Turpin TPA Newsletter
September 24, 2021
Important Dates and Shout Outs:
IMPORTANT DATES
- Oct. 11 - Nov. 1 - Holiday Wreath Fundraiser
- Oct. 12, 4:00-8:00 pm - Chipotle Fundraiser Night
- March 9-10 - Educators Rising Ohio State Conference
SHOUTOUTS
- Brynn Miller and the JV Golf Team - Brynn is on the JV golf team which came in 1st place at ECC. Congrats, Brynn!
- Laney Marcum & Connor Black - Laney and Connor were both on the Homecoming Court. Congrats, Connor and Laney!
- Emma Sanders - Emma was the Cheerleader of the Week last week! Congrats, Emma!
- Kat Thorp - Kat was inadvertently left off the last newsletter for the congratulations to the Marching Band for their first place win at Tipp City. Congrats, Kat! Sorry for the error!
Intro to TPA
PSAs and History of Education
Last week, students in Intro to TPA worked in pairs to create public service announcements about topics they felt were important at Turpin High School. These PSAs had to have a clear message for an intended audience. Students conducted research and used storyboards to plan their PSA videos. The class presented PSAs to promote community service and volunteerism, suicide awareness, and reducing homework to improve student mental health. The PSAs were creative and thoughtful.
Students will be presenting their History of Education projects next week. To start this unit off, students were visited by Goody Rowe and took part in a colonial classroom activity. This activity required them to practice skills that were valued in colonial America as if in a one-room classroom with a morally strict teacher. It's a silly activity that gets students engaged in the history of education in America in a hands-on way. Students will present highlights from seven different eras in our history through a timeline and a creative activity of their own to help the class understand how historical events have shaped our education today.
TPA I
Teacher Salary, Benefits and Unions
TPA I students have been looking at all the benefits of becoming a teacher. While there are many "feel-good" benefits of sharing passions for learning, engaging with young people, and making an impact, there are also tangible benefits. Students explored various models of salary schedules, teacher contracts, and the State Teacher Retirement System. We had discussions about how teachers can earn more money on various scales and also the "fairness" of teacher pay.
Chemistry teacher, Gayle Garza, stopped into TPA I to share her wealth of knowledge about teacher unions. Students learned about the benefits of belonging to a teacher union and all that teacher unions do for teachers - like negotiating contracts and offering its members representation. As a class, we discussed the personal choice to join a union and some pros and cons to membership.
Finally, students took a look at what is required to earn a teaching license. Students looked at education programs of interest at their top choice schools. Students also were required to look up the Ohio Assessments for Educators to determine what the testing requirements were to earn a teaching license in their field of interest.
While this is arguable our most cut and dry unit, it is important for students to gain experience with employee contracts. Even if students choose not to become a teacher, all careers deal with benefits, salaries and retirement, etc. This unit touches on a number of workplace and real-world skills that are beneficial for future employees of any career.
TPA II
You'll notice that the senior TPA II students will be contributing to our TPA newsletter for the rest of the year. Students are required to communicate with families as part of their portfolio. Their submissions are entirely their own - I will only ever edit for errors. Thus, our TPA Newsletter can serve a dual purpose of keeping our TPA families in the know AND allowing TPA students the real-world opportunity to communicate as a teacher might to their families. Enjoy our first two contributors, Bella and Stevie!
Philosophy Portfolio by Bella Bolin
Students just completed their Door Philosophy project for another teacher in the building. The purpose of the project was to interview a teacher and decide from their answers what their teacher philosophy was. The next step was to create a door cover or pictures/words that described the teacher's philosophy in a fun way.
Placement Updates by Stevie Buening
Over the last few weeks, our TPA II students have been going to different schools for their placement. Students have been actively engaged in real classrooms while student teaching. All of our students have been really enjoying these activities. They are able to connect with students and get a real teaching experience.
For more Turpin TPA photos, follow us!
Mrs. Rowe
Turpin High School / Great Oaks Career Campuses
Email: rebeccarowe@foresthills.edu
Location: 2650 Bartels Road, Cincinnati, OH, USA
Phone: 513-232-7770
Twitter: @TurpinTPA