Its the third week....

The school year has gotten started with a ding of the bell. Two weeks have passed quickly and the third week is already started. I cannot believe that the summer is over and we are back but this is what pays the bills and keeps me smiling. This year I have a wonderful homeroom class. They are a lovely group of grade 7's and are eager to do their best. I am eager to do my best so it should be a fantastic year.

I am trying a new method of teaching this year as well. I took a course over the summer in Physics and my instructor taught me how to use a program called PEEL procedures. The program was started nearly 20 years ago in Australia by a group of educators frustrated with the way curriculum was delivered and the output students were giving.
The program was also designed to help students develop critical thinking skills and problem solving strategies.

It is these last two things that I hope to incorporate into my classroom. I want my students to critically assess what I am trying to teach them rather than have them be passive to my instruction. I want them to be engaged in what I do and decide where we go with the information they present. I think the new method will be good and I hope the students can look back at this year and see how it helped them get more out of their education. That is if they look back at all.

To the former 8B, good luck to you where ever you end up and please come back and see me. I have seen a few of you come in and it is always great to hear the fantastic things you are up to.

Good luck in your first few weeks of school. Mr. Foster