Week 5

February 8, 2011

I have been working this Spanish II this week. Monday and Tuesday we went over a composition (8 sentences) that the students were supposed to have completed for their homework, which of course not many did. John and I sat at a table and the students had to bring their compositions up to us and we would make corrections. The students then had to make the corrections and continue bringing their compositions up to us until we gave them a stamp of approval. This writing piece was aimed to specifically work with AR preterit verbs.

The lack of homework completion amazes me. The students are assigned Spanish homework on a daily basis but it is never a huge amount. It should take them 10-15 minutes, in my opinion, to complete. Yet, majority of the students do not complete their homework, so when we try to go over assignments in class the students respond with their favorite phrase, “no sé” (I don’t know). I hope to try and find a way to motivate students more, and help this issue. Back when I was in high school, (4 years ago ☺) was I the only one who always did their homework?!

February 11, 2011

Thursday I taught the entire day, (even though we had a delay) classes were still an hour and four minutes long and I had four of them back to back with no break except lunch during 5th period. It was slightly exhausting and at times I felt my voice going out, but it was a good day. It was my first time teaching a lesson that I had prepared all by myself. It went pretty well! The last activity I planned didn’t go over as well as I had hoped so I am learning to be quick on my feet and made a few slight adjustments for the later classes and I think it went over better. Thursday was also my first day staying “late” at school, until 7. I had given a quiz during the day and needed to have them graded, recorded, and returned the next day. So, I stayed after to work on those and to make some copies for Friday as well.

I have decided that I am not a huge fan of block days. I prefer the 7 period school days with 45ish minute classes. Today we did a little bit of review because the students have a writing assessment for the chapter on Monday and a chapter test on Tuesday. Next week, I get to experience my first time grading 105 tests and writing pieces ☺ I think I am in for a treat haha.

If you live in Indiana, you have most likely heard of all of the controversial proposed bills and such going on at the state level with the education field. My CT and I have many conversations about this, as well as with other teachers in the building. I am trying to read and stay up-to-date on all of these issues. All of the proposed changes and unknowns are scary and it will be a very interesting next couple of months to see what happens to the education world in Indiana at the same time as I am job searching.