Things in my placement are starting to become better. There
are a few stressful problems I have concerning my CT, but all in all I feel
good about the way I am interacting with the students. A little follow up on
the goals I have achieved is that I am getting to know all of my students quite
well. I have gotten to know some more than others, but I’m working on that. I
have also been getting to know the surrounding teachers much more. I want to go
observe this teacher’s classroom because from what I know about her so far, I can
confidently say that I believe that she has crazy, fantastic classroom
management.
A little bit about my issues:
I was in a bit of a pickle this last week because I was sick
and I didn’t attend my placement. My CT didn’t get the message, and she flipped
out on me, so now there is a bit of tension in that class. I have no idea how
to please her, and the worst part is that I am experiencing a completely
different atmosphere in my other classroom. So, I’m not exactly sure how things
will work out, but all I can say is that I was not unprofessional and I did
call the school to deliver the news of my absence.
A little bit about my successes:
There are two boys in my classroom that are super, mega,
huge trouble makers. They never get their work done and they never really
listen to my CT or me or the para. After being asked, ever so sweetly, by my CT
to take them out of the classroom and work with them on this assignment, I
became a bit stresses. As I walked with them to the cafeteria, one of them
said, “man! you is so short, Ms. Denisse.” As I heard him say this I thought to
myself, “he doesn’t mean to be rude, he’s only making a statement, but he’s
making fun of me, so what should I do?” I decided to do the only thing I knew
to do, which was to make fun of him back, so I said, “hmm…well, I am cuter than
you..hahah” and after that he has been so well behaved. Now, I’m not suggesting
that one make fun of the student’s in one’s classroom, but using humor and
letting the students know that you aren’t this stuck up, bratty, college
student, definitely works. I call him Long Legs Shaquan, now and he loves it.
Oh, and the assignment we worked on was a breeze. They both
listened and read and worked. I talked to them and really understood that they
have a problem with authority, especially when they aren’t given a choice. I
said “who wants to read first?” instead of “Shaquan, you read” and they did
very well. So, giving them choices makes a huge difference.
I think how you handled everything above was great! It was very professional to call the school to note your absence, and hopefully an e-mail to your CT was also sent, but the office should have given your CT the message.
ReplyDeleteIn my own experiences, I also noticed that students eased up when I eased up. I enjoyed being in my placement from nearly the beginning of the school year because the students were opening up at the same rate that I was mostly. We were all learning each other's names, too.
I thought it was great that you gave them a choice as to who would read first, and I just wanted to mention that I tried that today myself (with a whole class read) and tried the popcorn reading as the teacher instructed. She was gone, so I was left in charge with a sub in the room. However, I ran into a couple of problems. After the 4-5 students who volunteered finished reading, no one else wanted to read and it took a while for them to pick the next student to read, so I started calling on students who hadn't gone yet. I think that in this case, since I had given them the choice and they chose not to use it, that I had to take it back. It was really hindering their reading time and we had a lot to get through. I do have to say that they were real troopers to get through an hour's worth of reading. I hated to do that to them in the first place, but it was the teacher's instructions and I knew that if I left them to read solo or in partners that some A) wouldn't read or B) would have already finished the book and would have nothing to do but work ahead or play on their phones. I'm just glad we got through it as well as we did.
Denisse,
ReplyDeleteI think it is great that you have been talking to some of the surrounding teachers. I must admit that this is something I could be doing a better job of myself-we recognize each other at best and they think I'm a student at worst. Whether you are enjoying your experience with your CT or not, it is always great to see what other lessons or bits of advice your surrounding teachers may offer that you cant glean from your CT.
Best of luck with the rest of your semester, and good luck keeping Long Legs Shaquan in line!
-Scott