I feel like I've been in the classroom a million years already, but yet the week has flown by. One week down, eleven to go. And I'm exhausted already.
All in all, I'd say that the week was a success. I spent Monday observing and learning about the students and the school. Tuesday I actually starting working with kids, and really enjoyed that. For the rest of the week, I did small group work (tons of long division) and some one-on-one work. Today I read my first story out-loud, and I think the kids really enjoyed that! I also got to meet my clinical supervisor today. He seems pretty laid back so hopefully we will get along well. My first observation is scheduled for January 30!
My strengths in the classroom so far are in explaining and teaching. One of my students, M, was really struggling with long division, so I spent a good hour re-teaching and explaining it to him. The next morning, he brought me a donut that he said was from his mom for helping him with his division. His mom happens to be a teacher at our school, and when I saw her at lunch she thanked me for helping him and said that he finally got it! She said he came home so excited because "Ms. Holt finally explained it so I could understand it". I seem to have really helped several students like this over the week.
As far as classroom management is concerned, my main weakness is knowing when to step in. There really are very few problems in the classroom, and I really hate to get on the kids all the time, but I know it is necessary so that they see me as an authority figure. I have really been working hard to keep them quiet in the halls (a school rule) as well as on task in the classroom.
Well, 5 days down, 55 to go!
Friday, January 18, 2008
Thursday, January 17, 2008
Day 4 - You Can't Do it All
You can't do it all. You really can't. School starts at 7:45. School ends at 2:15. In between there, we're supposed to do one hour of guided reading, one hour of writing, one hour of Language/Word Arts, one hour of math, and one hour of social studies/math every other day. Oh and don't forget lunch, recess, and rotation classes (music, art, keyboard, computers, and library). Yes, technically there is enough time. If you add it all up, we have 5 extra minutes at the end of the day. But that doesn't account for transition time, bathroom time, extra help time....the list goes on and on. In real life, there's not enough time for half of what we need to cover. We haven't done a science or history lesson all week.
The people who write the curriculum have good intentions, I'll give them that. Yes, it is important for our kids to learn all of the things in it. Yes, the kids need to do well on their state assessments (or, I should say, the school needs the kids to do well on the assessments). Yes, the parents want the kids to learn all of this stuff so they can grow up and be doctors, or whatever. But there's just not enough time. Not unless we make the school day longer by about 3 hours and the year longer by about 3 months. Something's going to have to give.
The whole process looks good on paper. It really does. But it doesn't take a genius (or even an experienced teacher) to realize that it just doesn't work. If we want it to work, we're going to have to make some sacrifices in other areas. There are reasons why children in Japan are in school until six or seven at night, and all year long. That's what it takes. Do I want to be in school ten hours a day? Heck no. But if the government wants kids to learn everything they say they do, then I'd have to be. And so would the kids. And I don't think many parents would be up for that.
The people who write the curriculum have good intentions, I'll give them that. Yes, it is important for our kids to learn all of the things in it. Yes, the kids need to do well on their state assessments (or, I should say, the school needs the kids to do well on the assessments). Yes, the parents want the kids to learn all of this stuff so they can grow up and be doctors, or whatever. But there's just not enough time. Not unless we make the school day longer by about 3 hours and the year longer by about 3 months. Something's going to have to give.
The whole process looks good on paper. It really does. But it doesn't take a genius (or even an experienced teacher) to realize that it just doesn't work. If we want it to work, we're going to have to make some sacrifices in other areas. There are reasons why children in Japan are in school until six or seven at night, and all year long. That's what it takes. Do I want to be in school ten hours a day? Heck no. But if the government wants kids to learn everything they say they do, then I'd have to be. And so would the kids. And I don't think many parents would be up for that.
Day 3 - Oh the work
I'm starting to get overwhelmed already and I'm just getting started! After getting to school at 6:30 and not getting home until 4:30 (at least), I'm already exhausted! Then, I have to do the mom thing, the wife thing, plus all my extra stuff for school! I honestly don't know how two-working parent families do it! I imagine we will all get used to it.
I had a short day in the classroom today. All the 4th grade teachers had science training this afternoon from noon until 3:30, so that took up the second half of the day. The school is working with an AWESOME science program through Delta State University that essentially gives teachers science kits with everything done. It will save so much time in the classroom and be so great for the kids! It is wonderful!
One thing I did notice today in the classroom was some disorganization/chaos during research time in the computer lab. I think it can easily be said that we don't spend enough time on science or history (30 minutes twice a week for each subject) and today's science/history session was nearly worthless, in my opinion. My HT told students to research either The French and Indian War for history, or flowering and non-flowering plants for science. She didn't really give them any direction as to what to look for while doing this, just to print off good research. Needless to say, the kids went print crazy, printing everything they found (many things duplicates because they all went to the first result in the search engine) and not reading any of it. After 30 minutes in the computer lab, we had over 300 pages of printed material. I'm not sure what my HT is planning on having the kids do with it, but most of it is way above their level anyway! I think it would have been much more worthwhile if students would have had a few specified sites to go to and find specific information.
