Domain 6 Management of Time and Classroom
Domain 1 Content
Domain 5 Methodology
The centers were helpful today because it gave me data for further planning. I am not doing anything that I originally planned for…I’m going to come up with all new plans based on how they performed today on the assessments. One thing I need to be mindful of is planning “too much” for one subject. I am thinking through the best way to plan out the morning. We have only about 1 and 30/45 minutes to do language, reading, and spelling, which does not seem like enough to me. I am thinking that I might break up the subjects across days and teaching reading story/skill and spelling one day and vocabulary and grammar another day…or something like that.
I am encouraged by the fact that I have to redo my plans because it just allows an opportunity for growth and challenge. I am in it for these students, and I am responsible to make sure they learn. I am can see that it will take awhile to get them into some of my routines. I am also seeing the importance of just sticking with more of her “style”/”routine” just because that is what they are used to. I can implement me and use my methods as well but not all at one time. Doing it all at once today really helped me to get a feel for how they will handle different forms of learning and to what they will need help adjusting. Our centers were not long enough, I sent them without giving directions (seeing how they would do independently), and I forgot some details in the directions. All of these factors made for an interesting morning.
Something else, the students would go to Mrs. Kady at times with questions or concerns, etc. I tried jumping in when I caught it so that they would respond to me. I don’t want to use her because in my “real” classroom, I won’t be able to. Besides, they need to learn who is in charge at that time. I didn’t bug me in the sense that they weren’t giving me that authority. It was just that I need to make sure that I am doing this on my own….managing and instructing. That was one difference today too between my teacher’s centers and mine. I had one center where I was instructing (guided reading). When she did hers, she was free-floating…I think this made a huge difference with these students. I also only had a Title aide in here, but he couldn’t stay the whole time, which also made a big difference.
I have been reflecting all day, and I think it would have been easy to get discouraged, but I haven’t because this is the essence of teaching. When I think about it, I am in a new environment with students I am still getting a feel for. Not to mention, I am jumping into another’s shoes. Although I had to reteach a lot in my special ed placement, it is completely different here because I am responsible for the whole class. In practicum placements, we didn’t have to assess and plan accordingly. (Might be a good idea to do for practicum!!! Teach a lesson, assess, and either plan another lesson to move on or to reteach.)
This was a great day for growth!
Also, if around 9:15 would work ok to come. I don’t know what exactly we’ll be doing at this point, but that way, when we are done, we can meet to reflect. My teacher takes over at 10. Would that be ok or does hurt you for time?
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Olivia,
ReplyDeleteI'm glad to see you learning and growing. You'll find this is the key to teaching. Even years down the road you'll teach lessons that were either too short or too long or the students just didn't "get it". Teachers need to be continually assessing and adapting instruction accordingly.
Yes, I can come Thurs. at 9:15am. I'll plan on being there by then.
Prof. Forshey