Teaching Solo

Today was the day that was making me shake in my boots because I was thrown right into teaching by myself the second day around. My co-operating teacher had some personal family matters to attend to so I had to come up with a lesson and teach. There was a subsititute because I technically cannot stay in the classroom alone. I do not know many of the students so I decided to modify a mini-lesson prepared by one of my classmates in college to give to the middle school students. I call it the Hand Exercise. The students are to trace their hands on a colored piece of paper and I instruct a number of questions for them to answer. In each of the five fingers they are to write a goal depending on the time specified, such as goal for today, tomorrow, one year, and so forth. Some of the other questions asked included what was the scariest, weirdiest, or funniest thing that has happened to you, or write five words that describe you. The point of this excercise is for them to think about their goals in life as an eigth grader but also to help me get to know them a little better, instead of just being a name. My first class, second period, were into the activity, especially Kayla because she said "Wow this is hard, you're actually making us think." I was proud to know that it was leaving that effect. Now on the other hand there were some students who could not be bothered and tried to get out of answering questions. I told them they could make it up if they had to as long as it was appropriate. I have not read all of the papers but I have been amused by some of the statements and it is helping me put a name to a face. Since my co-operating teacher was not their, I got a feel for the students as they are outside of her "teaching power" so to speak. There were a couple of students who were rude, had attitudes, and who could not keep their mouths shut. Some had problems following directions and some just listened to what they had to do. All of the classes are very different and like my mother says about raising children, they are not all the same and you have to raise them differently. So in teaching these classes, I might have the advantage of holding a fast pace class while other times I will constantly have to change my course of teaching to get an answer out of just one student. On top of the hand exercise I gave a journal entry which was the Do Now and as a class we summarized the story from the day before and students participated in giving their thoughts. This was the first time that I taught an entire day. It is exhausting and rewarding at the same time. While I was feeling overwhelmed a few days before, being in front of the classroom teaching those students, a new found glory came over me and I was reminded why it was I chose teaching as a career.