6th grade Week 2

My final week of placement has been great. I am really starting to grow fond of the students even though they are a handful. I believe I have learned a lot about the kind of teacher I want to become and how students respond to various teachers. I think I have realized (one of the teachers is a first year teacher) how important it is to stick to the rules you make at the beginning of the year and have firm and clear expectations of the students.

We have been discussing imperialism and colonialism in sub Saharan Africa the last two weeks. They were also each given a country in sun Saharan Africa that they researched and made a brochure on. We had a trip to the library last week to do research and I think only one class used the research they gathered from that trip. The rest of them forgot or lost it and researched their country during class on Tuesday.

I taught my lesson today on the Rwandan genocide. I had made a presentation on slide rocket and could not access it because Facebook is blocked on school computers and that is how I log on to that program. Because of this, I lost my place several times and felt that my teaching was not what it should have been. I was able to make another presentation during their specials time and after that I felt the lessons went extremely well. I refreshed their memory of the Arab Spring (something they had learned about previously) and asked them about the role technology had played in those events. Then I explained the genocide and we compared and contrasted technology used now vs. 1994 and what might have happened if the same technology had been available during the events taking place in Rwanda. I know they haven't completely grasped how horrific the events were, but I believe it made an impact on them. 

I have been sitting with the teachers in the cafeteria almost everyday, which has been very noisy. The students have not had tutorials this week because the teachers need to prepare for STARR testings. I have missed being able to teach tutorials but I also have been enjoying the hour and a half break. I usually grade papers for my mentor teacher during this time. During their hornet time, or enrichment time, we were able to go outside for a little bit before it started raining. It was so sweet to see the kids who act touch in the hallway transform into kids again when they run around and play outside. 

I have grown a lot during this placement. I feel like I am more prepared to teach and am more tough than I realized. I can handle the students when they get out of control and really, truly do have a teacher voice. I was able to have good, adult conversations with the students that I think made them think. I loved it. I am so grateful I had this opportunity, though I do feel better suited for a lower grade. 

6th grade

I have been in the school consistently for about a week now and I feel as though it has been somewhat successful. My teacher teaches sixth grade social studies and has six classes a day and I have had the opportunity to teach almost everyday. It has been very exhausting and sometimes I feel like I am not able to handle it. The students are quite boisterous and speak their mind at all times. They love to argue. However, when I teach they do seem to behave a bit better than when their regular teacher teaches. I assume it is because they enjoy having someone new talk to them. 

I have also had the opportunity to tutor several kids during their tutorials, which occurs twice a week during specials. This has been a particularly rewarding experience for me because I have been able to see them actually try on their work. The students in this particular class have a hard time concentrating and openly and honestly admit to not caring about their work. It was extremely rewarding for me to help them as they did their best on their assignment (it is a reading tutorial and the students fill out quizzes like a practice STARR test) and work hard. The kids call me, Ms. T and it felt good to hear them thank me for helping and teaching them.

I also taught my first lesson which was exhausting but fun. The students are going over sub Saharan Africa, and needed to learn about the different regions of Africa. I had the room divided into five sections and the students, who had a map worksheet, walked around in groups and colored in their map using a key and also found information on each region. I think it went well for the most part, and I did have to adapt for different classes. I am excited to see what the rest of the week will bring and I teach my final lesson next Wednesday!

Paper Bag Book Fun

I think one of my favorite activities that I learned this semester is the paper bag book. This is such an easy and inexpensive activity that I think most kids would greatly enjoy. I have made three books for school purposes and two for personal. They are so versatile!

 Here you can see my science and two social studies books. You can really get as creative as you want with these?

I can't wait to make more of these... and spoilers alert, I'm making one for my mom for mothers day :)