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Feedback from Jock's 'Teacher Man' Session...

Jock’s presentation was a good reminder that we have to have fun in the classroom.

I love how Jock is so creative, incorporating kinesthetic ideas.

The visual essay was amazing. I’ll try this!

Loved your humor and style of presentation

Great job! Thanks for sharing!

This was excellent!

Feedback from 'Assessment: Practical Ideas for the Team'

Thanks for all the practical information. I know about parent marking, the throat vote, and student-led conferences. Great job.

You asked us to put little tick marks to ensure that we left this session with at least three ideas. I’ve got six that I can use immediately. Thanks for sharing.

Feedback from 'Beginning Teachers: Adding to the Toolbox'

The reward ideas for classroom management were great! I really enjoy how you are sharing your strengths now, but you also are sharing what your weaknesses were. It is very inspiring to listen to you because you are so successful and are sharing your journey of learning as a teacher.

Very informative presentation. Jock was funny and informative . . . provided great Power Points.

Excellent strategies. I love the applicability of the session. He has a good sense of humor and he knows where new teachers are coming from.

It is helpful to have practical advice and activities for the classroom. More time would have been better

Feedback from 'Classroom Management: No Fears, No Tears'

Excellent! – practical – easy to apply ideas + refreshing presentation. PLEASE have him back again for another convention.

So helpful & funny & considering how packed it was in here, clearly I am not alone in needing help with this.

You are a person who would be remembered way, way after your time!!!!  You are wonderful; you captivate your audience, and your humor is genuine. Your attitude and warm personality has a ripple effect on others. I most certainly enjoyed your presentation. What did I learn? The big idea is to practice, believe & promote a positive learning environment. E.g Give students the ownership of their environment. What a great idea: Have the students make & display their own posters, etc.

From an e-mail received after a session: You may recall meeting at your session in November; please forgive me for not contacting you sooner to thank you for mailing your materials on long
range plans and parts of speech.

I left your session feeling inspired and rejuvenated! (That's almost as great as taking a vacation!!)  I have incorporated a lot of your strategies into my teaching practices!

Your assistance has inspired me to create the activities attached. I thought I'd send them your way in the event that you might find them useful.

Feedback from 'Differentiated Instruction Need Not Be So Different'

Kiss strategy was great. Everything was easy to follow and not overwhelming. Not treated as a “New idea” but more as the strategy that, used in small steps, will be used rather than discarded after a week
of rah rah we are going to use this. Very personable and effective speaker.

Well researched. Very pleasant to listen to.
Very good. I enjoyed the humor and how you described the importance of
finding new experiences and then sharing.

You made it real – real-life ways to use it in the classroom.

Easy to understand steps towards implementing D.I.

 

Feedback from 'Essay Writing: The Basics '

Very well presented. Well thought out steps. Clearly laid out. Thank you ! Very helpful.

Great session, Jock – this is the third time I’ve sat in on one of your sessions & I always leave with something practical that I can use in my classroom the next day. I enjoy your anecdotes about your experiences with your kids in class.

It wasn’t fluff. I actually got some practical advice that I can use in my classroom.

Basics will really get any teacher going when starting to write essays. I really like the idea of the “Mackenzie Snake” editing process.

 

Feedback from 'Individual Program Plans (IPP’s): Effective Strategies'

He was great. I enjoyed his presentation very much. Gave good insight. Loved that he has a sense of humour. Thank you.

Very useful examples. Easy to follow and useful tips to start on Monday.

Very practical, down to earth, teacher/kid friendly.

 

Feedback from 'Learning to Remember'

Great opening, I liked the music playing when I entered. I also liked how Jock interacted with the people that have come to his session. Very practical strategies.
Voice easy to listen to- good intonation- humorous
Packs +++ info into short time, Identifies with participants

Great ideas for remembering. I really got the feeling you walk your talk!

Good practical ideas, Excellent! Very helpful and amusing

Strengths were eye contact, and other person involvement

 

Feedback from 'Middle School Teachers As Reading Teachers'

We need more sessions like this where we emphasize that reading be taught in all classes. Lots of practical ideas.

Stuff that I can actually take into my classroom. Excellent!Thanks, Jock! Great opportunity for sharing.

I came from Jock’s essay session because I enjoyed his presentation style and helpful hints. We would need more room if he returns next year. I will take a lot to the class with me.

Awesome! Wish we had more time.

 

Feedback from 'The Other Parts of Language Arts'

Lots of “getting attention” strategies & ideas & relating to the audience & involvement. J Thank you!                 

Very organized. Great speaker. Kept on time. Lots of great examples. Looking forward to checking out website.                                    

I was going to leave because I teach ELA 10 – 20 – 30 but could not get out. I am glad I stayed. I will use these examples in my classes.

I loved this session! I could listen to you speak all day! I teach Gr. 3, and there were so many practical ideas I could use. Thank you for doing what you are doing to help teachers.

 

Feedback from 'Poetry and Song'

Music as intro was fitting/fun. Good outline of what the presentation was to be about. Your presence was NONTHREATENING – THANKS – I didn’t feel stupid A great review. Got new ideas too. Thanks for a trip down memory lane. FUN!

The question and answer section was a great idea. Friendly, easy to listen to and follow.

I like how you reminded teachers to take care of themselves and collaborate rather than do it all alone

Your many years of experience made this a very ‘real’ session. Thank you for acknowledging some of the many issues we face. Humorous.

 

Feedback from 'The Plot Thickens: Writing Short Stories'

When I came in and saw the hand-out, I almost didn’t stay as I was familiar with the information, but he embellished it in a way that will add greatly to my teaching skills.

Thanks for the inspiration, and great ideas!

Great ideas. I really like the use of comics. A fresh perspective on a sometimes tired topic. It renewed my enthusiasm.

I have been in other sessions with Jock. Each one has been great – a treasure chest. None of them have been just repeats of the previous one.