Week of 10/16-10/20

Interesting week. I taught a lesson literary analysis terms and did WOW words. However, the best part was Friday when Mrs. Johnson came in I was ready for her. Had a great lesson planned that I developed originally on my own, but then I went to my guide teacher for some guidance and edits. Mrs. Johnson said that it was an "impressive lesson." Just like what I learned from my TESA evaluation, you have to find things that the kids can relate to. What I had them write about in the lesson was what they like about City Heights. Because of this there was not a single person in the class that had absolutely nothing to say, it was great.

We had Gates MacGinitie testing on Thursday in our second period class, my first experience in administering a standardized test. I still do not approve of the use of standardized tests, but realize that they are going to be part of my professional life whether I want them or not. The students were well behaved, I almost get the feeling that these tests scare them. One student could not stay awake during it. I asked him if he had gotten enough sleep and he told me that he had, but he doesn't like tests. Sometimes I wonder if the importance of these tests on the students' educational future is stressed enough. If you just tell them, "no worries, just do your best" it may not ring strongly enough to take it seriously.

The most important thing that my guide teacher keeps reminding me about is circulating throughout the classroom. I keep fearing that I will fall into that ridiculous habit of being unapproachable and hiding behind my desk. Not only does it make the students less likely to ask for help, but it makes me seem aloof and uninterested. Kids need to see me moving around the class, checking if they need help, even if they don't look like they do. Most of the time they seem like they would rather get an "F" than ask me for assistance. Maybe they equate that to cheating for some reason? I don't totally understand it all. But, no chair time in class, gotta get up and move, and that's my plan from now on, no matter what is going on.