So in light of taking back my classes after fighting severe over-exhaustion, my first year classes participated in an ask-a-story today. I made a major switch in how I planned these, and so far so good. I switched from asking questions on my plan, to stating facts that cannot change (but that didn't work so well - but that's ok).
We started with: quiere impresionar, rompe, le gustaría. What we've got so far is a very handsome man named Jeffrey who smells really bad, but wants to impress a Betty White. BW thinks J smells though. :(
Tomorrow I'm going to have them go places until he breaks a present that contains soap on himself upon which BW thinks he smells good and is impressed by him.
We'll see!
Wednesday, February 16, 2011
Monday, February 14, 2011
Getting over January...
This semester started out rough to say the least. I'm not sure what happened, but it hit me like a ton of bricks. I started the semester a bit differently than those previously, so maybe that is why. I don't know if I'll start it out that way again. Anyway, I'm finally starting to feel the groove again. Which is a relief.
Today I came out of a daze and started taking control again. The beginning of the semester seemed like someone else was teaching my classes for me and I was just in my body watching it happen, which is no way to teach with TPRS/CI. I have been sick to say the least, BUT I slept for about 36 hours over this weekend and am finally feeling like myself again. WHEW!
This week is a tough week because 1) today is Valentine's day (so we talked about el día de la amistad so that no one felt left out!), 2) Wednesday is a late start because of PLC work, and 3) we have Friday off... among all of these I have a year 2 mentor meeting after school this week AND my post-observation conference with my AP. Thus, it's a really good thing to be back (mentally).
This stretch of being out of it has really made me aware of how important it is to always be on top of what is going on in the classes. I realized last week that I need to stop during my extended readings to tell students to put pencils down because the pencils had crept into their hands over the past semester and I was getting a lot less eye contact. Once I did that, things started to really shape up. This week's challenge - PERSONALIZATION. I've gotta get that personal touch back. Here's to working hard!
Today I came out of a daze and started taking control again. The beginning of the semester seemed like someone else was teaching my classes for me and I was just in my body watching it happen, which is no way to teach with TPRS/CI. I have been sick to say the least, BUT I slept for about 36 hours over this weekend and am finally feeling like myself again. WHEW!
This week is a tough week because 1) today is Valentine's day (so we talked about el día de la amistad so that no one felt left out!), 2) Wednesday is a late start because of PLC work, and 3) we have Friday off... among all of these I have a year 2 mentor meeting after school this week AND my post-observation conference with my AP. Thus, it's a really good thing to be back (mentally).
This stretch of being out of it has really made me aware of how important it is to always be on top of what is going on in the classes. I realized last week that I need to stop during my extended readings to tell students to put pencils down because the pencils had crept into their hands over the past semester and I was getting a lot less eye contact. Once I did that, things started to really shape up. This week's challenge - PERSONALIZATION. I've gotta get that personal touch back. Here's to working hard!
Wednesday, February 9, 2011
Formal observations
Although I've been working on my perfectionism A LOT this year, formal observations still get my panties in a bunch. I worry and fret, and usually get sick over nothing. I know I'm a _____ (good? decent? second-year? average? outstanding?) teacher, and I should be ok with that. I know I work my tail off and want the best for my students. I try to work as a team with my colleagues and be a contributing member to teams and committees that I'm involved with. On the outside, I know my job will be ok. On the inside, I worry.
Nevertheless... I think this formal observation, while not my shining classroom moment, was a lot more stress-free than the last. It's possible that I'm just getting used to the beat of the formal observation drum. This is my fourth now... and it helps that I really feel supported by my administrator in the method I'm using this year. Who knows.
Despite all of the stress that comes with a formal observation, my shining moment today was when a student approached me after class and told me she dreampt in Spanish the other night! HOLY MOLY! No way! I was super proud because I think that means she's getting ample comprehensible input in class (which only meets three days a week for 59 minutes!). Go me!
Nevertheless... I think this formal observation, while not my shining classroom moment, was a lot more stress-free than the last. It's possible that I'm just getting used to the beat of the formal observation drum. This is my fourth now... and it helps that I really feel supported by my administrator in the method I'm using this year. Who knows.
Despite all of the stress that comes with a formal observation, my shining moment today was when a student approached me after class and told me she dreampt in Spanish the other night! HOLY MOLY! No way! I was super proud because I think that means she's getting ample comprehensible input in class (which only meets three days a week for 59 minutes!). Go me!
Tuesday, February 8, 2011
Hitting a wall...
All of this pertains to my sixth period class, which is why I'm perplexed. None of my other classes are having this problem. Since we've gotten back from winter break, the dynamic in my 6th period class has changed a lot. Before it was a class I looked forward to every day, now I know it will be a challenge. The students have changed a bit, and I'm not sure why this is happening.
Stories that I use in another class go very well and have good classroom participation (for February...). I understand that stories may not go well in two different classes, but it's a struggle because I feel like my sixth period hasn't had a truly engaging class since we've returned from break!
I'm really trying to focus on point and pause right now, because when I feel like things aren't going well, I tend to speed up in hopes of stumbling on something interesting. When I point and pause, I feel like I get more student engagement, but that the students are still lacking engagement.
I guess the lack of engagement is due to personalization. I really try to get my students involved in the story. I try to have actors, but they never really act. They stand in the front of the room and distract. I try and use their interests, but it doesn't work.
I feel like there's this negative attitude in my classroom. It started with one boy, then spread to another, now to a girl that sits between them. They don't say anything, but I can read their body language.
Any suggestions? Is it me or is it the time of year?
Stories that I use in another class go very well and have good classroom participation (for February...). I understand that stories may not go well in two different classes, but it's a struggle because I feel like my sixth period hasn't had a truly engaging class since we've returned from break!
I'm really trying to focus on point and pause right now, because when I feel like things aren't going well, I tend to speed up in hopes of stumbling on something interesting. When I point and pause, I feel like I get more student engagement, but that the students are still lacking engagement.
I guess the lack of engagement is due to personalization. I really try to get my students involved in the story. I try to have actors, but they never really act. They stand in the front of the room and distract. I try and use their interests, but it doesn't work.
I feel like there's this negative attitude in my classroom. It started with one boy, then spread to another, now to a girl that sits between them. They don't say anything, but I can read their body language.
Any suggestions? Is it me or is it the time of year?
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