On Monday I have an interview with a charter school in Arlington, TX. After the interview they want me to teach a 30 minute lesson. All I know is that it's a 3rd grade class, and I can do a lesson on anything I want. The only recommendation they gave me was to look at the TEKS for 3rd grade pick a topic.

I definitely want to do some Whole Brain Teaching, because I don't think they've ever seen it before. The challenge is building a lesson that can be done in only 30 minutes, and still have all the components of a full lesson. I also won't have anything to use except a document camera in the room, and I'll have to bring any materials I need with me.

I'll also have to teach them the class/yes and teach/okay in five minutes or so, in order to have enough time to do the rest of the lesson. I need something that has good gestures, and maybe a lesson that is fail proof... if there is such a thing. I think it's less about the subject material, and more about my teaching style that they are trying to evaluate. They want to see how I teach, not what I teach I guess.

Any ideas about subject, gestures, or anything else would be greatly appreciated. I've had a HARD time finding a job since graduating last summer, and with the education woes, this may be my last shot for a while.

Thanks in advance,

Chris

Chris,

Check the free books/3rd grade language arts power pix. Lots of GREAT ideas. Good luck!

Karen

I agree with Karen...choose a concept from the 3rd grade PowerPix and go from there.

Now, about the "training" them before you begin...I think this is huge. You're right to start with the Class/Yes and the teach/okay. If you are familiar enough with the concept, I would throw in the Scoreboard, just so they get the idea behind the year long management system. They'll see your lesson and also a peek into what you system will look like.

As I'm sitting here I have another idea for your lesson. Take a 3rd grade text, or another piece that I could send you, and use the Crazy Professor reading game. Again, it's another free download, and you could watch the video in the videos section. I mention this one because I did it for a semi-interview with a local University when I wanted to teach their teacher candidates. It went well because they could see the importance of all the pieces working together. Give it a shot! You'll do great. Not many people can turn down the fact that the Crazy Professor is super. You'll have to do the abridge version, but it will work in that amount of time.

This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it ... if you want me to send you the text that could be easily used for this game.


Keep us posted,
Chris

Thanks for the advice! I'm going to spend most of tonight and tomorrow getting everything together. I'm emailing you know for the other piece!

Your email address is not working for me on either of my email accounts. If you still have time to send me the other piece you're talking about, please send it to This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it or This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it . Thank you!!!

Just got it, THANKS A MILLION!!!

Your welcome! Can't believe This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it is the right one. Have a ton of fun with this lesson.

Update on the interview.

It went well. I actually did the power pics for Main Idea, and used WBT to do the lesson on main idea. I only had 30 minutes and it filled the time perfectly. When I left the interview they were asking a lot of questions about WBT and mentioned they might look into it for a professional development session.

I followed up with them a day later to let them know I was also certified in PE, in addition to me EC-6. They asked me what my PE program would look like with WBT, and I sent back a long email with lots of ideas.

Her reply was, "Wow. Very impressive. I'll be in touch."

Sooooo... I'm still waiting to hear back. Hopefully something good is about to happen. Jobs are scarce in Texas, and I'm in desperate need of one. Thanks for all the help!

Good luck to you. Choosing to teach a lesson using WBT will definitly help you to stand out from the other applicants. Way to go!!!

Chris,

I gotta piggy back off of sfloyd's comment about doing a demo lesson in WBT making you stand out. As an administrator of a K-12 school system I would stand and cheer if a teacher, especially a new teacher, were to come in with the control of the class that WBT gives you.

If you don't get this job, my bet is that you will get a better one soon.

Many, actually most, new teachers focus on mastery and delivery of the information and completely ignore class room management in their demos. If you do any more demos (with a new school) you might consider mentioning that the system you are using includes a completely integrated classroom management process and procedures that supports the instruction. In fact instruction and classroom management are so intertwined to become one synergistic program. Then point out that the kids are so busy with "state changes" that they don't have time to be bad.