October 24-29

This week went well; we did not have school Monday, which was strange. However, the week still felt long. I believe it was because the day off made the students wilder. I did not have major problems this week. I had my second evaluation it was during one of my American history classes while I was doing an "I have, who has" review. The students were not hesitant to answer but they were just guessing. However, I was pleased with it. The test however I was not. Grading them was depressing. The information on the test had been covered, most was on the review they received in the form of the "I have, who has" game. Nevertheless, my highest grade was an 82. Therefore, I will be going back and counting the questions missed and see if they were all missing the same questions. I may just take those out. I do not know if they just did not study or if I just did not do a good job of teaching them the information. However, I do know that they had everything in their notes. I also think a problem was that they are used to a review that has the exact questions and answers on it as the test, so if they study the review, then they will do great on the test. I did not do this, I tested the same information, which was on the review, and I just asked it in different ways or ask for the opposite information. I give this class up this coming week. It is so strange. This semester has gone by so fast. I feel as though I just started. I have learned a lot and I think that when I have my own classroom I will take some of the ideas I have from my cooperative teacher, but others I will not. I also believe that I leaned on my cooperative teacher too much in backing me up. I ask the students to do something and she would chime in asking them to do it as well. Sometimes I wonder if they are minding her or me. Therefore, when I get my own class I will have to learn what works best for my personality and me. I really like teaching, it is so rewarding when students do well, but it is stressful at the same time.

October 17-21

This week was a good week, for the most part. How, the US history classes do not respect my, authority. I do not really understand what happen. It seems like the last two weeks they have gotten worse about talking when I am talking. This week I experienced my first parent teacher conferences. It was interesting to see the students’ parent. I even talked to some of them myself while my cooperative teacher was in a meeting. It was also beneficial to see other teachers conducting their conferences as well. I am also very disappointed in myself about how I have let my US history class get out of hand. I think I need to have enough confidence in myself and my ability to “mean what I say and say what I mean.” I need to show the student my discuss, and not feel bad about it all the time. I need to learn not to take all the crap the students try to pull on me. Today, my cooperative teacher was gone, and usually they allow me to have the classes, and not have sub come in. However, today they had a sub and I know that she is going to be here some of the other times that my cooperating teacher is going to be gone. Including the last week that I am here, which I was told I would be substituting. I do not know how I should take this. I am taking it that they do not believe I could handle it or the fact that my emergency license has not came through yet. I am thinking it is the first. I am going to take this opportunity to prove them wrong, and use it to motivate myself to “nip it in the bud.” I am disappointed in myself at the moment.

October 10 - 14

This week has been fun; I have been soo busy that I forgot to post this blog. Monday I was still so sick that I stayed home to try to get better. By Tuesday, I had some of my voice back so I ventured back to the classroom, to find that my cooperative teacher had not done the lessons that I has sent her. Then I found out that grades were due. So I did a lot of grading, then some that I got graded, we did not put in the grade book to go toward there midterm grades. The next big surprise is that, Wednesday my cooperative teacher told me that she was planning to just allow the students to watch a movie on Thursday and Friday as a reward for good grades. I wish she would discuss this stuff more with me, before hand. That Friday was a half day, anyway so the movie thing did not bother me. However, I would have like to have known that a little before hand. I am also finding that it is hard to plan things when I do not know the school plans. For example teacher meetings that I do not find out about until, we need to head to them. When I become a teacher, however this will more than likely not be a large problem. I am really liking this experience and learning so much, about myself, as well as, students. I am finding that it is hard not to get to know some of the students well. I have too students who keep begging to go to my 6th hour class, so that they can see a specific person, I know that they would not do this to Mrs. Traul. I also am learning that I have a little different style of teaching; I however do not know which is better. I like to allow the students to talk a little, she is one that would rather they did not talk. So there are times she comes in and the students are working, on there assignments and talking at a minimum. However, she feels they are too loud and gets on to them. Sometimes I feel like I am over run by her. Nevertheless, for the most part I could not be happier with my placement.

October 3- 7

This week has been an interesting week. Tuesday and Wednesday my cooperative teacher was gone so I was alone for those two days. I had a few students who refused to listen too me. Overall, however it went smoothly. I also had a gum thief, I had a little student skirmish and I gave two tests those days. I also caught a cold. Which really made the week go well; I debated if I should go to school today. I decided it was my responsibility to go so I did. The day was long and miserable. My cooperative teacher kept asking me if I was ok, I think I should have stayed home. However, we made it through. I also found out that my cooperating teacher really let the students have it yesterday, for their behavior the two days she was gone. I personally think she went a little over board from what the students told me. I heard that she made one male student cry. She also had three boys put into ISS for the day. In the end, I had two of these boys come up to me today and apologize to me for the behavior. I learned a lot this week about my self and how I need to lie down the law and I need to expect more out of my students. I have also decided that I like the JR high or middle school age students better than I like the freshman aged students. The middle school age students still listen and look up to you to some extent the freshman however do not.