This morning, I met Mr.Hansen, a Gr.4 teacher in Randall P.S. It was funny~ We were in the staff room, and he started talking to me. He's really friendly. He asked me how I'm doing, what grade I'm teaching, how am I getting used to it and things like that. But at that moment, I actually thought he's ANOTHER teacher, Mr.V, whose class is beside Ms.Lamba's class. So I felt really weird...'cause last week I talked to Mr.V, but he wasn't the very socializing type. So I was like...he's extra friendly today~ But then...Mr.Hansen introduced himself to me, and I almost laughed out loud haha~ I mixed up the two teachers! -_-" But they do look alike~
It's Day 3, so the students did Health in the first two periods. They learned about safety and prevention (E.g. fire safey, school safety, etc.) After they brainstormed a list of different kinds of safety, Ms.Lamba asked them to draw a title page for this unit. They can choose 4 different safety situations and draw them out. A girl, Kavinah, raised her hand to ask a question. She started, but said "nevermind" when Ms.Lamba didn't really understand her. But Ms.Lamba asked her to clarify herself, so she did, and the question came out much more clearly. I think it's very important to let students speak, and give them the chance to reformulate their question/comment. This will give them confidence in expressing themselves, and they'll know that their opinions are valued.
A lot of them are really creative and talented. There's a student, Anthony, who drew a picture about putting sunscreen in the beach to prevent sunburn. He drew a beach, a bench, and a pig lying on the bench. Someone went to him/it and asked if he wanted sunscreen, but he said he's ok. On top of this picture, Anthony wrote "Before". In the "After" picture, he drew the same setting, but the pig isn't there. Instead, lying on the bench is a piece of bacon!! I was like...wow~ that's really funny and creative! I know that he loves to read anime. That probably contributed to his creativity~ As long as a child loves to read, he'll learn from the material.
After recess, we did Math. Ms.Lamba taught the students 3 strategies to do adding with mental math -- Adding On, the Compensation Strategy, and the Estimation Strategy. After the lesson, they worked on the textbook questions. I circulated around to watch them, and answered questions when they needed help. I'm beginning to build a rapport with them, and I feel that they're comfortable of me being here. It feels great!
After lunch was Language. I pulled out Scholastic order forms from the books while Ms.Lamba read-aloud a chapter of Roald Dale's < Boys >. Then she handed out the Scholastic forms, and she gave students time to skim through the pages and talk amongst themselves. The classroom was quite loud, but all of the students were talking about what books they like and which ones they're going to get. I think the atmosphere was really great! After a reasonable amount of time, Ms.Lamba asked them to be quiet, and then asked them to go back to their desk and take out their Writer's Notebook. As homework, they've written about "The Worst Day of My Life". She asked them to read their writing in their head first, then share it with a friend. As they were sharing, I walked around and asked some of them to share with me. They shared and we laughed at the bad situations, and I made some comments as well. It was a fun experience!
When they were done, Ms.Lamba brainstormed with them a list of scary stories that have happened in their life. Then they wrote a list in their notebook individually. Then they were asked to choose one of the events and write a paragraph on it. They were a bit loud in the beginning, but Ms.Lamba quieted them down, and told them that they'll have the time to share later on, but not now.
After second recess, we did Science. The Grade 5s went to another classroom, but the Grade 4s stayed with us. They learned about habitats and foodchains. They took up the homework, and Ms.Lamba said that they'll be learning about producers and consumers next class.
Thursday, September 13, 2007
Thursday, September 06, 2007
My second visit in the first week of school
Today is Ms.Lamba's birthday! I heard her talking about it with Ms.Agrawal on Tuesday, so I asked her and found out that it's today~ I bought a glittery card for her yesterday hehe. Yeah, I already know that she loves glitters. =P
In the morning, I took out agenda money from the students' envelopes and checked them off. I also sorted out forms that students returned. While I was doing that, Ms.Lamba was teaching them place values. The Gr.4s need to know up to 10,000, and the Gr.5s need to know up to 100,000. I feel that I need to review my Math, because although I know the content, I don't remember learning them. It's important that I have the knowledge, but it's more important to explore the ways that I can teach the students.
I went out to duty with Ms.Lamba at recess, and it was so hot today! But it's always nice to be outside for a while when we're in the school all day.