I'm going to start working on my first lesson plans tonight. My first real lesson will be in Mississippi History. I'm thinking of doing a jigsaw lesson, and I think that will work out really well as the students really enjoy working in groups.
I had a short day in the classroom today. All the 4th grade teachers had science training this afternoon from noon until 3:30, so that took up the second half of the day. The school is working with an AWESOME science program through Delta State University that essentially gives teachers science kits with everything done. It will save so much time in the classroom and be so great for the kids! It is wonderful!
One thing I did notice today in the classroom was some disorganization/chaos during research time in the computer lab. I think it can easily be said that we don't spend enough time on science or history (30 minutes twice a week for each subject) and today's science/history session was nearly worthless, in my opinion. My HT told students to research either The French and Indian War for history, or flowering and non-flowering plants for science. She didn't really give them any direction as to what to look for while doing this, just to print off good research. Needless to say, the kids went print crazy, printing everything they found (many things duplicates because they all went to the first result in the search engine) and not reading any of it. After 30 minutes in the computer lab, we had over 300 pages of printed material. I'm not sure what my HT is planning on having the kids do with it, but most of it is way above their level anyway! I think it would have been much more worthwhile if students would have had a few specified sites to go to and find specific information.
I'm going to start working on my first lesson plans tonight. My first real lesson will be in Mississippi History. I'm thinking of doing a jigsaw lesson, and I think that will work out really well as the students really enjoy working in groups.
Tuesday, January 15, 2008
Day 2 - A Bit of Clarity
Ah, today was much better than yesterday! It was so much easier to "see the forest through the trees", if you will. Yesterday I was so overwhelmed by all the details that it was difficult to see the underlying structure of the classroom. Part of the reason for this was because of an unfamiliar Language Arts Program. My HT uses a guided reading program which encompasses Reading, Writing, and Language Studies. Social Studies and Science are also often integrated in these areas because there is very little time left for these subjects. Students spend at least an hour every day reading various genres, an hour writing, and nearly an hour doing other language activities. There are also homogeneous guided reading groups, heterogeneous literature groups, and whole-class traybook studies. At any one time, every student is reading at least three books. The great thing about all of this is that the students actually love to read and get excited about it! Today during Community Meeting (all the kids gather on the carpet and the HT talks about upcoming books/events/projects) the HT brought out the Weekly Readers as well as the newspaper from today. I have never in my life seen ten-year-olds actually fight over a newspaper! It's inspiring.
Today I also got to work one-on-one with several students. The class is just finishing up long division, and there are a few students who really struggle with it, so I did a few extra problems with those students. I also read aloud with a couple students to help improve their fluency. I really enjoyed working with the kids, especially once I loosened up a bit. I have a few (okay, many) things to improve upon, but I'm at least starting to feel comfortable in the classroom. I still need to working on gaining confidence, but I think that will come with time and experience.
Looking toward the future, my HT and I are starting to plan for my first lessons that I'll be teaching. I'm going to start with Science and History, as those are the subjects that are least involved in this classroom. My first observation is in two short weeks, which seems entirely overwhelming at this point!
Today I also got to work one-on-one with several students. The class is just finishing up long division, and there are a few students who really struggle with it, so I did a few extra problems with those students. I also read aloud with a couple students to help improve their fluency. I really enjoyed working with the kids, especially once I loosened up a bit. I have a few (okay, many) things to improve upon, but I'm at least starting to feel comfortable in the classroom. I still need to working on gaining confidence, but I think that will come with time and experience.
Looking toward the future, my HT and I are starting to plan for my first lessons that I'll be teaching. I'm going to start with Science and History, as those are the subjects that are least involved in this classroom. My first observation is in two short weeks, which seems entirely overwhelming at this point!
Monday, January 14, 2008
First Day!!
I survived the first day! And survival is half the battle, right? In all actuality, I thought it went pretty well. I got to school around 6:45 this morning and met with my HT (host teacher) and she gave me a quick tour of the school. We got a few things ready for the class and then greeted students until 7:30. School actually starts at 7:45, but they have work to do before the bell rings. We started the morning with my introduction. I put together a "ME" bag with special items and the kids really seemed to enjoyed that. I took in some of my travel books, my Phantom of the Opera CD, some knitting needles and yarn, pictures, and a book about Wisconsin. The kids all wrote introductions in their journals and then read them for me. For the rest of the day I mostly observed and just helped monitor behavior in the halls. I also got to attend the faculty meeting (every Monday) after school.
