Goal #1: Build better relationships with my students.
Last year my class had a reputation of being a difficult class, and I do not think I did a very good job of building relationships with these students. When I reflected on my teaching at the end of the year, I noticed there were lots of times when my main focus was to "just to get through the material." These are students that need personal connections, but due to my frustrations I failed to devote my time and energy building those connections. This year I have plans to improve on this essential facet of education. Here are some of my ideas to build these relationships:
1. Greet my students at the door everyday. Last year I was very focused on starting the class with a bellringer right away every day. Now that I have practiced that for a year, I think I will be able to emphasize welcoming students without losing class time.
2. Attend more extra-curricular activities. I know my students enjoy seeing their teachers at activities and will give me something to discuss when I welcome students. Last year it was difficult to attend fall sports because my wife coaches volleyball at a different school. Winter was tough because I coach wrestling and by the time spring rolled around I was just used to not going. This year it is a priority.
3. Be more interactive on social media. I have always tweeted class materials throughout the year but I was always a little worried about interacting with students. The few times I did interact with students, they were very excited about it and I know I can do a better job this year. I model being a good digital citizen on my twitter account, but if I don't interact with students they won't see that example. You can check out my twitter account @brandon_timm
Goal #2: Make my classroom accessible to anyone.
Last year I attended Adolecent Literacy Project (ALP) and one of the presenters, Dr. Feldman talked about "deprivatizing education." I know the parents care about what their children are learning, but the most they get out of their children is that "school is fine." I want parents to be able to see exactly what their children are learning and how I am choosing to teach the material. I want other teachers in my district to see me implementing various engagement strategies so they have confidence using those strategies in their own class rooms. Here are my ideas for building a window into my classroom:
1. "Be a camera totin' teacher." I missed our last Breakfast Club on this topic, but I am very excited to to take more pictures in my classroom of what happens there. I would like to use these pictures to give students "twitter shout outs." I want to fill #ahsbio with examples of how awesome my students are.
2. I would also like to use my new website (http://mrtimmsbiology.weebly.com/) as a place to highlight these pictures as well. I think if parents can see their children learning, they will be able to ask better questions at home which, in turn, will hoe students learn as they explain concepts to their parents.
3. I would like to record myself teaching and put in on the website regularly. First, ALP emphasized recording yourself as a way of providing feedback on what you are doing in the classroom. Also, this will be a great resource to any students who missed class. At Aurora, we have block scheduling which means when a student misses one day, they are significantly behind.
Goal #3: Provide opportunities for my students to experience the coolness of scientists
One of my biggest concerns is that I will cause my students to think they don't like science. It could be because they don't like me, the way I teach, the topics we cover in sophomore biology, or the grade they received. I know lots of students who thought they hated a subject, but when they took it in college, they loved it. They didn't hate the subject, their high school teacher had let them down. Here are my ideas on how to remedy this problem:
1. Have my students participate in #scistuchat. As you can see, #scistuchat is a way for high school students to interact with superstar scientists who have dedicated their entire lives to the topic being discussed. For example, I am not particularly interested in sharks (probably because I live in Nebraska) @whysharksmatter who does a killer job promoting shark research and conservation. I would have been so jacked to make these connections when I was a high school student.
2. Some students do a lot better when they can meet people face to face. I have had the opportunity to skype with Erik Wilson, the education director at Wolf Haven International, a reserve that rescues wolves and wolf hybrids. My students were always extremely engaged during these Skypes and learned a ton. My goal this year is to get a scientist to skype or do a google hangout for my students every unit. I have made a Google Spreadsheet where you can add your name and contact information if you are a scientist and want to rock my students' worlds. Otherwise if you know of someone who might be interested' I would love to get in contact with them. My plan it to tweet all the units and see how many people respond and then tweet individual scientists at the start of the unit if no one has volunteered by then.
I am very excited for the new school year and have set ambitious goals for myself. I am eager to get started and seeing the difference goal setting makes in my instruction!! If anyone has implemented any of these ideas, I would love to hear from you about your successes and difficulties!
