I'll be teaching at Randall Public School this year, but I don't know which grade I'll be teaching yet. But it'll be Gr.4-6 for sure~ I'm pretty excited about it, and I need to review some of my lessons and reflections from last year just to get back into my "teaching mode". I also need to read about the school to familiarize myself.
I was fortunate to be in Greensborough P.S., a really really good school, during my last teaching year. The staff were very friendly and pleasant, and I learned a lot from my wonderful host teacher, Ms.Carson, and the chatty and huggy Gr.1s~ I miss them so much!
I have been on my summer break for so long now, but I think I'm ready to get back on track and embrace this upcoming year. I know it's going to be wonderful!
Tuesday, August 21, 2007
Wednesday, May 02, 2007
May.2: Teaching Block Day 17
Ms.Carson wasn't here today, but we had a nice supply teacher. The students were great today, and they like the supply teacher.
The students wrote about what they learned in April. Ms.Carson brainstormed with them yesterday. When Ms.Carson asked them what did they do in April, they said "Eggshell People!", "The puddles!", "Spring letter", "Buying things", and all sorts of other things that I did with them. I'm surprised by how much I've taught them, and that they actually learned and remember.
I gave them a working period this morning. I told them that I'll hand out the unfinished work, and if they have nothing on the desk, then they can do something new. I showed the whole class how to write an acrostic poem -- not exactly an acrostic poem (it doesn't have to flow), but using the letters of their name to make words or sentences. The students understood what they were supposed to do, and they got a lot of work done. The students who did everything didn't need to find things to do because they could write the poem. And the class was calm and quiet when they were working. I was glad!
The students are pretty good at making change, which I would be assessing tomorrow. Since they are always doing Math without noticing it (getting the washroom pass, buying things in the morning and in the afternoon), I think I can use the afternoon period to do some Art with them. After recording the temperature after lunch, I "sold" a few things just to review how to make change, and then I taught them how to make an origami tulip.
I planned to have each student make a bundle of tulips, but it didn't work out. We spent the whole period making only one tulip! It was hard for them. If I can do it next time, I'll show them with a bigger paper. Also, I'll give them softer papers, because construction papers are hard to fold. In fact, I'll probably teach them to make the tulips again before Mother's Day!
The students wrote about what they learned in April. Ms.Carson brainstormed with them yesterday. When Ms.Carson asked them what did they do in April, they said "Eggshell People!", "The puddles!", "Spring letter", "Buying things", and all sorts of other things that I did with them. I'm surprised by how much I've taught them, and that they actually learned and remember.
I gave them a working period this morning. I told them that I'll hand out the unfinished work, and if they have nothing on the desk, then they can do something new. I showed the whole class how to write an acrostic poem -- not exactly an acrostic poem (it doesn't have to flow), but using the letters of their name to make words or sentences. The students understood what they were supposed to do, and they got a lot of work done. The students who did everything didn't need to find things to do because they could write the poem. And the class was calm and quiet when they were working. I was glad!
The students are pretty good at making change, which I would be assessing tomorrow. Since they are always doing Math without noticing it (getting the washroom pass, buying things in the morning and in the afternoon), I think I can use the afternoon period to do some Art with them. After recording the temperature after lunch, I "sold" a few things just to review how to make change, and then I taught them how to make an origami tulip.
I planned to have each student make a bundle of tulips, but it didn't work out. We spent the whole period making only one tulip! It was hard for them. If I can do it next time, I'll show them with a bigger paper. Also, I'll give them softer papers, because construction papers are hard to fold. In fact, I'll probably teach them to make the tulips again before Mother's Day!
Tuesday, May 01, 2007
May.1: Teaching Block Day 16
Before we began our blocks, Peni has said that we are responsible for teaching 50% of the day, but we can take up more during the last week if we feel comfortable. At first, I thought that Periods 3, 4, 6 and 7 are the only periods that I would be doing for my teaching block. However, I started writing the morning message, and Ms. Carson let me read it with the students. Then I began to do the verbs and nouns with them as well, and then led them through the calendar and word wall. I just took up more responsibility smoothly, and even the students noticed that. One girl came up to me and said, "You're teaching us everything now!"
During my first week, I was exhausted everyday after school. I was tired when I woke up in the morning. But by the middle of the second week, I already felt much more comfortable. By now, I'm always waking up before 6:00am, before my alarm clock even goes off. Teaching takes time to get used to, and I learned a lot throughout the process.
I discussed about seasonal clothing with the class today, and I let them draw in the different clothes and colour them. Since a lot of students have work that are not finished, I asked them to draw the clothes, then finish up their previous work before doing the seasonal clothing writing. The students who were efficient and finished everything weren't bored 'cause they had the seasonal clothing work to do, and the rest of the students had the time to catch up. They got a lot done, and I'm going to give them more time tomorrow because I'm not introducing new topics by this time of the unit.
In Math, I taught them how to make change if we're paying dimes. Most of them got it, since it is similar to yesterday's lesson. I let them finish their Art work from last week when they were done the Math. It was a catching up day, but also a productive day!
During my first week, I was exhausted everyday after school. I was tired when I woke up in the morning. But by the middle of the second week, I already felt much more comfortable. By now, I'm always waking up before 6:00am, before my alarm clock even goes off. Teaching takes time to get used to, and I learned a lot throughout the process.
I discussed about seasonal clothing with the class today, and I let them draw in the different clothes and colour them. Since a lot of students have work that are not finished, I asked them to draw the clothes, then finish up their previous work before doing the seasonal clothing writing. The students who were efficient and finished everything weren't bored 'cause they had the seasonal clothing work to do, and the rest of the students had the time to catch up. They got a lot done, and I'm going to give them more time tomorrow because I'm not introducing new topics by this time of the unit.
In Math, I taught them how to make change if we're paying dimes. Most of them got it, since it is similar to yesterday's lesson. I let them finish their Art work from last week when they were done the Math. It was a catching up day, but also a productive day!
Monday, April 30, 2007
April.30, 07: Teaching Block Day 15
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.
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.
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.
Subscribe to:
Comments (Atom)
