So I am teaching a total of three classes so far. There is block scheduling so on odd days I am only teaching one class (twelfth grade honors) and then on even days I am teaching two class (per.3 is a tenth grade honors and per.5 is a twelfth grade cp class). This is the first week that I have both classes in one day. It is stressful but I like it. I am so happy that I am finally getting a chance to get some real "teachery" experiences. The classes are back to back so I have to be ready to transition between the two classes quickly.
Today I had per. 3 in groups so I had to make sure that the class room was re-arranged into a circle for Period 5. I had to change the warm up on the board and the "objective of the day". They are small things...but before this week I have had a whole hour to prepare and double check everything. Now I have a few minutes between classes to get things ready for the next group of students walking in. Things have gone well the the past two days that I have had two classes but I can see why I need to be prepared before the start of everyday. There is not really anytime in between to prepare anything/ make copies. I am always prepared but my biggest worry right now is forgetting something. I find myself counting the copies to make sure I have enough for each class....as if when I made 35 copies only 32 came out....so yeah everything is going fine I just feel like kind of a nut sometimes.
Wednesday, February 27, 2013
Monday, February 11, 2013
No school...again
Im so happy I have power today!!!!!!!!!!!! but once again no school...which mean both classes I am suppose to take over still have to take thier Frankenstein tests and do their post assessments for the quarter. Between pipes burstings, fire alrams being pulled, snow days, power outages I am learning how flexible plans need to be. I know that there is nothing I can do about it but I still get soooo stressed when things dont go as planned.
I can deal with things getting off track for a couple days but we have been trying to give this test for a week. I was suppose to start Macbeth this week but I know that isnt going to happen now. I am just hoping that we at least have school for the next four days and there isnt an earthquake/flood/natural disaster that puts off these tests for any longer.
I guess this has been good to expereince though, planning for the unexpected. There are so many things that can stop/interupt class from happening and as a teacher I will need to re-adjust and keep class moving forward as best as I can.
I can deal with things getting off track for a couple days but we have been trying to give this test for a week. I was suppose to start Macbeth this week but I know that isnt going to happen now. I am just hoping that we at least have school for the next four days and there isnt an earthquake/flood/natural disaster that puts off these tests for any longer.
I guess this has been good to expereince though, planning for the unexpected. There are so many things that can stop/interupt class from happening and as a teacher I will need to re-adjust and keep class moving forward as best as I can.
Monday, February 4, 2013
Socratic Seminar
I have read and heard alot about the Socratic Seminar...but I had never actually seen one in action until this week. My CT had her tenth grade honors class working towards this seminar all week. The students prepared open-ended questions to use and worked in small groups to practice being able to keep a conversation going. This Socratic seminar was the classes second one this year and they plan on having at least one more.
My CT split the student's into two groups, one group was in a circle in the middle of the second group's larger circle. The group that was not participating in the conversation were in the outer circle with individual/specific tasks given to them at the beginning of class. Those students were listening for high points, questions, disagreements, etc from the other group.
Without telling the students my CT had split the groups into the quiet students and the chatty students. She said that the first seminar didn't go as well because there are certain students who dominate the conversation and do not give the other students a chance to chime in. As of right now I only have gotten to see the talkative students have their seminar, the other group is going to go on Wednesday. I am excited to see how it works out with the quieter students. They are all really bright and I always think when I am watching this class that it is a shame that not all the students share when they get the opportunity. It is always the same students with their hands raised or shouting out answers. Even today in their Socratic seminar they were talking over one another at a few points. I love that my CT thought to split the students this way, I think it is going to work perfectly for this class but you never know they might come in and stare at each other in that circle so I guess I will see.
My CT split the student's into two groups, one group was in a circle in the middle of the second group's larger circle. The group that was not participating in the conversation were in the outer circle with individual/specific tasks given to them at the beginning of class. Those students were listening for high points, questions, disagreements, etc from the other group.
Without telling the students my CT had split the groups into the quiet students and the chatty students. She said that the first seminar didn't go as well because there are certain students who dominate the conversation and do not give the other students a chance to chime in. As of right now I only have gotten to see the talkative students have their seminar, the other group is going to go on Wednesday. I am excited to see how it works out with the quieter students. They are all really bright and I always think when I am watching this class that it is a shame that not all the students share when they get the opportunity. It is always the same students with their hands raised or shouting out answers. Even today in their Socratic seminar they were talking over one another at a few points. I love that my CT thought to split the students this way, I think it is going to work perfectly for this class but you never know they might come in and stare at each other in that circle so I guess I will see.
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