1. Describe your teaching day.
Piper and I have been teaching everyday this week! It has gone so great everyday. Of course there are things we could change to improve our lessons but for the most part, we have been very prepared and the lessons have gone well! We have tried a variety of different types of lesson plans and I must say that the variety is very helpful because it keeps the students interested. I am very happy to say that I feel as if our best lesson was the lesson we taught for our observation. It was a relief to know that we can actually do this! We have taught Social studies all week and our unit is on the American Revolution which has been so fun.
2. Describe your favorite part of the day.
My favorite part of the day is either social studies because we get to teach and interact with the kids, or writing. Writing time is the time I get to walk around and help students with whatever they need help with. I really get to know the students individually at this time which I love! Each student is so unique and so smart that I love seeing them progress so rapidly. I also love read aloud time because the students get to just be themselves and listen to me read a fun story. We are reading a mystery book right now that incorporates George Washington and the Continental army which is extra fun because it ties right into our social studies lessons!
3. What went well, what didn't work and what did you change?
The class is actually very good at listening while we teach. I was surprised at how well they take notes and stay on task. I was not expecting them to act like angels, especially while we were being observed. The whole class was participating and listening better than any class I have ever observed or been a part of before. As the week has gone by the students are getting more used to us and they are becoming louder than usual. As I have tried some of the teachers management strategies, I have noticed that some don't work as well for me as they do for her. If I would have made up my own management strategies I don't think that they would have listened as well as I'd like still. I think the best way to manage a class is to be there from the beginning. I noticed that they behave extremely well for the teacher especially when she uses her management strategies. When I have my own class I think things will be a little bit different because I will be the actual teacher.
4. To help your students you would...
I have been reading with students everyday. I have noticed that the students who read also excel in other subjects like writing, spelling, and even science and math. Reading with students has really opened my eyes and taught me how important reading is. The students read mostly fictional stories which the school is trying to steer away from but the students LOVE fiction. To get students interested in reading I really believe that they need to be able to choose what to read even if that means fiction. The students need to practice reading at this age and get in the habit of reading everyday. If the students can become interested in reading, then we should incorporate non fiction books and encourage them to learn from the information given. Until then, teachers should allow children to choose what they read. I believe that that will help the students the most during this time in their lives.
Brianna
ReplyDeleteIt sounds like you are having a great time. I love that you mentioned management techniques and how you are trying to find what works best for you. My cooperating teacher has let us use her management techniques and I like her point system (even though I forget to use it sometimes) but I have tried some of my own techniques as well. The class has been really good to adapt to my different style of teaching but she is way better at implementing management than I am.
I am sure your class loves you both. Brianna, you are so cute and warm they couldn't help but love you. I also understand what you mean when you are talking about classroom management. The class doesn't respond as well because we are visitors to their classroom and we are there for only a short time. But when we have our own classroom things will be different. At least they were great when you were being observed. I'm glad you are having fun teaching. Hope week three will be just as great!
ReplyDeleteI bet your class loves you! :) I haven't used my own management techniques much either. It seems a bit easier to stick with the ones that the teacher has in place because the students are more used to them. Isn't getting to know the kids the best?! I love learning about them in and out of the classroom. It's interesting to see their strengths and weaknesses. I like knowing where they excel and where I can be of help to them. I can't believe you guys are teaching every day! Way to go!
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