I believe that I have gained respect from the students in most classes. We joke, we laugh, and we relate, but most importantly, we learn. And we do so through such fun methods!
Today, I introduced a writing topic to my 7th Graders, and I had never seen such joy on their bright faces. I gave these students pens and papers, and they are writing to make a difference. It's incredible the passion you can evoke in someone just by saying, "Write something that you want to change in your life."
In the sophomore class, we began poetry. As expected, everyone groaned and whined. But by the end of the lessons, these students were questioning poetry, specific methods, and even began to take some pride in their own writing! I am amazed that I was able to do that for these students. I'm thrilled to see what is to come!
Wednesday, September 11, 2013
Thursday, August 29, 2013
Not Everyday Is A Good One...
You cannot teach a man anything; you can only help him find it within himself.
Today, in my seventh grade classroom, we read a story titled "The Teacher Who Changed My Life" by Nicholas Gage. To me and several others, this was a very moving and inspirational story. A poor man from Greece moved to America and hated school. A teacher made him see the beauty in literature and composition, and this poor man came to be a wealthy celebrated author. Essentially, what I hope to be for my students.
However, today this lesson failed me. Okay, maybe "fail" is a harsh word. 95% of the students understood the impact and even taught me a little something. However, four trouble making students in the back of the class just did not seem to care for any knowledge at all today.
Maybe it's because I grew up as an honors student. I was taught to respect my teachers and I had an undying thirst for knowledge. But I just don't seem to understand the laziness, the unwillingness to cooperate, the rudeness, and the flat out carelessness that these students are exhibiting. I want them to grow and learn, why don't they?
Comments like "English sucks" and "I don't need to learn how to write" obviously pierce my heart and send a tiny wave of shock over me, but it is expected. What I didn't expect was these girls to call me, an elder, stupid to my face. And then laugh at me. Luckily, I bit my tongue and held back my comments. I made them sit through the lesson and understand the story. And, for a bonus assignment, I made them write why they thought I was stupid.
Needless to say, I'm looking forward to reading their responses to me, if I get any.
Then, to top off the day, I found an assignment that I was very proud of thrown in the trash. This hurt my teacher soul quite a bit. Yet, I will continue to hold my head high and I will never back down from a teaching challenge or a learning moment.
These students will learn something from me no matter what.
Today, in my seventh grade classroom, we read a story titled "The Teacher Who Changed My Life" by Nicholas Gage. To me and several others, this was a very moving and inspirational story. A poor man from Greece moved to America and hated school. A teacher made him see the beauty in literature and composition, and this poor man came to be a wealthy celebrated author. Essentially, what I hope to be for my students.
However, today this lesson failed me. Okay, maybe "fail" is a harsh word. 95% of the students understood the impact and even taught me a little something. However, four trouble making students in the back of the class just did not seem to care for any knowledge at all today.
Maybe it's because I grew up as an honors student. I was taught to respect my teachers and I had an undying thirst for knowledge. But I just don't seem to understand the laziness, the unwillingness to cooperate, the rudeness, and the flat out carelessness that these students are exhibiting. I want them to grow and learn, why don't they?
Comments like "English sucks" and "I don't need to learn how to write" obviously pierce my heart and send a tiny wave of shock over me, but it is expected. What I didn't expect was these girls to call me, an elder, stupid to my face. And then laugh at me. Luckily, I bit my tongue and held back my comments. I made them sit through the lesson and understand the story. And, for a bonus assignment, I made them write why they thought I was stupid.
Needless to say, I'm looking forward to reading their responses to me, if I get any.
Then, to top off the day, I found an assignment that I was very proud of thrown in the trash. This hurt my teacher soul quite a bit. Yet, I will continue to hold my head high and I will never back down from a teaching challenge or a learning moment.
These students will learn something from me no matter what.
Wednesday, August 14, 2013
Crafty Classroom!
The past few days I have been scrambling around searching for the perfect fabric and the ideal baby blue spray paint to cover my shoe boxes and plastic crates. Devoting an entire day to pure crafting was more exhausting than I could have imagined. Yet these efforts were not in vain! My desk at the school I am student teaching at simply looks adorable; I'd have to say I'm pretty proud of my newly found craft skills and organizational abilities.
That being said, I had my first teacher's institute today. Overall, nothing too exciting happened. I met the staff, got the low-down on the rules of the middle and high school, and found out I'll be teaching a drama class (Yikes!). My cooperating teacher is essentially the grown-up version of me. From our favorite book to our preferred style of shoes, there isn't much difference. To say the least, I'm thrilled to be working with this woman and cannot wait to find out what I can learn from her!
However, she has assigned me a task that I have been dreading. I knew eventually within these 14 weeks I would have to accept the responsibility of the 7th grade literature class. I just didn't expect it to be the very first day! Yet I cannot help but be incredibly excited to finally start teaching what I want, when I want!
Here is a sneak peek at my course...
That being said, I had my first teacher's institute today. Overall, nothing too exciting happened. I met the staff, got the low-down on the rules of the middle and high school, and found out I'll be teaching a drama class (Yikes!). My cooperating teacher is essentially the grown-up version of me. From our favorite book to our preferred style of shoes, there isn't much difference. To say the least, I'm thrilled to be working with this woman and cannot wait to find out what I can learn from her!
However, she has assigned me a task that I have been dreading. I knew eventually within these 14 weeks I would have to accept the responsibility of the 7th grade literature class. I just didn't expect it to be the very first day! Yet I cannot help but be incredibly excited to finally start teaching what I want, when I want!
Here is a sneak peek at my course...
Class Overview
Unit One: Introduction (1 Week)
·
Why and What Do We Read
o
Fiction and Nonfiction
o
Articles and Magazines
o
Poetry and Lyrics
o
Photos and Illustrations
Unit
Two: Sense of Self (2 Weeks)
·
First Person Narratives
o
Building From The Past
·
Autobiographies and Biographies
o
We Are The Past, Present, and Future
·
Personal Narratives
o
Building From Your Past, Present, and Future
Unit
Three: Reading and Writing With Purpose (2 Weeks)
·
Persuasive Articles
o
Choosing a Target Audience
o
Being the Target Audience
·
Inspirational Texts
o
Understanding Perspective
o
Expressing Perspective
Unit
Four: Multicultural Meaning (3 Weeks)
·
African-American
·
Mexican-American
·
Asian-American
·
American
Unit
Five: Reading Without Regret (2 Weeks)
·
Science and Technology
·
Sport Literature
·
Historical Documents
·
Folktales
I've almost got one entire unit completed and it's only the first day!
More updates soon to come!
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