Monday, March 31, 2014

#NorCalChat 3/31

I co-moderated tonight's #NorCalChat on twitter. It was a great time, we talked a lot about the book. I'm going to post the questions we asked, then link to the Storify which has all the interactions from the chat.


Q1: Doug is a bombastic frontman of a never-ending funk machine. How are you a performance artist? #NorCalChat

Q2: The book explains that discipline is about teaching, not punishment. How do you use discipline to change behavior? #NorCalChat

Q3: HtWT frequently mentions the value of engaging lessons. What tricks do you have up your sleeve to create engaging lessons? #NorCalChat

Q4: Doug frequently mentions the need for empathy. How do you show  empathy in your classroom? #NorCalChat

Q5: HtWT mentions the importance of leadership. How do you exercise leadership in your school as a T, P, or both? #NorCalChat

Q6: The book mentions the importance of professional dress. How important is this to you? #NorCalChat

Q7: Perhaps most importantly, how do you HAVE FUN teaching? #NorCalChat

Wednesday, March 26, 2014

The Weird Teacher's Classcast Lesson 8: Peanut Butter and Jelly Sandwiches

I thought that I posted this on the blog after I did it but apparently the blog (where I curate all the interesting things having to do with Weird Teacherhood) is the one place on the internet I didn't post it.
So here we go, Classcast Lesson 8: Peanut Butter and Jelly Sandwiches. Straight from chapter 26 of He's the Weird Teacher

 

Monday, March 24, 2014

Speaking to Pacific's Student Teachers


I was recently honored to go back to my alma mater, the University of the Pacific in Stockton, CA, to speak with a group of student teachers about teaching.
The talk went great, the students asked fantastic questions, and I think (and have been told by their professor) that they learned a lot from me.
We discussed many of the things new teachers worry about, like how to deal with difficult parents, motivating students. homework and grading, transitions, and discipline.
I created a slide show (not a boring one, I promise) and transferred a lot of the important points to a document which was printed out and given to them. If you'd like to view the document, click here.
I hope, and the professor, dean, and I discussed this, I will be able to come back and speak to more student teachers next year. I deeply love student teachers. They are the future of us and it is our job to guide them and help them grow into the best possible teachers they can be. We need to influence them to teach like we believe teaching should be done.
And now, a bunch of pictures my best friend's wife, Meghan Camino, took during my talk.

Telling them how handsome I am

Excitedly making a point

Two points

Making myself yawn, I guess?

Walk Like a Teacher Lessons

I met a kinder teacher, I express my love

Auditioning for Iago

The boy distracting the dean

Listening to a question

The boy distracting the front row

But who wouldn't be distracted by him?

Energetically speaking

Love Thyself

First down

I can't not speak with my hands

Good question

Smile. Smile smile smile

Shocked by my slide

How To Count

The boy being more interesting than me

Sunday, March 9, 2014

Fun with Gifs

I decided to play around and make some gifs from my videos.

Courson loves He's the Weird Teacher
Monsters Love He's the Weird Teacher on Make A Gif
make animated gifs like this at MakeAGif


Making the motorcycle go
 Making the Motorcycle Go on Make A Gif
make animated gifs like this at MakeAGif


What happens when you don't vent gently
 The Result Of Not Venting on Make A Gif
make animated gifs like this at MakeAGif


Adjusting the Cat's Hat
 Adjusting The Cat's Hat on Make A Gif
make animated gifs like this at MakeAGif


Hmmm, Maybe Not
 Hmmm, Maybe Not on Make A Gif
make animated gifs like this at MakeAGif