Success

My observation went really well! I was able to practice the lesson on the class before, get feedback from the teachers involved, and then present the improved lesson to my supervisor.

Obviously it wasn't perfect; however, I am feeling much better than after my first observation last semester.

My score was 4/5, which she said is as good as I would be able to get at this point. Yay!

***

I am also really happy because the students seemed to have a lot of fun today. Most of these kids really don't care about school, and today many of them were smiling and enjoying themselves. That's the rewarding part of teaching!

one of the songs I used

Observation

Tomorrow will be my first observation of the semester. I am not as nervous as I was last semester (or perhaps even as nervous as I should be). Here is the plan:

Roaring 20s

The intro will be this musical number from Thoroughly Modern Millie:

Then, in predetermined groups, students will visit stations manned by each teacher (5) to learn about various aspects of the 1920s.

Stations include:

• Poetry
• Jazz
• Sports Heroes
• Prohibition/Bootleggers
• Slang/Writing

At each station the students will learn about the different topics. They will have the chance to move around the room and most stations will let the students be creative with their learning. For example, at my station students will listen to Jazz music including music from Bessie Smith, Louis Armstrong, and Duke Ellington and then create either a free writing response or piece of art (with markers) interpreting the feelings of the music while I tell them about Jazz music's history. There will be a short (2 question) assessment at the end of the 13 minutes at the station.

Each station will have some sort of assessment at the end, and at the very end of the class each student will write a short essay (5-7 sentences) about their favorite and least favorite aspect of the 20s and defend their positions.

Hopefully everything goes well!

Video

We are studying African geography. I got to start the unit with my lesson because I was being observed.
I started it out with this video to try to get them interested. The students liked it, especially my first class.

Better and Better

I had my 3rd observation today. I had a slide show of pictures set to African drum music, an African music video from National Geographic, and a partner activity where they are making a small poster about a country or physical feature.

It went really well. Mr. Cooper (my advisor) said I would not have to have a 4th observation! Yay, so I can just enjoy the rest of my time at Sweetwater, and not be too stressed. .

Mixed Signals

The biggest point that my adviser noted on my observation was room presence. He mentioned in a few places on my review that I should not stay at the front of the room while getting the class' attention, but stand in the middle.

The reason I was moving towards the front of the room was so that those students sitting in the front could see me. I thought this would be the best way to get everyone's attention. I would also start by saying something like, "It's time to move on, you need to stop talking," in a raised voice, but not yelling. When that did not work (it never does), I said firmly and loudly, "Stop Talking - Now." Again, not yelling but rasing my voice and being very firm. He did not like that technique much either. Here are his comments:

"When they are talking and your want to get the class going on an activity, 

please don’t just yell “Stop Talking,” or “Get Quiet.” Try standing in the 

middle of the room and say, “When everyone is ready, we’ll get going!” 

That often works better without antagonism which only disrupts the class 

activity. Also, please stand in the middle of the class when you demand their 

attention."

and

"ask for quiet in a more diplomatic way, i.e. when my hand goes up, I need 

your attention. There really are better ways to get their attention than shouting 

for quiet."

I believe he is making a valid point - for someone with more control over the classroom than I currently have. If I stood in the center of the room and quietly asked for their attention they would just ignore me. I could stand there all day, but these students do not respond well to requests. They respect teachers when they fear getting in trouble. I am sure not all students are this way, and many would become quiet with a signal such as the teacher raising their hand. However, my students aren't going to. I have tried it. It doesn't work. When I told Mr. Dorray and the other teachers on our team about those comments they just laughed. I have received advice from the teachers at Sweetwater, they all say be firm and be mean until you have their respect. When I have my own classroom, I can try to "train" my students to become quiet if I raise my hand, or flicker the lights. Until then, I will try to stay consistent with the style of my mentor teacher.

Mr. Dorray "grilled" his homeroom class at the end of the day yesterday
about why they do not behave for me.  
The consensus was that I was "too nice".

Success!

Although I was disappointed with my first observation, I am much happier after my second one.

Today's lesson went much better. I was able to keep the class under control, which was the biggest problem last time. I also received a few fours (out of four) which I did not receive last time. Total score was 19/20.

Yay!

Observation 2 - My Brain Activity

Tomorrow I have another observation. Hopefully this one will go better than the last. I plan to ask Mr. Dorray to stay in the classroom so that, hopefully, the students will be on their best behavior.

I have planned another activity. It is one that the students have done before, so they should do well. It is sort of a two part activity.

Part 1
First: they make a 'brain'. Taking a piece of paper students will fold it to make a little folder (first about 1/3 of the way up 'hotdog' style, then in half 'hamburger style'), and write My Brain on the front

Second: Students will draw images on index cards representing facts that they have learned about the governments of Israel, Saudi Arabia, and Iran.

Part 2
First: Students form two circles, while facing each other - an inner and an outer circle.

Second: The students will show each other what they have drawn, explaining to each other what they have learned. About once a minute the inner circle will rotate moving to the next person, so that they share with everyone.

Worn Out

Today was my observation. It didn't go as well as I would have liked.

The first two classes were great! They seemed to like my activity, and participated fairly well. Unfortunately, the third class did not go as well, and that was the one that was observed. The activity went well, it wasn't until after the activity that I had problems. The students didn't want to sit down at first. Then they just wouldn't stop talking. I had to ask them repeatedly to stop talking. I had to call students out by name. And, on top of talking too much, they were not participating in the discussion. So, it looked like they were bored or not understanding. Mr. Dorray wasn't in the room, and they don't have the same respect for me as they do for him.

I wasn't able to get feedback from my advisor because he was moving on to observe someone else, but he did say that the biggest thing that needed improvement was: "obviously discipline." The obviously part is discouraging.

I wanted to yell at the kids near the end of the class, to tell them that their behavior was affecting my grade. I am sure they didn't realize that the person in the back was going to grade me. But, it probably wouldn't have mattered to them anyways. Sigh. I was so frustrated when Mr. Dorray came back and asked me how it went.

These kids are pretty good when he is in the room, but it is entirely different when he leaves. So, I asked him to start stepping out of the room more often when I am teaching, so that I can get more practice with it.

Now I just want to take a nap.

****Update****

I received my observation form from my advisor. Everything was scored on a scale of 1-4, and I didn't manage to do better than a 3, even if he noted that something was "great". I got a 2 on my classroom management. Also, he didn't give any suggestions for anything other than classroom management. 

So, although I got 3/4 on all but one thing, there were no suggestions on how to improve. I got 38/52 points.

Observation

Tomorrow I am being observed by my GSU advisor. It will be during my 3rd class, which is the quickest class. They aren't always the most involved, and not always the best behaved, but the class always finishes.

I am teaching the students about the government of Israel.

First we will have a short discussion, asking them why it is important to understand the governments of other countries. I have a slide show, which will loop, with pictures of President Obama and Vice President Biden in Israel and meeting with Israeli officials.

Then they will have a Scavenger Hunt. Each student will be given a fact about the government of Israel, and the students will get to get up and move around, finding all of the facts.

I have prizes for the first students to finish in each class.

Then, we will sit back down to discuss what they found, and I have a handout which puts the information into concise paragraphs.

Finally, we they will make a graphic organizer, showing what they have learned.

I hope it all goes as planned.