Week 6 started my first of two weeks in complete control at my placement. This was the part of my placement that I was really worried about before I started student teaching, just because I was quite sure that having that much responsibility would be a lot to handle and would be really tough to deal with overall. But, after going through my first week I can say with confidence that it went well and that I really enjoyed having a lot of control in the classroom, it actually was really nice and enjoyable for me and it affirmed in me my desire to be a teacher.
The week started out well, with starting another new story for Reading, but staying in the same unit in Math for the most part since our students are still at the same point that they were at. Mrs. Greene was able to come observe my reading lesson on Monday and I think that it went really well. I was pleased with the students work as well as my teaching and I was happy that she could come visit and see me work on a real lesson. She also gave some helpful ideas about teaching phonics to students and teaching reading in general. The rest of Monday went normally, which is a good thing in my placement. I have noticed that the other teachers in our building definitely trust me with more responsibility if they need something from the classroom or need something from one of my students. The students in my class also have continued to respect me more and come to me with their concerns instead of my cooperating teacher. Part of that is my cooperating teacher telling them to come to me with everything, but I think that I have also done a good job of supporting them where needed and also answering questions they may have.
Wednesday, Professor Harkema was able to come and observe my reading lesson. We were reading a story about pancakes so our class was able to make pancakes, which the students really enjoyed and I would like to think was helpful for them in the life skills department. Even though they are only in middle school, or younger, life skills are also helpful to be learned and can never be learned early enough in my opinion. I really liked how the lesson went and it was enjoyable to teach this lesson for me and I know that the students enjoyed themselves as well, I mean who doesn't love pancakes in the classroom?
On Friday, we had our Valentines Day Party in the afternoon, which was a blast. A few of our students who are very quiet really came out of their shells and were so excited to be taking part in the party. The party did get a little crazy at the end, with one student becoming quite defiant. I talked to him the hallway, he was also talked to by another teacher (my teacher was at parent/teacher conferences for her children in the afternoon, and by his paraprofessional but he was just really defiant. He comes from a pretty difficult home situation so he usually struggles with transition at the end of the day and leaving school because he doesn't want to go home. But overall the party was really fun and it was great to see the children enjoying themselves so much. We also finished our chapter book, Runaway Ralph on Friday which we had read for almost the entire time I was at our placement, so that was a big achievement for all of us.
This week was a busy week in which I taught all day everyday and saw a little taste of what is going to be like to be a real teacher, but I definitely enjoyed it, even though it was very tiring. Being responsible for every period of the day seemed to be quite the process, but it still went well and I was happy with the week overall. I was able to make some cool lessons throughout the week relating to the Olympics which I think the kids enjoyed and which were something that was definitely different for them. Next week I am teaching my edTPA lessons so hopefully those and my last week of student teaching at my first placement go well!
-Nate
Nate,
ReplyDeleteI enjoyed coming to your class and seeing you in action. I wish I had been there to see you make pancakes like the story you read about. I would like to hear more about your lessons relating to the Olympics.
Parties are stressful for students because they are not apart of the routine. So many times, acting out behaviors or defiant behaviors are apart of a celebration. This probably happens at home during celebrations, also. Students have high expectations for the day and the reality falls short. I use to, again, over-plan for a party by setting time limits for each activity or setting up stations that each student could move to. If the students could not handle too much stimulation, I would try to keep it low-key.
Good luck on your edTPA lesson.
God bless you!
I echo Vicki's thoughts; party days were ROUGH! I remember one of my students had his worst day ever on the day of our Halloween party. It is definitely a huge change from the normal routine; with differing transitions, expectations and activities. For Halloween, the mere fact that the entire school had a costume on was terrifying for a student that couldn't handle it if I wore my hair different a day or wore my glasses instead of contacts. (If you think about it, a party day has to be really confusing. All of a sudden during a "party" it is okay to not raise their hands, they are free to walk about the room , etc.) Stating expectations for the party is really important, and time limits for activities are great as well. Social Stories to prepare students for the day are also helpful.
ReplyDeleteI also agree that expectations for the party can fall short of the reality. I remember at a Christmas party a student had a complete melt-down over his grab-bag gift. Normally, the student would not have reacted in that way, but the party was just too much. (And then of course, the student who brought that particular grab-bag gift had a meltdown…party days were just so joyous!)
Our parties were always planned by PTA so I had little part in the planning, but that allowed me to take individual students out if necessary which was helpful. Bottom line: If you have control over your parties in the future, plan carefully! I found my students loved a party with some snacks, small social time, and then a relaxed cartoon movie. They were calm, happy, and actually enjoyed themselves (the point of a party, right?) Because I rarely showed movies, this was a real treat.
Good luck with TPA this week,
Prof Harkema
Nate, I totally identify with your enjoying being the one in control. I think that changes everything, and it will be even more so when you have your own class.
ReplyDeleteIsn't it sad when a student really doesn't want to go home because of home life situation. I think that emphasizes how we need to be that safe place for kids who may not have another safe place.