Monday, February 22, 2010
Hey team. Im sure that everyone is happy to finally be in the schools full time. I have quickly realized the difference in my school from last semester to this semester. Even though my teacher has different methods for classroom management it isnt anything better or worse than I could have expected. In order to get the day started smoothly my teacher has a "Do Now" activity. This is just a simple question or topic for the students to write something down on in the beginning of class. This is a great classroom management plan to get the students thinking about science as soon as they walk in the door. This also gives my teacher time to do her housekeeping. The kids are talkative and my teacher doesnt do a lot to quiet them down. She occasionally will do the hand raising technique and when the rest of the students see her hand up they are supposed to raise their hands to show they are now paying attention. This works to get the students back on track. I have witnessed my teacher put a student in the hallway for misbehavior as well as hand out a few detentions. I havent witnessed any major disciplinary actions by my teacher or at the school. We have not done a lab yet while I am there so I hope to learn some new techniques once we get to that point. My teacher uses lots of powerpoint for notes, quizes, etc to keep the students focused forward as she walks around the class to discuss and watch over the students. I will use some of the same methods during my teaching and hope to come up with something else that my students can respond to. Good luck this semester!!!!
I'm glad you are enjoying yourself so far. It seems like your teacher does a lot well and some things not so well. I really don't like when kids get sent to the hall for misbehaving. I feel like some want to leave class, so it may encourage misbehavior! Also, I couldn't stand the thought of leaving a child unattended outside my classroom. On the other hand, I do like that the students have a task to complete when they enter class. Are the "Do Now" activities like mini-quizzes? Just curious. Have a good semester!
ReplyDeleteSounds like nothing too out of the oridary. I too did not expect much different in my placement. There will always be positives and negatives of any teaching styles and students act differently on a day to day (sometimes minute to minute!) basis, so you never really knwo what to expect. I will also be using the PowerPoint as a sense of focus in my teaching. I think it gives students a visual for notes and allows us freedom as teachers to walk around the room. It is always easier to supervise everyone from a management perspective when students know you will be around the room all throughout the period. Have a good week!
ReplyDeleteThe "hand raising technique" is so cute. I don't think my 10th graders will do it, but it sounds like great way to get everyone's attention. My teacher usually don't put a student out since there's a greater chance for them to "skip" than to think about what they've done wrong. I guess talking to them for first few times would be better than just sending the kid out. Hope you guys do the lab soon, so you could see the kids and your teacher in action. :)
ReplyDeleteI love the "do now" activity. I have an SOL activity that my students will work on every day at the beginning of the class as a similar strategy. The first 5 minutes of class are always stressful and all over the place, it seems like a great idea to have a routine so the students get settled more quickly. I am interested to see the effectiveness when I teach my unit, but also want to use it starting from the beginning of the year when I have my own classroom. It seems like a great way to utilize bell to bell teaching.
ReplyDeleteHey everyone, thank you for the comments. JP, I am still unsure of how I feel about sending students in the hall. So far her students respond well to it and don't misbehave when they are out there but they are still missing the material that we are going over. If you have any suggestions of thing you like as a mild disciplinary action I am open to suggestions. Thanks Alex, I am glad that you are very open to different classroom styles and teachings. OSM2580, Thanks for the positive words. So far no labs but we have done a lot of activity sheet kind of things and classwork on the board. Things work okay during those times but there is still a lot of background noise. KD, I also like the "do now" and plan to use this when I teach and when I have my own class. Good luck to all of you!
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