So the starting of the day didn't go soo smoothly. Technology...does it really help our everyday lives or does it make things harder? Well in my case, it made things a little more difficult. One camcorder wouldn't let me even get the main menu and once we figured out that it was the camera and not, we figured out how to unfinalize the disk. But due to neither of us at our school seeing how the camcorder works, we apparently didn't tape my teaching...all this said, I still believed that it was on. Therefore it still made me aware of my behaviours.
The actual activity went well. My 6 kids were awesome. A few were a little hesitant at first, in particular two of the girls. The boys were exceptional, although answers were sometimes quiet, they were ready for anything! The students really enjoyed coming out of the class and having a special lesson, and due to this helped my activity go smoothly.
The observations that my two counsellors made really open my eyes to new ways to approach my lessons. The feedback was really constructive and appreciative. Although the teaching went well, I am glad that the micro teaching is done. Now I can move on to getting ready for the teaching block.
Wednesday, October 17, 2007
Thursday, October 11, 2007
WHAT TEACHERS MAKE
Perhaps this will cause all of us to look at those who choose the teaching profession in a different light...
The dinner guests were sitting around the table discussing life.
One man, a CEO, decided to explain the problem with education.He argued, "What's a kid going to learn from someone who decided his best option in life was to become a teacher?"
He reminded the other dinner guests what they say about teachers:"Those who can, do. Those who can't, teach."
To stress his point he said to another guest; "You're a teacher,Bonnie. Be honest. What do you make?"
Bonnie, who had a reputation for honesty and frankness replied, "You want to know what I make? (She paused for a second, then began...)"Well, I make kids work harder than they ever thought they could.I make a C+ feel like the Congressional Medal of Honor.I make kids sit through 40 minutes of class time when their parents can't make them sit for 5 without an I Pod, Game Cube or movie rental...
"You want to know what I make?" (She paused again and looked at each and every person at the table.)
I make kids wonder.
I make them question.
I make them criticize.
I make them apologize and mean it.
I make them have respect and take responsibility for their actions.
I teach them to write and then I make them write.
I make them read, read, read.
I make them show all their work in math.
I make my students from other countries learn everything they need to know in English while preserving their unique cultural identity.
I make my classroom a place where all my students feel safe and develop friendships.
Finally, I make them understand that if they use the gifts they were given, work hard, and follow their hearts, they can succeed in life.
(Bonnie paused one last time and then continued.)"Then, when people try to judge me by what I make, I can hold my head up high and pay no attention because they are ignorant...You want to know what I make?"
"I MAKE A DIFFERENCE. What do you make?"
THERE IS MUCH TRUTH IN THIS STATEMENT: "Teachers make every other Profession"
Special Events
Between the start of the placement in September and the middle of October, the school has had two very special events. This included a visit from the St. Catharines Falcons hockey team, and a World Record Walk.
Two players from the St. Catharines Falcons hockey team visited the school to deliver a
very special message. Every class was visited by at least one of the two members to stress the importance of reading. In my grade 3 class, the students had the opportunity read along with the hockey member. The book that was chosen, was Z is for Zamboni. This was a great book for the students in the classroom because many either played or were big hockey fans, quite a few had even previously seen a Falcons game. After reading the book, the player announced to my students that they would be receiving a free ticket to the game that night.
The second involved participating in a potential World Record. The goal of the morning was to join students across the province in walking 3km simultaneously. Therefore, the whole school moved outside into the school yard where teachers had already set up the pylons to mark out the route. At 11:30 am, the whistle was blown and the school started walking. We were to walk around the route 3 times and that would result in the 3km goal. The hope was that there would be enough students across Ontario, walking at the same, to make it into the 2009 Guinness Book of World Records. To make the very official, there was even a police officer to sign as a witness that EVERYONE completed the route properly and there weren't any cheaters. We have not heard the news...so keep your fingers crossed!!!!
Two players from the St. Catharines Falcons hockey team visited the school to deliver a
very special message. Every class was visited by at least one of the two members to stress the importance of reading. In my grade 3 class, the students had the opportunity read along with the hockey member. The book that was chosen, was Z is for Zamboni. This was a great book for the students in the classroom because many either played or were big hockey fans, quite a few had even previously seen a Falcons game. After reading the book, the player announced to my students that they would be receiving a free ticket to the game that night.The second involved participating in a potential World Record. The goal of the morning was to join students across the province in walking 3km simultaneously. Therefore, the whole school moved outside into the school yard where teachers had already set up the pylons to mark out the route. At 11:30 am, the whistle was blown and the school started walking. We were to walk around the route 3 times and that would result in the 3km goal. The hope was that there would be enough students across Ontario, walking at the same, to make it into the 2009 Guinness Book of World Records. To make the very official, there was even a police officer to sign as a witness that EVERYONE completed the route properly and there weren't any cheaters. We have not heard the news...so keep your fingers crossed!!!!
First Day
I had soo many questions walking into my placement on the first. What was my associate teacher going to be like? How many kids were going to be in my grade 2/3 class and what kind of kids were they going to be? How are the other teachers going to treat me?
Many of these questions were answered within minutes of walking into the school. The principal, provided a wonderful tour of the school, not only to get a feel for the layout but also to provide us with information about the staff and to inform me on the activities that were going to be happening while I was there.
Following this, I met my associate teacher. To my surprise, I was no longer in a grade 2/3 split, it was a straight grade 3 class. Although I was looking forward to receiving some experience in a split class, I was ready to meet my class. I was also astonished to find out there were only 20 students in my classroom. I had not seen a class stay with the cap in a few years.
The students were a little apprehensive at first to have a new adult in the classroom but quickly warmed up to the idea. By the end of the day, many students had approached me and were eager for me to get to know them. Overall the first day was a very successful and left me wanting to go back.
Many of these questions were answered within minutes of walking into the school. The principal, provided a wonderful tour of the school, not only to get a feel for the layout but also to provide us with information about the staff and to inform me on the activities that were going to be happening while I was there.
Following this, I met my associate teacher. To my surprise, I was no longer in a grade 2/3 split, it was a straight grade 3 class. Although I was looking forward to receiving some experience in a split class, I was ready to meet my class. I was also astonished to find out there were only 20 students in my classroom. I had not seen a class stay with the cap in a few years.
The students were a little apprehensive at first to have a new adult in the classroom but quickly warmed up to the idea. By the end of the day, many students had approached me and were eager for me to get to know them. Overall the first day was a very successful and left me wanting to go back.
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