The thing that shocked me the most today is just how much there is to keep track of while running a classroom. My HT is literally always doing four things at once. She uses a lot of groups in the classroom and sometimes has each group doing different things, especially during guided reading and literature circles. She keeps track of what every student is reading, every day during silent reading time. It seems so overwhelming right now!
My HT also just knows so much STUFF. She's read zillions of age-appropriate books, knows all the authors and tons of artists. My school really focuses on incorporating arts into the curriculum, and it's really amazing to see that in action. Today, for example, my HT introduced the class to geometry by reading a book called "The Lonely Triangle" in which a triangle becomes all sorts of different polygons. Then, the kids got to start an art project in which they drew themselves as a shape, just like in the book. This was all during math time. I've learned why it's important to integrate the arts, but it is fascinating to see it in action. Overwhelming, too! As a teacher, how do you find these resources? How do you know they even exist? Fascinating.
My one weakness today was not being assertive enough with the students. For the rest of the week, I want to take more control with discipline issues. My HT is not as "strict" as I would be in my own classroom with "off-topic" behavior. That being said, the kids really are well-behaved and seem to do a good job self-regulating. My HT may very well have taught them this at the beginning of the year.
Overall, I think it was as good a first day as it could have been. Everyone seems very nice and very willing to help me learn, and one teacher even gave me a PILE of teacher junk! That will be great to add to the stash!
The thing that shocked me the most today is just how much there is to keep track of while running a classroom. My HT is literally always doing four things at once. She uses a lot of groups in the classroom and sometimes has each group doing different things, especially during guided reading and literature circles. She keeps track of what every student is reading, every day during silent reading time. It seems so overwhelming right now!
My HT also just knows so much STUFF. She's read zillions of age-appropriate books, knows all the authors and tons of artists. My school really focuses on incorporating arts into the curriculum, and it's really amazing to see that in action. Today, for example, my HT introduced the class to geometry by reading a book called "The Lonely Triangle" in which a triangle becomes all sorts of different polygons. Then, the kids got to start an art project in which they drew themselves as a shape, just like in the book. This was all during math time. I've learned why it's important to integrate the arts, but it is fascinating to see it in action. Overwhelming, too! As a teacher, how do you find these resources? How do you know they even exist? Fascinating.
My one weakness today was not being assertive enough with the students. For the rest of the week, I want to take more control with discipline issues. My HT is not as "strict" as I would be in my own classroom with "off-topic" behavior. That being said, the kids really are well-behaved and seem to do a good job self-regulating. My HT may very well have taught them this at the beginning of the year.
Overall, I think it was as good a first day as it could have been. Everyone seems very nice and very willing to help me learn, and one teacher even gave me a PILE of teacher junk! That will be great to add to the stash!
Sunday, January 13, 2008
I start tomorrow!
I can't believe I actually start my demonstration (student) teaching tomorrow morning! It has been a really long process, and I am excited to get started, but I'd have to say that right now I'm more nervous than excited. First of all, I'm nervous because I feel so unprepared. I know this sounds really bad, but it just seems like such an undertaking. I'm supposed to somehow remember everything I've learned in the last year and a half and put it all to practice and become sort-of good at it in just 12 weeks. I know that I have prepared - I did all of my work and read my texts and watched the case studies. Right now I'm just afraid that I have either forgotten all of it, or what I haven't forgotten I will forget right when I need it. I suppose most of it will come back when I need it to, and what doesn't I can always look up.
I'm also nervous because I'm inherently not an "outgoing" person. I've really tried to work on this in the last couple of years, and have made some good improvements, but I'm certainly not what you would call "bubbly". I get butterflies every time I have to talk in front of people. My friends and family say that this will get better the more I do it, and I'm hoping that they are right!
So tomorrow is the big day. I met with my host teacher last week and she seems very nice and friendly. She's been a teacher for nine years and works with the state to create the state assessments. The school I am teaching in is one of the best in the state, and is in a very "white-bread" community. I haven't yet met my principal or clinical supervisor, but I'm hoping to do so very soon. Wish me luck tomorrow!
I'm also nervous because I'm inherently not an "outgoing" person. I've really tried to work on this in the last couple of years, and have made some good improvements, but I'm certainly not what you would call "bubbly". I get butterflies every time I have to talk in front of people. My friends and family say that this will get better the more I do it, and I'm hoping that they are right!
So tomorrow is the big day. I met with my host teacher last week and she seems very nice and friendly. She's been a teacher for nine years and works with the state to create the state assessments. The school I am teaching in is one of the best in the state, and is in a very "white-bread" community. I haven't yet met my principal or clinical supervisor, but I'm hoping to do so very soon. Wish me luck tomorrow!
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