Blog_2

The first of the morning is a little crazy because a lot of the students come in late from safety patrol duty, morning show, and getting breakfast. Once all the students arrive they start their reading lessons, which are done in the same order every day. Between each lesson is a smooth transition of students opening their notebook to the section they are working on or students reading a book silently. After reading, they pack get their math and science items ready and line up to switch to another teacher. The other class that comes at the switch does their reading lessons. Then both classes go to lunch and specials. At the end of the day is either writing or teacher directed PE. Throughout the day my advising teacher expresses concern, care, and respect. She created a safe environment for her students. The students go to her with easy to express their concerns about schoolwork, other students, after school, and home situations. She keeps her voice low, calm, and smooth so that all her students can understand her at an upmost respectable manner.


I like how my advising teacher has the books for her students organized by level and by theme to help the students choose the right book for themselves. She has a restroom policy where the students write their name and the time on a sheet outside the bathroom door. This is so that if the bathroom is messy or nasty, they know who the last person was in the bathroom and how long it had been left that way. I like that students hold up one finger for water and two fingers for bathroom as a classroom management technique so there are less disruptions throughout the day. Something I found creative was when students sharpen their pencils they keep a paper towel under it to catch the shavings, then the student just tosses out the paper towel (so much less mess). All of these ideas among so many more she has and probably will demonstrate I plan to use when I begin teaching.


My advising teacher switches her methods of gaining the students attention which works surprisingly well. Typically I see teachers using the same attention getters every time and at first it works great, but eventually at some point in the year, they have to use a new one. I think using multiple ways of getting the students attention is a great teaching strategy. The reading specialist has the reading teachers using a “first twenty days” reading program. The consistency of the program seems to work really well except maybe that there are too many posters. I think posters are great, but when there are so many of them it can be overwhelming for the students and teacher.


Some of the things familiar to me were posters hanging on the walls, students conversing with one another, having the opportunity to talk with my advising teacher, and getting to know other staff members. What made me feel comfortable was the ease of getting to know the students, and the slow and smooth transition into working with the students.


I plan to teach one whole class lesson. Then I plan on working with small groups on their reading skills. After that I plan to teach half a day. Finally I will teach one entire day. I already have some one on one experience with the students and I have observed the teacher. I feel confident I will be successful in gaining positive experiences toward my professional development.