tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-436223218573301613.post1894001656110734309..comments2024-01-06T16:36:00.015-08:00Comments on At the Teacher's Desk: What I Learned This YearJarrod Lamshedhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01670550802220250080noreply@blogger.comBlogger32125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-436223218573301613.post-71543145424662433732010-07-26T20:54:44.513-07:002010-07-26T20:54:44.513-07:00Your reflections are most helpful-- Honesty is the...Your reflections are most helpful-- Honesty is the best policy. So many of the people reading your blog, myself included, are studying to become teachers and want to hear words of advice from someone closer to our own level. Like you said, veteran teachers are great for advice about the school, but I really appreciate hearing about the real obstacles to look out for. So, thank you for posting the warning signs. The more we know to check for in ourselves, the better off our students will be. <br />Jillian LeRouge, Dr.Strange's StudentJillian LeRougehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01170205450423100006noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-436223218573301613.post-86517404132148566472010-07-25T18:17:54.817-07:002010-07-25T18:17:54.817-07:00Mr. McClung,
I am another one of Dr. Strange'...Mr. McClung, <br />I am another one of Dr. Strange's students. I have enjoyed reading about your two years of teaching. I am also afraid of the "survival mode" I hope to not get there, but it is good to know you did not stay there long. I would rather teach something hands on and not reading a book and answering questions. <br />One thing I would like to offer you is to know it is okay to not know the answer to something. I know I learn something everyday. Sometimes it is even from my six year old son or my two year old daughter. All I am saying is it is okay to still be learning things...who knows you might learn something from your students as well. <br />Keep up the great work! I have added you to my PLN and plan on following you to see how you are doing.Alissa Logan EDM310 Class Bloghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13374221554896518223noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-436223218573301613.post-60314289763897196932010-07-21T22:19:40.386-07:002010-07-21T22:19:40.386-07:00Hello. I'm a student in Dr. Strange's EDM ...Hello. I'm a student in Dr. Strange's EDM 310 class. I thought your reflections from your second year of teaching were quite honest and helpful. Not only did you reveal your challenges but your tactics for coping. Tactics I can take with me and use when I start teaching. Thank you for your time.<br /><br />Erin KnowlesErin Knowleshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12500211155578268806noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-436223218573301613.post-18299617922463349182010-07-20T14:13:15.308-07:002010-07-20T14:13:15.308-07:00Hi. I'm a student in Dr. Strange's EDM 310...Hi. I'm a student in Dr. Strange's EDM 310 class. I've read your first blog post about what you have learned during your first year of teaching.<br />After reading this one, the one thing I can see is that your are consistent. Does it make sense when I say that you are consistent in being flexible? <br /><br />And I totally agree with the other lady who said you were perceptive in the difference between 6th and 8th graders. I work more so with older high schoolers and I have to admit when a jr. high or middle schooler gets thrown into the mix, I'm at a lost sometimes. But being flexible is the key, right :)Pauline Tikvahhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07829456277306251144noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-436223218573301613.post-52268695133198152792010-07-18T12:06:19.763-07:002010-07-18T12:06:19.763-07:00I am a student in Dr. Strange's EDM310 class a...I am a student in Dr. Strange's EDM310 class as well. I have enjoyed reading your posts about what you have learned. I intend to take what you have learned and apply it when I began teaching. It seems that you have learned a lot over the past two years and that you are able to adapt quite well. Thank you for sharing what you have learned. <br />Allison KirbyAllison Kirbyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18197834787192341551noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-436223218573301613.post-79801626643896460722010-07-16T20:46:30.930-07:002010-07-16T20:46:30.930-07:00Thanks a million, Mr. McClung, for sending us &quo...Thanks a million, Mr. McClung, for sending us "Year Two." I enjoyed your reflection of year one and the Skype call last semester with Dr. Strange's class. This is priceless stuff for us teachers-in-training. <br /><br />Your comments on bringing the kids in on classroom duties are fantastic. Kids that age LOVE to have special privileges, which make them feel so important. I also think, since on the brink of young adulthood, they would like to feel as if they are partnered with the teacher. <br /><br />I truly appreciate your humility, and honest reflection. Thank you for your efforts!! Great, great stuff!!!