Jan. 26, 2011
Today is my first normal Wednesday! (Due to previous snow days) It is a block day with a different schedule. Wednesday morning the students have late start and the teachers have collaboration time. It was great to sit down with all of the other language teachers. Although, I have already met them all individually throughout the past two and a half weeks. I am getting to know some of the other teachers and it will be nice to collaborate and get to know other staff in the school.
With the way my CT’s schedule works out he really only has one class he teaches on Wednesdays. Late morning he has a homeroom/activity period time. But he does not really have to lead instruction during that time. At the end of the day he has Spanish V. So we have taken advantage of the plan time and he and I have been doing a lot of co-planning and getting ready for the rest of the this week and next week. Some of the planning we did together and I was able to work on some of the rest by myself. I am still receiving guidance and help. I submit my plans and lessons to my CT and we go over them together before we print and make copies, etc. Thursdays are also block schedule days and for my CT they are non-stop. He has all four classes of Spanish II back to back. I hear it can be an exhausting day. We have not had a normal Thursday schedule yet either due to delays/cancellations.
I am excited to see how the next few days go as I begin to take more and more responsibility for the classes. Both of the Spanish classes are about to start new chapters and new sections of the class so it is great timing for me to jump in and take more responsibility.
Jan. 28, 2011
Thursday and Friday I did some more teaching and I have been working on my transition into the classroom as the main teacher. I felt like Thursday went really well. I am getting more comfortable being in front of the class. I have been working on speaking more slowly and clearly and part of that is being confident and comfortable. Thursday was interesting because it was a block day and it was four 90 minute blocks of Spanish II in a row, non-stop. The day went pretty quickly because it was non-stop.
Friday was my first full day teaching the entire class period. I had never taught first or third period because usually I watch John during those periods. I am definitely in transition with the students because they were testing me a little and weren’t always sure how to respond to me. Some of the students were testing me by not following the class rules as closely as they normally do when John is teaching.
First period was definitely “rough”. It was my first time teaching these kids and my first time teaching the lesson for that day without previously seeing it modeled. The students hung in there with me and we made it through. Thankfully the lesson got better and better as the day continued.
I am really working on pacing and being authoritative. Students need to know that I am here to teach them and my job and role is important to me. I am working on finding a balance between firm and friendly. When I taught on Friday a few of the classes seemed to go faster than others. I had extra activities ready but I need to work on keeping the same pace as much as possible.
It felt great to teach an entire day by myself and next week I will be doing a lot more of that. I am looking forward to the transition and hoping that it continues to get smoother. Thanks for all of the thoughts and comments ☺
Saturday, January 29, 2011
Sunday, January 23, 2011
Week 2
Jan. 18, 2011
On Monday this week we spent time in the language labs. I was able to get familiar with the lab and all of its features. I learned how to use all of the buttons and control the sound functions. During 7th period I was able to lead instruction over the headsets and lead part of the class. For me, it was not as nerve wrecking because I was not directly looking at the students. I was speaking into a headset and giving directions. I enjoyed it!
On Tuesday I was able to help pass out homework and give directions in Spanish II. In 7th period I lead part of the class by showing a short video, administering a quiz and hanging out homework. For this quiz students did a trade-and-grade and John and I were able to enter grades during the day. I am becoming more familiar with the grade book program. It is pretty easy to use.
I like how John is slowly easing me into leading activities. By the time 7th period comes around I have already seen him model the lesson multiple times and it isn’t hard for me to take over. I think by slowly adding me into the course I will be able to build my confidence quicker.
I have been planning a few grammar lessons for next week. It looks like I will be leading a block period for Spanish II next week on demonstrative adjectives. I first “scouted” for information and activities and compiled a list of ideas and calculated how long I thought they would take. Next I placed them in an order that I thought would work. I showed John and he and I discussed the plans and he gave me a few tips and ideas of how to tweak the ideas. Overall, he liked what I had planned and I am going to work on creating all of the materials needed (tweaking a PowerPoint, making worksheets, etc). Spanish V will be doing a quick review of the future tense and will be practicing this tense. I have been scouting for ideas and hope to show John what I have come up with tomorrow.
