Hi Joel,
We are glad to have you back at Suncrest. Thank you for volunteering to help with Fall Festival. That should be fun. Glad you are getting readjusted to our little ones. Kathleen Dyer
Saturday, October 24, 2009
Friday, October 23, 2009
Week 8 Post
Well, this week was the first week back to Suncrest Primary. I must admit I wasn't all that excited at the beginning of the week-sad about leaving Clay Battelle and apprehensive about the big age difference. However, as the week has progressed I have slowly begun to warm up (again) to this teaching thing.
This was a week where I'd be doing nothing but observations for my Action Research-what are the students like? who are the trouble makers? what is the genereal classroom environment like? etc. etc. As a whole, I am thoroughly impressed with this set of third graders (both classes). On Monday or Tuesday I told Mrs. McLaughlin that I thought the classroom was TOO quiet which is kind of hard to believe. These students are well behaved, well trained, and very polite which is a bit of a difference compared to Clay Battelle.
As the week progressed, however, I begun to help lead and teach some of the daily work and classes. As I got into it I became more and more comfortable with myself, with the age group of students, and the students themselves. I was wondering how long the transition would be for the two different age groups. It is nowhere near complete but I'm happily suprised with how well week 1 went as a whole.
I'm very much looking forward to the next seven weeks for many reasons. I'm real excited to have students for the whole day-relationships with these students will be completely different than the relationships that I had with my students that I had for only one or two periods. Another benefit to these upcoming eight weeks is to see how comfortable I am with elementary school. Before teaching at Clay Battelle I had only worked with K-3 students in a school setting. My time at Clay Battelle was great because it gave me experience with the older students as well as the desire to work with them in an educational environment. These next seven weeks will hopefully be a reminder of how much I enjoy working with younger students as well as the older students.
I look forward to these next eight weeks!
This was a week where I'd be doing nothing but observations for my Action Research-what are the students like? who are the trouble makers? what is the genereal classroom environment like? etc. etc. As a whole, I am thoroughly impressed with this set of third graders (both classes). On Monday or Tuesday I told Mrs. McLaughlin that I thought the classroom was TOO quiet which is kind of hard to believe. These students are well behaved, well trained, and very polite which is a bit of a difference compared to Clay Battelle.
As the week progressed, however, I begun to help lead and teach some of the daily work and classes. As I got into it I became more and more comfortable with myself, with the age group of students, and the students themselves. I was wondering how long the transition would be for the two different age groups. It is nowhere near complete but I'm happily suprised with how well week 1 went as a whole.
I'm very much looking forward to the next seven weeks for many reasons. I'm real excited to have students for the whole day-relationships with these students will be completely different than the relationships that I had with my students that I had for only one or two periods. Another benefit to these upcoming eight weeks is to see how comfortable I am with elementary school. Before teaching at Clay Battelle I had only worked with K-3 students in a school setting. My time at Clay Battelle was great because it gave me experience with the older students as well as the desire to work with them in an educational environment. These next seven weeks will hopefully be a reminder of how much I enjoy working with younger students as well as the older students.
I look forward to these next eight weeks!
Monday, October 19, 2009
Sunday, October 18, 2009
Hi Joel,
I have to agree with you. I don't think it's any way to treat a professional. Perhaps you were a little too casual with them during the 8 weeks? It was probably their way of wishing you well, but it really was "over the top." I don't imagine they would have done that to someone they didn't like. It's a good lesson, however, for everyone!
I don't think the third graders at Suncrest will give you that kind of a send-off....perhaps having a substitute teacher didn't help the situation either.
Kaye :-)
I have to agree with you. I don't think it's any way to treat a professional. Perhaps you were a little too casual with them during the 8 weeks? It was probably their way of wishing you well, but it really was "over the top." I don't imagine they would have done that to someone they didn't like. It's a good lesson, however, for everyone!
I don't think the third graders at Suncrest will give you that kind of a send-off....perhaps having a substitute teacher didn't help the situation either.
Kaye :-)
Friday, October 16, 2009
Last Day at CBMS
Well today didn't go nearly as well as expected. In fact, it turned out to be quite tumultuous which really stinks. The first couple of periods were OK, I had to remove a student from both of the first two periods because of doing things that they shouldn't have down.
