Thomas Perkins

I thought that the breakdown of instructional strategies was useful.

I've learned to modify and adapt my curriculum each semester over my years of teaching. I'm always looking for ways to make it more efficient and user friendly for me and for the students.

I liked the idea of having students build a progressive competency account.

The two kinds of alignment were clearly defined and useful.

I am a Woodworking Teacher. Safety is preeminent in my shop. I make my own safety videos and make them unnarrated. I play them and talk over them. I make my own Google Slides presentations for the safety verbiage. I then use an in-person demonstration in front of the students. I administer a safety quiz and then each student demonstrates the tool in front of the entire class. The quiz acts as the signed proof of student understanding.

Working with students who have terrible things going on outside of school is a regular thing for me. I find that I often end up being that one adult that the student either confides in or respects. I have learned that holding students accountable and dealing with them in a kind and fair way is the only way to turn around that student's behavior. Letting bad behavior go because of knowledge of a bad situation does a huge disservice to that student. Most students eventually figure out that a caring teacher is one who also gives clear expectations that include… >>>

I have worked in two schools now. I've had two mentors in two systems. My first mentor was required to turn in notes regarding conversations and meetings. My second one had no accountability at all. I did spend time with my second mentor, but structure was lacking and therefore the quality was not as good.

Due to the nature of teaching a woodworking class, I set very strict boundaries and enforce every word of what I expect with consequences. My students learn quickly to respect that and are generally very successful because I set clear expectations. We also have more fun that almost any other class in the school.

Tom Perkins

I learned some CTE history background that I did not know. I also had a good bit of confirmation that I have been doing most things correctly and have been fitting the system laid out in the framework. I love teaching Woodworking in my CTE and will soon be teaching one section of Carpentry 1 as the demand for Carpentry in my school is very high. The current Carpentry teacher needs me to add another section of Carpentry 1 so he can add a second section of Carpentry 2.