Shelley Down

I totally agree with the ideas that students must be engaged for true learning to occur.  It can be very difficult to find the right level and expectations for all students in a class and these talking techniques are a good way for students to work with one another and not have anyone feel like they cannot do an assignment.  Practicing the same vocabulary throughtout a course is a very good idea for not having that slump that was discussed.

It is important to maintain a safe environment in the classroom.  Teachers need to be vigilant and try to anticipate things that could happen.  We must have rules that are clear and make sense to students.  The rules need to be explained and practiced once in awhile so they will become habits.

Positive classroom management is very important to feeling confident as a teacher.  We have to remember that many students come to our classes with multiple issues and learning is not always their top priority.  We need to be understanding and encourage a respectful environment where student want to behave well.  It is also important to encourage positive behaviors.

It is helpful if we are open to many different types of support as a CTE teacher.  Having a mentor can be very helpful for giving advice and sharing concerns and celebrations.  Try to be around those who are positive and don't play the blame game.

Teachers are role models for their students.  CTE teachers can make a big impact in student's lives with the life skills that we can provide for both their personal and professional lives.  We need to be careful in our interactions and communicating and we need to maintain positive interactions.

This was an interesting overview seeing how the CTE programs have evolved over time.  It helped to learn more about the different types of career clusters are available and how some are in place across the country.  This will be new to my online school, so seeing the suggestions for getting started are very helpful.