So far I have noticed a HUGE difference between my eighth grade physical science class and my high school chemistry class - as well as the classroom management style of my cooperating teachers. Mr. W had a military style classroom which was very necessary at times, but boring at others; however, I do sort of miss it.
Dr. G is a phenomena teacher. He is extremely smart and creative with his lessons; however, I have not noticed much classroom management. Now, he has a great rep with the students and they never act out, but they are also left with down-time all the time! It is a little frustrating to watch so much precious time get wasted each day. At first I thought it was just his Friday routine - similar to how he lets his AP Chemistry students have coffee and donuts the first 15 minutes of the block. But it has not gotten much better. The students come into class without any direction or anything to do until after Dr. G calls roll. Most of the days I have been there the students have performed a lab, but a lot of them finish with 30 minutes left in the block and just sit and talk. This has given me the opportunity to get to know them, but they are going to be in for a real shock when I take over and they will start the bell with 'Do Now' problems and work up until the end of the block as much as possible.
As I mentioned, the students are not disrespectful or running around wild, but they have missed so many days of school I would have assumed Dr. G would take advantage of every minute. Maybe he will surprise me this week!
-Lauren
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
This comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteWow, it seems like you have a wild class this semester. It's good that students come in and enjoy the class, but don't they have SOLs at the end of the year? Doing labs, and learning chemistry through doing science is very good. Are the labs inquiry based? or Are they just lab manuals for honors and AP students?
ReplyDeleteI agree with you that your students will be in shock when you start teaching. If you guys are in block scheduling, using just 30 minutes of the time isn't even half of the class time. I guess you will have some challenge in leading students through the full schedule, but by the end of the internship, you will have an experience that will prepare you for the real teaching. Hope this week will be something different! Godd luck :)
I agree Lauren. My students will be in for a shock when I assign lab partners (possibly seats too...) and require they stay in their seats until I dismiss them.
ReplyDeleteMy students tend to have a lot of free time as well. Some of them use it productively, when others just use it as time to gossip or even catch up on work for other classes. My students will be in for a treat when I start working them bell to bell.
ReplyDeleteI agree that time needs to be used wisely esp. missing for all this snow!
Have fun!