Fourth period is where it all "hit the fan". The students in my fourth period class are probably one of, if not my favorite class. They are good kids who have responded very well to me over the past eight weeks. I can joke around with them and just be goofy, and they like that. Today they decided to give me a "celebratoriral" shaving creme bath. So as the class started a number of them came up with shaving creme and got me pretty good. After I got doused with it I got up and left to clean myself off. I was upset so I decided to take a good walk for awhile (we had a Substitute in class today so he took care of the class). When I came back in towards the end of class I told the class what I thought about it. I was upset, sure, but what got me was how disappointed I was with the whole situation. Not just the fact that they got me with shaving creme, but also the timing of it. I would've been upset any other day, but couldn't they have chosen a different day to get me? I was looking forward to having them do their required work and then just spend the rest of the period talking to them and such but couldn't do it because of this.
The rest of the day was tough. I appreciated the words, cards, etc. that I received the rest of the day from my student but was still sooooo bummed about the time lost with this group. I know that there was no ill-intention or meanness directed to me at all but instead it was just a way to have one more good day with me. It just really stinks that this is a memory that I have from my last day there...it really does.
I think I handled it well. Discussed problem with students and did what I should informing my host teacher, but I know that doing that doesn't help whatsoever with my disappointment.
Fourth period is where it all "hit the fan". The students in my fourth period class are probably one of, if not my favorite class. They are good kids who have responded very well to me over the past eight weeks. I can joke around with them and just be goofy, and they like that. Today they decided to give me a "celebratoriral" shaving creme bath. So as the class started a number of them came up with shaving creme and got me pretty good. After I got doused with it I got up and left to clean myself off. I was upset so I decided to take a good walk for awhile (we had a Substitute in class today so he took care of the class). When I came back in towards the end of class I told the class what I thought about it. I was upset, sure, but what got me was how disappointed I was with the whole situation. Not just the fact that they got me with shaving creme, but also the timing of it. I would've been upset any other day, but couldn't they have chosen a different day to get me? I was looking forward to having them do their required work and then just spend the rest of the period talking to them and such but couldn't do it because of this.
The rest of the day was tough. I appreciated the words, cards, etc. that I received the rest of the day from my student but was still sooooo bummed about the time lost with this group. I know that there was no ill-intention or meanness directed to me at all but instead it was just a way to have one more good day with me. It just really stinks that this is a memory that I have from my last day there...it really does.
I think I handled it well. Discussed problem with students and did what I should informing my host teacher, but I know that doing that doesn't help whatsoever with my disappointment.
Thursday, October 15, 2009
Hi Joel,
Oh....how pleased I am for you!! What a wonderful blog to read tonight! Have fun tomorrow with your last day there...but know that Suncrest Primary is equally happy to have you join them again.
Are your parents able to read your blog? If not, I think you should include them as a recipient if possible. They will be so proud of you!!
See you Monday. We'll need your help with the art projects on Monday. :-)
Kaye
Oh....how pleased I am for you!! What a wonderful blog to read tonight! Have fun tomorrow with your last day there...but know that Suncrest Primary is equally happy to have you join them again.
Are your parents able to read your blog? If not, I think you should include them as a recipient if possible. They will be so proud of you!!
See you Monday. We'll need your help with the art projects on Monday. :-)
Kaye
Week 9 Reflection
Well the eight weeks is finally coming to an end here at Clay-Battelle. Never in a million years did I expect to see so many different things from a school out in the country. I really have enjoyed my time and will truly miss it.
Today was a great victory for me...a victory that really solidifies my desire to become a teacher. All of my paperwork is done, my grade is in for the eight weeks I spent at Clay-Battelle so I have had nothing to prove this week. Getting the grade was great to see and knowing that I did everything expected of me was also a great thing. However, that pails in comparison to the joy I experienced today.
Today I gave my second test to the 8th graders. This exam was on the European settlers coming over to America. The previous test I gave the students collectively bombed it. There were some A's, some B's, a good number of C's, and the majority of the grades were D's and F's. That was a big downer and was a reminder to me that I do not have the teaching "thing" down. I felt responsible in some ways for the poor grades and was also disappointed with the students lack of effort throughout the chapter.
So yes, my first test that I administered to the first chapter I taught was a complete collapse. They bombed it. However, this test they didn't!!! I still had some low scores but the group did so much better this time around. For example, my 8th period (honors class) did pretty well last time; some A's, lots of B's, some C's and a couple of D's. Today though, there were NO F's, NO D's, AND NO C's! The majority of the tests were A's and a few had B's. Another class had similar improvements, granted there were no where near the number of A's but a big improvement in pulling up grades from the last tests (students who got D's last time got C's or B's).
Now back to this solidifying me as a teacher...like I said, everything is turned in, the grades for me are done and I'm proud of them but it doesn't even come close to how excited and proud I am of my students for a valliant effort that they showed today with the test!
