As I begin to watch game five in the world series, I see baseball as a metaphor for teaching. It seems like there is a bunch of talk before teaching, some instruction about what is about to happen, but eventually you just have to throw the first pitch. I finally feel like a teacher.
The students have been responding very well to the system of points in my classroom. They also are responding well to raising their hands as I riase mine to get their attention (granted I give points to the teams who raise theirs first). I feel so much more productive in the classroom now. The students work very well with each other and it's a great thing to let them do that. Talking is good, but not while I am giving directions, or I have the horid task of repeating them 26 times, which I will not do. They have responsability to ask someone in the class who did listen.
I wear a whistle now. I never really use it but it is my authoritarianism piece that I never wanted to have but am now feeling an acceptiveness to it. It's okay to have the power, it's a must, but I have to keep the joy, happy, loving part with it as well.
While Trissy gives up sugar, I am trying to give up "like." This is a problem that I have had since high school but it has come and gone in my vernacular ever since. I find myself saying this lately because I am talking more and also trying to explain things. Explaining things always bring on the "like"s and "you know"s. What a horrible habit! Don't let your children start!!!
Now, since I am aware of my nasty habit, I find myself talking slower and I can see people trying to follow me but being very patient. It is hilarious. I need only tell them that they are helping in the future fluency of yours truley. I am also writing in my actual journal and hopefully that will work.
I am not a valley girl.
I am not a valley girl.
I have gone to school.
Saying like is not cool.
Just follow grammer rules.
Just follow grammer rules.
After the second week of student teaching I feel like I am getting the feel of the classroom a bit. I was worried that the sixth graders were going to be out of hand but they are only sometimes, which is understandable. The important thing is to keep the rules and how they follow them consistant and to keep them busy. This is a bright bunch of kids.
My master teacher is a no nonsense type teacher. The kids are scared of her. It's so awesome when she walks in when another teacher is teaching and they go from huge jerks to quiet, attentive angels. It's unbelieveable. So, I have been keeping consistant with the rules. One boy went on and on misbehaving and I gave him the warning, then a turned card, and oops, his card was already turned. He must be buggy today. So that meant detention and a call home. He was upset, but I talked to him about how he could have made better decisions and how his classmates look up to him, so he should behave or they are all going to see him get detention again. And, that would NOT be cool.
The kids all try and push the line a little everyday. They try and see what they can get away with. It's kind of annoying but they are only 10 and 11. That is their job. I miss the third graders though. They look so tiny now.