I read a story to the clas last Friday called "The Puddles", and I planned to do the puddles experiment with them today. I showed them how to do it -- choose someone from their group to pour water onto a styrofoam plate, draw a circle around the puddle with marker, then pick a safe location to put their plate. However, my circle was already smudged when I brought it over to the window, even when I walked really carefully. So, one student suggested that we move the plate to where we want it to be first, then we can draw the circle. That way, it won't smudge! I think it's a great idea, so we decided to do that. Sometimes, students give really good suggestions, and they are very happy that we accept their ideas. They worked in groups of four, and only one or two arguments came up. I'm feeling more comfortable to let them work in groups now.
In the afternoon, I taught them how to make change with money. I have been changing the prices of the washroom passes, drinking pass and the items that they are allowed to buy in the morning and during Math lesson. The prices went up when I wanted them to count greater amounts, but I lowered them today because I want to teach them how to make change. They only had nickels in their banks, and the things that they purchase range from 1 cent to 4 cents, so they require change for every item they buy. In the beginning, after I explained how it works, a lot of students said that they didn't get it. Then I went on to show more examples, and I had students buy things and think aloud to make the change. Before I asked them to work on pretend buying with their partners, most of them got it.
When I walked around to see how they were doing, they were thinking aloud the way I did during the lesson, and I was very impressed. They were processing the information and thinking while they play and enjoy themselves. I had a worksheet for them, but I didn't want to rush into it before they fully understand the concept, so I'll push that to tomorrow instead.
Monday, April 30, 2007
Sunday, April 29, 2007
April.27, 07: Teaching Block Day 14
I did the morning routines with the class this morning. Usually, I'd do the morning message with them, then I'll pass it on to Ms. Carson. But today, I did the mornig message, the calendar, and the word wall clapping with them as well. I've seen Ms. Carson did it for many times, so I'm quite familiar with it. I was surprised by how well they behave today, because they could get pretty noisy in the morning. The boy who led the calendar routine was shy at asking questions at the beginning of the week (each student gets a chance to lead the calendar routine for a week), but he has improved throughout the week and he has begun to ask questions (e.g. What day is it today?).
Ms. Carson told me who to choose to lead the word wall, so I chose that little girl. But some of the students were not happy with it, because she has led many times before. I didn't really know what to do, but I told them that she didn't lead yesterday. I need to be careful with this next time, because they would notice things like this and think that it's unfair.
Today is the Earth Week Assembly, and most of the students in my class wore green. A few of them didn't, so Ms. Carson made them green necklaces so they wouldn't feel left out. I think it is a very good learning moment for me, because I would know to prepare for events like this so everyone would feel included.
Ms. Carson told me who to choose to lead the word wall, so I chose that little girl. But some of the students were not happy with it, because she has led many times before. I didn't really know what to do, but I told them that she didn't lead yesterday. I need to be careful with this next time, because they would notice things like this and think that it's unfair.
Today is the Earth Week Assembly, and most of the students in my class wore green. A few of them didn't, so Ms. Carson made them green necklaces so they wouldn't feel left out. I think it is a very good learning moment for me, because I would know to prepare for events like this so everyone would feel included.
April.26, 07: Teaching Block Day 13
I went on a Spring Walk with the students today. I wanted to do this earlier on in the unit, but the weather didn't feel like Spring and it would be pretty cold to walk outside. I made an observation chart for the students, and asked them to use their 4 senses (eliminating taste) to take note of the signs of Spring. Ms. Carson and I guided them to look at signs like the buds on the trees and hearing the birds chirping. When we came back, they drew a picture of their walk and used their chart to write in sentences. Some of the pictures were really realistic and captured the moments vividly. I think they really enjoyed it!
In the afternoon, I played a game of adding coins with the class. We've played a similar game before, so it didn't take them a long time to understand how to play it. However, one group was doing a lot better than the other, because of their abilities and their cooperation. I emphasized that the main thing about the game is not what they know and how well they do it, but it's about working as a team. If I can do it again next time, I'll divide up the groups rather than let the pick, so the "losing" group wouldn't feel so bad.
In the afternoon, I played a game of adding coins with the class. We've played a similar game before, so it didn't take them a long time to understand how to play it. However, one group was doing a lot better than the other, because of their abilities and their cooperation. I emphasized that the main thing about the game is not what they know and how well they do it, but it's about working as a team. If I can do it again next time, I'll divide up the groups rather than let the pick, so the "losing" group wouldn't feel so bad.
April.25, 07: Teaching Block Day 12
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.
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.
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.
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