turning the odds in

Here comes the pictures of the class room action. I was leading a discussion with a group of students at the end of a class, extending their under standing of the concept. Though I planned to take such pictures many a times, during the course of the class I forget to do so or by the end of the class I am not left with the time for it.

By the simultaneous projection of the operations of TI -84 calculator on a projector screen and explaining the content by O.H projectors, by making PowerPoint presentations and suitable work sheets for class and for practice, I am trying my best to do take their attention.

For an Indian Math teacher, as the planning is all done for you in the form of a text book, the American class rooms are so different. It is not just like- have the content in the mind, have the ability to work out any problem related to it independently and instantly, work them on the board and the students will learn and practice. You need an activity to engage them through out. If you are a little low on your planning on a particular day, that's it. The class is out of your hands and becomes a nightmare. The heroes would take the lead and disrupt your class.( it happens some times though you are well prepared).

As a teacher you should be with a bunch of ideas to engage them and to hold their attention. You should be able to cater different types of needs of different students at the same time. One may ask you pencil, the other wants to sharpen his pencil as the lead broke suddenly, one has a issue with tissue and his nose, some one else raised his hand as he/she did not understand the very first step of the problem, one wants to go to rest room as it was rush in the break time, somebody else wants you not to pay attention so that to attend the text msg just received, one could not see the problem as she/he forgot to bring the spectacles and one other has a problem with his/her contact lenses. Unfortunately all of this may happen at a time as you are still teaching concerned about the completion of the lesson with in the time.

If many a times it is just trying you but some times it is genuine too. How to deal with this? Then in American terms stick to the rules establish the procedures. Procedures will turn into Class room behaviour. As simple as that(!).

In new teacher orientation the popular slogan is 'Don't to smile till December'.

In the span of two and half months I had a chance to observe 5 different schools and one thing that amazes me is the significant difference in the student's attitude from school to school. May be some first year teachers accept me saying the students even may change their behaviour from teacher to teacher, and more interestingly with the same teacher they may behave differently on different days.

If Freshmen bring the behavioural issues to my class with their relatively new entry into the High Schools, the sophomores compare the technology I use ( ?) with what was used last year. For most of them I am denying their right to work on individual laptops on their projects with my direct instruction. And to the matter of fact they are very true, laving the issue of my country, culture and school system apart. Why should we strain much to understand a topic that is dealt in different approach? Why can't that teacher just speak in the way we could? I understand these qustions running in their minds. I want to answer them with my patience and by doing the best I can. Learn as much as you can and implement it in the class room. Some times the results are very good.

I know, between a high begining and the happy ending there will be some ups and downs.

Mrs. Elliot

After finishing my classes at New Tech, at around around 11.30 today I left to visit Durham School of Arts. ( The U.S magnet school of excellence 2006-07).
The visit gave some more scope to look into the American school system. I appreciate (in fact I envy) the infrastructure and facilities at American Schools. The technology and the material (stationery) at the disposal of an American teacher are what make the schools very different from the schools in India.

I had opportunities to observe three classes. All the three are different from each other and unique in their own kind. The Integrated and Algebra and Geometry class was formal, the geometry class was tech oriented and the Physics Class was student centered. All the three engaged the students met the objectives in their own ways.

I like Smart boards that are being used in America. You can feel like you have the whole world of knowledge is under the command of your finger tips. They are not just display boards but touch screen and write on it - multi purpose. You even can display a count down timer to remind your students about their time to complete the assigned work.

With these technology things you need to plan each minute of your class and execute your plan properly during the class.

I found this achieved close to perfection in Mrs Elliot's geometry class.

The switching between O.H.P and Smart board, the question - answer strategy, the kind of focus she could get from American Middle school students (!) are highly appreciable.

having been observed 5 schools in different set up-

I truly regard the respect to the students of various kinds of learning abilities in American schools. They respect visual learners and kinesthetic learners. We, in India are some times in tolerant to such students and grade them as slow learners or they are unfit for studies.

(Am I boring you appreciating America too much? Wait, the demerits in one other post.)

Leaving the debate whether American school is system is so good and so successful, there are some great things to learn and imbibe in our teaching practice.

This visit to D.S.A changed some of my perspectives about American Education system. It made me more decisive in making generalisations.

