Question for teachers

[VWE]

Do any of y'all use a PDA for example grading papers at home and then transfering the data by hot syncing to your computer in your class room? My girlfriend started a new career as a teacher and this being her first year she's a little overwhelmed, so would a PDA be a useful tool to help in cutting down the workload? If so any recomendations? I've been looking at reviews on CNET and price wise the Palm TX looked pretty good...

[Vudak]

I'm not a teacher, but have quite a few in my family and they all think regular old flashdrives are the greatest thing ever invented.  Just copy and paste and you're golden.

As far as a PDA goes, well, it might work ok if you're good with one, but they seem to me to be the sort of thing that might take awhile to get used to, and that might just add to the overwhelming.

[Maverick]

Flash drive, thumb drive, whatever you want to call it. Small and easy to keep on your person so you don't leave it laying around on the desk for some kid to walk off with. Cheaper too.

[AWMac]

Originally posted by VWE
Do any of y'all use a PDA for example grading papers at home and then transfering the data by hot syncing to your computer in your class room? My girlfriend started a new career as a teacher and this being her first year she's a little overwhelmed, so would a PDA be a useful tool to help in cutting down the workload? If so any recomendations? I've been looking at reviews on CNET and price wise the Palm TX looked pretty good...

Lost me here with:

PDA: Pretty Dumb Answer

CNET: Could Never Explain This

Palm TX: Not even going there, yet I'm sure folks in Texas are mad.

BTW did ya'll see the new Hardees commercial for the flat buns?



Mac


Man when I was in school all we had were these old grey haired, smelled like medicine, mean as rabid Bull Dawg teachers.  It didn't make me smarter, it just made me fear Grandmothers.  Boys don't know how good it is now a days... Teachers looking like Centerfolds.

[Airscrew]

Originally posted by AWMac
BTW did ya'll see the new Hardees commercial for the flat buns?
 

I'm not a fan of flat buns,  I prefer the more rounded buns

[eskimo2]

Almost every teacher I know uses a flash drive.
Some grade books are only available from school computers; some can be accessed at home.

The most important advice I can give to any new teacher is to ask the experienced teachers at their school what things they REALLY have to do.  No one can realistically do all of the things that they tell you that you have to do or are supposed to do.  The key is figuring out what is important and what the administration really follows through on/cares about.
New teachers often try to do it all and then panic near the end of the year when they realize that they are running out of time.  One example is Standards/Graded Course of Study.  Many states throw way too much material to cover in one school year (like maybe US history from 1750 to 1950, or something silly like that).  
Coming to the realization and acceptance that you can’t do it all is key to survival in education.

[BBBB]

My wife is a 9th grade English teacher. The county she works for gives all of them lap tops. Her grade book is on there. Plus she keeps a back up on a flash drive. As for grading papers and sending them to the laptop.. that seems a bit pointless.

 My wife grades the students papers before she comes home at night. It only takes a few min per class, then in the morning she comes in and puts the grades into the grade book. So I am not sure why your girlfriend overwhelmed by grading papers and transferring the grades to her lap top or grade book. A PDA would just add another step to a process your girlfriend seems to be struggling with already.

-Spot

[SkyRock]

Originally posted by eskimo2


The most important advice I can give to any new teacher is to ask the experienced teachers at their school what things they REALLY have to do.  No one can realistically do all of the things that they tell you that you have to do or are supposed to do.  The key is figuring out what is important and what the administration really follows through on/cares about.

Always cover your arse(document everything), get a good mentor(vet teacher), sacrifice some planning periods to observe some teachers that are Board Certified or teachers that your mentor knows is going by the books, join a union as they have vital insurance and representation that all teachers should have, and work your arse off because it is the fastest way to garner respect from your students and colleagues.

As far as the grading goes, jump drives are to all the theachers at our school every year in August.  They are conveniant and do the trick, but if you're looking for a program that will help you, there are many on the market.  mygradebook.com and many others have low cost programs that work very well but I would first go to the central office and see if they have programs that are free for the teachers in her district.  

I hope this helps!:aok


Mark

[Phaser11]

I am a teacher, well was until I got laid off this fall because of low enrollment. I still have my other job though. Any hoo, as for teaching, the flash drive is the way to go. Be sure she encrypts it with a password for access, those little buggers will want to get there hands on it. As for a PDA, I use one in my current job, but never used it in conjunction with teaching except to maybe take notes and use the calendar.
 Now don’t get me wrong, PDA’s are great! I can get my email and even control the servers from it.

[BBBB]

Originally posted by Phaser11
I am a teacher, well was until I got laid off this fall because of low enrollment. I still have my other job though. Any hoo, as for teaching, the flash drive is the way to go. Be sure she encrypts it with a password for access, those little buggers will want to get there hands on it. As for a PDA, I use one in my current job, but never used it in conjunction with teaching except to maybe take notes and use the calendar.
 Now don’t get me wrong, PDA’s are great! I can get my email and even control the servers from it.

 That just happened at my wife's school. There was a stabbing, a fire and a huge fight all in less then one week. Parents were pulling kids out of that school like crazy. The school ended up with way lower enrollment levels and the school fired about six teachers.

 Luckily, my wife is an English teacher with a reading endorsement so she is in high demand. I do not envy you teachers Phaser. I will take hanging my bellybutton in the air and rough landings any day of the week, over dealing with those bad bellybutton kids daily.

 Prior to meeting my wife I just figured teachers were whiny, claiming they did not make enough money and all that. Now I see it first hand, teachers do not make enough money for the stuff they have to put up with everyday.

-Spot