<br /><br />Jackie Gorski<br />edm310alumniblog.blogspot.comJackieYhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02696120697100084283noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-436223218573301613.post-40934748421929776502010-07-15T18:41:25.927-07:002010-07-15T18:41:25.927-07:00Hello, My is Della Ervin and I am a Student at Uni...Hello, My is Della Ervin and I am a Student at University of South Alabama. Honestly I love your blog and you are honest and very open minded about things. In your last blog you talked about your first year of teaching and how you amended. This year you had more of a challenge because you was teaching on a higher level and in a different educational field. In order to be a good teacher you must be as much about passion as it is about cause. It's not only about inspiring students to learn, except teaching them how to learn, and doing accordingly in a way that is appropriate, significant, and unforgettable. Teachers who care about there technique will convey that passion to the students. I believe that Mr. McClung is a good teacher because he was very honest in his blog about having trouble with his new grade level and subject. Of course, we all have some trouble or obstacle in our life, but it is all about jumping over the hurdles and pushing forward until we accomplish your goal. Thank you for allowing me to read your blog I really enjoyed it.Dellahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07126161629122720873noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-436223218573301613.post-45256433602432904602010-07-15T18:25:13.527-07:002010-07-15T18:25:13.527-07:00Hi Mr. McClung,
My name is Shoronda Charles and ...Hi Mr. McClung, <br /><br />My name is Shoronda Charles and I am a student in Dr. Strange's EDM 310 class. We were assigned to read your first year's comment, and it is a great experience to see the changes and adaptations that you made. I liked how you took the time to specify the change between the age groups of students you had to teach as well as the change in the curriculum. Thank you for sharing this!Shoronda Charleshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07141214207126223682noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-436223218573301613.post-21263468925080711282010-07-15T16:13:13.468-07:002010-07-15T16:13:13.468-07:00I am a student in Dr. Strange's EDM310 class a...I am a student in Dr. Strange's EDM310 class and I have really enjoyed reading your reflections on your past two years of teaching. I have really gained some great tips from reading your blog. I can honestly say that with your positive attitude toward teaching and bonding with your students, I have less fear of becoming a teacher myself. A new school is definitely hard to get used to, but you seem to run through your survival guide (that you have constructed yourself) fairly well. I hope you can continue to invent new ways to motivate your students to learn subjects that they may otherwise feel are unnecessary to their immediate lives.Anna Dumashttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00975212164359073914noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-436223218573301613.post-69827142840277859062010-07-15T06:56:04.618-07:002010-07-15T06:56:04.618-07:00I am a student in Dr. Strange's EDM 310 class....I am a student in Dr. Strange's EDM 310 class. Thank you so much for posting your classroom experiences. I enjoy reading your struggles and solutions and I am sure that I will be better prepared to enter the classroom because of your posts. It is obvious that you are a wonderful and caring teacher or you would not go to the lengths that you have to make sure your lessons are interesting and appropriate for both you and the students. You persevere not to be "professionally stagnant" and I think that is wonderful. You are the kind of teacher that I want for my children. Keep up the great work and I look forward to reading more posts.Martha Yimhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15201825001776763949noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-436223218573301613.post-4993017131838595922010-07-15T06:54:07.178-07:002010-07-15T06:54:07.178-07:00This comment has been removed by the author.Martha Yimhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15201825001776763949noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-436223218573301613.post-29130060763872464842010-07-14T22:01:53.964-07:002010-07-14T22:01:53.964-07:00Great post. Very eye opening as to what to expect....Great post. Very eye opening as to what to expect. I am sure you thought with this being your second year, you would have everything set out perfectly. I admire the way you change is good and ultimately makes us better teachers, I agree. Thank you for sharing.<br /><br />Sara Hendrix<br />EDM 310 University of South Alabamasjh402https://www.blogger.com/profile/13357695793766726280noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-436223218573301613.post-77254455167683954612010-07-14T21:59:07.304-07:002010-07-14T21:59:07.304-07:00Mr. McClung,
