The Setup of Class - Blog Post #1

When I was in high school, the majority of my teachers used lectures to take up the majority of the class. I spent these 90 minute periods fighting my drooping eyelids to stay awake.

It has been more than refreshing to work with a teacher who can use interactive learning to get students excited. She begins class with a short introductory activity. Usually as a class, they analyze the title of the work they will be studying. I have seen that this helps them begin thinking about main ideas and themes that they will be looking at.

I have always been afraid of giving students too much time in class to work on assignments. Based upon my high school education, I was under the perception that this was lazy teaching. But Bomer's book and observing my CT have shown me the light! My CT uses all different types of classroom organization. Like I said before, she begins all classes incorporating all the students in the class. She then usually has the students work in small groups or partners to analyze the text or discuss a specific topic. Near the end of class, the students are usually given time to work independently on a project or assignment. I have learned to appreciate and value this independent work time. At this time, we're able to see if the students have actually grasped the concepts taught in the class. It also gives them the opportunity to ask any questions they might possibly have.

My teacher does a great job at managing her class, but they are also college prep seniors. How well would independent work time do with a CWC class of freshmen? My biggest concern would be behavior management and ensuring everyone is on task. In an ideal world, all students would use their time wisely and be on task. In a class where there is only one instructor to 35 students, what could I do to implement independent and group work successfully?

This first week of school has also stressed the importance of communication. My CT and I were talking and she told me about her first year experience. She told me that she didn’t necessarily have every novel read before she taught it. More oft than not she would read the book as her students were reading them as well. She told me that the most important thing was being able to communicate, to ask the right questions. It might not necessarily be having all the right answers at all times, but being able to ask the right questions to get students thinking critically. The students know we have a degree. But vomiting the knowledge we have all over them is not teaching them the skills they will need down the line. I have realized how important it is for me to do my best not to answer every question right away, but instead to ask addition questions that may help them find the answer on their own. My hope is to cultivate a classroom similar to my CT’s, where learning is a group experience and novel ideas are cherished.

Intro Activity Ideas

I'm doing a cultural unit in my pre-student teaching class. I really want to do an interactive intro activity to the unit. Does anyone have any ideas?

Welcome To The Class

My first day at Franklin High School* was one I had been looking forward to for the past four years of my college career. Although I was introduced to the high school three semesters ago when I began my co-op position, I knew this semester would be different. This was the beginning of the real responsibility, the real opportunity to make a difference.
Throughout my practicum placement, I got to work with eighth graders, freshmen, sophomores, and juniors. As a capstone to my education of education, it only seemed to appropriate to gain some experience with those that I feared the most: the big, bad seniors.
Prior to my first day, I assumed them to be arrogant, obnoxious, and suffering from early forms of senioritis. But in a matter of 90 minutes, they were able to effortlessly change my mind. The 29 students in first hour have already solidified my decision to be a teacher and also made me more excited for the upcoming year.
To start the period off my cooperating teacher, Mrs. Jordan*, introduced herself to the class. It was apparent she had already established a level of rapport with multiple students. She immediately introduced me and gave me the opportunity to tell the class a little bit about me. Although I think it's important to let students know about me as a person as well as a teacher, I also think there is a limit of what is appropriate to share, especially right off the bat. The two fun facts I chose to share were that I am engaged and that I have the two coolest dogs that have ever existed. They seemed content with that, so we moved on. The next task was getting the students to get to know each other better. She students work in their tables. It was their job to interview and introduce someone at their table. They answered questions such as "Who was your last English teacher?" and "What are some goals you have?" These questions were simple to answer, but allowed the entire class, Mrs. Jordan, and myself to get to know everyone on a deeper level.
She finished the class by briefly going over the syllabus and expectations for the year. In my opinion, she did an awesome job. In many cases, the teachers end up belittling the students by covering minute details. But it was apparent that she understood her students and their needs. As seniors, she expected them to understand basic rules such has respect and honesty in the classroom. While this approach may be extremely inappropriate for a class full of antsy freshmen, her ability to cater everything to her specific grade level was something I had not seen before and something I want to do in my own classroom.
After class was dismissed, my CT spent extra time going over the plans for the upcoming class so that I would be in the loop. Her mentoring thus far  has already been extremely helpful. I know that in the upcoming months her 13 years of expertise will definitely come in hand in crafting my lessons and learning about what it means to be a teacher in general.
Although it is only the first week of school, the excitement for the upcoming class periods has yet to subside. I hope that this fervor continues on as I encounter all of the trials and tribulations of being a student teacher.