THE WINNING EDGE

Value Added Experiences

For Future Teachers

Laurie Fathe – Owens Community CollegeJudy Kasabian – El Camino College

FUTURE TEACHERS CONFERENCE

Purpose Brings together expert teachers, principals and

teacher educators to address concerns of students contemplating a career in teaching and new teachers.

The event focuses on skills and information needed to navigate the credential process, land an initial teaching job and be successful in the first year in the classroom.

www.futureteachersconference.org

FUTURE TEACHERS CONFERENCEDescription

A professional style event for future and novice K-12 teachers.

The event is planned by a team of college faculty, K-12 teachers and future and novice teachers.

A variety of formats can be chosen to meet the needs/interests of attendees.

The Planning Handbook is available at www.futureteachersconference.org.

FUTURE TEACHERS CONFERENCEFormats

An all day or half day. Includes 60-90 minute workshops on

topics of interest to new and prospective teachers.

Can include a keynote speaker addressing some “big issue”.

An included lunch gives participants a chance to talk and debrief.

FUTURE TEACHERS CONFERENCEWorkshop Titles

Specific Classroom Lessons(about ½ of offerings) Classroom Management Getting Ready For The First Day Of School Free Teacher Resources Interview Strategies – Resume Writing Getting Organized And Staying Organized Working Effectively With Parents A Principal’s Advise To New Teachers

FUTURE TEACHERS CONFERENCETitle of Classroom Lessons

Stir It Up! Using Cooking To Teach Math It’s Daytime So Why Do I See The Moon? Creating A Little Drama In The Classroom You Are What You Eat – Teaching Nutrition Behold – Beautiful, Bountiful Bulletin Boards Routines, Rhyme, Rhythm And Song Dotting Your I’s & Crossing Your T’s Yoga - A Classroom Management Strategy

FUTURE TEACHERS CONFERENCEResponses From Participants

“WOW! So much emotional and professional support and encouragement – it was awesome!”

“Absolutely inspirational and so helpful for a future teacher. Very educational. I wish we had these conferences monthly. Thank You!!!!”

“All of the presenters were so enthusiastic about sharing with us that it made me excited to get my own classroom and try some of their great ideas.”

“Attending the Future Teachers Conference just reassured me that this is the field where I belong.“

“This conference gave me a better picture of what teaching will be like. I’m definitely not as scared as I was before today!”

MEET THE TEACHERS ROUNDTABLECLASSROOM LESSONS AT THE ROUNDTABLE

The Idea

The Meet the Teachers Roundtable is a half-day highly interactive workshop, where prospective teachers participate in exemplary lessons taught by talented K-12 teachers, learn how to present those lessons, and make appointments to observe in the classrooms of role model teachers.

The word "Roundtable" in the event's name reflects the fact that the teachers present their lessons to small groups of eight or nine future teachers at round tables. The intimate roundtable grouping is an innovative feature, which enables the role model teachers to interact on a more personal level with future teachers.

MEET THE TEACHERS ROUNDTABLE

CLASSROOM LESSONS AT THE ROUNDTABLE

Purpose For prospective teachers to meet and establish a support network with exemplary K-12 teachers.

For prospective teachers to participate in interactive classroom lessons.

For prospective teachers to observe exemplary teachers in action.

The Planning Handbook is available at www.futureteachersconference.org.

MEET THE TEACHERS ROUNDTABLECLASSROOM LESSONS AT THE ROUNDTABLE

Description

Highly successful teachers are invited to present a one-period lesson in math or science for a specific grade level.

Participants select the lessons they want to experience and see taught, based on topic and grade level.

Teachers not only teach the lesson, but describe the approaches used, and why they are effective with the target students.

Participants conclude the day by making appointments to observe the teachers in their own classrooms.

MEET THE TEACHERS ROUNDTABLECLASSROOM LESSONS AT THE ROUNDTABLE

Responses From Participants

“I feel great knowing that I can call these teachers for future resources and for observations. They were all very helpful and encouraging.”

"This roundtable gave a lot of opportunity to get a feel for what's going on out there in different schools. I really loved it!"

 “It was nice to have a variety of grade levels since I am still

unsure of the grade level I would like to teach. I liked that even though I wasn’t able to attend every lesson – could still get a lesson plan.”

"This has been one of the best workshops that I have attended regarding education…because we were able to take part in the activities rather than sit and listen to speakers and how they do it. The half-day format was perfect."

GUEST TEACHING EXPERIENCEPurpose

To provide future teachers with an opportunity to experience what it is like to be a classroom teacher by teaching a lesson – perhaps one that they have designed.

www.science-fest.org

GUEST TEACHING EXPERIENCEIn The Seminar

Participants explore the content that they plan to teach.

They learn about and discuss effective teaching strategies for their chosen topic and target grade level.

They practice teaching for college faculty and peers and receive feedback and refine their lessons.

Now they take their learning and become guest teachers.

GUEST TEACHING EXPERIENCEDescription

Participants are responsible for developing a unit on a topic for a specific grade-level. During the development, they get feedback from peers and their instructors.