As I read your post, I found the fear...Mr. McClung,<br />As I read your post, I found the fears that have haunted me all Summer rising up again. How am I going to keep myself from becoming stagnant when real life sets in this fall? I am a junior high math teacher, and am taking Dr. Strange's EDM 310 as part of my re-certification process. I have been the eager young teacher who is innovative and passionate. And I have also been the "survival mode" educator at times when life became too big. I am very intimidated about teaching 4 different math courses this fall, while trying to implement some of the technology that I have become familiar with this Summer. Thank you for some excellent reminders about balancing my instructional time with my assessment, and delegating responsibilities to capable students. I will be looking forward to future posts.Kimberly Tharp's EDM310 Bloghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14959397939483434895noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-436223218573301613.post-46904932403643550912010-07-14T21:03:12.763-07:002010-07-14T21:03:12.763-07:00Mr. McClung,
I really enjoyed this post because it...Mr. McClung,<br />I really enjoyed this post because it was honest, insightful, and self-reflective. I like how you can be honest and pick out all of your flaws and come up with reasons to improve and be better the next year. It is great that you are growing as an educator and not stuck in a hole where you think things can't possibly get any better. I'm really grateful that you do not sugarcoat everything, especially how you had to teach different subjects. That's one of my fears, being thrown to historical wolves and not knowing what to do.<br /><br />Thanks again for your post!Nicholehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15663343610465743668noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-436223218573301613.post-84042166671095030972010-07-14T20:34:47.322-07:002010-07-14T20:34:47.322-07:00Thank you for your post. It is very interesting to...Thank you for your post. It is very interesting to see how you are growing and changing as a teacher. I like the advice about the school mom. Your caring for your students and your job really show through in your posts.James Marshall / Background Informationhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17984247140799458166noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-436223218573301613.post-38980135616207308782010-07-14T20:25:05.295-07:002010-07-14T20:25:05.295-07:00This comment has been removed by the author.James Marshall / Background Informationhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17984247140799458166noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-436223218573301613.post-65493413031335235102010-07-14T20:01:56.598-07:002010-07-14T20:01:56.598-07:00Hi Mr. McClung,
My name is Christina Motes and...Hi Mr. McClung, <br /> My name is Christina Motes and as you already guessed I am a student at the University of South Alabama and have read your post as part of an assignment for Dr. Strange's EDM310 class. I really enjoyed your post and I particularly liked where you talked about having to change your teaching technique when you starting teaching a new subject. I think we have to definitely find something that works for our particular classroom and then make changes from there. I also agree with your "salesman" attitude of teaching. We definitely have to come up with ways to present our material to get the students to "buy" into it. Thank you again for all of your insight.<br /><br />Thanks,<br /> Christina MotesChristina Moteshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06868014600344945627noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-436223218573301613.post-84280158652055022632010-07-14T19:52:56.160-07:002010-07-14T19:52:56.160-07:00Mr. McClung, Thank you for your candid and honest ...Mr. McClung, Thank you for your candid and honest post about what you learned last year. I agree with you that we have to keep the kids first in our minds and figure out a way to keep the politics of our building out of our classrooms. The advice to find a "school mom" is great and I will take it when I start teaching again. I am a student in <a href="http://edm310.blogspot.com/" rel="nofollow">Dr. Strange's EDM 310 class</a> and we are all enjoying learning from you. My class blog is linked <a href="http://classicrebeccaedm310.blogspot.com/" rel="nofollow">here</a>.Outlaw 369https://www.blogger.com/profile/13121353390513443799noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-436223218573301613.post-43074713366631243702010-07-14T19:30:06.071-07:002010-07-14T19:30:06.071-07:00Hi, my name is Melissa Jones and I am also a stude...Hi, my name is Melissa Jones and I am also a student of Dr. Strange. I really enjoy reading your posts. I have my uneasy feelings about teaching my first class in the future. Your honesty and good advice has been very helpful.I have some family members that teach and they have never been this honest about their teaching experience.Melissahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04347268162075836130noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-436223218573301613.post-21693562602965108982010-07-14T17:53:06.133-07:002010-07-14T17:53:06.133-07:00Mr. McClung,
