Today, I started recording the temperature with the class. I told them what a thermometer is, and I hung it on the window. I taught them how to read the temperature, and created a chart with them. We will be recording the temperature 2 times a day -- in the morning and in the afternoon, to see how it changes. They were very eager to be picked to be a temperature reader! And they had fun guessing what temperature it is too!
I brought 5 fake plants from home today and taught them how to make observations. I had one plant for each group, and I planned to rotate the plants so all of them could do all 5 observations. However, they were working at different speeds, and it was hard to rotate. I didn't want the slower students to be unable to finish each plant, and I didn't want the faster students to wait for so long. So I decided that they could switch seats with students from other groups, so they could work at their own speed. Luckily, it went well, and the students were all working. I think I'm getting better at classroom management, which I believe is the most difficult and tiring thing about teaching.
Sunday, April 29, 2007
April.24, 07: Teaching Block Day 11
Yesterday, Ms. Carson talked about Earth Day with the students. Today, I taught them about Earthworms and how they help the earth as recyclers. They were very excited when I read them the book "Diary of a Worm", because it is cute and funny. Then I discussed with them about some interest facts about worms and put them on chart paper under four headings -- The Body, What They Eat, What They Do, and In Winter. Next, I taught them how to create an information pamphlet, and I paired them up. Most of them worked very well together, but some had problems and kept complaining. One of the groups complain about every little thing almost everyday. I only intervene when they get too loud, but otherwise, I want them to solve the problems themselves, because they argue over the tiniest things like whose name should go first on the front page. They need to understand that they have to get over it and focus on more important things.
In the afternoon, I read "The Penny Pot" to the students and counted money with them as the story proceeds. After that, I let them work in pairs again, to estimate and count coins. I felt really good when a girl came to me and said, "Ms. Chung, I think I get it! I'm getting better at money now!" She was so excited and she felt so proud. I was really touched!
Since last Friday (the day after Science Centre), I wasn't feeling very well. I'm losing my voice. I'm glad that the students were pretty good today, and although I couldn't raise my voice when I taught the lessons and read the stories, they listened and paid attention. Things are going well and I'm feeling very comfortable in the classroom.
In the afternoon, I read "The Penny Pot" to the students and counted money with them as the story proceeds. After that, I let them work in pairs again, to estimate and count coins. I felt really good when a girl came to me and said, "Ms. Chung, I think I get it! I'm getting better at money now!" She was so excited and she felt so proud. I was really touched!
Since last Friday (the day after Science Centre), I wasn't feeling very well. I'm losing my voice. I'm glad that the students were pretty good today, and although I couldn't raise my voice when I taught the lessons and read the stories, they listened and paid attention. Things are going well and I'm feeling very comfortable in the classroom.
April.23, 07: Teaching Block Day 10
I'm already half way through my teaching block, time passes so quickly! A week passes by like a blink of the eye, but when I reflect on my day, it would seem like it happened a few days ago. It's weird.
Just like how Peni has predicted, I have changed my plans throughout my block. At the beginning, I was suspicious about it because I would like to stick with my plans since I spent so much time putting the units together. However, as I got used to being in the classroom and teaching everyday, I begin to think that it's ok to change my plans according to the needs of the students. Plus, there's always things that I suddenly come up with that would be useful for the lessons.
On Friday, the Eggshell People's hair have grown a lot. I thought that it would be a great idea to give them a haircut today (Monday). So I gave the students paperclips, like what I did before, to measure the grass hair. After they measured the longest piece, they recorded it in the chart. I was surprised by how quick they did it today, because they had trouble with the measuring last week. I'm impressed that they have learned how to do it and are getting good at it.
I find that webs and charts help students organize their ideas better, so I made a web to help them write about the growth that they see in their Eggshell People throughout the week and a half. Their writing are much more detailed with all the headings covered. They were really excited to take home their Eggshell People today!
I'm also very impressed by how well they understand money now. Most of them have improved a lot compared to the beginning of the unit. Most of them now understand the concept of 2 nickels in a dime and 5 pennies in a nickel. They think about it when they need to buy things from me, and as they get practical experience on a daily basis, they are getting really good at it!
Just like how Peni has predicted, I have changed my plans throughout my block. At the beginning, I was suspicious about it because I would like to stick with my plans since I spent so much time putting the units together. However, as I got used to being in the classroom and teaching everyday, I begin to think that it's ok to change my plans according to the needs of the students. Plus, there's always things that I suddenly come up with that would be useful for the lessons.
