September 10, 2007

The good old Monday mornings. Running late today because I had to put the top on my Jeep and thankfully, I was safe from the rain. I did manage to get to school on time however. Today, I handed out the book projects for the 8th graders to do. Most of them did not seem excited as they find these projects monotonous. The book project consists of students taking on the voice of a journalist and writing a newspaper article on the mystery that they just read. There are five questions that the students had to answer and they have the opportunity to recieve extra credit if their book project looks like the front of a newspaper, with headline and all. My cooperating teacher had the lesson set up for today, so the students read a short story "Checkouts" about a girl who falls in love with the bag boy at the grocery store and he falls in love with her. Unfortunately niether one of them acknowledges this connection between them at the moment but weeks later, while with other dates, these two individuals smile at each other and understand each other's thoughts. The class prior to the reading was to answer the do now on the board pertaining to "changes." Once the story was read, my cooperating teacher had them go back to their journals and finish the Do Now. While I find that the Do Nows are important for the students as it is most of their grade, I feel that an activity that last ten minutes could be given as so not to waste time. These students sit around and wait until the bell rings and for me that is just unexceptable. I am observing everyday and making alterations to my teaching style. I know that this is not my classroom and I have to abide by my host's rules, however I feel that could oragnize a lesson so that there is not extra time left over in the period.

Another observation I have made is that the students are much more behaved with the teacher in the room than when I was teaching on Friday. I can completely understand that however, because I am still the newbie and students look up to the "real" authority in the classroom. I hoping that with time that will change and I will not have to suffer with distractions and telling students to "Be Quiet" or "That's Enough."

By next week I think I will be in the full swing of things and can really begin teaching for at least half or the whole day. Like I said before I feel pretty comfortable in my surroundings and do not feel like I would have a problem teaching the whole day.

And luckily, knock on wood, I have not suffered any dramatic attitude problems from anyone. =)