After recess, they continued to brainstorm ideas about appreciating and listening to others. After that, each group got a piece of big chart paper to do a place mat activity. Each student had his/her own spot on the sheet to write down the rules that they need to follow in the school and in the classroom. Then, as a group, they would discuss and decide which 4 rules are the most important. Then, as a class, they agreed upon 6 rules, and each of us signed the agreement.
I sat with Hilda at lunch today. It's so nice to have another student teacher with me, so we can talk and share what we did~
After lunch, we continued doing the classroom agreement, because we didn't have time to finish it before lunch. After that, Ms.Lamba started to introduce the story "Christopher Changes His Name", but got interrupted by the announcement. So we had to go to the assembly at the gym, where the principal and vice principal, Ms.Ohl and Mr.Richards, talked about safety issues. Before they started, the teachers introduced themselves to all the Gr.4-8s. I didn't know that I'll be introducing myself too, but I managed~ I've never spoken to so many kids in the gym before! That's exciting~
After the assembly, Ms.Lamba read the story and discussed it with the students. Then she asked them if their names have any special meaning. She asked them to go home and ask their parents where their names come from or what they mean. They're going to write about it tomorrow.
Throughout the day, I went around and observed the students and answered questions when they needed help. I feel that I'm already part of the class! And...I've learned all of their names! After class, Ms.Lamba asked me to come up with a seating plan according to the preferences of the students. They've written down the names of 3 people that they'd like to sit with. So I made sure that each student is sitting with at least one person that they like. I also made sure that each group includes both boys and girls, Gr.4s and Gr.5s. It was kind of like a Math problem, but I enjoyed it!
Before I go, I stamped the new Literacy textbooks, and that made me sweat haha~
So that's my day...It's nice but also tiring 'cause of all the walking around (especially when the classroom is upstairs)! Oh, and~~~ I got a hug from Tina today~ ^-^
In the morning, I took out agenda money from the students' envelopes and checked them off. I also sorted out forms that students returned. While I was doing that, Ms.Lamba was teaching them place values. The Gr.4s need to know up to 10,000, and the Gr.5s need to know up to 100,000. I feel that I need to review my Math, because although I know the content, I don't remember learning them. It's important that I have the knowledge, but it's more important to explore the ways that I can teach the students.
I went out to duty with Ms.Lamba at recess, and it was so hot today! But it's always nice to be outside for a while when we're in the school all day.
After recess, they continued to brainstorm ideas about appreciating and listening to others. After that, each group got a piece of big chart paper to do a place mat activity. Each student had his/her own spot on the sheet to write down the rules that they need to follow in the school and in the classroom. Then, as a group, they would discuss and decide which 4 rules are the most important. Then, as a class, they agreed upon 6 rules, and each of us signed the agreement.
I sat with Hilda at lunch today. It's so nice to have another student teacher with me, so we can talk and share what we did~
After lunch, we continued doing the classroom agreement, because we didn't have time to finish it before lunch. After that, Ms.Lamba started to introduce the story "Christopher Changes His Name", but got interrupted by the announcement. So we had to go to the assembly at the gym, where the principal and vice principal, Ms.Ohl and Mr.Richards, talked about safety issues. Before they started, the teachers introduced themselves to all the Gr.4-8s. I didn't know that I'll be introducing myself too, but I managed~ I've never spoken to so many kids in the gym before! That's exciting~
After the assembly, Ms.Lamba read the story and discussed it with the students. Then she asked them if their names have any special meaning. She asked them to go home and ask their parents where their names come from or what they mean. They're going to write about it tomorrow.
Throughout the day, I went around and observed the students and answered questions when they needed help. I feel that I'm already part of the class! And...I've learned all of their names! After class, Ms.Lamba asked me to come up with a seating plan according to the preferences of the students. They've written down the names of 3 people that they'd like to sit with. So I made sure that each student is sitting with at least one person that they like. I also made sure that each group includes both boys and girls, Gr.4s and Gr.5s. It was kind of like a Math problem, but I enjoyed it!
Before I go, I stamped the new Literacy textbooks, and that made me sweat haha~
So that's my day...It's nice but also tiring 'cause of all the walking around (especially when the classroom is upstairs)! Oh, and~~~ I got a hug from Tina today~ ^-^
Tuesday, September 04, 2007
First day of school at Randall P.S.!
