Comments on UbD Plan

After being relieved that I wasn't the reason that I couldn't publish my plan on the class wiki, I can now reflect on the association between Ubd and T.W.I.F. and " Did You Know."  Putting together this unit plan involved a great deal of thought process on my part.  I will admit that I am an old school "Chalk and talk" type of classroom teacher who is usually satisfied when students are able to spit back information to me.  Times have changed.  Students have changed.  My teaching day has changed ( block scheduling).  I have to come up with ways to engage my students because if I am going to continue to teach these students today the way I did yesterday, I will not be doing them or myself any good.  One of the positives of teaching in a block schedule is that i have become more creative in my teaching approach in able to keep my students entertained, for lack of a better term.  If we can get them to use more critical thinking skills and participate in meaningful class discussion, among other essential tasks, we stand a greater chance of preparing them to be able the challenges that lie ahead of them in the 21st century.  Furthermore, I agree with the NJ CCCS phraseology that includes accountability on a global scale.