I-Teach
Viewing comments for Chapter 9 "That Spark"Collection of stories about teachers or teaching.
23 total reviews
Comment from prettybluebirds
I'm not sure I would want to travel in that particular time machine; it sounds kind of worn out. Your story is cute and nicely written. I enjoyed reading it.
reply by the author on 08-Apr-2024
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I'm not sure I would want to travel in that particular time machine; it sounds kind of worn out. Your story is cute and nicely written. I enjoyed reading it.
Comment Written 08-Apr-2024
reply by the author on 08-Apr-2024
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Lol, it was from HG Wells time after all.
Comment from BethShelby
It sounds like to me you were and an excellent teacher and the kind our schools need more off. I get what you were saying and understand the spark, but just one little insignificant thing bothered me. It was the example of the book and the wad of paper. My thought was the book would hit the floor first because being heavier it's weight would cause it to move faster. I had to try it, and I did four times. The book hit the floor first every time. What am I missing? a heavy wad of paper and a light book?
reply by the author on 07-Apr-2024
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It sounds like to me you were and an excellent teacher and the kind our schools need more off. I get what you were saying and understand the spark, but just one little insignificant thing bothered me. It was the example of the book and the wad of paper. My thought was the book would hit the floor first because being heavier it's weight would cause it to move faster. I had to try it, and I did four times. The book hit the floor first every time. What am I missing? a heavy wad of paper and a light book?
Comment Written 07-Apr-2024
reply by the author on 07-Apr-2024
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Hi Beth,
Thank you for the review and comments. I try to make learning fun, though I?ll admit sometimes I just put them to sleep.
I?m thrilled you did the experiment!
Actually, they do hit the ground at the same time, but you can?t tell by looking straight down. The deception is the sound. The mass of the paper wad vs the book is insignificant to the size of the earth. Gravity is the attractive force between two masses and the distance between them. It?s called the Dalton?s Law of Universal Gravitation.
Try having someone else drop them where you can watch them hit from a different angle.
Let me know how it goes. My kids actually videoed it then played it back in slow motion.
Take care,
Rhonda
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Actually I remember something about about that law working only in a vacuum. The question was as if a rock and feather were dropped at the same time the rock would fall faster under natural conditions because of the resistance of the air. I think my wadded napkin fell slower.
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Yeah, the napkin probably caught too much air resistance, which doesn't happen in a vacuum. I use notebook paper for it, lol.
Comment from Pam (respa)
I enjoyed reading your story, Rhonda. You sound like a creative teacher who cares about her students, and also has an imagination. I like your theme of the time travel machine that makes stops along the way. We see you as the young teacher who was behind her desk lined with textbooks. I can identify with the feeling. When I walked into my first year classroom teaching seniors in my alma mater, I thought running out the door was a good idea, but I didn't.
I like how you progress and the older Rhoda drops the book and paper at the same time. You do a good job describing the students' reactions, and your observations, and he had the spark. No surprise.
I like your attitude in the last section about how you will prepare the students for the test. Of course the principal wasn't interested in that so the mature Rhonda told him what he wanted to hear. I like your conclusion, too. Very well done, my friend.
reply by the author on 07-Apr-2024
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I enjoyed reading your story, Rhonda. You sound like a creative teacher who cares about her students, and also has an imagination. I like your theme of the time travel machine that makes stops along the way. We see you as the young teacher who was behind her desk lined with textbooks. I can identify with the feeling. When I walked into my first year classroom teaching seniors in my alma mater, I thought running out the door was a good idea, but I didn't.
I like how you progress and the older Rhoda drops the book and paper at the same time. You do a good job describing the students' reactions, and your observations, and he had the spark. No surprise.
I like your attitude in the last section about how you will prepare the students for the test. Of course the principal wasn't interested in that so the mature Rhonda told him what he wanted to hear. I like your conclusion, too. Very well done, my friend.
