The weeks are winding down! I have one more week left of full-time teaching to go. I was really productive this week because I have a busy weekend ahead, so all of my lesson plans are already finished for next week. On top of that, I have everything graded. If feels good to already have that accomplished. We have three seminars at WVU next week, so I know next week will be busy. To answer your question, Neal, we had to make an outline of the artifacts that we will use in the exit portfolio already. We also had to write one of our narratives. While it's hard to think about next semester already, I know it will be here before we know it, so it's good that we're starting to work on the portfolio already.
Action research is still going well. Their quiz scores on nouns were okay, and a lot of the students said that some of the grammar activities were their favorite this week. I just don't want to imagine putting all this data together to make some sense out of it!
Everything is going well overall teaching wise. My biggest problem with the middle schoolers is how chatty they are! I am constantly trying to figure out the best way for them to sit so that they don't talk so much. I know that they're at an age where all they want to do is socialize, but they need to realize that when they talk so much, it is disruptive to the rest of the class and me.
We finished the novel in seventh grade. They all seemed to really enjoy it. I wish that students had the opportunity to read more novels in school because it's books like Nothing but the Truth that keep students interested in reading. I had a few students, some who were very surprising to me, that went home and read the book on their own before we were finished with it in class. I was thrilled that they were so engaged in the novel that they couldn't put it down. How can we as teachers have our students doing that all of the time?
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Something that Mrs. McC said in the previous week blog about being flexible.
ReplyDeleteI would say that middle school teaching really benefits from having a week's plans in place before the week begins AND to have a weekly-view of what happens, rather than being locked into day to day. What I'm trying to say is that being flexible across the week requires shifting from day to day and keeping a weekly goal in mind. I would say that weekly planning is generally the most specific you can be, other than an overall plan at the beginning of the year. Each class would suggest a different way to spend the week.
I wonder about an overall novel reading strategy at the beginning of the year. This would be something for your own classroom. Somebothing that combines reading X and their own choice - and some end of the school year event or december and may. Just thinking out loud here.
It IS important to think about next semester. I know you have a lot, but that portfolio - and the choices you can make now for that iwll make it easier to do. The contract hours business will probably make you crazy, thinking about it now, but teaching requires you to think long term sometimes, rather than just day to day.
Kelly,
ReplyDeleteThe weeks are flying by. You did work hard to get everything completed because you knew you were going to have a busy weekend. When you get a job you will have to make these type of life adjustments also. I agree with you. Your planning is right on target but your students are chatty. Yes, you have tried rearranging their seating but what about your expectations when they walk into your classroom? Are you giving them a journal topic so you can get things in order for the lesson or do you want them to think and write turning in a productive assignment? I believe that journaling is important and you have to set( in your own way) the tone for this 5 minute process. Some options that you might try might include giving red tickets to reward the behavior that you want or you could pass out pink slips ( for excessive talking) that will eventually add up to a detention. You could put 5 minutes on the whiteboard ( watch the countdown) and allow them to manage their time quietly.Praise always works! I know that this is based on your groups and experience. A positive that I have observed is once you start your lesson the class does focus and listen to what your doing. You've used your time wisely in finding some great introductions for your lessons. Keep up the great work.