My name is Katie Watson and I am also...Mr. McClung,<br />My name is Katie Watson and I am also a student in Dr. Strange's EDM310 class. Thank you for posting your thoughts and opinions so honestly. I have thoroughly enjoyed reading these posts. It seems that you have come a long way. I will continually come back to your page and read the "helpful hints" that you have provided for us. I hope to one day have the knowledge and insight that you portray. Thank you again!Katie Watson's EDM310 Bloghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11316575246965442788noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-436223218573301613.post-61295612650399295882010-07-14T11:54:43.401-07:002010-07-14T11:54:43.401-07:00I really have enjoyed your two end of the year pos...I really have enjoyed your two end of the year post. I think that this post shows how you have really changed and how you have had to change. I think your topics in this post will really help me to become a better teach because you show so much of what it is really like to be in the classroom. From comparing your two post and from you talking in this post, I can really tell that you have grown as a teacher. I think my favorite part of the post is " Don't Lose Sight of What's Important". I know that when I become a teacher there will be many things that will be challenging. Like you I want the students to be number one. We teach so that they might have a good future. Thanks for your post.<br /><br />StephenStephenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13013950577628601749noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-436223218573301613.post-54568917667827747812010-07-13T19:32:16.411-07:002010-07-13T19:32:16.411-07:00Mr. McClung,
My name is Ashley Johnson and I am co...Mr. McClung,<br />My name is Ashley Johnson and I am commenting on this as an assignment in Dr. Strange's EDM310 class at the University of South Alabama. I thought that your post was great. I enjoyed reading it. I like how you are encouraging all of your students to be learners. You have gave me a lot of knowledge on becoming a better teacher. Thank you!Ashley Jhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02367738882414061123noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-436223218573301613.post-51828177094159905242010-07-12T07:45:25.524-07:002010-07-12T07:45:25.524-07:00My name is Crystal Rutherford and I'm a studen...My name is Crystal Rutherford and I'm a student in Dr. Strange's EDM 310 class. I really enjoy reading your post. It seems like you’re doing a great job with encouraging your students to learn. I like how you’re always searching for the right methods to enable your students to stay focused and to enjoy learning. They are very lucky to have you as a teacher!crystalrutherfordhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18163574511857963499noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-436223218573301613.post-86100775815309033202010-07-10T22:18:31.085-07:002010-07-10T22:18:31.085-07:00Mr. McClung,
My name is Maeghan Whitmire and I am...Mr. McClung,<br /><br />My name is Maeghan Whitmire and I am commenting on this as an assignment in Dr. Strange's EDM310 class at the University of South Alabama. I really enjoyed reading yet another one of your posts. I feel like you are giving me a lot of insight on how to be a better teacher before I even get there. I really appreciate you taking out your time to write your experiences. My favorite part of your post was about finding your school mom. My dad is a teacher and I've him say to me things like this before (maybe not in the same words, but you get my gist). Well, thank you once again. I really enjoyed your post!Maeghan Longhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02116433271628155893noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-436223218573301613.post-85334219786583866592010-07-07T09:27:24.456-07:002010-07-07T09:27:24.456-07:00You have matured a lot in the last year. I hope I ...You have matured a lot in the last year. I hope I do as well in my first two years. I too, am terrified about the relationships with the other teachers. How will they like me? Will they shun me for being technological literate? These and many more questions swirl in my head every day.<br />Good catch on the difference from middle to jr. high schools. This is a very frightful time for most young people, and we need not pile it on by giving extra grief and stress. But it is also a time where they need firm direction and a sense that you really care for them. That you have their best interest at heart.<br />Anyway, nice to hear from you and your first two years. I plan on following you regularly as I graduate in less than two years. Maybe by then you will have it figured out, or at least know what not to do!Barry Gartman's EDM310 Class Bloghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06668912581727563080noreply@blogger.com