On Friday, the Eggshell People's hair have grown a lot. I thought that it would be a great idea to give them a haircut today (Monday). So I gave the students paperclips, like what I did before, to measure the grass hair. After they measured the longest piece, they recorded it in the chart. I was surprised by how quick they did it today, because they had trouble with the measuring last week. I'm impressed that they have learned how to do it and are getting good at it.
I find that webs and charts help students organize their ideas better, so I made a web to help them write about the growth that they see in their Eggshell People throughout the week and a half. Their writing are much more detailed with all the headings covered. They were really excited to take home their Eggshell People today!
I'm also very impressed by how well they understand money now. Most of them have improved a lot compared to the beginning of the unit. Most of them now understand the concept of 2 nickels in a dime and 5 pennies in a nickel. They think about it when they need to buy things from me, and as they get practical experience on a daily basis, they are getting really good at it!
Friday, April 27, 2007
April.20, 07: Teaching Block Day 9
We did a Science Centre Trip writing today. I made a brainstorming web with the headings "Going There", "My Favourite Part", "My Least Favourite Part", "What I Learned" and "Coming Back". This would help the students with organizing their writing, because there were so much that happened during the trip, they might not rememeber everything that they want to say, or they might not know where to begin. This would give them guidance as to how to approach the writing. I listened to them sharing their experience, and I felt good when I knew what they were trying to describe to me. For example, when a student was describing the cave, I said, "Oh yeah, and there were bigger kids who were trying to scare us!" And then he said, "Yeah, I scared people too! I scared YOU when you came in!" We shared, discussed and laughed, and I really enjoyed it.
In the afternoon, I signed out the computer and let them play an online money counting game. They spent a long time typing the addresses last time we used the computers, so I printed a large picture of a keyboard and coloured in the keys ".", "/", "~" and "#" so I could point to them when they type. I also pointed to the letters so they could find them more quickly. They really liked the game, but some of them got bored after a while. So I typed in another address for them and they played another game. Using the computers with the Grade Ones is very time consuming, but I think that as they get used to it and use it more often, they'd do it more quickly and easily.
In the afternoon, I signed out the computer and let them play an online money counting game. They spent a long time typing the addresses last time we used the computers, so I printed a large picture of a keyboard and coloured in the keys ".", "/", "~" and "#" so I could point to them when they type. I also pointed to the letters so they could find them more quickly. They really liked the game, but some of them got bored after a while. So I typed in another address for them and they played another game. Using the computers with the Grade Ones is very time consuming, but I think that as they get used to it and use it more often, they'd do it more quickly and easily.
April.19, 07: Teaching Block Day 8
We went to the Science Centre today! The students were very excited! I remember that when I was little, I always enjoyed the bus rides. On the way there and on our way back, I taught two girls in my class to make origamis. They were really happy about it, and some other students peeked and wanted to make some too. I made a bond with a student in Ms. Jones' class, because I made her something and she found it really amazing.
When we arrived at the Science Centre, we divided the students into groups (one adult was responsible for 4 students). Then they were free to play and explore. I wished that I've looked at information and studied about the things in Science Centre, because I wasn't sure of how the machines work or what they mean. It would be more beneficial and educational to students if I could just sneak in a scientific comment or explanation when they were exploring. This could be my homework for next time!
By the end of the day, I was exhausted. It's natural for children to run around in a fun place like this, but running around to keep watch of them and keep them together was really tiring. I even started to get a sore throat! After yesterday's bad experience and today's fun and tired day, I believe that the rest of my teaching block would be much easier!
When we arrived at the Science Centre, we divided the students into groups (one adult was responsible for 4 students). Then they were free to play and explore. I wished that I've looked at information and studied about the things in Science Centre, because I wasn't sure of how the machines work or what they mean. It would be more beneficial and educational to students if I could just sneak in a scientific comment or explanation when they were exploring. This could be my homework for next time!
By the end of the day, I was exhausted. It's natural for children to run around in a fun place like this, but running around to keep watch of them and keep them together was really tiring. I even started to get a sore throat! After yesterday's bad experience and today's fun and tired day, I believe that the rest of my teaching block would be much easier!
April.18, 07: Teaching Block Day 7
Ms. Carson wasn't feel well today, so she didn't come to school. I was greeted by a substitute teacher when I arrived in the morning. The teacher was loud and threatening. He would yell at the kids even when they were only talking quietly. He was impatient, and he tried to bribe them with large money amounts (coin manipulatives) like 10 dimes, whereas I only give them a penny, nickel or dime when a group is working quietly. And it didn't work for the students at all. They weren't even excited about the "award".
His tone sounded demeaning. None of the students called his name throughout the day except for when he first came in. But one student told me, "Mr.xxx looks like he is sleeping." When I looked, he was sitting behind the teacher's desk, with his eyes closed. Perhaps he was only closing his eyes for a second, but I wasn't sure about that.