Comment Written 06-Apr-2024
reply by the author on 07-Apr-2024
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Hi Pam, thank you so very much for the review!! You taught seniors at your Alma Mater, what a brave soul!!! At least I didn't know any of them that first year. Funny thing was, the kids thought I was a lot older than I was just because of my position. In reality, I was only 3 years older than most of them. I bluffed my way through that age gap. I'm glad you didn't run out of the door, too!!
I actually had a student get so mad one time in physics when I dropped the book/paper wad that he threw his book across the room. He had been adamant about the book hitting first. At least he didn't throw it at me.
I'm glad you liked the time machine piece. You know my fantasy side has to rear its ugly head. I try...
Thanks again, my friend,
Rhonda
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You are very welcome for the review and comments, Rhonda. Yes, I was 3 or 4 years older than my students! It is hard to believe now. Some of them were brothers and sisters of friends I had grown up with. Thanks for sharing about the student throwing his book. I always said we could write books about teaching.
Comment from Dolly'sPoems
A good teacher takes this kind of interest in their students and with the right encouragement, students will find the joy in learning. Science was not my best subject at school, but I did enjoy the experiments as practical exercises help us to remember the lesson. I enjoyed your magical journey here, love Dolly x x x
reply by the author on 07-Apr-2024
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A good teacher takes this kind of interest in their students and with the right encouragement, students will find the joy in learning. Science was not my best subject at school, but I did enjoy the experiments as practical exercises help us to remember the lesson. I enjoyed your magical journey here, love Dolly x x x
Comment Written 06-Apr-2024
reply by the author on 07-Apr-2024
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Hi Dolly,
Thank you for stopping by to review, my friend.
I teach almost entirely through projects and labs for the very reason you mentioned. Kids sleep through lectures, sometimes I nod off, too, lol. Keeping them alert help them to learn. If I can make it fun, that much better.
Hugs,
Rhonda
Comment from karenina
Oh, how I wish I had you as a teacher.
Also--I employed similar techniques when teaching my patients essential lessons, such as how to dress a wound when discharged, or how to inject insulin.
Like you, as a new RN, I was all about not being consumed by the bureaucracy and (heaven forbid) causing a patient to complain.
That "spark" is the key!
Not enough -(Principal)- to check the boxes and move on.
Watch them as they sprout and grow, and you'll know when they've got it!
Love this.
I know far too many teachers who do nothing but "teach to the test."
Biting and vomiting facts is no path to success!
(BTW, I invoke poetic license all the time --poetry or prose!)
Karenina
reply by the author on 07-Apr-2024
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Oh, how I wish I had you as a teacher.
Also--I employed similar techniques when teaching my patients essential lessons, such as how to dress a wound when discharged, or how to inject insulin.
Like you, as a new RN, I was all about not being consumed by the bureaucracy and (heaven forbid) causing a patient to complain.
That "spark" is the key!
Not enough -(Principal)- to check the boxes and move on.
Watch them as they sprout and grow, and you'll know when they've got it!
Love this.
I know far too many teachers who do nothing but "teach to the test."
Biting and vomiting facts is no path to success!
(BTW, I invoke poetic license all the time --poetry or prose!)
Karenina
Comment Written 06-Apr-2024
reply by the author on 07-Apr-2024
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Karenina, I so very much wish I'd had you as a student! With your creativity, we would have had fun learning science.
I like the sprout and grow. That is a nice touch!
Many teachers teach to the test. When I first got to the school I'm in, I wore my principal out with all my projects and labs and such. He just knew they were all going to fail, but none of them did. Now he leaves me alone, lol.
Take care, and thanks so much for the review!!
Rhonda
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Thank you for your dedication as the truest kind of teacher! I truly think it is the noblest of all professions. You mold the future!
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I started out to be a doctor, and somewhere along the way became a science teacher instead. I've never regretted it for a moment, okay, maybe that first year, but after I survived that...
Thank you for your support. It was a kind thing to say. Oh, and I agree with Terry, we could use a few more karenina posts to review, lol.
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I'm in serious negotiations with the muse. Perhaps within the week?
(Smile)
That Terry sure likes to urge me along!
So nice of you to say!
