It’s not what you know, but who you know

Daniel S. Meyers, M.S., M.A.T. Chemistry Teacher

Portage Central High School, Portage, MI

Network

Take 30 seconds and introduce yourself to someone new near you. Exchange contact info (email, Twitter, etc.).

Outline

• Mentorship • Ask ?s • Professional Learning Network (via Twitter) • School/District Tech Folks • Think outside of the box • Freebie

Mentorship

• How many of you have or had a mentor teacher? • In your discipline? • What does it mean to have a mentor teacher?

Qualities of a Good Mentor

1. Committed to the role of mentoring • Help beginning teachers find success, gratification

2. Accepting of the beginning teacher • Recognizes that beginning teacher is in a developmental stage of

professional career 3. Skilled at providing instructional support

• Mentors coach beginning teachers to improve performance regardless of skill level

4. Effective in different interpersonal contexts • Communication

5. A model of a continuous learner • Exhibit openness to learn from colleagues, including beginning

teachers; pursue professional growth 6. Communicates hope and optimism

• Share own struggles and frustrations and how they overcame them Rowley, J.B. (1999). Educational Leadership, 56(8), 20-22.

Mentorship

• Reciprocal: Each participant has something to share, contribute to and receive benefits from.

The classroom-based teacher who agrees to mentor a pre-service teacher

needs to nurture, advise, guide, encourage and facilitate authentic

learning experiences for developmental growth.

Dr. Angelina Ambrosetti Central Queensland University Australia

Ambrosetti, A. (2014). Australian Journal of Teacher Education, 39(6). Amrbosetti, A. (2012). Joint AARE APERA International Conference, Sydney 2012.

Mentorship

• Student teaching – 2 mentors • 1st year of teaching – no “real” mentor • 2nd year to current – 1 primary mentor + several

in-school resources

Ask Questions

• The Q/A session is at the end of the symposium • Asking questions: simplest and most effective

way of learning

Sloane, P. (2014). http://www.lifehack.org/articles/communication/ask-questions.html

Asking Questions at PCHS

• My mentor teacher, Jon (chemistry) • Karen (chemistry) • James (chemistry, biology) • Kelli (chemistry, biology, health, earth science)

Asking Questions Outside of PCHS

• Chemistry teachers at PNHS • Content-based questions – Twitter!

Twitter as a PLN

• Professional Learning Network or PLN described more in depth by Erica

• Twitter is a means to communicate • Share information or receive information

• One of the top 10 most visited websites in 2013

Twitter as a PLN

• Significant number of teachers I can communicate with regularly to share information and seek help (ask questions) – some of which are in this room – @dragan, @eposthuma, @thomsonscience

Twitter as a PLN

Educator Twitter Handles by Subject – also available on Mr. Meyers’ Google Site

Tech folks

• There’s new technology in your classroom. How do you use it?

• Your district switches gradebook software. How do you use it?

• Your district adopts Google for everything. How do you make and sustain a Google Site?

Tech folks

• When in doubt, turn to your building/district tech coaches (or, Technology Integration Specialists)!

@Paul_Murray6 @jeswinstanley

Think Outside of the Box

• Have an idea for a lesson plan? Run with it! Don’t feel hindered.

• Share your idea with colleagues in and out of building.

Think Outside of the Box

Example 1 – Representing accuracy and precision via cornhole

Think Outside of the Box

Example 2 – Community service opportunities

Think Outside of the Box

Example 2 – Community service opportunities

Think Outside of the Box

Example 2 – Community service opportunities

Think Outside of the Box

Example 2 – Community service opportunities

Freebie

Nuclear Chemistry Lesson Plans • Available at dmeyers.site.portageps.org • Click on Conferences tab at top and look

under “2014 BCCE Survivor Skills” • Lesson plans, worksheets, labs available

Contact

Dan Meyers • Chemistry Teacher • Portage Central High School • dmeyers@portageps.org • dmeyers.site.portageps.org • @MeyersChemistry