Week 3

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 ☺