/20/two-days-until-break/#comment-780 musingsfromtheacademy Thu, 20 Dec 2007 15:24:20 +0000 http://othersideofthedesk.wordpress.com/2007/12/20/two-days-until-break/#comment-780 I enjoy that you referred to debuting your lessons. :) Love it! I enjoy that you referred to debuting your lessons. :)

Love it!

]]> Comment on Second verse, (almost) same as the first… by drawingfromlife http://othersideofthedesk.wordpress.com/2007/12/03/second-verse-almost-same-as-the-first/#comment-747 drawingfromlife Thu, 06 Dec 2007 03:17:31 +0000 http://othersideofthedesk.wordpress.com/2007/12/03/second-verse-almost-same-as-the-first/#comment-747 I'm glad you are having some good results with your layered lessons. It's awesome that you are getting to revamp for next semester. I have so many things I wish that I had started with this year. It was hard for me starting at a new school and not having a very clear idea of what to expect of the advanced students. At Irving High, we had a strong sense of consistency with our Art 1 classes that seems to be absent here. I think I expected more from the 2nd year students. (The dumping ground that is my Drawing 2 classes is not helping either.) I think it will be better for me next year having taught a lot of the Art 1 students this year, and knowing what they can do. A lot of my students are making a lot of progress and improving their skill. What's frustrating me now is trying to get them to THINK! They seem to want to come in and just draw what they want (I'm sure you can imagine the subject matter.) We are spending a lot of time working on developing a COMPOSITION, and not just a drawing. On a positive note, I am definitely enjoying my job, and the kiddos that are dedicated and trying to improve, are doing great. Enjoy your Cheetos. I have cut potato chips from my diet (one of my vices), so my mouth is watering! I’m glad you are having some good results with your layered lessons. It’s awesome that you are getting to revamp for next semester. I have so many things I wish that I had started with this year. It was hard for me starting at a new school and not having a very clear idea of what to expect of the advanced students. At Irving High, we had a strong sense of consistency with our Art 1 classes that seems to be absent here. I think I expected more from the 2nd year students. (The dumping ground that is my Drawing 2 classes is not helping either.) I think it will be better for me next year having taught a lot of the Art 1 students this year, and knowing what they can do.

A lot of my students are making a lot of progress and improving their skill. What’s frustrating me now is trying to get them to THINK! They seem to want to come in and just draw what they want (I’m sure you can imagine the subject matter.) We are spending a lot of time working on developing a COMPOSITION, and not just a drawing.

On a positive note, I am definitely enjoying my job, and the kiddos that are dedicated and trying to improve, are doing great. Enjoy your Cheetos. I have cut potato chips from my diet (one of my vices), so my mouth is watering!

]]> Comment on They say a messy desk is a sign of intelligence. by Brian http://othersideofthedesk.wordpress.com/2007/11/06/they-say-a-messy-desk-is-a-sign-of-intelligence/#comment-666 Brian Fri, 09 Nov 2007 23:01:54 +0000 http://othersideofthedesk.wordpress.com/2007/11/06/they-say-a-messy-desk-is-a-sign-of-intelligence/#comment-666 Sarah it's Brian, I read your Blog; it's fascinating. Hahahaha brings me back to high school from a perspective I never knew. Not to mention, hearing about your work reminds me how brilliant you are, which you are always too modest about. So...high five to coolest sister-in-law ever, even if I had 38 polygamist brothers. Sarah it’s Brian, I read your Blog; it’s fascinating. Hahahaha brings me back to high school from a perspective I never knew. Not to mention, hearing about your work reminds me how brilliant you are, which you are always too modest about. So…high five to coolest sister-in-law ever, even if I had 38 polygamist brothers.

]]> Comment on My First Day of AP Training by Beth Bradley http://othersideofthedesk.wordpress.com/2007/09/29/my-first-day-of-ap-training/#comment-637 Beth Bradley Thu, 25 Oct 2007 19:22:26 +0000 http://othersideofthedesk.wordpress.com/2007/09/29/my-first-day-of-ap-training/#comment-637 I know what you mean about overwhelmed by all of the expectations for AP teachers. I have taught one AP class or another for 12 years now and my first year of teaching AP World History has me making some pretty tight time decisions. Do I read the material I plan to assign to the kids or do I grade the 100 essays that came in yesterday? Do I plan the class work or mine all the data that came my way from the AP training?" Like you, I worry that my students will suffer because they have ME for their teacher this year. I can't say, "Come back next year when I have a handle on all of this!" Most importantly - and I'm serious here - Are any of us having fun, yet? Unfortunately, much as I love these kids, I'm afraid the answer is, no. Thanks for providing a forum for this. I have to go grade essays, now. I know what you mean about overwhelmed by all of the expectations for AP teachers. I have taught one AP class or another for 12 years now and my first year of teaching AP World History has me making some pretty tight time decisions. Do I read the material I plan to assign to the kids or do I grade the 100 essays that came in yesterday? Do I plan the class work or mine all the data that came my way from the AP training?” Like you, I worry that my students will suffer because they have ME for their teacher this year. I can’t say, “Come back next year when I have a handle on all of this!” Most importantly – and I’m serious here – Are any of us having fun, yet? Unfortunately, much as I love these kids, I’m afraid the answer is, no. Thanks for providing a forum for this. I have to go grade essays, now.

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