PRofessional Growth and Collaboration
Throughout the year, I am on the constant lookout for opportunities to grow professionally. I subscribe to the FACS email list on the state server which connects FACS teacher across the state. The internet, blogs, Pinterest, and even Facebook are a plethora of resources, ideas for organization, management and lesson plans. I enjoy spending time looking for new activities to enhance my students’ experience in class.
This past fall I had the opportunity to attend the Association for Middle Level Education’s Annual Conference in Minneapolis, Minnesota. While attending the conference, I had the opportunity to attend workshops and breakout sessions covering a variety of topics relating to middle school education. Some sessions covered motivational strategies, how the adolescent learner works (especially in regards to gaming,) and the best way to incorporate technology. Others dealt with topics like avoiding burn out and strategies that all the best teachers use. The workshops were informative and I came back to Simmons with a variety of strategies to enhance my classroom. The best aspect of the conference was the time to collaborate with other middle school teacher from around the nation. It was interesting to discuss the different issues being faced by schools and how many of those issues were not exclusive to one demographic of school system. Through collaboration, I was able to meet other FACS teachers and we have created a joint Pinterest board which allows us to share ideas and strategies directly with each other.
While at the conference, I spent some time conversing with the representatives from the Food and Drug Administration. This summer, the FDA is revising the middle and high school curriculum for food safety. FACS and science teachers who meet the eligibility requirements are encouraged to apply to be part of the revision process. Since both my students and I reference the FDA’s many resources regarding safe food handling procedures for lessons, I am applying to potentially be a part of this opportunity. We use the current version of the curriculum in class, and being part of the revision process, seeing the lessons and labs performed first hand would is an opportunity I cannot pass up.
In my teaching, I try to employ a variety of technology based resources for my students. 6th graders collaborate with each other on Padlet, 7th and 8th graders rely on internet based resources for project based learning, and the 8th graders create Prezi to explore a career of their choice. In an effort to make the FACS class more accessible to both students and parents, I have created a Weebly based website use in and out of my classroom. Students and parents can access the website for copies of handouts, notes and recipes as well as links to a variety of content driven resources. The website functions as a launching pad for projects and a reference point for reviewing. Additional links encourage students to explore FACS curriculum in more depth than time allows for in the day to day classroom.
When I took the FACS position in Aberdeen, I never expected to be offered the position of play director. It is a task I have taken on with great joy and slight trepidation. While the issues of coaching actors and creating costumes and props were well within my scope of knowledge, set design was not. I am fortunate that Aberdeen hosts a variety of theatre resources from which I can draw inspiration and help. The theatre department at Central High School and Northern State University, along with the Aberdeen Community Theatre provide a wealth of experience and a large resource pool that I can draw form for the performances at Simmons.
This past fall I had the opportunity to attend the Association for Middle Level Education’s Annual Conference in Minneapolis, Minnesota. While attending the conference, I had the opportunity to attend workshops and breakout sessions covering a variety of topics relating to middle school education. Some sessions covered motivational strategies, how the adolescent learner works (especially in regards to gaming,) and the best way to incorporate technology. Others dealt with topics like avoiding burn out and strategies that all the best teachers use. The workshops were informative and I came back to Simmons with a variety of strategies to enhance my classroom. The best aspect of the conference was the time to collaborate with other middle school teacher from around the nation. It was interesting to discuss the different issues being faced by schools and how many of those issues were not exclusive to one demographic of school system. Through collaboration, I was able to meet other FACS teachers and we have created a joint Pinterest board which allows us to share ideas and strategies directly with each other.
While at the conference, I spent some time conversing with the representatives from the Food and Drug Administration. This summer, the FDA is revising the middle and high school curriculum for food safety. FACS and science teachers who meet the eligibility requirements are encouraged to apply to be part of the revision process. Since both my students and I reference the FDA’s many resources regarding safe food handling procedures for lessons, I am applying to potentially be a part of this opportunity. We use the current version of the curriculum in class, and being part of the revision process, seeing the lessons and labs performed first hand would is an opportunity I cannot pass up.
In my teaching, I try to employ a variety of technology based resources for my students. 6th graders collaborate with each other on Padlet, 7th and 8th graders rely on internet based resources for project based learning, and the 8th graders create Prezi to explore a career of their choice. In an effort to make the FACS class more accessible to both students and parents, I have created a Weebly based website use in and out of my classroom. Students and parents can access the website for copies of handouts, notes and recipes as well as links to a variety of content driven resources. The website functions as a launching pad for projects and a reference point for reviewing. Additional links encourage students to explore FACS curriculum in more depth than time allows for in the day to day classroom.
When I took the FACS position in Aberdeen, I never expected to be offered the position of play director. It is a task I have taken on with great joy and slight trepidation. While the issues of coaching actors and creating costumes and props were well within my scope of knowledge, set design was not. I am fortunate that Aberdeen hosts a variety of theatre resources from which I can draw inspiration and help. The theatre department at Central High School and Northern State University, along with the Aberdeen Community Theatre provide a wealth of experience and a large resource pool that I can draw form for the performances at Simmons.