Today was a great victory for me...a victory that really solidifies my desire to become a teacher. All of my paperwork is done, my grade is in for the eight weeks I spent at Clay-Battelle so I have had nothing to prove this week. Getting the grade was great to see and knowing that I did everything expected of me was also a great thing. However, that pails in comparison to the joy I experienced today.
Today I gave my second test to the 8th graders. This exam was on the European settlers coming over to America. The previous test I gave the students collectively bombed it. There were some A's, some B's, a good number of C's, and the majority of the grades were D's and F's. That was a big downer and was a reminder to me that I do not have the teaching "thing" down. I felt responsible in some ways for the poor grades and was also disappointed with the students lack of effort throughout the chapter.
So yes, my first test that I administered to the first chapter I taught was a complete collapse. They bombed it. However, this test they didn't!!! I still had some low scores but the group did so much better this time around. For example, my 8th period (honors class) did pretty well last time; some A's, lots of B's, some C's and a couple of D's. Today though, there were NO F's, NO D's, AND NO C's! The majority of the tests were A's and a few had B's. Another class had similar improvements, granted there were no where near the number of A's but a big improvement in pulling up grades from the last tests (students who got D's last time got C's or B's).
Now back to this solidifying me as a teacher...like I said, everything is turned in, the grades for me are done and I'm proud of them but it doesn't even come close to how excited and proud I am of my students for a valliant effort that they showed today with the test!
Thursday, October 8, 2009
Joel,
You are so very thoughtful in your blogs. I enjoy reading them and especially to learn of your high dedication to your students and their education. Your attitude is wonderful in wanting to continue to help those students who don't seem to want it themselves! There may be other avenues for them rather than graduating from a typical high school. Perhaps technical and/or vocational education would be more appropriate for some of them. I have never had the experience that you are having with this age students. Most of my experience has been with PK-4th. grade children, who for the most part still like school and even though they struggle, they haven't usually given up yet.
Have these particular students been identified as needing extra help, are they not getting reinforcement from home, or have given up because they have not been successful in years past?
Keep up your good attitude. I have some inspirational books that teachers have written about these type of students...if that would help keep up your morale.
Kaye :-)
You are so very thoughtful in your blogs. I enjoy reading them and especially to learn of your high dedication to your students and their education. Your attitude is wonderful in wanting to continue to help those students who don't seem to want it themselves! There may be other avenues for them rather than graduating from a typical high school. Perhaps technical and/or vocational education would be more appropriate for some of them. I have never had the experience that you are having with this age students. Most of my experience has been with PK-4th. grade children, who for the most part still like school and even though they struggle, they haven't usually given up yet.
Have these particular students been identified as needing extra help, are they not getting reinforcement from home, or have given up because they have not been successful in years past?
Keep up your good attitude. I have some inspirational books that teachers have written about these type of students...if that would help keep up your morale.
Kaye :-)
Week 10 Reflection
My time has almost come and gone at Clay-Battelle and these eight weeks have taught and shown me a whole lot more than I had expected to see. I know I still have one full week left so this is not the time to get caught up in reminiscing.
One thing that I will take away from my time here is wanting and hoping for more than what my students want and hope for. Many of these students here have had an attitude that almost guarantees them failure before they even start. Seeing that from my students hurts my heart. I'll only be with them for eight weeks but I have a good idea who'll succeed and who will have much more trouble at it.
Looking towards the future, this time has really got me thinking about the ways that I can help promote success for my students. What are ways that I can get content to stick to their brains and have them find it relevant to their lives. Before teaching here I'd say my philosophy for teaching was a lot different than it is now. Reflecting on what I've done and see the past seven weeks I'd have to say that seeing my students want to learn and strive for success is my one and ultimate goal. Granted I know that this might not be an attainable goal because there will be students down the line that will plain not want to be there in school, but I hope that those students will not make up the majority of my classes. It breaks my heart knowing that some of these students won't graduate and accomplish much of anything in school...not because of just knowing a certain subject(s) but because of the inability of them to try, at all!
I really hope in the future that I can help influence them in a way that they look at education as a mode of transportation to a successful destination. I'll be a car, van, bus, plane, whatever, as long as those future kids get to the destination they want through hard work and desire to succeed.
So in the upcoming days/weeks/months/years hopefully I'll find ways to help guide my students on that destination because I know I will not be able to handle and more importantly accept an accepted failure mindset...I just can't.
One thing that I will take away from my time here is wanting and hoping for more than what my students want and hope for. Many of these students here have had an attitude that almost guarantees them failure before they even start. Seeing that from my students hurts my heart. I'll only be with them for eight weeks but I have a good idea who'll succeed and who will have much more trouble at it.
