First Week!!!

I don't really know how to start this blog about the first week. I have so much going through my head after this week.It is hard to reel it all in. I was in Ms. Usenia's class at North Providence High (She is amazing by the way!). I wanted to see all of the classes that she teaches before deciding which class I would want to teach in week 4. She teaches for four periods, she told me that at North Providence the English teachers don't teach a fifth period because they are given an extra period to grade compositions. I had never heard of a school doing that so I found that interesting, especially since we are learning that writing should be an emphasis in all content areas but then only English teachers are given an extra period during school hours to grade writing.
After watching Ms.Usenia's classes I think that I want to teach her American Experience class. It is a two hour period because the class is co-taught by an English teacher and a History Teacher. I love the energy in that classroom and mixing the two contents is clearly beneficial to the students. Both teachers have created an environment that the students feel comfortable sharing in. I could tell at first that this class saw me almost as a intruder in their safe zone. I think the more time I spend with them the more they will feel comfortable sharing with me and in front of me. At the moment this class is covering Puritans so Ms.Usenia is planning on sparking their interests with some writing activities on Pocahontas and Disney next week. Can't wait!!!