During Math lesson, while I was helping other students, I heard him trying to help a lower kid, but he was being very impatient with her and he spoke really loudly. Being a student teacher, I wasn't sure of what I could do. He started the morning, but I taught for most of the day, so the afternoon was OK. Also, he kept saying to me that finding a full-time teaching job is not about what you know, it's about who you know. He said that it's all about politics. I didn't feel like I should argue with him or say anything, so I just kept smiling and trying to talk to him most of the time. But the day was awful! I felt like I need to protect the students, but I couldn't really do anything.
The day after, I told Ms. Carson about it, and she said that two other teachers also heard him yelling at our students. So she went to the office to let them know not to get him again. When I think about it, I feel so lucky that I'm in Ms. Carson's class. I have heard bad things about irresponsible host teachers, and I am really glad that I am in a good school with all the support that I can get. It would be very depressing to work in a poisoned environment everyday.
His tone sounded demeaning. None of the students called his name throughout the day except for when he first came in. But one student told me, "Mr.xxx looks like he is sleeping." When I looked, he was sitting behind the teacher's desk, with his eyes closed. Perhaps he was only closing his eyes for a second, but I wasn't sure about that.
During Math lesson, while I was helping other students, I heard him trying to help a lower kid, but he was being very impatient with her and he spoke really loudly. Being a student teacher, I wasn't sure of what I could do. He started the morning, but I taught for most of the day, so the afternoon was OK. Also, he kept saying to me that finding a full-time teaching job is not about what you know, it's about who you know. He said that it's all about politics. I didn't feel like I should argue with him or say anything, so I just kept smiling and trying to talk to him most of the time. But the day was awful! I felt like I need to protect the students, but I couldn't really do anything.
The day after, I told Ms. Carson about it, and she said that two other teachers also heard him yelling at our students. So she went to the office to let them know not to get him again. When I think about it, I feel so lucky that I'm in Ms. Carson's class. I have heard bad things about irresponsible host teachers, and I am really glad that I am in a good school with all the support that I can get. It would be very depressing to work in a poisoned environment everyday.
Thursday, April 26, 2007
April.17, 07: Teaching Block Day 6
Yesterday, I saw that our grasses were starting to grow, so I decided to do some measuring today. I asked the students why do they think the Eggshell People's "hair" has grown, and led them to tell me that plants need water, soil and sunshine to grow. Then I showed them how to use paperclips to measure how long their Eggshell People's hair are. Before, I have planned to use rulers to measure, but when I checked the curriculum, Grade Ones are not expected to measure in standard units. When I think about it, it makes a lot of sense, because they need to understand what measurement really means before being thrown with units that don't make sense to them. I taught them how to measure the shortest and longest piece of hair and record it in a chart. Then they wrote a journal, in the perspective of the Eggshell Person, that includes the measurements.
The measuring part was kind of difficult for them, because they had to be careful with the eggshells and they had to choose the shortest and longest (or approximately) piece of hair from the bunch of grasses. But they did it! However, some of them cracked their eggshells. Next time, I need to tell them that if it's not necessary, don't touch the eggshells.
In the afternoon, I reviewed the relationship of pennies, nickels and dimes with the class. Then we counted and skip counted together. I showed them how to play the game "Collecting Dimes", where they would replace 5 pennies with a nickel and 2 nickels with a dime. In the meantime, I picked groups to water their plants. I saw the some of them were kind of confused as to how to play the game, so I clarified it with some of the groups. At the end of the day, Ms. Carson suggested that I play it again with them tomorrow as a class, just to make sure that they understand. I believe that it is important to step back when things aren't going in the right direction. It is useless and more time consuming to push ahead when most of the students are not understanding.
The measuring part was kind of difficult for them, because they had to be careful with the eggshells and they had to choose the shortest and longest (or approximately) piece of hair from the bunch of grasses. But they did it! However, some of them cracked their eggshells. Next time, I need to tell them that if it's not necessary, don't touch the eggshells.
In the afternoon, I reviewed the relationship of pennies, nickels and dimes with the class. Then we counted and skip counted together. I showed them how to play the game "Collecting Dimes", where they would replace 5 pennies with a nickel and 2 nickels with a dime. In the meantime, I picked groups to water their plants. I saw the some of them were kind of confused as to how to play the game, so I clarified it with some of the groups. At the end of the day, Ms. Carson suggested that I play it again with them tomorrow as a class, just to make sure that they understand. I believe that it is important to step back when things aren't going in the right direction. It is useless and more time consuming to push ahead when most of the students are not understanding.
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