One Super Busy Week

I’m back!! 🙂

I am going to pretend that someone out there miss me…well miss my posts 😉

The first week of September was the busiest week of 2013…well, so far! I had tons of works that needed to be done before this week ends. Not that I complain about it, it’s just I barely able to do anything but doing my school works.

From September 2 to September 6, my school had an assessment week. Because we are using IB curriculum, I have to write the test or create my own assessment. The problem is not in making the test; it’s on how to assess it. IB has its own way to assess and I knew nothing about it. Just when I about to start assessing my students, one of the teachers asked me whether I had made a rubric for the assessment. I was like “what’s a rubric?” she explained quickly and I raced against the time to make my rubric.

There are grade levels with the description of how a student can reach that level. The description was a bit abstract and it’s my job to make it clearer by writing task specific clarification. If you are confused reading this…imagine how I feel at that time!

Somehow, I managed. I made assessment rubric for grade 6 and 8. I made the written test for Grade 6’s Design and Technology, Practical test for Grade 10’s chemistry and physics. Fortunately, grade 8’s summative assessment was presentation of human system, all I have to do was listening to them and gave them their grade level. I haven’t made (till today) the rubric for grade 10’s practical test. Lucky I haven’t made it because I knew better know how to make the rubric.

I also have to finish my Unit planners. Unit planer is our teaching plan for one unit and one unit covers about 5 – 6 weeks. We have to make it before the next unit start. The second unit for this semester begins next week and all the teachers have to finish the planner this week. I am still learning how to make planner because it’s so different to my national curriculum. For this part, this is entirely my own mistake. I should have managed my time better. I should have made the planner for unit 2 way before this week…BUT I was still in a world of confusion, so I kept delaying it. Thank God I know about making planner much better now.

I know more about planners, rubric and assessment because I had a very interesting course for the past three days 🙂

I was sent to a MYP Induction Course from September 5 to 7. Although the date of the course ruined my plan to go to Gunung Gede (Mount Gede), but I was so grateful to be sent to that course. Before September 5, I had to prepare written test for physic and chemistry for grade 10 and reflection paper for grade 6. I left all those tasks to another teacher because I couldn’t attend school due to the course.

Let’s talk a bit about the course!

I LOVE THAT COURSE!!!!

For the past two months I felt like swimming in a muddy river trying to grabs everything but none of them were clear. Everything was just pieces of information that couldn’t explain the grand idea. Within two and half days in that course, I learned more than I have in two months. I felt my brain was full of so many information and knowledge of the curriculum…but I love it.

There were about 30 teachers from about 10 schools in Indonesia that use IB curriculum in their schools. Most of the teachers in the course were westerners, there were some Pilipino and some Indonesians … but mostly Caucasians. All of them (me too) are new to IB MYP (international Baccalaureate for Middle Year Programme). I like the class atmosphere, so many nationality but we all listen to one man who knows a lot about IB MYP.

Pak Liam (Pak is how students in Indonesian call their male teachers), the teacher or the tutor who taught us about IB MYP was really good. His way of delivering the information was very clear and easy to understand. He is also a very kind man because he still accepts personal questions during the break. Since he is also a science teacher like me, I asked quite a lot about how to assess the students and I learned that I have made a mistake in my assessment. I also learned how to do it better next unit. Other teachers were also helpful. I met another teacher who has been teaching physics for years, he told me to email him anytime I have questions and need a better material. Mr. Larry is new to IB MYP but he has a lot of experience in physics.

I actually felt a bit sad when the course ends. I learned so much and I always love learning new things. Stuffing new files of knowledge into the row of shelves in my brain is wonderful. I can’t wait to go to Cambridge conference in Singapore next month where I will learn other new things…the Cambridge curriculum (as I have said in my previous post that my new school has two curriculums).

Me and the other teachers on the same table

It has been a tiring week but also a fun week 🙂

Self note: I have to fix my time management so that I don’t have cluster of works in one week!

Hope you guys have a much more relax week than me 🙂