Looking towards the future, this time has really got me thinking about the ways that I can help promote success for my students. What are ways that I can get content to stick to their brains and have them find it relevant to their lives. Before teaching here I'd say my philosophy for teaching was a lot different than it is now. Reflecting on what I've done and see the past seven weeks I'd have to say that seeing my students want to learn and strive for success is my one and ultimate goal. Granted I know that this might not be an attainable goal because there will be students down the line that will plain not want to be there in school, but I hope that those students will not make up the majority of my classes. It breaks my heart knowing that some of these students won't graduate and accomplish much of anything in school...not because of just knowing a certain subject(s) but because of the inability of them to try, at all!
I really hope in the future that I can help influence them in a way that they look at education as a mode of transportation to a successful destination. I'll be a car, van, bus, plane, whatever, as long as those future kids get to the destination they want through hard work and desire to succeed.
So in the upcoming days/weeks/months/years hopefully I'll find ways to help guide my students on that destination because I know I will not be able to handle and more importantly accept an accepted failure mindset...I just can't.
Friday, October 2, 2009
Hi Joel,
Sorry to hear you are having some problems with behavior in your classroom. I hope you can get some good pointers from your mentor teacher and perhaps others at your school. It's hard for me to respond when I don't know more specifics. Does the school's behavior system work in most cases? Can you pull those disruptive students out sometime and ask for their support?
By the way, are you available for the intern seminar with me on Tues., Oct. 13 from 4:00-5:00 in 606 Allen Hall.
Email me if you have questions,
Kaye :-)
Sorry to hear you are having some problems with behavior in your classroom. I hope you can get some good pointers from your mentor teacher and perhaps others at your school. It's hard for me to respond when I don't know more specifics. Does the school's behavior system work in most cases? Can you pull those disruptive students out sometime and ask for their support?
By the way, are you available for the intern seminar with me on Tues., Oct. 13 from 4:00-5:00 in 606 Allen Hall.
Email me if you have questions,
Kaye :-)
Thursday, October 1, 2009
Week 11 Reflection
This week has definitely been a tough week for me...and it's only a four day week. Students have been disruptive and rude, making this week the first time I've had to fight myself to not lose my pantience with them. In the past I've never been to the brink of getting visibly upset at my students. What's even worse is that I've found myself numerous times this week walking that tight line between in control and losing control.
I've been running scenarios through my head all week of what I could do better and how I could prevent this from happning; this meaning why are my students acting up so much and why do they not respond to my directions and prompts. There are a couple different ones that I've thought of but the one that truly stands out to me is the fact that maybe I should've been all business with the students for a longer period of time. I came in and took about a week or two before joking around and enjoying my time with them, maybe too much. I observed another teacher teach this past week with a set of students that I also have in class and they were completely different with him than with me. They didn't talk when they weren't supposed to, they were into the discussion that they were having and didn't need prompting to answer and were respectful to the teacher as well as each other. While watching him I kept thinking how great it is of this teacher to be able to have his students so engulfed in the discussion that they didn't have to blurt out and talk all the time. As well as having their attention, he joked around with them like a champ! He was funny, entertaining and you could tell the students liked that but when he expected them to be ready to learn they came through for him. Watching him like that made me want that. After I asked him how he could be so loose with them but expect so much and he flat out told me to give them expectations right away and hold to them. I feel as though I've done that but obviously not to the extent that demands the students full cooperation.
Something definitely to work on in the future!
I've been running scenarios through my head all week of what I could do better and how I could prevent this from happning; this meaning why are my students acting up so much and why do they not respond to my directions and prompts. There are a couple different ones that I've thought of but the one that truly stands out to me is the fact that maybe I should've been all business with the students for a longer period of time. I came in and took about a week or two before joking around and enjoying my time with them, maybe too much. I observed another teacher teach this past week with a set of students that I also have in class and they were completely different with him than with me. They didn't talk when they weren't supposed to, they were into the discussion that they were having and didn't need prompting to answer and were respectful to the teacher as well as each other. While watching him I kept thinking how great it is of this teacher to be able to have his students so engulfed in the discussion that they didn't have to blurt out and talk all the time. As well as having their attention, he joked around with them like a champ! He was funny, entertaining and you could tell the students liked that but when he expected them to be ready to learn they came through for him. Watching him like that made me want that. After I asked him how he could be so loose with them but expect so much and he flat out told me to give them expectations right away and hold to them. I feel as though I've done that but obviously not to the extent that demands the students full cooperation.
Something definitely to work on in the future!
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