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Hehe. Terry sicced us all on you!! But we love you, so all is good.
I've had knock down drag outs with my Muse before. He's just now given in (my father).
Comment from Brenda Strauser
I enjoyed reading your poem. It was very interesting and quite imaginative. I like the idea of the spark you were looking for in your students. The picture was well matched to your story. Well written. Great job.
reply by the author on 06-Apr-2024
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I enjoyed reading your poem. It was very interesting and quite imaginative. I like the idea of the spark you were looking for in your students. The picture was well matched to your story. Well written. Great job.
Comment Written 06-Apr-2024
reply by the author on 06-Apr-2024
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Hi Brenda. Thank you for your comments and your review on the chapter. It's great to be able to see that spark.
Take care,
Rhonda
Comment from Wendy G
I enjoyed this story, and as a teacher myself, I know exactly what you mean. It is the most wonderful reward a teacher can have. A pity that the principal had no idea. And yes working well with them throughout the whole year, and getting those sparks is the best preparation they could have. Well written.
Wendy
reply by the author on 06-Apr-2024
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I enjoyed this story, and as a teacher myself, I know exactly what you mean. It is the most wonderful reward a teacher can have. A pity that the principal had no idea. And yes working well with them throughout the whole year, and getting those sparks is the best preparation they could have. Well written.
Wendy
Comment Written 06-Apr-2024
reply by the author on 06-Apr-2024
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Hi Wendy,
I was probably not giving him enough credit. He's a good people person, but he's so focused on all the data you can't get him to talk about much else, lol.
I'm glad you've had similar experiences and can relate.
Take care,
Rhonda
Comment from forestport12
STARR sounds like NY Regents. For kids in school so much pressure is put on students to get a Regents as the high bar. HG Wells and the time machine, a nice touch and like the humor like, the Zombie, I'm going to take a bite out of you look. Different stuff, but I'm always into real life drama. Have a Stellar weekend!
reply by the author on 06-Apr-2024
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STARR sounds like NY Regents. For kids in school so much pressure is put on students to get a Regents as the high bar. HG Wells and the time machine, a nice touch and like the humor like, the Zombie, I'm going to take a bite out of you look. Different stuff, but I'm always into real life drama. Have a Stellar weekend!
Comment Written 06-Apr-2024
reply by the author on 06-Apr-2024
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Hi Stan,
Thank you so much for the review. I think the tests are horrible, but they don?t seem to be going anywhere, so, at some level, we have to play their game.
take care,
Rhonda
Comment from Carol Hillebrenner
You looked for the right thing, but sometimes it is so hard to foster. I doubt you were taught to look for that in college and I know I wasn't. For all the lessons we received, teaching is really a learn-as-you-go experience. This is well-written and should appear in a magazine for teachers. i have also met teachers who never had a clue.
reply by the author on 06-Apr-2024
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You looked for the right thing, but sometimes it is so hard to foster. I doubt you were taught to look for that in college and I know I wasn't. For all the lessons we received, teaching is really a learn-as-you-go experience. This is well-written and should appear in a magazine for teachers. i have also met teachers who never had a clue.
Comment Written 05-Apr-2024
reply by the author on 06-Apr-2024
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You know, Carol, you are completely right. They don?t teach that in college. In fact, college teaches theory and prepares you very poorly for the real thing. Just like birth classes. They never quite tell you how much it hurts.
Thanks so much for your perspective and history of finding your own sparks,
Take care,
Rhonda
Comment from Ric Myworld
I guess most all stories have at least a little truth scattered throughout the fiction, and to me, it has a tendency to make the adventures more believable. Thanks for sharing.
reply by the author on 06-Apr-2024
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I guess most all stories have at least a little truth scattered throughout the fiction, and to me, it has a tendency to make the adventures more believable. Thanks for sharing.
Comment Written 05-Apr-2024
reply by the author on 06-Apr-2024
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Ric, you are so right about truth mixed into fiction. When I first started writing publicly, I felt like my soul was laid bare. I?m a bit more used to it now, lol.
Thanks for the review,
Rhonda
