Cassadie Ross

All accidents must be documented and reported to avoid further complications.

I liked the three ways to organize housekeeping/clean up in the classroom. There are benefits to each, but what stood out to me most was the idea of assigning responsibility to the "foreman/woman" to ensure that all equipment is cleaned and organized to the predetermined standard. 

Instructing students on safety and ensuring that all students are following protocols at all times is the responsibility of the teacher. 

The two example scenarios illustrate a common experience for teachers- neither thought that an accident like that could happen in their classes. Working in a CTE classroom on a daily basis requires constant vigilance and attention to student safety, which is impossible to maintain at all times. Therefore it is essential to train students to monitor themselves AND each other so that more eyes are watching at all times. 

Elevating student voice in decision-making processes. Encouraging choice for students to demonstrate their learning. Providing time and space for teachers to collaborate and make improvements to their curriculum and instruction. 

I'm intruiged by the statistic about "summer melt" and I am wondering how many of those students eventually attended a post-secondary institution. I think there is a lot of value in the "gap year" and hope to see it become more accepted, but I wonder if there is data indicating that taking a year off between high school and college can create a barrier to post-secondary attendance. 

Establishing a classroom climate that is inclusive and engaging is key to the success of a CTE program. I think that the challenge lies in moving students from engagement to empowerment- anyone can create activities that will pique students' interests, but moving toward accountability and autonomy in the classroom is the goal. I liked the suggestion to have students record themselves presenting and then review their work with a rubric. 

I guess for me the question would be why would you NOT integrate CTE courses with core academics? Knowing that CTE courses provide the relevancy and hands-on learning that students crave, providing options to earn math or English credits through CTE classes seems like a win-win, especially when so many schools are seeking credit recovery options for students. 

Student assessments are not the only indicator of quality in a CTE program- we must also consider the labor market and feedback from industry partners. 

Making the standards available to the public and sharing them in relevant meetings ensures that the feedback loop remains consistent and effective.