(I invite my colleagues and fellow fulbrighters to respond, share their ideas and experiences which can enhance my/our understanding. That can really serve the purpose of the visit)

Wacky Tacky Day

The New Tech School is celebrating homecoming in conjunction with Hillside High School.
Each day, students will be given an opportunity to get into the homecoming spirit.

The celebrations are:
Monday-Twin Day
Tuesday-Celebrity Day/Rock the Vote Day
Wednesday-Wacky Tacky Day
Thursday-80’s Day
Friday-School Spirit Day (Orange, Blue, & White)
Today is Wacky tacky day. Basically it's a day to wear anything you want and get away with it. Try to be creative with the ideas
Some techniques followed by the students:-
Dress the hair in funny manner, Tie bunch of ballooons to the ends of their hair, Gaint T-shirts, with decorations/funny quotes on them, Painting wacky stuf on T shirts or cut them to make them look weird, Wear something with lots of coloerful polka dots, Ware a long loose skirt and cut very long zig-zags on the bottom.

When I asked some students how do they feel, they said,
"It's an excuse to be weird and 'out there,' "
I like dressing ridiculously, and this is fun,"
It is gr8. It is funny. It is weired.

Let me see the fun ahead on 80's day tomorrow. I am enjoying it.

Trusted Counselor

Today there was an observer from New tech foundation Linda Ullah who observed the school and gave suggestions. She found time to meet me and welcome me to U.S. She is curious to know about the differences in the education systems of U.S - India. Her husband is from Bangladesh and she visited many places in India.

Today we had a meeting with our school mentor too.

I would like to tell you about the mentor system here in America.

To my understanding for every 20 new teachers (the first three years of one's teaching career is considered new) there is a mentor. The mentor may work in two or three different schools depending upon the school size.

The job of the mentor is to serve as a trusted counselor with their vast experience in the teaching field. Unlike principals, the mentors do not inspect your classes but they help in management and organizing the class. So you can approach the mentor for all the issues in the classroom and in the teaching profession freely and without hesitation. The interesting thing is this a permanent post that means every school has a official mentor round the year. They work directly under Human Resources authority of the County.

In New Tech we have a vibrant and dynamic lady Mrs. Eleanor Johnson (The lady with blue top)as mentor with 30 successful years of service in the teaching field. She works for Jordan High school too. She has specific schedule to meet with all the six new teachers at least once in a week. The meetings are informal and to the point and very useful. Her wise suggestions and comments made my transition very easy. The greatest advice I ever had during the exchange programme is 'not to compare 'Mr. Krishna' with 'Vamsi sir' back home' is of Mrs Johnson. This advice has released a lot of pressure and helped me in enjoying the exchange.

By the by did u see the stuff on the table? She brings a lot of food stuff ( snacks and drinks) to each meeting. ( Next Friday she promised us lunch during the meeting , hha, staff meeting ho to aisi!)

Do you believe in me?

Hey everybody,

I am happy today. After many hhu…s and uff...s finally I heard some aha..s today. For the long few days my B- day classes are running very smoothly. Today few students asked me “Mr. K, Why can't you stay here till June to teach us? (till the completion of the session). Though I heard such comments during my introduction they were just out of curiosity or a kind of enquiry. I found an increased faith and trust( O.K, let me simply call it as 'acceptance') in that voice for which the every first year American teacher strives. I am sorry for their unawareness/unpreparedness for this program but I am happy that they started believing in me. I am marching towards the governing principles of New Tech High School, Trust, Respect and Responsibility...
I should concrete these emotions and see that this impression stays really long. And A-day classes are one other task where this feat is yet to be achieved. I really should work out a plan B or C to bring them in to the mood of serious learning. Lot of job ahead ...
I wonder how different my feelings as a teacher here. I really had not to bother about such an issue stated above as I have been enjoying their trust and respect from my students as many other Indian teachers do.
To be frank, I believed that to impress the cream of the class and to challenge their talents, while just taking care that nobody fails in the class (almost neglecting the average child) was main job for me in India. I used the same teaching methods years long. But my American experience really making me understand how to vary your strategies according to the different learning abilities and how important is it to the needs of all the students.

This is the video that addresses almost all the current issues in the present day education (especially American) such as the drop out issue, lack of self confidence, lack of student focus in education, and teachers' attitude...
Though I shared this with few of my friends I wanted everyone who is related to education to listen to the outcry of Dalton Sharman a drop out student…