Tag Archives: tfa
I won’t get perfect, but I will get better
This is the sixth written response to the TFA pre-institute work (responses 1, 2, 3, 4, 5). This reflection is on “continuously improving effectiveness.” I can only imagine that getting filmed on your first day in the classroom is incredibly … Continue reading
Of course I remember having you in my class.
At the beginning of the Great Depression, high school graduation rates in the United States were 30 percent. In 1940, it was 50 percent. This educational leap forward is the lede for David Leonhardt’s piece in the New York Times … Continue reading
Shiny magical smartphones and better tracking data
I noticed on one of my observation visits that the teacher almost never put down her clipboard. On it, she kept a chart that allowed her to track student progress and comprehension, take notes on students who needed additional help … Continue reading
Website building and reading comprehension
This is the fourth written response to the TFA pre-institute work (responses 1, 2, 3). This reflection is on “planning purposefully.” Have I ever planned at the level of detail outlined in the TFA training materials? No. In fact, I’ve … Continue reading
In this week’s newsletter: nobody slips through the cracks
This is the third written response to the TFA pre-institute work (responses 1, 2). The focus is on investing in students and their families, with special consideration to a trio of videos (linked below) demonstrating classroom techniques. My original assumption … Continue reading
The data on measuring big goals
This is the second written response to the TFA pre-institute work (response 1). The focus is on the importance of setting big goals. Research demonstrates that leaders who set exceptional expectations for their teams can get exceptional results. TFA’s own … Continue reading
Thoughts on managing a “volatile amalgam of intelligence and impatience”
Part of the TFA pre-institute work involves writing responses to required readings. I’m sharing them here as a way to shed some light on my first steps into teaching. This first response involves reflecting on the teaching approaches of Aurora … Continue reading
Teach for America institute prep materials came today!
…and not a minute too soon. I was about to use a Borders coupon to buy Teaching As Leadership, having been led to believe that the org wouldn’t spring for the 4000+ copies they’ll need for all the incoming corps … Continue reading
Count on it
Next fall I will be teaching secondary school English, and in order to be effective I’m going to need to brush up on my math. As I was starting the process of applying to Teach for America, one of the … Continue reading