Computer Lab

I am at GSU waiting on classes as I write today.

I have already started to get used to student teaching. I recognize a few of the students and know their names. I am learning the layout of the school better as well. Today was spent in the computer lab using a program called Study Island. The students used this to do two quizzes - one about previous material and one as a preview of what they are about to learn. There were a lot of issues with students not knowing how to log into Study Island as well as navigating the menus. For the first class I helped the students a little, but once they got started I helped the teacher grade map tests of the Middle East. The students who did really well (I think 82% was the highest) or really poorly (5 out of 30!!!) he called over to let them see their grades. He told the good ones that they were doing a good job and to keep it up and the bad ones that he knew they could do better and to study harder.

During the planning period we went to a 7th grade social studies department meeting. It was only 5 people, so it was pretty relaxed. One of the teachers told everyone that after 20 years of teaching he was considering a career change. Yikes! He did tell me that he wasn't trying to discourage me, but stated that the job had changed too much.

The next two classes went really well. Since there were no tests to grade I just walked around and kept the students focused and gave them hints to the answers. If they were locating a country on a map I would ask them if they remembered if the country was big or small, or if they had an idea of a broad area the country was in. I also showed them how to eliminate answers they knew were wrong so that they could narrow down the possibilities. I had a lot of fun helping the students today, and was surprised to find out that it was time to leave. I am excited to go back tomorrow.