MY OBSERVATION WENT WELL...

so i had my practicum observation with faulkner and i think it went really well. i was really concerned with the students not behaving well, but they were on their best behavior! i couldn't be more happy! my lesson for my observation was mummifying a chicken since we were talking about egypt, and it couldn't have been a more perfect timing because my students had just done a lesson on ramses ii and how he is one of the best mummies preserved and so this tied in real well with my lesson. the students loved getting their hands messy, and the students were more engaged today than i have seen all year. the students being engaged in my lesson and also eager to share information on mummification and stories is what made me so happy because i don't think it could get any better than this!! it also helped when one of the students told me that this was the most fun that they've had in school all year!! so after all the stress of my practicum observation, i couldn't have asked for a better outcome!!

Arrogant, Brave, & Young...

My social studies teacher was gone on tuesday and they had a substitute - the substitute teacher played MLB for the Florida Marlins. When he told me that, I thought for sure the students would be too distracted by that to take their test. The kids did better than I expected, although I did catch two girls cheating.

Not wanting to ruin rapport with them so early into my time there, I told them I would take their test and shred it, give them a blank test and sit them on the other side of the room from one another. They seemed so grateful, so I kept my word. I separated them and shred their tests and when I turned around guess what? They were cheating from across the room.

So I let them take the test, and when they turned it in - I put a note on it for my teacher explaining the whole thing. I was giving them a second chance - why would they choose to sabatoge that chance?

Do - Over

A Second Chance to Shine... that's what I call it. My observation went not so great so now I get my do-over Dec. 4th. I'm actually excited to re-do and try to pull out all the stops to impress my students, co-op teacher and of course Cook. Not to mention myself. I need to put everything into perspective and just make this semester do-able.

I Killed Two Birds With One Lesson!

I was observed today, and I must admit to some serious trepidation. Last year, I pretty much fell on my face. I prepared a great lesson, arranged to have the smart board delivered to my teacher's classroom, and presented a PowerPoint with integrated videos and cartoons. I put some serious effort into the lesson, but I lost control of my students. I was so nervous, that I began to talk faster and faster until I'm sure I sounded like a record played on the wrong speed. Due to this pace, I rapidly ran out of material and quickly began to flail!

This year, however, I wasn't quite as nervous. Don't get me wrong, I was still dang nervous--but to a bit lesser scale. Thank God. And guess what? I prepared more material than I thought I'd use, just in case I talked too fast. I had the kids up and active, but they didn't get out of control (this may've been due to a...shhh...little bribe. You see I promised cookies if they didn't embarrass me in front of my professor).

My professor arrived at 10:30, so I taught the same lesson before that class--and had my Practicum teacher observe that one. Now, I only have one more (the American Revolution one) to do. So I'm stoked about that.

I have yet to meet with my professor, so I don't yet know how I actually did--but I think it was better than last year. They say practice makes perfect, but right now I'd settle for practice making me better. Perfect, might not be attainable with teaching and all its variables.

Out of Content Class

Today I decided to get my "out of content" classes done since my cooperating teacher wasn't there and when I was introduced to the substitute teacher he completely blew me off when I said "hi" and "good morning". Anyway, I observed and 8th grade english class and a special education room with 5 autistic boys and 1 autistic girl in it. It was quite an experience just observing their behavior. The mood swings were spontaneous and at times quite funny. The girl said that her stomach hurt and that it felt like a wolf ran into it, which was funny because of how she said it and her facial expressions. I'm glad I obsevred this classroom because I did get a better understanding of what special education teachers have to deal with on a daily bais nad how much patience it requires. I admire them because it's something that I don't think I'd ever be able to do. However, I will be glad to be back into the history classroom on Thursday.

I got observed!!

I was observed last week by Dr. Faulkner. It actually went pretty well, which I didn't expect with it being my first ever self created lesson plan. As I reflected all I could think of was the things that I did wrong. There's nothing more embarassing when a student asks you a question and you don't have the faintest idea how to answer the question. I realize this will happen from time to time, but I felt this was a question I should've been prepared to answer. After my observation I went in to meet with Dr. Faulkner and he thought I did a fine job. Needless to say that was a relief. One suggestion I would make, which I overlooked but many of you probably didn't, is to schedule a time to be observed so that you can have a "practice class" to get a test run with your lesson. I failed to think about that and it hurt me a little, since lessons tend to get better the more you do them. All in all it ended up being a good experience.

Observed On Thursday!

Well I was observed on Thursday and it did not go so hot. As I said last week in my blogg I was not near as nervous last year as I was this year. I am not sure why I was but I was. Since Monday of last week I had changed my lesson plan 7 diferent times and did not like any of the plans, but I went in with one that Dr. Cook had given me suggestions on. I went in on Thursday morning nervous as can be. I taught the first bell class and everything went great. Then came the second bell class. They came in like perfect angels and never said a word during the whole class, (that is good because this class is usually the one from ____________. You fill in the rest.)Since they never really said anything at all we went through the lesson in about 10 minutes. That was problem number 1. I had that thought it would take at least 20 minutes adn then the rest of the time they would work on the student activity. So for about 30 minutes the students were working on a coloring project of culture and I walked around like an idiot for the rest of the time. Nothing went right all except for the students being angels which never happens. O well at least my lesson is over.