Week in Review 9/14-9/18 Due 9/22
Hello Ladies,
This will be the first Week in Review posting thru the blog. Each Friday we will create a new post for that week.
Entries should be posted no later than the following Tuesday for the previous week.
Remember, it doesn't have to be long and involved just a snap shot and what you are learning.
Chris & Heidi
posted by Heidi @ 1:26 PM
2 comments
2 Comments:
Well so far my experience overseas has been great. There are low points and hi points. One thing that stuck out to me is that every teacher is different and every teacher has their own way of teaching. I love my class and my mentor teacher, although there are a handful of times I do not agree with what she says, but I take it as a learning experience. I have learned that wether or not I agree with what is said or done it is a valuable lesson to take it. Many times I see and hear great things that I would like to incorporate in to my teaching ways and there are times that I learn of something I want to make sure is not in my classroom.
So far I feel that I have been given a lot of responsibilities which is great but at times has been overwhelming. The first two weeks my mentor teacher and I wrote the parent news letter together and the past week I wrote it by myself, which was fine because I had written a few other letters home to the parents.
I have learned that I like to have my lesson plans done in advance and not just winging it the day of or the night before. Yes, I have also realized that many time lesson plans need to be altered because the kids need more time but it is much easier to alter then plans then to come up with stuff on the spot where there are so many other things going on.
Lastly, I love the start of school. It take a lot more work than I ever imagined but it is great meeting the students and getting to know their individual needs. I was shocked to see how quickly attached the students got to me and my mentor teach. It was a great experience to see how a new class comes together. I love getting little notes from my students they make my day!
I can't believe that we've been here for a month now and that we've been working with the kids for three weeks. I'm so thankful that I was able to see the beginning of the year. It really gave me a lot of perspective on how much work setting up a classroom is and that classroom procedures don't just magically happen. There are some things that I think I’ll try differently, but I am getting so many good ideas and great experience.
There are good days and not so good days, but I’ve decided to remember that every day is a brand new day and a fresh start. While the expectations stay high, it helps me to stay flexible and feel more ready for what they day brings. I think sometimes it helps the kids too because they don’t have to worry about certain things carrying over to the next day. I think it’s amazing how they always know just when to do something super sweet or give the teacher a hug.
I’ve also learned that while I like to know what I would like to do with the students, sometimes a last minute change can be just what the kids’ need. Especially on the really nice days where all they want is to be outside. It’s amazing how a little exercise can get them ready to learn again!
I’ve done some teaching in most of our subject areas and am completely taking over math and science this week. The kids are pretty excited about it, but they’re pretty chatty whether it’s about the topic or something else. I definitely prefer when it’s about the topic but I would like them to listen to what they all have to say because they have some great ideas. Classroom management is one area where I can improve and I think it will be an ongoing process, learning what works for me and the kids as well. I think I’m starting to figure this group out; they are wiggly and thrive when there is a kinesthetic aspect to the learning. I’ll keep learning about them and I’m sure both my mentor teacher and the students will keep teaching me something new every day.
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