I think this week went really well. It seems like when I finally get into the groove of things, it is time to get ready to go. It really is hard to come into a classroom and learn how a teacher runs her room, take over the class, and give it back over, all in 8 weeks!
On Tuesday, my CT was sick so I had the class really on my own this time. Of course I had to legally have a sub. We got along great and she was a lot of help. Tuesday just also happened to be the day that the assistand principal was coming to observe me during Language Arts. I was a little nervous about being alone to teach and him coming, but it actually went pretty smooth. I told the kids ahead of time that the assistant principal was coming in to make sure they were behaving well and they behaved really well! The assistant principal even sat down with me for about 30 minutes and we went over the whole lesson in detail. He told me the things he really liked and gave other suggestions for the future. He then gave me three big tips on what an administrator is looking for in an interview!!!
I have been so blessed at this school and wish I could stay here all 16 weeks! I am nervous but excited about my next placement. I am getting a little anxious thought because I cannot get a hold of my next CT. I am not sure what to do, and don't want to just show up next Monday without even talking to her. I pray that I will be able to reach her!
I will miss my first graders so much and will definitely have to come back and visit when I am all done! This week I am teaching one lesson here and there, trying to make the transition back over to my CT. I am also observing many other classrooms this week and am very excited about that. It is amazing to me how fast it has gone!
Sunday, October 18, 2009
Sunday, October 11, 2009
Tough love
This week has definitely been a better experience. It really takes several weeks to just get the hang of classroom management and behavior, especiallly at the beginning of the school year. I felt like this week I had to show a lot of tough love! I really do love these kids, but had to really crack down this week and ask many students to put their bears in the basket. The students have three colored bears, and has to put a bear in the basket if they can't behave correctly. At first, I gave a lot of warnings, but my CT encouraged me that they have had plenty of warnings and are pushing the limits. So this week I was much more strict, and overall it did greatly help. I think the children are finally starting to realize that I am serious and will not put up with their behavior.
The assistant principal is coming to observe me on Tuesday morning for Language Arts. I am very nervous, but am glod that I waited for him to come until I had bevaior more under control. I will be teaching all day again this week! I really am starting to be able to enjoy it and can't believe there are only two weeks left! I told some of my students that I will be leaving in two weeks, and I had a lot of sad faces. They couldn't understand why I didn't just stay there forever!
I had my first real parent-teacher conference on Friday. I have spoken to many parents, but this was the first time actually having a scheduled conference about the child and their behavior. It really is enlighting when you can find out about the background of the child. It really helps you put things in perspective and why they may be bahaving the way they are. It is amazing how some of these children are able to function with the type of home life or past they have had. After the conference, it made me realize the importance of being a teacher and helping a child whose most stable and loving part of the day may be at school.
I am looking forward to two more weeks with my class and will miss them greatly! Though it was a rough start, I am so thankful for the experience God has allowed me to have and has taught me in this time. I pray that behavior continues to imporve and that this week will be the best one yet!
The assistant principal is coming to observe me on Tuesday morning for Language Arts. I am very nervous, but am glod that I waited for him to come until I had bevaior more under control. I will be teaching all day again this week! I really am starting to be able to enjoy it and can't believe there are only two weeks left! I told some of my students that I will be leaving in two weeks, and I had a lot of sad faces. They couldn't understand why I didn't just stay there forever!
I had my first real parent-teacher conference on Friday. I have spoken to many parents, but this was the first time actually having a scheduled conference about the child and their behavior. It really is enlighting when you can find out about the background of the child. It really helps you put things in perspective and why they may be bahaving the way they are. It is amazing how some of these children are able to function with the type of home life or past they have had. After the conference, it made me realize the importance of being a teacher and helping a child whose most stable and loving part of the day may be at school.
I am looking forward to two more weeks with my class and will miss them greatly! Though it was a rough start, I am so thankful for the experience God has allowed me to have and has taught me in this time. I pray that behavior continues to imporve and that this week will be the best one yet!
Saturday, October 3, 2009
A Challenging Week
Well, it has been an extremely challening week! I started taking over a lot more of the class this week. Overall, I think that the lessons went well, but it was a very challenging week with behavior. Up to last week, I really had not had any major behavior problems. However, this past week was more challenging. My CT was out of the classroom a lot more and the students were taking advantage of that. I thought I had been strict enough with the kids, but soon realized it was not enough. I really had to crack down on behavior. At times I really felt mean, but once I started getting more strict, things started getting a little beter and I seemed to get more respect.
I simply just felt overwhelmed this week! I came home each day feeling defeated and had many cries. However, I know that no matter what happens, I will make it through the semester and it is almost over. God has gotten me through this week!
On a more positive note, I taught a technology lesson on Friday. It went pretty good, but I learned that you really do have to explain every little thing on the computer to some students. The students were making a calendar on the computer and had to type in each date. After a while, I found that one student had completed the calendar up to day 9 and then stopped. I asked him why he had stopped. He simply told me that he couldn't do anymore because he ran out of numbers. This cracked me up! It never dawned on him that you might have to type two keys to make a number.
Even though it was a very rough week, I am trying to look forward to next week and not look in the past. Only three more weeks in first grade, I know I can do it!
I simply just felt overwhelmed this week! I came home each day feeling defeated and had many cries. However, I know that no matter what happens, I will make it through the semester and it is almost over. God has gotten me through this week!
On a more positive note, I taught a technology lesson on Friday. It went pretty good, but I learned that you really do have to explain every little thing on the computer to some students. The students were making a calendar on the computer and had to type in each date. After a while, I found that one student had completed the calendar up to day 9 and then stopped. I asked him why he had stopped. He simply told me that he couldn't do anymore because he ran out of numbers. This cracked me up! It never dawned on him that you might have to type two keys to make a number.
Even though it was a very rough week, I am trying to look forward to next week and not look in the past. Only three more weeks in first grade, I know I can do it!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)