1. Describe your teaching day
To begin each day, our cooperating teacher will write on the board what assignments students should be working on when they arrive to class. I love this technique because students arrive to class at different times and the students know to look at the board and to quickly get started on their work. While we are with our students they have math, language arts, computers, recess, and music. During music time our students either go to band, orchestra, or choir. Each of the groups our working on Christmas songs that they are going to perform in an assembly for the school and for their parents.
This week our school had an earthquake drill and we had the chance to see what happens during that. Once the kids hear the drill they quickly take cover under their desk. The students then line up, get the safety bag, and head outside. Once all the classes were all accounted for we could go back to class. All of the sixth graders also had a training on school safety in the library.
2. Describe your favorite part of the day
One of my favorite parts of my week is when I had a student come up and tell me that they were excited to have me in class. It may not have seemed like a big deal to that kid but to me her words meant the world. It is amazing what simple kind words can do.
Our class also started drawing some Turkeys for Thanksgiving. We have not finished them yet but we are going to work on them some more tomorrow.
3. What went well, what didn't work and what did you change?
One thing that went well this week is that I had a couple of opportunities to help students with their math. There were a few kids who were not understanding the assignment and so I sat down to see if I could help them. We broke the problem down and went through all of the steps. The kids followed very well and knew exactly what to do when we wrote down all of the steps. It was neat to see the kids go from being frustrated to feeling excited that they could do the problem. Sometimes we think we don't know something or we think we can't do something but when we can see it in a way that makes sense to us we realize that we really understand and can do more than we think we can. As we were going to recess one of the kids that I helped came up to me and thanked me for my help.
Something that I can always work on is helping to manage the class. Classroom management does take time and work but I am learning so much and gaining so many techniques that I am going to remember for my future class.
4. To help your students you would...
Last week I made a goal to learn more of my student's names. This past week I really worked hard to learn everyone's names but I still have a few more to go. I have found that when I get to know the student's I can better know how to help them. In my final day with my students I am going to let them know how much I have loved and appreciated working with them. I am going to remind them of how great they are and how they have been a great example to me.
I hope that everyone enjoys there last day in field!! I am excited to see everyone when we get back from break!! Have a wonderful Thanksgiving and a great break!! I am truly grateful and blessed to know you
Nikki:
ReplyDeleteI know what you mean about how much it means when they tell you they like having you there. That feels so rewarding and makes up for the hard things that are hard. I agree with you that learning names is important. I expected to struggle with that part, but I knew them all by the third day! I was shocked because there were 30 of them, but I did decide to make it a priority. When I was observed teaching my unit I wanted to be able to call on students by name and I think that helped. I'm excited to see everyone too, even though it was sad to say goodbye to my class.
Having the schedule written down on the board is very important! The students really rely on what they are going to be doing for the day. Today some of the students were in the classroom before the bell rang and they had not seen their teacher yet and they were worried that they were having a substitute because the schedule was not written on the board. LOL! They did not have a substitute, it just turned out that the teacher didn't have time to write it on the board yet.
ReplyDeleteHaving students tell you how wonderful you are is so rewarding! This is why teaching is so fun! I had a student tell me that having us in the classroom was awesome and that we were awesome!
I am excited to see you next week! You are a wonderful friend.
Have a Happy Thanksgiving!