I arrived at Randall P.S. at about 8:10am this morning. When I went to the office, I saw Hilda, a girl who was in my class a few years back. I'm glad that I have someone with me this year, 'cause I was alone most of the time last year! We waited for Ms.Webber, our site coordinator in the office, but it got crowded 'cause there's lots of new students with their parents. So we went to the staff room to wait instead. When she finally appeared, it was about 8:30am. There's another York TC (teacher candidate) called Joyce. So Ms.Weber talked to us for a while, and she said that she'll go talk to Ms.Ohl, the principal, to decide where we'll be placed.
When she came back at about 9:10am, she told us that she hasn't had a chance to talk to Ms.Ohl yet, so we'll have to wait some more. At about 9:55am, she came back again and told us that we should just go into a classroom and observe. Hilda and Joyce did junior grades last year, so they went into some primary classrooms together. I went upstairs alone to find a junior room.
I went into a classroom, and then found out that it's a Gr.6/7. I know that I wouldn't be placed there, but I sat and observed anyway. The teacher, Ms.Tasch, is pretty nice. The students were making name tags while I went inside. She set up a reading area at the back of the room, and I love it! It has curtains hanging down, there's a mat on the floor, with 2 couches (1 with a teddy bear sitting on it), a little desk with a lamp on it, and a bookshelf. It's really comfortable and warm, and I'll keep that in mind when I go into teaching next year! (hopefully) The classroom structure is very different from the Gr.1 classroom. The major difference is that the Gr.6/7 don't do their learning on the carpet, they just sit where they are. Also, the teacher doesn't need to repeat her instructions as much as a Gr.1 teacher.
I stayed in Ms.Tasch's room till recess. Then Ms.Weber and Ms.Ohl talked to us and asked us what grades we want. I prefer a Gr.4 class, 'cause I taught Gr.1s last year, so the gap wouldn't be that big. Ms.Weber said that there's a Gr.4 class and a Gr.4/5 class that I can be placed in. She said that it'll be challenging and interesting to be in a Gr.4/5, so I took that. You never know if you never try, right?~
After recess, I talked to Ms.Lamba, my host teacher. She's a nice lady, and I know that I'll learn a lot from her! She's very well organized too. She said that when I start teaching lessons, she'll let me take charage of one small unit, so I'll be teaching the same topic every week I come. Then both of us would be more organized. I think that's a great idea! She has been teaching for 5 years, and she's experienced with having teacher candidates in her class.
Ms.Lamba introduced me and let me take the attendence after lunch. I'm already remembering most of the students' names after school~ I can see that some of them already like me, and I'm really looking forward to be a member of this class!
When she came back at about 9:10am, she told us that she hasn't had a chance to talk to Ms.Ohl yet, so we'll have to wait some more. At about 9:55am, she came back again and told us that we should just go into a classroom and observe. Hilda and Joyce did junior grades last year, so they went into some primary classrooms together. I went upstairs alone to find a junior room.
I went into a classroom, and then found out that it's a Gr.6/7. I know that I wouldn't be placed there, but I sat and observed anyway. The teacher, Ms.Tasch, is pretty nice. The students were making name tags while I went inside. She set up a reading area at the back of the room, and I love it! It has curtains hanging down, there's a mat on the floor, with 2 couches (1 with a teddy bear sitting on it), a little desk with a lamp on it, and a bookshelf. It's really comfortable and warm, and I'll keep that in mind when I go into teaching next year! (hopefully) The classroom structure is very different from the Gr.1 classroom. The major difference is that the Gr.6/7 don't do their learning on the carpet, they just sit where they are. Also, the teacher doesn't need to repeat her instructions as much as a Gr.1 teacher.
I stayed in Ms.Tasch's room till recess. Then Ms.Weber and Ms.Ohl talked to us and asked us what grades we want. I prefer a Gr.4 class, 'cause I taught Gr.1s last year, so the gap wouldn't be that big. Ms.Weber said that there's a Gr.4 class and a Gr.4/5 class that I can be placed in. She said that it'll be challenging and interesting to be in a Gr.4/5, so I took that. You never know if you never try, right?~
After recess, I talked to Ms.Lamba, my host teacher. She's a nice lady, and I know that I'll learn a lot from her! She's very well organized too. She said that when I start teaching lessons, she'll let me take charage of one small unit, so I'll be teaching the same topic every week I come. Then both of us would be more organized. I think that's a great idea! She has been teaching for 5 years, and she's experienced with having teacher candidates in her class.
Ms.Lamba introduced me and let me take the attendence after lunch. I'm already remembering most of the students' names after school~ I can see that some of them already like me, and I'm really looking forward to be a member of this class!
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