Thursday, March 19, 2020

The Value of Self-Reflection for Success in Teaching

The Value of Self-Reflection for Success in Teaching In a profession as challenging as teaching, honest self-reflection is key. That means that we must regularly examine what has worked and what hasnt worked in the classroom, despite how painful it can sometimes be to look in the mirror. Once you self-reflect you then need to take your answers and turn them into positive, resolute statements that give you concrete goals on which to focus immediately. Be honest, work hard, and watch your teaching transform for the better! Ask Yourself These Tough Questions - And Be Honest! Where did I fail as a teacher in the past? Where did I succeed?What is my top teaching goal for the coming year?What can I do to make my teaching more fun while adding to my students learning and enjoyment?What can I do to be more proactive in my professional development?What resentments do I need to resolve in order to move forward more optimistically and with a fresh mind?What types of students do I tend to ignore or do I need to spend more time serving?Which lessons or units am I only continuing to perform out of habit or laziness?Am I being a cooperative member of my grade level team?Are there any aspects of the profession that I am ignoring out of fear of change or lack of knowledge? (i.e. technology)How can I increase valuable parental involvement?Have I done enough to foster a productive relationship with my administrator?Do I still enjoy teaching? If not, what can I do to increase my enjoyment in my chosen profession?Do I bring additional stress upon myself? If so, how can I decrease or eliminate it? How have my beliefs about learning and pedagogy changed over the years?What minor and/or major changes can I make to my academic program in order to directly increase my students learning? What Happens If You Refuse to Self-Reflect Put earnest effort and pure intention into your self-reflection. You dont want to be one of those stagnant teachers that drably presents the same ineffective and outdated lessons year after year. The unexamined teaching career can lead to becoming just a glorified babysitter, stuck in a rut and no longer enjoying your job! Times change, perspectives change, and you must change in order to adapt and remain relevant in the ever-changing world of education. Often its difficult to get motivated to change when you have tenure and cant be fired but thats precisely why you must undertake this effort on your own. Think about it while youre driving or doing the dishes. It doesnt matter where you self-reflect, only that you do it earnestly and energetically. Examine Your Teaching - Any Time of Year One of the best things about teaching is that every school year offers a fresh start. Make the most of this new beginning - any time of year! - and move ahead with the confidence that you are mindful and motivated to be the best teacher you can be! Edited By: Janelle Cox

Monday, March 2, 2020

For Example in French and Its Synonyms

'For Example' in French and Its Synonyms We say for example when we want to illustrate, expand upon, or explain something, and so do the French, who say par example.  Same construction, same meaning. Par exemple is also one of those everyday expressions thats just as common in French as it is in English. In fact, its one of the ​most common phrases in the French language, along with such famous expressions as  bon appà ©tit,  dà ©j vu, and  je taime. Here are a couple of examples of how to use par exemple: Il est important de faire du sport. On peut, par exemple, faire du tai chi.It’s important to practice a sport. You can, for example, practice tai chi. On pourrait proposer ce garà §on, par exemple, a toutes les filles.We could suggest this boy, for example, to all the girls. Par Exemple Without a Verb Note that when using par exemple, we often omit part of the sentence, which is implied. Il est important de faire du sport : du tai chi, par exemple.It’s important to practice a sport: tai chi, for example. The repetitive words â€Å"one can practice† are implied after the colon in the above English language example. Synonyms of Par Exemple There are two approximate  synonyms for par exemple in French but nothing as direct as the English for instance. As French instructors will tell you, French is poor in vocabulary, rich in syntax. So instead of par exemple, you could say: Ansi, meaning literally  thus  or thereforeThis word is quite old-fashioned and not used as much as par exemple.Il aime les fruits. Ainsi, il mange une banane tous les jours.He likes fruits. Thus, he eats a banana every day.Comme, meaning literally such asTu peux manger quelque chose de là ©ger. Comme un fruit.You can eat something light. Such as (or Like) a piece of fruit. Meaning of the French Expression Ça Par Exemple Ça par example  is an interjection that expresses surprise and sometimes disapproval, but not always. The expression is  a bit old-fashioned, though, and it’s not so common these days. Instead, a French speaker today would probably prefer a more literal expression like, Je ne peux pas le croire, or â€Å"I can’t believe it.† Finalement, aprà ¨s t’avoir fait la cour pendant des mois, il t’a posà © un lapin! Ça par exemple!Finally, after courting you for months, he stood you up! I can’t believe it! Mistakes to Avoid When Using Par Exemple The word exemple in French is written with an e in the middle, not the  a  we use in the English word â€Å"example.† Also, the for is not translated as pour (literally for) but as par (literally by). So the  French expression literally translates to by example, and many French speakers  make the mistake of saying by   (instead of for) when they try to say for example in English.