Jan. 21, 2011
Yesterday I taught an entire class period all by myself for the first time. I was really nervous and I think it showed a little in my voice and actions. The students behaved pretty well for me. There was some extra talking and I had to ask them to be quiet a few times. The lesson I taught as some practice with “gustar”. John had planned the lesson and modeled in the 3 previous classes of Spanish II and so I felt comfortable with what I was doing. I taught 7th period and in general they are a more rowdy class with 29 students and it is the end of the day. I felt better after know that I had my first 45-minute class period under my belt. You have to start somewhere and I was anxious to get my first teaching experience over with so I can begin to feel more comfortable. John gave me some great feedback and I learned that I need to let the students know who is boss and not be so nice. I am in an awkward position for the students because I am in transition and their classroom teacher is still in the room, but I cannot be afraid to let them know that I am a teacher and I mean business.
Today John and I decided it would be good for me to teach two entire class periods. Once again, John had planned the lesson and it was more with “gustar”. I watched him teach it to the first two class periods and I followed suite for the second two periods of Spanish II. I felt waaay more comfortable today in front of the class. The students respected me and we accomplished all that we were supposed to. I was worried I might rush through the lesson and have extra time at the end of class, but we ended right on time and at the same point for both classes.
It is really nice to have a slower transition like this so the students and I can both adjust. I have been planning a grammar lesson on demonstrative adjectives to teach next week. I am looking forward to it. It is the first lesson that I have planned and will teach on my own.
My goals for this week were to get to know the building better and to work on learning student’s names. I stayed after school this week and used the weight room, which is on the other side of the building. This gave me an opportunity to become more familiar and to get used to the school layout. Monday I will be going into the freshman academy (which is connected) to observe a Spanish I teacher. I am feeling a lot better with students’ names. I’ve passed out papers a few times this week, which really helped, and I take attended and when I was teaching lessons I used students’ names to call on them.
On Monday this week we spent time in the language labs. I was able to get familiar with the lab and all of its features. I learned how to use all of the buttons and control the sound functions. During 7th period I was able to lead instruction over the headsets and lead part of the class. For me, it was not as nerve wrecking because I was not directly looking at the students. I was speaking into a headset and giving directions. I enjoyed it!
On Tuesday I was able to help pass out homework and give directions in Spanish II. In 7th period I lead part of the class by showing a short video, administering a quiz and hanging out homework. For this quiz students did a trade-and-grade and John and I were able to enter grades during the day. I am becoming more familiar with the grade book program. It is pretty easy to use.
I like how John is slowly easing me into leading activities. By the time 7th period comes around I have already seen him model the lesson multiple times and it isn’t hard for me to take over. I think by slowly adding me into the course I will be able to build my confidence quicker.
I have been planning a few grammar lessons for next week. It looks like I will be leading a block period for Spanish II next week on demonstrative adjectives. I first “scouted” for information and activities and compiled a list of ideas and calculated how long I thought they would take. Next I placed them in an order that I thought would work. I showed John and he and I discussed the plans and he gave me a few tips and ideas of how to tweak the ideas. Overall, he liked what I had planned and I am going to work on creating all of the materials needed (tweaking a PowerPoint, making worksheets, etc). Spanish V will be doing a quick review of the future tense and will be practicing this tense. I have been scouting for ideas and hope to show John what I have come up with tomorrow.