They present the lesson multiple times in real classrooms, over a period of weeks.

After each teaching experience, participants debrief, and discuss ways in which teaching/learning can be improved.

Participants modify their lessons and return to another classroom to implement the modified unit several more times.

GUEST TEACHING EXPERIENCE

From Our Photo Gallery

GUEST TEACHING EXPERIENCE From Our Photo Gallery

GUEST TEACHING EXPERIENCEReflections From Participants

Science FEST has drastically and forever changed my life. This may seem like a gross overstatement but I would not be where I am today in my career if I had not been part of the Science FEST program. I was dragged into Science FEST by the insistence of my teacher. I walked into that first meeting hating science. I arrived willing to hear them out and prepared to walk out and never look back. Instead, I found myself immersed in an environment full of passion and excitement for teaching, surrounded by people who truly loved what they did. I realized that my hatred toward science was a fear toward science, a fear of not knowing and not understanding. I learned that science is not a subject to be feared, but one that is full of awe, wonder, and excitement. I discovered how to take a fresh approach to teaching (and learning) science. One lesson I will always remember came from our content expert who said you must start a lesson with what excites you. Science is something that should make you exclaim, “WOW!” Whenever I think about my lessons, I think about his advice and the motto that everyone in Science FEST was so very fond of, “Science is a WOWIE!”

I started in Science FEST as a timid college sophomore. I walked out of the program years later with more confidence in myself as a person and as a teacher. Science FEST opened up a world of opportunities to me. I presented my science unit at NSTA and CSTA with my fellow Science FEST members. I was a part of the Weightless Flights Of Discovery program where I conducted science experiments on a plane that simulated zero gravity. I was hired as a fifth grade teacher right after I graduated college because of my work with Science FEST. I am the science “expert” at the school, which is fairly ironic considering how my attitude toward science started out. Even though this is only my second year teaching, I have instituted a K-5 Science Lab and am responsible for creating science experiments for every grade level. I am on the Science Committee and in charge of organizing the school Science Fair for our school. I was sent to the East Coast by my district to take part in the Mickelson Academy, a weeklong event for science teachers. I have continued to create science units and have been accepted to present my science unit at CSTA. I have made many contacts during my time at science conferences with people from NASA, JPL, and Northrop Grumman.

Science FEST has shaped me into the educator I am today. This program has put me on paths that I never expected or dreamed of. Because of Science FEST, I am now pursuing a Master’s in Science Education. My main goal as an educator is to infuse my students with a passion for science the way the staff of Science FEST did for me.

GUEST TEACHING EXPERIENCE Reflections From Participants

While completing my general education classes at El Camino College, I was searching for a major. I was considering Elementary Education, but was unsure if I would enjoy teaching. Thankfully, I was taking a class with a member of Science FEST who told me about the program. I thought what a great idea to gain some experience writing curriculum and teaching, little did I know how wonderful this opportunity would be for me.

I remember the topic of our first meeting, “wowies”. That terms means everything to Science FESTers. We were taught that if in science (or any subject) you can make the kids say “wow” then they are excited and learning can begin. I still use this philosophy when teaching today, am I going to engage my students with this lesson. After completing our lesson planning, we were thrown in the deep end. Right before teaching my first lesson, I remember feeling so nervous I thought I was going to be sick. Dr. Kasabian was there to calm me down and reassure me everything would work out. I don't remember very much of my teaching that first time because the most valuable part came after the lesson. Dr. Kasabian sat down with me and we discussed what went well and what needed to be improved. I learned early in my profession there is always room for improvement, and that it is okay to asked for help. I learned how to take constructive criticism and use it to become a better teacher. The next time I went into the classroom I wasn't nervous, but excited. That was when I knew teaching was my “wowie”.

Several other great opportunities came my way because of Science FEST. The program was originally funded by the National Science Foundation, so Science FEST members were invited to apply for internships. I was accepted to spend the summer at the Lawrence Hall of Science at UC Berkeley. I was able to teach science all summer to student in elementary grades, attended professional developments, and received highly valued science materials. I have written proposals to present at state and national science conferences and was accepted several times. I asked my principal the other day what she saw on my resume that lead to an interview. She said she was looking for someone with a strong science background, and she was impressed by my internship at Berkeley. Her response proved my point, I would not be teaching today without all the benefits I was fortune enough to receive because of Science FEST.

MEET YOUR CLIENTSPurpose

For prospective teachers to get a glimpse of what K-12 students think about schooling and their teachers.

The honest and candid thoughts by students is an eye-opener for many future teachers.

MEET YOUR CLIENTSDescription

A two-hour event where K-12 students serve as panelists to answer questions from prospective teachers regarding schooling and teaching.

MEET YOUR CLIENTSResponses From Participants

“I had never thought of students as our clients before. It gave me a new perspective on what goes on in the classroom.”

“Most of the kids didn’t hold back with what they think. They know exactly what makes an excellent teacher and they were able to tell us what it takes.”

FINAL THOUGHTS

Experiences like the ones we’ve described today can both help students make more informed

decisions about becoming a teacher, and better prepare them to succeed in

their chosen profession.