In the middle of all this, the high would be that I have already got, I think, a good respond and connection with two of four of my classes, that I fell very comfortable working with. Those are my largest class, Algebra 1, second period, and my last class, Pre-Algebra, the sixth period. It has been based most on the teaching staff with the first class and on the personal connection with the second one.
2) Things going well: I have been present on all my classes. 1) I been trying to inspire a professional and confident presence in class. 2) I have been trying to promote work, concentration and collaboration also.
3) Area of growth in classroom management, I would say two. One is to gain more solid knowledge and manipulation of subject matter (after so many years of not teaching math) together with more proper planning. And the second is how to reach to shy, challenging and unengaged students.
4 comments:
Hi Erick, I'm glad to see that things are going well. I too am concerned on how to engage my students. Have you introduced fractions yet? I was thinking of buying some Play-Doh for each student so they can learn about fractions that way, but besides that I too need some guidance.
Also, what kinds of math things would you like to manipulate? Do you mean different ways of introducing a topic?
Hi Erick,
I am so happy to hear about the start of your year. It sounds positive and reflective. Hearing about your confidence in class and promotion of work, concentration and collaboration is encouraging to me. I'd like to learn what you do and how you do it. I also am experiencing a challenge in reaching the shy and unengaged students. It's a hard balance to maintain when you're trying to open a student up and someone else is being silly and laughing. I think it's difficult to say, let's do team building activities when you're worried about content. However, I guess we have to keep in mind how working on something in the beginning will build a stronger foundation for the long term. Keep it up and I look forward to hearing more!!
Hi Erick! Thanks for the comment on my blog; the previous comment on yours was actually from Chrisel. :) I'm glad to hear that things are going well, for the most part. I think those classroom management issues are something that we're all wrestling with at this point! To some extent I think you and I have opposite problems: you've been doing the teaching for a while and need to freshen up on the content, while I've been immersed in the content for years but have never really done the teaching before. :) Hopefully we can both start mitigating our respective weaknesses quickly. We certainly have a good group of peers to help us do so. :)
--Chris
I can relate when it comes to feeling uncomfortable in terms of subject matter - which I feel might be a point of embarassment for me, considering the math I teach is only 2nd grade.
But in all honesty, although I myself might be able to DO all the 2nd grade math, I am not sure I know the best way to teach it. I am constantly trying to ask myself, how do kids learn this stuff the best? And what is the best way I can teach it? Those questions are constant struggles for me - I find myself changing my lesson plans mid-lesson and attempting different approachs to instruction when my first attempt is appearing to fail.
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