Monday: School closed Martin Luther King Day
Tuesday: School closed (snow day)
Wednesday: 2 hour Delay!
My first week was hardly a week! I picked up my first class and completed only 2 lessons. But as I sit back and reflect I'm glad. It worked well for me, I had about 20 minutes day one to introduce myself, get to know the students and introduce them to the unit. Day 1 went well but of course I really rushed through everything my nerves we're crazy!
My second day was a complete flop. I gave them the assessment for the unit which is to create a sheep or goat enterprise and I thought I explained it well, I told them we would be discussing a few sections of that in the lecture and I went through the lecture some took notes some didn't. What I thought would take the class period took me about 20 minutes leaving 15 minutes. Not because I didn't have enough prepared but because I went way to fast! And as I began to realize I was going to have 15 minutes left I started panicking and moving even faster. So with the remaining time I told them to work with a partner to start outlining their enterprise. By the end of the period I was exhausted answering questions that I should have been more clear about from the beginning and trying to explain that it wasn't as difficult as they we're making it.
Friday went well I gave them a project to do in the computer lab, as my nerves began to settle I was able to slow down and be more clear with my instruction, the students still asked questions but deeper questions about the assignment not questions for clarity.
My overall reflection for the week is that I need to remember that there is a great difference between the college setting and high school setting especially for 9th grade students and I cannot teach my students like I've been taught for the last 4 years.
Hi Annette! Sounds like you dove right in this week! I think your first few days sound like the typical experience for a student teacher. It is going to be really exciting to watch you grow in providing more clarity and develop strategies to eliminate student confusion. Your overall reflection is great. Sometimes it takes a lot longer for student teachers to realize that high school classrooms cannot be taught and managed like college classrooms. Its all about developing a felt need and providing engaging learning opportunities! Keep up the good work! I look forward to reading more about your internship!
ReplyDeleteAnnette,
ReplyDeleteThank you for sharing.
First, a suggestion on the blog: Consider bolding and underlining each day to make it easier to see day to day
On your reflection, It is always surprising when we learn how much our students do not know. I suggest building in multiple formative "comprehension" checks to make sure they are getting it!
Keep smiling and doing wonderful things.