I got to teach my first lesson and it was horrific. I am in a math classroom and I did the cheerio division to demonstrate long division visually by pairing cheerios into equal groups, and then showing students the lattice and "garage" method of division. The classroom has 9 students on IEP's. The entire class in addition to the IEP's had been grouped as "low level". So I got to Twenhofel at 7:20am and realized I had forgotten the cheerios at home. I ran home and made it back and was only a couple minutes late and jumped into my lesson. (I had called my teacher to let her know). I was so disoriented from the morning that I was scatter brained and as I taught was adjusting the material. The lesson started off ok, and the students seemed to understand the content when I had the problems on the board and they had to write their answer on their individual white board and hold it up...Then they got their homework. The students all had their hands raised and just didn't understand the content. It was so awlful. Then I got there this tuesday to teach the class again, and the students started not raising their hands to answer but just called out answers, and they began talking the whole time. The real teacher and resource teacher was absent and it was just me. I was struggling. I stayed calm and did not scream but I did talk to them and told them they were being disrespectful and that this was their last warning - the choice to do the work or not was their's. It worked and the students got focused and settled and worked. I just feel like my teacher won't let me take control and I wish it was my classroom that I could run my way. The odd thing is, my lesson and original style didn't work on the first class, but it worked for the second class I taught. But the second class I taught it to is considered an "average" class, and they ate it up - they loved it. They understood the content, had fun, wanted to do more, I challenged them and adjusted the material. It was awesome. And when I was leaving the teacher was having a sub the next day, and one kid asked if I could sub. That was the best reward I think I've ever gotten at school...

GETTING COMFORTABLE IN THE CLASSROOM

so finally i get to enjoy the classroom setting. last week my teacher assigned the students to do group work, and finally it wasn't involving reading the text and diving into the work book. i actually got to help work with the class while they worked on their projects, which they seemed to enjoy very much!! this was a more effective way for the students to learn as to having them go directly into their workbooks. the students are also getting more comfortable with me in the classroom and are asking questions and conversing with me which makes the atmosphere more comfortable! hopefully i will feel this comfortable when i teach my lesson for my observation!

The Lesson Plan from ______ (fill in the blank yourself)!!!!

Last Tuesday I was given the opportunity to teach my 1st ungraded lesson plan. It was a distaster. My practicum teacher gave me the book and photo copies of the teachers manual the previous Thursday and that was all the guidance I got. The teachers manual literally tells you step-by-step ow the lesson is to be taught, what questions should be asked, ect....no individual creativity required. I found it very boring and for being the history program the school uses, it wasn't user friendly at all. I got to Twenhofel at 7 on Tuesday to speak with my teacher prior to the students' arrival but he didn't show up until 7:30. When I asked him questions about teaching the lesson plan he was of no help. I've never felt so unprepared in my life. I read the material and teachers manual 3 times. I wasn't given all the paper and information I needed, which I wasn't aware of. I had to interlink the textbook, the "student interactive notebook", and the teachers manual and all were very unclear. The student's had that blank look on their face, while I taught the lesson, that was screaming "sit down, shut up, and let our 'real teacher' teach". Twenhofel praises the "History Alive" series but I dislike it. The History Alive series tells the you how to teach a lesson....it's in black & white in the teachers manual and there's no creativity required!!!!!

Last Thursday

Last Thursday went well. The students were all given a chance to participate in a hands-on project. I really liked the purpose of the project and how the teacher had everything organized. The one thing that struck me as "missing" was the high expectations for the students. It is important for students to know you believe in them and their abilities to do great work.

The teacher was really worried about students being able to do hand manipulatives--- cutting paper with scissors. It went very well and of course the kids were capable of cutting their paper correctly. Some had questions, some wanted reassurance that what they were doing was great, and overall it was a fun class.

Of course as an observer it is easy for me to say there were things that could have been done to make it "better," but really that is why reflection is so important for me as a student/teacher and the teacher. To make adjustments and to make progress, that should be part of a teacher's goal for self-improvement.

First Time Up

This past week I had my first time up in front of th class. It wasn't a graded teaching lesson, it was just me following my teachers lead from the previous class. I thought I did all right, but I didn't get much feedback from the teacher. Is the the norm? When I asked how I did he said, "fine" and that was it. My biggest problem was I think I was too quick with the directions of the assignment. I sometimes forget that these are 7th graders and they arent hanging on my every word. I need to slow and keep their atention, especially during directions, or I'll be repeating them six times like I did last week.

Reflection

What a week it has been in practicum. On Tuesday when I walked in to practicum I was shocked. There was not mention of 9/11 what so ever. I thought that was a little shocking, considering it was one of the most tragic events in American History. After hearing nothing about 9/11, my teacher looked at me said basically that I have to do nothing yet again because he is being observed by the Principal. Need less to say Tuesday was quiet a day in practicum for me.
Thursday did not seem to get much better. When I got there I found out the entire school was going to have a bus evacuation drill. That did not seem so bad. When the drill occurred students where told to act as if it is real event. The students that where in my class did not act if it was real and my teacher that I am with did not even take attendance during the drill. During the whole time of the drill students were talking and misbehaving, not paying attention to anything the bus driver or teachers where telling them to do.
After the drill and I had to think about the behavior of the students I thought what would I do in this situation when I am a teacher? I am still yet to have a conclusion, but if any one has a suggestions please let me know.