Jan. 21, 2011
Yesterday I taught an entire class period all by myself for the first time. I was really nervous and I think it showed a little in my voice and actions. The students behaved pretty well for me. There was some extra talking and I had to ask them to be quiet a few times. The lesson I taught as some practice with “gustar”. John had planned the lesson and modeled in the 3 previous classes of Spanish II and so I felt comfortable with what I was doing. I taught 7th period and in general they are a more rowdy class with 29 students and it is the end of the day. I felt better after know that I had my first 45-minute class period under my belt. You have to start somewhere and I was anxious to get my first teaching experience over with so I can begin to feel more comfortable. John gave me some great feedback and I learned that I need to let the students know who is boss and not be so nice. I am in an awkward position for the students because I am in transition and their classroom teacher is still in the room, but I cannot be afraid to let them know that I am a teacher and I mean business.
Today John and I decided it would be good for me to teach two entire class periods. Once again, John had planned the lesson and it was more with “gustar”. I watched him teach it to the first two class periods and I followed suite for the second two periods of Spanish II. I felt waaay more comfortable today in front of the class. The students respected me and we accomplished all that we were supposed to. I was worried I might rush through the lesson and have extra time at the end of class, but we ended right on time and at the same point for both classes.
It is really nice to have a slower transition like this so the students and I can both adjust. I have been planning a grammar lesson on demonstrative adjectives to teach next week. I am looking forward to it. It is the first lesson that I have planned and will teach on my own.
My goals for this week were to get to know the building better and to work on learning student’s names. I stayed after school this week and used the weight room, which is on the other side of the building. This gave me an opportunity to become more familiar and to get used to the school layout. Monday I will be going into the freshman academy (which is connected) to observe a Spanish I teacher. I am feeling a lot better with students’ names. I’ve passed out papers a few times this week, which really helped, and I take attended and when I was teaching lessons I used students’ names to call on them.
Week 1
Jan. 11, 2011
Today was my first official day at CHS. I already feel so welcomed by the staff and I am eager to feel more comfortable in the school. I need to make the effort to get to know the school better. It is big and I have gotten turned around a few times already.
I know I am going to learn so much from my cooperating teaching, John*, this semester! He is a great teacher and it is great to watch him teach this week and take notes. The students respect him and he doesn’t really have any problems with discipline. One of the hardest things in a language classroom is getting the students to use the L2. He tries his best to force them to use the language so that they are working with it and practicing.
Confidence is going to be a big semester long goal for me. I am hoping to work on that and gain more confidence in myself as a teacher. I need to feel comfortable with the students and being in front of a class.
*I have changed the first name of my cooperating teacher in order to protect his privacy.
Jan. 14, 2011
This first week was a short week because of the orientation on campus and a snow day I was only at CHS for three days. I am getting to know my CT, John, better and getting a feel for how he runs his classroom. During his prep periods and in the morning when he is planning he vocalizes his thought process so I can see what he is thinking and why he is doing what he is doing. I am glad that he does it because it is helpful for me!
I graded some quizzes for Spanish 2 with John this week and learned how to enter grades into their online grading system. It seems pretty easy to use. I was pretty shocked at how poorly the students did on the short 10-question quiz we gave them. I thought we had covered the vocabulary in class and we told them there was going to be a quiz and the topic of it. John said he does not think they studied and even with the extra snow day to prepare they did not take advantage of the extra time.
During 7th period (which is the fourth time we have Spanish 2) I lead a short review activity after watching John model it 3 times. I think it will be nice to ease my way into the classroom by slowly taking over and doing activities together. It will help me feel more comfortable and build my confidence.
I also handed out a short introduction letter out to parents today about myself. I was able to provide them with my school email (I feel like a real teacher!) and some information about my studies and experience abroad.
Introduction
During my semester of student teaching I am keeping a weekly journal (with 2 entries per week) to allow myself to reflect on my experiences.
I am a senior at Ball State University finishing up a Bachelor's degree in Secondary Spanish Education and a licensure in English as a Second Language. I am currently student teaching in Fort Wayne, and living at home. I am in a local high school during my student teaching experience. I am working with four classes of Spanish II and one class of Spanish V. I am working with a range of high school students from freshman-seniors.
Feel free to follow me along in my journey as I student teach and prepare for my future career!
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